2019 Group 10 Rugby League season
# 2019 Group 10 Rugby League season

The 2019 Group 10 Rugby League season was the 73rd season of the premier rugby league competition in the Central West area of New South Wales. It was run under the auspices of the Country Rugby League. It was the seventh consecutive season to feature nine teams, after the re-admittance of the Blayney Bears in 2013.

Bathurst Panthers entered the season as defending champions, after defeating Cowra Magpies 12–10 in the 2018 Premier League decider. Panthers five-eighth and goal kicker Willie Wright kicked a match-winning conversion with four minutes remaining in the decider played at Cowra's Sid Kallas Oval, sealing Panthers first Premier League title since 2007.

Panthers would defend its title with a 9–8 win over Mudgee Dragons in the grand final at Carrington Park that went to extra-time.

## Off-season signings

| Team | In | Out |
| - | - | - |
| Bathurst Panthers | Kevin Murray (Moore Park), Max Gay (Yanco-Wamoon), Louis Murphy (Walgett) | Jye Barrow (Molong), Kade Barrow (Molong), Blake Hewitt (Young) |
| Bathurst St Patrick's | Luke Branighan (Oberon), Mickey Hawkings (Oberon), Traie Merritt (Forbes) | Josh Howarth (Lithgow), Sam Dwyer (Parkes), Brandon Tago (Parkes) |
| Blayney Bears | Steve Lane (Cargo), Leigh Monaghan (St Patrick's), Chris Shepherd (Bathurst Panthers) | Tim Mortimer (Orange CYMS), Mitch Evers (Northern Rivers RRL) |
| Cowra Magpies | Lewis Dwyer (Parkes), Claude Gordon (Dubbo Westside), Logan Harris (Newcastle) | |
| Lithgow Workmen's Club | Jack Sullivan (West Harbour, rugby union), Josh Howarth (St Patrick's), Tui Oloapu (Oberon) | |
| Mudgee Dragons | Jack Littlejohn (Salford), Casey Burgess (Lakes United), Grant Moore (Gymea Gorillas), Nick Harvey (Dubbo CYMS), Jayden Brown (Canowindra), Tom Shearman (Lakes United), Austin Burgess (Lakes United), Harry Myers (Milton-Ulladulla), Nick Wilson (Canowindra), Ben Thompson (Gulgong), James Okell (injury) | Nathan O'Brien (retired) |
| Oberon Tigers | Matt Ranse (Blackheath), Richard Peckham (Wellington), Farren Lamb (Forbes) | Luke Branighan (St Patrick's), Mickey Hawkings (St Patrick's), Ben McAlpine (Orange CYMS), Dallas Booth (Portland), Tui Oloapu (Lithgow), Dave Sellers (boxing), Tyler Hughes (Newcastle) |
| Orange CYMS | Ben McAlpine (Oberon), Tim Mortimer (Orange CYMS), Steve Morris, Jake Williams (East Campbelltown), Jarred Tyack (Forbes), Kain Earsman (Canowindra), Joseph Ualesi (Parramatta), Josh Burke (Campbelltown City) | Mick Sullivan (Wingham) |
| Orange Hawks | Jared Brodrick (Corrimal), Alex Prout (Parkes), Matt Boss (Berkeley) | Kyle Robbins (Port City Breakers), Tatafu Naaniumotu (Woodbridge Cup), Sia Nemani (Woodbridge Cup) |

## Premier League season summary

Eighteen rounds was played between March and August, which concluded with a finals played under the top five McIntyre system. Bathurst Panthers played its round one match against Blayney Bears on March 30 at Carrington Park. The match acted as a curtain raiser to NRL match between the Penrith Panthers and Melbourne Storm later that evening. The remainder of the first round of Group 10 Premier League was played on weekend beginning on April 13.

Orange Hawks claimed the minor premiership, but were bundled out in straight sets to be the first minor premier to miss the grand final since 1998, which ironically was the Orange Hawks. The grand final was played between the Bathurst Panthers and Mudgee Dragons. The match went to extra-time after the match finished 8–all after 80 minutes. Panthers captain-coach Doug Hewitt would kick a field goal in extra-time to give his side a 9–8 lead, which would prove enough for Panthers to claim a second consecutive premiership and its fourth overall.

