- Newcastle Rugby League
-
Newcastle Rugby League 
Sport Rugby league football Instituted 1910 Inaugural season 1910 Number of teams 10 Premiers 
Maitland (2011)Most titles 
Western Suburbs (19 titles)Website @sportingpulse.com The Newcastle Rugby League is a rugby league competition in Newcastle, Australia. It is one of the oldest rugby league competitions in Australia, founded in 1910. 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, North and West.
1920 saw the competition reunited and expanded to six teams as Kurri Kurri competed for the first time.
Contents
Current Clubs
Central Newcastle
- (formerly Central Charlestown & Central Newcastle - moved to Charlestown in the early 1960s) [3]
- 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 [4]
- Nickname: Goannas
- Home Ground: Cessnock Sportsground
- Joined competition: 1930
- Premierships: 1941 1950 1954 1955 1960 1972 1977 2003 (8)
Kurri Kurri
- Nickname: Bulldogs
- Home Ground: Kurri Sportsground
- 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 (10)
Macquarie
- (formerly Macquarie United and Toronto Workers)
- Nickname: Scorpions
- Home Ground: Lyle Peacock Field, Toronto
- Joined competition: 1960
- Premierships: 1991 (1)
Maitland
- (originally Maitland United - merged with Morpeth-East Maitland in 1942)
- Nickname: Pickers (formerly Pumpkin Pickers)
- Homeground: Maitland Showground
- Years in competition: 1925-2003; 2005-2007; 2009-
- Premierships: 1933 1934 1956 1957 1958 1965 1969 1971 1973 1983 2010 2011 (12)
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
- Joined competition: 1988 (as North-Nelson Bay)
- Premierships: 2005 (1)
South Newcastle [5]
- Nickname: Lions
- Home Ground: Townson Oval, Merewether
- Joined competition: 1910
- Premierships: 1919 1927 1943 1946 1963 1964 1968 1976 1988 1989 (10)
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 (19)
- Wyong
- Nickname: Roos (mascot is a Kangaroo)
- Home Ground: Morrie Breen Oval, Wyong
- Joined competition: 2003
- Premierships: 2009
Former Clubs
Eastern Suburbs
- Nickname: Unknown
- Home Ground: Newcastle Sportsground (also played at Wickham Oval & Lynn Oval, Stockton)
- Years in competition: 1912-1942
- Premierships: 1913 1923 1924 1932 (4)
Northern Suburbs
- Nickname: Blues
- Homeground: Passmore Oval, Wickham
- Years in competition: 1910-1987 (re-located to Nelson Bay as North-Nelson Bay)
- Premierships: 1911 1914 1920 1925 1926 1929 1935 1938 1948 1951 1953 1959 1962 1967 1979 (15)
Waratah Mayfield
- Nickname: Cheetahs
- Homeground: Waratah Oval, Waratah
- Years in competition: 1927-2001; 2003-2004
- 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 Newcastle13-4 
South Newcastle South Newcastle1911 
Northern Suburbs10-2 Central Newcastle Northern Suburbs1912 
Western Suburbs10-7 
Eastern Suburbs Western Suburbs1913 Eastern Suburbs18-0 Western Suburbs Eastern Suburbs1914 Northern Suburbs5-2 Central Newcastle Northern Suburbs1915 Western Suburbs16-8 Northern Suburbs Western Suburbs1916 Western Suburbs10-8 Northern Suburbs Northern Suburbs1917 no competition 1918 no competition 1919 South Newcastle1920 Northern Suburbs South Newcastle1921 Central Newcastle Western Suburbs1922 Western Suburbs Central Newcastle1923 Eastern Suburbs Northern Suburbs1924 Eastern Suburbs Northern Suburbs1925 Northern Suburbs Eastern Suburbs1926 Northern Suburbs South Newcastle1927 South Newcastle Northern Suburbs1928 Central Newcastle Northern Suburbs1929 Northern Suburbs
Waratah-Mayfield1930 Central Newcastle South Newcastle1931 
Kurri Kurri Northern Suburbs1932 Eastern Suburbs
Cessnock1933 
Maitland United Waratah-Mayfield1934 Maitland United Waratah-Mayfield1935 Northern Suburbs Central Newcastle1936 Waratah-Mayfield Cessnock1937 Central Newcastle Cessnock1938 Northern Suburbs Waratah-Mayfield1939 Central Newcastle Western Suburbs1940 Kurri Kurri Cessnock1941 Cessnock South Newcastle1942 Waratah-Mayfield South Newcastle1943 South Newcastle Waratah-Mayfield1944 Waratah-Mayfield Western Suburbs1945 Kurri Kurri South Newcastle1946 South Newcastle Western Suburbs1947 
