Newcastle Rugby League

The Newcastle Rugby League is a local rugby league football competition in Newcastle, Australia. It is one of the oldest rugby league competitions in Australia, founded in 1910. A Newcastle representative team was also assembled from players in the League during most of the 20th century.

Newcastle Rugby League
SportRugby league
Instituted1910
Inaugural season1910
Number of teams8
Premiers Cessnock Goannas (2020)
Most titles Western Suburbs (23 titles)
Website@sportingpulse.com
Broadcast partner
  • Bar TV Sports (Australia)

History

A Newcastle team competed in the inaugural New South Wales Rugby League premiership of 1908 but withdrew after the 1909 season to form the local competition.

The four original teams were Central Newcastle (Blue & White), Northern Suburbs (Light & Dark Blue vertical stripes), South Newcastle (Red & White) and Western Suburbs (Red & Green).[1] The season kicked off 14 May 1910 with South playing West and Central playing Northern Suburbs. South Newcastle finished the season on top of the ladder; the final was played in front of 2500 spectators at Hamilton League Ground, with Central overcoming South 13–4.

The 1911 season saw the previous minor premiers South slump to the bottom of the ladder. The final was played in front of 4000 spectators and saw North victorious over Central 10–2. 1911 saw the Combined Newcastle & Hunter team Tour Queensland, defeating the Queensland State team in all matches played. Newcastle played against the touring New Zealand team in a tight match almost pulling off an upset before going down 21–20.

The 1912 season saw the addition of Eastern Suburbs, playing in Black and White. They were immediately competitive and made the grand final.

The First World War saw a halt to the competition for 1917 and 1918. Although the Newcastle Morning Herald did continue to publish results for competition games for those two years.[2]

1919 saw a split, with two smaller competitions held – the "Lilywhites" or clubs faithful to the NSWRL, composed of Eastern Suburbs and Northern Suburbs, and the "Bolsheviks" or rebels composed of South, Central, North and West.

1920 saw the competition reunited and expanded to six teams as Kurri Kurri competed for the first time.

2020 saw the competition cancelled for the first time in over one hundred years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With restrictions easing, a decision was made to implement a two tiered amateur competition. First Grade would feature Lakes United, Western Suburbs, Cessnock, Maitland, Central and Souths. Reserve Grade would see representation from Western Suburbs, Lakes United, Cessnock, Maitland, Central, Souths and Kurri Kurri. Of further note, Maitland also elected to participate in the Presidents Cup, spreading their resources across the two Newcastle competitions as well as the New South Wales based Presidents Cup, which they won. Cessnock defeated South Newcastle in the First Grade Grand Final.[3]

The 2021 season will feature the regular clubs, as well as both Wyong and The Entrance, forming a 10 team, 18 round competition. The Entrance will contest the competition for the first time in their history. As well as this, the Major Premiers also now advance to meet title winners from Illawarra, Ron Massey Cup and a wildcard in a conference style President's Cup at the end of the year.[4]

