# 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.

## 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.
First Grade Clubs
| Team | Home ground | No. of Premierships | Premierships |
| Boggabri Kangaroos | Jubilee Oval | 2 | 1963, 1964 |
| Dungowan Cowboys | Dungowan Oval | 0 | None |
| Gunnedah Bulldogs | Kitchener Park | 7 | 1956, 1965, 1973, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1998 |
| Kootingal-Moonbi Roosters | Kootingal Oval | 0 | None |
| Moree Boars | Boughton Oval | 5 | 1988, 1989, 1999, 2002, 2024 |
| Narrabri Blues (in recess) | Collins Park | 5 | 1940, 1970, 1971, 1976, 1990 |
| North Tamworth Bears | Jack Woolaston Oval | 23 | 1913, 1921, 1924, 1926, 1927, 1929, 1931, 1950, 1951, 1953, 1980, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2014, 2015 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023 |
| Wee Waa Panthers | Cook Oval | 2 | 1992, 2004 |
| Werris Creek Magpies | David Taylor Oval | 10 | 1925, 1933, 1948, 1949, 1952, 1979, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997 |

## Former teams

The following teams have competed in Group 4 First Grade since 1983:
* Armidale (2016) (moved back to Group 19)
* Barraba (1980s–2021, on and off) (folded)
* Bendemeer (2018) (folded)
* 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)
* Manilla Tigers (–2022) (folded)
* Oxley Diggers Tamworth (2014–16) (folded)
* Tamworth City (1956–1995, merged with West Tamworth)
* Tamworth United (1990–91)
* Warialda (1980s–1988) (moved to Group 19)
* 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 Bendemeer, 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 |
| 45km 30miles South West (defunct) Manilla Werris Creek North Tamworth Narrabri Kootingal Gunnedah Dungowan Boggabri  Locations of the current Group 4 clubs . | 800km 500miles Tamworth Canberra Sydney  Relation to state & national capitals |

