'Opportunity to play with the greats': A look back at a big year in sport

It was a two-year journey which saw the reformed joint venture club Goonellabah Workers Sports win the Far North Coast LJ Hooker League premiership.

They took down perennial powerhouse Cudgen after playing them in the final the previous season.

The side was a mixture of some of the more experienced players from the Lismore district with a healthy dose of club juniors.

Captain Andrew Kemmis led the way along with the likes of all-rounder Kale Hare and determined efforts by Reece Gregor, Josh Healy and Sam McLean.

The premiership-winning team also included Mark Denmeade, Alec Watson, Brady Toniello, Damien Santin, Kaleb Armstrong, Nathan Bezrouchko, Rory McLean and Tom Standish.

Graham Armstrong was instrumental in getting the team into the top grade.

Cricket legend and local product Adam Gilchrist returned home for a Legends of Cricket match.

It was a fundraiser and part of recovery efforts just after the one-year anniversary of the flood.

Gilchrist was joined by Ricky Ponting, Chris Lynn, Jason Gillespie, Michael Kasprowicz, Andy Bichel, Dan Christian, Steve O'Keefe, Stuart MacGill, Stuart Clark and Jimmy Maher.

It attracted a crowd of about 4000 people and saw local male and female cricketers join in during the game.

World Cup-winning spinner Adam Zampa also visited the Marist Brothers cricket club during the season.

It was a big year for Northern United in the Northern Rivers Regional Rugby League competition.

United finished the season in third spot and made it to the second week of the semi-finals.

It was the first time in a number of years they had played finals and it took eventual premiers Cudgen to take them down 28-20.

Fullback Hezekiah McKenzie scored 15 tries in 2023 and was the NRRRL player of the year.

The women's team were also inaugural premiers in the open tackle competition.

Former NSW Blues coach Brad Fittler brought his annual charity motorcycle ride to Lismore.

He was joined by Ian Schubert, Craig Wing, Boyd Cordner, and NSW women's captain Kezie Apps.

Fittler did the full trip which included more than 2700km and hosted almost 700 children at six free football clinics in towns from as far west as Bourke Rugby.

He also brought the entire NSW State of Origin team to Lismore before the series decider in 2022.

Local NRL products Brian Kelly, David Mead, Nick Meaney and Cody Walker have all contributed to flood recovery efforts in the region.

IT was a second straight grand final win for Wollongbar-Alstonville in Far North Coast rugby union.

They were victorious 23-13 over joint venture club the Byron Shire Rebels.

It was the Pioneers final game at Lyle Park before they move to their new sport fields next season.

The Southern Cross University Gold Rats returned to the field in 2023 via the President's Cup competition.