Lakes United Northern Suburbs1948 Northern Suburbs Kurri Kurri1949 Central Newcastle Kurri Kurri1950 Cessnock Central Newcastle1951 Northern Suburbs Maitland1952 Waratah-Mayfield Lakes United1953 Northern Suburbs Cessnock1954 Cessnock Maitland1955 Cessnock Maitland1956 Maitland Cessnock Maitland1957 Maitland Kurri Kurri Maitland1958 Maitland Cessnock Maitland1959 Northern Suburbs Maitland Northern Suburbs1960 Cessnock Maitland Cessnock1961 Western Suburbs Waratah-Mayfield Western Suburbs1962 Northern Suburbs South Newcastle Northern Suburbs1963 South Newcastle Central Newcastle1964 South Newcastle Western Suburbs1965 Maitland South Newcastle1966 Western Suburbs Cessnock1967 Northern Suburbs Western Suburbs1968 South Newcastle Lakes United1969 Maitland Lakes United Maitland1970 Western Suburbs Maitland Maitland1971 Maitland Lakes United Maitland1972 Cessnock Maitland Maitland1973 Maitland Western Suburbs Western Suburbs1974 Lakes United Western Suburbs Western Suburbs1975 Lakes United Western Suburbs Maitland1976 South Newcastle Western Suburbs Lakes United1977 Cessnock Maitland Cessnock1978 Western Suburbs South Newcastle Western Suburbs1979 North Newcastle Cessnock North Newcastle1980 Western Suburbs Cessnock Kurri Kurri1981 Western Suburbs Cessnock Western Suburbs1982 Western Suburbs Kurri Kurri Western Suburbs1983 Maitland Cessnock Maitland1984 Western Suburbs Lakes United Lakes United1985 Lakes United Cessnock Cessnock1986 Lakes United South Newcastle Lakes United1987 Lakes United South Newcastle South Newcastle1988 South Newcastle29-18 Lakes United South Newcastle1989 South Newcastle20-12 Western Suburbs South Newcastle1990 Waratah-Mayfield17-14 Lakes United Lakes United1991 
Toronto Workers21-10 Western Suburbs South Newcastle1992 Western Suburbs33-0 Lakes United Western Suburbs1993 Kurri Kurri20-18 Western Suburbs Western Suburbs1994 Kurri Kurri20-16 Toronto Workers Western Suburbs1995 Kurri Kurri24-4 Western Suburbs Western Suburbs1996 Lakes United16-6 Western Suburbs Western Suburbs1997 Western Suburbs26-16 Lakes United Lakes United1998 Western Suburbs51-14 South Newcastle Western Suburbs1999 Western Suburbs22-18 Cessnock2000 Waratah-Mayfield20-14 Lakes United Waratah-Mayfield2001 Lakes United18-10 Western Suburbs2002 Western Suburbs27-16 Lakes United2003 Cessnock22-20 
Raymond Terrace2004 Western Suburbs32-28 
Northern Blues2005 Northern Blues30-12 Western Suburbs2006 Lakes United40-24 Nelson Bay Lakes United2007 Lakes United32-12 Wyong Lakes United2008 Western Suburbs12-10 Cessnock Western Suburbs2009 Wyong36-4 Cessnock Cessnock2010 Maitland24-8 Cessnock Maitland2011 Maitland19-18 Western Suburbs MaitlandTeam of the Century
In 2008, rugby league football's centenary year in Australia, the Newcastle Rugby League named it's 'Team of the Century':[6]
- Clive Churchill (Central)
- Eddie Lumsden (Kurri Kurri)
- Ron Bailey (Waratah-Mayfield)
- Brian Carlson (North)
- Johnny Graves (Maitland)
- Bob Banks (Central)
- Andrew Johns (Cessnock)
- Wally Prigg (West)
- Herb Narvo (North)
- Don Schofield (Cessnock)
- Jim Gibbs (South)
- Allan Buman (West)
- Paul Harragon (Lakes United)
- John Sattler (Kurri Kurri)
- Albert Paul (Lakes United)
- Matthew Gidley (West)
- Les Johns (South)
References
- ^ http://users.hunterlink.net.au/~maajjs/aus/nsw/ncl/nclcomps.htm
- ^ Newcastle Morning Herald Microfiche archive, held at Newcastle University
- ^ http://www.leagueunlimited.com/article.php?newsid=15210
- ^ http://www.cessnockrugbyleague.com.au/
- ^ http://www.southleagues.com.au/
- ^ "Newcastle Rugby League - Team Of The Century". Newcastle Herald. newcastle.com.au. http://www.newcastle.com.au/newcastle-articles/2008/2/11/newcastle-rugby-league-team-of-the-century/. Retrieved 19 November 2011.
