List of rugby league competitions in Australia

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

National

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

New South Wales

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

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

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

New South Wales & Queensland

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

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

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

References