Teams

| Club | Home ground | Coach | Captain | President |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Bathurst Panthers | Carrington Park | Doug Hewitt | Doug Hewitt | Dennis Comerford |
| Bathurst St Patrick's | Jack Arrow Sporting Complex | Luke Braninghan | Luke Braninghan | David Chapman |
| Blayney Bears | King George Oval | Ben McKenna | | Tim Mooney |
| Cowra Magpies | Sid Kallas Oval | Kurt Hancock | | Marc McLeish |
| Lithgow Workmen's Club | Tony Luchetti Showground | Graeme Osborne | | Howard Fisher |
| Mudgee Dragons | Glen Willow | Jack Littlejohn | Jack Littlejohn | Sebastian Flack |
| Oberon Tigers | Oberon Sports Ground | Josh Starling | Josh Starling | Ian Christie-Johnston |
| Orange CYMS | Wade Park | Dom Maley | Dom Maley | Dave Penny |
| Orange Hawks | Wade Park | Willie Heta | Willie Heta | |

## Group 10 Premier League ladder

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | B | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Orange Hawks | 16 | 14 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 501 | 254 | +247 | 32 | Group 10 Minor Premiership |
| 2 | Bathurst Panthers (C) | 16 | 14 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 471 | 240 | +231 | 32 | Group 10 play-offs |
| 3 | Mudgee Dragons | 15 | 10 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 478 | 217 | +261 | 25 | Group 10 play-offs |
| 4 | Lithgow Workmen's Club | 16 | 9 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 390 | 352 | +38 | 22 | Group 10 play-offs |
| 5 | Cowra Magpies | 16 | 7 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 376 | 308 | +68 | 19 | Group 10 play-offs |
| 6 | Orange CYMS | 15 | 6 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 404 | 414 | −10 | 16 |
| 7 | Oberon Tigers (R) | 15 | 5 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 303 | 382 | −79 | 14 | Withdrew to Mid West Cup in 2020 |
| 8 | Bathurst St Patrick's | 16 | 4 | 0 | 12 | 2 | 278 | 508 | −230 | 12 |
| 9 | Blayney Bears | 15 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 2 | 200 | 726 | −526 | 4 |

Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) point difference; 3) number of points scored.

## Group 10 Premier League results

* Results and scorers courtesy of Group 10 Rugby League.
* Match reports courtesy of Blayney Chronicle, Central Western Daily, Cowra Guardian, Lithgow Mercury, Mudgee Guardian, Oberon Review and Western Advocate.

### Round 1

* The Bathurst Panthers versus Blayney Bears acted as a curtain-raiser to the round three National Rugby League match between Penrith Panthers and Melbourne Storm.
* Oberon Tigers had the bye.

### Round 2

* Orange CYMS had the bye.

### Round 3

* Mudgee Dragons scored more than 60 points in a game for the first time since round 16, 2017, when they defeated Blayney Bears 64−0.
* Orange Hawks had the bye.

### Round 4

* Bathurst St Patrick's had the bye.

### Round 5

* Blayney Bears had the bye.

### Round 6

* Mudgee Dragons had the bye.
* Lithgow Workies claimed back-to-back wins for the first time since round 18 in 2017.

### Round 7

* Orange CYMS had the bye.

### Round 8

* Lithgow Workmen's Club had the bye.

### Round 9

* Cowra Magpies had the bye.

### Round 10

* Bathurst Panthers had the bye.

### Round 11

* Orange Hawks had the bye.

### Round 12

* Bathurst St Patrick's had the bye.

### Round 13

* Blayney Bears had the bye.

### Round 14

* Mudgee Dragons had the bye.

### Round 15

* Orange CYMS had the bye.

### Round 16

* Oberon Tigers had the bye.

### Round 17

* Lithgow Workmen's Club had the bye.
* The Oberon Tigers versus Blayney Bears and the Orange CYMS versus Mudgee Dragons were postponed after snow closed roads across the Group 10 region. With the result of the games making no difference to the competition ladder, they were not rescheduled.

