List of rugby league competitions in Australia explained

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

NameLocationTeamsFoundedWinnerScoreRunners-up
National Rugby LeagueAustralia, New Zealand171998 Penrith Panthers28-12 Parramatta Eels
NRL State ChampionshipAustralia22014 Penrith Panthers44-10 Norths Devils
NRL Women's PremiershipAustralia102018 Newcastle Knights32-12 Parramatta Eels
Updated 2022

Men's Competitions

New South Wales

NameLocationFoundedTeamsWinnerScoreRunners-up
Knock-On Effect NSW CupNSW & ACT190812 Newtown Jets20-15 Wentworthville Magpies
City (NSWRL)
Ron Massey CupSydney200310 Wentworthville Magpies38-4 St Mary's Saints
Sydney ShieldSydney201212 East Campbelltown Eagles32-22 Guildford Owls
Sydney Combined - Northern Open AgeNorthern Beaches?6 Narrabeen Sharks26-6 Berowra Wallabies
Sydney Combined - South Eastern Open Age GoldSutherland19645 De La Salle Caringbah20-8 Engadine Dragons
South Sydney District A GradeInner-City19087 Redfern All Blacks28-12 Mascot Jets
Penrith & District A GradeWestern Sydney19128 Windsor Wolves28-4 Glenmore Park Brumbies
Parramatta District A-GradeWestern Sydney19486 St Johns Eagles34-24 Wentworthville Magpies
Country (CRL)
Northern Rivers Rugby LeagueNorthern Rivers2005111 Cudgen Hornets18-4 Ballina Seagulls
Group 2 Rugby LeagueMid North Coast19669 Woolgoolga Seahorses26-10 South Grafton Rebels
Group 3 Rugby LeagueMid North Coast194628 Old Bar Pirates22-10 Port Maquarie Sharks
Group 4 Rugby LeagueNew England19136 North Tamworth Bears26-16 Moree Boars
Group 19 Rugby LeagueNew England198039 Narwan Eels34-22 Inverell Hawks
Group 21 Rugby LeagueHunter19556 Scone Thoroughbreds30-28 Greta Branxton Colts
Canberra Raiders CupACT & surroundings199849 Queanbeyan Roos34-14 Tuggeranong Bushrangers
George Tooke ShieldACT & surroundings19959 Boorowa Rovers22-8 Crookwell Green Devils
Group 9 Rugby LeagueWagga & districts192311 Tumut Blues23-18 Wagga Wagga Kangaroos
Group 20 Rugby LeagueGriffith & districts19549 Leeton Greenies28-24 Darlington Point-Coleambally Roosters
Peter McDonald Premiership (10/11)Central West202212 Dubbo CYMS25-12 Mudgee Dragons
Castlereagh CupCentral West20018 Gulgong Terriers10-6 Cobar Roosters
Woodbridge CupCentral West19919 Manildra Rhinos18-16 Trundle Boomers
Outback Rugby LeagueBroken Hill & districts19806 Wilcannia Boomerangs23-22 Menindee Yabbies
Illawarra Rugby LeagueIllawarra19117 Thirroul Butchers24-18 Collegians
Group 6 Rugby LeagueSouthern Highlands & Macarthur191458 Thirlmere-Tahmoor Roosters28-26 Camden Rams
Group 7 Rugby LeagueSouth Coast1914611 Gerringong Lions32-22 Shellharbour Sharks
Group 16 Rugby LeagueFar South Coast19468 Merimbula-Pambula Bulldogs38-18 Eden Tigers
Newcastle & Hunter Rugby LeagueNewcastle & Hunter201038 Dora Creek Swampies20-14 Waratah Mayfield Cheetahs
Tooheys Newcastle CupNewcastle19108 Maitland Pumpkin Pickers46-10 South Newcastle
Central Coast Rugby LeagueCentral Coast, New South Wales194710 Toukley Hawks8-6 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