- 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. ISBN.
- Ryan, Graham & Betty et al., Newcastle Knights 1988: Collectors Edition, Macquarie Publications, Dubbo, 1988.
- Pat 'Nimmo' Walsh Family archive Newspaper Match Reports.
Central Charlestown Butcher Boys · Cessnock Goannas · Kurri Kurri Bulldogs · Lakes United Seagulls · Macquarie Scorpions · Maitland Pickers · Northern Blues · South Newcastle Lions · Western Suburbs Rosellas · Wyong RoosFormer clubs Eastern Suburbs · Northern Suburbs Blues · Waratah Mayfield Cheetahs · Raymond Terrace MagpiesRugby League in Australia Australian Rugby League National Teams: Australian Kangaroos · Australian Jillaroos · Junior Kangaroos · Australian Schoolboys • Prime Minister's XIII
Competitions: State of Origin · City vs Country · All Stars Game · Affiliated States ChampionshipNational Rugby League Telstra Premiership · Toyota Cup (U20's)
New South Wales Rugby League Open Age comps: New South Wales Cup · Bundaberg Red Cup · Amco Cup (defunct) · NSWRL Premiership (defunct)
Underage Comps: Jersey Flegg Cup (U20's - defunct) · S.G. Ball Cup (U18's) · Harold Matthews Cup (U16's) · ARL Schoolboy Cup (High School) · Tertiary Rugby League (University)New South Wales
Country Rugby LeagueGroup Competitions: 2 · 3 · 4 · 6 · 7 · 8 · 9 · 10 · 11 · 14 · 16 · 17 · 19 · 20 · 21
Divisional Competitions: Canberra RL · Central Coast RL · Illawarra RL · Newcastle RL · Northern Rivers RL
Other Cups: Clayton Cup · Castlereagh Cup · Woodbridge Cup · Mid-West Cup · Outback RL
Defunct Groups and Leagues: 1 · 5 · 8 · 12 · 13 · 15 · 18 · Sunraysia-Riverlands Rugby League · North-West Plains CupQueensland Rugby League Divisions: Central · Northern · South East Queensland · South West · Wide Bay
Main Competitions: Queensland Cup · Brisbane A-Grade · Foley Shield · Brisbane Second Division · FOGS Colts Challenge (U18's) · Mal Meninga Cup (U18's) · Cyril Connell Cup (U16's)Northern Territory Rugby League South Australian Rugby League Adelaide First Grade Premiership
Tasmanian Rugby League Victorian Rugby League Melbourne Rugby League • Central Highlands Rugby League • Goulburn Murray Rugby League
Western Australia Rugby League Other Leagues Masters • Police • Secondary Schools • Women
Rugby League in: Australian Capital Territory · New South Wales · Northern Territory · Queensland · South Australia · Western Australia · VictoriaCategories:- Rugby league in Newcastle, New South Wales
- Rugby league competitions in New South Wales
- Newcastle Knights
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