Group 3 Rugby League

Last updated

Group 3 Rugby League
Sport Rugby league
Formerly known asGroup 18 Rugby League, Manning River Rugby League
Instituted1946 (as Group 18)
Inaugural season1966 (as Group 3)
Number of teams8
CountryFlag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
Premiers Russia colours.svg Old Bar Beach Pirates (2023)
Most titles Ipswich Colours.svg Forster Tuncurry Hawks
Balmain colours.svg Wingham District Tigers (9 titles)
Website Group 3 on facebook
Related competition Hastings League

Group 3 is a rugby league competition on the north coast of New South Wales, run under the auspices of the Country Rugby League. The Group 3 area runs from Kempsey in the north to Forster in the south.

Contents

History

The league began in 1946, with Taree Old Bar winning the first ever premiership. At the time, this league was known as Group 18. In 1966, the boundaries were re-drawn to include three new clubs (Camden Haven, Port Macquarie, and Wauchope) and the group's name was changed to Group 3. [1]

In 1995, Port Macquarie and Wauchope joined Group 2 in another re-zoning, with teams from Group 3 Saturday League joining the competition. In 2003, Port City RLFC joined the competition on loan from Group 2. In 2004, Wauchope re-joined the league after departing at the end of the 1994 season. [1]

The current First Grade premiers are the Old Bar Beach Pirates.

The 2020 Group 3 competition was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia. [2] Junior competitions were postponed, eventually commencing in July. The highest age group competition winners were Wingham Tigers (Under 18 boys) and Port Macquarie Sharks (Under 17 Ladies League Tag). [3] [4]

Teams

The following clubs field teams in the Group 3 First Grade competition.

ClubCity/TownFoundedHome GroundNo. of TitlesPremierships
Ipswich Colours.svg Forster Tuncurry Hawks Forster/Tuncurry 1946Harry Elliot Oval91947, 1968, 1970, 1986, 1994, 1995, 1998, 2004, 2011
North Queensland colours.svg Macleay Valley Mustangs Kempsey 1995Verge Street Oval22014, 2019
Russia colours.svg Old Bar Beach Pirates Old Bar 1995Old Bar Reserve31996, 1999, 2023
New South Wales colours.svg Port City Breakers Port Macquarie 2002 Regional Stadium 52008, 2010, 2016, 2017, 2022
Cronulla colours.svg Port Macquarie Sharks Port Macquarie 1940 Regional Stadium 71976, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 2015, 2018
LebanonRLcolours.png Taree City Bulls Taree 1998Jack Neal Oval32000, 2001, 2007
Newcastle colours.svg Wauchope Blues Wauchope 1920Lank Bain Oval81967, 1969, 1972, 1975, 1984, 2009, 2012, 2013
Balmain colours.svg Wingham Tigers Wingham 1900sWingham Sporting Complex91950, 1952, 1953, 1961, 1962, 1989, 1997, 2002, 2003

Former Teams

Map

Local Areain New South Wales
Group 3 Rugby League
Locations of the current Group 3 clubs.
Group 3 Rugby League
Relation to state & national capitals

Premierships

First Grade

Separate teams in 1946, Forster and Tuncurry combined as Cape Hawke in 1947, then played as Foster-Tuncurry from 1953.

SeasonGrand Final InformationMinor Premiers
PremiersScoreRunners-upReport
1946 Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Taree Old Bar9–5 Ipswich Colours.svg Forster [5] [6] Ipswich Colours.svg Forster
1947 Australian colours.svg Cape Hawke10–4 Country colours.svg Taree Old Bar [7] Australian colours.svg Cape Hawke
1948 Country colours.svg Taree Browns Creek8–7 Australian colours.svg Cape Hawke [8] [9]
1949 Country colours.svg Taree Browns Creek18–2 Australian colours.svg Cape Hawke [10] Country colours.svg Taree Browns Creek
1950 Balmain colours.svg Wingham District7–3 Country colours.svg Taree Browns Creek [11] Balmain colours.svg Wingham District
1951 Country colours.svg Taree Browns Creek5–4 Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Taree Old Bar [12] Country colours.svg Taree Browns Creek
1952 Balmain colours.svg Wingham District14–5 Country colours.svg Taree Browns Creek [13] Balmain colours.svg Wingham District
1953 Balmain colours.svg Wingham District10–0 Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Taree Old Bar [14] Balmain colours.svg Wingham District
1954 Western Suburbs colours.svg Gloucester10–2 Country colours.svg Taree Browns Creek [15] Western Suburbs colours.svg Gloucester
1955 Country colours.svg Taree Browns Creek10–0 Balmain colours.svg Wingham District
1956 Country colours.svg Taree Browns Creek8–2 Balmain colours.svg Wingham District
1957 Western Suburbs colours.svg Gloucester17–10 Balmain colours.svg Wingham District
1958 Western Suburbs colours.svg Gloucester7–4 Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Taree Old Bar
1959 Western Suburbs colours.svg Gloucester37–0 Country colours.svg Cundletown
1960 Western Suburbs colours.svg Gloucester7–4 Balmain colours.svg Wingham District
1961 Balmain colours.svg Wingham District9–5 Ireland colours.svg Taree United
1962 Balmain colours.svg Wingham District15–12 Western Suburbs colours.svg Gloucester
1963 Western Suburbs colours.svg Gloucester10–7 Balmain colours.svg Wingham District
1964 Western Suburbs colours.svg Gloucester6–5 Balmain colours.svg Wingham District
1965 Western Suburbs colours.svg Gloucester15–2 Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Taree Old Bar

