Newcastle Rugby League
Encyclopedia
The Newcastle Rugby League is a rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...

 competition in Newcastle, Australia. It is one of the oldest rugby league competitions in Australia, founded in 1910. A Newcastle team
Newcastle Rebels
Newcastle were a rugby league team who played in the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership from 1908–1909, one of the nine foundation clubs. After the formation of several clubs in January 1908, members of the NSWRFL came to Newcastle to hold talks with the local footballing community...

 competed in the inaugural New South Wales Rugby League
New South Wales Rugby League
The New South Wales Rugby League is the governing body of rugby league in New South Wales and is a member of the Australian Rugby League. It was formed in Sydney on 8 August 1907 and was known as the New South Wales Rugby Football League until 1984 when forward thinking marketing managers decided...

 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). 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.

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.

Current Clubs

  • Central Newcastle
    • (formerly Central Charlestown & Central Newcastle - moved to Charlestown in the early 1960s)
    • 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
    • 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
    Lakes United
    Lakes United is a rugby league club based in the Newcastle, New South Wales region of Australia.Known as The Seagulls and wearing Royal blue and Gold, they have been a member of the Newcastle Rugby League since 1947.-History:...

    • 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
    • Nickname: Lions
    • Home Ground: Townson Oval, Merewether
    • Joined competition: 1910
    • Premierships: 1919 1927 1943 1946 1963 1964 1968 1976 1988 1989 (10)

  • Western Suburbs
    Western Suburbs Rosellas
    The Western Suburbs Rosellas, Western Suburbs, Wests, The Rosellas or The Maggots are a Rugby League club based in the Newcastle, NSW region of Australia. It was a foundation member of the Newcastle Rugby League in 1909 and has been one of the most successful teams in that competition...

    • 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
    Waratah Mayfield Cheetahs
    Waratah Mayfield is a rugby league club based in the Newcastle, New South Wales region of Australia.Known as The Cheetahs and wearing Maroon and Gold, they were a member of the First Grade Newcastle Rugby League until 2004.-History:...

     
    • 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 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
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 Waratah-Mayfield
1934 Maitland United 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 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 Western Suburbs
1947 Lakes United
Lakes United
Lakes United is a rugby league club based in the Newcastle, New South Wales region of Australia.Known as The Seagulls and wearing Royal blue and Gold, they have been a member of the Newcastle Rugby League since 1947.-History:...

Northern Suburbs
1948 Northern Suburbs Kurri Kurri
1949 Central Newcastle Kurri Kurri
1950 Cessnock Central Newcastle
1951 Northern Suburbs Maitland
1952 Waratah-Mayfield Lakes United
Lakes United
Lakes United is a rugby league club based in the Newcastle, New South Wales region of Australia.Known as The Seagulls and wearing Royal blue and Gold, they have been a member of the Newcastle Rugby League since 1947.-History:...

1953 Northern Suburbs Cessnock
1954 Cessnock Maitland
1955 Cessnock Maitland
1956 Maitland Cessnock Maitland
1957 Maitland Kurri Kurri Maitland
1958 Maitland Cessnock Maitland
1959 Northern Suburbs Maitland Northern Suburbs
1960 Cessnock Maitland Cessnock
1961 Western Suburbs Waratah-Mayfield Western Suburbs
1962 Northern Suburbs South Newcastle Northern Suburbs
1963 South Newcastle Central Newcastle
1964 South Newcastle Western Suburbs
1965 Maitland South Newcastle
1966 Western Suburbs Cessnock
1967 Northern Suburbs Western Suburbs
1968 South Newcastle Lakes United
Lakes United
Lakes United is a rugby league club based in the Newcastle, New South Wales region of Australia.Known as The Seagulls and wearing Royal blue and Gold, they have been a member of the Newcastle Rugby League since 1947.-History:...

1969 Maitland Lakes United
Lakes United
Lakes United is a rugby league club based in the Newcastle, New South Wales region of Australia.Known as The Seagulls and wearing Royal blue and Gold, they have been a member of the Newcastle Rugby League since 1947.-History:...

Maitland
1970 Western Suburbs Maitland Maitland
1971 Maitland Lakes United
Lakes United
Lakes United is a rugby league club based in the Newcastle, New South Wales region of Australia.Known as The Seagulls and wearing Royal blue and Gold, they have been a member of the Newcastle Rugby League since 1947.-History:...

Maitland
1972 Cessnock Maitland Maitland
1973 Maitland Western Suburbs Western Suburbs
1974 Lakes United
Lakes United
Lakes United is a rugby league club based in the Newcastle, New South Wales region of Australia.Known as The Seagulls and wearing Royal blue and Gold, they have been a member of the Newcastle Rugby League since 1947.-History:...

Western Suburbs Western Suburbs
1975 Lakes United
Lakes United
Lakes United is a rugby league club based in the Newcastle, New South Wales region of Australia.Known as The Seagulls and wearing Royal blue and Gold, they have been a member of the Newcastle Rugby League since 1947.-History:...

