Rebels and Ghosts in packed top four

By Tim Howard

After six rounds of the Group 2 frst grade rugby league competition, the two Grafton teams fnd themselves in the top 4 of a highly congested competition ladder.

Three teams, Nambucca Heads, would hit hardest was the departure of young halfback Jordan Gallagher. He dominated the second half of last season with an all round running and kicking game that kept opponents guessing.

But Gordon has sprung another teen halfback on own and winger Jamal Laurie has improved with every outing.

In the pack teenage backrower Nicholas Torrens has been a stand out.

When skipper and lock Grant Stevens broke his hand against the Ghosts, Torrens found himself

The Grafton Ghosts main challenge this season has been getting the same team on the paddock week in, week out.

New coach Adam Slater has been forced to come up with new combinations in the backs and forwards each not been disgraced. The club picked up a number of players when last season’s beaten grand fnalist Orara disbanded. Scores from their games so far show they have no trouble racking up points against the best teams and they broke their duck last round with a win 34-18 win over Sawtell.

The Ghosts Bellingen game kicks off at 1pm as Bello doesn’t have an under-18 or reserve grade teams.

On Sunday the Rebels are away to Sawtell, which could be tough one for them.

While unlikely to challenge for the semi-fnals, the Panthers pride themselves on their nuisance value and have the Woolgoolga scalp on their belt already this season.

South Grafton and Coffs Harbour are on eight points and Grafton Ghosts are a point behind on seven.

Both the Rebels and Ghosts have faced signifcant challenges this season.

The defending premiers South Grafton found themselves gutted of almost half their grand fnal side during the off season.

Coach Ron Gordon dug deep into the junior ranks and has unearthed four players who have helped the club rebuild to the point where they have a realistic chance of defending their title.

The loss most thought the competition, 17-yearold Keaton Stutt, who brings a different, but no less valuable skill set to the team.

The wiry half has learned to get early ball to his playmaking fveeighth Hughie Stanley and loves to back up.

He has a good kicking game, which will develop, but it is his defensive play that stands him apart.

Stutt is everywhere in defence, bringing down big forwards, chasing kicks downfeld and covering behind the line.

Out wide Jye Boehme, with three tries under his belt already, looks to be making the 4 jumper his handed a big pair of boots to fll. week, but has kept the team competitive.

He has disappointed no-one. The youngster has beneftted from watching a master at work and his classical front-on hits have the Stumpy Stevens tag all over them.

The competition table reveals some numbers that would please the coach, but surprise Rebels fans.

South Grafton is the only team to have conceded fewer than 100 points so far this season. For a team that has relied more on scoring points than stopping them, it is a good sign for the rest of the season.

The for and against tallies tell the story with the Ghosts the only team in negative territory.

Their big plus has been the brilliant form of their try scoring wizard Dylan Collett who leads the Group tally with eight so far.

And Ghosts fans would tell you the big centre has probably saved eight tries at least with his robust tackling.

The Ghosts lead off this weekend, taking on the dangerous Bellingen outft at Frank McGuren Field on Saturday.

The Magpies while last on the table have