New South Wales Rugby League
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- This page is for the governing body of rugby league in New South Wales. For information about the New South Rugby League Premierships run from the inception of rugby league in Australia until the ARL Premierships, see New South Wales Rugby League premiership
The New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in New South Wales and is a member of the Australian Rugby League. Until 1984, it was known the New South Wales Rugby Football League (NSWRFL). From 1908 to 1994, the NSWRL ran New South Wales' then Australia's top-level rugby league club competition.
Contents |
[edit] New South Wales Rugby League clubs
[edit] Current New South Wales members
The following clubs are the member clubs of the NSWRL.
| Club |
First season in top division |
|---|---|
| Balmain Tigers | 1908 |
| Bulldogs | 1935 |
| Canberra Raiders | 1982 |
| Cronulla Sharks | 1967 |
| Illawarra Steelers | 1982 |
| Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles | 1947 |
| Newcastle Knights | 1988 |
| Newtown Jets | 1908 |
| North Sydney Bears | 1908 |
| Parramatta Eels | 1947 |
| Penrith Panthers | 1967 |
| St. George Dragons | 1921 |
| South Sydney Rabbitohs | 1908 |
| Sydney Roosters | 1908 |
| Western Suburbs Magpies | 1908 |
[edit] History of the NSWRL
- See also: New South Wales Rugby League premiership
The New South Wales Rugby Football League was responsible for the introduction of rugby league into Australia in 1907. Since that time the NSWRFL has built a rich tradition at all levels of the game. Great names and great games illuminate the League's growth since 1907 up to the present day. The NSWRFL was formed in August 1907, when player discontent with the administration of the New South Wales Rugby Union, over rejection of compensation payments for injuries and lost wages, led to a breakaway movement. Key figures in the new movement were James Joseph Giltinan, legendary cricketer Victor Trumper, Alec Burdon, Peter Moir, Labor politician Henry Hoyle, George Brackenregg and Jack Fenely. The first rugby league game in New South Wales was played on August 17, 1907, in which New Zealand defeated New South Wales Rugby League team 12-8. The Sydney premiership was started on April 20, 1908. Nine teams contested the initial season. They were:
- Balmain
- Cumberland
- Eastern Suburbs
- Glebe
- Newcastle
- Newtown
- North Sydney
- Western Suburbs
- South Sydney
The NSWRFL premiership continued on a successful basis from the first competition in 1908.
[edit] Royal Agricultural Society Shield
The Royal Agricultural Society Shield, or RAS Shield was the New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL)'s first premiership trophy. It was presented to each year's premiership winning rugby league team; the first to win three successive titles would take permanent ownership of the shield. The Eastern Suburbs club achieved this feat winning premierships in 1911, 1912 and 1913.
The hand crafted silver and oak designed shield was donated to the NSWRL by the Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales in its first year of competition.
Leading journalist Claude Corbett wrote in Sydney, Sun, newspaper on, May 1, 1914, "The Royal Agricultural Society Shield, which was presented at the inception of the League's first grade competition has been won outright by Eastern Suburbs, who upset all calculations by winning the premiership three years in succession. The club has presented the shield to their captain, Dally Messenger, 'as a token of appreciation of his captaincy."
[edit] J.J. Giltinan Shield
In 1951, the NSWRFL originated the J.J. Giltinan Shield, following his death in 1950. This trophy was awarded to the premiers of the NSWRFL competition, being named after one of the founding fathers of the NSWRFL and rugby league in Australia. The trophy remains today, being awarded to the minor premiers of the National Rugby League competition. Sydney suburban teams came and went throughout its history but it was not until 1982 that the competition included expansion outside of the Sydney area. This corresponded with the adoption of commercial sponsorship of the competition for the first time, the Winfield Cup. The two new inclusions were from the Australian Capital Territory - the Canberra Raiders - as well as a team from the southern New South Wales region - the Illawarra Steelers.
The NSWRFL had also commenced a very popular and successful mid-week competition in 1974, originally known as the Amco Cup, but later as the Tooth Cup and the National Panasonic Cup. The success of this competition, which included teams from both Brisbane and New Zealand, ultimately created pressure for further expansion in the NSWRFL competition. In 1980, the NSWRFL President Kevin Humphries, was instrumental in the establishment of the State of Origin series between teams representing the NSWRFL and Queensland Rugby League (QRL). The immediate success of this series, which remains the premier representative competition in Australia, and the overriding success of the Queensland team further pressured the NSWRFL to expand the club competition outside the boundaries of the state.
