FIRST GRADE: Grafton rugby league coach Col Speed has spruiked a five-year plan ever since he took over the wheel at Orara Valley Axemen early in 2017.

And if the 2018 Coffs Coast 9s tournament is any indication, Speed's plan may just be turning into a two-year blitz.

With a bolstered roster and a clear focus, the Axemen put paid to the doubters with a strong showing to clinch first grade glory in the annual pre-season showdown.

The Axemen have been stocking the woodpile at Coramba since the end of last year, and it appears the disappointment of missing the 2017 Toohey's New Group 2 finals is far back in the memory bank.

Orara Valley's promised improvement in 2018 culminated in a thrilling 12-10 victory in the tournament final against reigning champions Coffs Harbour Comets.

In a twist of irony, the two tries Orara scored in the second half to secure the victory were scored by Buddy Hart and Liam Dunn - two players who crossed over from the Comets this summer.

Speed said winning the tournament certainly is not the be-all-and-end-all but it was a great step in the right direction toward seeing the club return to finals football.

"It will be huge momentum. The thing for us is that three-quarters of our battles last year were mental, I think there was just inexperience and a few errors,” he said.

"I think when you've got a culture that you want to turn around, this is ideal, the best way to start.”

The way Coffs Harbour reached the final was certainly unusual.

Old Bar had qualified to play against the Axemen but prior to kick-off, the Pirates were nowhere to be seen as they'd already packed up and were headed back south down the Pacific Highway.

Newly-minted Coffs Harbour coach Brandon Costin was more than happy to get an extra game under the squad's belt and took many positives from the tournament despite losing the final, especially the gains in fitness.

"Good rugby league fitness. You can run on the training paddock all day but there's nothing like good rugby league fitness,” Costin said.

"I think just working on things that we want to implement in the 13-a-side game was a key for us today...

"As fatigue set in so did errors but there were less and less and less each game. We got out of it what we wanted to.”

Despite missing most of its senior first grade roster, South Grafton Rebels led by Luke Welch and Karl Woodley, impressed.