Spots up grabs as competition experiences ladder squeeze with finals on the horizon

More than pride on the line as competition ladder hinges on local derby tie-breaker

The 2021 Tooheys New Group 2 Rugby League First Grade competition is still wide open as teams prepare for the ultimate round, including a local derby blockbuster in Grafton this Sunday.

Round 14 results last Sunday were indicative of the closeness of Group 2 this season, when the top two sides lost and the bottom two sides won, with only six points now separating first from last. Ladder leaders Coffs Harbour Comets were toppled by Macksville Sea Eagles 28-24, South Grafton got over the top of Bellingen Magpies 22-12, and Grafton was upstaged 17-16 by last-placed Woolgoolga Seahorses.

Troy Robinson’s field goal in the dying seconds at Woolgoolga Sports Ground mirrored the Ghosts’ own last ditch effort through Todd Cameron’s intercept to break the deadlock against Macksville the previous week.

WATCH: Full replay of round 14 clash between Grafton Ghosts and South Grafton Rebels

The Ghosts host the Rebels in a mouth-watering arch rivalry at Frank McGuren Field at 2.45pm this Sunday. But captain-coach Todd Cameron is wary his side will need to improve from its last outing against Woolgoolga.

“Both in the last 10 seconds, we got one, they got one,” Cameron said.

“Woolgoolga are coming last and they got us. It’s definitely a close comp this year.

“But we weren’t good enough last week. Coming into the finals we need to be better if we want to give it a nudge.”

Action between the Grafton Ghosts and South Grafton Rebels during their round five Group 2 First Grade Rugby League clash at Frank McGuren Field on Sunday, May 16, 2021.

South Grafton got the wood over Grafton in round 10, winning 33-12 at McKittrick Park, but the last time they headed across the river back in round five it was the Ghosts celebrating a 28-8 victory.

While any local derby between Ghosts and Rebels carries a grand final feel, it carries even greater significance than just a best-of-three decider between two foes this time around, with so much hinging on the results in terms of the competition ladder.

“It’s always going to be a tough game. They beat Bello so they’ll have a bit of momentum,” Cameron said.

“Last time they got us over there, but she was a tough game. Definitely defence needs to improve. We were a little bit off that day.

“It hasn’t been too bad in recent weeks, we just need to put it together for 80 minutes.”

In an injury-plagued season, Grafton will continue to be without the services of forward hitman Adam Slater, while Joel Moss (concussion) slots back into the second row, and rake Hayden Ensbey (shoulder) returns from a one-week rest.

In recent weeks Cameron has moved from his customary hooker position to five-eighth, where he agreed he is more able to guide his troops around the paddock.

“Nine is similar to half anyway, so it’s not a big change,” he said.

“I had Hayden playing in the halves, and he didn’t go too bad, but he’s played all his junior footy at nine. He’s a handy little player and I’m trying to help him out as much as I can.”

Rebels captain-coach Roy Bell and his head staff were unable to be contacted for comment.

GRAFTON GHOSTS: 1 Mitch Lollback, 2 Ollie Scott, 3 Dylan Collett, 4 Jake Martin, 5 Brayden Lollback, 6 Todd Cameron (c/c), 7 Wirri Boland, 8 Jared Roberts, 9 Hayden Ensbey, 10 Oliver Percy, 11 Cam Winters, 12 Joel Moss, 13 Justin King, 14 Kieran Stewart, 15 Bailey Sinclair, 16 Jay Olsen.

ROUND 15

• GRAFTON GHOSTS v SOUTH GRAFTON REBELS at Frank McGuren Field
• MACKSVILLE SEA EAGLES v WOOLGOOLGA SEAHORSES at Allan Gillett Oval
• COFFS HARBOUR COMETS v BELLINGEN MAGPIES at Geoff King Motors Oval

Ladder: 16 Coffs Harbour, Grafton; 14 Macksville; 12 South Grafton; 10 Bellingen, Woolgoolga.

LEAGUE TAG

Coming off a 22-14 win over Bellingen, third-placed Grafton Ghosts carry favouritism into the Ladies League Tag against fifth-placed South Grafton Rebels, who lost 28-0 at the hands of Bellingen in their last start.

Ladder: 26 Coffs Harbour; 19 Bellingen; 17 Grafton; 7 Macksville; 5 South Grafton; 4 Woolgoolga.

RESERVE GRADE

South Grafton Rebels remain on top of the ladder in Reserve Grade despite going down 24-22 to Bellingen last weekend. They won the last clash between these two sides 52-6.

Ladder: 18 South Grafton; 17 Woolgoolga; 15 Coffs Harbour; 14 Macksville; 12 Bellingen; 2 Grafton.

UNDER-18s

With only four teams contesting the Under-18s this season, the South Grafton Rebels juniors will be on the road to Coffs Harbour Comets at Geoff King Motors Oval.

Ladder: 17 Macksville; 14 Sawtell; 12 South Grafton; 9 Coffs Harbour.