NRL Western Australia (abbreviated as NRLWA, and formerly the Western Australian Rugby League) is responsible for administering the game of rugby league football in the state of Western Australia.
| NRL Western Australia | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Founded | 1948 |
| Formerly named | Western Australian Amateur Rugby League[1] |
| Responsibility | Western Australia |
| Headquarters | NIB Stadium, Pier Street, Perth |
| Key people | John Sackson[2] (Chief Executive) |
| Website | nrlwa.com.au |
 | |
The NRLWA administers all forms of the game in Western Australia and runs the main Perth metropolitan competitions. This includes eleven clubs in the Perth metropolitan competition (seven fielding first grade), sponsored as the Fuel to Go and Play Premiership, as well as representative teams that compete in interstate competitions. There are over 4,000 participants
History
editFormed in April 1948 as the Western Australian Amateur Rugby Football League, foundation clubs were Cottesloe, Fremantle, Perth and South Perth.[1]
The first interstate match played by Western Australians was against the South Australia in 1948, with WA winning the series 2–0.
In 1969 Darwin City invited the WARL to Darwin to play a match in celebration of Darwin's 100th founding anniversary in which WA won 23–19. In 1976 WA was invited to participate in the nationwide Amco Cup, where they defeated the Northern Territory 23–18.[1]
On 2 October 1982 to begin the 1982 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France, Western Australia played the Wally Lewis captained Australian Kangaroos in a match at the Cannington Raceway in Perth (on the same day the Australian test team played their first ever test match against Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby). Predictably the Kangaroos defeated WA 57–5, running in 13 tries to 1 with Parramatta Eels winger Eric Grothe, Sr. crossing for 4 tries.[3] The Australian team that day included players who would go on to be mainstays in the Australian test team over the next 5–10 years including Lewis, Grothe, Gene Miles, Steve Mortimer, Greg Conescu and Wayne Pearce as well as test veterans Rod Morris and Les Boyd.
NT toured again in 1981, 1983 & 1985 and since 2001 Western Australia has competed annually in the Affiliated States Championship, winning the most titles of any state.[1]
International touring teams in WA
editInternational football also has a history in WA, with Great Britain Lions touring Perth in 1950, 1957 1962 1975 England 1958, and France touring in 1951, 1955, 1964, 1990.[1]
Club Football
edit- Branding of the Western Australian Rugby League
-
Former logo
The first tour game by an interstate club was in 1949 when Balmain Tigers, NSWRL, traveled to Perth. The first tour match by a club affiliated with the Queensland Rugby League was in 1985 when the Qld Country side played a match against the WA State Team. Further interstate club matches occurred in (see list above)
Following the demise of the Western Reds professional rugby league was lost to WA. The next match occurred in 1999 when the Western Suburbs Magpies hosted the Melbourne Storm in an NRL premiership match. Further premiership matches followed in 2005 when Cronulla Sharks hosted the New Zealand Warriors,[1] and in July 2013 when the South Sydney Rabbitohs hosted the New Zealand Warriors at NIB Stadium
Trial matches have also been played, with South Sydney Rabbitohs hosting Canterbury Bulldogs in the 2005 pre-season.[1]
National competition
editThe staging of New South Wales Rugby League premiership matches in the late 1980s and early 1990s led to a push for a Perth-based entry into the Australian Rugby League competition. In 1992 the Western Reds club was accepted into the national competition and would play its first season in 1995. The Reds would play in 1996 and in the Australian Super League in 1997 under the Perth Reds moniker.
Debt, issues surrounding the Super League war and formation of the National Rugby League led to the club being wound-up at the end of the 1997 season.
On 12 December 2006 the Australian Rugby League board accepted a proposal to establish a Western Australian Rugby League representative side to play in the NSWRL Jim Beam Cup for seasons 2008 & 2009, known as the WA Reds and played home matches at Perth Oval. In season 2010 the decision was made to enter the WA Reds team into the SG Ball Cup Under 18 competition. The season was a tough one with the 'Reds' finishing next to bottom of the ladder winning only their opening game of the season. The 2011 season saw the young Reds side improve their credentials finishing 13/18 with 3 wins from 9 matches for the season.
