If last weekend was anything to go by the Coonabarabran Unicorns are in for a stellar year.

Coonabarabran’s first grade rugby league side played against a determined Boggabri team in the first trial game of the year last weekend.

The Unicorns came away convincing winners 48-28 in what was a hot and humid affair.

The win was made all the more impressive considering former South Sydney Rabbitohs NRL player, Kyle Turner was unavailable. His inclusion in the team will only solidify the Unicorns challenge for the premiership.

Club president Tony Cole said he and captain coach Jarvis Watton were impressed with the hit out.

Cole said it was a dire affair early on in the game, with both sides playing good, hard footy, but the local side began to run away with it in the latter stages.

“The conditions were really hot and humid,” Cole said.

“The Boggabri side was strong and had a never-say-die attitude; it was actually pretty close early on.”

Cole said the big difference came in conversions, with the Unicorns’ goal kicker, Jai Cain, nailing every attempt and Boggabri only capitalising with the two points on two occasions.

“If they’d kicked all their goals like we did the score wouldn’t have been such a blow out,” he said.

“The game would have been a lot closer, but Jai showed how good he is with the boot.”

Cole also praised the efforts of Watton playing and steering the team around from the half-back position.

“He was good, every time he touched the ball he looked threatening,” he said.

“Sam Wilson was really strong in defence and was tackling all day and Josh Nixon also had a good game.

While Cole said it was difficult to single anyone out, he admitted he was greatly impressed by the youngest player on the field, Brad Fuller.

“He’s only a young teenager,but he had an absolute cracker of a game,” Cole said.

“I look forward to seeing how he goes for the rest of the year.”

The women’s league tag team also played a trial against Boggabri and were victorious in a much closer game, 16-14.

This weekend Coonabarabran will play in the league tag and youth league knockouts, hosted by the Binnaway Bombshells.

A week later, first grade will also compete in a knockout at Cobar, with the regular season kicking off a fortnight later.

COVID safety regulations will be in place and players and spectators will be required to check in on arrival at the ground, as well as abide by all the safety rules in operation on the day.