It stuck in the craw of other clubs, but new coach Lee Sullivan was true to his word. The club won its first Kennards Hire premiership and ended the Forster Tuncurry Dolphins' sequence of four successful grand finals in the Lower Mid North Coast competition.

The Bulls retained their championship last year, again overcoming the Dolphins in a tension-filled, controversial penalty try grand final.

There have been no predictions from Wallamba this season. Last weekend, the Manning River Ratz defeated the Bulls at Taree Rugby Park, 52-15, having drawn 25-25 with the Dolphins in a splendid comeback on the Dolphins' home ground the previous Saturday.

Things are bubbling for the Ratz this season. It is only the fourth round tomorrow, but perhaps at last it is about to happen, perhaps they will win the premiership they have sought for 15 years, lay their hands on the shield they have worked so hard for to place in their trophy cabinet.

Skipper Sam Hartnett will lead a big, hungry pack against the newly returned Wauchope Thunder at Taree Rugby Park tomorrow. Everything points to the Wauchope men having a rough time of it whatever heights their women's team reach following their recent 67-0 demolition of last year's premiers, the Gloucester Cockies.

From all accounts, Wauchope women have some astonishing speedsters in their ranks.

First and foremost tomorrow the male members of the Taree Ratz have business to attend to against a Wauchope team back after their three years' bruising experience in the Upper Mid North Coast competition.

Last season, the Ratz occasionally fielded two young, enterprising rugby league backs in centre Bruwyn Tisdell and five-eighth Toby De Stefano, and were the stronger for it. Against the Dolphins this year, Tisdell was dangerous in attack and a sharp-shooter with the boot.

De Stefano was not available. But it is demanding football combining two codes in the same winter. Jake Maurirere is now five-eighth with a penetrative, little halfback as his partner in Bayley Weever.

Winger Luke Bartlett is just the speedster to capitalise on the possession his forwards win and a swift ball supply from his inside backs.

The Forster Tuncurry Dolphins travel to Nabiac to meet the Wallamba Bulls at Aub Ferris Field in what should be another excellent clash. Any team with the lethal speed of Chris Tout at fullback is a threat.

Mark Hagarty is the Dolphins' new captain and has the returning centre Mark Quillan as his midfield partner. With creative Matt Nuku at five-eighth and Zac Palmer and Aaron Fox on the wings, they have a backline with speed to burn.