Current clubs

  • Central Charlestown Butcher Boys
    • (formerly Central Charlestown & Central Newcastle – moved to Charlestown in the early 1960s)[5]
    • Nickname: Butcher Boys
    • Home Ground: St John Oval, Charlestown (played at Passmore Oval, Wickham in 2008; Central Newcastle played at Learmonth Park, Hamilton, before merging with Charlestown)
    • Joined competition: 1910
    • Premierships: 1910 1921 1928 1930 1937 1939 1949 (7)
  • Cessnock[6]
    • Nickname: Goannas
    • Home Ground: Cessnock Sportsground, Cessnock (formerly Old Cessnock Sportsground, where Big W currently stands, prior 2004)
    • Joined competition: 1930
    • Premierships: 1941 1950 1954 1955 1960 1972 1977 2003 2020* (9)
  • Kurri Kurri
    • Nickname: Bulldogs
    • Home Ground: Kurri Sportsground "The Graveyard", Kurri Kurri
    • Joined competition: 1920 (club formed in 1911)
    • Premierships: 1931 1940 1945 1993 1994 1995 (6)
  • Lakes United
    • Nickname: Seagulls
    • Home Ground: Cahill Oval, Belmont
    • Joined competition: 1947
    • Premierships: 1947 1974 1975 1985 1986 1987 1996 2001 2006 2007 2015 (11)
  • Macquarie
    • (formerly Macquarie United and Toronto Workers)
    • Nickname: Scorpions
    • Home Ground: Lyall Peacock Field, Toronto
    • Joined competition: 1960
    • Premierships: 1991 2017 (2)
  • Maitland
    • (originally Maitland United – merged with Morpeth-East Maitland in 1942)
    • Nickname: Pickers (formerly Pumpkin Pickers)
    • Homeground: Maitland Sportsground, Maitland (formerly Coronation Oval, Telarah for 2 years while Maitland Sportsground was rebuilt)
    • Years in competition: 1925–2003; 2005–2007; 2009–
    • Premierships: 1933 1934 1956 1957 1958 1965 1969 1971 1973 1983 2010 2011 (12)
  • South Newcastle[7]
    • Nickname: Lions
    • Home Ground: Townson Oval, Merewether
    • Joined competition: 1910
    • Premierships: 1927 1943 1946 1963 1964 1968 1976 1988 1989 2016 2018 (11)
  • Western Suburbs
    • Nickname: Rosellas or the Maggots
    • Home Ground: Harker Oval, New Lambton
    • Joined competition: 1910
    • Premierships: 1912 1915 1916 1922 1961 1966 1970 1978 1980 1981 1982 1984 1992 1997 1998 1999 2002 2004 2008 2012 2013 2014 2019 (23)
  • 1919 featured a combined Rebel team (South Newcastle/Central Newcastle) who won the competition.
  • Wyong
    • Nickname: Roos (mascot is a Kangaroo)
    • Home Ground: Morrie Breen Oval, Wyong
    • Years in competition: 2003–2012 & 2020–present
    • Premierships: 2009 (1)
  • The Entrance
    • Nickname: Tigers
    • Home Ground: EDSACC Oval, Bateau Bay
    • Years in competition: 2021-onward
    • Premierships: 0

Former clubs

  • Eastern Suburbs
    • Nickname: Unknown
    • Home Ground: Newcastle No. 1 Sportsground, Newcastle West (also played at Wickham Oval, Wickham & Lynn Oval, Stockton)
    • Years in competition: 1912–1942
    • Premierships: 1913 1923 1924 1932 (4)
  • Northern
    • (also North-Nelson Bay Marlins, Northern Blues and Nelson Bay Blues – they returned to Northern Blues)
    • Nickname: Blues (mascot is a Marlin)
    • Home Ground: Tomaree Sporting Complex, Nelson Bay
    • Years in competition: 1989–2011
    • Premierships: 2005 (1)
  • Northern Suburbs
    • Nickname: Bluebags
    • Homeground: Passmore Oval, Wickham
    • Years in competition: 1910–1988 (re-located to Nelson Bay as North-Nelson Bay) (now play in Newcastle & Hunter Rugby League)
    • Premierships: 1911 1914 1920 1925 1926 1929 1935 1938 1948 1951 1953 1959 1962 1967 1979 (15)
  • Port Stephens
    • Nickname: Sharks
    • Home Ground: Tomaree Sporting Complex, Nelson Bay and Lakeside Oval, Raymond Terrace
    • Years in competition: 2012-2014
    • Premierships:
  • Waratah Mayfield
    • Nickname: Cheetahs
    • Home Ground: Waratah Oval, Waratah
    • Years in competition: 1927–2001; 2003–2004 (now play in Newcastle & Hunter Rugby League)
    • Premierships: 1936 1942 1944 1952 1990 2000 (6)
  • Raymond Terrace
    • Nickname: Magpies
    • Home Ground: Lakeside Oval, Raymond Terrace
    • Years in competition: 2001–2008 (now play in Newcastle & Hunter Rugby League)
    • Premierships: nil