Western Suburbs Maitland
1976 South Newcastle Western Suburbs Lakes United
Lakes United
Lakes United is a rugby league club based in the Newcastle, New South Wales region of Australia.Known as The Seagulls and wearing Royal blue and Gold, they have been a member of the Newcastle Rugby League since 1947.-History:...

1977 Cessnock Maitland Cessnock
1978 Western Suburbs South Newcastle Western Suburbs
1979 North Newcastle Cessnock North Newcastle
1980 Western Suburbs Cessnock Kurri Kurri
1981 Western Suburbs Cessnock Western Suburbs
1982 Western Suburbs Kurri Kurri Western Suburbs
1983 Maitland Cessnock Maitland
1984 Western Suburbs Lakes United
Lakes United
Lakes United is a rugby league club based in the Newcastle, New South Wales region of Australia.Known as The Seagulls and wearing Royal blue and Gold, they have been a member of the Newcastle Rugby League since 1947.-History:...

Lakes United
Lakes United
Lakes United is a rugby league club based in the Newcastle, New South Wales region of Australia.Known as The Seagulls and wearing Royal blue and Gold, they have been a member of the Newcastle Rugby League since 1947.-History:...

1985 Lakes United
Lakes United
Lakes United is a rugby league club based in the Newcastle, New South Wales region of Australia.Known as The Seagulls and wearing Royal blue and Gold, they have been a member of the Newcastle Rugby League since 1947.-History:...

Cessnock Cessnock
1986 Lakes United
Lakes United
Lakes United is a rugby league club based in the Newcastle, New South Wales region of Australia.Known as The Seagulls and wearing Royal blue and Gold, they have been a member of the Newcastle Rugby League since 1947.-History:...

South Newcastle Lakes United
Lakes United
Lakes United is a rugby league club based in the Newcastle, New South Wales region of Australia.Known as The Seagulls and wearing Royal blue and Gold, they have been a member of the Newcastle Rugby League since 1947.-History:...

1987 Lakes United
Lakes United
Lakes United is a rugby league club based in the Newcastle, New South Wales region of Australia.Known as The Seagulls and wearing Royal blue and Gold, they have been a member of the Newcastle Rugby League since 1947.-History:...

South Newcastle South Newcastle
1988 South Newcastle 29-18 Lakes United
Lakes United
Lakes United is a rugby league club based in the Newcastle, New South Wales region of Australia.Known as The Seagulls and wearing Royal blue and Gold, they have been a member of the Newcastle Rugby League since 1947.-History:...

South Newcastle
1989 South Newcastle 20-12 Western Suburbs South Newcastle
1990 Waratah-Mayfield 17-14 Lakes United
Lakes United
Lakes United is a rugby league club based in the Newcastle, New South Wales region of Australia.Known as The Seagulls and wearing Royal blue and Gold, they have been a member of the Newcastle Rugby League since 1947.-History:...

Lakes United
Lakes United
Lakes United is a rugby league club based in the Newcastle, New South Wales region of Australia.Known as The Seagulls and wearing Royal blue and Gold, they have been a member of the Newcastle Rugby League since 1947.-History:...

1991 Toronto Workers 21-10 Western Suburbs South Newcastle
1992 Western Suburbs 33-0 Lakes United
Lakes United
Lakes United is a rugby league club based in the Newcastle, New South Wales region of Australia.Known as The Seagulls and wearing Royal blue and Gold, they have been a member of the Newcastle Rugby League since 1947.-History:...

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
Lakes United
Lakes United is a rugby league club based in the Newcastle, New South Wales region of Australia.Known as The Seagulls and wearing Royal blue and Gold, they have been a member of the Newcastle Rugby League since 1947.-History:...

16-6 Western Suburbs Western Suburbs
1997 Western Suburbs 26-16 Lakes United
Lakes United
Lakes United is a rugby league club based in the Newcastle, New South Wales region of Australia.Known as The Seagulls and wearing Royal blue and Gold, they have been a member of the Newcastle Rugby League since 1947.-History:...

Lakes United
Lakes United
Lakes United is a rugby league club based in the Newcastle, New South Wales region of Australia.Known as The Seagulls and wearing Royal blue and Gold, they have been a member of the Newcastle Rugby League since 1947.-History:...

1998 Western Suburbs 51-14 South Newcastle Western Suburbs
1999 Western Suburbs 22-18 Cessnock
2000 Waratah-Mayfield 20-14 Lakes United
Lakes United
Lakes United is a rugby league club based in the Newcastle, New South Wales region of Australia.Known as The Seagulls and wearing Royal blue and Gold, they have been a member of the Newcastle Rugby League since 1947.-History:...

Waratah-Mayfield
2001 Lakes United
Lakes United
Lakes United is a rugby league club based in the Newcastle, New South Wales region of Australia.Known as The Seagulls and wearing Royal blue and Gold, they have been a member of the Newcastle Rugby League since 1947.-History:...

