S. G. Ball Cup

The S. G. Ball Cup is a junior rugby league football competition played predominantly in New South Wales, between teams made up of male players aged under 19. Teams from Canberra and Melbourne, and Auckland (New Zealand Warriors) also participate. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic in New South Wales a team from Perth (West Coast Pirates) also participated. The competition is administered by the New South Wales Rugby League. The competition includes both junior representative teams of NRL and NSW Cup clubs that do not field a team in the NRL competition.

S. G. Ball Cup

Current season or competition: [[2024 S.G. Ball Cup]]
Sport	Rugby league
Instituted	1965
Inaugural season	1965
Number of teams	15
Country	Australia
Premiers	St George Dragons (4th title) (2024)
Most titles	Parramatta Eels (14 titles)
Website	S. G. Ball Cup
Related competition	Harold Matthews Cup Laurie Daley Cup Mal Meninga Cup

The S. G. Ball Cup is named after S. G. "George" Ball, one of the five people responsible for the formation of the South Sydney Rabbitohs, and who was club secretary for over fifty years.

Clubs

In 2023, 16 clubs fielded teams in the NSWRL S G Ball Cup.

• Balmain Tigers
• Canberra Raiders
• Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
• Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
• Illawarra Steelers
• Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
• Newcastle Knights
• New Zealand Warriors
• North Sydney Bears
• Parramatta Eels
• Penrith Panthers
• South Sydney Rabbitohs
• St George Dragons
• Sydney Roosters
• Melbourne Storm
• Western Suburbs Magpies

In 2020, 18 clubs fielded teams in the NSWRL S G Ball Cup. After the sixth round on March 14 & 15, the 2020 competition was suspended and subsequently cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia.^[1] Three teams from 2020 that did not return in 2021 were:

• Central Coast Roosters
• West Coast Pirates
• The third team, New Zealand Warriors, returned to the competition in 2023.

Previous teams that participated in the SG Ball Cup include: Gold Coast Titans (2008–09), Newtown Jets (1970s, early 1980s & 2009), Western Sydney Academy of Sport (2007–17).

Melbourne Storm competed in the S.G. Ball Cup from 2009 to 2014, did not compete from 2015 to 2018, and competed as the Victoria Thunderbolts from 2020 to 2022. The club returned as the Melbourne Storm from the 2023 season.