Premiers

Past winners of the Newcastle RL Premiership

Season Grand Final Information Minor Premiers
Premiers Score Runners-Up
1910 Central Newcastle 13–4 South Newcastle South Newcastle
1911 Northern Suburbs 10–2 Central Newcastle Northern Suburbs
1912 Western Suburbs 10–7 Eastern Suburbs Western Suburbs
1913 Eastern Suburbs 18–0 Western Suburbs Eastern Suburbs
1914 Northern Suburbs 5–2 Central Newcastle Northern Suburbs
1915 Western Suburbs 16–8 Northern Suburbs Western Suburbs
1916 Western Suburbs 10–8 Northern Suburbs Northern Suburbs
1917 no competition
1918 no competition
1919 South Newcastle Central Newcastle (Combined Rebel Side) 7–2 Western Suburbs
1920 Northern Suburbs South Newcastle
1921 Central Newcastle Western Suburbs
1922 Western Suburbs Central Newcastle
1923 Eastern Suburbs Northern Suburbs
1924 Eastern Suburbs Northern Suburbs
1925 Northern Suburbs Eastern Suburbs
1926 Northern Suburbs South Newcastle
1927 South Newcastle Northern Suburbs
1928 Central Newcastle Northern Suburbs
1929 Northern Suburbs Waratah-Mayfield
1930 Central Newcastle South Newcastle
1931 Kurri Kurri Northern Suburbs
1932 Eastern Suburbs Cessnock
1933 Maitland United 20–0 Waratah-Mayfield
1934 Maitland United 4–2 Waratah-Mayfield
1935 Northern Suburbs Central Newcastle
1936 Waratah-Mayfield Cessnock
1937 Central Newcastle Cessnock
1938 Northern Suburbs Waratah-Mayfield
1939 Central Newcastle Western Suburbs
1940 Kurri Kurri Cessnock
1941 Cessnock 18–3[8] South Newcastle
1942 Waratah-Mayfield South Newcastle
1943 South Newcastle Waratah-Mayfield
1944 Waratah-Mayfield Western Suburbs
1945 Kurri Kurri South Newcastle
1946 South Newcastle 11–3 Western Suburbs
1947 Lakes United Northern Suburbs
1948 Northern Suburbs 5–4 Kurri Kurri
1949 Central Newcastle 28–15 Kurri Kurri
1950 Cessnock 19–12[8] Central Newcastle
1951 Northern Suburbs 12–8 Maitland Northern Suburbs
1952 Waratah-Mayfield 5–4 Lakes United Waratah-Mayfield
1953 Northern Suburbs 16–11 Cessnock
1954 Cessnock 15–3[8] Maitland Cessnock
1955 Cessnock 9–7[8] Maitland Cessnock
1956 Maitland 16–9 Cessnock Maitland
1957 Maitland 17–12 Kurri Kurri Maitland
1958 Maitland 22–7 Cessnock Maitland
1959 Northern Suburbs 13–12 Maitland Northern Suburbs
1960 Cessnock 33–5[8] Maitland Cessnock
1961 Western Suburbs 10–9 Waratah-Mayfield Western Suburbs
1962 Northern Suburbs 18–6 South Newcastle Northern Suburbs
1963 South Newcastle 12–7 Central Newcastle South Newcastle
1964 South Newcastle 17–12 Western Suburbs Western Suburbs
1965 Maitland 22–3 South Newcastle South Newcastle
1966 Western Suburbs 31–9 Cessnock Western Suburbs
1967 Northern Suburbs 13–11 Western Suburbs Western Suburbs
1968 South Newcastle 9–6 Lakes United Western Suburbs Lakes United (tied)
1969 Maitland 19–9 Lakes United Maitland
1970 Western Suburbs 21–14 Maitland Maitland
1971 Maitland 30–19 Lakes United Maitland
1972 Cessnock 18–10[8] Maitland Maitland
1973 Maitland 27–18 Western Suburbs Western Suburbs
1974 Lakes United 7–2 Western Suburbs Western Suburbs
1975 Lakes United 30–17 Western Suburbs Maitland
1976 South Newcastle 22–15 Western Suburbs Lakes United
1977 Cessnock 21–17[8] Maitland Cessnock
1978 Western Suburbs 23–16 South Newcastle Western Suburbs
1979 North Newcastle 20–8 Cessnock North Newcastle
1980 Western Suburbs 17–13 Cessnock Kurri Kurri
1981 Western Suburbs 13–2 Cessnock Western Suburbs
1982 Western Suburbs 21–14 Kurri Kurri Western Suburbs
1983 Maitland 20–12 Cessnock Maitland
1984 Western Suburbs 10–2 Lakes United Lakes United
1985 Lakes United 12–6 Cessnock Cessnock
1986 Lakes United 4–0 South Newcastle Lakes United
1987 Lakes United 24–16 South Newcastle South Newcastle
1988 South Newcastle 29–18 Lakes United South Newcastle
1989 South Newcastle 20–12 Western Suburbs South Newcastle
1990 Waratah-Mayfield 17–14 Lakes United Lakes United
1991 Toronto Workers 21–10 Western Suburbs South Newcastle
1992 Western Suburbs 33–0 Lakes United Western Suburbs
1993 Kurri Kurri 20–18 Western Suburbs Western Suburbs
1994 Kurri Kurri 20–16 Toronto Workers Western Suburbs
1995 Kurri Kurri 24–4 Western Suburbs Western Suburbs
1996 Lakes United 16–6 Western Suburbs Western Suburbs
1997 Western Suburbs 26–16 Lakes United Lakes United
1998 Western Suburbs 51–14 South Newcastle Western Suburbs
1999 Western Suburbs 22–18 Cessnock Western Suburbs
2000 Waratah-Mayfield 20–14 Lakes United Waratah-Mayfield
2001 Lakes United 18–10 Western Suburbs Lakes United
2002 Western Suburbs 27–16 Lakes United Lakes United
2003 Cessnock 22–20[8] Raymond Terrace Western Suburbs
2004 Western Suburbs 32–28 Northern Blues Western Suburbs
2005 Northern Blues 30–12 Western Suburbs Western Suburbs
2006 Lakes United 40–24 Nelson Bay Lakes United
2007 Lakes United 32–12 Wyong Lakes United
2008 Western Suburbs 12–10 Cessnock Western Suburbs
2009 Wyong 36–4 Cessnock Cessnock
2010 Maitland 24–8 Cessnock Maitland
2011 Maitland 19–18 Western Suburbs Maitland
2012 Western Suburbs 16–14 Cessnock Cessnock
2013 Western Suburbs 21–8 Kurri Kurri Western Suburbs
2014 Western Suburbs 22–8 Cessnock Western Suburbs
2015 Lakes United 24–18 Macquarie Western Suburbs
2016 South Newcastle 21–12 Macquarie Macquarie
2017 Macquarie 24–6 Western Suburbs Western Suburbs
2018 South Newcastle 30–18 Lakes United Lakes United
2019 Western Suburbs 36–0 Cessnock Western Suburbs
2020 Cessnock* 20-6 South Newcastle Wyong

