Central Coast Division Rugby League

The Central Coast Division of Country Rugby League is a rugby league competition based on the Central Coast of New South Wales between Sydney and Newcastle. The competition was founded in 1947 as a junior competition for the Newcastle club, Lakes United. The competition rapidly expanded and grew, so much so that in 1967, it was upgraded to full membership of the Country Rugby League as Group 12. In 1981, it was upgraded and renamed Central Coast Division. The division covers the entire region of the Central Coast from Woy Woy and Umina in the south up to Budgewoi and Gwandalan in the north.

Central Coast Division Rugby League
SportRugby league
Formerly known asGroup 12 Rugby League (1967-80)
Instituted1947
Inaugural season1967 (as Group 12 Rugby League)
1981 (as Central Coast Rugby League)
Number of teams11
CountryAustralia
Premiers Toukley Hawks (2023)
Most titles Wyong Roos (20 titles)

Current Clubs

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Club 2023 First Grade Years & Premierships Other Senior Competitions
Name Est Jnr Snr Span 1915–1936 1947–2019 Other Total Span
Senior Clubs
  Berkeley Vale Panthers 1987 Yes 1st 1995–2001, 2003–present 2 2 2nd Division 1987–1994, 2nd Grade 2002; Sydney Women 2015-now
  Dora Creek Swampies No 1st 2024–present Newcastle & Hunter Rugby League –2023
  Erina Eagles 1949 Yes 1st 1949–present (Predecessor 1915, 1919–26, 1930–34, 1936) 2 4 0 6 Jim Beam Cup 2003–2008
  Kincumber Colts 1978 Yes 1st 2004–present (Predecessor 1932–36) 0 1 1 2nd Division 1978–2000; U17 2003
  Terrigal Sharks 1975 Yes 1st 1976–present (Predecessor 1921) 0 2 2 Predecessor 2nd Grade 1931–1932
  The Entrance Tigers 1934 Yes 1st 1947–present 15 3 18 Challenge Cups 1930s; Jim Beam Cup 2003–2007, Ron Massey Cup 2010–2014
  Toukley Hawks 1976 Yes 1st 1979–1994, 2006–2017, 2021–present 0 0 2nd Division 1976–1978, 1995–2005.
  Woy Woy Roosters 1915 Yes 1st 1947–present (Predecessor 1930–1934) 0 18 0 18 Challenge Cups 1935–1941; Jim Beam Cup 2003–2004
  Wyong Roos 1910 Yes 1st 1915, 1919–1924, 1926–1936, 1947–1957, 1960–2006, 2013–present 7 13 1 21 Newcastle: 2nd Grade 1912–1914, 3rd Grade 1945, Southern 1946, 1st Grade 2003–2012; NSW Cup 2013–2017
  Ourimbah Wyoming Magpies 1913 Yes 2nd 1915, 1919–1936, 1947–2019 4 8 0 12 Challenge Cups 1938–1941, 1946; Jim Beam Cup 2003–2005
  Budgewoi-Buff Point Bulldogs 1978 Yes 3rd Nil 2nd Division 1978–2002, 2005; 2nd Grade 2006
  Northern Lakes Warriors 1976 Yes 3rd 1981–1982, 1992–1993 (as Munmorah), 1994–1997, 2004–2017. 2019 0 0 2nd Division 1976–1980, 1983–1990 (as Munmorah), 2000–2003, 2nd Grade 1991, U18 1999, 2nd Grade 2018.
  St Edwards Bears (Gosford) 2013 Yes 3rd Nil U16 1971–1972, 1974; Open Age 2013-present
  Umina Beach Bunnies 1964 Yes 3rd 1964–1995, 1999–2002, 2004–2015 3 3 Newcastle & Hunter A Grade 2017, Ladies League Tag 2016–2017
Junior Only Clubs
  Blue Haven Raiders 2007 Yes No Nil Open Age 2011
  Gosford Kariong Storm 2000 Yes No (Predecessors 1919–1934, 1936, 1948–1999) 3 7 0 10 2nd Division 2000–2005; 2nd Grade 2006; Open Age 2010–2011, 2014, 2016, 2018. Predecessor North Sydney 1928
  Warnervale Bulls 2010 Yes No Nil Nil

Teams Timeline

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This timeline indicates the highest grade played.

Team Numbers

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Team numbers obtained and compiled from results published in the newspapers, Central Coast Express, Wyong Shire Advocate and Central Coast Express Advocate.

