Group 16 Rugby League

Group 16 is a rugby league competition on the south coast of New South Wales, run under the auspices of the Country Rugby League. The Group 16 district covers the area from Batemans Bay down the Sapphire Coast to Eden, and inland across the Southern Tablelands to the Snowy Mountains towns of Cooma and Jindabyne.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia the commencement of Group 16 2020 season was postponed and subsequently cancelled.

The competition is held across four grades, First Grade, Reserve Grade, Ladies League Tag and Under 18s.

The competition also has a junior league with clubs aligned with their respective teams of the senior competition.

Teams Club Est. Home Ground Premierships Premiership Years SubGroup Group Batemans Bay Tigers 1897 Mackay Park 3 1 1940 (Bodalla); 1948, 1953 (Northern); 1967 Bega Roosters 1960 Bega Recreation Ground 0 12 1966, 1971, 1972, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 2000, 2001, 2014, 2022 Bombala Blue Heelers 1932 Bombala Showground & Delegate Showground 9 6 1932, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936 (Southern Monaro); 1950, 1966, 1967, 1968 (Group 19); 1976, 1977, 1979, 1983, 1991, 2018 Cooma Stallions 1971 Cooma Showground 0 3 1984, 1994, 2017 Eden Tigers 1940 George Brown Memorial Oval 3 14 1947, 1949, 1954 (Imlay); 1959, 1963, 1978, 1981, 1982, 1992, 1995, 1997, 2002, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011 Merimbula-Pambula Bulldogs 1975 Pambula Sporting Complex 1 3 1980, 1993, 2023 (1927 Far South sub-group as Pambula-Merimbula) Moruya Sharks 1925 Ack Weyman Oval 0 5 1989, 1998, 2013, 2015, 2016 Narooma Devils 1929 Bill Smythe Memorial Oval 3 6 1951, 1952, 1955 (Northern); 1999, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2009, 2012 Tathra Sea Eagles 1926 Lawrence Park 3 3 1951, 1952, 1953 (Imlay); 2019, 2025, 2026 Former clubs Former clubs that once played in the area include: Alpine Wanderers Bodalla Candelo-Bemboka Panthers Cobargo-Bermagui Eels Delegate Tigers Milton-Ulladulla Bulldogs Snowy River Bears Tuross Lakers

