Group 4 Rugby League

Group 4 is a rugby league competition in the New England and north west area of New South Wales, run under the auspices of the Country Rugby League.

Group 4 Rugby League
SportRugby league
Instituted1913
Inaugural season1913
Number of teams8
CountryAustralia
Premiers North Tamworth Bears (2022)
Most titles West Tamworth Robins/Lions (29 titles)
WebsiteGroup 4 at SportsTG

Structure

The Group runs a first grade, reserve grade, league tag and under 18s competitions. All nine first grade clubs run at least one lower grade team and most will have three or four. In addition to the nine first grade clubs, there was also one junior club involved in under 16s: Farrer MAHS. The Under 16s competition has since become a part of the junior league organisation in the region, Group 4 JRL. It also formerly ran a second division competition called the Wests Shield. The second division competition contained stand-alone senior teams from smaller towns within the region, who eventually moved up to first grade in 2018 after a merger between the divisions. Kootingal-Moonbi, Dungowan and Boggabri moved up to being full first grade teams, whilst Manilla and Barraba moved into the reserves competition. Manilla then re-joined the first grade competition in 2022.

There are also Group 4 senior Under 18s and Under 16s representative teams that competes against other Group sides. They compete against Groups 19 and 21 in trials for the Greater Northern Tigers regional team.

Teams

Current teams

Nine teams currently compete in Group 4 Rugby League first grade, from towns across the New England and north west area of New South Wales.

The 2020 season was postponed and subsequently cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia.[1]

First Grade Clubs

TeamHome groundNo. of PremiershipsPremierships
Boggabri KangaroosJubilee Oval21963, 1964
Dungowan CowboysDungowan Oval0None
Gunnedah BulldogsKitchener Park71956, 1965, 1973, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1998
Kootingal-Moonbi RoostersKootingal Oval0None
Moree BoarsBoughton Oval41988, 1989, 1999, 2002
Narrabri BluesCollins Park51940, 1970, 1971, 1976, 1990
North Tamworth BearsJack Woolaston Oval221913, 1921, 1924, 1926, 1927, 1929, 1931, 1950, 1951, 1953, 1980, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2014, 2015 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022
Werris Creek MagpiesDavid Taylor Oval101925, 1933, 1948, 1949, 1952, 1979, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997

There are eight Reserve Grade and Ladies League Tag teams competing in the 2023 season: Werris Creek Magpies, Kootingal-Moonbi Roosters, Gunnedah Bulldogs, Narrabri Blues, Boggabri Kangaroos, Moree Boars, North Tamworth Bears, Dungowan Cowboys, and five Under 18 teams: Dungowan, Narrabri, Gunnedah, Werris Creek and Kootingal-Moonbi.

In Recess
TeamHome groundNo. of PremiershipsPremierships
Manilla Tigers Manilla Oval 1 1961

Former teams

The following teams have competed in Group 4 First Grade since 1983:

  • Armidale (2016) (moved back to Group 19)
  • Barraba (1980s–2021)
  • Collegians Tamworth (2017) (Returned to junior football only)
  • Coonabarabran (1998–2009) (moved to Castlereagh)
  • Inverell (1980s–1989) (moved to Group 19)
  • Moree Boomerangs (1980s–1990) (moved to Group 19)
  • Oxley Diggers Tamworth (2014–16) (folded)
  • Tamworth City (1956–1995, merged with West Tamworth)[2]
  • Tamworth United (1990–91)
  • Warialda (1980s–1988) (moved to Group 19)
  • Wee Waa Panthers (1900s–1994, 1996–2010, 2012–14, 2017) (folded)
  • West Tamworth (1913–1995 as the Robins, merged with Tamworth City 1995–2016), rebranded as South West (2017).

Many of these clubs have moved to Group 19.

These clubs fielded teams in at least one Division 2 competition during the seasons 2011 to 2017.

  • Bendemeer (folded)
  • Bingara (Group 19)
  • Bundarra (moved to Group 19, in recess)
  • Quirindi (moved to Group 21, Folded)
  • Uralla (moved to Group 19, amalgamated with Walcha)
  • Walcha (moved to Group 19, amalgamated with Uralla)

In 2018, the clubs Boggabri, Dungowan, Kootingal-Moonbi and Werris Creek were elevated from Division 2 into a reorganised First Grade competition. Manilla moved into the lower grades.

