Nowra Warriors

Prior to joining the South Coast Rugby League competition when it began in 1914, the Warriors began as a successful rugby union team and in 1913 they unofficially won their first rugby league competition. This competition consisted of friendly matches in a Shoalhaven League not affiliated with the New South Wales Rugby League.

Nowra Warriors were one of the eight founding members of South Coast Rugby League, and in the first season were runners-up to the Gerringong Lions after losing 11-10 in the final at Kiama Showground, Kiama.[1] The Warriors only had to wait until 1919 to enjoy their first taste of success when they defeated Kiama 13-9 in the final replay (the score in the first final was 7-all).[2][3] Nowra enjoyed some good periods of success throughout the 30s (2 titles, 3 runners-up), and the late 50s-early 60s (3 titles, 2 runners-up), and a further two titles in 1993 and 1996 before an on-field decline in performances.

In November 2007, it was decided that the Warriors would merge with long-term rivals the Bomaderry Swamp Rats for the 2008 season. Both teams had been struggling with performance and sponsorship (Bomaderry had been out of first grade for six years). In the past talks of merging had been quickly dismissed, but this time it was critical for both teams survival. It was announced that the newly merged team would be called the Shoalhaven Jets and their colours would be blue, gold, and black (blue and gold from Bomaderry, gold and black from Nowra).[4]

The team's colours are black and gold.

• Group 7 Rugby League Premierships: 10

1919, 1934, 1938, 1955, 1957, 1959, 1977, 1981, 1993, 1996

• Group 7 Rugby League Runners-Up: 11

1914, 1930, 1933, 1937, 1944, 1945, 1960, 1961, 1967, 1985, 1995

• CRL Clayton Cup: None

• Group 7 Rugby League Player of the Year: 2

Peter Jirgens (1977), David Beckett (1981)

• Group 7 Rugby League Rookie of the Year: 5

Shayne Ashton (1977), Glen Jarrett (1981), Damian Brunton (1996), James Longbottom (1999), David Price (2000)

• Group 7 Rugby League Leading Point-scorer: 4

John Lonesborough (1981), Jeff Wellington (1994 & 1995), Leigh Ardler (2006)

• Group 7 Rugby League Leading Try-scorer: 2

Jeff Wellington (1994 & 1995)

• Group 7 Rugby League Most Promising Player Under 21: 1

Dean Moon (1994)

• Group 7 Rugby League U-18s Player of the Year: 3

Dean Lonesborough (1985), Matt Robards (1993), Darren McPherson (1995)

• Kevin Walsh Scholarship: 13

Mark Fisher (1979), Cliff Harris (1980), Sean Skelton (1987), Dean Moon (1992), James Longbottom (1997), Ben Wellington (1998), David Price (1999), Glenn McCallum (2001), Brent Hurley (2002), Jarred McNamara (2003), Graham Davidson & Lewis McCall (2004), Thomas Berry (2009)

Source: Group 7 History