Records tumble and droughts break … Group 11 delivers again

From three-decade long premiership droughts gone in the blink of an eye, to a six-try haul followed closely by a five-try haul from two of the competition’s speedsters.

Joe Williams is appointed Welington captain-coach after Justin Toomey-White defects to the Newcastle competition ahead of 2016.

Williams, a former NRL gun with South Sydney, steps down less than three months into the role though, with young gun Lewis Stanley thrown the gig of guiding the Cowboys in 2016.

Cobar reveals its future in Group 11 is in doubt following a dramatic slide in player numbers ahead of the 2016 season. The Endeavour Mine stuff cuts cruel the club’s player roster.

The club later holds a crisis meeting in February and confirms it will see out the 2016 season, but two weeks prior to the season proper the Roosters pull the pin on their time in Group 11.

“It’s the only decision they could have made,” Group 11 secretary Ross McDermott says.

The absence of Cobar means the 2016 competition will be a showdown between eight clubs, pushing the season kick-off date back a week to April 24.

Maroubra claims the Group 11 Nines carnival, knocking of Dubbo CYMS in the final at Northparkes Oval – secretary Ross McDermott hails the tournament a raging success.

The Nyngan Tigers quietly announce the signatures of a stack of guns, namely former Penrith Panthers NSW Cup hooker Reece Goldsmith, who is ushered straight into the Group 11 rep side.

Finally, the footy is back – Dubbo CYMS kicks off its bid for a three-peat of titles with a hard-fought 24-22 derby victory over Macquarie.

Narromine gets the chocolates against Nyngan, 36-32, while Parkes and Forbes both record round one wins.

In another derby, Macquarie this time tastes victory after a 40-16 win over Westside and CYMS runs riot in a 64-10 thrashing of Narromine. Forbes hammers Wellington.

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In a prelude of things to come, Forbes and CYMS go toe-to-toe, with the Fishies racking up a 34-12 win over the Magpies at a west Spooner Oval.

A red-hot Macquarie smokes 2015 runners-up Parkes and Narromine bounces back to defeat Wello.

After almost 12 months out of the game, CYMS gun John Grey admits it’s been tough to stay motivated in his comeback from a crippling knee injury.

It’s worth it though, with Grey crossing in the Fishies’ 58-0 thrashing of Wellington. Parkes knocks off Westside in a high-scoring clash while Forbes beats Narromine 44-14.

Macquarie honours the longevity of veteran Brett Warwick, who has played 30 years of senior rugby league in Dubbo.

Ash Widders re-writes the record books, scoring six tries in Macquarie’s thumping of Wellington. The Raiders win 54-14. CYMS pile on 60 points against Westside.

Five tries from Group 11 and Western Rams ace Kieran Cubby-Shipp headlines CYMS’ 44-12 win over Parkes, while Forbes firms as a contender with a 36-28 win over Macquarie.

102 points are scored in Nyngan’s win over Wellington.

Parkes defies an 18-point deficit to win 28-22 over the Jake Grace-led Magpies in front of the biggest regular season crowd of the season, generating a record gate of $7800.

The Spacemen’s joy is short lived, though, with news boom backrower Brendon Tago will return home to Queensland for the rest of the season.

The Tigers’ games against CYMS are abandoned after torrential rain at Nyngan.

Westside gets off the mark with its first win of the season, over Wellington, Justin Shillingsworth starring in his final game for the club.

Forbes escapes with a victory over Westside, while Macquarie slumps to its second straight loss – this time 38-16 against derby rivals CYMS - forcing coach Steve McLellan to consider changes to the stumbling Raiders.

After having his whopping two year suspension handed down in 2015 cut to 12 months, Rowan Orcher makes his return to the field for Macquarie against Westside.

He helps the Raiders to a 44-32 win, while Forbes racks up a huge 106-12 win over Wellington – Cowboys secretary Ray Fabar comes out swinging at the players who “let down the club” by not showing up.

CYMS makes it nine wins in a row with a resounding 50-12 win over Forbes in a top-of-the-table bloodbath at Caltex Park.

