THE return of three clubs and the involvement of former NRL players shapes for what promises to be a huge Tooheys New Group 2 Rugby League season in 2022.

The latest Group 2 Rugby League season kicks off on Sunday afternoon with its ANZAC Weekend round.

Two clubs who had last season off make a return to the field in Round 1, when the Sawtell Panthers host the Orara Valley Axemen at Rex Hardaker Oval.

The Panthers and Axemen both have former NRL players leading from the helm, with Clint Greenshields coaching his former club and former English international Sam Burgess guiding the Axemen.

It will be both club’s first Group 2 game since 2019.

Coffs Harbour Comets and Woolgoolga Seahorses open their season with a clash at Geoff King Motors Oval.

The Comets finished second on the ladder last season, while the Seahorses will look to rise from the bottom of the ladder in 2022.

The Grafton Ghosts and South Grafton Rebels play off for local bragging rights in their opening round derby this weekend.

The Ghosts finished last season as minor premiers and are the last team to win the Group 2 competition in 2019.

The final round also features another local derby when the Macksville Sea Eagles host the Nambucca Roosters, who are making a return to Group 2 competition for the first time since 2018.

Former NRL superstar Greg Inglis will help lead the Sea Eagles pack this season in a big coup for Group 2.

This season will feature eight clubs in the first grade, reserve grade, and Women’s League Tag competitions, and seven clubs in the under 18s.

This year will feature a fourteen-round season with this year’s finals series starting on Saturday, 6 August, with the grand final on Sunday, 28 August.

 

By Aiden BURGESS