Group 4 Rugby League

Group 4 is a rugby league competition in the New England and north west area of New South Wales, run under the auspices of the Country Rugby League.

Structure The Group runs a first grade, reserve grade, league tag and under 18s competitions. All nine first grade clubs run at least one lower grade team and most will have three or four. In addition to the nine first grade clubs, there was also one junior club involved in under 16s: Farrer MAHS. The Under 16s competition has since become a part of the junior league organisation in the region, Group 4 JRL. It also formerly ran a second division competition called the Wests Shield. The second division competition contained stand-alone senior teams from smaller towns within the region, who eventually moved up to first grade in 2018 after a merger between the divisions. Kootingal-Moonbi, Dungowan and Boggabri moved up to being full first grade teams, whilst Manilla and Barraba moved into the reserves competition. Manilla then re-joined the first grade competition in 2022.

There are also Group 4 senior Under 18s and Under 16s representative teams that competes against other Group sides. They compete against Groups 19 and 21 in trials for the Greater Northern Tigers regional team.

Teams Current teams Nine teams currently compete in Group 4 Rugby League first grade, from towns across the New England and north west area of New South Wales.

The 2020 season was postponed and subsequently cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia.

First Grade Clubs Team Home ground No. of Premierships Premierships Boggabri Kangaroos Jubilee Oval 2 1963, 1964 Dungowan Cowboys Dungowan Oval 0 None Gunnedah Bulldogs Kitchener Park 8 1956, 1965, 1973, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1998, 2026 Kootingal-Moonbi Roosters Kootingal Oval 0 None Moree Boars Boughton Oval 5 1988, 1989, 1999, 2002, 2024, 2025 Narrabri Blues (in recess) Collins Park 5 1940, 1970, 1971, 1976, 1990 North Tamworth Bears Jack Woolaston Oval 23 1913, 1921, 1924, 1926, 1927, 1929, 1931, 1950, 1951, 1953, 1980, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2014, 2015 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023 Wee Waa PanthersCook Oval21992, 2004 Werris Creek Magpies David Taylor Oval 10 1925, 1933, 1948, 1949, 1952, 1979, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997 Former teams The following teams have competed in Group 4 First Grade since 1983: Armidale (2016) (moved back to Group 19) Barraba (1980s–2021, on and off) (folded) Bendemeer (2018) (folded) Collegians Tamworth (2017) (Returned to junior football only) Coonabarabran (1998–2009) (moved to Castlereagh) Inverell (1980s–1989) (moved to Group 19) Moree Boomerangs (1980s–1990) (moved to Group 19) Manilla Tigers (–2022) (folded) Oxley Diggers Tamworth (2014–16) (folded) Tamworth City (1956–1995, merged with West Tamworth) Tamworth United (1990–91) Warialda (1980s–1988) (moved to Group 19) West Tamworth (1913–1995 as the Robins, merged with Tamworth City 1995–2016), rebranded as South West (2017). Many of these clubs have moved to Group 19.

These clubs fielded teams in at least one Division 2 competition during the seasons 2011 to 2017. Bendemeer (folded) Bingara (Group 19) Bundarra (moved to Group 19, in recess) Quirindi (moved to Group 21, Folded) Uralla (moved to Group 19, amalgamated with Walcha) Walcha (moved to Group 19, amalgamated with Uralla)

In 2018, the clubs Bendemeer, Boggabri, Dungowan, Kootingal-Moonbi and Werris Creek were elevated from Division 2 into a reorganised First Grade competition. Manilla moved into the lower grades.