The League's name was changed in 1984 to the New South Wales Rugby League. In 1988, two Queensland teams joined the competition, with the inclusions of the Brisbane Broncos and the Gold Coast-Tweed Giants seeing the game move beyond the outer borders of New South Wales. At the same a team from the Hunter region of New South Wales was included, with the return of a Newcastle franchise. Their return was the end of an 81 year wait in the wilderness and this time around the franchise was badged the Newcastle Knights.
This period of expansion created tremendous success for the competition and rugby league in general. Over 3 million fans attended competition matches in the 1995 season and this figure remains the record for a single season attendance until this day.
The Winfield Cup competition was handed over to the control of the Australian Rugby League for the 1995 season, with the inclusion of teams from North Queensland, Western Australia and New Zealand. The major basis of the teams that either formed the foundation of the NSWRL or were introduced into the NSWRL competition during the success of the competition, for a period of 87 years, remain the backbone of the ARL's current major elite competition - the National Rugby League.
[edit] Winfield Cup
The magnificent Winfield Cup trophy remains a permanent symbol of one of the game's most successful eras. Cast in bronze by Alan Ingham, it was the game's ultimate prize for the duration of the Winfield sponsorship from 1982-95.
Based on John O’Gready's world famous photograph of Norm Provan (St George) and Arthur Summons (Wests) after the 1963 Grand Final, the trophy represented the premiership pinnacle for players in the Winfield Era. Its image of the big man and the little man encompasses many of the finer things about Rugby League – the mateship after battle, the satisfaction of the shared experience on the playing field – no matter how hard and tough the struggle has been, the message that Rugby League, for all its professionalism, is still a game.
The Winfield Cup captured these and many other enduring things about League in its primary image, “The Gladiators” and the famous trophy, like the JJ Giltinan Shield, remains an important part of the game's heritage.
[edit] Competitions
For information about the New South Rugby League Premierships run from the inception of rugby league in Australia until the ARL Premierships, see New South Wales Rugby League premiership.
The NSWRL currently administers the following major competitions throughout NSW.
[edit] New South Wales Cup
Sponsored as the VB New South Wales Cup, this competition has a history dating back to the NSWRL's origins in 1908. Starting off as a reserve grade competition it is now the premier open age competition in New South Wales.
The major open age competition, New South Wales Cup comprises teams from the member clubs as well as a team from New Zealand, the Auckland Lions.
[edit] Jim Beam Cup
The Jim Beam Cup competition is conducted jointly with the NSW Country Rugby League. This competition comprises second tier clubs from the Sydney metropolitan area as well as the Central Coast and Illawarra districts.
[edit] Jersey Flegg Cup
[edit] S.G. Ball Cup
[edit] Harold Matthews Cup
[edit] Arrive Alive Cup
[edit] Tertiary Student Rugby League
[edit] Representative
NSWRL manages the New South Wales State of Origin team as well the NSW Residents, Jim Beam Cup, Under 19's, Under 17's and Under 16's Indigenous Rugby League teams. These teams traditionally play against teams from the Queensland Rugby League.
[edit] Other Activities
The NSWRL conducts a development academy from the NSW Institute of Sport facility at Narrabeen. This facility is actively involved in the conduct of competitions and carnivals involving junior league and schools based teams. The academy also conducts several camps, focusing on development as well as running the accreditaion process for coaches, trainers, first aid and match officials.
[edit] See also
- Australian Rugby League
- National Rugby League
- New South Wales Rugby League premiership
- Queensland Rugby League
- Rugby League State of Origin
- Super League (Australia)
[edit] External links
| State of Origin | |
|---|---|
| New South Wales | Queensland |
| The Team Players • Records Captains and Coaches |
The Team Players • History • Records Captains and Coaches |
| Series | |
| 1980 • 1981 • 1982 • 1983 • 1984 • 1985 • 1986 • 1987 • 1988 • 1989 1990 • 1991 • 1992 • 1993 • 1994 • 1995 • 1996 • 1997 • 1998 • 1999 2000 • 2001 • 2002 • 2003 • 2004 • 2005 • 2006 • 2007 • 2008 |
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| Other | |
| Results & Statistics • Roy and HG's commentary Super League Tri-Series |
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| Governing Bodies | |
| Australian Rugby League New South Wales Rugby League • Queensland Rugby League |
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