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The New South Wales Rugby League premiership was the first rugby league football club competition established in Australia and contributor to today's National Rugby League. Run by the New South Wales Rugby League (initially named the New South Wales Rugby Football League) from 1908 until 1994, the premiership was the state's elite rugby league competition, parallel to Queensland's first-class league, the Brisbane Rugby League.

Quick Facts Sport, Inaugural season ...
NSWRL Premiership
SportRugby league
Inaugural season1908
Ceased1994
Replaced byARL Premiership
Holders Canberra Raiders (3rd title)
Most titles South Sydney Rabbitohs (20 titles)
Related competitionWinfield Cup
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For most of the premiership's history it was contested by clubs from the state of New South Wales only, but later attempted to grow into a nationwide competition, eventually leading to the competition being played under the auspices of the Australian Rugby League in 1995. Despite this name, the 1995 and 1996 Australian Rugby League Premierships competitions were still administered by the Board and staff of the New South Wales Rugby League.

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History

1908: Rugby league premiership in Sydney

The inaugural New South Wales Rugby Football League (NSWRFL) premiership began in 1908, and was made up of eight Sydney-based teams and one team from Newcastle. Cumberland joined the competition after the first round, meaning that they played one game fewer than the rest of the field for the season. Still known as the "foundation clubs" today, these nine teams battled against one another during the 1908 season, with Souths taking the first premiership honours after beating Easts in the Final.

More information Club, Nickname ...
Club Nickname Years Contested Matches[1] Seasons
Played Won Drew Lost Win–loss Played Premiers Minor Premiers Runners-up
Balmain Tigers 1908–1994 1705 871 68 766 53.08% 92 11 7 9
Cumberland Fruitpickers 1908 8 1 0 7 12.50% 1 0 0 0
Easts Roosters 1908–1994 1880 995 67 818 54.71% 92 11 15 11
Glebe Dirty Reds 1908–1929 297 163 6 128 55.89% 22 0 1 4
Newcastle Rebels 1908–1909 20 9 0 11 45.00% 2 0 0 0
Newtown Jets 1908–1983 1305 583 59 663 46.93% 76 3 6 7
Norths Bears 1908–1994 1665 678 71 916 42.85% 92 2 2 1
Souths Rabbitohs 1908–1994 1813 940 45 828 53.09% 92 20 17 13
Wests Magpies 1908–1994 1691 734 49 908 44.86% 92 4 5 8
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1909–1994: Expansion of the premiership

Between 1912 and 1925 the premiers were decided by first past the post. As a result of South Sydney's dominant 1925 season, the NSWRFL introduced a finals system in order to maintain interest in the competition.[2]

Over the decades since the NSWRFL competition started, Sydney suburban teams came and went throughout its history but it was not until 1982 that the competition saw significant expansion outside of the Sydney area. The two new inclusions were from the Australian Capital Territory – the Canberra Raiders – as well as a team from the southern New South Wales region – the Illawarra Steelers. This corresponded with the adoption of commercial sponsorship of the competition for the first time, seeing it become the Winfield Cup (named after the popular cigarette brand).

The NSWRFL had also commenced a very popular and successful mid-week competition in 1973, originally known as the Amco Cup, but also as the Tooth Cup and the National Panasonic Cup. The success of this competition, which included teams from both Brisbane and New Zealand ultimately created pressure for further expansion of the NSWRL competition. In 1984, the New South Wales Rugby Football League changed its name to New South Wales Rugby League.

In 1988, for the very first time, two Queensland teams joined the competition, with the inclusions of the Brisbane Broncos and the Gold Coast-Tweed Giants. This saw the premiership competition move beyond the outer borders of New South Wales. At the same time, as a result of mounting pressure from the central coast of New South Wales, Newcastle returned to the competition with a new franchise. Their return saw the end of an 86-year wait in the wilderness and this time around the team was badged the Newcastle Knights.

