Group 2 Rugby League: Top talking points from the rescheduled round five

Another yet another dominant win, Woolgoolga has joined a select few teams across the state in an impressive club.

Nambucca was among the big winners in rescheduled round five action. Picture: Leigh Jensen

The competition leaders remain in esteemed company after yet another impressive win, while the defending premiers have channelled their disappointment into motivation after they were stripped of competition points.

Catch up with a wrap of Group 2’s rescheduled round five action here, and read about some of the major talking points below.

WOOPI IN RARE COMPANY

Woolgoolga is just one of five top-grade teams in country NSW to remain unbeaten this season.

Woolgoolga’s 54-16 victory over Grafton has moved it to within just one win of claiming the minor premiership with three rounds of the regular season remaining.

But with a record of eight wins and one washout from eight games so far this season, the Seahorses are not just dominating Group 2 but have joined rare company across the state.

Woolgoolga is one of just five teams playing in country NSW first grade competitions to remain unbeaten so far in 2025.

Others include last year’s Clayton Cup winners the Camden Rams, who are sitting at the top of the Macarthur competition with a record of 12 from 12; the Coolah Roos, who have won all of their 11 games in Castlereagh League; the Merimbula-Pambula Bulldogs, who are at the top of Group 16 after winning 10 games and receiving one forfeit; and the Port Macquarie Sharks in Group 3, who have won nine from nine.

Elsewhere, in the second-tier Hastings League competition, the Lake Cathie Raiders also remain unbeaten with a record of nine wins and one draw from their 10 games.

The list of undefeated teams has narrowed significantly in recent weeks after a string of contenders in other competitions tasted defeat.

Central Coast defending premiers Erina and Group 20 leaders the Griffith Waratah Tigers had their winning streaks broken on the weekend, while the Wagga Kangaroos were beaten for the first time in Group 9 a fortnight ago.

As competitions around the state head towards the finals, Woolgoolga remains in a small group of frontrunners for the Clayton Cup, awarded to the country NSW team with the best overall record for the season.

EXTRA MOTIVATION FOR NAMBUCCA

Nambucca showed how ruthless it can be over the weekend. Picture: Leigh Jensen

Any questions about how Nambucca would react to Group 2’s decision to strip the club of two competition points for a Player Points Index System (PPIS) breach were well and truly answered as the Roosters hammered South Grafton 60-0 at McKittrick Park.

The defending premiers were on another level as they ran in 12 tries to zero in the rout.

In fact, the game was called off with more than 13 minutes still on the clock after Nambucca got out to a 60-point lead, which invoked the mercy rule.

“It definitely was (used as motivation),” said coach Warwick Jones. “We spoke to the players about it and filled them in about what was happening and it was a definite motivator.

“It was a good reaction and they’ll definitely use it as a bit of extra motivation. I was really happy with the way they bounced back from the news.”

It came after the club was informed that it would be stripped of its two competition points and lose its for-and-against points accrued during the 52-10 win of the Grafton Ghosts in round nine for going over its PPIS quota.

While not disputing the fact that it did go over its 75-point limit, Nambucca officials said they were disappointed by the nature of the penalty, given the series of complicating factors involved in the case.

COFFS EYE OFF FINALS CHARGE

Coffs Harbour has moved into fourth on the ladder. Picture: D Wigley

Coffs Harbour will be looking to solidify its position inside the top five when it takes on Sawtell for the second week in a row this Sunday.

The Comets shot up into fourth place after a very impressive 24-4 derby win over their more fancied local rivals in what was arguably the team’s best performance of the year.

“It gives us confidence that what we’re doing works,” said coach Scott Street.

“We haven’t put an 80-minute performance together yet and this was probably the closest we got. We’ve got a good platform to keep building and hopefully sneak into the five. Then it’s a whole new ballgame from there.

“We’ll take confidence out of back-to-back wins but we’ve got to turn around and do it again,” he added, “otherwise it doesn’t sort of mean anything.”

It has been a much-improved campaign for the Comets after collecting the wooden spoon in 2024.

After nine games they have a record of four wins and five losses, already eclipsing last year’s return of just three wins from its 12 games.

Perhaps most impressive has been the team’s improvement in defence.

After letting in 368 points last season at an average of 31 per game, Coffs has tightened things considerably in 2025, conceding 168 so far at an average of just 19 to be the third best defensive side in the competition.

This has meant that Coffs Harbour’s points differential is -4, better than those of trailing sides South Grafton (-122) and Macksville (-18).

After facing off with Sawtell on Sunday, the Comets finish the regular season with games against Nambucca and South Grafton.