Team of the Century

In 2008, rugby league football's centennial year in Australia, the Newcastle Rugby League named its 'Team of the Century':[9]

  1. Clive Churchill (Central)
  2. Eddie Lumsden (Kurri Kurri)
  3. Ron Bailey (Waratah-Mayfield)
  4. Brian Carlson (North)
  5. Johnny Graves (Maitland)
  6. Bob Banks (Central)
  7. Andrew Johns (Cessnock)
  8. Paul Harragon (Lakes United)
  9. Allan Buman (West)
  10. Jim Gibbs (South)
  11. Don Schofield (Cessnock)
  12. Herb Narvo (North)
  13. (c) Wally Prigg (West)
  14. John Sattler (Kurri Kurri)
  15. Albert Paul (Lakes United)
  16. Matthew Gidley (West)
  17. Les Johns (South)

See also

References

  • Power, Bob (1992). The Rebels of Rugby: The Story of Newcastle Rugby League Pioneers "The Bolsheviks vs. The Lilywhites" 1907–1920. Newcastle, New South Wales: self.
  • Ryan, Graham & Betty et al., Newcastle Knights 1988: Collectors Edition, Macquarie Publications, Dubbo, 1988.
  • Pat "Nimmo" Walsh Family archive Newspaper Match Reports.
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