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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.

Group 4 Rugby League
SportRugby league
Instituted1913
Inaugural season1913
Number of teams9
CountryAustralia
Premiers North Tamworth Bears (2023)
Most titles West Tamworth Robins/Lions (29 titles)
WebsiteGroup 4 at SportsTG

Structure

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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

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Current teams

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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.[1]

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 7 1956, 1965, 1973, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1998
  Kootingal-Moonbi Roosters Kootingal Oval 0 None
  Moree Boars Boughton Oval 4 1988, 1989, 1999, 2002
  Narrabri Blues Collins Park 5 1940, 1970, 1971, 1976, 1990
  North Tamworth Bears Jack Woolaston Oval 22 1913, 1921, 1924, 1926, 1927, 1929, 1931, 1950, 1951, 1953, 1980, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2014, 2015 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022
  Wee Waa Panthers Cook Oval 2 1992, 2004
  Werris Creek Magpies David Taylor Oval 10 1925, 1933, 1948, 1949, 1952, 1979, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997

Former teams

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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)[2]
  • 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

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Local Area in New South Wales
Map 
 
45km
30miles
none 
 
South West (defunct)
 
Manilla
 
Werris Creek
 
North Tamworth
 
Narrabri
 
Kootingal
 
Gunnedah
 
Dungowan
. 
Boggabri
Locations of the current Group 4 clubs
.
Map 
 
800km
500miles
none 
 
Tamworth
 
Canberra
. 
Sydney
Relation to state & national capitals

Grand finals

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Year Premiers Score Runners-up Report Winning Coach Grand Final venue Minor Premiers Wooden Spoon
1912   East Tamworth 10–4   North Tamworth Rebels [3] Outer Oval, Tamworth
1913   North Tamworth Rebels -   East Tamworth [4] Paddy McGuinness No Final
1914   West Tamworth 12–3   North Tamworth Rebels [5]
1915   West Tamworth -   East Tamworth
1919   East Tamworth 24–0   North Tamworth [6] Tamworth Oval
1920   West Tamworth 8–3   North Tamworth [7] 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 [8]
1924   North Tamworth - No Final Tom McCormack No Final
1925   Werris Creek - No Final [9] Alec Main No Final
1926   North Tamworth 10–3   Manilla [10] 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 [11] Harry Thompson Tamworth Oval   West Tamworth
1932   East Tamworth 8–5   West Tamworth [12] Jim Tait
1933   Werris Creek 8–7   East Tamworth [13] Benny Bell
1934   East Tamworth 20–15   West Tamworth [14] Cec Anderton
1935 Cup & Shield Games Only
1936
1937   West Tamworth 13–5   Werris Creek [15]
1938   West Tamworth 8–5 Tamworth [16]
1939 Tamworth - No Final No Final
1940   Narrabri Blues 31–7 Tamworth [17] 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 [18]
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 [19] Vic Williams
1952   Werris Creek 11–9   North Tamworth [20] Greg Wilkins   Werris Creek
1953   North Tamworth 23–5   Gunnedah [21] Lloyd Russell   North Tamworth Bears
1954   Armidale 24–12   West Tamworth [22] 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 [9] 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 32–32
Replay
22-21 		  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 [23] Tony La Chiusa Jack Woolaston Oval   West Tamworth Lions   Gunnedah Bulldogs
2001   West Tamworth Lions 34–24   North Tamworth Bears [24] Tony La Chiusa Scully Park   West Tamworth Lions   Gunnedah Bulldogs
2002   Moree Boars 34–18   West Tamworth Lions [25] Tony Murray Burt Jovanovich Oval, Moree   Moree Boars   Wee Waa Panthers
2003   Coonabarabran Unicorns 33–24   North Tamworth Bears [26] Mark Watton Jack Woolaston Oval   North Tamworth Bears   Werris Creek
2004   Wee Waa Panthers 46–10   Moree Boars [27] Matt Hogan Cook Oval, Wee Waa   West Tamworth Lions   Werris Creek
2005   North Tamworth Bears 34–28   West Tamworth Lions [28] 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 [29] 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 [30] Tony La Chiusa Scully Park   West Tamworth Lions   Moree Boars
2011   West Tamworth Lions 54–14   North Tamworth Bears [31] Tony La Chiusa Jack Woolaston Oval   West Tamworth Lions   Moree Boars
2012   West Tamworth Lions 23–12   North Tamworth Bears [32] Tony La Chiusa Jack Woolaston Oval   West Tamworth Lions   Moree Boars
2013   West Tamworth Lions 33–24   North Tamworth Bears [33] Tony La Chiusa Scully Park   West Tamworth Lions   Moree Boars
2014   North Tamworth Bears 56–18   Gunnedah Bulldogs [34] Brad McManus Jack Woolaston Oval   North Tamworth Bears   Oxley Diggers
2015   North Tamworth Bears 46–25   West Tamworth Lions [35] Zac Russ Jack Woolaston Oval   West Tamworth Lions   Oxley Diggers
2016   North Tamworth Bears 36–12   West Tamworth Lions [36] Brad McManus Jack Woolaston Oval   North Tamworth Bears   Armidale Rams
2017   North Tamworth Bears 30–22   Narrabri Blues [37] Brad McManus Jack Woolaston Oval   North Tamworth Bears   Wee Waa Panthers
2018   North Tamworth Bears 34–28   Gunnedah Bulldogs [38] Scott Blanch Jack Woolaston Oval   Kootingal Moonbi Roosters   Boggabri Kangaroos
2019   North Tamworth Bears 40–4   Kootingal Moonbi Roosters [39] 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 Boars [40] Paul Boyce Jack Woolaston Oval   Moree Boars   Narrabri Blues
2024   Moree Boars 40-18   Boggabri Michael Watton Boughton Oval   Moree Boars   Wee Waa Panthers