Group 3

SeasonGrand Final InformationMinor Premiers
PremiersScoreRunners-upReport
1966 Western Suburbs colours.svg Gloucester29–2 Balmain colours.svg Wingham District Western Suburbs colours.svg Gloucester
1967 Newcastle colours.svg Wauchope10–9 Ipswich Colours.svg Forster Tuncurry Newcastle colours.svg Wauchope
1968 Ipswich Colours.svg Forster Tuncurry21–0 Ireland colours.svg Taree United Ipswich Colours.svg Forster Tuncurry
1969 Newcastle colours.svg Wauchope14–4 Ipswich Colours.svg Forster Tuncurry Newcastle colours.svg Wauchope
1970 Ipswich Colours.svg Forster Tuncurry14–4 Cronulla colours.svg Port Macquarie Ipswich Colours.svg Forster Tuncurry
1971 Ireland colours.svg Taree United44–8 Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Taree Old Bar Ireland colours.svg Taree United
1972 Newcastle colours.svg Wauchope24–7 Balmain colours.svg Wingham District Newcastle colours.svg Wauchope
1973 Ireland colours.svg Taree United8–3 Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Taree Old Bar Ireland colours.svg Taree United
1974 Ireland colours.svg Taree United18–15 Ipswich Colours.svg Forster Tuncurry Ipswich Colours.svg Forster Tuncurry
1975 Newcastle colours.svg Wauchope18–8 Ireland colours.svg Taree United Cronulla colours.svg Port Macquarie
1976 Cronulla colours.svg Port Macquarie24–10 Balmain colours.svg Wingham District Cronulla colours.svg Port Macquarie
1977 Ireland colours.svg Taree United12–9 Ipswich Colours.svg Forster Tuncurry Ireland colours.svg Taree United
1978 Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Taree Old Bar24–20 Ireland colours.svg Taree United Balmain colours.svg Wingham District
1979 Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Taree Old Bar24–10 Cronulla colours.svg Port Macquarie Cronulla colours.svg Port Macquarie
1980 Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Taree Old Bar12–6 Cronulla colours.svg Port Macquarie Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Taree Old Bar
1981 Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Taree Old Bar19–4 Balmain colours.svg Wingham District Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Taree Old Bar
1982 Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Taree Old Bar10–7 Balmain colours.svg Wingham District Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Taree Old Bar
1983 Ireland colours.svg Taree United14–6 Newcastle colours.svg Wauchope Newcastle colours.svg Wauchope
1984 Newcastle colours.svg Wauchope18–12 Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Taree Old Bar Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Taree Old Bar
1985 Ireland colours.svg Taree United22–10 Newcastle colours.svg Wauchope Newcastle colours.svg Wauchope
1986 Ipswich Colours.svg Forster Tuncurry18–6 Balmain colours.svg Wingham District Ipswich Colours.svg Forster Tuncurry
1987 Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Taree Old Bar9–2 Cronulla colours.svg Port Macquarie Cronulla colours.svg Port Macquarie
1988 Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Taree Old Bar50–8 Illawarra colours.svg Camden Haven Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Taree Old Bar
1989 Balmain colours.svg Wingham District28–8 Cronulla colours.svg Port Macquarie Cronulla colours.svg Port Macquarie
1990 Cronulla colours.svg Port Macquarie10–2 Newcastle colours.svg Wauchope Newcastle colours.svg Wauchope
1991 Cronulla colours.svg Port Macquarie24–7 Ipswich Colours.svg Forster Tuncurry Cronulla colours.svg Port Macquarie
1992 Cronulla colours.svg Port Macquarie20–14 Balmain colours.svg Wingham District Cronulla colours.svg Port Macquarie
1993 Cronulla colours.svg Port Macquarie30–14 Newcastle colours.svg Wauchope Newcastle colours.svg Wauchope
1994 Ipswich Colours.svg Forster Tuncurry20–4 Newcastle colours.svg Wauchope Ipswich Colours.svg Forster Tuncurry
1995 Ipswich Colours.svg Forster Tuncurry44–6 Rhinoscolours.svg South Taree Ipswich Colours.svg Forster Tuncurry
1996 Russia colours.svg Old Bar24–2 Balmain colours.svg Wingham District Balmain colours.svg Wingham District
1997 Balmain colours.svg Wingham District26–16 Ipswich Colours.svg Forster Tuncurry Illawarra colours.svg Camden Haven
1998 Ipswich Colours.svg Forster Tuncurry24–14 Russia colours.svg Old Bar Ipswich Colours.svg Forster Tuncurry
1999 Russia colours.svg Old Bar26–6 Balmain colours.svg Wingham District Russia colours.svg Old Bar
2000 LebanonRLcolours.png Taree City40–20 Russia colours.svg Old Bar Russia colours.svg Old Bar
2001 LebanonRLcolours.png Taree City52–9 St. George colours.svg Forster Dragons LebanonRLcolours.png Taree City
2002 Balmain colours.svg Wingham District30–26 LebanonRLcolours.png Taree City LebanonRLcolours.png Taree City
2003 Balmain colours.svg Wingham District30–20 Ipswich Colours.svg Forster Tuncurry Balmain colours.svg Wingham District
2004 Ipswich Colours.svg Forster Tuncurry50–6 Balmain colours.svg Wingham District Ipswich Colours.svg Forster Tuncurry
2005 Illawarra colours.svg Camden Haven31–22 LebanonRLcolours.png Taree City LebanonRLcolours.png Taree City
2006 Illawarra colours.svg Camden Haven26–10 Newcastle colours.svg Wauchope Illawarra colours.svg Camden Haven
2007 LebanonRLcolours.png Taree City28–20 New South Wales colours.svg Port City LebanonRLcolours.png Taree City
2008 New South Wales colours.svg Port City40–16 Ipswich Colours.svg Forster Tuncurry New South Wales colours.svg Port City
2009 Newcastle colours.svg Wauchope32–10 New South Wales colours.svg Port City Newcastle colours.svg Wauchope
2010 New South Wales colours.svg Port City30–6 Ipswich Colours.svg Forster Tuncurry New South Wales colours.svg Port City
2011 Ipswich Colours.svg Forster Tuncurry30–16 New South Wales colours.svg Port City New South Wales colours.svg Port City
2012 Newcastle colours.svg Wauchope24–20 New South Wales colours.svg Port City [16] Newcastle colours.svg Wauchope
2013 Newcastle colours.svg Wauchope49–18 Russia colours.svg Old Bar [17] Newcastle colours.svg Wauchope
2014 North Queensland colours.svg Macleay Valley25–24 Newcastle colours.svg Wauchope [18] Newcastle colours.svg Wauchope
2015 Cronulla colours.svg Port Macquarie20–8 New South Wales colours.svg Port City [19] Cronulla colours.svg Port Macquarie
2016 New South Wales colours.svg Port City26–6 Cronulla colours.svg Port Macquarie [20] Cronulla colours.svg Port Macquarie
2017 New South Wales colours.svg Port City28–20 North Queensland colours.svg Macleay Valley [21] New South Wales colours.svg Port City
2018 Cronulla colours.svg Port Macquarie18–10 New South Wales colours.svg Port City [22] New South Wales colours.svg Port City
2019 North Queensland colours.svg Macleay Valley34–24 Newcastle colours.svg Wauchope [23] North Queensland colours.svg Macleay Valley
2020Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia
2021
2022 New South Wales colours.svg Port City20–12 Russia colours.svg Old Bar New South Wales colours.svg Port City
2023 Russia colours.svg Old Bar22–10 Cronulla colours.svg Port Macquarie [24] Russia colours.svg Old Bar

