List of rugby league competitions in Australia

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is a list of rugby league competitions in Australia with their respective premiers. This list contains only the first-grade tier for professional competitions as well as country and statewide semi-professional youth competitions.

Domestic[edit]

National[edit]

Name Location Teams Founded Winner Score Runners-up
National Rugby League Australia, New Zealand 17 1998 Penrith Panthers 28-12 Parramatta Eels
NRL State Championship Australia 2 2014 Penrith Panthers 44-10 Norths Devils
NRL Women's Premiership Australia 10 2018 Newcastle Knights 32-12 Parramatta Eels

Updated 2022

Men's Competitions[edit]

New South Wales[edit]

Name Location Founded Teams Winner Score Runners-up
Knock-On Effect NSW Cup NSW & ACT 1908 12 Newtown Jets 20-15 Wentworthville Magpies
City (NSWRL)
Ron Massey Cup Sydney 2003 10 Wentworthville Magpies 38-4 St Mary's Saints
Sydney Shield Sydney 2012 12 East Campbelltown Eagles 32-22 Guildford Owls
Sydney Combined - Northern Open Age Northern Beaches ? 6 Narrabeen Sharks 26-6 Berowra Wallabies
Sydney Combined - South Eastern Open Age Gold Sutherland 1964 5 De La Salle Caringbah 20-8 Engadine Dragons
South Sydney District A Grade Inner-City 1908 7 Redfern All Blacks 28-12 Mascot Jets
Penrith & District A Grade Western Sydney 1912 8 Windsor Wolves 28-4 Glenmore Park Brumbies
Parramatta District A-Grade Western Sydney 1948 6 St Johns Eagles 34-24 Wentworthville Magpies
Country (CRL)
Northern Rivers Rugby League Northern Rivers 20051 11 Cudgen Hornets 18-4 Ballina Seagulls
Group 2 Rugby League Mid North Coast 1966 9 Woolgoolga Seahorses 26-10 South Grafton Rebels
Group 3 Rugby League Mid North Coast 19462 8 Old Bar Pirates 22-10 Port Maquarie Sharks
Group 4 Rugby League New England 1913 6 North Tamworth Bears 26-16 Moree Boars
Group 19 Rugby League New England 19803 9 Narwan Eels 34-22 Inverell Hawks
Group 21 Rugby League Hunter 1955 6 Scone Thoroughbreds 30-28 Greta Branxton Colts
Canberra Raiders Cup ACT & surroundings 19984 9 Queanbeyan Roos 34-14 Tuggeranong Bushrangers
George Tooke Shield ACT & surroundings 1995 9 Boorowa Rovers 22-8 Crookwell Green Devils
Group 9 Rugby League Wagga & districts 1923 11 Tumut Blues 23-18 Wagga Wagga Kangaroos
Group 20 Rugby League Griffith & districts 1954 9 Leeton Greenies 28-24 Darlington Point-Coleambally Roosters
Peter McDonald Premiership (10/11) Central West 2022 12 Dubbo CYMS 25-12 Mudgee Dragons
Castlereagh Cup Central West 2001 8 Gulgong Terriers 10-6 Cobar Roosters
Woodbridge Cup Central West 1991 9 Manildra Rhinos 18-16 Trundle Boomers
Outback Rugby League Broken Hill & districts 1980 6 Wilcannia Boomerangs 23-22 Menindee Yabbies
Illawarra Rugby League Illawarra 1911 7 Thirroul Butchers 24-18 Collegians
Group 6 Rugby League Southern Highlands & Macarthur 19145 8 Thirlmere-Tahmoor Roosters 28-26 Camden Rams
Group 7 Rugby League South Coast 19146 11 Gerringong Lions 32-22 Shellharbour Sharks
Group 16 Rugby League Far South Coast 1946 8 Merimbula-Pambula Bulldogs 38-18 Eden Tigers
Newcastle & Hunter Rugby League Newcastle & Hunter 2010 38 Dora Creek Dora Creek Swampies 20-14 Waratah Mayfield Cheetahs
Tooheys Newcastle Cup Newcastle 1910 8 Maitland Pumpkin Pickers 46-10 South Newcastle
Central Coast Rugby League Central Coast, New South Wales 1947 10 Toukley Hawks 8-6 Erina Eagles

City Updated 2019, Country Updated 2023

  1. Merger of Group 1 Rugby League and Group 18 Rugby League(1914-05) which both field junior competitions.
  2. Formed as Group 18 in 1946 but when the boundaries were re-drawn in 1966 to include three new clubs the group's name was changed to Group 3.
  3. Group 5 was the local competition from 1961 until it merged with another local competition to form Group 19 in 1980.
  4. This competition was formed by Group 8 and Group 19 which were formed in 1932 and 1946 respectively.
  5. Formed as Berrima District Rugby League and changed its name to Group 6 in 1946.
  6. Formed as South Coast Rugby League and changed its name to Group 7 in 1955.
  7. Formed in 1947 as a junior competition for Newcastle club, Lakes United. It was upgraded to full CRL membership as Group 12 in 1967 then renamed in 1981.

