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Group 2 Rugby League

Competition in Northern New South Wales

Summary

Competition in Northern New South Wales

FieldValue
nameGroup 2 Rugby League
founded1966
inaugural1966
ceotagOperations manager
teams7 senior clubs (12 junior clubs)
country
championtagPremiers
championNambucca Heads Roosters
season2024
most_champsNambucca Heads Roosters
count10
websiteGroup 2 Rugby League on facebook

Group 2 is a rugby league competition on the north coast of New South Wales, Australia. Since 1966, run under the auspices of the Country Rugby League. The Group 2 area runs from Grafton in the north to Macksville in the south. Group 2 teams played for many decades before 1966 when some redistribution, amalgamation or control mechanism presumably changed. Teams on the Nambucca River, namely Bowraville, Macksville and Nambucca Heads played in a southern division against Kempsey, Smithtown, Port Macquarie and Wauchope before 1966.

Teams

Clubs in 2024 Group 2 Competitions

ClubsCity/TownHome GroundTitlesSeniorsJuniorsSenior ClubsJunior Clubs
Coffs Harbour CometsCoffs HarbourGeoff King Motors Oval1970–71, 1973–74, 1983, 1985, 2013, 2018Yes
Grafton GhostsGraftonFrank McGuren Field2014, 2017, 2019Yes
Macksville Sea EaglesMacksvilleAllan Gillett Oval1979, 1991, 1995, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005Yes
Nambucca Heads RoostersNambucca HeadsCoronation Park1969, 1972, 1975–76, 1986, 1992–93, 2024Yes
Sawtell PanthersCoffs Harbour (Sawtell)Rex Hardaker Oval1978, 2009, 2011Yes
South Grafton RebelsGraftonMcKittrick Park2015–16, 2022Yes
Woolgoolga SeahorsesWoolgoolgaWoolgoolga Sports Ground2023Yes
Bowraville TigersBowravilleBowraville Sports HubNoneNo
Kempsey DragonsKempseyVerge Street OvalNoneNo*
Smithtown TigersSmithtownSmithtown Oval1966, 1968, 1977No‡

*Kempsey Dragons no longer field a senior team, but remain a member of Group 2. Kempsey's modern senior side, the Macleay Valley Mustangs, play in the Group 3 Rugby League Premiership.

‡Smithtown's senior team is Lower Macleay Magpies, in Hastings League.

Former clubs

In Recess

Defunct/Moved

Former clubs
Bellingen Dorrigo Magpies
Coffs Harbour Raiders
Coffs Jetty Park Beach
Central Kempsey
Gimbisi Valley Warriors
Dunghutti Broncos
Kempsey Kowboys
Kempsey Dragons
Macleay Valley Mustangs
Ngaku Warriors (Kempsey)
Orara Valley Axemen
Port City Breakers
Port Macquarie Sharks
Smithtown