On 27 June 2012 the Western Australian Rugby League announced a new identity for its NRL entry bid. The West Coast Pirates has been released as the team name, with the logo a Pirate Skull over Crossed Cutlasses.
The announcement of this new bid identity is viewed as a longer-term strategy for a Western Australian-based National Rugby League but as yet seems further from implementation than when first conceived many due to the NRL officially stating that will be no further expansion until 2017 to shore up its financially weak structure.
WARL competitions
editWARL Premiership
editThe NRLWA, sponsored as the Fuel to Go and Play Premiership, is the premier rugby league football competition in the state. The majority of the Eleven clubs originate in the Perth metro area and both Fremantle and South Perth are foundation WARL clubs. Junior grades run from under 6's up to under 16's and senior competition is divided into four divisions, Men's First Grade, Men's Reserve Grade (Val Murphy Trophy), Women's Tackle and Women's League Tag (Flag Belt).
| Colours | Club | Nickname | District | Ground | Founded | Junior Association |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Grade (Premiership) | ||||||
|
Fremantle* | Roosters* | Fremantle | Treeby Sports Complex | 1948 | Southern Pride |
|
Joondalup* | Giants* | Joondalup | Admiral Reserve | 1990 | Northern Fusion |
|
North Beach* | Sea Eagles* | North Beach | Charles Riley Reserve | 1951 | Northern Fusion |
|
Rockingham* | Coastal Sharks* | Rockingham | Lark Hill Sports Complex | 1988 | South West Dolphins |
|
South Perth* | Lions* | South Perth | George Burnett Park | 1948 | Southern Pride |
| Reserve Grade (Val Murphy Trophy) | ||||||
|
Alkimos | Tigers | Eglinton | Amberton Playing Fields | 2015 | Northern Fusion |
|
Ellenbrook* | Rabbitohs* | Ellenbrook | Charlottes Vinyard Pavilion | 2015 | Northern Fusion |
|
Kalamunda | Bulldogs | Belmont | Hartfield Park | 1949 | Northern Fusion |
|
Willagee | Bears | Willagee | Webber Reserve | 1962 | Southern Pride |
| Third Grade | ||||||
|
Kwinana | Titans | Kwinana | Thomas Oval | 2022 | South West Dolphins |
|
Mandurah | Storm | Mandurah | Ocean Road Reserve | 2013 | South West Dolphins |
|
Serpentine-Jarrahdale | Serpents | Serpentine | Lark Hill Sportsplex | 2023 | South West Dolphins |
| Juniors | ||||||
|
Busselton | Broncos | Bussellton | Busselton Sportsmans Club | 2017 | South West Dolphins |
|
Bunbury | Titans | Bunbury | Hay Park Sports Complex | 2017 | South West Dolphins |
|
Dalyellup | Rhinos | Dalleyup | East Dalyellup Pavilion | 2017 | South West Dolphins |
|
Eaton | Panthers | Eaton | Eaton | 2017 | South West Dolphins |
|
Albany | Sea Dragons | Albany | Albany | 2019 | South West Dolphins |
* Denotes currently fielding a First Grade Team in the Fuel to Go and Play Premiership
First Grade Premiers
edit| Year | Club | Titles | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
1948 | South Perth Lions | 1 |
|
|
1949 | Perth* | 1 |
|
|
1950 | Fremantle Roosters | 1 |
|
|
1951 | Perth* | 2 |
|
|
1952 | South Perth Lions | 2 |
|
|
1953 | South Perth Lions | 3 |
|
|
1954 | South Perth Lions | 4 |
|
|
1955 | Cottesloe Tigers* | 1 |
|
|
