THE Woolgoolga Wolves were crowned Premiers of the HIT105.5 North Coast Football (NCF) Premier League last Saturday, even before they kicked off against Coffs City United, whom they defeated 2-0 on their home turf.

Having built an unassailable ten-point lead, the 2023 Grand Final Champions were awarded the Premiership trophy by Member for Coffs Harbour Gurmesh Singh, HIT105.5 radio announcer Ben Stevenson, and NCF General Manager Duncan Marchant, with three rounds still remaining in the competition.

The match began with an unexpected interruption, as a troop of kangaroos briefly took centre stage, adding a quintessentially Australian touch before the real action kicked off.

Once the pitch was cleared, Woolgoolga quickly set about proving why they are this season’s undisputed Premiers.

Despite having the trophy in their grasp before kickoff, the Wolves showed no signs of easing off, determined to cap their campaign with an unbeaten record.

Just twelve minutes in, James Gorrie put Woolgoolga ahead with a scintillating solo effort, slicing through the Coffs defence before unleashing a thunderous strike that left the goalkeeper rooted to the spot.

Nick Casey, the Wolves’ lethal marksman, doubled the advantage on the half-hour mark.

After being initially denied by a spectacular save from Gum Mayak, Casey soared above the defenders to head home the rebound, further underlining his reputation as the Wolves’ most prolific striker.

The regular season concludes on Saturday 17 August as all eyes turn to the playoffs for a berth in the Grand Final.

Woolgoolga will face off against second-placed Northern Storm in round one of the playoffs on Saturday 24 August, with the winner securing a direct route to the Grand Final.

The loser of this showdown will have another shot at glory, squaring off against the winner of the elimination final on Saturday 31 August, for the remaining Grand Final berth.

The playoff race remains fiercely contested, with several teams still vying for the third and fourth spot, ensuring the drama will continue until the very last day of the season.

The Grand Final kicks off on Saturday 7 September at C.ex Coffs International Stadium at 7pm.

By David WIGLEY