Newcastle & Hunter Community Rugby League is the governing body of second tier rugby league in the Newcastle and Hunter region. Formed in 2006 after a merger between the Maitland & Coalfields Rugby League and Lower Hunter Rugby League Competitions. It is now the largest senior Rugby League competition in the world. Newcastle & Hunter Rugby League competitions consists of five senior men's divisions, A Grade, B Grade, C Grade, Northern Conference & Southern Conference, as well as two Ladies League Tag divisions and Ladies Tackle. Currently there are over 50 men's teams, as well as 18 Ladies League Tag teams and 8 Ladies Tackle teams.
| Sport | Rugby league |
|---|---|
| Formerly known as | Lower Hunter |
| Instituted | 2006 |
| Inaugural season | 2007 |
| Number of teams | 55 |
| Country |  Australia |
| Premiers |  Dora Creek Swampies (2022) |
| Most titles | Dora Creek Swampies (4 titles) |
| Website | [1] |
| Broadcast partner | Bar TV Sports (Australia) |
History
editThe inaugural season of Newcastle & Hunter Rugby League was 2007 after the amalgamation of the Lower Hunter Rugby League and the Hunter Valley Rugby League. 23 clubs (24 teams) entered 3 grades in the first season.
Current Clubs
edit| Club | Year Entered | City/Region | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|
| A-Grade | |||
 Dudley Magpies
|
1981 | Lake Macquarie | Dudley Park |
 Kotara Bears
|
Newcastle | Hudson Park | |
 South Newcastle Lions
|
2022 | Newcastle | Townson Oval |
 Swansea Swans RLFC
|
1967 | Lake Macquarie | Parbury Park |
 University of Newcastle Seahorses
|
Lake Macquarie | Bernie Curran Oval | |
 Windale
|
1962 | Lake Macquarie | Mick Bird Oval |
 Woodberry Warriors
|
Maitland | Fred Harvey Oval | |
| B-Grade | |||
 Awabakal United
|
2018 | Lake Macquarie | Walters Park |
 Glendale Gorillas
|
1967 | Lake Macquarie | Bower Oval |
 Maitland Pickers
|
2022 | Maitland | Maitland Sportsground |
 Northern Lakes Warriors
|
1976 | Central Coast | Northern Lakes RLFC |
 Raymond Terrace Magpies
|
Port Stephens | Lakeside Complex | |
 Wangi Wangi Warriors
|
Lake Macquarie | Wangi Oval | |
 Waratah Mayfield
|
Newcastle | Waratah Oval | |
 West Wallsend Magpies
|
Lake Macquarie | Les Wakeman Oval | |
| C-Grade North | |||
 Aberglasslyn Ants
|
2017 | Maitland | McKeachies Paddock |
 Abermain-Weston Hawks
|
1910 | Cessnock | Kurri Kurri Sportsground |
 Dungog Warriors
|
1930 | Dungog | Bennett Park |
 Fingal Bay Bomboras
|
1998 | Port Stephens | Fingal Bay Oval |
 Kurri Kurri Bulldogs
|
Kurri Kurri | Kurri Kurri Sportsground | |
 Kearsley Crushers
|
2017 | Cessnock | Jeffrey Park |
 Maitland United
|
2017 | Maitland | Coronation Park |
 Thornton-Beresfield Bears
|
Newcastle | Somerset Park | |
| C-Grade South | |||
 Budgewoi Bulldogs
|
2019 | Central Coast | Hallakulani Oval |
| Dora Creek Swampies (C-Grade)
|
Lake Macquarie | Neville Thompson Oval | |
 Hamilton Ducks
|
2019 | Newcastle | Learmont Park |
 Lakes United Seagulls
|
1947 | Lake Macquarie | Cahill Oval |
 Morisset Bulls
|
Lake Macquarie | Gibson Oval | |
| Northern Lakes Warriors (C-Grade)
|