First Grade Grand Final Results 1966–present

SeasonGrand Final InformationMinor PremiersPremiersScoreRunners-upReport
1966Smithtown Tigers3–2Macksville Sea Eagles
1967Smithtown Tigers–Coffs Harbour
1968Smithtown Tigers7–4Coffs Harbour Comets
1969Nambucca Heads Roosters10–6Central Kempsey
1970Coffs Harbour Comets–Central Kempsey
1971Coffs Harbour Comets20–9Nambucca Heads Roosters
1972Nambucca Heads Roosters15–10Coffs Harbour Comets
1973Coffs Harbour Comets20–13Nambucca Heads Roosters
1974Coffs Harbour Comets6–2Bellingen Magpies
1975Nambucca Heads Roosters19–4Kempsey Dragons
1976Nambucca Heads Roosters19–2Bellingen Magpies
1977Smithtown Tigers–Nambucca Heads Roosters
1978Sawtell Panthers14–13Smithtown TigersSawtell (Clayton Cup)
1979Macksville Sea Eagles24–7Smithtown Tigers
1980Bellingen Magpies19–10Sawtell Panthers
1981Bellingen Magpies44–0Macksville Sea EaglesBellingen Magpies
1982Bellingen Magpies21–12Ngaku Warriors (Kempsey)Sawtell Panthers
1983Coffs Harbour Comets28–16Woolgoolga SeahorsesCoffs Harbour Comets
1984Bellingen Magpies4–1Coffs Harbour CometsBellingen Magpies
1985Coffs Harbour Comets18–10Nambucca Heads RoostersNambucca Heads Roosters
1986Nambucca Heads Roosters18–16Kempsey DragonsKempsey Dragons
1987Bellingen Magpies23–6Nambucca Heads RoostersBellingen Magpies
1988Bellingen Magpies50–24Kempsey DragonsNambucca Heads Roosters
1989Bellingen Magpies39–6Coffs Harbour CometsBellingen Magpies
1990Bellingen Magpies22–20Orara Valley AxemenSmithtown Tigers
1991Macksville Sea Eagles26–26Coffs Harbour CometsMacksville Sea Eagles
1992Nambucca Heads Roosters40–6Woolgoolga SeahorsesNambucca Heads Roosters
1993Nambucca Heads Roosters26–10Macksville Sea EaglesMacksville Sea Eagles
1994Orara Valley Axemen30–18Nambucca Heads RoostersMacksville Sea Eagles
1995Macksville Sea Eagles24–16Coffs Harbour CometsMacksville Sea Eagles
1996Nambucca Heads Roosters36–34Orara Valley AxemenNambucca Heads Roosters
1997Orara Valley Axemen40–32Coffs Harbour CometsCoffs Harbour Comets
1998Port Macquarie Sharks26–25Nambucca Heads RoostersNambucca Heads Roosters
1999Bellingen Magpies20–18Port Macquarie SharksPort Macquarie Sharks
2000Port Macquarie Sharks24–12Nambucca Heads RoostersPort Macquarie Sharks
2001Port Macquarie Sharks54–26Macksville Sea EaglesPort Macquarie Sharks
2002Macksville Sea Eagles39–26Port Macquarie SharksPort Macquarie Sharks
2003Macksville Sea Eagles30–23Orara Valley AxemenPort Macquarie Sharks
2004Macksville Sea Eagles34–23Port Macquarie SharksPort Macquarie Sharks
2005Macksville Sea Eagles60–22Orara Valley AxemenOrara Valley Axemen
2006Port Macquarie Sharks22–18Sawtell PanthersPort Macquarie Sharks
2007Macksville Sea Eagles32–24Orara Valley AxemenMacksville Sea Eagles
2008Orara Valley Axemen19–18Woolgoolga SeahorsesOrara Valley Axemen
2009Sawtell Panthers21–20Macksville Sea EaglesSawtell Panthers
2010Port Macquarie Sharks41–16Coffs Harbour CometsPort Macquarie Sharks
2011Sawtell Panthers29–28Nambucca Heads RoostersNambucca Heads Roosters
2012Macleay Valley Mustangs36–12Nambucca Heads RoostersNambucca Heads Roosters
2013Coffs Harbour Comets42–20Nambucca Heads RoostersCoffs Harbour Comets
2014Grafton Ghosts18–16Coffs Harbour CometsGrafton Ghosts
2015South Grafton Rebels46–18Coffs Harbour CometsSouth Grafton Rebels
2016South Grafton Rebels26–12Grafton GhostsSouth Grafton Rebels
2017Grafton Ghosts32–12South Grafton RebelsGrafton Ghosts
2018Coffs Harbour Comets30–14Macksville Sea EaglesGrafton Ghosts
2019Grafton Ghosts68–6Coffs Harbour CometsCoffs Harbour Comets
2020 & 2021 seasons cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2022South Grafton Rebels36–8Orara Valley AxemenOrara Valley Axemen
2023Woolgoolga Seahorses26–10South Grafton RebelsSouth Grafton Rebels
2024Nambucca Heads Roosters31–12Woolgoolga SeahorsesNambucca Heads Roosters
2025Nambucca Heads Roosters14–2Sawtell PanthersWoolgoolga Seahorses