Map
Local Area in New South Wales
🌍
Locations of the current Group 4 clubs
.
🌍
Relation to state & national capitals

Grand finals
YearPremiersScoreRunners-upReportWinning CoachGrand Final venueMinor PremiersWooden Spoon
1912 East Tamworth 10–4 North Tamworth Rebels TDO[3] Outer Oval, Tamworth
1913 North Tamworth Rebels - East Tamworth TDO[4] Paddy McGuinness No Final
1914 West Tamworth 12–3 North Tamworth Rebels TDO[5]
1915 West Tamworth - East Tamworth
1919 East Tamworth 24–0 North Tamworth DO[6] Tamworth Oval
1920 West Tamworth 8–3 North Tamworth DO[7] Tamworth Oval
1921 North Tamworth 5–4 West Tamworth E. (LEG) Frame
1922 West Tamworth 7–6 North Tamworth
1923 West Tamworth 7–0 North Tamworth NTH[8]
1924 North Tamworth - No Final Tom McCormack No Final
1925 Werris Creek - No Final WCH[9] Alec Main No Final
1926 North Tamworth 10–3 Manilla ME[10] Harry Pinkerton Tamworth Oval
1927 North Tamworth 8–4 West Tamworth Harry Pinkerton
1928 West Tamworth 10–3 East Tamworth
1929 North Tamworth - No Final Harry Pinkerton No Final
1930 Nundle 8–5 North Tamworth
1931 North Tamworth 9–0 East Tamworth ME[11] Harry Thompson Tamworth Oval West Tamworth
1932 East Tamworth 8–5 West Tamworth TR[12] Jim Tait
1933 Werris Creek 8–7 East Tamworth SMH[13] Benny Bell
1934 East Tamworth 20–15 West Tamworth nSun[14] Cec Anderton
1935 Cup & Shield Games Only
1936
1937 West Tamworth 13–5 Werris Creek MDM[15]
1938 West Tamworth 8–5 Tamworth SA[16]
1939 Tamworth - No Final No Final
1940 Narrabri Blues 31–7 Tamworth NWC[17] Collins Park; Narrabri Narrabri Blues
1941 Tamworth 7–4 Army
1942 Tamworth 17–15 RAAF All Blues
1943 Con Depot 17–10 Tamworth
1944 Tamworth 6–3 Railways MC[18]
1945 Railways 17–11 Werris Creek
1946 Tamworth 13–3 Quirindi
1947 Quirindi 19–6 East Tamworth
1948 Werris Creek 14–7 East Tamworth Eric Frazer Werris Creek
1949 Werris Creek 18–11 West Tamworth Eric Frazer Werris Creek
1950 North Tamworth Bears 10–2 Werris Creek Allan Nelson
1951 North Tamworth 13–2 Werris Creek AE[19] Vic Williams
1952 Werris Creek 11–9 North Tamworth MC[20] Greg Wilkins Werris Creek
1953 North Tamworth 23–5 Gunnedah AE[21] Lloyd Russell North Tamworth Bears
1954 Armidale 24–12 West Tamworth AE[22] Ron Madden Tamworth Oval Armidale
1955 West Tamworth 16–7 Armidale
1956 Gunnedah 23–5 Armidale
1957 West Tamworth 21–7 Boggabri
1958 Tamworth City RSL 16–12 Boggabri
1959 Tamworth City RSL 24–2 West Tamworth
1960 Tamworth City RSL 13–8 West Tamworth
1961 Manilla 10–8 Gunnedah
1962 West Tamworth 22–7 Gunnedah
1963 Boggabri 22–10 West Tamworth
1964 Boggabri 18–17 West Tamworth
1965 Gunnedah 29–4 Quirindi
1966 West Tamworth 11–9 Gunnedah
1967 West Tamworth 25–13 Manilla
1968 West Tamworth 26–12 Narrabri Blues
1969 West Tamworth 5–2 Gunnedah Wiliam Bischoff
1970 Narrabri Blues 32–9 West Tamworth
1971 Narrabri Blues 8–7 West Tamworth
1972 West Tamworth 22–14 Gunnedah Bulldogs Wiliam Bischoff
1973 Gunnedah Bulldogs 25–5 West Tamworth
1974 West Tamworth 21–8 Werris Creek Des Kimmorley
1975 Walcha Roos 12–4 Werris Creek Marty Williamson Walcha Roos
1976 Narrabri Blues 18–5 West Tamworth Frank Fish
1977 West Tamworth 34–0 Narrabri Blues
1978 Tamworth City RSL Lions 15–7 Gunnedah Bulldogs Dempsey Joy
1979 Werris Creek 21–3 Gunnedah Bulldogs WCH[9] Wiliam Bischoff David Taylor Park; Werris Creek Werris Creek
1980 North Tamworth Bears 23–15 Narrabri Blues Russell Worth North Tamworth Bears Wee Waa Panthers
1981 West Tamworth 22–16 Werris Creek Scully Park North Tamworth Bears
1982 Tamworth City RSL Lions 21–2 Moree Boomerangs Neville Baldock
1983 Gunnedah Bulldogs 26–22 Tamworth City RSL Lions Terry Donnelly
1984 Gunnedah Bulldogs 35–20 North Tamworth Bears John Lennan
1985 Gunnedah Bulldogs 19–12 Narrabri Blues John Lennan Kitchener Park; Gunnedah Gunnedah Bulldogs Boggabri Kangaroos
1986 West Tamworth 6–4 Inverell RSM Steve Martin Scully Park West Tamworth Moree Boars