1976 | Central Coast | Northern Lakes RLFC |
 Shortland Devils
|
Newcastle | Tuxford Park | |
 Wallsend Maryland Tigers
|
Newcastle | The Grange | |
| Northern Conference | |||
 Clarence Town Cobras
|
1975 | Dungog | Clarence Town Park |
| Gloucester Magpies
|
Gloucester | Bert Gallagher Oval | |
 Karuah Roos
|
Port Stephens | Lionel Morten Oval | |
 Paterson River
|
Maitland | Paterson Showground | |
| Raymond Terrace Magpies (2nd)
|
Port Stephens | Lakeside Complex | |
 Stroud Raiders
|
Stroud | Stroud Showground | |
 Tea Gardens Hawks
|
Tea Gardens | Myall Park | |
| Waratah Mayfield (2nd North)
|
Newcastle | Waratah Oval | |
| Southern Conference | |||
 Cardiff Cobras
|
1934 | Lake Macquarie | Cardiff Oval |
 East Maitland Griffins
|
Maitland | King Edward Park | |
| Glendale Gorillas
|
1967 | Lake Macquarie | Bower Oval |
| Hinton Hornets
|
Maitland | Stuart Park | |
 Morpeth Bulls
|
Maitland | Ray Lawler Reserve | |
 Stockton Sharks
|
Newcastle | Lynn Oval | |
| Waratah Mayfield (2nd South)
|
Newcastle | Waratah Oval | |
| West Wallsend Magpies (2nd)
|
Lake Macquarie | Les Wakeman Oval | |
| League Tag only teams | |||
 Central Charlestown Butcher Boys
|
Newcastle | St John Oval | |
Former clubs
edit| Club | First Season | Last Season | Home Ground | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belmont Sharks
|
Barton Field | Lake Macquarie | ||
| Belmont North Broncos
|
Lenaghan Oval | Lake Macquarie | ||
 Belmont South Rabbitohs
|
2011 | Leneghan Oval | Lake Macquarie | |
| Bolton Point | 1997 | ? | ? | Lake Macquarie |
 Booragul Bears
|
? | 1996 | Tulkaba Park | Lake Macquarie |
| Bulahdelah Woodchoppers (Chairman Donald R. Doston) |
Established 1909 Chairman Donald R. DOSTON | Present club house stands and run by D.R Doston 2023 sponsor WD-40 | Bulahdelah Sports Ground (WD-40 Stadium) formarly Coopers Pale Playing Grounds. | Mid North Coast |
 Carrington Pirates
|
Connelly Oval | Newcastle | ||
 Cessnock Cutters
|
2014 | Cessnock | ||
| Elermore Vale Miners | 1995 | 1998 | Newcastle | |
| Gateshead Zebras | 1972 | 2013 | Alan Davis Oval | Lake Macquarie |
| Hamilton Pumas | Learmonth Park | |||
| Lakeside Hawks | Lakeside Sports Complex | Port Stephens | ||
 Lambton Kingfishers
|
1998 | 2016 | Ford Oval | Newcastle |
 Mallabula Panthers
|
Port Stephens | Vince Woodman Field | ||
 Merewether Storm
|
1998 | 1998 | Empire Park | Newcastle |
 Mt Hutton Mountain Lions
|
Lake Macquarie | |||
 North Newcastle Blue Bags
|
1989 | 2018 | Passmore Oval | Newcastle |
| Ourimbah-Wyoming Magpies
|
2022 | Bill Sohier Park | Central Coast | |
| Tall Timbers Timber Cutters
|
2019 | Central Coast | Bill Sohier Park | |
 Thornton Beresfield Bears
|
2010 | 2020 | Maitland | |
| Warners Bay-Mt Hutton | 1997 | 1997 | Mt Hutton Oval | Lake Macquarie |
| Williamtown/Hexham Jets
|
Hexham Oval | Port Stephens | ||
 West Maitland Wallaroos
|
Coronation Oval | Maitland | ||
| Westlakes Wolves | 1998 | 2002 | Tulkaba Park | Lake Macquarie |
Major Grades
editLake Macquarie Forklift Services A Grade Premiers
edit
Women's Tackle Premiers
