Newcastle Rugby League

Newcastle Rugby League

Sport	Rugby league
Instituted	1910
Inaugural season	1910
Number of teams	10
Country	Australia
Premiers	Cessnock Goannas (2020)
Most titles	Western Suburbs (23 titles)
Website	Newcastle RL on facebook
Broadcast partner	(Australia)

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. The first grade competition also comprises the NSWRL Presidents Cup Northern Conference.

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 featured 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] Unfortunately, the competition was interrupted by COVID-19 restrictions placed on the Hunter region, with a decision made to cancel the competition prior to any finals being played. Maitland Pickers had secured the Minor Premiership, but there would be no Major Premiers for season 2021. No President's Cup tournament was contested.^[5]

Current clubs[]

• Central Charlestown Butcher Boys
  • (formerly Central Charlestown & Central Newcastle – moved to Charlestown in the early 1960s)^[6]
  • 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^[7]
  • 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^[8]
  • 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[]

• 
  • 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)
• 
  • 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)
• 
  • 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[9]	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[9]	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[9]	Maitland	Cessnock
1955	Cessnock	9–7[9]	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[9]	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[9]	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[9]	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[9]	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
2021	Competition cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions			Maitland

Team of the Century[]

In 2008, rugby league football's centennial year in Australia, the Newcastle Rugby League named its 'Team of the Century':^[10]

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. (West)
10. Jim Gibbs (South)
11. Don Schofield (Cessnock)
12. Herb Narvo (North)
13. (c) Wally Prigg (West)
14. John Sattler (Kurri Kurri)
15. (Lakes United)
16. Matthew Gidley (West)
17. Les Johns (South)

See also[]

• Rugby League Competitions in Australia
• Rugby league in New South Wales

References[]

External links[]

• 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.