Map + Local Area in New South Wales

Grand finals Year Premiers Score Runners-up Report Winning Coach Grand Final venue Minor Premiers Wooden Spoon 1912 East Tamworth 10–4 North Tamworth Rebels Outer Oval, Tamworth 1913 North Tamworth Rebels - East Tamworth Paddy McGuinness No Final 1914 West Tamworth 12–3 North Tamworth Rebels 1915 West Tamworth - East Tamworth 1919 East Tamworth 24–0 North Tamworth Tamworth Oval 1920 West Tamworth 8–3 North Tamworth Tamworth Oval 1921 North Tamworth 5–4 West Tamworth E. (LEG) Frame 1922 West Tamworth 7–6 North Tamworth 1923 West Tamworth 7–0 North Tamworth 1924 North Tamworth - No Final Tom McCormack No Final 1925 Werris Creek - No Final Alec Main No Final 1926 North Tamworth 10–3 Manilla Harry Pinkerton Tamworth Oval 1927 North Tamworth 8–4 West Tamworth Harry Pinkerton 1928 West Tamworth 10–3 East Tamworth 1929 North Tamworth - No Final Harry Pinkerton No Final 1930 Nundle 8–5 North Tamworth 1931 North Tamworth 9–0 East Tamworth Harry Thompson Tamworth Oval West Tamworth 1932 East Tamworth 8–5 West Tamworth Jim Tait 1933 Werris Creek 8–7 East Tamworth Benny Bell 1934 East Tamworth 20–15 West Tamworth Cec Anderton 1935 Cup & Shield Games Only 1936 1937 West Tamworth 13–5 Werris Creek 1938 West Tamworth 8–5 Tamworth 1939 Tamworth - No Final No Final 1940 Narrabri Blues 31–7 Tamworth Collins Park; Narrabri Narrabri Blues 1941 Tamworth 7–4 Army 1942 Tamworth 17–15 RAAF All Blues 1943 Con Depot 17–10 Tamworth 1944 Tamworth 6–3 Railways 1945 Railways 17–11 Werris Creek 1946 Tamworth 13–3 Quirindi 1947 Quirindi 19–6 East Tamworth 1948 Werris Creek 14–7 East Tamworth Eric Frazer Werris Creek 1949 Werris Creek 18–11 West Tamworth Eric Frazer Werris Creek 1950 North Tamworth Bears 10–2 Werris Creek Allan Nelson 1951 North Tamworth 13–2 Werris Creek Vic Williams 1952 Werris Creek 11–9 North Tamworth Greg Wilkins Werris Creek 1953 North Tamworth 23–5 Gunnedah Lloyd Russell North Tamworth Bears 1954 Armidale 24–12 West Tamworth Ron Madden Tamworth Oval Armidale 1955 West Tamworth 16–7 Armidale 1956 Gunnedah 23–5 Armidale 1957 West Tamworth 21–7 Boggabri 1958 Tamworth City RSL 16–12 Boggabri 1959 Tamworth City RSL 24–2 West Tamworth 1960 Tamworth City RSL 13–8 West Tamworth 1961 Manilla 10–8 Gunnedah 1962 West Tamworth 22–7 Gunnedah 1963 Boggabri 22–10 West Tamworth 1964 Boggabri 18–17 West Tamworth 1965 Gunnedah 29–4 Quirindi 1966 West Tamworth 11–9 Gunnedah 1967 West Tamworth 25–13 Manilla 1968 West Tamworth 26–12 Narrabri Blues 1969 West Tamworth 5–2 Gunnedah Wiliam Bischoff 1970 Narrabri Blues 32–9 West Tamworth 1971 Narrabri Blues 8–7 West Tamworth 1972 West Tamworth 22–14 Gunnedah Bulldogs Wiliam Bischoff 1973 Gunnedah Bulldogs 25–5 West Tamworth 1974 West Tamworth 21–8 Werris Creek Des Kimmorley 1975 Walcha Roos 12–4 Werris Creek Marty Williamson Walcha Roos 1976 Narrabri Blues 18–5 West Tamworth Frank Fish 1977 West Tamworth 34–0 Narrabri Blues 1978 Tamworth City RSL Lions 15–7 Gunnedah Bulldogs Dempsey Joy 1979 Werris Creek 21–3 Gunnedah Bulldogs Wiliam Bischoff David Taylor Park; Werris Creek Werris Creek 1980 North Tamworth Bears 23–15 Narrabri Blues Russell Worth North Tamworth Bears Wee Waa Panthers 1981 West Tamworth 22–16 Werris Creek Scully Park North Tamworth Bears 1982 Tamworth City RSL Lions 21–2 Moree Boomerangs Neville Baldock 1983 Gunnedah Bulldogs 26–22 Tamworth City RSL Lions Terry Donnelly 1984 Gunnedah Bulldogs 35–20 North Tamworth Bears John Lennan 1985 Gunnedah Bulldogs 19–12 Narrabri Blues John Lennan Kitchener Park; Gunnedah Gunnedah Bulldogs Boggabri Kangaroos 1986 West Tamworth 6–4 Inverell RSM Steve Martin Scully Park West Tamworth Moree Boars 1987 West Tamworth 10–0 Gunnedah Bulldogs Steve Martin Scully Park West Tamworth Wee Waa Panthers 1988 Moree Boars 32–28 Gunnedah Bulldogs John Kirkwood Burt Jovanovich Park Gunnedah Bulldogs Warialda Wombats 1989 Moree Boars 16–15 Narrabri Blues John Kirkwood Burt Jovanovich Park Moree Boars Inverell RSM 1990 Narrabri Blues 18–14 West Tamworth Kevin Hill Collins Park; Narrabri Narrabri Blues Tamworth United 1991 West Tamworth 21–6 Narrabri Blues Gary Maguire Scully Park Narrabri Blues Tamworth United 1992 Wee Waa Panthers 18–12 West Tamworth John Harvey Cook Oval; Wee Waa 