The Narwan Eels started their Group 19 season against the Guyra Super Spuds with a win but it has come at a cost.
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The men's side suffered so many injuries in the 34-32 triumph they can't take the field against the Moree Boomerangs this Saturday.
"I have lost a couple of players for lengths, for four to five weeks," coach Jay Cohen said.
"As a coach I had to take player welfare, potentially costing the club money for not turning up on the day.
"I had 13 players to take on probably the best team in the comp.
"The way I look at it, and I have spoken to my players, I didn't want to put them in a position where they were going to go over and get hurt.
"If I lose more players then the club potentially folds."
Cohen also said with ensuing games against heavyweights Inverell and Glen Innes also played a part in the decision to forfeit.
Of their first up victory against the Super Spuds, Cohen was rapt.
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Particularly seeing as it was his first game as a coach.
Cohen said "staying in the fight" was the most impressive part of the win.
"Guyra didn't give up at any stage," he said.
"We knew Guyra were going to stick around and we knew they were going to come up with answers for whatever we had.
"I was just proud of the effort the boys put in.
"There were calls that went both ways, I think we reacted well when we needed to.
"When we were on the backfoot and everything was against as, our senior players like Mike Moran and Vincent Moran stood up and helped direct the side.
"It is unfortunate I have got a lot of injuries."
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