Sport
4 September, 2026
Bogan Bulls grab historic premiership
The Bogan Bulls have won their first Western Plains Rugby Union premiership since 2016.
By Abigail McLaughlin
The Bogan Bulls are Western Plains Rugby Union premiers, defeating Walgett 43-31 in an intense encounter at Larkin Oval on Saturday, August 29 to bring the Lloyd Bullock Shield back to Nyngan.
More than 1000 people flocked to Nyngan to watch the re-match of last year’s men’s and women’s grand finals, and were rewarded with not only two entertaining games – but some historic results.
Earlier in the day the Flamin’ Galahs women’s Tri Tag team defeated reigning premiers Coonamble 19-7 to win Gulargambone’s first ever Western Plains premiership.
It was a particularly sweet victory for the team, given it had been one of the best in the zone since Tri Tag was introduced, but had not previously won a grand final.
Similarly, the Bogan Bulls had been close to winning the premiership in recent years but were unable to break through until this year – when they capitalised on the home ground grand final to win for the first time since 2016.
Fittingly the win came as the Nyngan Rugby Union Club reached its 70th anniversary – a milestone also being celebrated by the Coonamble Rugby Union Club, which was awarded the 2026 club championship based on the results of both its men’s (third) and women’s teams (second) this season.
There were many other reasons for the Bulls to celebrate.
Big prop Manning Doughty, 38, has played in 13 grand finals in his career – but this was the first time he had been part of a winning team.
Many of his former team-mates from the Hay Cutters made the trip to Nyngan to cheer him on, and the crowd erupted when he hoisted the shield – alongside another Bulls stalwart Brendan Nelson.
Club patron Bomber Moxham, 95, was one of the proudest supporters on the sideline. Not only had he managed to “break out” of his Sydney retirement accommodation for the weekend, but he was rewarded with a Bulls victory.
The game was a tough watch for the Bulls supporters. The first half looked as though it could have been a blue wash, with Bulls ahead 27-10 with tries to Tyrone Chrystal, Cyril Seiba, Wes Vali, and Derrick Voku.
However, after the break the Bulls were given three yellow cards and a red card by referee Bill McKay, meaning they were down two - or even three - players against a full-strength Walgett outfit for most of the second half.
Walgett took advantage running in three tries, and with 20 minutes to go looked like coming over the top of the under-manned Bulls and pulling off a horrifying upset.
Thankfully, speedy winger Derrick Voku ran in a late double for the Bulls, earning himself a hat trick for the match and taking the score to 43-31.
No-one was more relieved at the final siren than Bulls coach Sarah Pearce - the first female to coach a men’s side in the Western Plains competition.
She admitted the number of penalties in the second half gave her reason for concern.
“There was lots of cheese (yellow cards) for sale out there today. The red card was costly for us and it started to go Walgett’s way at that point,” she said.
“But the Bulls are a really resilient bunch. They are really good friends and have so much respect for each other. They knew how many people backed them up today.”
“We've just had a clean sweep against Walgett this year and nothing feels better!”
“Yes, I'm the first woman to do this out here, which I'm very proud of, but it's had nothing to do with me.
“It has been about the players. I could have had a completely different group of boys and it would be a completely different situation.”
Club captain Manning Doughty thanked the Nyngan community for its support.
“I think we do things pretty well in Nyngan. It's a really, really good effort by our whole committee and everyone who's put their hands up to have a go. Thank you to people down the street, all the businesses that support us, our sponsors, and our families and friends. We really appreciate it. We won this one for Nyngan.”
Nyngan’s Wes Vali, playing his second season for the Bulls was named player of the grand final. Walgett player Hamish Moore was voted player of the zone.