1987 West Tamworth 10–0 Gunnedah Bulldogs Steve Martin Scully Park West Tamworth Wee Waa Panthers
1988 Moree Boars 32–28 Gunnedah Bulldogs John Kirkwood Burt Jovanovich Park Gunnedah Bulldogs Warialda Wombats
1989 Moree Boars 16–15 Narrabri Blues John Kirkwood Burt Jovanovich Park Moree Boars Inverell RSM
1990 Narrabri Blues 18–14 West Tamworth Kevin Hill Collins Park; Narrabri Narrabri Blues Tamworth United
1991 West Tamworth 21–6 Narrabri Blues Gary Maguire Scully Park Narrabri Blues Tamworth United
1992 Wee Waa Panthers 18–12 West Tamworth John Harvey Cook Oval; Wee Waa
1993 Werris Creek 20–16 Gunnedah Bulldogs Ron Dellar David Taylor Park; Werris Creek
1994 Tamworth City RSL Lions 24–14 Gunnedah Bulldogs Mick Schmiedel Kitchener Park
1995 Werris Creek 16–14 Gunnedah Bulldogs Ron Dellar Gunnedah Bulldogs
1996 Werris Creek 45–14 Gunnedah Bulldogs Ron Dellar Werris Creek
1997 Werris Creek 32–32
Replay
22-21		 Wee Waa Panthers Ron Dellar Gunnedah Bulldogs Moree Boars
1998 Gunnedah Bulldogs 33–14 Wee Waa Panthers Peter Ryman Wee Waa Panthers North Tamworth Bears
1999 Moree Boars 32–20 West Tamworth Lions Mark Ryan West Tamworth Lions Coonabarabran Unicorns
2000 West Tamworth Lions 23–6 North Tamworth Bears NDL[23] Tony La Chiusa Jack Woolaston Oval West Tamworth Lions Gunnedah Bulldogs
2001 West Tamworth Lions 34–24 North Tamworth Bears NDL[24] Tony La Chiusa Scully Park West Tamworth Lions Gunnedah Bulldogs
2002 Moree Boars 34–18 West Tamworth Lions NDL[25] Tony Murray Burt Jovanovich Oval, Moree Moree Boars Wee Waa Panthers
2003 Coonabarabran Unicorns 33–24 North Tamworth Bears NDL[26] Mark Watton Jack Woolaston Oval North Tamworth Bears Werris Creek
2004 Wee Waa Panthers 46–10 Moree Boars NDL[27] Matt Hogan Cook Oval, Wee Waa West Tamworth Lions Werris Creek
2005 North Tamworth Bears 34–28 West Tamworth Lions NDL[28] Luke Taylor Jack Woolaston Oval North Tamworth Bears Wee Waa Panthers
2006 North Tamworth Bears 42–14 Coonabarabran Unicorns Luke Taylor Jack Woolaston Oval North Tamworth Bears Narrabri Blues
2007 North Tamworth Bears 32–12 West Tamworth Lions NDL[29] Matt Parsons Jack Woolaston Oval North Tamworth Bears Werris Creek
2008 North Tamworth Bears 8–6 West Tamworth Lions Matt Parsons Jack Woolaston Oval West Tamworth Lions Narrabri Blues
2009 West Tamworth Lions 52–28 North Tamworth Bears Tony La Chiusa Scully Park West Tamworth Lions Narrabri Blues
2010 West Tamworth Lions 55–12 Wee Waa Panthers NDL[30] Tony La Chiusa Scully Park West Tamworth Lions Moree Boars
2011 West Tamworth Lions 54–14 North Tamworth Bears YT[31] Tony La Chiusa Jack Woolaston Oval West Tamworth Lions Moree Boars
2012 West Tamworth Lions 23–12 North Tamworth Bears NDL[32] Tony La Chiusa Jack Woolaston Oval West Tamworth Lions Moree Boars
2013 West Tamworth Lions 33–24 North Tamworth Bears NDL[33] Tony La Chiusa Scully Park West Tamworth Lions Moree Boars
2014 North Tamworth Bears 56–18 Gunnedah Bulldogs NDL[34] Brad McManus Jack Woolaston Oval North Tamworth Bears Oxley Diggers
2015 North Tamworth Bears 46–25 West Tamworth Lions NDL[35] Zac Russ Jack Woolaston Oval West Tamworth Lions Oxley Diggers
2016 North Tamworth Bears 36–12 West Tamworth Lions NBN[36] Brad McManus Jack Woolaston Oval North Tamworth Bears Armidale Rams
2017 North Tamworth Bears 30–22 Narrabri Blues NDL[37] Brad McManus Jack Woolaston Oval North Tamworth Bears Wee Waa Panthers
2018 North Tamworth Bears 34–28 Gunnedah Bulldogs NDL[38] Scott Blanch Jack Woolaston Oval Kootingal Moonbi Roosters Boggabri Kangaroos
2019 North Tamworth Bears 40–4 Kootingal Moonbi Roosters NDL[39] Scott Blanch Jack Woolaston Oval North Tamworth Bears Boggabri Kangaroos
2020 and 2021 seasons cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic.
2022 North Tamworth Bears 22–14 Dungowan Cowboys Paul Boyce Dungowan Recreation Reserve North Tamworth Bears Manilla Tigers
2023 North Tamworth Bears 26–16 Moree Boars BFBF[40] Paul Boyce Jack Woolaston Oval Moree Boars Narrabri Blues

