Group 2 Rugby League: Top talking points from round seven

They might have just demolished last year’s premiers, but the Group 2 leaders say they are just getting started after a blistering start to the season.

The Coffs Harbour Comets went back to back in round seven. Picture: Leigh Jensen

With drought-breaking wins and crushing victories, it was a big weekend of footy in Group 2 Rugby League.

Check out some of the top talking points below.

WOOPI ISSUES WARNING

Woolgoolga has made an outstanding start to the season. Picture: Leigh Jensen

Woolgoolga put the rest of the competition on notice in round seven and extracted a slice of revenge for last year’s decider with a 42-18 thumping of defending premiers Nambucca in a grand final rematch at Solitary Island Sports Ground.

After trailing 12-8 at the break, the Seahorses ran absolutely riot in the second 40 as they scored eight tries to three overall to seal a big win.

The victory extends the team’s unbeaten start to the season to four games and it clear at the top of the ladder.

Perhaps worryingly for other sides in the competition, Woolgoolga skipper Jake Elphick believes his team still isn’t playing anywhere near its potential.

“It was a great win, I’m very happy with how we went, but I think we’ve still got a lot of improvement left in our side,” he said.

“We’ll certainly take the win, put that one under the belt and it’s good to know that we’re capable of that. It’s just about being a bit more consistent throughout the whole game.”

SEAHORSES LEAD CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP RACE

Woolgoolga has made a fantastic start to the season across all grades Picture: Leigh Jensen

Woolgoolga just doesn’t find itself on top of the first grade ladder, with the Seahorses also leading the race for the club championship.

After round seven, the club sits at the top with 114 points, with the first grade, reserve grade and women’s tackle sides yet to taste defeat.

The club has a healthy lead over Sawtell (90) and Macksville (82), while behind them are the Grafton Ghosts (74), South Grafton (70) and Nambucca (68). Coffs Harbour, who is not eligible for the overall crown on account of not having a women’s side, has collected 58 points.

The club championship points are calculated as follows: in first grade, the sum of total competition points are multiplied by four; in reserve grade they are multiplied by three; women’s tackle are multiplied by two; and the under-18s’ points total is simply added to the broader tally.

GHOSTS EYE OFF CHARGE UP LADDER

The Grafton Ghosts will look to make it back-to-back wins against Sawtell this weekend. Picture: D Wigley

There were brilliant scenes at Frank McGuren Field on Sunday afternoon as the Grafton Ghosts broke through for their first win of the season in dramatic fashion, defeating Macksville 26-24.

After a seesawing clash in which the lead changed multiple times, it all came down to a play after the full-time siren as Macksville goal kicker Romain Pallares lined up a penalty goal attempt from the sideline to try and secure a late draw.

However fortunately for the Ghosts, Pallares’ attempt fell short and the Grafton side celebrated its first success of 2025.

It was a well-celebrated win for the club after a difficult start to the season. Despite being well in the contest for three of their four games going into the Macksville game, the Ghosts hadn’t been able to break through for victory.

Despite these frustrations, coach Troy McLean, who joined the club this season from Murwillumbah, has been impressed with the resilience of his playing group.

“They’ve got a real never-say-die attitude, they try and put themselves in everything. They don’t give up and play for 80 minutes,” he said.

“It’s just getting the finer part down pat: completing our sets, kicking to corners. I’d like to think that I’m the new bloke coming into town to just try and set a few new little rules and goals within the club. We’re definitely heading in the right direction as a club, that’s for sure.”

The Ghosts are now hoping to use the win as a springboard to jump up the ladder.

“In the Group 2 comp it’s very tight. From first to seventh there’s only six or seven points in it, it’s up for grabs, that’s for sure,” said Grafton coach Troy McLean.

“We’ve got Sawtell at home this weekend for our old boys’ day. We led 22-6 in the first round and got run down. If we can bank another win this weekend we’ll be right back in things.”