NameLocationTeamsFoundedWinnerScoreRunners-up
Hostplus CupQueensland & PNG141996 Redcliffe Dolphins36-22 Easts Tigers
South East Region
Brisbane A-Grade Rugby LeagueBrisbane & Districts62014 Bayside Seagulls28-20 Redcliffe Dolphins
Gold Coast A-GradeGold Coast & Districts8199636-10 Tweed Heads Seagulls
Ipswich A-GradeIpswich & Districts61992 Fassifern Bombers32-10 Norths Tigers
Northern Region
Cairns District Rugby LeagueCairns & Districts111918 Mossman Port Douglas Sharks36-12 Tully Tigers
Mackay & District Rugby LeagueMackay & Districts81919 Wests Tigers42-18 Mackay Brothers
Mount Isa Rugby LeagueMount Isa31953 Town Lions26-20 Wanderers
Townsville District Rugby LeagueGulf Country71978 Centrals Tigers46-22 Townsville Brothers
Remote Areas Rugby League
Central Region
Central Burnett Rugby League31921 Gayndah Gladiators 38-34 Mundubbera Tigers
Central Highlands Rugby LeagueCentral Highlands81983 Blackwater Crushers24-16 Bluff Rabbitohs
Central West Rugby LeagueCentral West51900s Barcaldine Sandgoannas14-10 Blackall Magpies
Gladstone District Rugby LeagueGladstone51918 Valleys14-10 Wallabys
Northern Districts Rugby LeagueWide Bay61900s Miriam Vale Magpies34-24 South Kolan Sharks
Rockhampton District Rugby LeagueRockhampton61918 Yeppoon Seagulls26-16 Rockhampton Brothers
Roma District Rugby LeagueRoma & Districts71914 Chinchilla Bulldogs 28-14 Wallumbilla-Surat Red Bulls
Toowoomba Rugby LeagueToowoomba111919 Toowoomba Valleys Roosters24-22 Wattles Warriors
Bundaberg Rugby LeagueBundaberg & Districts61913 Waves Tigers23-20 Wallaroos
South Burnett Rugby LeagueSouth Burnett51923 Nanango Stags48-0 Kingaroy Red Ants
Sunshine Coast-Gympie Rugby LeagueSunshine Coast & Gympie81919 Maroochydore Swans22-20 Beerwah Bulldogs
Updated 2018

Other States

NameLocationTeamsFoundedWinnerScoreRunners-up
Western Australia (NRL WA)
Smarter Than Smoking PremiershipPerth61948 North Beach Sea Eagles26-24 South Perth Lions
Pilbara Rugby LeaguePilbara52000s
Northern Territory (NRL NT)
Quitline A Grade Premiership61950 Northern Sharks RLFC14-8 Palmerston Raiders
Central Australian Rugby Football LeagueAlice Springs41963 Wests Dragons30-38 Alice Springs Brothers
South Australia (NRL SA)
NRL SA Metro First GradeAdelaide51976 Eastern Eels26-22 Central Districts Roosters
Limestone Coast Rugby LeagueMount Gambier5 Gunditjmara Bulls22-8 Stawell Mounties
Victoria (NRL Victoria)
Storm PremiershipMelbourne61952 Truganina Rabbitohs52-16 Altona Roosters
Murray CupWodonga81998 Wodonga Wombats40-4 Bonegilla Gorillas
Updated 2022

