NRL Schoolboy Cup explained
The NRL Schoolboy Cup is the premier secondary schools rugby league competition in Australia, held annually since 1975. Formerly known under such names as the Amco Shield, Commonwealth Bank Cup, Arrive Alive Cup and GIO Schoolboy Cup nearly 450 schools from throughout Australia compete in the knock-out competition.[1]
The player of the tournament is awarded the Peter Sterling Medal, renamed in 1996 after Peter Sterling, who won the medal in 1978. The competition is televised on Fox Sports.
The most successful school is St Gregory's College, Campbelltown, with nine titles, followed by Patrician Brothers' College, Fairfield with six. The most recent champions are Westfields Sports High School, who won their second title in 2023.
History
The competition was founded in 1975 as the Amco Shield. The inaugural winners were Patrician Brothers' College, Fairfield who defeated Blacktown High School in the final, 16–8. The match was played at Leichhardt Oval as a curtain raiser to the 1975 Amco Cup final between Eastern Suburbs and Parramatta.[2]
Originally, the televised matches of the competition were played and recorded as the curtain raisers to mid week Amco Cup games. After the midweek competitions died out, the televised matches were played prior to Friday Night Football and were shown on Channel 9 in the weeks leading up to the NRL Grand Final. The games are currently played and recorded midweek and shown on Fox Sports, with commentary by Andrew Voss.
In 1978, Padua College, Brisbane were the first Queensland school and first school from outside of New South Wales to make the final. They lost 19–3 to Patrician Brothers' College, Fairfield.
In 1980, St Gregory's College, Campbelltown became the first school to win back-to-back titles. They later became the first school to win three titles in a row from 1989 to 1991.
In 1982 Holy Cross College, Ryde became the first school to play in four consecutive finals from 1979. They lost three of their four finals, with their only victory coming against Patrician Brothers' College, Fairfield in 1981.
In 1996, Erindale College, Canberra became the first school from the Australian Capital Territory to reach the final. A year later they became the first school from outside of New South Wales to win the competition. They won the competition again in 1998, beating Parramatta Marist High School in both years.
In 2001, Palm Beach Currumbin State High School became the first Queensland school to win the competition. Brisbane's Wavell State High School became the second a year later in 2002.
Endeavour Sports High School won the competition three years in a row from 2004 to 2006, becoming the first school to do so since 1991.
In 2015, Townsville's Kirwan State High School became the first school from North Queensland to win the competition, defeating Patrician Brothers' College, Blacktown, who were in their fourth straight final, losing the last three in a row.
In 2016, Westfields Sports High School won the competition for the first time.
In 2017, Keebra Park State High School became first Queensland school to win the competition three times, becoming the most successful school in the state. A year later, Palm Beach Currumbin won their third title, drawing level with Keebra Park. In 2019, Kirwan State High School won the competition for the second time, making it three straight years a Queensland school has won.
In 2020 and 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, no national finals were held for the first time in the competition's history.[3]
In 2022, after a three year absence, the national final returned, with Ipswich State High School defeating Patrician Brothers' College, Fairfield to win their first title.[4]
Naming rights
Due to sponsorship, the Schoolboy Cup has gone under many different names since first being held in 1975. Originally known as the Amco Shield, it has been known as the NRL Schoolboy Cup since 2018.
Format
The competition is divided into two conferences. The Northern Conference, comprising schools from Queensland, is further divided into smaller competitions: the Aaron Payne Cup, the Allan Langer Trophy, and the Dolphin Cup. The winners of these cups compete against each other, with the victor being crowned the Queensland Schoolboy Cup Champion. The Southern Conference, known as the Peter Mulholland Cup, includes schools from New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory and Victoria. The winners of the Queensland Schoolboy Trophy and the Peter Mulholland Cup then face off in the National Schoolboy Final, with the winner being crowned the National Schoolboy Champion.