Premiership Tally

ClubPremierships
Nambucca Heads Roosters10
Bellingen Magpies9
Macksville Sea Eagles8
Coffs Harbour Comets8
Port Macquarie Sharks5
Smithtown Tigers4
Sawtell Panthers3
Orara Valley Axemen3
Grafton Ghosts3
South Grafton Rebels3
Woolgoolga Seahorses1
Macleay Valley Mustangs1

Players from Group 2 to play NRL

PlayerClub
Greg InglisBowraville Tigers JRL
Albert KellySmithtown Tigers JRL
Kevin GordonSawtell Panthers JRL
Aiden TolmanSmithtown Tigers JRL
Wayne BartrimMacleay Valley Mustangs
Matt DonovanMacksville Sea Eagles
Paul DavisPort Macquarie, Macksville and Dunghutti
Clint GreenshieldsSawtell Panthers JRL
Troy RobinsonSawtell Panthers JRL
Mitchell ThomsonSawtell Panthers JRL

Notable players

Bellingen

  • Dylan Edwards

Coffs Harbour Comets

Grafton Ghosts

  • Danny Wicks
  • Anthony Don
  • Daine Laurie

Macksville Sea Eagles

  • Matt Donovan
  • Paul Davis
  • Nathan Smith

Orara Valley Axemen

  • Luke Metcalf

Sawtell Panthers

  • Kevin Gordon
  • Jarrod Wallace
  • Troy Robinson
  • Clint Greenshields
  • Noel Cleal
  • Jason Alchin

South Grafton Rebels

  • Brian Graham
  • John Ferguson
  • Ron Gill
  • Fred Felsch
  • Paul Pyers
  • Kevin Stevens
  • Eric Lawrence

Woolgoolga Seahorses

Bowraville Tigers

  • Greg Inglis

Kempsey Dragons

  • Amos Roberts

Nambucca Heads Roosters

  • Ryan Stig
  • Daniel Fitzhenry
  • Rod Urquhart

Smithtown Tigers

  • Albert Kelly
  • Aiden Tolman

References

References

  1. Greenshields, Brad. (9 September 2008). "Axemen take out grand final". The Coffs Coast Advocate.
  2. White, Greg. (19 September 2011). "Sawtell Group 2 Premiers". The Coffs Coast Advocate.
  3. Klein, Thom. (11 September 2012). "Macleay Valley Mustangs end a half-century's wait in 80 magical minutes". Macleay Argus.
  4. (10 September 2012). "Highlights From Group Two Rugby League Grand Final – Macleay Valley Mustangs V Nambucca Roosters". NBN TV.
  5. White, Greg. (18 August 2013). "Group 2 grand final: " ... glory, glory to Coffs Harbour..."". The Coffs Coast Advocate.
  6. McInerney, Matthew. (25 August 2014). "Ghosts glory with extra time penalty". The Daily Examiner.
  7. Elkerton, Matthew. (23 August 2015). "South Grafton Rebels make history in Group 2 decider". The Daily Examiner.
  8. Elkerton, Matthew. (11 September 2016). "KINGS OF THE CLARENCE: Rebels clinch premiership over Ghosts". The Daily Examiner.
  9. (3 September 2017). "GRAND FINAL: Grafton Ghosts score spirited grand final win". The Daily Examiner.
  10. (26 August 2018). "Comets too good for Sea Eagles in Group 2 grand final". The Coffs Coast Advocate.
  11. (28 August 2018). "Grand Final 2".
  12. Smith, Tallon. (2023-09-22). "Grand Final Watch: Dubbo CYMS take Peter McDonald Premiership title, plus a recap of Groups 2, 3 & 7, GTS and the NHRL".
  13. Smith, Tallon. (2024-09-03). "Father-Son Fairytale comes true as Nambucca Heads ends 28-year drought in Group 2".
  14. Smith, Tallon. (2025-09-08). "Group 2: Roosters seeing double as Nambucca Heads claims men’s and women’s titles".
Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

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