SHOAL Bay schoolgirl Zoe Smith has taken another giant step on her exciting rugby journey. The talented Hunter Sports High School student covered herself in glory at the Australian Schools and Junior Rugby Championships last week on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast – helping the NSW under-16s All Schools women’s rugby team bring home the Sevens national […]

PORT Stephens netball is proven competitive and prosperous after three local associations covered themselves in glory at the recent Netball NSW HART State Junior Championships in Sydney. In a huge boon for the region, the Nelson Bay under-12s, Dungog under-12s and Port Stephens under-14s received Blue Patches for finishing runners up in their respective Division […]

PORT Stephens representative netball coach Felicity Pacevski knew she had a special group of young athletes when she took over the reins of the under-14 squad. The experienced mentor realised her charges were capable of bigger things after the team produced encouraging results at various representative carnivals in the Hunter region. An ecstatic Felicity beamed […]

NELSON Bay’s first grade rugby team’s minor premiership hopes in the Hunter Suburban Mens Presidents Cup A Grade competition hang in the balance. After a two-week layoff, the injury-riddled Gropers were left smarting after an 18-8 loss to the fourth-placed Cooks Hill Brown Snakes last weekend at Empire Park Bar Beach. Played on a gluepot […]

WESTERN Suburbs rugby league legend Mick Liubinskas stole the show when he led a band of seasoned golfers from the Massey Park Golf club on a successful sojourn to Port Stephens. The fearless forward, who played alongside enforcer John ‘Dallas’ Donnelly and the incomparable Tommy Raudonikis in 44 top-grade appearances for the Magpies during the […]

NELSON Bay rugby journeyman Ross Buchan is set to chalk up a 150 match milestone in the Hunter Suburban Rugby competition. Barring injury, the stalwart Gropers hooker wil  achieve the feat when he runs out onto Bill Strong Oval on Saturday July 25 against reigning premiers Scone Brumbies in an important home match fixture. The […]

PORT Stephens pickleball identities Debbie Black and Kim Fletcher are renowned for their on-court prowess on the northern NSW circuit. The pair have achieved a wealth of success in both the singles and doubles formats on tour – collecting an assortment of medals and titles to earn legendary status. Local hero Debbie remains one of […]

NELSON Bay Marlins showed pundits that they are right in the AFL Hunter Central Coast Black Diamond Senior Mens Cup finals mix after an enthralling five-point loss to Killarney Vale Bombers at Dick Burwell Oval last weekend. The third-ranked Bombers edged out a spirited Marlins lineup 9.10 (64) to 8.11 (59) in a crackerjack duel […]

ATHLETICISM and versatility best describe this year’s Nelson Bay under-13 years representative netball squad. On the eve of the 2026 HART Junior State Netball Titles in Sydney, the team is preparing for an intensive three days of elite competition featuring the finest young netball talent in NSW. Under the guidance of experienced mother-daughter coaching duo […]

SPURRED on by a record three women’s tackle teams in the Hunter Junior League this season, the Nelson Bay Marlins club continues to make huge strides. Ben Whaler and Trent Colley’s all-conquering under 14 Marlins remain undefeated after seven rounds in the division three series while Murray Small’s under 16s lineup is entrenched in second […]