Previous Teams

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First Grade

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Current clubs Ourimbah, Wyong and later Woy Woy participated in the Central Coast Rugby League competitions that were held in 1915 and between 1919 and 1936. Teams from Gosford, Erina, Kincumber and Terrigal also competed, predecessors to the current clubs. The following teams were also involved:

  • Matcham (1915)
  • the Yarramalong Bunyips (1917–1923)
  • Jilliby (1919–1921)
  • Narara (1920, 1923)
  • Dora Creek (1921, 1926–1928, 1931–1932)
  • Gosford Light Horse (1925)
  • Mooney (1926)
  • Wyong Creek (1928)
  • Tuggerah Kings (1930–1932)
  • Morisset (1932–1936)
  • Nord's Wharf (1932)
  • Dooralong (1933–1934)

The following teams have participated in Central Coast First or 'A' Grade competitions since 1947:

  • Central Wyong (2006, 2013–15)
  • Gosford Townies/Giants (1948–1999)
  • Kariong Kookaburras (??–1990s)
  • Morisset (1947–1948)
  • Toronto (1954–1959)
  • Rathmines (1955)
  • South Lakes (1958)

Wyong and Morisset combined in 1957 to field teams in A, B, C and D grades. Mount Penang competed in Under 18s from 1969 to 1975. The Gosford Townies fielded grade teams from 1948 to 1999, and junior teams from the 1950s.

Second Division/Open Age

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A Second Division competition ran from 1976 to 2005. Clubs that were promoted to First Division / Grade were Toukley, Northern Lakes (Munmorah), Berkeley Vale and Kincumber. Junior club Budgewoi-Buff Point ran Second Division teams from 1978 to 2002 and in 2005.

Central Wyong competed in Second Division from 1977 to 2005, until 1988 as Grand Hotel. The club entered First Grade in 2006, dropped back to lower grades between 2007 and 2011, spent 2012 in the Newcastle & Hunter competition, and returned to Central Coast First Grade between 2013 and 2015. Central Wyong ran junior teams from 1994 to 2015.

This competition is now known as Open Age.

The teams that competed in Second Division were:

  • Budgewoi-Buff Point Bulldogs (1978–2002, 2005)
  • Central Wyong (1977–2005, 2007–11)
  • Davistown (1976)
  • Milson Island (1976–1979)
  • The Valley (1977–1978)
  • Gwandalan (1977–1978)
  • Doyalson-Wyee (1980–1983)
  • Terrigal Hotel (1981–1985)
  • Woy Woy Hotel (1982–1989)
  • Northlakes (1984–1986)
  • Northern Lakes Warriors (Promoted to 1st Division)
  • Toukley Hawks (Promoted to 1st Division)
  • Berkeley Vale Panthers (Promoted to 1st Division)
  • Kincumber Colts (Promoted to 1st Division)
  • Mangrove Mountain (1988–1998)
  • Tall Timbers Hotel (1989–2005)
  • Peninsula Raiders (1990–2001)
  • Terrigal Marlins (1996–1997)
  • Mannering Park Lions (1997–1998)
  • Magenta Shores Stingrays (1997–2003)
  • Bateau Bay Bees (1999–2005)
  • Kulnura Bears (2000–2007)
  • Wamberal Whales (2000–2005)
  • Long Jetty Jets (2001–2005)
  • Glenworth Valley Dragons (2006–2010)

Central Coast teams in other competitions

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In 2003 four Central Coast teams (Erina, Ourimbah, The Entrance and Woy Woy) decided to field teams in the then Jim Beam Cup, the third highest ranked NSW Competition (below NRL and NSW Cup) featuring mainly Sydney-based competition teams. All teams remained in the Central Coast first grade competition with effectively reserve grade teams. After three seasons, all apart from The Entrance withdrew from the competition. The Entrance Tigers entered teams in the competition until 2007 and again, under different competition names, between 2010 and 2014. The Entrance Tigers won the Jim Beam Cup in 2003 and 2007 and the Ron Massey Cup in 2014.

Also in 2003, Wyong entered the Newcastle Rugby League Competition which was perceived to be a stronger league.[1] Wyong remained part of the Central Coast junior competition and up until 2006, also fielded senior teams locally. Wyong were runner's up in the Newcastle Rugby League in 2007 and First Grade Premiers in 2009. This was Wyong's third stint in Newcastle rugby league competitions, having previously competed in Second Grade in 1912,[2] 1913[3] and 1914;[4] in Third Grade in 1945[5] and in a Southern Newcastle competition in 1946.[6]

In 2013 Wyong left the Newcastle competition in a dispute over salary caps and instead entered a team in the NSW Cup, the second highest level of senior rugby league in NSW after the NRL. For two seasons, Wyong was the only team in that competition without a direct affiliation with an NRL club. At the same time Wyong returned to the Central Coast first grade competition after a six-year absence. In 2015, Wyong affiliated with the Sydney Roosters.

