Rugby League fans should head to Pioneer Oval in Parkes, this Saturday, 18th February, to get behind the Parkes Spaceman in their first trial match of the season. The Parkes Spaceman will take on the Thilmere Tahmoor Roosters. 

Players and coaches are excited to for the 2023 season with home games always a big draw card for local footy fans. 

The coaches for this years season are: 
• League Tag: Michael Dumesny
• U18s: Will Wardle,
• Reserve Grade: Jimmy Clyburn
• First Grade: Chad Porter

Stay tuned over the coming weeks as we get to know the Parkes Spaceman coaching team in the lead up to the start of the season.

President of The Parkes Spaceman, Tony Dwyer said of the upcoming 2023 season, “There is a great vibe around the club. The boys have been in full training since the middle of January and with the addition of a couple of front rowers everyone is excited for the season ahead.”

Rugby league has a strong following in Parkes and we are fortunate to have a very healthy junior club, with a staggering amount of talented young players. For sisters Grace and Elizabeth Magregor, rugby league runs in the family. Both girls grew up watching their brothers and cousins play rugby league, motivating them to start playing football at a young age. 

Fourteen year old Grace has played for an impressive number of representative teams this year, including: Parkes U14s league tag, U14s Western Rams league tag squad, Katrina Fanning School Rugby League Cup U14s team, U14s Woodbridge Rugby League team.

When asked to pick a standout memory from this season Grace said, “My Woodbridge under 14s team was undefeated throughout the competition this year. Coming into the grand final we knew it wasn’t going to be an easy game as Dubbo Goannas were our strongest competitors throughout the year. I scored three of the four tries in the grand final and got the player of the match at the end of the game.”

At sixteen years of age, Graces older sister Elizabeth Macgregor is an extremely sought after player and was involved in the following teams this season: Parkes U17s league tag, Western Rams U16s and U18s rugby league team, Catholic School Southern Rugby League country team, the inaugural NSWCCC team.

“My under 16s Woodbridge team went better than I think we all expected heading into the competition. I don’t think any of us had much faith that we would make it to the semis let alone the grand final, but we all really improved as a team throughout the year. We made it to the grand final, but Orange was just a bit hungrier for the win,” said Elizabeth.

Both girls were awarded top try scorers in their respective age groups for the season.

Grace and Elizabeth both attribute their success to putting in the hard work, keeping fit and grasping every opportunity that presents itself. 

They are both extremely grateful for their parents, who have influenced their love of the sport and have been their number one supporters, driving them to every game and ensuring they have every opportunity to succeed. 

Keep a keen eye out for these two talented Parkes sisters in the years to come. Considering the success both Grace and Elizabeth are achieving at such a young age, it is not a stretch to say that we may one day see the Macgregor sisters playing in the NRLW competition.

As it stands, there is some healthy competition in the Macgregor household, as Grace is an avid Roosters supporter and older sister Elizabeth supports the three time reigning NRL Premiers, the Penrith Panthers.

There is dedication to Rugby League and then there is the Price family of Forbes.

Damian Price and his daughter Sarah were gearing up for a weekend match with the Dubbo Wiradjuri Goannas in Wellington, while keeping one eye on a swollen Lachlan River.

Sarah plays for the Goannas Under 12s tackle team and she’s also a member of the Red Bend Blues League Tag team.

So, there’s a strong commitment to the game from the Prices – even when Mother Nature comes calling.

“It was a normal Saturday game and on the Friday afternoon, the water was only ankle deep, so we thought ‘Yep, we’ll be able to drive out in the morning’.”

The Price family home on two-and-half hectares is situated 200m from the road into Forbes. But as Saturday dawned the water from the Lachlan River was above-the-knee and rising. They couldn’t get to their front gate. “So, we got the tinnie out and when we got out onto Bedgerabong Road it was over a metre deep,” said Damian.

So, Damian and Sarah ‘drove’ their boat along the bitumen road normally used by car, to rendezvous with another father Blake Goodsall and his daughter on dry land.

“Blake was able to drive them to the game as I couldn’t get my car out. We just didn’t think the river would rise that fast.”

Other players from farms further afield stayed overnight in Forbes so they could get to Wellington.

Sarah came home the same way – with her dad waiting in the tinnie at the meeting point.

“She plays League Tag too but she just loves the tackle game,” he said. 

“I said to her, ‘Once we commit to the team we’ve got to support them no matter what’. That’s what she did and I did my part to make sure she didn’t miss out.”

(Story and photo: NSW Rugby League page.)

