Group 2 Rugby League
Competition in Northern New South Wales
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Group 2 is a rugby league competition on the north coast of New South Wales, Australia. Since 1966, run under the auspices of the NSWRL . 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.
| Sport | Rugby league |
|---|---|
| Instituted | 1966 |
| Inaugural season | 1966 |
| Number of teams | 7 senior clubs (12 junior clubs) |
| Country |  Australia |
| Premiers |  Nambucca Heads Roosters (2025) |
| Most titles | Nambucca Heads Roosters (11 titles) |
| Website | Group 2 Rugby League |
Teams
Clubs in Group 2 Competitions
| Clubs | City/Town | Home Ground | Titles | Seniors | Juniors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Senior Clubs | |||||
 Coffs Harbour Comets | Coffs Harbour | Geoff King Motors Oval | 1970–71, 1973–74, 1983, 1985, 2013, 2018 | Yes | Yes |
 Grafton Ghosts | Grafton | Frank McGuren Field | 2014, 2017, 2019 | Yes | Yes |
 Macksville Sea Eagles | Macksville | Allan Gillett Oval | 1979, 1991, 1995, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 | Yes | Yes |
| Nambucca Heads Roosters | Nambucca Heads | Coronation Park | 1969, 1972, 1975–76, 1986, 1992–93, 2024-2025 | Yes | Yes |
 Sawtell Panthers | Coffs Harbour (Sawtell) | Rex Hardaker Oval | 1978, 2009, 2011 | Yes | Yes |
 South Grafton Rebels | Grafton | McKittrick Park | 2015–16, 2022 | Yes | Yes |
 Woolgoolga Seahorses | Woolgoolga | Woolgoolga Sports Ground | 2023 | Yes | Yes |
| Junior Clubs | |||||
 Bowraville Tigers | Bowraville | Bowraville Sports Hub | None | No | Yes |
| Kempsey Dragons | Kempsey | Verge Street Oval | None | No* | Yes |
 Smithtown Tigers | Smithtown | Smithtown Oval | 1966, 1968, 1977 | No‡ | Yes |
*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
| Season | Grand Final Information | Minor Premiers | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premiers | Score | Runners-up | Report | ||
| 1966 | Smithtown Tigers |
3–2 | Macksville Sea Eagles |
||
| 1967 | Smithtown Tigers | – | Coffs Harbour | ||
| 1968 | Smithtown Tigers |
7–4 | Coffs Harbour Comets |
||
| 1969 | Nambucca Heads Roosters |
10–6 | Central Kempsey |
||
| 1970 | Coffs Harbour Comets |
– | Central Kempsey |
||
| 1971 | Coffs Harbour Comets |
20–9 | Nambucca Heads Roosters |
||
| 1972 | Nambucca Heads Roosters |
15–10 | Coffs Harbour Comets |
||
| 1973 | Coffs Harbour Comets |
20–13 | Nambucca Heads Roosters |
||
| 1974 | Coffs Harbour Comets |
6–2 | Bellingen Magpies |
||
| 1975 | Nambucca Heads Roosters |
19–4 | Kempsey Dragons |
||
| 1976 | Nambucca Heads Roosters |
19–2 | Bellingen Magpies |
||
| 1977 | Smithtown Tigers |
– | Nambucca Heads Roosters |
||
| 1978 | Sawtell Panthers |
14–13 | Smithtown Tigers |
Sawtell (Clayton Cup) | |
| 1979 | Macksville Sea Eagles |
24–7 | Smithtown Tigers |
||
| 1980 | Bellingen Magpies |
19–10 | Sawtell Panthers |
||
| 1981 | Bellingen Magpies |
44–0 | Macksville Sea Eagles |
Bellingen Magpies | |
| 1982 | Bellingen Magpies |
21–12 | Ngaku Warriors (Kempsey) |
Sawtell Panthers | |
| 1983 | Coffs Harbour Comets |
28–16 | Woolgoolga Seahorses |
Coffs Harbour Comets | |
| 1984 | Bellingen Magpies |
4–1 | Coffs Harbour Comets |
Bellingen Magpies | |
| 1985 | Coffs Harbour Comets |
18–10 | Nambucca Heads Roosters |
Nambucca Heads Roosters | |
| 1986 | Nambucca Heads Roosters |
18–16 | Kempsey Dragons |
Kempsey Dragons | |
| 1987 | Bellingen Magpies |
23–6 | Nambucca Heads Roosters |
Bellingen Magpies | |
| 1988 | Bellingen Magpies |
50–24 | Kempsey Dragons |
Nambucca Heads Roosters | |
| 1989 | Bellingen Magpies |
39–6 | Coffs Harbour Comets |
Bellingen Magpies | |
| 1990 | Bellingen Magpies |
22–20 | Orara Valley Axemen |
Smithtown Tigers | |
| 1991 | Macksville Sea Eagles |
26–26 | Coffs Harbour Comets |
Macksville Sea Eagles | |
| 1992 | Nambucca Heads Roosters |
40–6 | Woolgoolga Seahorses |
Nambucca Heads Roosters | |
| 1993 | Nambucca Heads Roosters |
26–10 | Macksville Sea Eagles |
Macksville Sea Eagles | |
| 1994 | Orara Valley Axemen |
30–18 | Nambucca Heads Roosters |
