The Greta/Branxton Colts Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1985 as a junior club only. After folding in 1997 it reformed in 2001 with an abundance of junior talent in each age groups from U/6’s right through to U/15’s. In this period of time both Greta and Branxton continued to field senior league teams in the Maitland & Coalfields Second Division competition. The Branxton Bears folded at the end of the 2001 season, with the Greta Gorillas continuing on for a further two seasons before they also folded at the completion of the 2003 season.
In 2005 the Greta/Branxton Colts formed a senior committee, and worked tirelessly behind the scenes in protest to the boundaries and restrictions placed on the Greta/Branxton area to be eventually accepted into the Hunter Valley Group 21 Rugby League competition for the commencement of the 2006 season. The Colts fielded teams in both first and reserve grade in their inaugural year, with local Pool Manager and former Canberra Raider Glenn George appointed as head coach. 2007 saw the addition of an U/18 team, with the Colts defeated by Singleton in their maiden senior club Grand Final. This team boasted many talented local juniors that would become the nucleus of a strong senior squad for many years to come.
2008 proved to be a breakthrough year, with the club winning its first piece of silverware courtesy of a victory in the pre-season Scanlon Shield over competition heavyweights Singleton. The Colts had a remarkable year with all grades reaching their respective grand finals, all against Singleton at Singleton. Unfortunately all teams were defeated by the Greyhounds that day, and this marked the start of a long arch rival with the nearest club in the Group 21 area.
2009 was to become the club’s most successful year in its short history. The Colts won the Scanlon Shield for the second year in a row, cantering past Singleton once again in the final. Reserve Grade added another trophy to the cabinet by winning the minor premiership. First Grade finished the minor premiership in second place, and in a massive boost to the community knocked over Singleton in the major semi-final to earn the right to host the Grand Final at Greta Central Oval a fortnight later. In a history making day for the club in front of 3,500 fans, the Colts won both the First and Reserve Grade titles over arch rivals Singleton in what was sweet revenge for the disappointment 12 months earlier. Appointed to the club in 2007, coach Matt Lantry was named Group 21 coach of the year, and skipper Ron Davis was named player of the year among other individual award recipients.
2010 saw reserve grade make it back-to-back Minor & Major premiership doubles under coach John Hunter. First Grade bowed out in the minor semi-final, and farewelled outgoing coach Lantry.
2011 and 2012 proved to be a re-building phase for the club. With several players moving on after the success of previous years, the club did not make the semi-finals in either grade or U/18’s during these 2 years.
However the Colts weren’t to stay out of contention for too long, with the appointment of well-known coach of the hunter region Ron Griffiths for the next 3 years.
2013 saw the Colts rapidly back into the groove by again winning their third Scanlon Shield title in a canter. Another breakthrough year saw the club win its first club championship, First Grade won their first minor premiership, reserve grade were also minor premiers, with U/18’s bowing out in the minor semi-final.
The Colts saved their worst performance of the year for the first grade major semi-final and the right to host the grand final, going down to Denman. Reserve Grade won their major semi and advanced straight to the decider, with the U/18’s again bowing out in the minor semi. First grade managed to win their preliminary final the following week, but were again soundly beaten by Denman in the Grand Final at Denman. In a bitter-sweet day for the club, Reserve Grade took home their third minor & major premiership double by defeating once again arch-rivals Singleton.
2014 saw the introduction of the Ladies League Tag competition, meaning game day in the senior competition boasted 4 games. The Colts won their second first grade major premiership title, hosting the big day after a nail-biting golden point major semi-final win over Scone at Scone a fortnight earlier. The Colts’ grand final opponent for the second year running was Denman, this time reversing the trend with another nail-biting 2-point win. Griffiths was named coach of the year, with classy pivot Joby Patten winning the player of the year.
2015 was to be Ronnie Griffiths’ last year as head coach, with the Colts bowing out of all grades in the semi-finals.
The Colts failed to make the semis in first, reserve and U/18’s in 2016, but managed to contest the grand final in the Ladies League Tag under coach Mick Akers. The girls were defeated by Scone on the day.
2017 and 2018 saw the club fail to make the semi-finals in any grade, and for the first time in the club’s 12-year history they failed to field a first grade team for the 2019 competition. The club continued on in reserve grade in 2019, with the Group 21 competition shut down in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. However the Colts did field a team in a combined Hunter Valley U/18’s competition, and brought home the club’s first U/18 title with a come-from-behind victory over Denman in the grand final played at Greta Oval.
2021 again saw the Colts unable to enter a first grade team, but a competitive reserve grade team under captain-coach John Hamson saw the club lure back some talented local juniors. They were in a good position to contest the Group 21 finals series before again the Covid-19 pandemic shut down the competition with just two competition rounds remaining.
The appointment of local junior Brady Hammond as first grade captain-coach for the 2022 season saw the Colts back to the compliment of two grades. Reserve grade were eliminated in the minor semi final, with first grade bowing out in the preliminary final.
The Colts added to the trophy cabinet in 2023, with Reserve grade coming from third place to down Aberdeen in the grand final to claim the club’s fourth reserve grade title. First grade won its second minor premiership, however missed out by making it a minor/major double when they were narrowly edged out 30-28 against Scone at Greta Oval.
Past members and teams. If you have any photos from your involvement with the club over the years please send them in with a description of the photo to gretabranxtonrlfc@gmail.com.
Greta Branxton Rugby League Football Club 