edit| Season | Grand Finals | Minor Premiers | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premiers | Score | Runners-up | Venue | ||
| 2019 |  Berkeley Vale Panthers
|
32–4 | Waratah Mayfield Cheetahs
|
Waratah Oval | Berkeley Vale Panthers
|
| 2020 | Berkeley Vale Panthers
|
24–14 |  Aberglasslyn Ants
|
Lakeside Sporting Complex | Berkeley Vale Panthers
|
Ladies League Tag Division One
edit| Season | Grand Finals | League Premiers | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premiers | Score | Runners-up | Venue | ||
| 2016 |  Umina Bunnies
|
20–0 | University She Horses
|
Harker Oval | Umina Bunnies
|
| 2017 | Aberglasslyn Ants
|
18–0 | University She Horses
|
No1 Sportsground | Aberglasslyn Ants
|
| 2018 | Aberglasslyn Ants
|
18–4 | University She Horses
|
No1 Sportsground | Aberglasslyn Ants
|
| 2019 | Aberlgasslyn Ants
|
20–0 | University She Horses
|
Waratah Oval | Aberglasslyn Ants
|
| 2020 | Aberlgasslyn Ants
|
14–2 | University She Horses
|
St John Oval | Aberlgasslyn Ants
|
Minor Grades
editB Grade Premiers
edit| Season | Grand Finals | League Premiers | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premiers | Score | Runners-up | ||
| 2007 | Windale Eagles
|
20 – 16 | Morisset Bulls
|
Windale Eagles
|
| 2008 | ||||
| 2009 |  Tea Gardens
|
26 – 24 |  Wangi Wangi
|
Central Wyong |
| 2010 | Mallabula
|
16 – 12 | Raymond Terrace
|
Woodberry
|
| 2011 | Tea Gardens
|
30 – 28 | Raymond Terrace
|
Raymond Terrace
|
| 2012 |  Stockton
|
44 – 18 | Raymond Terrace
|
Raymond Terrace
|
| 2013 | Shortland
|
22 – 14 | Morisset Bulls
|
Morisset Bulls
|
| 2014[1] | Cessnock Cutters
|
34 – 26 | Tea Gardens
|
University
|
| 2015[2] |  Mallabula
|
16 – 6 | Waratah Mayfield
|
Lambton Kingfishers
|
| 2016[3] | Fingal Bay
|
28 – 24 | West Wallsend
|
West Wallsend
|
| 2017 | Dudley
|
14 – 10 | Kotara
|
Kotara
|
| 2018 | Woodberry
|
46 – 10 | University
|
Woodberry
|
| 2019 | West Wallsend
|
18 – 16 | University
|
Morpeth Bulls
|
| 2020 | Waratah Mayfield
|
8–4 | Aberglasslyn
|
Waratah Mayfield
|
C Grade Premiers
edit| Season | Grand Finals | League Premiers | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premiers | Score | Runners-up | ||
| 2009 | Thornton-Beresfield
|
32 – 16 | Hinton
|
Thornton-Beresfield
|
| 2010 | Dungog
|
28 – 20 | Dora Creek
|
Dungog
|
| 2011 | Swansea
|
24 – 18 | Paterson River
|
Swansea
|
| 2012 | Dudley
|
17 – 16 | Fingal Bay
|
Fingal Bay
|
| 2013 |  Gateshead Zebras
|
28 – 24 | Stroud
|
Gateshead Zebras
|
| 2014[4] | Raymond Terrace
|
18 – 12 | Waratah Mayfield
|
Waratah Mayfield
|
| 2015[5] | Paterson River
|
24 – 4 | Morisset Bulls
|
Paterson River
|
| 2016[6] | Carrington Pirates
|
24 – 18 | Dungog Warriors
|
Carrington Pirates
|
| 2017 | Waratah Mayfield
|
42 – 28 | Abermain-Weston Hawks
|
Abermain-Weston Hawks
|
| 2018 | Windale Eagles
|
24 – 16 | East Maitland Griffins
|
East Maitland Griffins
|
| 2019 |  Tall Timbers
|
30 – 12 | Aberglasslyn Ants
|
Aberglasslyn Ants
|
| 2020 | Budgewoi Bulldogs
|
22 – 12 | Hamilton Ducks
|
Budgewoi Bulldogs
|
D Grade Premiers
editThe competition was split into Northern & Southern Conferences in 2018 and 2019.
