After the Group 20 annual general meeting on 9 November, the Narrandera Lizards RLFC have confirmed they have been accepted into the main Group 20 competition for 2026.

After talk that the Lizards were intending to return to Group 20 pervaded the 2025 season, there were rumours that they may go one more year in the Proten Cup after the controversial end to the 2025 finals series. But those rumours have been put to bed with the Lizards confirming they are excited to return to their original competition.

Narrandera returned to full time rugby league in 2018 with the formation of the Proten Cup, after being excluded from Group 20 after 2004, with a short-lived merger with Yanco-Wamoon in the Bidgee Hurricanes lasting from 2012-2014.

The club returns to the competition where they have won three first grade competitions, in 1986, 1991 and 1999.

In the Proten Cup competition, the Lizards finished fifth in inaugural 2018 season, making the finals due to a points deduction to Hillston, and made the grand final in 2019 going down to an undefeated Goolgowi side.

After the competition resumed in 2021 they finished last for the only time. With Kye Longford at coach they improved greatly in 2022, finishing second then defeating Ivanhoe in the major semi to make the grand final, where they defeated Ivanhoe again to win their first Proten Cup premiership. They went back-to-back in 2023, this time going through undefeated and beating Ivanhoe in the grand final again, this time in extra time.

In 2024 they went through undefeated again until the grand final, going down to Rankins Springs by two points.

In 2025 they were up and down in the regular season and exited after the minor semi win, the result overturned due to an unqualified player.

Narrandera’s women’s team also enjoyed success. After a last-placed finish in the 2021 first season, they came back to win the 2022 grand final, 16-0 against Goolgowi. Two preliminary final finishes followed in 2023 and 2024 before they unfortunately couldn’t field a side for the 2025 season.

The Lizards hope to field sides in reserve grade, women’s tackle, U18s and U16s for the 2026 Group 20 season.

Over seven seasons Narrandera hosted 25 Proten Cup men’s games and 10 women’s games.

Narrandera Proten Cup Results

Men’s

2018 – fourth, semi-finals

2019 – second, runners-up

2021 – sixth

2022 – second, Premiers

2023 – first, Premiers

2024 – first, runners-up

2025 – fourth, minor semi

Total: Played 51, won 29, lost 21, drew 1

v Goolgowi – won 5, lost 6

v Rankins Springs – won 4, lost 8, drew 1

v Hillston – won 7, lost 2

v Ivanhoe – won 8, lost 2

v Barellan – won 5, lost 3

Women’s

2021 – fifth

2022 – second, Premiers

2023 – fourth, preliminary final

2024 – third, preliminary final

2025 – no team

Total: Played 29, won 14, lost 13, drew 1

v Goolgowi – won 6, lost 2, drew 1

v Rankins Springs – won 5, lost 1

v Hillston – won 1, lost 3

v Ivanhoe – won 2, lost 4

v Barellan – won 0, lost 3