## Grand finals

| Year | Premiers | Score | Runners-up | Report | Winning Coach | Grand Final venue | Minor Premiers | Wooden Spoon |
| 1912 | East Tamworth | 10–4 | North Tamworth Rebels | | | Outer Oval, Tamworth | | |
| 1913 | North Tamworth Rebels | - | East Tamworth | | Paddy McGuinness | No Final | | |
| 1914 | West Tamworth | 12–3 | North Tamworth Rebels | | | | | |
| 1915 | West Tamworth | - | East Tamworth | | | | | |
| 1919 | East Tamworth | 24–0 | North Tamworth | | | Tamworth Oval | | |
| 1920 | West Tamworth | 8–3 | North Tamworth | | | 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 | | | | | |
| 1924 | North Tamworth | - | No Final | | Tom McCormack | No Final | | |
| 1925 | Werris Creek | - | No Final | | Alec Main | No Final | | |
| 1926 | North Tamworth | 10–3 | Manilla | | 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 | | Harry Thompson | Tamworth Oval | | West Tamworth |
| 1932 | East Tamworth | 8–5 | West Tamworth | | Jim Tait | | | |
| 1933 | Werris Creek | 8–7 | East Tamworth | | Benny Bell | | | |
| 1934 | East Tamworth | 20–15 | West Tamworth | | Cec Anderton | | | |
| 1935 | Cup & Shield Games Only | Cup & Shield Games Only | Cup & Shield Games Only | Cup & Shield Games Only | Cup & Shield Games Only | Cup & Shield Games Only | Cup & Shield Games Only | Cup & Shield Games Only |
| 1936 | Cup & Shield Games Only | Cup & Shield Games Only | Cup & Shield Games Only | Cup & Shield Games Only | Cup & Shield Games Only | Cup & Shield Games Only | Cup & Shield Games Only | Cup & Shield Games Only |
| 1937 | West Tamworth | 13–5 | Werris Creek | | | | | |
| 1938 | West Tamworth | 8–5 | Tamworth | | | | | |
| 1939 | Tamworth | - | No Final | | | No Final | | |
| 1940 | Narrabri Blues | 31–7 | Tamworth | | | 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 | | | | | |
| 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 | | Vic Williams | | | |
| 1952 | Werris Creek | 11–9 | North Tamworth | | Greg Wilkins | | Werris Creek | |
| 1953 | North Tamworth | 23–5 | Gunnedah | | Lloyd Russell | | North Tamworth Bears | |
| 1954 | Armidale | 24–12 | West Tamworth | | 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 | | 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 | | Tony La Chiusa | Jack Woolaston Oval | West Tamworth Lions | Gunnedah Bulldogs |
| 2001 | West Tamworth Lions | 34–24 | North Tamworth Bears | | Tony La Chiusa | Scully Park | West Tamworth Lions | Gunnedah Bulldogs |
| 2002 | Moree Boars | 34–18 | West Tamworth Lions | | Tony Murray | Burt Jovanovich Oval, Moree | Moree Boars | Wee Waa Panthers |
| 2003 | Coonabarabran Unicorns | 33–24 | North Tamworth Bears | | Mark Watton | Jack Woolaston Oval | North Tamworth Bears | Werris Creek |
| 2004 | Wee Waa Panthers | 46–10 | Moree Boars | | Matt Hogan | Cook Oval, Wee Waa | West Tamworth Lions | Werris Creek |
| 2005 | North Tamworth Bears | 34–28 | West Tamworth Lions | | 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 | | 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 | | Tony La Chiusa | Scully Park | West Tamworth Lions | Moree Boars |
| 2011 | West Tamworth Lions | 54–14 | North Tamworth Bears | | Tony La Chiusa | Jack Woolaston Oval | West Tamworth Lions | Moree Boars |
| 2012 | West Tamworth Lions | 23–12 | North Tamworth Bears | | Tony La Chiusa | Jack Woolaston Oval | West Tamworth Lions | Moree Boars |
| 2013 | West Tamworth Lions | 33–24 | North Tamworth Bears | | Tony La Chiusa | Scully Park | West Tamworth Lions | Moree Boars |
| 2014 | North Tamworth Bears | 56–18 | Gunnedah Bulldogs | | Brad McManus | Jack Woolaston Oval | North Tamworth Bears | Oxley Diggers |
| 2015 | North Tamworth Bears | 46–25 | West Tamworth Lions | | Zac Russ | Jack Woolaston Oval | West Tamworth Lions | Oxley Diggers |
| 2016 | North Tamworth Bears | 36–12 | West Tamworth Lions | | Brad McManus | Jack Woolaston Oval | North Tamworth Bears | Armidale Rams |
| 2017 | North Tamworth Bears | 30–22 | Narrabri Blues | | Brad McManus | Jack Woolaston Oval | North Tamworth Bears | Wee Waa Panthers |
| 2018 | North Tamworth Bears | 34–28 | Gunnedah Bulldogs | | Scott Blanch | Jack Woolaston Oval | Kootingal Moonbi Roosters | Boggabri Kangaroos |
| 2019 | North Tamworth Bears | 40–4 | Kootingal Moonbi Roosters | | 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 | | Paul Boyce | Jack Woolaston Oval | Moree Boars | Narrabri Blues |
| 2024 | Moree Boars | 40–18 | Boggabri | | Michael Watton | Boughton Oval | Moree Boars | Wee Waa Panthers |

## Junior League
### Current Teams

| Team | Home ground |
| Dungowan Cowboys | Dungowan Oval |
| Farrer Memorial AHS | Farrer HS |
| Gunnedah Bulldogs | Kitchener Park |
| Kootingal-Moonbi Roosters | Kootingal Oval |
| Manilla Tigers | Manilla Oval |
| Collegians Tamworth JRLFC | Tamworth |
| Narrabri Blues | Collins Park |
| North Tamworth Bears | Jack Woolaston Oval |
| South West Robins Junior Sporting Assoc. | Scully Park Precinct |
| Werris Creek Magpies | David Taylor Oval |

## Notable juniors
### Gunnedah Bulldogs

* John Donnelly (rugby league)
* James Wynne
* John O’Neill (rugby league)
* Lindsay Johnston
* Ron Turner (rugby league)
* Aaron Donnelly