1956 | Victoria Park Butchers | 1 |
|
|
1957 | South Perth Lions | 5 |
|
|
1958 | South Perth Lions | 6 |
|
|
1959 | Victoria Park Butchers | 2 |
|
|
1960 | Victoria Park Butchers | 3 |
|
|
1961 | Fremantle Roosters | 2 |
|
|
1962 | Victoria Park Butchers | 4 |
|
|
1963 | Fremantle Roosters | 3 |
|
1964 | Applecross Jets* | 1 |
|
|
1965 | Applecross Jets* | 2 |
|
|
1966 | Applecross Jets* | 3 |
|
|
1967 | Applecross Jets* | 4 |
|
|
1968 | Victoria Park Butchers | 5 |
|
|
1969 | Applecross Jets* | 5 |
|
|
1970 | Applecross Jets* | 6 |
|
|
1971 | North Beach Sea Eagles | 1 |
|
|
1972 | Applecross Jets* | 7 |
|
|
1973 | South Perth Lions | 7 |
|
|
1974 | North Beach Sea Eagles | 2 |
|
|
1975 | South Perth Lions | 8 |
|
|
1976 | Fremantle Roosters | 4 |
|
|
1977 | Fremantle Roosters | 5 |
|
|
1978 | Canning Bulldogs | 1 |
|
|
1979 | Mosman-Cottesloe Tigers* | 2 |
|
|
1980 | North Beach Sea Eagles | 3 |
|
|
1981 | Fremantle/Mosman-Cottesloe* | 6/3 |
|
|
1982 | South Perth Lions | 9 |
|
|
1983 | South Perth Lions | 10 |
|
|
1984 | North Beach Sea Eagles | 4 |
|
|
1985 | South Perth Lions | 11 |
|
|
1986 | Applecross Jets* | 8 |
|
1987 | Belmont Steelers* | 1 |
|
|
1988 | Belmont Steelers* | 2 |
|
|
1989 | Belmont Steelers* | 3 |
|
|
1990 | Canning Bulldogs | 2 |
|
|
1991 | Canning Bulldogs | 3 |
|
|
1992 | Applecross Jets* | 9 |
|
|
1993 | Rockingham Raiders | 1 |
|
|
1994 | Canning Bulldogs | 4 |
|
|
1995 | Belmont Steelers* | 4 |
|
|
1996 | South Perth Lions | 12 |
|
|
1997 | Fremantle Roosters | 7 |
|
|
1998 | North Beach Sea Eagles | 5 |
|
|
1999 | Canning Bulldogs | 5 |
|
|
2000 | Joondalup Giants | 1 |
|
|
2001 | North Beach Sea Eagles | 6 |
|
|
2002 | South Perth Lions | 13 |
|
|
2003 | North Beach Sea Eagles | 7 |
|
|
2004 | South Perth Lions | 14 |
|
|
2005 | South Perth Lions | 15 |
|
|
2006 | North Beach Sea Eagles | 8 |
|
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2007 | North Beach Sea Eagles | 9 |
|
|
2008 | South Perth Lions | 16 |
|
|
2009 | South Perth Lions | 17 |
|
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2010 | South Perth Lions | 18 |
|
|
2011 | South Perth Lions | 19 |
|
|
2012 | North Beach Sea Eagles | 10 |
|
|
2013 | North Beach Sea Eagles | 11 |
|
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2014 | South Perth Lions | 20 |
|
|
2015 | Fremantle Roosters | 8 |
|
|
2016 | North Beach Sea Eagles | 12 |
|
|
2017 | Fremantle Roosters | 9 |
|
|
2018 | Fremantle Roosters | 10 |
|
|
2019 | Fremantle Roosters | 11 |
|
|
2020 | Joondalup Giants | 2 |
|
|
2021 | North Beach Sea Eagles | 13 |
|
|
2022 | Fremantle Roosters | 12 |
|
|
2023 | North Beach Sea Eagles | 14 |
|
|
2024 | North Beach Sea Eagles | 15 |
* Denotes club dissolved and no longer exists
Regional Competitions
editEast Pilbara Rugby League
edit
Tom Price Steelers Rugby League Club
Paraburdoo Pirates Touch & Rugby League Football Club
Pannawonica Panthers
Goldfields Rugby League
edit
Goldfields Titans (Kalgoorlie)
Kimberley Rugby League
edit
Pilbara Rugby League
editThe Pilbara Rugby League is a seven club competition in the north-west of Western Australia. The clubs are:[4]
Notable WARL juniors competed in the NRL and NRLW