S. G. Ball Cup Premiers

1965 to Current

Year	Premiers	Score	Runners Up	Minor Premiers	Wooden Spoon	Notes
1965	South Sydney Rabbitohs	5 – 4	Canterbury Bulldogs	Not applicable – Knock-Out Competition
1966	Parramatta Eels	12 – 0	South Sydney Rabbitohs	Parramatta Eels	North Sydney Bears
1967	Parramatta Eels	7 – 2	South Sydney Rabbitohs	Canterbury Bulldogs	Newtown Jets
1968	Parramatta Eels	7 – 4	South Sydney Rabbitohs	Parramatta Eels	North Sydney Bears	[2]
1969	South Sydney Rabbitohs	13 – 3	Penrith Panthers	South Sydney Rabbitohs	Newtown Jets	[3]
1970	St George Dragons	12 – 10	Parramatta Eels	South Sydney Rabbitohs	Eastern Suburbs Roosters	[4]
1971	Western Suburbs Magpies	7 – 3	South Sydney Rabbitohs	South Sydney Rabbitohs	Newtown Jets	[5]
1972	Canterbury Bulldogs	13 – 8	Parramatta Eels	Parramatta Eels	North Sydney Bears	[6]
1973	Parramatta Eels	19 – 10	Penrith Panthers	Penrith Panthers	North Sydney Bears	[7]
1974	South Sydney Rabbitohs	12 – 8	Balmain Tigers	Balmain Tigers	North Sydney Bears
1975	South Sydney Rabbitohs	13 – 2	St George Dragons	Parramatta Eels	Newtown Jets
1976	South Sydney Rabbitohs	28 – 3	Western Suburbs Magpies	South Sydney Rabbitohs	North Sydney Bears
1977	Penrith Panthers	00 – 00	Parramatta Eels
1978	Canterbury Bulldogs	14 – 0	Penrith Panthers	12 teams split into 2 zones of 6 teams. Semi-Finals were Zone 1 1st-place vs Zone 2 2nd-place, and Zone 2 1st-place vs Zone 1 2nd-place.		[8]
1979	South Sydney Rabbitohs	8 – 0	Balmain Tigers			[9]
1980	South Sydney Rabbitohs	23 – 10	Balmain Tigers			[10]
1981	Penrith Panthers	18 – 9	Balmain Tigers			[11]
1982	Balmain Tigers	25 – 16	Newtown Jets	Cronulla Sharks	Eastern Suburbs Roosters	[12][13]
1983	Parramatta Eels	30 – 0	Western Suburbs Magpies	Western Suburbs Magpies	Newtown Jets
1984	St George Dragons	18 – 16	Parramatta Eels	Parramatta Eels	Western Suburbs Magpies	[14]
1985	Parramatta Eels	32 – 12	St George Dragons	Canterbury Bulldogs	Western Suburbs Magpies
1986	South Sydney Rabbitohs	16 – 8	Parramatta Eels	South Sydney Rabbitohs
1987	Parramatta Eels	32 – 10	Canberra Raiders	Parramatta Eels	Eastern Suburbs Roosters	[15]
1988	Parramatta Eels	20 – 10	Penrith Panthers			[16]
1989	Illawarra Steelers	32 – 22	Penrith Panthers	Illawarra Steelers	Eastern Suburbs Roosters	[17]
1990	Newcastle Knights	23 – 10	Manly Sea Eagles	Newcastle Knights	Eastern Suburbs Roosters
1991	Parramatta Eels	32 – 6	Manly Sea Eagles	Manly Sea Eagles	Eastern Suburbs Roosters
1992	St George Dragons	20 – 0	Canterbury Bulldogs	St George Dragons	Eastern Suburbs Roosters
1993	Parramatta Eels	28 – 20	St George Dragons			[18]
1994	South Sydney Rabbitohs	22 – 20	Newcastle Knights			[19]
1995	Canberra Raiders	36 – 6	Penrith Panthers	Canberra Raiders		[20]
1996	Illawarra Steelers	8 – 0	Parramatta Eels	Illawarra Steelers	Canterbury Bulldogs
1997	Sydney City Roosters	11 – 10	Newcastle Knights	Newcastle Knights		[21]
1998	South Sydney Rabbitohs	20 – 16	Manly Sea Eagles	Illawarra Steelers	Canterbury Bulldogs
1999	Parramatta Eels	38 – 6	Illawarra Steelers	Parramatta Eels	St George Dragons	[22]
2000	Penrith Panthers	28 – 24	Illawarra Steelers	Newcastle Knights	Western Suburbs Magpies	[23]
2001	Newcastle Knights	34 – 26	Penrith Panthers	Parramatta Eels	St George Dragons
2002	Western Suburbs Magpies	18 – 16	Parramatta Eels	Illawarra Steelers	Manly Sea Eagles
2003	Canberra Raiders	16 – 4	Parramatta Eels	Parramatta Eels	St George Dragons	[24][25]
2004	Newcastle Knights	42 – 16	South Sydney Rabbitohs	Sydney Roosters	North Sydney Bears
2005	Canberra Raiders	34 – 12	Illawarra Steelers	Parramatta Eels	North Sydney Bears
2006	Penrith Panthers	18 – 16	South Sydney Rabbitohs	Parramatta Eels	North Sydney Bears
2007	Parramatta Eels	22 – 12	Penrith Panthers	Penrith Panthers	Western Sydney Academy
2008	Sydney Roosters	38 – 20	Parramatta Eels	Canterbury Bulldogs	North Sydney Bears
2009	Canterbury Bulldogs	42 – 16	Melbourne Storm	St George Dragons	Western Suburbs Magpies
2010	Sydney Roosters	28 – 24	Parramatta Eels	Cronulla Sharks	Central Coast Centurions
2011	Newcastle Knights	25 – 24	Canterbury Bulldogs	Western Suburbs Magpies	Western Sydney Academy
2012	Balmain Tigers	42 – 20	Canberra Raiders	Balmain Tigers	Western Sydney Academy
2013	Balmain Tigers	14 – 6	Penrith Panthers	Penrith Panthers	West Coast Pirates
2014	Sydney Roosters	34 – 30	Penrith Panthers	Parramatta Eels	West Coast Pirates
2015	Cronulla Sharks	24 – 16	South Sydney Rabbitohs	Canberra Raiders	North Sydney Bears
2016	Penrith Panthers	25 – 10	Illawarra Steelers	Newcastle Knights	West Coast Pirates
2017	Parramatta Eels	30 – 22	Cronulla Sharks	Cronulla Sharks	West Coast Pirates
2018	Penrith Panthers	25 – 14	Canterbury Bulldogs	Sydney Roosters	West Coast Pirates
2019	Illawarra Steelers	34 – 23	Manly Sea Eagles	Manly Sea Eagles	West Coast Pirates
2020	Season was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[26]
2021	Canberra Raiders	18 – 14	Illawarra Steelers	Sydney Roosters	North Sydney Bears	[27]
2022	Penrith Panthers	22 – 20	Sydney Roosters	Sydney Roosters	Victoria Thunderbolts	[28]
2023	Parramatta Eels	28 – 22	Newcastle Knights |	Canberra Raiders	Melbourne Storm	[29]
2024	St George Dragons	40 – 18	Canterbury Bulldogs	Sydney Roosters	Balmain Tigers	[30][31]

• U16/s from 1965 until 2005
• U18/s from 2006 until 2020
• U19/s from 2021 onwards

