Group 2 Rugby League: Wrap, results, standouts from round three

There was plenty of desperate defending as two of Group 2 heavyweights clashed, while a 290-day drought was snapped in a thrilling local derby.

Nambucca has continued its positive start to the season. Picture: Leigh Jensen.

There were local derbies and early season blockbusters during round three of Group 2 Rugby League over the weekend.

On the back of plenty of action and key results, check out a wrap of the round below.

SOUTH GRAFTON SNAP 290-DAY DROUGHT IN LOCAL DERBY

Kieron Johnson-Heron scored in South Grafton’s local derby win. Picture: Leigh Jensen

After copping a round one washout and having the bye in round two, the South Grafton Rebels finally kicked off their season and they did it in style with a thrilling 24-18 victory over local rivals the Grafton Ghosts at McKittrick Park.

A bright start on the back of some clever playmaking from five-eighth Nicholas McGrady, combined with a try at the death, helped the Rebels see off their cross-town rivals in a seesawing clash.

Given that the Rebels had a final-round bye last season and failed to make 2024 finals, it had remarkably been 287 days since the team had played a game of football.

That didn’t seem to bother them though as they got off to a flyer, with lock Nick Torrens slicing through the line with the team’s first use of the football before offloading to McGrady to go the rest of the way and score the opener after just three minutes.

There was a bit of feeling in the game early on as South Grafton enjoyed better field position.

That strong start then became even brighter when McGrady put fullback Sam Petch through a gap on the left edge and the young gun did the rest to score his team’s second and make it 10-0 after 12 minutes.

The Ghosts had barely had sniff in the opening quarter of the match but they hit back midway through the first half when Toby McIntosh put Jake Vickery through a hole to slash the deficit to four.

Brandon Williams in action for Grafton. Picture: D Wigley

However just as the visitors tried to get some momentum, they were penalised while in possession and Petch added another two points to put South Grafton up 12-6.

The Ghosts were working their way into the game and crossed again when Jake Martin showed incredible hands to catch a low pass before putting on some footwork and reaching out to score an excellent try.

A penalty then allowed the visitors to level things up, with Tom Vickery slotting the goal to make it 12-all at halftime.

Just as they’d done at the start of the game, the Rebels came out of the sheds firing and went very close through Petch, who was brought down just short of the line.

However in the next set they did break through, with McGrady putting in a cross-field bomb for Kieron Johnson-Heron, who did extremely well to outjump his opposite number and plant the ball down.

After South Grafton dominated early, the Ghosts worked their way into the half and enjoyed a strong period of their own.

Hooker Mason Graham went close when he tried to dive over from dummy-half, while Liam Bloomer planted the ball down after getting on the end of a Brandon Williams kick, only for the referee to call play back for a knock-on.

The pressure did eventually show, with hooker Zane Farrell diving over from close range with 20 to play. Vickery added the extras to put the Ghosts up 18-16 and into the lead for the first time in the match.

Grant Stevens was strong in the middle for the Rebels. Picture: Leigh Jensen

The game was coming down to fine margins, with South Grafton once again taking a penalty after a strip to lock things up at 18-all.

The dewy conditions were making ball handling difficult as both sides turned the ball over.

A knock-on deep in their own end put the Ghosts under pressure before a penalty for offside gave Petch the chance to kick yet another penalty and push his side ahead by two points with eight minutes to play.

The visitors were throwing everything at the Rebels in the dying stages, however an intercept from Brian Quinlan-Randall helped South Grafton up field.

The centre then finished the job later in the set when he got on the end of a kick from Petch to seal a thrilling local derby win.

The victory was the Rebels’ first since the round 12 derby against the Ghosts at the same venue last year, some 293 days ago. Meanwhile the loss compounds the Ghosts’ difficult start to the season, with the team having been in the contest but losing all three of its games so far.

South Grafton 24 (McGrady, Petch, Johnson-Heron, Quinlan-Randall tries; Petch four goals) defeated Grafton Ghosts 18 (J Vickery, Martin, Farrell tries; T Vickery 3 goals)

WOOPI CLICKS INTO GEAR TO DEFEAT MACKSVILLE

Sharnae Perham bagged a double in Woolgoolga’s win. Picture: Leigh Jensen

It might not have been pretty, but Woolgoolga remains unbeaten in 2025 following a 22-10 victory over Macksville at Solitary Island Sports Ground.

