The Northern Suburbs Devils, Norths for short, are 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...

 club representing the northern suburbs of Brisbane

Brisbane

Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...

, Australia

Australia

Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...

. The team colours are sky blue, navy blue and gold. They play in the Queensland Wizard Cup

Queensland Cup

The Queensland Cup is the premier rugby league football competition in the State of Queensland, Australia.It is a statewide competition with the majority of teams based in South East Queensland but also including sides based in Cairns, Mackay and Rockhampton.The competition began in 1996 as a...

, and, through their predecessors, are one of the oldest clubs in Australia.
Norths have won 13 A Grade, 17 Reserve Grade and 14 Colts/Third Grade Premierships. They hold the record for most consecutive A Grade Brisbane Rugby League premierships

Grand Final

Grand Final is a predominantly Australian sport term used to describe a match that decides a league champion.It originated in Victoria and South Australia and has become specifically significant Australian culture...

, winning six in a row between 1959 and 1964.

Before rugby league

The first incarnation of Northern Suburbs was the Past Grammars Rugby Union

Rugby union

Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...

 club, which was formed in 1887 as an Old Boys club for Brisbane Grammar School

Brisbane Grammar School

Brisbane Grammar School is an independent, non-denominational, day and boarding school for boys, located in Spring Hill, an inner suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia...

 . The club was quite successful in its early years, winning premierships in 1892, 1898 and 1899, as well as 1914 . Wallaby captain Bob McCowan

Bob McCowan

Robert Herman "Bob" McCowan was a pioneer Australian rugby union player, a state and national representative fullback who played in his country's first Test series of 1899, captaining the national side on one occasion....

 was a Past Grammar played when he led the national side in 1899.

Switch to rugby league

Following the disbandment of club rugby union

Rugby union

Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...

 in Brisbane towards the end of the First World War, Past Grammars, along with Christian Brothers and University

University of Queensland

The University of Queensland, also known as UQ, is a public university located in state of Queensland, Australia. Founded in 1909, it is the oldest and largest university in Queensland and the fifth oldest in the nation...

, joined the Rugby Football League in 1920

From Past Grammars RLFC to Norths

Past Grammars, also known as Grammar Norths, won their first premiership in 1927, before becoming Northern Districts, and later Northern Suburbs, following the introduction of District Football by the Brisbane Rugby League

Queensland Rugby League

The Queensland Rugby Football League is the governing body for rugby league in Queensland. It is a member of the Australian Rugby League and selects the members of Queensland State of Origin teams....

 in 1933.

1990s

In the 1990s, along with many other Queensland clubs, Norths suffered heavily financially. Eventually it came to the stage that in 1998 they became a feeder club with National Rugby League

National Rugby League

The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...

 newcomers, the Melbourne Storm

Melbourne Storm

The Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....

, which attracted much needed finance, as well as some quality players, as well as securing the Devils' future. Also in 1998, the club won its first First Grade premiership since 1980 , beating Wests

Wests Panthers

The Western Suburbs Panthers, often simply referred to as Wests, are a rugby league club from Brisbane, Australia. The Club is the oldest in the QRL and despite absences from the top grade in recent years and several name changes the club continued to operate...

 in the Grand Final.

2000s

In the 2006 NRL Grand Final Melbourne'

Melbourne Storm

The Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....

s 17 man team had 13 players who had played with Norths in past years, including Matt Geyer

Matt Geyer

Matt Geyer is an Australian rugby league footballer for the Norths Devils in the Queensland Cup. A New South Wales State of Origin representative winger, he played his club football primarily with the Melbourne Storm of the National Rugby League competition, winning premierships with them in 1999...

, who won a Premiership with the Devils in 1998 and Melbourne in 1999. In the 2006

2006 Rugby League Tri-Nations

The 2006 Rugby League Tri-Nations was hosted for the second time by Australia and New Zealand. Sponsored by Gillette the tournament followed the same format as in 2004 and 2005, with each team meeting the other two teams twice, and the top two teams at the end of the group stages proceeding to the...

 Tri-Nations

Rugby League Tri-Nations

The Rugby League Tri-Nations was a rugby league tournament involving the top three nations in the sport: Australia, Great Britain and New Zealand...

 series, 4 Norths players graduated to the Australian Kangaroos squad and 2 players, via Melbourne Storm, represented New Zealand Kiwis

New Zealand national rugby league team

The New Zealand national rugby league team has represented New Zealand in rugby league football since intercontinental competition began for the sport in 1907. Administered by the New Zealand Rugby League, they are commonly known as the Kiwis, after the native bird of that name...

