Outstanding back-rower Kahn Juhnke has decided to move back to Newcastle with his family and will not play for the improving side again this season.
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After joining Boggabri this season, the 27-year-old was one of the Roos' best players - and scored two tries in last Sunday's 30-24 upset win over Narrabri at Jubilee Oval. He was named Boggy's players' player in the match.
However he and wife Sharnii have decided to move back to Newcastle, where they have family support, to raise two boys, Nathan, 5, and Lennox, nine weeks, and daughter Harper, 3.
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Juhnke has landed a concreting job and the moves back into his West Wallsend house this weekend.
"I've got a mate with a truck and we'll pick up all the furniture on the weekend," he said of moving from their rental in Gunnedah to Newcastle.
"I have enjoyed my time up there with Boggabri. They are a good club. I really appreciate the help from Greg Haire (Roos president), Shane Rampling (coach) and David Harris, especially Shane.
"He was more like a mate than a coach. They all looked after me. I've got to thank Jason Conomos too. He was the mine manager out at Maules Creek, where I worked, and he helped me out a lot too."
Juhnke had hoped to finish the season with Boggabri but his new concreting job entails Saturday morning work.
"[It] would have been nice to travel back up [to Boggabri]," he said.
Instead, he will finish the season with the West Wallsend Magpies.
"They play in a pub comp down here," he said. "My brother and a lot of my mates play for them."
Juhnke labelled the Roos "an awesome club" and he hopes they continue their surge up the table.
He believes North Tamworth are good things to win the competition.
"Shame I didn't get to play them," he said. "They are a good side, I think they'll win it [the comp]."
Narrabri are the "dark horses", he said. "I have a lot of respect for Brenton [Cochrane, the Blues' captain-coach]," he said. "He's the best player I saw up there."
Boggabri has the bye this weekend and play North Tamworth the following weekend.