Newcastle & Hunter Rugby League

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.

Newcastle & Hunter Rugby League
SportRugby league
Formerly known asLower Hunter
Instituted2006
Inaugural season2007
Number of teams55
Country Australia
Premiers Dora Creek Swampies (2022)
Most titles Dora Creek Swampies (4 titles)
Website[1]
Broadcast partnerBar TV Sports (Australia)

History

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The 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

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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

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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

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Lake Macquarie Forklift Services A Grade Premiers

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Season Grand Finals Minor Premiers
Premiers Score Runners-up Venue
A Grade – Lower Hunter Rugby League
1990   West Wallsend Magpies 23–10   Raymond Terrace Magpies   Raymond Terrace Magpies
1991   Hexham   Swansea-Caves Beach Swans   Swansea-Caves Beach Swans
1992   Hexham 31–8   Windale Eagles   Windale Eagles
1993   Raymond Terrace Magpies 20–18   Hexham   Hexham
1994   Windale Eagles 18–16   Hexham   Windale Eagles
1995   Windale Eagles 24–20   Raymond Terrace Magpies   Raymond Terrace Magpies
1996   Woodberry 30–20   Dora Creek Swampies Harker Oval   Woodberry
1997   Cardiff Cobras 19–16   Raymond Terrace Magpies   Raymond Terrace Magpies
1998   Raymond Terrace Magpies 21–16   Cardiff Cobras Passmore Oval   Raymond Terrace Magpies
1999   Lambton Kingfishers 20–16   Raymond Terrace Magpies   Lambton Kingfishers
2000   Lambton Kingfishers 13–4   Cardiff Cobras   Lambton Kingfishers
2001   Dudley Magpies 22–0   Cardiff Cobras   Cardiff Cobras
2002   Dudley Magpies 36–14   University   Dudley Magpies
2003 Unknown
2004 Unknown
2005   Dudley Magpies 32–2   Dora Creek Swampies
2006   Dora Creek Swampies 31–24   Shortland Devils   Shortland Devils
A Grade – Newcastle & Hunter Rugby League
2007   Cardiff Cobras   Mallabula Panthers   Cardiff Cobras
2008 Unknown
2009   Wyong 42–22   Cardiff Cobras St John Oval   Wyong
2010   Wangi Wangi 38–18   West Wallsend Magpies Harker Oval   Wangi Wangi
2011   Windale Eagles 20–16   Mallabula Panthers Lakeside Ground   Windale Eagles
2012   Wallsend-Maryland Tigers 44–16   Windale Eagles Cahill Oval   Windale Eagles
2013   Wallsend-Maryland Tigers 35–16   Belmont South Rabbitohs Harker Oval   Wallsend-Maryland Tigers
2014   Cardiff Cobras 16–14   Windale Eagles Kurri Kurri Sportsground   Belmont South Rabbitohs
2015   Belmont South Rabbitohs 34–10   Tea Gardens Hawks Lakeside Ground   Belmont South Rabbitohs
2016   Windale Eagles 18–10   Shortland Devils Harker Oval   Windale Eagles
2017   Fingal Bay Bomboras 31–26   Shortland Devils No1 Sportsground   Dora Creek Swampies
2018   Shortland Devils 36–4   Stockton Sharks No1 Sportsground   Stockton Sharks
2019   Dora Creek Swampies 44–4   Belmont South Rabbitohs Waratah Oval   Dora Creek Swampies
2020   Thornton Beresfield Bears 22–18   Dora Creek Swampies St John Oval   Dora Creek Swampies
2021   Dora Creek Swampies   Dora Creek Swampies

Women's Tackle Premiers

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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

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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

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B Grade Premiers

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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

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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

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The 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

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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

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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

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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

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Season Grand Finals League Premiers
Premiers Score Runners-up
2019   Stroud 12 – 4   Dungog   Stroud

References

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  1. ^ "Cessnock Cutters v Tea Gardens Hawks grand final: Photos". 16 September 2014.
  2. ^ "Panthers grand final success | Pictures". 22 September 2015.
  3. ^ "Bomboras claim premiership | Video, photos". 12 September 2016.
  4. ^ "Raymond Terrace Magpies claim premiership with 18–12 victory: PHOTOS". 14 September 2014.
  5. ^ "44-year drought broken with Paterson River winning league grand final". 21 September 2015.
  6. ^ "Dungog Warriors fall at last hurdle | PHOTOS". 12 September 2016.
  7. ^ "Karuah Roos claim first title since 1975". 12 September 2016.
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