Premiership Tally

No.	Club	Seasons
1	Parramatta Eels	14 (1966, 1967, 1968, 1973, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1991, 1993, 1999, 2007, 2017, 2023)
2	South Sydney Rabbitohs	10 (1965, 1969, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1979, 1980, 1986, 1994, 1998)
3	Penrith Panthers	7 (1977, 1981, 2000, 2006, 2016, 2018, 2022)
4	Canberra Raiders	4 (1995, 2003, 2005, 2021)
4	Newcastle Knights	4 (1990, 2001, 2004, 2011)
4	Sydney Roosters	4 (1997, 2008, 2010, 2014)
4	St George Dragons	4 (1970, 1984, 1992, 2024)
8	Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs	3 (1972, 1978, 2009)
8	Balmain Tigers	3 (1982, 2012, 2013)
8	Illawarra Steelers	3 (1989, 1996, 2019)
11	Western Suburbs Magpies	2 (1971, 2002)
12	Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks	1 (2015)

Bold means the team still currently play in the competition.

See also

• Harold Matthews Cup
• Laurie Daley Cup
• Mal Meninga Cup
• Tarsha Gale Cup
• Rugby League Competitions in Australia

References

1. "NSWRL cancels nine competitions for 2020 season". NSWRL. 27 March 2020. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
2. New South Wales Rugby Football League. "Souths, Parramatta Share Junior Cup Honours". The Rugby League News. 49 (26 (June 22, 1968)). Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League. Retrieved 8 September 2020 – via Trove.
3. New South Wales Rugby Football League. "Souths Take Junior Cups". The Rugby League News. 50 (22 (June 21, 1969)). Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League. Retrieved 8 September 2020 – via Trove.
4. New South Wales Rugby Football League. "JUNIOR FINALS". The Rugby League News. 51 (26 (June 27, 1970)). Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League. Retrieved 8 September 2020 – via Trove.
5. New South Wales Rugby Football League. "Junior Stars Called Up". The Rugby League News. 52 (24 (July 3, 1971)). Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League. Retrieved 8 September 2020 – via Trove.
6. New South Wales Rugby Football League. "The Juniors - A Goal-Kicking Discovery". The Rugby League News. 53 (23 (June 24, 1972)). Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League. Retrieved 8 September 2020 – via Trove.
7. 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.
8. "Junior Representative Finals". Big League. 59 (13): 39. 17 May 1978.
9. "Junior Representative Finals". Big League. 60 (16): 33. 6 June 1979.
10. "Junior Representative Finals". Big League. 61 (14): 37. 28 May 1980.
11. "Junior Representative Finals". Big League. 62 (15): 42. 3 June 1981.
12. "S.G. Ball Competition". Big League. 63 (10): 40. 28 April 1982.
13. "Junior Rep Finals Results". Big League. 63 (12): 38. 12 May 1982.
14. "Sports results, details". The Canberra Times. Canberra: National Library of Australia. 17 June 1984. p. 30. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
15. Middleton, David (1987). Rugby League 1987-88. Sydney: Lester-Townsend Publishing. p. 139. ISBN 0949853119.
16. "Times Sport". The Canberra Times. Canberra: National Library of Australia. 14 June 1988. p. 27. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
17. Middleton, David (1990). Rugby League 1989-90. Sydney: Lester-Townsend Publishing. p. 147. ISBN 0949853321.
18. "Sport". The Canberra Times. Canberra: National Library of Australia. 6 June 1993. p. 12. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
19. "Siren Scores". The Canberra Times. Canberra: National Library of Australia. 5 June 1994. p. 12. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
20. Hannan, Bevan (25 June 1995). "Close shave for Raiders' coach as reserves team makes it six". The Canberra Times. Canberra: National Library of Australia. p. 16. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
21. Middleton, David (1998). Rugby League 1998. Sydney: Harper Sports. pp. 210–211. ISBN 0732264243.
22. Middleton, David (2000). Rugby League 2000. Sydney: Harper Sports. p. 253. ISBN 0732265576.
23. Middleton, David (2001). Rugby League 2001. Sydney: Harper Sports. p. 258. ISBN 0732269261.
24. "Monday Scoreboard - Part 2 - Netball-Water Polo". Daily Telegraph. News Limited. 19 May 2003. p. 48.
25. "Ball final goes to Raiders". Canberra Times. Fairfax. 18 May 2003. p. 61.
26. "NSWRL cancels nine competitions for 2020 season". New South Wales Rugby League. 27 March 2020. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
27. McEnally, Andrew (1 May 2021). "Raiders hold off Steelers in hard fought UNE SG Ball Cup Grand Final win". NSWRL. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
28. Honeysett, Stuart (30 April 2022). "Panthers stage stunning fightback to claim SG Ball Cup premiership". NSWRL. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
29. McDonald, Margie (29 April 2023). "Eels able to outlast determined Knights". NSWRL. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
30. Micallef, Tayla (27 April 2024). "Dragons break 32-year drought". NSWRL. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
31. Beatton, Joel (27 April 2024). "SG Ball Cup: Dragons complete dream season with Grand Final dominance". Dragons.com.au. Retrieved 27 April 2024.