Map + Local Area in New South Wales

Premiers First-grade premiers SeasonGrand Final informationMinor PremiersPremiersScoreRunners-up 1956 Bega Rovers 8–2 Cobargo-Bermagui Eels 1957 Bemboka 5–0 Candelo Bemboka 1958 Bemboka 27–0 Eden Tigers Bemboka 1959 Eden Tigers 3–2 Bemboka Eden Tigers 1960 Bemboka 10–3 Eden Tigers Eden Tigers 1961 Bemboka 10–3 Tathra Sea Eagles Tathra Sea Eagles 1962 Bemboka 3–0 Tathra Sea Eagles Bemboka 1963 Eden Tigers 14–5 Tathra Sea Eagles Tathra Sea Eagles 1964 Bodalla 4–2 Bemboka Bodalla 1965 Candelo 17–9 Bemboka Tathra Sea Eagles 1966 Bega Roosters 9–7 Moruya Sharks Moruya Sharks 1967 Batemans Bay Tigers 7–0 Bega Roosters Batemans Bay Tigers 1968 Pambula 13–8 Batemans Bay Tigers Bega Roosters 1969 Candelo-Bemboka Panthers 16–4 Moruya Sharks Candelo-Bemboka Panthers 1970 Candelo-Bemboka Panthers 15–8 Bega Roosters Bega Roosters 1971 Bega Roosters 11–7 Eden Tigers Eden Tigers 1972 Bega Roosters 12–7 Tathra Sea Eagles Tathra Sea Eagles 1973 Candelo-Bemboka Panthers 13–3 Bombala Blue Heelers Candelo-Bemboka Panthers 1974 Candelo-Bemboka Panthers 26–10 Bombala Blue Heelers Bombala Blue Heelers 1975 Candelo-Bemboka Panthers 13–10 Bombala Blue Heelers Candelo-Bemboka Panthers 1976 Bombala Blue Heelers 12–4 Delegate Bombala Blue Heelers 1977 Bombala Blue Heelers 9–8 Eden Tigers Bega Roosters 1978 Eden Tigers 24–3 Cooma Stallions Cooma Stallions 1979 Bombala Blue Heelers 14–2 Bega Roosters Snowy River Bears 1980 Merimbula-Pambula Bulldogs 19–7 Snowy River Bears Snowy River Bears 1981 Eden Tigers 8–6 Bega Roosters Bombala Blue Heelers 1982 Eden Tigers 7–4 Snowy River Bears Snowy River Bears 1983 Bombala-Delegate 15–7 Bega Roosters Bombala-Delegate 1984 Cooma Stallions 12–9 Bombala-Delegate Bombala-Delegate 1985 Bega Roosters 14–8 Narooma Devils Bega Roosters 1986 Bega Roosters 9–8 Bombala-Delegate Bega Roosters 1987 Bega Roosters 20–6 Merimbula-Pambula Bulldogs Bega Roosters 1988 Bega Roosters 28–6 Cooma Stallions Bega Roosters 1989 Moruya Sharks 38–10 Cooma Stallions Moruya Sharks 1990 Bega Roosters 14–6 Snowy River Bears Narooma Devils 1991 Bombala Blue Heelers 28–22 Bega Roosters Bombala Blue Heelers 1992 Eden Tigers 16–14 Cooma Stallions Eden Tigers 1993 Merimbula-Pambula Bulldogs 13–4 Eden Tigers Eden Tigers 1994 Cooma Stallions 14–8 Bega Roosters Bega Roosters 1995 Eden Tigers 28–2 Cooma Stallions Cooma Stallions 1996 Snowy River Bears 18–0 Eden Tigers Eden Tigers 1997 Eden Tigers 23–8 Moruya Sharks Eden Tigers 1998 Moruya Sharks 36–14 Eden Tigers Moruya Sharks 1999 Narooma Devils 12–11 Bombala Blue Heelers Narooma Devils 2000 Bega Roosters 18–19 Bombala Blue Heelers Bega Roosters 2001 Bega Roosters 12–8 Tathra Sea Eagles Bega Roosters 2002 Eden Tigers 21–6 Tathra Sea Eagles Eden Tigers 2003 Narooma Devils 40–2 Eden Tigers Narooma Devils 2004 Narooma Devils 42–24 Moruya Sharks Narooma Devils 2005 Narooma Devils 18–14 Cooma Stallions Eden Tigers 2006 Eden Tigers 28–8 Cooma Stallions Cooma Stallions 2007 Eden Tigers 30–22 Bombala Blue Heelers Eden Tigers 2008 Eden Tigers 32–8 Bega Roosters Eden Tigers 2009 Narooma Devils 56–32 Cooma Stallions Narooma Devils 2010 Eden Tigers 18–10 Bega Roosters Cooma Stallions 2011 Eden Tigers 18–4 Bega Roosters Eden Tigers 2012 Narooma Devils 20–14 Moruya Sharks Moruya Sharks 2013 Moruya Sharks 14–10 Bega Roosters Moruya Sharks 2014 Bega Roosters 28–8 Narooma Devils Moruya Sharks 2015 Moruya Sharks 50–12 Bega Roosters Moruya Sharks 2016 Moruya Sharks 24–14 Bega Roosters Moruya Sharks 2017 Cooma Stallions 38–18 Bombala Blue Heelers Cooma Stallions 2018 Bombala Blue Heelers 14–12 Bega Roosters Bega Roosters 2019 Tathra Sea Eagles 24–18 Bega Roosters Bega Roosters 2020 season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic 2021 2021 Finals Series and Grand Final cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic Merimbula-Pambula Bulldogs2022 Bega Roosters24–14 Tathra Sea Eagles Bombala Blue Heelers2023 Merimbula-Pambula Bulldogs38–18 Tathra Sea Eagles Eden Tigers2024 Snowy River Bears20–12 Eden Tigers Eden Tigers2025 Tathra Sea Eagles30–18 Merimbula-Pambula Bulldogs Merimbula-Pambula Bulldogs2026 Tathra Sea Eagles12–11 Bega Roosters Merimbula-Pambula Bulldogs

Juniors Batemans Bay Tigers Ben Cross Matthew Cross

Bega Roosters Dale Finucane Kezie Apps Deon Apps

Bombala Blue Heelers Ky Rodwell

Cooma Stallions Brett White Sam Williams Jack Williams Zac Saddler Merimbula-Pambula Bulldogs Euan Aitken Wayne Collins Tony Paton Pat Coman Scott Gammell Ben Duckworth Tommy Hughes

Moruya Sharks Michael Weyman Tim Weyman Jarrad Kennedy Rhys Kennedy

Narooma Devils Chris Houston Michael Lett Teig Wilton

Tathra Sea Eagles Adam Elliott

Eden Tigers Corey Stewart Brett Kelly Peter Kelly

Sub-Group Competitions From the mid-1920s to the mid-1950s Rugby League was played in what became known as sub-group competitions.

Far South Coast / Northern Sub-Group This competition began as the Far South Coast Rugby League in 1925, with Wyndham Oaks, Bega Waratahs, Bega Federals, Candelo, Pambula Buccaneers and Eden as the competing teams. In 1937 the first grade competition was not held, with teams playing challenge cup matches instead, although a reserve grade competition was held. Following the 1940 Grand Final, competition was suspended due to World War Two.

Competition resumed in 1946.

