Nelson Bay boasting plenty of depth in Hunter Suburban men’s rugby ranks

NELSON Bay first grade men’s rugby squad are tracking well in this year’s Hunter Suburban Presidents Cup A Grade competition.

Four rounds into their 2026 campaign, the revamped Gropers are entrenched in second spot with two wins and two losses under their belts.

They are growing in stature under the mentorship of new coach Michael Squires.

Heading into last weekend’s NSW Country Rugby Championships at Scully Park in Tamworth, the Nelson Bay warriors were recovering from a heartbreaking 17-14 loss to title favourites and undefeated Cup leaders Singleton Red Bulls.

The Gropers only other defeat was against reigning premiers Scone Brumbies on 18 April.

Singleton led the competition on 19 points – eight clear of Nelson Bay and Cooks Hill Brown Snakes (11 points), the Brumbies (10 points) and Muswellbrook Heelers (1 point).

Coach Squires has the ingredients for a competitive top grade unit that can give this year’s premiership one almighty shake.

With inspirational forwards and co-captains Jake Affleck and Sam Rocher leading the way up front and classy fly half Will Clark and 18-year-old rookie backs Liam Pietrasek and Harry Anderson making an impact out wide, the Gropers are shaping as genuine trophy contenders.

This Saturday the club will host its annual Old Boys Day against the Heelers at Bill Strong Oval, with kick off at 3pm.

To mark the occasion, the Nelson Bay players will don a retro strip to commemorate their inaugural jersey and logo.

Nelson Bay Juniors will join the senior team at the Groperdome to stage their annual Club Day, with Under 11s, Under 16s and Under 18s featuring in curtain-raisers before the main game.

The Gropers showed their premiership credentials in the gripping loss to Singleton and still managed to earn a bonus point with a stout-hearted performance on home turf.

Nelson Bay led 14-5 before the Bulls stormed home to claim a morale boost and early season bragging rights.

Squires has assembled a competitive squad in 2026 with forwards Affleck, Rocher, props Nathan McLeay, Shane Jarvis, Riley Byfield, Luke Sweeney, and Zion Takarua; lineout flyers Taraq Hall and Mitch Workman; locks Ronan O’Connell and John Lundie; flankers Ryan Marshall, Hayden Wilson and Keanu Often, and hookers Ollie Edwards, Liam Keating and Ross Buchan, forming a no-nonsense “engine room”.

The Gropers’ backline stocks have demonstrated their pace and class with halves Clark and Kade Redmond and Jake Langsford, Brayden McMaster, Will McLean, Zac Summerfield, Taj Turner, Scott Tristen, Josh Sollitt, Tom Akbal and tough tackling Danny Arnfield providing plenty of strike power out wide.

By Chris KARAS