1993 Werris Creek 20–16 Gunnedah Bulldogs Ron Dellar David Taylor Park; Werris Creek 1994 Tamworth City RSL Lions 24–14 Gunnedah Bulldogs Mick Schmiedel Kitchener Park 1995 Werris Creek 16–14 Gunnedah Bulldogs Ron Dellar Gunnedah Bulldogs 1996 Werris Creek 45–14 Gunnedah Bulldogs Ron Dellar Werris Creek 1997 Werris Creek 32–32Replay22-21 Wee Waa Panthers Ron Dellar Gunnedah Bulldogs Moree Boars 1998 Gunnedah Bulldogs 33–14 Wee Waa Panthers Peter Ryman Wee Waa Panthers North Tamworth Bears 1999 Moree Boars 32–20 West Tamworth Lions Mark Ryan West Tamworth Lions Coonabarabran Unicorns 2000 West Tamworth Lions 23–6 North Tamworth Bears Tony La Chiusa Jack Woolaston Oval West Tamworth Lions Gunnedah Bulldogs 2001 West Tamworth Lions 34–24 North Tamworth Bears Tony La Chiusa Scully Park West Tamworth Lions Gunnedah Bulldogs 2002 Moree Boars 34–18 West Tamworth Lions Tony Murray Burt Jovanovich Oval, Moree Moree Boars Wee Waa Panthers 2003 Coonabarabran Unicorns 33–24 North Tamworth Bears Mark Watton Jack Woolaston Oval North Tamworth Bears Werris Creek 2004 Wee Waa Panthers 46–10 Moree Boars Matt Hogan Cook Oval, Wee Waa West Tamworth Lions Werris Creek 2005 North Tamworth Bears 34–28 West Tamworth Lions Luke Taylor Jack Woolaston Oval North Tamworth Bears Wee Waa Panthers 2006 North Tamworth Bears 42–14 Coonabarabran Unicorns Luke Taylor Jack Woolaston Oval North Tamworth Bears Narrabri Blues 2007 North Tamworth Bears 32–12 West Tamworth Lions Matt Parsons Jack Woolaston Oval North Tamworth Bears Werris Creek 2008 North Tamworth Bears 8–6 West Tamworth Lions Matt Parsons Jack Woolaston Oval West Tamworth Lions Narrabri Blues 2009 West Tamworth Lions 52–28 North Tamworth Bears Tony La Chiusa Scully Park West Tamworth Lions Narrabri Blues 2010 West Tamworth Lions 55–12 Wee Waa Panthers Tony La Chiusa Scully Park West Tamworth Lions Moree Boars 2011 West Tamworth Lions 54–14 North Tamworth Bears Tony La Chiusa Jack Woolaston Oval West Tamworth Lions Moree Boars 2012 West Tamworth Lions 23–12 North Tamworth Bears Tony La Chiusa Jack Woolaston Oval West Tamworth Lions Moree Boars 2013 West Tamworth Lions 33–24 North Tamworth Bears Tony La Chiusa Scully Park West Tamworth Lions Moree Boars 2014 North Tamworth Bears 56–18 Gunnedah Bulldogs Brad McManus Jack Woolaston Oval North Tamworth Bears Oxley Diggers 2015 North Tamworth Bears 46–25 West Tamworth Lions Zac Russ Jack Woolaston Oval West Tamworth Lions Oxley Diggers 2016 North Tamworth Bears 36–12 West Tamworth Lions Brad McManus Jack Woolaston Oval North Tamworth Bears Armidale Rams 2017 North Tamworth Bears 30–22 Narrabri Blues Brad McManus Jack Woolaston Oval North Tamworth Bears Wee Waa Panthers 2018 North Tamworth Bears 34–28 Gunnedah Bulldogs Scott Blanch Jack Woolaston Oval Kootingal Moonbi Roosters Boggabri Kangaroos 2019 North Tamworth Bears 40–4 Kootingal Moonbi Roosters Scott Blanch Jack Woolaston Oval North Tamworth Bears Boggabri Kangaroos 2020 and 2021 seasons cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic. 2022 North Tamworth Bears 22–14 Dungowan Cowboys Paul Boyce Dungowan Recreation Reserve North Tamworth Bears Manilla Tigers 2023 North Tamworth Bears 26–16 Moree BoarsPaul BoyceJack Woolaston Oval Moree Boars Narrabri Blues2024 Moree Boars 40–18 BoggabriMichael WattonBoughton Oval Moree Boars Wee Waa Panthers2025 Moree Boars32–16 Gunnedah BulldogsBoughton Oval Moree Boars Wee Waa Panthers2026 Gunnedah Bulldogs28–12 Moree BoarsSean HayneKitchener Park Moree Boars Kootingal Moonbi Roosters

Junior League

Current Teams Team Home ground Dungowan Cowboys Dungowan Oval Farrer Memorial AHSFarrer HS Gunnedah Bulldogs Kitchener Park Kootingal-Moonbi Roosters Kootingal Oval Manilla Tigers Manilla Oval Collegians Tamworth JRLFC Tamworth Narrabri Blues Collins Park North Tamworth Bears Jack Woolaston Oval South West Robins Junior Sporting Assoc.Scully Park Precinct Werris Creek Magpies David Taylor Oval

Notable juniors

Boggabri Kangaroos

Dungowan Cowboys

Gunnedah Bulldogs John Donnelly James Wynne John O’Neill Lindsay Johnston Ron Turner Aaron Donnelly

Kootingal-Moonbi Roosters

Narrabri Blues

North Tamworth Bears

See also

Rugby League Competitions in Australia

References

External links and sources