Women's Competitions

New South Wales & Queensland

NameLocationTeamsFoundedWinnerScoreRunners-up
New South Wales (NSWWRL)
NSWRL Women's PremiershipStatewide92005 Mount Pritchard Mounties12-10 South Sydney Rabbitohs
Tarsha Gale Cup (U/18s)Statewide102017 Illawarra Steelers24-12 Newcastle Knights
Country (CRL)
Northern Rivers Rugby LeagueNorthern Rivers112005 Marist Brothers Rams14-6 Byron Bay Red Devils
Group 2 Rugby LeagueMid North Coast8? South Grafton Rebels8-4 Sawtell Panthers
Group 3 Rugby LeagueMid North Coast81946 Port City Breakers22-10 Port Maquarie Sharks
Group 4 Rugby LeagueWest New England11? Kootingal-Moonbi Roosters12-11 North Tamworth Bears
Group 19 Rugby LeagueNew England71980 Inverell Hawks18-4 Glen Innes Magpies
Group 21 Rugby LeagueHunter81955 Scone Thoroughbreds38-4 Muswellbrook Rams
Katrina Fanning ShieldACT & surroundings82017 Goulburn Workers Bulldogs20-8 Yass Magpies
Group 9 Rugby LeagueWagga & districts101923 Wagga Wagga Brothers18-0 Albury Thunder
Group 20 Rugby LeagueGriffith & districts9? Griffith Black & White Panthers36-18 Hay Magpies
Group 10 Rugby LeagueCentral West91958 Bathurst Saint Patricks16-6 Orange Hawks
Group 11 Rugby LeagueDubbo81946 Parkes Spacecats22-10 Dubbo Westside
Castlereagh CupCentral West92001 Baradine Magpies6-0 Coonamble Bears
Woodbridge CupCentral West91991 Cargo Blue Heelers20-18 Eugowra Golden Eagles
Barwon Darling?6? Walgett Dragons4-0 Brewarrina Golden Googettes
Illawarra Rugby LeagueIllawarra7? Corrimal Cougars28-0 Helensburgh Tigers
Group 6 Rugby LeagueSouthern Highlands & Macarthur111914 City Kangaroos Blue18-16 Narellan Jets
Group 7 Rugby LeagueSouth Coast71914 Kiama Knights20-18 Jambaroo Superoos
Group 16 Rugby LeagueFar South Coast81946 Eden Tigerettes Tigers18-0 Bombala High Heelers
Newcastle & Hunter Rugby LeagueHunter7? Aberglasslyn Ants18-4 University of Newcastle Seahorses
Queensland (QWRL)
Brisbane and District Women's Rugby LeagueBrisbane2004 Burleigh Bears14-0 West Brisbane Panthers

Other States

NameLocationFoundedTeamsWinnerScoreRunners-up
Western Australia (WARL)
All Flags Signs & Banners Women's Rugby LeaguePerth?4 Ellenbrook Rabbitohs20-16 Joondalup Giants
South Australia (SARL)
NRL South Australia Women'sAdelaide20233
Northern Territory (NTRL)
Women's PremiershipDarwin & Katherine19505 Nightcliff Dragons18-12 Northern Sharks
Victoria (VRL)
NRL VIC Women's First GradeMelbourne?6 Werribee Bears14-12 Truganina Rabbitohs
Updated 2018

Youth competitions

NameLocationTeamsFoundedWinnerScoreRunners-up
Holden Cup U20sAustralia, New Zealand162008 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles20-181 Parramatta Eels
Under 18 National FinalAustralia22011 Penrith Panthers (NSWRL)38-32 Souths Logan Magpies (QLD)
Under 16 National FinalAustralia22011 Parramatta Eels32-02 Townsville Blackhawks
GIO Schoolboy CupAustralia1975 Palm Beach Currumbin SHS20-12 Patrician Brothers' College Blacktown
New South Wales (NSWRL)
Jersey Flegg Cup (U/20s)Statewide, VIC & WA121961 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks22-12 Penrith Panthers
SG Ball Cup (U/18s)Statewide, VIC & WA171965 Illawarra Steelers34-23 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
Harold Matthews Cup (U/16s)Statewide151970 Newcastle Knights28-8 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Under 16 NSW State FinalAustralia22018 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles (NSWRL)32-12 Western Rams (CRL)
Queensland (QRL)
Hastings Deering Colts (U/20s)Statewide, NSW152018 Norths Devils20-16 Townsville Blackhawks
Mal Meninga Cup (U/18s)Statewide, NSW162009 Souths Logan Magpies18-16 Norths Devils
Cyril Connell Cup (U/16s)Statewide & NT152009 Townsville Blackhawks20-183 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

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "List of rugby league competitions in Australia".

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