The Jersey Flegg Cup began in 1961 as an under-19 age group competition and was originally played over 9–12 weeks early in the season, alongside the SG Ball Cup and Harold Matthews Cup during the NSWRL's junior representative season. In 1998, with the advent of the National Rugby League (NRL), the competition switched to the current under-20 age limit and was played over a full season, running alongside the senior NRL competition and culminating with the Grand Final held on the same day as the NRL Grand Final.[1]
On 1 February 2018, the NSWRL officially announced the reintroduction of the Jersey Flegg Cup for the 2018 season after a 10-year absence.[3]
Jersey Flegg Cup teams
The Jersey Flegg Cup consists of 10 teams, 11 from New South Wales, 1 each from Auckland, Australian Capital Territory, Victoria and Fiji . In 2019, the Canberra Raiders and South Sydney Rabbitohs returned to the competition after using their New South Wales Cup affiliates in 2018, while the Victoria Thunderbolts joined after spending the last four seasons in QRL-based competitions.[4][5][6] Most of the clubs being colts grade teams to the reserve grade teams of the New South Wales Cup and the senior grade teams of the NRL.
* denotes that the club was formed as a joint-venture of former existing clubs.
^ denotes that previous clubs making up the joint venture had won premierships prior to merging, which are not included in this tally.
Alternate Home Venue/s for Canberra Raiders; Raiders Belconnen, Belmore Sports Ground, McDonalds Park.
Alternate Home Venue/s for Manly Sea Eagles; HE Laybutt Field.
Alternate Home Venue/s for Melbourne Storm; Seabrook Reserve, Gosch's Paddock, Comely Banks Recreation Reserve.
Alternate Home Venue/s for Newcastle Knights; Newcastle Knights Centre of Excellence.
Alternate Home Venue/s for South Sydney Rabbitohs; Accor Stadium.
Alternate Home Venue/s for Sydney Roosters; Wentworth Park.
Season structure
Regular season
The Jersey Flegg Cup follows the same regular season format as the NSW Cup, with games usually played as curtain-raisers to the senior fixtures. Beginning in early March, a round of regular season games is then played almost every weekend for twenty-one weeks, ending in late August. Unlike the NSW Cup, the Jersey Flegg Cup features three full rounds where every team receives a bye. These rounds are scheduled in to accommodate university exam periods.[8]
Teams receive two competition points for a win, and one point for a draw. The bye also receives two points; a loss, no points. Teams on the ladder are ranked by competition points, then match points differential (for and against) and points percentage are used to separate teams with equal competition points. At the end of the regular season, the club which is ranked highest on the ladder is declared minor premiers.
Finals series
The eight highest placed teams at the end of the regular season compete in the finals series. The Jersey Flegg follows the same finals format as the NRL and the NSW Cup. The system consists of a number of games between the top eight teams over four weeks in September, until only two teams remain.
These two teams then contest the Grand Final, which is played in late September at a suburban Sydney stadium (for example, Leichhardt Oval[9]), as a curtain-raiser to the NSW Cup Grand Final.
^"Cricket Ground Early Fixtures". The Rugby League News. 44 (11 (June 8, 1963)). Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League. Retrieved 4 May 2022 – via Trove.
^"Canterbury's Cup". The Rugby League News. 44 (12 (June 15, 1963)). Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League. Retrieved 4 May 2022 – via Trove.
^"Flegg Memorial Cup Final". The Rugby League News. 45 (18 (June 13, 1963)). Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League. Retrieved 4 May 2022 – via Trove.
^"Points Table". The Rugby League News. 47 (24 (July 2, 1966)). Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League. Retrieved 4 May 2022 – via Trove.
^"H. Flegg Memorial Competition". The Rugby League News. 47 (25 (July 9, 1966)). Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League. Retrieved 4 May 2022 – via Trove.
^"Points Table - President Cup". The Rugby League News. 48 (20 (June 3, 1967)). Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League. Retrieved 4 May 2022 – via Trove.
^"H. Flegg Memorial Final". The Rugby League News. 48 (22 (June 10, 1967)). Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League. Retrieved 4 May 2022 – via Trove.
^"Junior Cup Teams in Semi-Finals". The Rugby League News. 49 (23 (June 8, 1968)). Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League. Retrieved 4 May 2022 – via Trove.
^"Junior Replay". The Rugby League News. 49 (25 (June 15, 1968)). Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League. Retrieved 4 May 2022 – via Trove.
^"Souths Tops in Juniors". The Rugby League News. 49 (27 (June 29, 1968)). Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League. Retrieved 4 May 2022 – via Trove.