More information Club, Traditional colours ...
Club Traditional colours Years contested Matches[1] Seasons
Played Won Drew Lost Win–loss Played Premiers Minor premiers Runners-up
Annandale 1910–1920 153 25 6 122 18.30% 11 0 0 0
University 1920–1937 242 47 5 190 20.45% 18 0 0 1
St. George 1921–1998 1545 910 56 579 60.71% 78 15 15 12
Canterbury-Bankstown 1935–1994 1502 778 53 671 53.56% 71 8 6 8
Manly-Warringah 1947–1999 1261 719 35 507 58.41% 56 7 9 10
Parramatta 1947–1994 1321 608 38 675 47.46% 59 4 5 4
Cronulla-Sutherland 1967–1994 932 456 22 454 50.11% 39 0 2 3
Penrith 1967–1994 917 379 26 512 42.75% 39 2 2 1
Illawarra 1982–1998 396 153 13 230 40.28% 17 0 0 0
Canberra 1982–1994 606 323 9 274 54.04% 24 3 1 2
Brisbane 1988–1994 457 299 11 147 66.63% 18 5 4 0
Newcastle 1988–1994 446 234 14 198 54.04% 18 2 0 0
Gold Coast 1988–1998 246 53 9 184 23.37% 11 0 0 0
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After mostly solid results were obtained by the expansion teams in 1988, there was increasing pressure for new inclusions into the competition. Having decided in May 1992 that a team from Auckland would join the premiership in 1995, the League announced in November that three more new clubs — a second team from Brisbane, and also a team each from Perth and Townsville — will also be invited.

In 1995, some seven years later, the competition expanded further into Queensland, with the inception of the South Queensland Crushers and the North Queensland Cowboys. 1995 also saw a new team in Western Australia, the 'Western Reds', later called the Perth Reds, as well as a New Zealand-based team – the Auckland Warriors. The total number of teams in the competition was now twenty – the largest-scale rugby league competition ever in Australia. The premiership's new national outlook was further reflected in the governing body's name, with the New South Wales Rugby League transferring control of the competition to the Australian Rugby League (ARL).

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Senior grade premiers

Between 1912 and 1925 there was no semi-final system and a final was only played if two clubs finished level at the conclusion of the minor premiership. Souths won the 1909 premiership when Balmain forfeited in protest against the final being played as a preliminary match before a promotional game between the national Rugby League and Rugby Union sides. The 1937 season also featured no finals as the year was disrupted by the Kangaroos tour. Between 1926 and 1953 first played third and second played fourth and winners played off. If the minor premiers were defeated they had a right of challenge, but if they were not defeated there was no true "grand final."

From 1954 a mandatory grand final was introduced in which there was a knockout minor semi-final between third and fourth and a second-chance major semi between first and second. The winner of the major semi went to the grand final and a preliminary final was played between the winner of the minor semi and the loser of the major semi to decide who would meet the winner of the major semi.

In 1973 a final five was devised with the top team going straight into the major semi, the second and third teams playing a major preliminary semi, and the fourth and fifth playing a sudden-death minor preliminary semi. The top team played the winner of the major preliminary semi-final, whilst the winner of the minor preliminary semi played the loser of the major preliminary semi in the minor semi-final (which was played as before under the final four system.

