Orara Valley into Group 2 rugby league grand final with Sam Burgess

Orara Valley are preparing for a fairytale first grand final in over a decade - on the back of hard work and leadership from former NRL superstar Sam Burgess. See why the country rugby league club is taking nothing for granted.

After years languishing at the bottom of the competition and not having a side to enter at all at one point, the Orara Valley Axemen are on top of the world this week as they prepare for a shot at glory in Sunday’s Group 2 final against South Grafton.

After having to withdraw from the competition the past two seasons, Orara are well on their way to their traditional place as a leading side, having claimed the minor premiership with a 24-10 win over Woolgoolga in early August.

Key to Orara Valley’s resurgence has been former South Sydney Rabbitohs superstar Sam Burgess, who turned down assistant coaching roles in the NRL to give back to the grassroots club.

It’s been an appointment that has been a long time in the making, according to club president Peter Spinks.

“Sam saw an opportunity to help a grassroots footy club back off the ground when we first met in April 2021, and he’s also friends with our treasurer which made it an easy transition for him,” Spinks said.

Sam Burgess shares a laugh with his troops. Photo: Orara Valley Axemen

Burgess (SB) has been instrumental in every facet of the club’s backroom operations, not simply limiting his role to on the field.

“SB has been fantastic, and all around the club too. He’s been able to build us back up to a position where we’re competitive, and not just in first grade,” Spinks said.

“The girls have been the best performing league tag team that we’ve ever had, and reserves have got a lot of really good depth.”

In the core of rugby league heartland, Group 2 attracts some of the biggest names from around the country.

This season, Macksville brought back NRL legend and local boy Greg Inglis as captain-coach, albeit in a slightly less successful venture than that of Burgess and the Axemen.

The clash between the Axemen and the Macksville Eagles in Round 6 saw a well known face in attendance – legendary coach Wayne Bennett, who led both Inglis and Burgess during their decorated NRL careers.

Burgess has reportedly turned down an offer to join Bennett as assistant coach at the NRL’s newest expansion club, the Dolphins, to return to the Rabbitohs under Jason Demetriou.

The bright lights associated with the Bunnies legend are not lost on Orara, with Souths juniors Dan Robinson and Lathan Hutchinson-Walters both joining the Axemen as a result of Burgess coming on board.

Despite this, it’s important to Spinks that the club remains humble and true to its roots.

“We’ve had some hard times in the last decades, and he’s well and truly got an appreciation for how tough it is out here in The Bush,” Spinks said.

“The boys have put in a super effort along with the coach – it would be a bit of a fairytale story.”

The Group 2 grand final will be held at 2.30pm on September 4 at Coramba Sportsground.

Orara Valley team list

1. Liam Dunn
2. Ronan Singleton
3. Luke Beaumont
4. Lathan Hutchinson-Walters
5. Steven Cetinich
6. Buddy Hart
7. Dan Robinson
8. Cain Bunt
9. Zac Makelim
10. Matt Wakefield
11. Ryan Gill
12. Macauley Dawson
13. Justin Hull
14. Jedaiah Katal
15. Harry Davey
16. Vikram Atwal
17. Oscar Watson
18. Alex Bunt
19. Jarrod Hall

South Grafton team list

1. Keiron Johnson-Heron

2. Luke French

3. Nick McGrady

4. Tom McGrady

5. Brian Quinlan

6. Hugh Stanley

7. Jordan Gallagher

8. Lewis Cooper

9. Cooper Makings

10. Jack Pitkin*

11. TJ Walker

12. Grant Brown

13. Grant Stevens

19. Ryan Binge

15. Luke Walker

18. Tyrhys Brown

16. Aussie Cooper.