Central North Rugby: Reminiscing Moree's 2001 grand final triumph

It was the dynasty-cementing feat that came amid a history-making milestone.

Twenty years ago this year Moree became just the second club, after Barraba, to win four straight Central North premierships when they beat Tamworth 55-3.

One of the most dominant grand final performances, it was symbolic of the Bulls dominance at that time.

Between June 1998 and June 2002 they were undefeated, winning in incredible 72 consecutive games. The grand final was no.63.

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Still to this day one of the longest winning streaks in sport, the Bulls side of the time is revered as one of the best seen in the Central North and indeed country rugby, and many of the players are celebrated as among the finest to have pulled on the black and white jersey.

"It was probably as good a side as we'll ever see around here," club stalwart Peter Copeman reflected.

He coached them to the last three of the four-peat with Terry Adams. It was very nearly a five-peat with Narrabri beating them on the bell by a point in 2002.

"It was just one of those eras that doesn't happen very often," Copeman recalled.

"We had a lot of players and we had a lot of depth.

"We had a big influx in the late 90s that were handy players and had played a lot together."

It translated to a legacy of success rarely seen before, or since, with the Bulls also winning the reserve grade title in 1999, 2000, 2001 and then again in 2002.

More than the numbers though, it was the depth of talent.

Names like James Quinn, Charlie Franklin, Anthony Kaberry, Damien Kelly, Phil Barwick, Jason Webb, Jeremy Matthews, Chris Kelly, Andrew Hacker and Alex Barker are regarded in the same reverence today as they were back then.

The pack boasted no less than "six or seven" Country players, the Bulls dominating the Central North side that won the Caldwell Cup in 2001.

Half-back John Jeffreys also donned the Country gold as did centre Kelly.

"We had a good allround side," Copeman said, quipping that as coaches they "didn't have to do much".

Franklin was also there in 1999 and 2000 after moving out to Moree from Coffs Harbour to run the Royal Hotel.

"It was amazing. There was just such depth of talent out there because the second grade side also went through undefeated for 60 games or so as well," he said.

"I remember one game we had 16 players in the Central North squad and we went away to Toowoomba to play Darling Downs. All of our second grade went up to first grade and third grade up to second grade."

Due to play Tamworth in Tamworth that day, they went on to beat them in both grades.

Franklin believes that one of the secrets to their success was that everyone got on so well, and as much as they were a team of champions, they were also a champion team.

The depth bred good rivalry for positions and meant you always had to be at your best.

They also knew how to win. There were a lot of close games, Franklin recalled, and games where they were down at half-time.

For the Magpies making the grand final was a significant achievement.

At the tail of what was their golden era, they went from not winning a game the season before to playing for the silverware.

Returning to the coaching mantle after guiding them to an undefeated title in 1996 and the decider the following year, Wayne Brown regards it as the proudest moment of his coaching career.

Unlike the Bulls, who were so flush with front rowers they had Central North props playing reserve grade, they had virtually "no props all year".

"We couldn't find front rowers," Brown recalled.

Then to get to the grand final they had to get past Narrabri at Narrabri, and then Gunnedah at Gunnedah.

By the time they got there they were the walking wounded.

They had to scrounge around to find another prop after Darren Taeketa was injured 20 minutes into the preliminary final.

Captain Tony Hunt was backing up after being knocked out against the Red Devils while centre Dan Ramien was battling a hamstring injury and several other forwards were under injury clouds.

"We were limping very much," Brown said.

The Bulls were, he said, a fantastic side, and really exploited their weaknesses to perfection.

He couldn't though have been prouder of his side.

"It was an unbelievable effort, absolute courage," he said.