More information Season, Grand finals ...
Season Grand finals Minor premiers
Premiers Score Runners-up
1908 Souths
14–12
Easts Souths
1909 Souths forfeit Balmain Souths
1910 Newtown 4–4 Souths Newtown
1911 Easts 11–8 Glebe Glebe
1912 Easts N/A Glebe N/A
1913 Easts Newtown
1914 Souths Newtown
1915 Balmain Glebe
1916 Balmain 5–3 Souths Balmain
1917 Balmain N/A Souths N/A
1918 Souths Wests
1919 Balmain Easts
1920 Balmain Souths
1921 Norths Easts
1922 Norths 35–3 Glebe Norths
1923 Easts 15–12 Souths Easts
1924 Balmain 3–0 Souths Balmain
1925 Souths N/A Wests N/A
1926 Souths 11–5 University Souths
1927 Souths 20–11 St. George Souths
1928 Souths 26–5 Easts St. George
1929 Souths 30–10 Newtown Souths
1930 Wests 27–2 St. George Wests
1931 Souths 12–7 Easts Easts
1932 Souths 19–12 Wests Souths
1933 Newtown 18–5 St. George Newtown
1934 Wests 15–2 Easts Easts
1935 Easts 19–3 Souths Easts
1936 Easts 32–12 Balmain Easts
1937 Easts N/A Souths N/A
1938 Canterbury 19–6 Easts Canterbury
1939 Balmain 33–4 Souths Balmain
1940 Easts 24–14 Canterbury Easts
1941 St. George 31–14 Easts Easts
1942 Canterbury 11–9 St. George Canterbury
1943 Newtown 34–7 Norths Newtown
1944 Balmain 12–8 Newtown Newtown
1945 Easts 22–18 Balmain Easts
1946 Balmain 13–12 St. George St. George
1947 Balmain 13–9 Canterbury Canterbury
1948 Wests 8–5 Balmain Wests
1949 St. George 19–12 Souths Souths
1950 Souths 21–15 Wests Souths
1951 Souths 42–14 Manly Souths
1952 Wests 22–12 Souths Wests
1953 Souths 31–12 St. George Souths
1954 Souths 23–15 Newtown Newtown
1955 Souths 12–11 Newtown Newtown
1956 St. George 18–12 Balmain St. George
1957 St. George 31–9 Manly St. George
1958 St. George 20–9 Wests St. George
1959 St. George 20–0 Manly St. George
1960 St. George 31–6 Easts St. George
1961 St. George 22–0 Wests Wests
1962 St. George 9–6 Wests St. George
1963 St. George 8–3 Wests St. George
1964 St. George 11–6 Balmain Tigers St. George
1965 St. George 12–8 Souths St. George
1966 St. George 23–4 Balmain Tigers St. George
1967 Souths 12–10 Canterbury St. George
1968 Souths 13–9 Manly Souths
1969 Balmain Tigers 11–2 Souths Souths
1970 Souths 23–12 Manly Souths
1971 Souths 16–10 St. George Manly
1972 Manly 19–14 Easts Manly
1973 Manly 10–7 Cronulla Manly
1974 Easts 19–4 Canterbury Easts
1975 Easts 38–0 St. George Easts
1976 Manly 13–10 Parramatta Manly
1977 St. George 9–9
22–0
Parramatta Parramatta
1978 Manly 11–11
16–0
Cronulla Wests
1979 St. George 17–13 Canterbury St. George
1980 Canterbury 18–4 Easts Easts
1981 Parramatta 20–11 Newtown Easts
1982 Parramatta 21–8 Manly Parramatta
1983 Parramatta 18–6 Manly Manly
1984 Canterbury 6–4 Parramatta Canterbury
1985 Canterbury 7–6 St George St George
1986 Parramatta 4–2 Canterbury Parramatta
1987 Manly 18–8 Canberra Manly
1988 Canterbury 24–12 Balmain Cronulla
1989 Canberra 19–14 Balmain Souths
1990 Canberra 18–14 Penrith Canberra
1991 Penrith 19–12 Canberra Penrith
1992 Brisbane 28–8 St George Brisbane
1993 Brisbane 14–6 St George Canterbury
1994 Canberra 36–12 Canterbury Canterbury
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  • 1909: Balmain refused to play the final in protest to the game being held as a curtain-raiser to a Kangaroos v Wallabies match. Souths played, kicked off, scored and were declared premiers. Many contend though that a 'gentlemans agreement' was reached to postpone the game to the following weekend – and the action undertaken by Souths in starting the match sparked a fierce and bitter rivalry between the clubs that continued for many decades.
  • 1910: Top two played off for the title. In the event of a drawn match, the superior record during the season secured the title, Newtown had compiled 23 competition points, Souths 22.
  • 1977–78: Drawn games requiring a replay.
  • 1989: The score was tied 14 all at normal full-time – extra time was played to decide the winner.

Results (senior grade)

More information Team, Wins ...
Team Wins Losses Years won Years lost
Souths 20 13 1908, 1909, 1914, 1918, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1931,

1932, 1950, 1951, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1967, 1968, 1970, 1971

1910, 1916, 1917, 1920, 1923, 1924,

1935, 1937, 1939, 1949, 1952, 1965, 1969

St George 15 12 1941, 1949, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963,

1964, 1965, 1966, 1977, 1979

1927, 1930, 1933, 1942, 1946, 1953,

1971, 1975, 1985, 1992, 1993, 1996

Easts 11 11 1911, 1912, 1913, 1923, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1940, 1945, 1974, 1975 1908, 1919, 1921, 1928, 1931, 1934, 1938, 1941, 1960, 1972, 1980
Balmain 11 9 1915, 1916, 1917, 1919, 1920, 1924, 1939, 1944, 1946, 1947, 1969 1909, 1936, 1945, 1948, 1956, 1964, 1966, 1988, 1989
Manly 5 7 1972, 1973, 1976, 1978, 1987 1951, 1957, 1959, 1968, 1970, 1982, 1983
Canterbury 6 7 1938, 1942, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1988 1940, 1947, 1967, 1974, 1979, 1986, 1994
Brisbane 2 0 1992, 1993
Wests 4 8 1930, 1934, 1948, 1952 1918, 1925, 1932, 1950, 1958, 1961, 1962, 1963
Parramatta 4 3 1981, 1982, 1983, 1986 1976, 1977, 1984
Newtown 3 7 1910, 1933, 1943 1913, 1914, 1929, 1944, 1954, 1955, 1981
Canberra 3 2 1989, 1990, 1994 1987, 1991
Norths 2 1 1921, 1922 1943
Penrith 1 1 1991 1990
Cronulla 0 2 1973, 1978
Glebe 0 4 1911, 1912, 1915, 1922
Sydney University 0 1 1926
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Reserve grade premiers