.

2008

2008 marks 75 years since the Northern Suburbs Rugby League Club came into existence. In its semisesquicentennial year, new alliances have begun with the Brisbane Broncos

Brisbane Broncos

The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...

 and Aspley Devils. In the centenary year of Rugby League in Australia combined with the 75th Anniversary celebrations of the Norths Devils, the club expect another fantastic year of Rugby League in the Northern Suburbs of Brisbane.

Home grounds

For many years Norths played out of Oxenham Park in Nundah, but they moved to their current home ground, Albert Bishop Park, in 1969. Commonly referred to simply as 'Bishop Park', it borders the Schulz Canal in Nundah, and is named after club stalwart Albert Bishop, MBE. Norths has a licenced Leagues Club, Norths Leagues, at Bishop Park, as well as a second licensed Club at Anzac Avenue, Kallangur, further north of Brisbane.

Queensland Cup Results

• 1996 - 9th
• 1997 - 7th
• 1998 - Premiers
• 1999 - Preliminary Finalists
• 2000 - Preliminary Semi-Finalists
• 2001 - Preliminary Semi-Finalists
• 2002 - Preliminary Finalists
• 2003 - 8th
• 2004 - Semi-Finalists
• 2005 - Semi-Finalists
• 2006 - 7th
• 2007 - 8th
• 2008 - 11th (Last)
• 2009 - Semi-Finalists
• 2010 - Runners-Up

List of famous players

• Steven Bell
  Steven Bell
  Steven "Steve" Bell is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Catalans Dragons of Super League...
  
  
• Adam Blair
  Adam Blair
  Adam Blair is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer currently contracted to the Melbourne Storm of the National Rugby League until 1 November 2011, when he will join the Wests Tigers. A New Zealand international representative forward, Blair spent six seasons with the Storm, winning...
  
  
• Darryl Brohman
  Darryl Brohman
  Darryl Brohman is an Australian former rugby league footballer, commentator and media personality. Brohman is best known for his time playing for the Penrith Panthers and the Queensland rugby league team...
  
  
• Johnny Brown
  Johnny Brown (rugby league)
  Johnny Brown is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1960s and 70s. An Australian international and Queensland interstate representative halfback, he played his club football in the Brisbane Rugby League premiership for Norths, with whom he won the 1968 Rothmans Medal and the 1969...
  
  
• Steve Calder
• 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...
  
  
• Greg Conescu
  Greg Conescu
  Greg "Turtle" Conescu is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s. An Australian international and Queensland State of Origin representative hooker, he played all of his club football in Queensland with Norths Devils Gladstone Brothers, Redcliffe and the Brisbane...
  
  
• Michael Crocker
  Michael Crocker
  Michael Crocker is an Australian professional rugby league footballer with the South Sydney Rabbitohs of the NRL...
  
  
• Cooper Cronk
  Cooper Cronk
  Cooper Patrick Cronk is an Australian professional rugby league footballer currently playing for the Melbourne Storm of the NRL...
  
  
• Greg Dowling
  Greg Dowling
  Gregory Dowling is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1980s and 90s. He represented both Australia and Queensland....
  
  
• Nev Draper
• Darryl Duncan
  Darryl Duncan
  Darryl Duncan is a former rugby league player.Duncan was a character of the Brisbane Rugby League and was signed by Brisbane club Valleys in 1980 after playing much of his junior football in Mount Isa...
  
  
• Israel Folau
  Israel Folau
  Israel Folau is a professional Australian rules footballer currently listed with the Greater Western Sydney Football Club in the Australian Football League . He previously played Rugby league for the Melbourne Storm in the National Rugby League from 2007 to 2008 where he broke the record for most...
  
  
• Nick Geiger
• Matt Gillett
  Matt Gillett
  Matt Gillett , is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Brisbane Broncos of the NRL. A utility forward, he made his debut for the Broncos in 2010....
  
  
• Trevor Gillmeister
  Trevor Gillmeister
  Trevor Gillmeister is an Australian former rugby league player who is currently signed on as an assistant coach at the Gold Coast Titans. During his playing days Gillmeister played for the Sydney Roosters, Brisbane Broncos, Penrith Panthers and the South Queensland Crushers as well as...
  