Source: Group 3 History Grand Final scores compiled from results published in the Rugby League Week.

Leaderboard

Bold indicates active club (Correct as of 28 September 2020)

ClubPremiershipsRunners-upMinor Premierships
Balmain colours.svg Wingham District 9163
Ipswich Colours.svg Forster Tuncurry9128
Western Suburbs colours.svg Gloucester91 ?
Newcastle colours.svg Wauchope District8811
Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Taree Old Bar885
Cronulla colours.svg Port Macquarie Sharks 769
Ireland colours.svg Taree United643
New South Wales colours.svg Port City564
Country colours.svg Taree Browns Creek53 ?
LebanonRLcolours.png Taree City334
Russia colours.svg Old Bar Beach333
Illawarra colours.svg Camden Haven212
North Queensland colours.svg Macleay Valley Mustangs 211
Country colours.svg Cundletown010
Illawarra colours.svg Forster Dragons010
Rhinoscolours.svg South Taree010

Juniors

Junior Clubs

Forster Tuncurry Hawks

Macleay Valley Mustangs

Old Bar Beach Pirates


Port City Breakers

Port Macquarie Sharks

Taree City Bulls


Wauchope Blues

Wingham Tigers

See also

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References

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  7. "Football". The Northern Champion . Taree: National Library of Australia. 20 August 1947. p. 2. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
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  20. Rene, Louise (19 September 2016). "PORT CITY CLAIMS GROUP 3 PREMIERSHIP". NBN News. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
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  24. Smith, Tallon (22 September 2023). "Grand Final Watch: Dubbo CYMS take Peter McDonald Premiership title, plus a recap of Groups 2, 3 & 7, GTS and the NHRL". Battlers For Bush Footy. Retrieved 25 September 2023.