“When they announced the award and the prize, I thought in my head ‘oh wow that would be nice, especially watching the NRL grand final’, and then next minute my name was called up!”

Jessica Ashcroft of the Forbes Magpies was named the 2022 Women in League Award winner recently.

She had no idea she was nominated for the NRL award, which is presented to someone who has acted as an exceptional advocate for the advancement and opportunity of women in rugby league.

“I had so many mixed emotions and was shocked and excited, but most of all proud. Everyone knew except me! When I was standing up there, I had to say a speech and to be quite honest I couldn’t say much as I was still speechless.”

Jessica has played rugby league for Forbes Magpies Junior Rugby League Club from a young age and is an exceptional player for the club’s senior competition. She always looks for opportunities to pass on her knowledge and skills to others.

She has been described as a wonderful role model for the youth of the club, girls, and boys. Coaching the under 8s, refereeing for the club and mentoring upcoming referees are just some of the ways Jessica makes a significant impact on youth at her club.

Going forward Jessica said: “My goal within the footy aspect would be to referee at an NRL game. This has been a goal of mine for a while and I’m slowly getting there refereeing different ages and events. I went to Tuggerah, Central Coast to referee the women’s state titles.”

She said the recognition of the award had inspired her to push harder and further as a referee and player.

Parkes Marist junior rugby league club had an outstanding year with five of their sides winning the grand final in Grenfell this month.

The season could not have been such a success without the fabulous committee and the endless work from the volunteers throughout the season.

U11s League tag won their grand final against Forbes 16-4. The girls were outstanding with most of them playing their first year. Congratulations to Alyra Williams for receiving player of the match and to Charli Milne for receiving best and fairest runner-up in the Lachlan District 2022 season.

U12s Whites went through the year undefeated and won their grand final against Forbes 16-0. A massive achievement for all the boys. Congratulations to Eli Gharib for receiving player of the match and to Jett Clarke for receiving best and fairest for Lachlan District 2022 season.

U14s League tag White won their grand final against Forbes Black 12-8. The girls came out strong and dominated over Forbes. Congratulations to Jessica Morgan for receiving player of the match and to Grace Milne for receiving best and fairest and international player of the year for Lachlan District 2022. Grace MacGregor received best and fairest runner-up for Lachlan District 2022 season.

U14s won their grand final against Forbes 18-10. All boys played an amazing game of footy. Congratulations to Triston Ross for receiving best and fairest for Lachlan District 2022 season and international player of the year.

U17s league tag won their grand final against Cabonne 16-4. Being undefeated all season, the girls should be very proud. Congratulations to Jorja Simpson for receiving player of the match and to Jorja Simpson and Elizabeth MacGregor for receiving best and fairest runner-up for Lachlan District 2022 season.

The Forbes Magpies went in as the underdogs but stunned the Dubbo CYMS when they made history to win the grand final of the Peter McDonald Premiership 26 – 16 in Dubbo on Father’s Day. The town of Forbes literally turned black and white in support of the team and to top the victory Mitch Andrews was named player of the grand final. It was also a special victory for Cameron and Nick Greenhalgh who are not only coach and team captain, but also father and son.

First it was former Premiership Captain Jake Grace and now former Magpies enforcer, Ben Robinson has returned to the fold for a crack at the new competition in 2022 with Forbes. From all reports, the Magpies signing spree isn’t finished just yet either as excitement builds for the new season!

Last March, after consultation, the NSWRL announced its plans to provide new opportunities for clubs in Groups 10 and 11 which would set Western NSW up for success for generations to come. The new competition will also provide weekly acid tests for Forbes footballers.

Group 10 includes clubs from Bathurst, Blayney, Cowra, Lithgow, Mudgee and Orange, while Group 11 includes clubs from Dubbo, Forbes, Narromine, Nyngan, Parkes and Wellington. Whereas previously neighbours like Forbes and Cowra or Mudgee and Wellington only played once a year, this is all about to change.

The revamped format includes:

• A first-past-the-post system and silverware for both the top clubs from Group 10 and Group 11 to preserve history and uphold traditional conferences;

• a minimum of four crossover games between Group 10 against Group 11 teams with travel to be minimised;

• the top four teams from Group 10 and Group 11 to advance to a play-off series involving eight teams who will all vie for the Western Premiership;

• the Western Premiership winner to take part in the end-of-season two-week Presidents Cup competition to determine the State Champion for 2022.

• The new competition in 2022 will run from April to September. If the Magpies continue on this trajectory with key signings, they may well be swooping at the start of Spring.