Junior League

Current Teams
TeamHome ground
Dungowan CowboysDungowan Oval
Farrer Memorial AHS Farrer HS
Gunnedah BulldogsKitchener Park
Kootingal-Moonbi RoostersKootingal Oval
Manilla TigersManilla Oval
Collegians Tamworth JRLFCTamworth
Narrabri BluesCollins Park
North Tamworth BearsJack Woolaston Oval
South West Robins Junior Sporting Assoc. Scully Park Precinct
Werris Creek MagpiesDavid Taylor Oval

Notable juniors

Gunnedah Bulldogs

See also

Sources
AcronymItemYearsDatabase AppNotes
Direct Online Access
TDOTamworth Daily Observer1910-1916TroveMatch Reports.
DODaily Observer1917-1920TroveMatch Reports.
NDLNorthern Daily Leader1921TroveMatch Reports.
MEManilla Express1899-1954TroveMatch Reports.
AEArmidale Express1891-1954TroveIntermittent Results.
VH, VRVideo Highlights, Replay2011–presentYouTubeMatch highlights and or full match replays
BFBFBattlers For Bush Footy2023-presentWebsiteMatch Reports.
Indirect Online Access[nb 1]
RLWRugby League Week2002-2017EBSCOhostResults and Point Scores.
NDLNorthern Daily Leader2001–presentNewsBankMatch Reports.
Offline Resources
NTHRed and black men[8]1912-1991Physical copy at
National Library		Includes a list of Premiers up to 1990
WCHA Few Ruffled Feathers[9]1912-1997Physical copy at
National Library		Written history
NDLNorthern Daily Leader1921–presentMicrofilm at
State Library of NSW		Match Reports
CRLARCountry Rugby League - Annual Report1967-1969,
1971-1996		Bound copies at
State Library of NSW		Results. Season report.
RLWRugby League Week1970-1974,
1976-2001		Bound copies at
State Library of NSW		Results, intermittent match reports
  1. Access through library eResources to database applications housing newspaper and journal content. This may require library membership. As an example, SLNSW eResources requires a membership number, although membership is free to residents of NSW.