18-10 Western Suburbs
2002 Western Suburbs 27-16 Lakes United
Lakes United
Lakes United is a rugby league club based in the Newcastle, New South Wales region of Australia.Known as The Seagulls and wearing Royal blue and Gold, they have been a member of the Newcastle Rugby League since 1947.-History:...

2003 Cessnock 22-20 Raymond Terrace
2004 Western Suburbs 32-28 Northern Blues
2005 Northern Blues 30-12 Western Suburbs
2006 Lakes United
Lakes United
Lakes United is a rugby league club based in the Newcastle, New South Wales region of Australia.Known as The Seagulls and wearing Royal blue and Gold, they have been a member of the Newcastle Rugby League since 1947.-History:...

40-24 Nelson Bay Lakes United
Lakes United
Lakes United is a rugby league club based in the Newcastle, New South Wales region of Australia.Known as The Seagulls and wearing Royal blue and Gold, they have been a member of the Newcastle Rugby League since 1947.-History:...

2007 Lakes United
Lakes United
Lakes United is a rugby league club based in the Newcastle, New South Wales region of Australia.Known as The Seagulls and wearing Royal blue and Gold, they have been a member of the Newcastle Rugby League since 1947.-History:...

32-12 Wyong Lakes United
Lakes United
Lakes United is a rugby league club based in the Newcastle, New South Wales region of Australia.Known as The Seagulls and wearing Royal blue and Gold, they have been a member of the Newcastle Rugby League since 1947.-History:...

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

Team of the Century

In 2008, rugby league football's centenary year in Australia, the Newcastle Rugby League named it's 'Team of the Century':
  1. Clive Churchill
    Clive Churchill
    Clive Bernard Churchill AM was an Australian rugby league footballer and coach of the mid-20th century. An Australian international and New South Wales and Queensland interstate representative fullback, he played the majority of his club football with and later coached the South Sydney Rabbitohs...

     (Central)
  2. Eddie Lumsden
    Eddie Lumsden
    Eddie Lumsden is an Australian former rugby league player. He was a winger with the St. George Dragons during their eleven-year premiership winning run from 1956 to 1966, playing in nine grand finals....

     (Kurri Kurri)
  3. Ron Bailey
    Ron Bailey
    Ron Bailey was an Australian rugby league footballer of the 1930s and 40s. He was a New South Wales Country, New South Wales, and Australian representative whose club career was played with Waratah Mayfield, Newtown Bluebags, Huddersfield, and Canterbury-Bankstown in Sydney...

     (Waratah-Mayfield)
  4. Brian Carlson
    Brian Carlson
    Brian Carlson was an Australian professional rugby league footballer of the 1950s and 60s. He was a centre & utility back for the Australia national team. He played in 17 Tests and 6 World Cup games between 1952 and 1961, as captain on 2 occasions...

     (North)
  5. Johnny Graves (Maitland)
  6. Bob Banks (Central)
  7. Andrew Johns
    Andrew Johns
    Andrew Gary "Joey" Johns is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s who is considered by many to be the greatest player of all time. He was heralded as the world's best halfback for a number of years...

     (Cessnock)
  8. Wally Prigg
    Wally Prigg
    Wally Prigg was an Australian rugby league player. He was a lock forward for the Australian national rugby league team. He played 19 Tests for the Kangaroos between 1929–38, 7 as captain and has since been named amongst the nation's finest footballers of the 20th century.-Club and representative...

     (West)
  9. Herb Narvo
    Herb Narvo
    Herbert Narvo was an Australian rugby league footballer and boxer of the 1930s and 40s. He was a national representative rugby league player and national heavyweight boxing champion...

     (North)
  10. Don Schofield
    Don Schofield
    Don Schofield was an Australian rugby league footballer of the mid 20th century. After playing country rugby league for the Cessnock club, he played in the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership for the Western Suburbs Magpies, scoring two tries in their Grand Final win in the 1952...

     (Cessnock)
  11. Jim Gibbs (South)
  12. Allan Buman (West)
  13. Paul Harragon
    Paul Harragon
    Paul "The Chief" Harragon OAM is an Australian rugby league football identity. A retired Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative forward, he played his club football for the Newcastle Knights whom he captained to the 1997 ARL premiership...

     (Lakes United)
  14. John Sattler
    John Sattler
    John William Sattler is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1960s and '70s. He was a rugged Prop forward who led his club, South Sydney to four premiership victories between 1967 and 1971 and who played four tests for Australia – three as the national captain...

     (Kurri Kurri)
  15. Albert Paul (Lakes United)
  16. Matthew Gidley
    Matthew Gidley
    Matthew "Matt" Gidley is an Australian rugby league administrator and retired professional footballer. Born in Newcastle, New South Wales, Gidley represented New South Wales and Australia. He is the currently CEO of Football Operations at the Newcastle Knights...

     (West)
  17. Les Johns
    Les Johns
    Les Johns was an Australian rugby league player for Newcastle's Souths club, then the Canterbury-Bankstown club as well as the New South Wales and for the Australian representative sides...

    (South)
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