The Berkeley Vale Panthers competed in the NSWRL Sydney Metropolitan Women's Rugby League competition in 2015, 2016 and 2017.

Senior Competition Premiers (2010–present)

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The highest grade of senior rugby league in the Central Coast Division is the First Grade competition. In 2017 ten teams have entered the first grade competition; all ten also field teams in the Reserve Grade competition. Ten teams are competing the 2017 'Open Age' competition, a league for senior players at a standard below the first/reserve grade competition. A Ladies League tag competition began in 2015 and in 2017 involves ten teams and is sponsored by White Lady Funerals.

The 2020 and 2021 seasons were incomplete after being abandoned due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For full lists click the top of the section for that grade.

First grade results

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Year Premiers Grand final score Runners up Minor premiers
2010   Ourimbah Wyoming 22–10   Berkeley Vale   Ourimbah Wyoming
2011   Berkeley Vale 38–18   Ourimbah Wyoming   Ourimbah Wyoming
2012   Kincumber 12–10   Umina Beach   Terrigal
2013   Berkeley Vale 21–20   Erina   Terrigal
2014   Wyong 8–6   Berkeley Vale   Berkeley Vale
2015   The Entrance 22–14   Kincumber   The Entrance
2016   Wyong 20–0   Woy Woy   Wyong
2017   Terrigal 12–4   Wyong   Wyong
2018   The Entrance 30–24   Wyong   The Entrance
2019   The Entrance 16–14   Wyong   Wyong
2022   Toukley 20–10   Erina   Erina
2023   Toukley 8–6   Erina   Erina

Second grade results

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Year Premiers Grand final score Runners up Minor premiers
2010   Berkeley Vale 36–12   Erina   Erina
2011   The Entrance 16–4   Erina   The Entrance
2012   Umina Beach 22–10   Ourimbah Wyoming   Umina Beach
2013   Wyong 42–24   Berkeley Vale   Wyong
2014   Berkeley Vale 26–20   Wyong   Wyong
2015   The Entrance 32–14   Wyong   Wyong
2016   Kincumber 22–14   The Entrance   The Entrance
2017   The Entrance 23–22   Terrigal   The Entrance
2018   The Entrance 34–14   Wyong   Wyong
2019   The Entrance 16–8   Kincumber   The Entrance
2022   Erina 30–4   The Entrance   Erina

Open age results

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Year Premiers Grand final score Runners up Minor premiers
2010   Erina 24–16   Toukley   Erina
2011   Central Wyong 24–18   Berkeley Vale   Erina
2012   Terrigal 24–22   Umina Beach   Umina Beach
2013   Northern Lakes 32–6   Erina   Wyong
2014   Wyong 26–12   Kincumber   Wyong
2015   Ourimbah Wyoming 44–10   Wyong   Ourimbah Wyoming
2016   Berkeley Vale 15–14   St. Edwards   St. Edwards
2017   Erina 22–10   St. Edwards   St. Edwards
2018   Woy Woy 12–7   Erina   Erina
2019   Wyong 22–8   Kincumber   Wyong
2022   Erina 20–16   St. Edwards   St. Edwards

Ladies League tag results

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Year Premiers Grand final score Runners up Minor premiers
2015   Kincumber 18–0   The Entrance   Kincumber
2016   Erina 11–10   The Entrance   The Entrance
2017   Terrigal 26–6   The Entrance   The Entrance
2018   The Entrance 26–10   Terrigal   The Entrance
2019   Wyong 10–4   The Entrance   The Entrance
2022   The Entrance 8–0   Wyong   Wyong

Age-Based Competitions

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Under 19s Results

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Under 18s Results

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Under 17s Results

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Under 16s Results

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Central Coast Division Rugby League - SportingPulse". 24 July 2011. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  2. ^ "Advertising – League Football". The Newcastle Herald. Newcastle: National Library of Australia. 7 June 1912. p. 8. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
  3. ^ "Football". The Newcastle Herald. Newcastle: National Library of Australia. 16 July 1913. p. 2. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
  4. ^ "Football". The Newcastle Herald. Newcastle: National Library of Australia. 16 June 1914. p. 3. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
  5. ^ "Stage Set For Opening on Saturday of League Premiership". The Newcastle Sun. Newcastle: National Library of Australia. 18 April 1945. p. 15. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
  6. ^ "Southern League Finals at Wyong on Sunday". The Newcastle Sun. Newcastle: National Library of Australia. 19 July 1946. p. 12. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
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