Emerging rugby star Zoe Smith receives a special pewter mug in recognition of becoming the first female Gropers junior to play 100 matches for the Nelson Bay Junior Rugby Club. She is pictured (centre) with Nelson Bay Junior Rugby president Dion Cooper, Port Stephens councillor Nathan Errington, Member for Port Stephens Kate Washington and club […]

NELSON Bay netballer Katie Schein personifies courage, determination and tenacity on court. When her batch of Port Stephens-based players lined up against hot favourites Mayfield Mystics in the recent Newcastle Seniors Division Four Grand Final at the National Park courts they faced an uphill task. The all conquering Mystics had yet to lose a fixture […]

TAFE NSW Tomaree Connected Learning Centre (CLC) is addressing workforce shortages across aged care and disability sectors in the Hunter New England by training a new wave of local, skilled workers. As demand continues to grow for healthcare and social assistance workers, with more than 580,000 new jobs predicted by 2034, the TAFE NSW Certificate […]

LAVA Girls had double reason to celebrate after claiming two major honours at the Nelson Bay Netball Association Grand Finals at Tomaree Sports Complex courts in Salamander Bay last weekend. After capturing the Cadet Division (15-17yrs) championship with an emphatic 34-22 victory over minor premiers Bluebelles in the trophy decider, the girls were later declared […]

A CHANCE introduction to Australian Rules Football three years ago has opened exciting pathways for talented Nelson Bay athlete Catalina Labra Knox. When friends persuaded the versatile schoolgirl to come along to nearby Dick Burwell Oval and trial with the Nelson Bay Marlins AFL club as a precocious 15-year-old, she made an immediate impact. Rookie […]

KARUAH Roos rugby league iron man Daniel Evans holds pride of place in the club’s annals of history. The legendary hooker celebrated another milestone last Saturday when he skippered the Roos to a deserved 34-28 premiership triumph over the Stockton Sharks in the Newcastle Hunter Rugby League C Grade Grand Final at Lakeside Sporting Complex. […]

NELSON Bay Marlins senior women’s AFL team have stamped themselves as genuine title contenders for the 2026 season. Olivia Feldman’s tenacious Marlins narrowly missed out on the AFL Hunter Central Coast Senior Women’s Black Diamond Plate silverware this season but remain a force to be reckoned with in future campaigns. The experienced Feldman was one […]

SOME of Port Stephens’ most promising rugby league juniors have returned from a once-in-a-lifetime educational trip to Queensland. Nelson Bay Marlins Junior Rugby League Club sent its two Under 15 teams on a four day goodwill tour to Brisbane last week where they were hosted by the fledgling Redcliffe Dolphins. Highlights for the young Marlins […]

MALLABULA Panthers’ dreams of a unique rugby league premiership double in the Newcastle Hunter and Maitland competitions have been dashed. Both the Panthers men’s and women’s tackle teams figured in Grand Final action last weekend at the Lakeside Sporting Complex in Raymond Terrace – only to stumble at the final hurdle. Peter Maytom’s second ranked […]

THEY didn’t lift any silverware during this year’s Hunter Junior Rugby campaign but Nelson Bay Gropers can salute the deeds of their talented Under 15s boys and girls squads. In an encouraging milestone, the Gropers boys team snapped an eight year hoodoo by qualifying for their first ever finals series – bowing out after a […]