More information Year, Premiers ...
YearPremiersScoreRunners-upDeciderReportWinning captain(s)Winning coachReferee
1908 Easts Souths No
1909 Easts 11–7 Glebe Final TSS[3] W.P. Finegan
1910 Easts 5–2 Newtown Final EN[4] L. Kearney
1911 Easts 12–0 Glebe Final ST[5] A. Ballerum
1912 Glebe 30–0 Redfern United Final SMH[6] A. Finegan
1913 Souths 10–3 Grosvenor Final Sun[7] T. McMahon
1914 Souths 6–5 Easts Final Sun[8] J. Buchanan
1915 Balmain 9–3 Glebe Final Sun[9]
1916 Balmain 6–4 Easts Final Sun[10]
1917 Souths Balmain No
1918 Glebe Souths No
1919 Glebe Wests No
1920 Glebe Souths No SMH[11]
1921 Glebe Norths No
1922 Newtown 10–2 Glebe Final Sun[12] E. Gallagher W. Neill
1923 Souths 13–6 Balmain Final SMH[13] A. Thornton
1924 Souths Wests No
1925 Souths 14–2 Balmain Final TR[14] E. Kerr
1926 Souths 25–13 Norths Final Sun[15] L. Dolan
1927 Souths 16–5 St. George Final SGC[16] James Breen Lal Deane
1928 Balmain 7–5 Easts Final Sun[17] Arthur Tennant B. Wales
1929 Souths 26–3 Wests Final Sun[18] Tom Craigie W. Fry
1930 Balmain 5–0 Souths GF Truth[19] S. Lever W. Fry
1931 Souths 24–5 St. George Final Sun[20] W. Neill
1932 Souths 5–2 Newtown GF Sun[21] Jackie Jones W. Fry
1933 Balmain 15–12 Souths GF Sun[22] George Frankland W. Fry
1934 Souths 13–10 Balmain GF Sun[23] Jim Tait J. Murphy
1935 Easts 16–2 Balmain GF Sun[24] T. McMahon
1936 Wests 15–5 Norths Final Truth[25] Jim Parsons Jerry Brien T. McMahon
1937 Easts Newtown No
1938 St. George 9–4 Balmain GF Sun[26] Jack Kenyon A. Davis
1939 Canterbury 13–0 Norths GF Sun[27] Jim Duncombe J. McGaulay
1940 Norths 10–5 St. George GF SGC[28] Jack O'Brien
1941 Balmain 13–4 St. George GF Sun[29] John Rees P. Lee
1942 Norths 15–5 St. George GF Sun[30] Aub Oxford
1943 Souths 15–9 Balmain GF Sun[31] George Kilham G. Bishop
1944 Balmain 11–9 Norths Final Sun[32] (Jack Danzey Snr) Jack O'Brien
1945 Souths 11–7 Canterbury GF Sun[33] Ken Brogan Aub Oxford
1946 Balmain 8–5 Easts GF Sun[34] Gil Bo XJack O'Brien
1947 Newtown 6–2 Balmain GF Sun[35] Fred Fayers Keith Ellis L. Williams
1948 Newtown 7–4 Wests GF Sun[36] Keith Ellis Col Pearce
1949 Easts 30–7 Newtown GF DT[37] Jim Hunt Aub Oxford
1950 Balmain 10–6 St. George Final DT[38] George Williams G. Bishop
1951 Newtown 10–6 St. George GF SMH[39] George Debnam Aub Oxford
1952 Souths 19–0 Canterbury GF Sun[40] Ray Mason Jack O'Brien
1953 Souths 17–11 Manly GF Sun[41] Norm Nilson Aub Oxford
1954 Manly 9–4 Souths GF SH[42] Darcy Lawler
1955 Norths 9–2 St. George GF Robert Gorman Jack O'Brien
1956 Souths 10–6 Manly GF Ray Mason Col Pearce
1957 Balmain 16–7 Norths GF Ron Clifford Col Pearce
1958 Balmain 20–10 St. George GF RLN[43] Ron Proudfoot Col Pearce
1959 Norths 19–10 St. George GF RLN[44] Robert Sullivan Robert Sullivan Col Pearce
1960 Manly 17–6 Balmain GF RLN[45] Robert Lenon Neville Pierce Col Pearce
1961 Wests 9–3 Manly GF RLN[46] Roger Buttenshaw Dudley Beger Darcy Lawler
1962 St. George 19–0 Wests GF RLN[47] Peter Armstrong Sid Ryan Arthur Neville
1963 St. George 5–4 Souths GF Peter Armstrong Sid Ryan Col Pearce
1964 St. George 7–2 Souths GF RLN[48] Johnny Riley Sid Ryan F. Erickson
1965 Balmain 9–7 St. George GF RLN[49] Jack Danzey Leo Nosworthy J. Harris
1966 Souths 12–4 Balmain GF RLN[50] Colin Dunn "Chick" Cowie J. Bradley
1967 Balmain 11–7 Souths GF Robert Boland Leo Nosworthy Laurie Bruyeres
1968 Souths 17–7 Manly GF Dennis Lee Fred Nelson Les Samuelson
1969 Manly 10–6 Balmain GF George McTaggart Ron Willey Keith Holman
1970 Newtown 6–0 Easts GF Robert Green Clarrie Jeffreys Keith Holman
1971 Canterbury 11–5 St. George GF Barry Phillis Malcolm Clift Keith Page
1972 Canterbury 14–3 St. George GF Barry Phillis Malcolm Clift Laurie Bruyeres
1973 Manly 22–14 St. George GF Max Krilich Frank Stanton Laurie Bruyeres
1974 Newtown 6–5 Easts GF Des O'Connor Charlie Renilson Keith Page
1975 Parramatta 21–13 Cronulla GF John Baker Terry Fearnley Keith Page
1976 St. George 17–12 Cronulla GF Billy Smith Peter Dickerson Greg Hartley
1977 Parramatta 11–9 Manly GF Graham Murray Len Stacker Jack Danzey
1978 Balmain 10–5 St. George GF William Hillard Dennis Tutty Jack Danzey
1979 Parramatta 22–2 Canterbury GF John Kolc Mick Alchin Jack Danzey
1980 Canterbury 18–16 Parramatta GF Mal Creavey Geoff Connell Jack Danzey
1981 Wests 19–2 Parramatta GF CT[51] Ian Schubert Laurie Freier
1982 Balmain 17–12 Easts GF CT[52] Bill Hilliard Laurie Freier
1983 Souths 12–6 Manly GF CT[53] Nathan Gibbs Wally Watsford B. Barnes
1984 Balmain 10–8 St. George GF Mike Marketo Peter Duffy C. Ward
1985 St. George 22–16 Canberra GF CT[54] George Moroko John Bailey Mick Stone
1986 Easts 10–2 Parramatta GF Dave Brown Jim Morgan Kevin Roberts
1987 Penrith 11–0 Manly GF Craig Izzard Graham Murray Greg McCallum
1988 Manly 22–2 Easts GF Peter Cullum Alan Thompson Graham Annesley
1989 Norths 11–6 Parramatta GF CT[55] Gary Maguire Steve Martin Mick Stone
1990 Brisbane 14–6 Canberra GF CT,[56] VH[57] Ray Herring Bill Gardner Greg McCallum
1991 Norths 12–6 Canberra GF CT[58] Gary Smith Peter Louis Eddie Ward
1992 Norths 28–14 Balmain GF CT[59] Gary Smith Peter Louis Graham Annesley
1993 Norths 5–4 Newcastle GF CT[60] Alan Wilson Peter Mulholland Bill Harrigan
1994 Cronulla 14–4 Newcastle GF Alan Wilson John Dykes Bill Harrigan
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Third Grade