Nyngan’s Hammond Erepan scores a hat-trick in the Tigers’ 54-18 win over Westside.

CYMS centre Jyie Chapman lays down the challenge to the in-form Nyngan Tigers ahead of their clash:

“They might be able to play for 30 minutes or 40 minutes but can they play for the full 80?” 

And the Tigers meet it, although the Fishies come away from Larkin Oval with an 8-7 victory, courtesy of an Alex Bonham penalty goal in the second half. Rightfully, the clash is dubbed the game of the season.

Narromine springs an upset, knocking off Forbes 32-30 to keep the Jets in the hunt for a finals berth.

Nyngan moves into second place with a win over Macquarie. CYMS remain unbeaten following a 46-4 win over Wellington. Parkes races in 12 tries to smash Westside.

The result? A four-week shoot-out to determine which side finishes second and third on the ladder, with Forbes, Parkes, Nyngan and Macquarie all locked on 12 competition points.

The Fishies commemorate their Indigenous round celebrations by wearing special jerseys designed by the family of representative centre Jyie Chapman.

The Fishies win 62-6 over Westside – Wade Kavanagh scoring a hat-trick – while Macquarie gets away with a 44-31 win over Wellington.

As the finals picture becomes clearer, CYMS recorded win number 13 in a row with an inspired defensive display against the Spacemen at Parkes.

CYMS complete an undefeated regular season with a 28-24 win over Nyngan at Caltex Park – the two sides’ second thriller in a month.

Forbes knocks off Parkes to finish the season in fourth, while Macquarie scored a 20-point win over Narromine to land in second place, Jets captain-coach Luke Thompson declaring his side can be a contender in 2017.

Group 11 secretary Ross McDermott spruiks the 2016 finals race as one of the most even in recent memory, with any of the sides in the top five capable of winning the title.

While CYMS’ undefeated regular season sits the Fishies in the box seat to become just the second Dubbo side to win the famed Clayton Cup – awarded to the most successful side in CRL for that season.

In the elimination semi-final, a late double by Dylan Gunn hands Forbes its second win over Parkes in as many weeks, while a brawl marred Nyngan’s 32-22 win over Macquarie in the major.

Josh Merritt and Kini Talaulucavu book a date with the judiciary, as does Tiger Rod Coates.

Luke Jenkins wins the Group 11 player of the year award and referees player of the year gong – big year for the veteran hooker.

Macquarie calls on Chris Daley to fill the void left by suspended halfback Josh Merritt – despite Daley required surgery on a suspected ACL tear.

While star Nyngan hooker Reece Goldsmith is out for the rest of the season after being found guilty of a dangerous throw in the Tigers’ win over Macquarie.

In total, six players fronted the three-man judiciary panel – with Merritt handed the heaviest suspension. He’ll be out until May 22, 2017.

His absence cruels the Macquarie, with Forbes ending the Raiders’ season in the minor semi-final, while CYMS continues its run with a 44-24 win over Nyngan.

Forbes captain-coach Jake Grace backs his side to match Dubbo CYMS in next weekend’s Group 11 grand final following the Magpies’ comprehensive 30-10 preliminary final win over the Nyngan Tigers.

Grace’s side has all the momentum, having won knockout footy for the last month leading into the biggest game on the Group 11 calendar.

CYMS winger John Gray recovers from a hamstring complaint to be named in the Fishies side for the grand final – a welcome recovery for the powerhouse flanker after he missed last year’s decider.

While Forbes captain-coach Jake Grace backs his side to get the job done – and he’s right.

The Magpies swoop to their first title in 29 years, coming from behind to snatch the 2016 crown 26-22, upsetting the previously undefeated CYMS in the one match that counts.

Jake Grace wins the Bob Weir medal as best on ground after a herculean effort in the middle of the field.

In a pivotal moment in the match, gun Fishies hooker Luke Jenkins is carried from the field after coping a heavy knock in a Zac Merritt tackle in the first half.