| + Champions by each Season |
| Season | Champions | Score | Runners-up |
|---|
| 1975 | Patrician Brothers' College, Fairfield | 16–8 | Blacktown Boys High School |
| 1976 | Blacktown Boys High School | 16–7 | Ashcroft High School |
| 1977 | Ashcroft High School | 16–3 | Parramatta Marist High School |
| 1978 | Patrician Brothers' College, Fairfield | 19–3 | |
| 1979 | | 16–14 | Holy Cross College, Ryde |
| 1980 | | 11–9 | Holy Cross College, Ryde |
| 1981 | Holy Cross College, Ryde | 15–11 | Patrician Brothers' College, Fairfield |
| 1982 | Patrician Brothers' College, Fairfield | 18–15 | Holy Cross College, Ryde |
| 1983 | Patrician Brothers' College, Fairfield | 14–2 | |
| 1984 | | 16–10 | Christian Brothers' High School, Lewisham |
| 1985 | Ashcroft High School | 13–6 | Patrician Brothers' College, Fairfield |
| 1986 | | 26–0 | Christian Brothers' High School, Lewisham |
| 1987 | Patrician Brothers' College, Fairfield | 21–0 | Keebra Park State High School |
| 1988 | Parramatta Marist High School | 14–6 | Holy Cross College, Ryde |
| 1989 | | 12–10 | Holy Cross College, Ryde |
| 1990 | | 18–4 | St John's College, Woodlawn |
| 1991 | | 28–12 | Patrician Brothers' College, Fairfield |
| 1992 | Patrician Brothers' College, Fairfield | 17–16 | Harristown State High School |
| 1993 | | 27–6 | Wavell State High School |
| 1994 | John Paul II Senior High School, Marayong | 34–4 | Eagle Vale High School |
| 1995 | Parramatta Marist High School | 24–0 | McCarthy Catholic Senior High School |
| 1996 | John Paul II Senior High School, Marayong | 12–6 | Erindale College, Canberra |
| 1997 | Erindale College, Canberra | 26–12 | Parramatta Marist High School |
| 1998 | Erindale College, Canberra | 27–14 | Parramatta Marist High School |
| 1999 | Terra Sancta College | 16–14 | Palm Beach Currumbin State High School |
| 2000 | | 16–0 | St Francis Xavier's College, Hamilton |
| 2001 | Palm Beach Currumbin State High School | 16–4 | |
| 2002 | Wavell State High School | 22–20 | Terra Sancta College |
| 2003 | St Dominic's College, Penrith | 28–0 | Endeavour Sports High School |
| 2004 | Endeavour Sports High School | 16–7 | Patrician Brothers' College Blacktown |
| 2005 | Endeavour Sports High School | 20–10 | Keebra Park State High School |
| 2006 | Endeavour Sports High School | 16–7 | Keebra Park State High School |
| 2007 | Matraville Sports High School | 32–10 | Patrician Brothers' College Blacktown |
| 2008 | Palm Beach Currumbin State High School | 24–22 | Matraville Sports High School |
| 2009 | Keebra Park State High School | 18–12 | Matraville Sports High School |
| 2010 | The Hills Sports High School | 18–14 | Keebra Park State High School |
| 2011 | The Hills Sports High School | 22–20 | Matraville Sports High School |
| 2012 | Patrician Brothers' College Blacktown | 32–6 | Endeavour Sports High School |
| 2013 | Keebra Park State High School | 28–4 | Patrician Brothers' College Blacktown |
| 2014 | Endeavour Sports High School | 22–12 | Patrician Brothers' College Blacktown |
| 2015 | Kirwan State High School | 28–10 | Patrician Brothers' College Blacktown |
| 2016 | | 26–24 | Keebra Park State High School |
| 2017 | Keebra Park State High School | 25–12 | |
| 2018 | Palm Beach Currumbin State High School | 20–12 | Patrician Brothers' College Blacktown |
| 2019 | Kirwan State High School | 16–10 | |
| 2022 | Ipswich State High School | 32–6 | Patrician Brothers' College, Fairfield |
| 2023 | Westfields Sports High School | 38–4 | Palm Beach Currumbin State High School |
|
Titles
| No. | School | Location | Titles | Runners-up |
|---|
| 1 | St Gregory's College | Gregory Hills, New South Wales | 1979, 1980, 1984, 1986, 1989,
1990, 1991, 1993, 2000 (9) | 1983, 2001 (2) |
| 2 | Patrician Brothers' College (Fairfield) | Fairfield, New South Wales | 1975, 1978, 1982, 1983, 1987,
1992 (6) | 1981, 1985, 1991, 2022 (4) |
| 3 | Endeavour Sports High School | Caringbah, New South Wales | 2004, 2005, 2006, 2014 (4) | 2003, 2012 (2) |
| align=center rowspan=2 | 4 | Keebra Park State High School | Southport, Queensland | 2009, 2013, 2017 (3) | 1987, 2005, 2006, 2010, 2016 (5) |
| Palm Beach Currumbin State High School | Currumbin, Queensland | 2001, 2008, 2018 (3) | 1999, 2023 (2) |
| align=center rowspan=7 | 5 | Parramatta Marist High School | Westmead, New South Wales | 1988, 1995 (2) | 1977, 1997, 1998 (3) |
| Ashcroft High School | Ashcroft, New South Wales | 1977, 1985 (2) | 1976 (1) |
| Erindale College | Wanniassa, Australian Capital Territory | 1997, 1998 (2) | 1996 (1) |
| Kirwan State High School | Kirwan, Queensland | 2015, 2019 (2) | — |
| St Andrews College | Marayong, New South Wales | 1994, 1996 (2) | — |
| The Hills Sports High School | Seven Hills, New South Wales | 2010, 2011 (2) | — |
| Westfields Sports High School | Fairfield West, New South Wales | 2016, 2023 (2) | 2017, 2019 (2) |
| align=center rowspan=9 | 12 | Patrician Brothers' College (Blacktown) | Blacktown, New South Wales | 2012 (1) | 2004, 2007, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2018 (6) |
| Holy Cross College | Ryde, New South Wales | 1981 (1) | 1979, 1980, 1982, 1988, 1989 (5) |
| Matraville Sports High School | Chifley, New South Wales | 2007 (1) | 2008, 2009, 2011 (3) |
| St John Paul II Catholic College | Nirimba Fields, New South Wales | 1999 (1) | 2002 (1) |
| Blacktown Boys High School | Blacktown, New South Wales | 1976 (1) | 1975 (1) |
| Wavell State High School | Wavell Heights, Queensland | 2002 (1) | 1993 (1) |
| Ipswich State High School | Brassall, Queensland | 2022 (1) | — |
| St Dominic's College | Penrith, New South Wales | 2003 (1) | — |
|
Peter Sterling Medal
The Peter Sterling Medal is awarded to the most outstanding player in the competition. Sterling, one of rugby league's most decorated players, won the award in 1978 while attending Patrician Brothers' College, Fairfield. In 1996, the medal was renamed in his honour.