Junior League

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Current Teams

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Team Home ground
  Dungowan Cowboys Dungowan Oval
  Farrer Memorial AHS Farrer 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

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Boggabri Kangaroos

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Dungowan Cowboys

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Gunnedah Bulldogs

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Kootingal-Moonbi Roosters

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Narrabri Blues

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North Tamworth Bears

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "2020 Group 4 Season Suspended". 2TM. 12 June 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  2. ^ Bath, Chris (12 June 2016). "Tamworth City Lions revelling in a league of their own". Northern Daily Leader. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  3. ^ "Half-Holiday Football - Easts Win The Premiership". Tamworth Daily Observer. Tamworth: National Library of Australia. 3 October 1912. p. 3. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  4. ^ "Rebels Final Social". Tamworth Daily Observer. Tamworth: National Library of Australia. 10 October 1913. p. 4. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  5. ^ "League Football - First Grade Competition - West Tamworth Premiers". Tamworth Daily Observer. Tamworth: National Library of Australia. 14 September 1914. p. 3. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  6. ^ "Football - League Finals in Tamworth". Daily Observer (Tamworth). Tamworth: National Library of Australia. 8 September 1919. p. 1. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  7. ^ "Tamworth Football". Daily Observer (Tamworth). Tamworth: National Library of Australia. 19 July 1920. p. 1. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  8. ^ Bryant, Col (1991). Red and black men - A History of the North Tamworth Rugby League Football Club. Peel Publishing Pty Ltd.
  9. ^ a b Holley, Chris (1997). A Few Ruffled Feathers - Tracing the History of Werris Creek Rugby League 1912-1997. Werris Creek Rugby League Club.
  10. ^ "Football". Manilla Express. Manilla: National Library of Australia. 7 September 1926. p. 2. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  11. ^ "Football". Manilla Express. Manilla: National Library of Australia. 25 August 1931. p. 2. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  12. ^ "The Referee's Section of NSW Country Football". The Referee. Sydney: National Library of Australia. 17 August 1932. p. 17. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  13. ^ "Central Northern League". The Sydney Morning Herald. Sydney: National Library of Australia. 5 September 1933. p. 16. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  14. ^ "The Sun Stop Press". The Newcastle Sun. Newcastle: National Library of Australia. 8 September 1934. p. 1. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  15. ^ "Northern Football". Maitland District Mercury. Maitland: National Library of Australia. 26 July 1937. p. 8. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  16. ^ "Football - Scone v. West Tamworth - Game for Championship of Group 4". The Scone Advocate. Scone: National Library of Australia. 23 August 1938. p. 2. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  17. ^ "Tamworth Overwhelmed". The Northwestern Courier. Narrabri: National Library of Australia. 