Sport

Heelers at home for first time in almost five decades

By Eamon Kurta

Jul 4, 2025

Deni’s Zach Dwyer with a tough hit up, during round four. Photo by Andrew McLean Photography

It has been 48 years since a Deniliquin Blue Heelers side has played a home game in Deniliquin, but that gap closes tomorrow.

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The new-look club will host all men’s ProTen Cup games at Deniliquin Rotary Park.

The gates open at 11am, and Deniliquin’s match-up with Ivanhoe will be the closer at 3pm.

Entry to the grounds is $5 for adults, with spectators under 16s free.

The Roosters are second on the ladder making this an uphill battle for the home side, but the Heelers hope to have a supportive local crowd and a full-strength team will give them a boost.

In his pre-game preview, Jamie Parsons from the ProTen Cup said Deni will need a win “if they want to avoid the wooden spoon”.

“Ivanhoe will be looking to raise their for-and-against a bit with the three-way tie at the top, with those F/A points possibly deciding home finals,” Parsons said.

Deniliquin Blue Heelers president and player Kurt Langford said it will be a “very tough game, but the boys keep improving each week”.

“Ivanhoe are a very strong side, they’ll be coming off a loss, so they’ll want a win,” he said.

“We’ve been working on sticking in tackles, improving and tightening up our defence.”

Langford said having a home game will be good for the town.

With the Deniliquin Rams having a bye this weekend, he hopes for a good turnout of spectators.

The Heelers have made this a fundraising round, and team members will be wearing green socks for the ‘Terry Socks it to Cancer’ initiative.

Proceeds will go to the Albury Wodonga Cancer Trust Foundation.

Saturday’s action at Rotary Park will also include a women’s exhibition match at 2.20pm.

The Barellan Rams women’s team will be wearing the Heelers’ colours in the curtain raiser against 2024 ProTen Cup premiers Hay.

This is possible as the women’s competition has a bye this weekend.

In the men’s competition, the Rankins Springs Dragons take on Goolgowi at 12pm.

The Dragons have won three straight and need to win again to keep in the top two.

Goolgowi have fallen away the last two weeks and need a big win to have any chance of finals footy this year.

At 1.10pm, Hillston take on Narrandera.

This is Hillston’s last throw of the dice. They need a win here and another win next week, while hoping Narrandera lose in round seven.

The team can pull it off, but will need all their defensive strength against a Lizard's attack that has come alive again in the last two rounds.

The Blue Heelers have NRL jerseys to raffle on the day, which will be drawn at the post-match event at the Deniliquin Coach House Hotel. Tickets can be purchased at the games.