Under pressure for periods of the game, the Seahorses held firm in defence before the team’s strike players once again came to the fore as they ran in five tries to two to secure the 10-point win.

“We had another solid defensive performance,” said captain-coach Jake Elphick. “We turned over a lot of ball and had to defend our line a lot but we showed resilience and toughness and I’m very happy with it.

“Like I said to the boys, our ballwork will come with the more footy that we play, so I’m very happy to get the win.”

Despite running out comfortable winners in the end, Woolgoolga trailed 10-8 at the break as the teams traded tries in the opening 40.

“It was a bit of a seesawing first half. We sort of dominated periods and then they dominated periods,” said Elphick. “It went to and fro, going try for try and they bagged one right on halftime to go ahead.”

And while the first half was a fairly even affair, the Seahorses’ impressive attack started to click after the resumption of play as some of the team’s strike weapons started to flex their muscles.

The Seahorses were forced to muscle up in attack. Picture: Leigh Jensen

“Our attack was there in the second half and five tries to two is good, especially against a side like Macksville, who are big and physical,” said Elphick.

“We found some places we thought we could attack, a little chink in their armour, and we went to that and it worked for us. Shayde Perham and Brent Cochrane really took it to them down our left edge, found a lot of space and we were able to capitalise on it.”

While the loss was Macksville’s second in as many weeks, the result moves Woolgoolga to two wins from as many games in what is a positive start to the season.

“It hasn’t been pretty but you need those ugly wins. We need to build resilience in our defence and know that we can win if it gets ugly – and we’ve done that in the first two rounds,” said Elphick.

“I said to the boys that you win comps in September, so we’ll just keep building towards that.”

Woolgoolga 22 (Sharnae Perham 2, Cochrane, Prince, O’Hehir tries; Shayde Perham on goal) defeated Macksville 10 (Thompson, Winterstein tries; Doolan one goal)

NAMBUCCA DOWNS SAWTELL IN HEAVYWEIGHT CLASH

Nambucca has kept its perfect start to the season alive with a hard-fought 22-14 victory over Sawtell in an early season blockbuster at Coronation Park.

Despite being forced to defend their line for large parts of the game, the understrength Roosters did well to repel the Panthers before running out five-tries-to-three winners for the team’s second win from as many starts this season.

“I was very proud of the boys. Once again, we had our backs to the wall and Sawtell were coming for us but I was very happy with how we held them out,” said Nambucca coach Warwick Jones.

“They found a way to win. We had a good first half and Sawtell were pretty good in the second half. We were good enough to hold them out and get the job done.”

Much of the defensive work came as a result of their own mistakes, with Nambucca turning over the ball time and time again early on in the game.

Nambucca was forced to defend its line for large parts of the contest. Picture: Leigh Jensen

“We put ourselves under too much pressure with errors. We spent a lot of time on our line but, we kept repelling them away,” said Jones.

“It was pretty much the same in the second half. We had a bad little period where we couldn’t complete a set and they had a lot of time on our line but we kept showing up for each other. We just needed to hold the ball.”

The victory over the previously undefeated Panthers was all the more impressive given that Nambucca was without a string of regular starters, including skipper Tyronne Roberts-Davis.

“It was backs to the wall again with a few key players out, but I was still very confident in the side that we have. It shows the depth in the club.”

Jake Thornton scored a double for Sawtell. Picture: D Wigley

To this end, young winger Dwayne Roberts-Jarrett picked up a double while another under-18s player in forward Rave Brazier came off the bench.

“We’ve got full confidence in them. They’re first graders playing up in age. We were more than confidence in those boys getting the job done for us,” said Jones.

While the loss was Sawtell’s first for the season after two strong wins, the victory extends Nambucca’s unbeaten start to its title defence, with the team now having won its opening two games of the season.

“I’m really pleased with that,” said Jones. “It’s a tough road trip to Grafton, we were undermanned, it was (the Ghosts’) first home game of the year but we got the job done there up on their home turf. And Sawtell have been travelling pretty well, so to get a win against them with a few boys out is a bonus.”

Nambucca Heads Roosters 22 (Roberts Jarrett 2, Saunders, Sines, Jarrett tries; Jones one goal) defeated Sawtell 14 (Thornton 2, Morris tries; Beattie one goal)