Cyril Connell Challenge Explained

Cyril Connell Challenge
Founded:2009
Inaugural:2009
Folded:2017
Reinstated:2021
Ceotag:CEO
Teams:16
Most Champs: Norths Devils
Count:3
Website:www.QRL.com.au
Related Comps:Harold Matthews Cup

The Cyril Connell Challenge is an under-16 competition administered by the Queensland Rugby League. First run in 2021, the competition replaced the QRL Junior State Championships, which ran from 2017 to 2020. The 2020 competition was ultimately cancelled in the wake of the COVID pandemic before the tournament re-commenced in a round robin format for the 2021 season. Originally known as The Cyril Connell Cup the competition, which began in 2009, included the junior representative teams of Queensland Cup clubs. The competition also featured teams from Victoria and the Northern Territory. In the 2016 season, the Cyril Connell Cup consisted of sixteen clubs: fifteen based within Queensland and one in Victoria. Eleven of the sixteen clubs were junior representative teams for Queensland Cup clubs. From 2011 to 2016, the winners of the Grand Final played the winners of the New South Wales’ under-16 competition, the Harold Matthews Cup, in the National Final.

The Cyril Connell Cup/Challenge was named after Cyril Connell Jr., who played 24 games for Queensland and 2 Tests for Australia between 1952 and 1957.

Teams

In 2021 The Cyril Connell Challenge comprised 15 teams from across the state split into 3 pools. Thirteen of the fifteen clubs were junior representative teams for Queensland Cup clubs. Tweed Heads Seagulls and Redcliffe Dolphins finished equal top of the ladder after going undefeated during their campaigns. Redcliffe would remain undefeated, topping the table in both the 2022 and 2023 editions of the tournament.

Clubs

Mal Meninga Cup
ClubSeasonsCityStadiumPremierships (Last)
Central Crowsalign=center 2011–2016Bundaberg, QueenslandAcross the Waves Sportsgroundalign=center 0
Central Queensland Caprasalign=center 2009–2016Rockhampton, QueenslandBrowne Parkalign=center 0
Easts Tigersalign=center 2009–2016Brisbane, QueenslandSuzuki Stadiumalign=center 0
Gold Coast Bluealign=center 2010Gold Coast, QueenslandMerv Craig Sporting Complexalign=center 0
Gold Coast Goldalign=center 2011–2012Gold Coast, QueenslandPizzey Parkalign=center 0
Gold Coast Greenalign=center 2010–2016Gold Coast, QueenslandPizzey Parkalign=center 0
Gold Coast Vikingsalign=center 2009Gold Coast, QueenslandPizzey Parkalign=center 0
Gold Coast Whitealign=center 2013–2016Gold Coast, QueenslandPizzey Parkalign=center 0
Ipswich Jetsalign=center 2009–2016Ipswich, QueenslandNorth Ipswich Reservealign=center 0
Mackay Cuttersalign=center 2009–2016Mackay, QueenslandBB Print Stadium Mackayalign=center 0
Northern Pridealign=center 2009–2016Cairns, QueenslandBarlow Parkalign=center 1 (2014)
Northern Territory Rugby Leaguealign=center 2009–2010Darwin, Northern TerritoryRichardson Parkalign=center 1 (2011)
Norths Devilsalign=center 2009–2016Brisbane, QueenslandBishop Parkalign=center 3 (2013)
Redcliffe Dolphinsalign=center 2009–2016Redcliffe, Queenslandalign=center 0
Souths Logan Magpies align=center 2009–2016Brisbane, Queenslandalign=center 1 (2012)
Sunshine Coast Falconsalign=center 2009–2016align=center 0
Toowoomba Clydesdalesalign=center 2009–2016Toowoomba, QueenslandGold Parkalign=center 0
Townsville Blackhawksalign=center 2009–2016Townsville, QueenslandJack Manski Ovalalign=center 2 (2016)
Victoria Rugby League align=center 2015–2016Melbourne, VictoriaCasey Fieldsalign=center 0
Wests Panthersalign=center 2011–2012Brisbane, QueenslandPurtell Parkalign=center 0
Wide Bay Bullsalign=center 2009Bundaberg, Queensland-align=center 0
Wynnum Manly Seagulls align=center 2009–2016Brisbane, QueenslandBMD Kougari Ovalalign=center 0
  • Central Crows played as Central United from 2011 to 2013.
  • CQ Capras played as Central Comets from 2009 to 2011.
  • Townsville Blackhawks played as Townsville Stingers from 2009 to 2015.
  • Western Mustangs played as Toowoomba Clydesdales from 2009 to 2016.

Grand Final results

SeasonGrand Finals
PremiersScoreRunners-upVenue
2009 Norths Devils42–30 Townsville StingersBishop Park
2010 Norths Devils26–24 Gold Coast BlueLanglands Park
2011 Easts Tigers28–10 Central CometsLanglands Park
2012 Souths Logan Magpies10–6 Townsville StingersBMD Kougari Oval
2013 Norths Devils44–6 Easts TigersLanglands Park
2014 Northern Pride14–12 Townsville StingersBarlow Park
2015 Townsville Stingers31–30 Sunshine Coast FalconsTapout Energy Stadium
2016 Townsville Blackhawks20–18 Souths Logan MagpiesSuzuki Stadium

See also

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Cyril Connell Challenge".

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