| Season | Player | School |
|---|
| 1976 | Steve White | Blacktown Boys High School |
| 1977 | Alan Emery | Ashcroft High School |
| 1978 | | Patrician Brothers' College, Fairfield |
| 1979 | Ivan Henjak | |
| 1980 | Ben Elias | Holy Cross College, Ryde |
| 1981 | Ben Elias | Holy Cross College, Ryde |
| 1982 | Paul Langmack | Patrician Brothers' College, Fairfield |
| 1983 | Greg Alexander | Patrician Brothers' College, Fairfield |
| 1984 | | Christian Brothers' High School, Lewisham |
| 1985 | David Rowles | Ashcroft High School |
| 1986 | Damien Kenniff | |
| 1987 | David Danes | Patrician Brothers' College, Fairfield |
| 1988 | David Bayssari | Parramatta Marist High School |
| 1989 | Jason Taylor | |
| 1990 | Troy Dicinoski | St John's College, Woodlawn |
| 1991 | Damien Chapman | |
| 1992 | Andrew Dunemann | Harristown State High School |
| 1993 | Kris Flint | |
| 1994 | Michael Withers | John Paul II Senior High School, Marayong |
| 1995 | Nathan Cayless | Parramatta Marist High School |
| 1996 | Chris Smith | John Paul II Senior High School, Marayong |
| 1997 | Greg Keary | Parramatta Marist High School |
| 1998 | Peter Rose | Erindale College |
| 1999 | Christian Orsini | Terra Sancta College |
| 2000 | Riley Mullins | |
| 2001 | Mat Brown | Palm Beach Currumbin State High School |
| 2002 | Aaron Lewis | Wavell State High School |
| 2003 | Michael Carl | St Dominic's College, Penrith |
| 2004 | Beau Champion | Endeavour Sports High School |
| 2005 | Ben Te'o | Keebra Park State High School |
| 2006 | Matthew Mundine | Endeavour Sports High School |
| 2007 | Adam Reynolds | Matraville Sports High School |
| 2008 | Ryan James | Palm Beach Currumbin State High School |
| 2009 | Jordan Kahu | Keebra Park State High School |
| 2010 | Gerard McCallum | The Hills Sports High School |
| 2011 | Kem Seru | Matraville Sports High School |
| 2012 | Jaden Clarke | Endeavour Sports High School |
| 2013 | Marion Seve | Keebra Park State High School |
| 2014 | Joey Tramontana | Patrician Brothers' College Blacktown |
| 2015 | Julian Christian | Kirwan State High School |
| 2016 | Payne Haas | Keebra Park State High School |
| 2017 | David Fifita | Keebra Park State High School |
| 2018 | Tom Dearden | Palm Beach Currumbin State High School |
| 2019 | Adrian Trevilyan | Kirwan State High School |
| 2022 | Gabriel Satrick | Ipswich State High School |
| 2023 | Lachlan Galvin | Westfields Sports High School | |
See also
External links
Notes and References
- Web site: 2010 ARL Schoolboy Cup . 25 May 2010 . . 15 August 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110727130613/http://www.nswrl.com.au/default.aspx?s=article-display&id=26021 . 27 July 2011 .
- Web site: Celebrating 40 years of Schoolboy Rugby League. 17 September 2015.
- Web site: Patrician Brothers Blacktown defeat Westfields Sports High. 11 November 2020. The Daily Telegraph.
- Web site: Watch Ipswich v Patrician Brothers in interstate derby. 14 September 2022. The Courier-Mail.
- https://web.archive.org/web/20190324155145/https://www.suncorpgroup.com.au/news/news/gio-becomes-a-proud-sponsor-of-nsw-rugby-league GIO becomes a proud sponsor of NSW Rugby League