Queensland[edit]

Name Location Teams Founded Winner Score Runners-up
Hostplus Cup Queensland & PNG 14 1996 Redcliffe Dolphins 36-22 Easts Tigers
South East Region
Brisbane A-Grade Rugby League Brisbane & Districts 6 2014 Bayside Seagulls 28-20 Redcliffe Dolphins
Gold Coast A-Grade Gold Coast & Districts 8 1996 Runaway Bay Seagulls 36-10 Tweed Heads Seagulls
Ipswich A-Grade Ipswich & Districts 6 1992 Fassifern Bombers 32-10 Norths Tigers
Northern Region
Cairns District Rugby League Cairns & Districts 11 1918 Mossman Port Douglas Sharks 36-12 Tully Tigers
Mackay & District Rugby League Mackay & Districts 8 1919 Wests Tigers 42-18 Mackay Brothers
Mount Isa Rugby League Mount Isa 3 1953 Town Lions 26-20 Wanderers
Townsville District Rugby League Gulf Country 7 1978 Centrals Tigers 46-22 Townsville Brothers
Remote Areas Rugby League
Central Region
Central Burnett Rugby League North Burnett 3 1921 Gayndah Gladiators 38-34 Mundubbera Tigers
Central Highlands Rugby League Central Highlands 8 1983 Blackwater Crushers 24-16 Bluff Rabbitohs
Central West Rugby League Central West 5 1900s Barcaldine Sandgoannas 14-10 Blackall Magpies
Gladstone District Rugby League Gladstone 5 1918 Valleys 14-10 Wallabys
Northern Districts Rugby League Wide Bay 6 1900s Miriam Vale Magpies 34-24 South Kolan Sharks
Rockhampton District Rugby League Rockhampton 6 1918 Yeppoon Seagulls 26-16 Rockhampton Brothers
Roma District Rugby League Roma & Districts 7 1914 Chinchilla Bulldogs 28-14 Wallumbilla-Surat Red Bulls
Toowoomba Rugby League Toowoomba 11 1919 Toowoomba Valleys Roosters 24-22 Wattles Warriors
Bundaberg Rugby League Bundaberg & Districts 6 1913 Waves Tigers 23-20 Wallaroos
South Burnett Rugby League South Burnett 5 1923 Nanango Stags 48-0 Kingaroy Red Ants
Sunshine Coast-Gympie Rugby League Sunshine Coast & Gympie 8 1919 Maroochydore Swans 22-20 Beerwah Bulldogs

Updated 2018

Other States[edit]

Name Location Teams Founded Winner Score Runners-up
Western Australia (NRL WA)
Smarter Than Smoking Premiership Perth 6 1948 North Beach Sea Eagles 26-24 South Perth Lions
Pilbara Rugby League Pilbara 5 2000s
Northern Territory (NRL NT)
Quitline A Grade Premiership Darwin 6 1950 Northern Sharks RLFC 14-8 Palmerston Raiders
Central Australian Rugby Football League Alice Springs 4 1963 Wests Dragons 30-38 Alice Springs Brothers
South Australia (NRL SA)
NRL SA Metro First Grade Adelaide 5 1976 Eastern Eels 26-22 Central Districts Roosters
Limestone Coast Rugby League Mount Gambier 5 Gunditjmara Bulls 22-8 Stawell Mounties
Victoria (NRL Victoria)
Storm Premiership Melbourne 6 1952 Truganina Rabbitohs 52-16 Altona Roosters
Murray Cup Wodonga 8 1998 Wodonga Wombats 40-4 Bonegilla Gorillas

Updated 2022

Women's Competitions[edit]

New South Wales & Queensland[edit]