  
• Mark Graham
  Mark Graham (rugby league)
  Mark Kerry Graham is a New Zealand retired rugby league footballer and coach. A back-rower and former captain of the New Zealand national rugby league team, he has been named as the greatest player the country has produced in the century from 1907 to 2006.-Playing career:An Otahahu junior, Graham...
  
  
• Peter Hall
• Darryl Stephens
• Gary Cook
• Glen Harrison
  Glen Harrison
  Glen Harrison is an Australian former rugby league footballer who played for the Northern Suburbs “Devils” in the Brisbane Rugby League competition in the late 1960s and the 1970s. He also represented Queensland in the pre-Origin era....
  
  
• Ross Henrick
  Ross Henrick
  Ross Henrick was an Australian rugby league footballer of the 1970s and 80s. Nicknamed "The Angry Ant", he was a Queensland State of Origin representative halfback, and played club football in the Brisbane Rugby League premiership for Fortitude Valley, Norths and Redcliffe.Henrick played at...
  
  
• Greg Inglis
  Greg Inglis
  Greg Inglis is an Australian professional rugby league player for the South Sydney Rabbitohs. A Queensland State of Origin and Australian international representative outside back, Inglis joined the Rabbitohs in 2011 after much controversy.Inglis is a versatile back, having played in several...
  
  
• Dallas Johnson
  Dallas Johnson
  Dallas Johnson is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the North Queensland Cowboys in the National Rugby League and formerly the Melbourne Storm and Catalans Dragons. He plays primarily as a lock forward.Between 2007 and 2009, Johnson played in four consecutive NRL grand finals...
  
  
• Antonio Kaufusi
  Antonio Kaufusi
  Antonio Kaufusi is a Tongan-Australian professional rugby league footballer currently playing for the London Broncos of the English Super League. An Australian and Tongan international and Queensland State of Origin representative forward, he previously played for the Melbourne Storm, North...
  
  
• Paul Khan
  Paul Khan
  Paul Khan is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1970s and 80s. He was a state representative for both New South Wales and Queensland with his first grade club career played with the Cronulla Sharks....
  
  
• Joe Kilroy
  Joe Kilroy
  "Smokin" Joe Kilroy is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1980s and 90s. A Queensland State of Origin representative winger/fullback, he played club football in the BRL Premiership with Brothers and Norths and in the NSWRL Premiership with the Brisbane Broncos.Early in his...
  
  
• Ron McAuliffe
  Ron McAuliffe
  Ronald Edward McAuliffe OBE was a politician and sports administrator in Queensland, Australia. He is best remembered for his years running the Queensland Rugby League, and his instrumental role in the formation of the State of Origin competition.McAuliffe attended school at St. Joseph's College,...
  
  
• Paul McCabe
  Paul McCabe
  Paul McCabe is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1970s and 80s. He played for several clubs as well as representing Queensland in the State of Origin. McCabe was also a member of the 1982 "Invincibles" Kangaroos side, playing in the third Test against Great Britain...
  
  
• Josh McGuire
  Josh McGuire
  Josh McGuire is a rugby league player who plays for the Brisbane Broncos in the National Rugby League . He primarily plays at prop.-Playing career:McGuire made his debut in round 3, 2009, against the New Zealand Warriors...
  
  
• Fonda Metassa
  Fonda Metassa
  Fonda Metassa is an Australian former rugby league footballer. Known as "the Golden Greek", he played in the Brisbane Rugby League premiership for Fortitude Valley and Norths, and in the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership for the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the 1960s.A powerful winger,...
  
  
• Fifita Moala
  Fifita Moala
  Fifita Moala , was a Tongan rugby league footballer of the 2000s. He played for the Melbourne Storm from 2000-04. In 2000, Moala played for the Tonga national rugby league team in the 2000 Rugby League World Cup.-External links:...
  
  
• Mark Murray
  Mark Murray (rugby league)
  Mark Murray is an Australian former rugby league footballer and coach. He represented Australia in test matches and Queensland in the State of Origin. His position of choice was halfback...
  
  
• John Payne
• Bill Pearson
• Kirk Reynoldson
  Kirk Reynoldson
  Kirk Reynoldson is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the St. George Illawarra Dragons of the National Rugby League. He previously played for the Newcastle Knights and the Melbourne Storm. Reynoldson primarily plays in the second row.Midway though 2004 he agreed to a deal with...
  
