Fairytale finishes the highlight of the Northern Rivers sporting season

THE 2025 sporting season delivered unforgettable moments across the Northern Rivers, with clubs breaking long-standing premiership droughts in three major football codes.

Marist Brothers broke a 22-year premiership drought in Northern Rivers Regional Rugby League, while Ballina claimed its first Far North Coast Rugby Union title in 18 years.

Elsewhere, Mullumbimby Brunswick Valleys created its own slice of history when it won its first Anzac Cup silverware in the Football Far North Coast competition.

In NRRRL, Brothers completed its long-awaited resurgence with a gritty 20-12 victory over Murwillumbah in front of a packed Crozier Field in Lismore.

Coach Darryl Butcher took the reins this year and was assisted by director of coaching Matt Barber.

“It’s relief, the pressure is off, and I’m really happy for a lot of the older boys in the team who I played with,” Butcher said.

“I’m proud of the whole club. It’s been a three-year effort to get to this point.”

“A fair bit went against us in the grand final, but the boys just found a way.”

In Far North Coast rugby union, Ballina defeated Wollongbar-Alstonville Pioneers 25-19 in the Seahorses’ first grand final appearance since 2017.

The Pioneers were aiming for their 10th title since 2014, but Ballina rose to the occasion.

 

“It’s huge for the club, it was well overdue, there were some high emotions running on the day and we had the old boys and all our supporters there riding it home with us,” Ballina coach Michael Greenhalgh said.

Earlier in the year, all eyes were on Mullumbimby Brunswick after its 5-3 Anzac Cup win over Bangalow.

It was the club’s first piece of silverware in the premier division, despite being active in the region since 1974.

The team only joined the top grade in 2022.

The Anzac Cup, a prestigious competition dating back to 1949, is one of the most sought-after trophies in the regional calendar.

“It was quite an emotional moment for a lot of people, and you could definitely call it a fairytale,” coach Beau Savage said.

“I think most people thought we would get beat and there were some nerves there.”

“I knew it would happen for them, but what they have managed to achieve in a short time is something special.”