| Season | Grand Finals | League Premiers | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premiers | Score | Runners-up | ||
| 2009 | Gateshead
|
19 – 18 | Fingal Bay
|
Fingal Bay
|
| 2010 | Stroud
|
32 – 18 | Clarence Town
|
Stroud
|
| 2011 | Gloucester Magpies
|
38 – 24 | Morisset Bulls
|
Gloucester Magpies
|
| 2012 | Abermain-Weston Hawks
|
34 – 26 | Hinton
|
Abermain-Weston Hawks
|
| 2013 | Carrington Pirates
|
22 – 18 | Thornton Beresfield
|
Carrington Pirates
|
| 2014 | Williamtown
|
25 – 18 | Karuah
|
Williamtown
|
| 2015 | Clarence Town
|
30 – 20 | Kotara Bears
|
Kotara Bears
|
| 2016[7] | Karuah
|
24 – 20 | Hinton
|
Hinton
|
| 2017 | Glendale
|
44 – 30 | Cardiff Cobras
|
Glendale
|
Northern Conference
edit| Season | Grand Finals | League Premiers | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premiers | Score | Runners-up | ||
| 2018 | Paterson River
|
42 – 16 | Gloucester Magpies
|
Gloucester Magpies
|
| 2019 | Dungog
|
22 – 16 | Stroud
|
Clarence Town
|
| 2020 | Kearsley Crushers
|
18 – 12 | Kotara Bears
|
Kotara Bears
|
Southern Conference
edit| Season | Grand Finals | League Premiers | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premiers | Score | Runners-up | ||
| 2018 | Abermain-Weston Hawks
|
18 – 6 | Cardiff Cobras
|
Kotara Bears
|
| 2019 | Hamilton
|
26 – 14 | Kotara
|
Swansea
|
Ladies League Tag Division Two
edit| Season | Grand Finals | League Premiers | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premiers | Score | Runners-up | ||
| 2017 | Cardiff Cobras
|
8–6 | West Wallsend Magpies
|
No title |
| 2018 |  Mallabula Black Cats
|
8–0 | Swansea Swans
|
Mallabula Black Cats
|
| 2019 | West Wallsend
|
32–0 | Wangi Wangi
|
Tea Gardens
|
| 2020 | Shortland Devils
|
10–6 | Dungog Warriors
|
Shortland Devils
|
Ladies League Tag C Grade
edit| Season | Grand Finals | League Premiers | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premiers | Score | Runners-up | ||
| 2019 | Stroud
|
12 – 4 | Dungog
|
Stroud
|
References
edit- ^ "Cessnock Cutters v Tea Gardens Hawks grand final: Photos". 16 September 2014.
- ^ "Panthers grand final success | Pictures". 22 September 2015.
- ^ "Bomboras claim premiership | Video, photos". 12 September 2016.
- ^ "Raymond Terrace Magpies claim premiership with 18–12 victory: PHOTOS". 14 September 2014.
- ^ "44-year drought broken with Paterson River winning league grand final". 21 September 2015.
- ^ "Dungog Warriors fall at last hurdle | PHOTOS". 12 September 2016.
- ^ "Karuah Roos claim first title since 1975". 12 September 2016.