### Round 18

* Cowra Magpies had the bye.

## Group 10 Premier League finals series

| Qualifying Finals | Qualifying Finals | Qualifying Finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Preliminary Finals | Preliminary Finals | Preliminary Finals | Grand Final | Grand Final | Grand Final |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | | | 1 | Orange Hawks | 16 | | | | 2 | Bathurst Panthers | 9 |
| | | | 2 | Bathurst Panthers | 36 | | | | 3 | Mudgee Dragons | 8 |
| 2 | Bathurst Panthers | 40 | | | | 1 | Orange Hawks | 0 | | | |
| 3 | Mudgee Dragons | 18 | | | | 3 | Mudgee Dragons | 14 | | | |
| | | | 3 | Mudgee Dragons | 36 | | | | | | |
| | | | 4 | Lithgow Workmen's Club | 30 | | | | | | |
| 4 | Lithgow Workmen's Club | 24 | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Cowra Magpies | 22 | | | | | | | | | |

### Grand final

**Grand final report**

| Bathurst Panthers | Position | Mudgee Dragons |
| - | - | - |
| Josh Rivett | FB | Jayden Brown |
| Mackenzie Atkins | WG | Jared Robinson |
| Blake Lawson | CE | Nathan Orr |
| Kevin Murray | CE | Lee Hicks |
| Louis Murphy | WG | Harrison Maynard |
| Willie Wright | FE | Jack Littlejohn (c) |
| Doug Hewitt (c) | HB | Tim Condon |
| Brent Seager | PR | Tom Shearman |
| Nick Loader | HK | Ben Thompson |
| Jason Corliss | PR | Hamish Bryant |
| Jack Siejka | SR | Chanse Burgess |
| Blake Seager | SR | Todd Munn |
| Jake Betts | LK | Casey Burgess |
| Jed Betts | Bench | Luke Moody |
| James Higgins | Bench | Sebastian Flack |
| Josh Small | Bench | Aiden Woods |
| Brad Fearnley | Bench | Jack Beasley |
| Doug Hewitt | Coach | Jack Littlejohn |

Bathurst Panthers hosted the Group 10 Rugby League grand final day for the first time since 2007. Mudgee Dragons had won all their grand finals against Panthers (in 2000 and 2004) at Carrington Park.

The match was a low-scoring affair and it wasn't until the Dragons gave away two straight penalties that Panthers broke the deadlock with a penalty goal from the boot of Willie Wright in the 18th minute to give the Bathurst side a 2–nil lead.

Neither team could build momentum as both sides continued to shoot themselves in the foot through handling errors or discipline issues, but the Dragons crowd came to life with two minutes remaining in the half, voicing their approval of a huge break down the middle from Ben Thompson. Nathan Orr made the most of the chance close to the line, fending off an opponent before planting down the ball for the only try of the opening half. Mudgee lead 4–2 at half-time.

After play resumed for the second-half, Panthers looked to their left wing for a response eight minutes into the new half, however, Louis Murphy was denied on the try line by desperate Dragons defence.

Another Orr fend gave the Dragons centre a chance to score in the 57th minute but a strong tackle from Josh Rivett put him into touch.

However, Jack Beasley wasn't going to be denied five minutes later and the Mudgee substitute crashed over to give the Dragons a 8–2 lead.

It was on the 67th minute mark that the Panthers found their opening try of the match as second rower Jack Siejka scored between the uprights.

Wright's conversion brought the score level at 8–all and with no team finding the winning points in the remaining minutes, the match went to extra-time, the first grand final to require extra-time since 2006.

Extra-time would be five minutes each way and in their first chance to break the deadlock, captain-coach Doug Hewitt slotted home a field goal.

The Panthers held on to win their second consecutive Group 10 Rugby League Premier League title.

Bathurst Panthers 9 (Jack Siejka try; Willie Wright 2 goals, Doug Hewitt field goal)

Mudgee Dragons 8 (Nathan Orr, Jack Beasley tries)