12 August 1940. p. 4. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  18. ^ "Football - Tamworth on Sunday". The Muswellbrook Chronicle and Upper Hunter advertiser. Muswellbrook: National Library of Australia. 4 August 1944. p. 8. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  19. ^ "Tamworth Final". Armidale Express. Armidale: National Library of Australia. 3 September 1951. p. 11. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  20. ^ "Personal Pars". The Muswellbrook Chronicle and Upper Hunter advertiser. Muswellbrook: National Library of Australia. 26 August 1952. p. 1. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  21. ^ "Rugby League - North Tamworth Wins". Armidale Express. Armidale: National Library of Australia. 31 August 1953. p. 11. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  22. ^ "Rugby League - Armidale Too Strong For West". Armidale Express. Armidale: National Library of Australia. 20 September 1954. p. 10. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  23. ^ Gould, Joel (3 September 2000). "Lions reap dividend of sticking to game plan". Northern Daily Leader. p. 36.
  24. ^ Gould, Joel (10 September 2001). "Ellison vows no more comebacks". Northern Daily Leader.
  25. ^ Gould, Joel (8 September 2002). "Full Boar weekend". Northern Daily Leader.
  26. ^ Gould, Joel (14 September 2003). "Unicorn forwards lay platform for backs to finish". Northern Daily Leader.
  27. ^ Newling, Geoff (12 September 2004). "Hogan's heroes". Northern Daily Leader.
  28. ^ Newling, Geoff (18 September 2005). "Champion Bears". Northern Daily Leader.
  29. ^ Robertson, Grant (16 September 2007). "Victory Taylor-made". Northern Daily Leader.
  30. ^ "Lions savage Panthers for 24th title". Northern Daily Leader. 19 September 2010.
  31. ^ "North Tamworth Bears V West Lions Grand Final Day 2011". 9 September 2011. Archived from the original on 18 December 2021. Retrieved 22 April 2019 – via YouTube.
  32. ^ Robertson, Grant (27 August 2012). "West Lions 23 North Tamworth 12". Northern Daily Leader. p. 28.
  33. ^ Newling, Geoff (9 September 2013). "GALLERY: The West was won with early assault". The Northern Daily Leader. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
  34. ^ Newling, Geoff (23 September 2014). "North Tamworth Bears kings of country". The Northern Daily Leader. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
  35. ^ "Bears go back-to-back". Northern Daily Leader. 13 September 2015.
  36. ^ Herbert, Emily (12 September 2016). "Group Four's Grubby Grand Final". NBN News. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
  37. ^ Bode, Mark (10 September 2017). "Group 4 First Division: North Tamworth secure fourth straight premiership with bruising defeat of Narrabri". The Northern Daily Leader. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
  38. ^ Bode, Mark (9 September 2018). "Group 4 grand final: North Tamworth Bears edge Gunnedah Bulldogs 34–28". The Northern Daily Leader. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
  39. ^ Bode, Mark (7 September 2019). "2019 Group 4 first grade grand final - North Tamworth Bears down Kooty Roosters 40-4". Northern Daily Leader. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  40. ^ Smith, Tallon (23 August 2023). "Group 4: North Tamworth make it eight titles on the trot with Grand Final victory over Moree". Battlers For Bush Footy. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
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