References
  1. "2020 Group 4 Season Suspended". 2TM. 12 June 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  2. Bath, Chris (12 June 2016). "Tamworth City Lions revelling in a league of their own". Northern Daily Leader. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  3. "Half-Holiday Football - Easts Win The Premiership". Tamworth Daily Observer. Tamworth: National Library of Australia. 3 October 1912. p. 3. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  4. "Rebels Final Social". Tamworth Daily Observer. Tamworth: National Library of Australia. 10 October 1913. p. 4. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  5. "League Football - First Grade Competition - West Tamworth Premiers". Tamworth Daily Observer. Tamworth: National Library of Australia. 14 September 1914. p. 3. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  6. "Football - League Finals in Tamworth". Daily Observer (Tamworth). Tamworth: National Library of Australia. 8 September 1919. p. 1. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  7. "Tamworth Football". Daily Observer (Tamworth). Tamworth: National Library of Australia. 19 July 1920. p. 1. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  8. Bryant, Col (1991). Red and black men - A History of the North Tamworth Rugby League Football Club. Peel Publishing Pty Ltd.
  9. Holley, Chris (1997). A Few Ruffled Feathers - Tracing the History of Werris Creek Rugby League 1912-1997. Werris Creek Rugby League Club.
  10. "Football". Manilla Express. Manilla: National Library of Australia. 7 September 1926. p. 2. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  11. "Football". Manilla Express. Manilla: National Library of Australia. 25 August 1931. p. 2. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  12. "The Referee's Section of NSW Country Football". The Referee. Sydney: National Library of Australia. 17 August 1932. p. 17. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  13. "Central Northern League". The Sydney Morning Herald. Sydney: National Library of Australia. 5 September 1933. p. 16. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  14. "The Sun Stop Press". The Newcastle Sun. Newcastle: National Library of Australia. 8 September 1934. p. 1. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  15. "Northern Football". Maitland District Mercury. Maitland: National Library of Australia. 26 July 1937. p. 8. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  16. "Football - Scone v. West Tamworth - Game for Championship of Group 4". The Scone Advocate. Scone: National Library of Australia. 23 August 1938. p. 2. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  17. "Tamworth Overwhelmed". The Northwestern Courier. Narrabri: National Library of Australia. 12 August 1940. p. 4. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  18. "Football - Tamworth on Sunday". The Muswellbrook Chronicle and Upper Hunter advertiser. Muswellbrook: National Library of Australia. 4 August 1944. p. 8. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  19. "Tamworth Final". Armidale Express. Armidale: National Library of Australia. 3 September 1951. p. 11. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  20. "Personal Pars". The Muswellbrook Chronicle and Upper Hunter advertiser. Muswellbrook: National Library of Australia. 26 August 1952. p. 1. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  21. "Rugby League - North Tamworth Wins". Armidale Express. Armidale: National Library of Australia. 31 August 1953. p. 11. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  22. "Rugby League - Armidale Too Strong For West". Armidale Express. Armidale: National Library of Australia. 20 September 1954. p. 10. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  23. Gould, Joel (3 September 2000). "Lions reap dividend of sticking to game plan". Northern Daily Leader. p. 36.
  24. Gould, Joel (10 September 2001). "Ellison vows no more comebacks". Northern Daily Leader.
  25. Gould, Joel (8 September 2002). "Full Boar weekend". Northern Daily Leader.
  26. Gould, Joel (14 September 2003). "Unicorn forwards lay platform for backs to finish". Northern Daily Leader.
  27. Newling, Geoff (12 September 2004). "Hogan's heroes". Northern Daily Leader.
  28. Newling, Geoff (18 September 2005). "Champion Bears". Northern Daily Leader.
  29. Robertson, Grant (16 September 2007). "Victory Taylor-made". Northern Daily Leader.
  30. "Lions savage Panthers for 24th title". Northern Daily Leader. 19 September 2010.
  31. "North Tamworth Bears V West Lions Grand Final Day 2011". 9 September 2011. Archived from the original on 18 December 2021. Retrieved 22 April 2019 – via YouTube.
  32. Robertson, Grant (27 August 2012). "West Lions 23 North Tamworth 12". Northern Daily Leader. p. 28.
  33. Newling, Geoff (9 September 2013). "GALLERY: The West was won with early assault". The Northern Daily Leader. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
  34. Newling, Geoff (23 September 2014). "North Tamworth Bears kings of country". The Northern Daily Leader. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
  35. "Bears go back-to-back". Northern Daily Leader. 13 September 2015.
  36. Herbert, Emily (12 September 2016). "Group Four's Grubby Grand Final". NBN News. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
  37. Bode, Mark (10 September 2017). "Group 4 First Division: North Tamworth secure fourth straight premiership with bruising defeat of Narrabri". The Northern Daily Leader. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
  38. Bode, Mark (9 September 2018). "Group 4 grand final: North Tamworth Bears edge Gunnedah Bulldogs 34–28". The Northern Daily Leader. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
  39. Bode, Mark (7 September 2019). "2019 Group 4 first grade grand final - North Tamworth Bears down Kooty Roosters 40-4". Northern Daily Leader. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  40. Smith, Tallon (23 August 2023). "Group 4: North Tamworth make it eight titles on the trot with Grand Final victory over Moree". Battlers For Bush Footy. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
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