editThis article may contain unverified or indiscriminate information in embedded lists. (February 2015) |
- Russell Addison (1960-61 South Sydney Rabbitohs)
- Brian Wedgewood (1967-70 Canterbury Bulldogs)
- Jon Grieve (1991-97 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles & Western Reds)
- Jon Green (2006-13 Canterbury Bulldogs, St George Illawarra & Cronulla Sharks)[5]
- Bryson Goodwin (2007-20 Cronulla Sharks, Canterbury Bulldogs & South Sydney Rabbitohs)[6]
- Bronx Goodwin (2007-12 Canberra Raiders, Cronulla Sharks & St George Illawarra)[6]
- Cory Paterson (2007-14 Newcastle Knights, North Queensland Cowboys & Wests Tigers)[7]
- Rueben Cherrington (2022 - Parramatta Eels)
- Kurt De Luis (2021-22 Manly Sea Eagles)
- Luke Goodwin (1992-99 Canterbury Bulldogs, Penrith Panthers, Western Reds & Western Suburbs Magpies)[6]
- Jarrad Millar (1997 Western Reds)
- Daniel Holdsworth (2004-14 Cronulla Sharks, St George Illawarra & Canterbury Bulldogs)[8]
- Josh Rogers (2023- Brisbane Broncos)
Belmont Steelers
edit- Lee Te Maari (2006-10 St George Illawarra, Canterbury Bulldogs & Parramatta Eels)[9]
- Curtis Rona (2014–16 North Queensland Cowboys, Canterbury Bulldogs)[10]
- Waqa Blake (2015- Penrith Panthers, Parramatta Eels)[11]
- Anneka Taia-Stephens (2018- St George-Illawarra Dragons)
- Royce Hunt (2016- Canberra Raiders, Cronulla)
- Jordan Pererira (2018- St George Illawarra Dragons, Brisbane Broncos)
- Shanice Parker (2019- Sydney Roosters, Newcastle Knights)
Ellenbrook Rabbitohs
edit- Jackson Topine (2020-23 Canterbury Bulldogs)
Rockingham Coastal Sharks
edit- Kennedy Cherrington (2020-2024 [Sydney Roosters][Parramatta Eels])
- Rueben Cherrington (2022 - Parramatta Eels)
South Headland Cougars
editSee also
edit
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g "WARL – Our History". Western Australian Rugby League. Retrieved 2 December 2009.
- ^ "WA Rugby League Staff Members". Western Australian Rugby League. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
- ^ 1982 Western Australia vs Australia at Rugby League Project
- ^ "Pilbara Rugby League". Retrieved 15 September 2012.
- ^ Barrows, Tim (10 February 2010). "Jon Green embarks on Perth with Dragons". The Age. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
- ^ a b c Taylor, Nick (2 June 2015). "Goodwin chasing win for Souths and softer landing". The West Australian. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
- ^ Proszenko, Adrian (8 July 2007). "How a Brave Dad and dead uncle spurs this young knight to chase dreams of glory". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
- ^ Forrest, Brad (6 March 2014). "DJ looks set for chance in halves". St George & Sutherland Shire Leader. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
- ^ Webeck, Tony (18 April 2014). "Roosters trash a Cowboy". NRL.com. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
- ^ Stewart, Antony (22 April 2014). "North Queensland Cowboys Perth Product Curtis Rona strengthens West Coast Pirates NRL expansion case". Townsville Bulletin. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
- ^ Walshaw, Nick (26 April 2015). "Waqa Blake a Future State of Origin Star". The Daily Telegraph. Sydney. Retrieved 30 April 2015.