^"Points Table - President's Cup". The Rugby League News. 50 (20 (June 7, 1969)). Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League. Retrieved 4 May 2022 – via Trove.
^"JUNIOR CUP FINALS". The Rugby League News. 50 (21 (June 14, 1969)). Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League. Retrieved 4 May 2022 – via Trove.
^"Souths Take Junior Cups". The Rugby League News. 50 (22 (June 21, 1969)). Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League. Retrieved 4 May 2022 – via Trove.
^"Junior Cup Semi-Finals". The Rugby League News. 54 (22 (June 9, 1973)). Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League. Retrieved 28 May 2024 – via Trove.
^New South Wales Rugby Football League. "Cup to Balmain". The Rugby League News. 54 (24 (June 23, 1973)). Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League. Retrieved 8 September 2020 – via Trove.
^"Junior Representative Finals". Big League. 59 (13): 39. 17 May 1978.
^"Junior Representative Finals". Big League. 60 (16): 33. 6 June 1979.
^"Junior Representative Finals". Big League. 61 (14): 37. 28 May 1980.
^"Junior Representative Finals". Big League. 62 (15): 42. 3 June 1981.
^"H.G. Flegg Cup Competition". Big League. 63 (10): 40. 28 April 1982.
^"Junior Rep Finals Results". Big League. 63 (12): 38. 12 May 1982.
^"Junior Representative Semi-Final Results". Big League. 64 (12): 19. 11 May 1983.
^"Junior Representative Final Results". Big League. 64 (13): 39. 18 May 1983.
^"Junior Representative Results". Big League. 65 (15): 51. 6 June 1984.
^"Junior Reps. Final Results". Big League. 65 (17): 39. 20 June 1984.
^"Junior Representative Results – Round 5". Big League. 66 (15): 31. 5 June 1985.
^"Penrith Juniors get the call-up". Big League. 66 (17): 34. 19 June 1985.
^"Penrith's Jersey Flegg played brilliant football". Big League. 67 (15): 7. 11 June 1986.
^"Junior Representative Competitions Round Five". Big League. 68 (14): 38. 27 May 1987.
^"Junior League Finals". Big League. 68 (16): 39. 10 June 1987.
^"Junior Rep. Results – Round Seven". Big League. 70 (11): 17. 31 May 1989.
^"Junior Representative Final Results". Big League. 70 (13): 40. 14 June 1989.
^"Representative Results". Big League. 71 (10A): 38. 23 May 1990.
^"Junior Results – Junior Representative Finals". Big League. 71 (11): 33. 6 June 1990.
^"Semi-Final Results". Big League. 72 (10B): 42. 29 May 1991.
^"Grand Final Results". Big League. 72 (11): 47. 5 June 1991.
^"Manly's Strong Hand". Big League. 73: 42. 20 May 1992.
^"Bear cubs won't stray far from Norths' den". Daily Telegraph. News Limited. 5 September 1998. p. 149.
^Mascord, Steven (27 September 1999). "Moore success as young Bulldogs win the day against gallant Knights". Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax. p. 32.
^Keeble, Brett (27 September 1999). "No luck for Knights - More finals heartbreak for Burraston's brave boys". Newcastle Herald. Fairfax. p. 30.
^Mascord, Steven (28 August 2000). "Two up for Moore's pups but O'Hara breaks leash - Jersey Flegg Grand Final". Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax. p. 28.
^"Dogs double - home for two - premierships". Canterbury-Bankstown Express. 31 August 2000. p. 36.
^Geddes, Jon (1 October 2001). "Bulldogs give Stuart a going-away present - The Decider". Daily Telegraph. News Limited. p. 36.
^Walter, Brad (1 October 2001). "Stuart has his day with the Dogs - Jersey Flegg Grand Final". Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax. p. 29.
^Lenehan, Martin (10 October 2002). "Young Chooks' perfect Pay-day". Rugby League Week.
^"Lamb flies in Flegg". Daily Telegraph. News Limited. 20 May 2003. p. 38.
^"Monday Scoreboard - Part 2 - Netball-Water Polo". Daily Telegraph. News Limited. 19 May 2003. p. 48.
^"Steelers face tough contest at Cronulla". Illawarra Mercury. Fairfax. 29 April 2003. p. 53.
^Marshall, Matt (6 October 2004). "Roosters rejoice in the power of one". Rugby League Week.
^Marshall, Matt (5 October 2005). "Nerves of Steel". Rugby League Week.
^Logue, Matt (4 October 2006). "Plucky Panthers give sacked coach Kenny an unforgettable send-off". Rugby League Week.
^Ramus, Daniel (3 October 2007). "Schoolies Week". Rugby League Week.