Name Location Teams Founded Winner Score Runners-up
New South Wales (NSWWRL)
NSWRL Women's Premiership Statewide 9 2005 Mount Pritchard Mounties 12-10 South Sydney Rabbitohs
Tarsha Gale Cup (U/18s) Statewide 10 2017 Illawarra Steelers 24-12 Newcastle Knights
Country (CRL)
Northern Rivers Rugby League Northern Rivers 11 2005 Marist Brothers Rams 14-6 Byron Bay Red Devils
Group 2 Rugby League Mid North Coast 8 ? South Grafton Rebels 8-4 Sawtell Panthers
Group 3 Rugby League Mid North Coast 8 1946 Port City Breakers 22-10 Port Maquarie Sharks
Group 4 Rugby League West New England 11 ? Kootingal-Moonbi Roosters 12-11 North Tamworth Bears
Group 19 Rugby League New England 7 1980 Inverell Hawks 18-4 Glen Innes Magpies
Group 21 Rugby League Hunter 8 1955 Scone Thoroughbreds 38-4 Muswellbrook Rams
Katrina Fanning Shield ACT & surroundings 8 2017 Goulburn Workers Bulldogs 20-8 Yass Magpies
Group 9 Rugby League Wagga & districts 10 1923 Wagga Wagga Brothers 18-0 Albury Thunder
Group 20 Rugby League Griffith & districts 9 ? Griffith Black & White Panthers 36-18 Hay Magpies
Group 10 Rugby League Central West 9 1958 Bathurst Saint Patricks 16-6 Orange Hawks
Group 11 Rugby League Dubbo 8 1946 Parkes Spacecats 22-10 Dubbo Westside
Castlereagh Cup Central West 9 2001 Baradine Magpies 6-0 Coonamble Bears
Woodbridge Cup Central West 9 1991 Cargo Blue Heelers 20-18 Eugowra Golden Eagles
Barwon Darling ? 6 ? Walgett Dragons 4-0 Brewarrina Golden Googettes
Illawarra Rugby League Illawarra 7 ? Corrimal Cougars 28-0 Helensburgh Tigers
Group 6 Rugby League Southern Highlands & Macarthur 11 1914 City Kangaroos Blue 18-16 Narellan Jets
Group 7 Rugby League South Coast 7 1914 Kiama Knights 20-18 Jambaroo Superoos
Group 16 Rugby League Far South Coast 8 1946 Eden Tigerettes Tigers 18-0 Bombala High Heelers
Newcastle & Hunter Rugby League Hunter 7 ? Aberglasslyn Ants 18-4 University of Newcastle Seahorses
Queensland (QWRL)
Brisbane and District Women's Rugby League Brisbane 2004 Burleigh Bears 14-0 West Brisbane Panthers

Other States[edit]

Name Location Founded Teams Winner Score Runners-up
Western Australia (WARL)
All Flags Signs & Banners Women's Rugby League Perth ? 4 Ellenbrook Rabbitohs 20-16 Joondalup Giants
South Australia (SARL)
NRL South Australia Women's Adelaide 2023 3
Northern Territory (NTRL)
Women's Premiership Darwin & Katherine 1950 5 Nightcliff Dragons 18-12 Northern Sharks
Victoria (VRL)
NRL VIC Women's First Grade Melbourne ? 6 Werribee Bears 14-12 Truganina Rabbitohs

Updated 2018

Youth competitions[edit]

Name Location Teams Founded Winner Score Runners-up
Holden Cup U20s Australia, New Zealand 16 2008 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 20-181 Parramatta Eels
Under 18 National Final Australia 2 2011 Penrith Panthers (NSWRL) 38-32 Souths Logan Magpies (QLD)
Under 16 National Final Australia 2 2011 Parramatta Eels 32-02 Townsville Blackhawks
GIO Schoolboy Cup Australia 1975 Palm Beach Currumbin SHS 20-12 Patrician Brothers' College Blacktown
New South Wales (NSWRL)
Jersey Flegg Cup (U/20s) Statewide, VIC & WA 12 1961 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 22-12 Penrith Panthers
SG Ball Cup (U/18s) Statewide, VIC & WA 17 1965 Illawarra Steelers 34-23 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
Harold Matthews Cup (U/16s) Statewide 15 1970 Newcastle Knights 28-8 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Under 16 NSW State Final Australia 2 2018 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles (NSWRL) 32-12 Western Rams (CRL)
Queensland (QRL)
Hastings Deering Colts (U/20s) Statewide, NSW 15 2018 Norths Devils 20-16 Townsville Blackhawks
Mal Meninga Cup (U/18s) Statewide, NSW 16 2009 Souths Logan Magpies 18-16 Norths Devils
Cyril Connell Cup (U/16s) Statewide & NT 15 2009 Townsville Blackhawks 20-183 Souths Logan Magpies

1 2017 Holden Cup Finals Result.

2 2016 Under 16 National Finals Result.

3 2016 Cyril Connell Finals Result.

Updated 2017

See also[edit]

References[edit]