In addition to Reserve Grade, there was a Third Grade competition contested from 1908 until the 1980s.

More information Third Grade, Season ...
Third Grade
Season Premiers
1908 Sydney
1909 South Sydney Federal
1910 Sydney
1911 Leichhardt
1912 South Sydney
1913 South Sydney Federal
1914 Eastern Suburbs
1915 Balmain
1916 Balmain
1917
1918 South Sydney
1919
1920
1921
1922
1923
1924
1925 South Sydney
1926
1927 Glebe
1928 South Sydney
1929
1930
1931
1932
1933 South Sydney
1934
1935
1936 Western Suburbs
1937 North Sydney
1938 Western Suburbs
1939 Western Suburbs
1940
1941
1942
1943
1944 Western Suburbs
1945 North Sydney
1946 Manly-Warringah
1947
1948
1949
1950
1951
1952 Manly-Warringah
1953
1954
1955
1956
1957
1958 Western Suburbs
1959 North Sydney
1960
1961 Western Suburbs
1962 South Sydney
1963 St. George
1964
1965
1966
1967 Western Suburbs
1968
1969 South Sydney
1970 Manly-Warringah
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978 Penrith
1979
1980
1981 South Sydney
1982
1983
1984
1985 St George
1986 South Sydney
1987 Eastern Suburbs
Merged with Presidents Cup in 1988
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See also

Past winners of the NSWRL Premiership

See also

References

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