  
• 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...
  
  
• Billy Slater
  Billy Slater
  Billy Slater is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Melbourne Storm of the National Rugby League . An Australian international and Queensland State of Origin representative fullback, he has played his whole NRL career to date at Melbourne...
  
  
• Cameron Smith
  Cameron Smith
  Cameron Smith is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who currently captains the Melbourne Storm of the National Rugby League...
  
  
• Glen Turner
  Glen Turner
  Glen Turner is a former professional rugby league player who played for the Melbourne Storm and Canberra Raiders. He played as a second row or lock.-Playing career:...
  
  
• Elwyn Walters
  Elwyn Walters
  Elwyn Walters was an Australian rugby league player for the South Sydney Rabbitohs and Eastern Suburbs clubs and for the Australian national side.Walters came to South Sydney in the mid-1960s from the Brisbane Norths club...
  
  
• Steve Walters
  Steve Walters
  Steve Walters is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s and 90s, who at the peak of his career, was considered the best hooker in the game. An Australian Kangaroos and Queensland Maroons representative, he played in the Canberra Raiders' 1st, 2nd and 3rd grand final...
  
  
• Jake Webster
  Jake Webster
  Jake Webster is a New Zealand National rugby league player. He plays the position of Centre and Wing for Hull Kingston Rovers Rugby League Club.-Australia:...
  
  
• Lloyd Weier

Greatest Team

On August 16, 2008 in the year of the Centenary of Rugby League, Norths Devils announced their greatest team ever. The team is made up of players in their entire 75 year tenure.

1. Harry Bates
2. Fonda Metassa
   Fonda Metassa
   Fonda Metassa is an Australian former rugby league footballer. Known as "the Golden Greek", he played in the Brisbane Rugby League premiership for Fortitude Valley and Norths, and in the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership for the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the 1960s.A powerful winger,...
   
   
3. Jack Reardon
   Jack Reardon
   Jack Reardon was an Australian rugby league footballer of the 1930s and 40s who later became a sports journalist. An Australian international and both a New South Wales and Queensland representative centre, he played club football in country New South Wales before moving to Queensland and playing...
   
   
4. Henry Hegarty
5. Joe Kilroy
   Joe Kilroy
   "Smokin" Joe Kilroy is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1980s and 90s. A Queensland State of Origin representative winger/fullback, he played club football in the BRL Premiership with Brothers and Norths and in the NSWRL Premiership with the Brisbane Broncos.Early in his...
   
   
6. Bill Pearson
7. Jack Stapleton
8. Vic Rudd
9. Cameron Smith
   Cameron Smith
   Cameron Smith is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who currently captains the Melbourne Storm of the National Rugby League...
   
   
10. Lloyd Weier
11. Trevor Gillmeister
    Trevor Gillmeister
    Trevor Gillmeister is an Australian former rugby league player who is currently signed on as an assistant coach at the Gold Coast Titans. During his playing days Gillmeister played for the Sydney Roosters, Brisbane Broncos, Penrith Panthers and the South Queensland Crushers as well as...
    
    
12. Mark Graham
    Mark Graham (rugby league)
    Mark Kerry Graham is a New Zealand retired rugby league footballer and coach. A back-rower and former captain of the New Zealand national rugby league team, he has been named as the greatest player the country has produced in the century from 1907 to 2006.-Playing career:An Otahahu junior, Graham...
    
    
13. Edward "Babe" Collins

Reserves:

1. Mark Murray
   Mark Murray (rugby league)
   Mark Murray is an Australian former rugby league footballer and coach. He represented Australia in test matches and Queensland in the State of Origin. His position of choice was halfback...
   
   
2. Greg Inglis
   Greg Inglis
   Greg Inglis is an Australian professional rugby league player for the South Sydney Rabbitohs. A Queensland State of Origin and Australian international representative outside back, Inglis joined the Rabbitohs in 2011 after much controversy.Inglis is a versatile back, having played in several...
   
   
3. Greg Conescu
   Greg Conescu
   Greg "Turtle" Conescu is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s. An Australian international and Queensland State of Origin representative hooker, he played all of his club football in Queensland with Norths Devils Gladstone Brothers, Redcliffe and the Brisbane...
   
   
4. Ian Massie

Coach:

1. Bob Bax

Manager:

1. Albert Bishop