SeasonGrand Final informationMinor PremiersPremiersScoreRunners-upReport 1925 Wyndham No Finals 1926 Bega Federals No Finals 1927 Pambula-Merimbula 4–2 Quaama Pambula 1928 Quaama 9–3 Bega Quaama 1929 Candelo 5–3 Pambula 1930 Candelo 7–5 Cobargo Candelo 1931 Bega 18–0 Candelo Bega 1932 Candelo 14–4 Merimbula 1933 Candelo 3–3 Bega Rovers Candelo 1934 Bega Rovers 13–2 Candelo Bega 1935 Bega Rovers 5–5 Candelo Bega 1936 Bega Rovers 21–4 Cobargo 1938 Cobargo 9–5 Bermagui Cobargo 1940 Batemans Bay 18–5 Cobargo Batemans Bay 1946 Cobargo 17–8 Dry River Dry River 1947 Bega Rovers 14–10 Cobargo Bega Rovers 1948 Batemans Bay 20–4 Cobargo Batemans Bay 1949 Dry River-Cobargo 23–7 Batemans Bay 1950 Cobargo-Dry River 5–4 Batemans Bay 1951 Narooma 9–6 Bega Rovers 1952 Narooma 19–0 Bega Rovers Narooma 1953 Batemans Bay 2–0 Bega Rovers Batemans Bay 1954 Bega Rovers 13–6 Batemans Bay Bega Rovers 1955 Narooma 10–0 Batemans Bay 1956 Cobargo-Bermagui Eels –

Pambula / Imlay A competition centred around Pambula was held in 1933. Four teams contested the 1936 season: Pambula, Eden, Wolumla and Burragate.

The 1947 Imlay Rugby League competition included Bemboka, Candelo, Eden, Pambula, Tathra, Wolumla and Wyndham. The Bega Rovers and Bega Wests switched from the Northern Sub-Group to the Imlay League in 1955.

SeasonGrand Final informationMinor PremiersPremiersScoreRunners-upReport 1933 Wyndham 12–2 Pambula Pambula 1934 Wolumla 7–7 Pambula 1936 Pambula 7–6 Eden 1937 Pambula Old Boys 7–0 Wyndham 1938 Merimbula 9–6 Pambula 1940 Wolumla – Merimbula 1947 Eden 7–4 Bemboka 1948 Candelo 5–4 Bemboka Candelo 1949 Eden 6–4 Bemboka Bemboka 1950 Bemboka 6–4 Wolumla Wolumla 1951 Tathra 11–4 Eden Eden 1952 Tathra 6–3 Eden Eden 1953 Tathra 4–2 Eden Tathra 1954 Eden 14–4 Tathra Tathra 1955 Bemboka 10–2 Tathra 1956 Bega Rovers 12–7 Bega Wests Bega Rovers

Southern Monaro The four towns of Bibbenluke, Bombala, Cathcart and Delegate regularly played Rugby Union matches in the early decades of the 20th century. The clubs trialed league rules in 1928 but returned to Union in 1929. In 1932, however, Southern Monaro Rugby League was established as a sub-group of Group 16. In 1935, the three first grade teams became two by the end of the season. Bombala fielded two teams (Blues and Blacks), and Nimmitabel joined to make a five team 1936 competition. From 1937, the clubs reverted to challenge cup matches.

SeasonGrand Final informationMinor PremiersPremiersScoreRunners-upReport 1932 Bombala 9–3 Bibbenluke Bombala 1933 Bombala 6–2 Bibbenluke 1934 Bombala 3–0 Bibbenluke Bibbenluke 1935 Bombala 9–7 Bibbenluke 1936 Bombala Blacks 9–2 Bibbenluke

Group 19 Rugby League (1950–1970)

A senior Rugby League competition under the enumeration Group 19 ran from the post-war years until 1970. Participating teams included Bibbenluke, Bombala, Delegate, Jindabyne and (usually) Adaminaby. In most seasons two or three Cooma teams participated – the Cooma Rovers and St Patricks, Cooma Blues or Cooma Citizens. Employees engaged in the Snowy River Scheme fielded teams for short periods – Public Service, Snowy and the intriguingly named Utah-Island Bend.

In 1971 the northern Group 19 clubs – Cooma Rovers, Adaminaby, Jindabyne, Cooma Citizens and Nimmitabel agreed to combine playing resources and field a team in the Group 16 competition, as the Alpine Wanderers. The three teams from southern Monaro also joined the combined competition, although they remained separate clubs.

The enumeration Group 19 was later redeployed to the northern tablelands of New South Wales, with teams from Armidale, Glen Innes, Guyra, Narwan, Uralla and Walcha competing under that banner in the 1980s.

Sources Years Item Via 1919 to 1954 Bombala Times Trove 1928 to 1935 Southern Record and Advertiser Trove 1950 to 1970 Cooma-Monaro Express Microfilm at State Library of NSW 1946 to 1991 Bega District News Microfilm at State Library of NSW 1967–69, 1971–96 Country Rugby League Annual Report State Library of NSW 1970–74, 1976–2001 Rugby League Week Bound copies at State Library of NSW 2002 to 2014 Rugby League Week eResources at State Library of NSW 2010 to 2019 Various Newspaper Websites As referenced 2015 to 2019 Group Rugby League past seasons SportingPulse / SportsTG websitesNo longer available

Juniors Group 16 Minor League Clubs Batemans Bay Tigers Bega Roosters Bombala Blue Heelers Cooma Stallions Eden Tigers Merimbula-Pambula Bulldogs Moruya-Tuross Sharks Narooma Devils Tathra Sea Eagles

See also

Rugby League Competitions in Australia

References