NELSON Bay Rugby Club are on the premiership prowl in the Hunter Suburban Men’s competition.

The Gropers juggernaut has stormed to the top of the first grade ladder and are gathering momentum in the run home to the 2024 finals series.

Michael Wiringi’s Grand Final-winning heroes have rediscovered their championship swagger after thumping arch rivals Singleton Red Bulls 35-0 in front of a boisterous home crowd at Bill Strong Oval last weekend.

The high flying Red Bulls had no answer to a revved up Gropers combination that posted five tries in a dominant performance.

It was the Gropers’ tenth consecutive victory after a slow start to the season and sounded an ominous warning to rival teams that this Nelson Bay outfit is bent on claiming back-to-back Suburban premiership titles.

“That was our best performance of the season in all aspects of play and against a genuine title contender in Singleton Red Bulls,” a delighted Wiringi told News Of The Area post match.

“We still have room for improvement but the team is making every post a winner in the lead up to the finals” the coach added.

Powerful Nelson Bay forwards Riley Byfield (2), Sam Rocher, Lewis Affleck and Mitchell Workman all snared tries with fly half Khace Petera and Ilisoni Vonomatairatu booting all five conversions.

In a torrid encounter the Gropers forward pack stamped their mark early with mobile prop Byfield pouncing from rolling mauls to score twice for a 14-nil lead.

After sustained pressure by the premiers the Gropers led 21-0 at the break following a deserved try to emerging lock Lewis Affleck.

In yet another wholehearted display the tireless Affleck inspired team mates with his fearless running and tenacious defence to earn both the Players’ Player and best-on-ground awards.

The industrious Workman nabbed the Gropers’ fourth five-pointer before Rocher stepped through Singleton tackles and darted downfield before combining with comeback winger Kailen Williams to score a dazzling try that sealed a comprehensive victory.

Nelson Bay’s dynamo lock Rocher and flanker John Lundie stole plenty of line out ball and led the way with Affleck, Byfield, hooker Ross Buchan, barnstorming front rower Zion Takarua, the classy Petera, tough tackling number twelve Michael Hotene and strong running centre partner Daniel Arnfield who was sharp in attack.

Nelson Bay will don their Indigenous Round jumpers this Saturday when they host Pokolbin Reds at Bill Strong Oval from 3pm.

By Chris KARAS