Macksville Sea Eagles | |
| 1995 | Macksville Sea Eagles |
24–16 | Coffs Harbour Comets |
Macksville Sea Eagles | |
| 1996 | Nambucca Heads Roosters |
36–34 | Orara Valley Axemen |
Nambucca Heads Roosters | |
| 1997 | Orara Valley Axemen |
40–32 | Coffs Harbour Comets |
Coffs Harbour Comets | |
| 1998 | Port Macquarie Sharks |
26–25 | Nambucca Heads Roosters |
Nambucca Heads Roosters | |
| 1999 | Bellingen Magpies |
20–18 | Port Macquarie Sharks |
Port Macquarie Sharks | |
| 2000 | Port Macquarie Sharks |
24–12 | Nambucca Heads Roosters |
Port Macquarie Sharks | |
| 2001 | Port Macquarie Sharks |
54–26 | Macksville Sea Eagles |
Port Macquarie Sharks | |
| 2002 | Macksville Sea Eagles |
39–26 | Port Macquarie Sharks |
Port Macquarie Sharks | |
| 2003 | Macksville Sea Eagles |
30–23 | Orara Valley Axemen |
Port Macquarie Sharks | |
| 2004 | Macksville Sea Eagles |
34–23 | Port Macquarie Sharks |
Port Macquarie Sharks | |
| 2005 | Macksville Sea Eagles |
60–22 | Orara Valley Axemen |
Orara Valley Axemen | |
| 2006 | Port Macquarie Sharks |
22–18 | Sawtell Panthers |
Port Macquarie Sharks | |
| 2007 | Macksville Sea Eagles |
32–24 | Orara Valley Axemen |
Macksville Sea Eagles | |
| 2008 | Orara Valley Axemen |
19–18 | Woolgoolga Seahorses |
[1] | Orara Valley Axemen |
| 2009 | Sawtell Panthers |
21–20 | Macksville Sea Eagles |
Sawtell Panthers | |
| 2010 | Port Macquarie Sharks |
41–16 | Coffs Harbour Comets |
Port Macquarie Sharks | |
| 2011 | Sawtell Panthers |
29–28 | Nambucca Heads Roosters |
[2] | Nambucca Heads Roosters |
| 2012 | Macleay Valley Mustangs |
36–12 | Nambucca Heads Roosters |
[3][4] | Nambucca Heads Roosters |
| 2013 | Coffs Harbour Comets |
42–20 | Nambucca Heads Roosters |
[5] | Coffs Harbour Comets |
| 2014 | Grafton Ghosts |
18–16 | Coffs Harbour Comets |
[6] | Grafton Ghosts |
| 2015 | South Grafton Rebels |
46–18 | Coffs Harbour Comets |
[7] | South Grafton Rebels |
| 2016 | South Grafton Rebels |
26–12 | Grafton Ghosts |
[8] | South Grafton Rebels |
| 2017 | Grafton Ghosts |
32–12 | South Grafton Rebels |
[9] | Grafton Ghosts |
| 2018 | Coffs Harbour Comets |
30–14 | Macksville Sea Eagles |
[10][11] | Grafton Ghosts |
| 2019 | Grafton Ghosts |
68–6 | Coffs Harbour Comets |
Coffs Harbour Comets | |
| 2020 & 2021 seasons cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | |||||
| 2022 | South Grafton Rebels |
36–8 | Orara Valley Axemen |
Orara Valley Axemen | |
| 2023 | Woolgoolga Seahorses |
26–10 | South Grafton Rebels |
[12] | South Grafton Rebels |
| 2024 | Nambucca Heads Roosters |
31–12 | Woolgoolga Seahorses |
[13] | Nambucca Heads Roosters |
| 2025 | Nambucca Heads Roosters |
14–2 | Sawtell Panthers |
[14] | Woolgoolga Seahorses |
Premiership Tally
| Club | Premierships |
|---|---|
| Nambucca Heads Roosters | 10 |
| Bellingen Magpies | 9 |
| Macksville Sea Eagles | 8 |
| Coffs Harbour Comets | 8 |
| Port Macquarie Sharks | 5 |
| Smithtown Tigers | 4 |
| Sawtell Panthers | 3 |
| Orara Valley Axemen | 3 |
| Grafton Ghosts | 3 |
| South Grafton Rebels | 3 |
| Woolgoolga Seahorses | 1 |
| Macleay Valley Mustangs | 1 |
Players from Group 2 to play NRL
| Player | Club |
|---|---|
| Greg Inglis | Bowraville Tigers JRL |
| Albert Kelly | Smithtown Tigers JRL |
| Kevin Gordon | Sawtell Panthers JRL |
| Aiden Tolman | Smithtown Tigers JRL |
| Wayne Bartrim | Macleay Valley Mustangs |
| Matt Donovan | Macksville Sea Eagles |
| Paul Davis | Port Macquarie, Macksville and Dunghutti |
| Clint Greenshields | Sawtell Panthers JRL |
| Troy Robinson | Sawtell Panthers JRL |
| Mitchell Thomson | Sawtell Panthers JRL |
Notable players
Bellingen
Coffs Harbour Comets
Grafton Ghosts
Macksville Sea Eagles
Orara Valley Axemen
Sawtell Panthers
- Kevin Gordon
- Jarrod Wallace
- Troy Robinson
- Mitchell Thomson
- Clint Greenshields
- Noel Cleal
- Jason Alchin
South Grafton Rebels
Woolgoolga Seahorses
Bowraville Tigers
Kempsey Dragons
Nambucca Heads Roosters
- Ryan Stig
- Daniel Fitzhenry
- Rod Urquhart
Smithtown Tigers
See also
- Rugby League Competitions in Australia
- Group 2 on Country Rugby League's official site