The S. G. Ball Cup is a junior rugby league football competition played predominantly in New South Wales, between teams made up of male players aged under 19. Teams from Canberra and Melbourne, and Auckland (New Zealand Warriors) also participate. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic in New South Wales a team from Perth (West Coast Pirates) also participated. The competition is administered by the New South Wales Rugby League. The competition includes both junior representative teams of NRL and NSW Cup clubs that do not field a team in the NRL competition.

S. G. Ball Cup
Current season or competition:
[[2024 S.G. Ball Cup]]
SportRugby league
Instituted1965
Inaugural season1965
Number of teams15
Country Australia
Premiers St George Dragons (4th title) (2024)
Most titles Parramatta Eels (14 titles)
WebsiteS. G. Ball Cup
Related competitionHarold Matthews Cup
Laurie Daley Cup
Mal Meninga Cup

The S. G. Ball Cup is named after S. G. "George" Ball, one of the five people responsible for the formation of the South Sydney Rabbitohs, and who was club secretary for over fifty years.

Clubs

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In 2023, 16 clubs fielded teams in the NSWRL S G Ball Cup.

In 2020, 18 clubs fielded teams in the NSWRL S G Ball Cup. After the sixth round on March 14 & 15, the 2020 competition was suspended and subsequently cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia.[1] Three teams from 2020 that did not return in 2021 were:

Previous teams that participated in the SG Ball Cup include: Gold Coast Titans (2008–09), Newtown Jets (1970s, early 1980s & 2009), Western Sydney Academy of Sport (2007–17).

Melbourne Storm competed in the S.G. Ball Cup from 2009 to 2014, did not compete from 2015 to 2018, and competed as the Victoria Thunderbolts from 2020 to 2022. The club returned as the Melbourne Storm from the 2023 season.

S. G. Ball Cup Premiers

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1965 to Current

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Year Premiers Score Runners Up Minor Premiers Wooden Spoon Notes
1965   South Sydney Rabbitohs 5 – 4   Canterbury Bulldogs Not applicable – Knock-Out Competition
1966   Parramatta Eels 12 – 0   South Sydney Rabbitohs   Parramatta Eels   North Sydney Bears
1967   Parramatta Eels 7 – 2   South Sydney Rabbitohs   Canterbury Bulldogs   Newtown Jets
1968   Parramatta Eels 7 – 4   South Sydney Rabbitohs   Parramatta Eels   North Sydney Bears [2]
1969   South Sydney Rabbitohs 13 – 3   Penrith Panthers   South Sydney Rabbitohs   Newtown Jets [3]
1970   St George Dragons 12 – 10   Parramatta Eels   South Sydney Rabbitohs   Eastern Suburbs Roosters [4]
1971   Western Suburbs Magpies 7 – 3   South Sydney Rabbitohs   South Sydney Rabbitohs   Newtown Jets [5]
1972   Canterbury Bulldogs 13 – 8   Parramatta Eels   Parramatta Eels   North Sydney Bears [6]
1973   Parramatta Eels 19 – 10   Penrith Panthers   Penrith Panthers   North Sydney Bears [7]
1974   South Sydney Rabbitohs 12 – 8   Balmain Tigers   Balmain Tigers   North Sydney Bears
1975   South Sydney Rabbitohs 13 – 2   St George Dragons   Parramatta Eels   Newtown Jets
1976   South Sydney Rabbitohs 28 – 3   Western Suburbs Magpies   South Sydney Rabbitohs   North Sydney Bears
1977   Penrith Panthers 00 – 00   Parramatta Eels
1978   Canterbury Bulldogs 14 – 0   Penrith Panthers 12 teams split into 2 zones of 6 teams.
Semi-Finals were Zone 1 1st-place vs Zone 2 2nd-place,
and Zone 2 1st-place vs Zone 1 2nd-place.
[8]
1979   South Sydney Rabbitohs 8 – 0   Balmain Tigers [9]
1980   South Sydney Rabbitohs 23 – 10   Balmain Tigers [10]
1981   Penrith Panthers 18 – 9   Balmain Tigers [11]
1982   Balmain Tigers 25 – 16   Newtown Jets   Cronulla Sharks   Eastern Suburbs Roosters [12][13]
1983   Parramatta Eels 30 – 0   Western Suburbs Magpies   Western Suburbs Magpies   Newtown Jets
1984   St George Dragons 18 – 16   Parramatta Eels   Parramatta Eels   Western Suburbs Magpies [14]
1985   Parramatta Eels 32 – 12   St George Dragons   Canterbury Bulldogs   Western Suburbs Magpies
1986   South Sydney Rabbitohs 16 – 8   Parramatta Eels   South Sydney Rabbitohs
1987   Parramatta Eels 32 – 10   Canberra Raiders   Parramatta Eels   Eastern Suburbs Roosters [15]
1988   Parramatta Eels 20 – 10   Penrith Panthers [16]
1989   Illawarra Steelers 32 – 22   Penrith Panthers   Illawarra Steelers   Eastern Suburbs Roosters [17]
1990   Newcastle Knights 23 – 10   Manly Sea Eagles   Newcastle Knights   Eastern Suburbs Roosters
1991   Parramatta Eels 32 – 6   Manly Sea Eagles   Manly Sea Eagles   Eastern Suburbs Roosters
1992   St George Dragons 20 – 0   Canterbury Bulldogs   St George Dragons   Eastern Suburbs Roosters
1993   Parramatta Eels 28 – 20   St George Dragons [18]
1994   South Sydney Rabbitohs 22 – 20   Newcastle Knights [19]
1995   Canberra Raiders 36 – 6   Penrith Panthers   Canberra Raiders [20]
1996   Illawarra Steelers 8 – 0   Parramatta Eels   Illawarra Steelers   Canterbury Bulldogs
1997   Sydney City Roosters 11 – 10   Newcastle Knights   Newcastle Knights [21]
1998   South Sydney Rabbitohs 20 – 16   Manly Sea Eagles   Illawarra Steelers   Canterbury Bulldogs
1999   Parramatta Eels 38 – 6   Illawarra Steelers   Parramatta Eels   St George Dragons [22]
2000   Penrith Panthers 28 – 24   Illawarra Steelers   Newcastle Knights   Western Suburbs Magpies [23]
2001   Newcastle Knights 34 – 26   Penrith Panthers   Parramatta Eels   St George Dragons
2002   Western Suburbs Magpies 18 – 16   Parramatta Eels   Illawarra Steelers   Manly Sea Eagles
2003   Canberra Raiders 16 – 4   Parramatta Eels   Parramatta Eels   St George Dragons [24][25]
2004   Newcastle Knights 42 – 16   South Sydney Rabbitohs   Sydney Roosters   North Sydney Bears
2005   Canberra Raiders 34 – 12   Illawarra Steelers   Parramatta Eels   North Sydney Bears
2006   Penrith Panthers 18 – 16   South Sydney Rabbitohs   Parramatta Eels   North Sydney Bears
2007   Parramatta Eels 22 – 12   Penrith Panthers   Penrith Panthers   Western Sydney Academy
2008   Sydney Roosters 38 – 20   Parramatta Eels   Canterbury Bulldogs   North Sydney Bears
2009   Canterbury Bulldogs 42 – 16   Melbourne Storm   St George Dragons   Western Suburbs Magpies
2010   Sydney Roosters 28 – 24   Parramatta Eels   Cronulla Sharks   Central Coast Centurions
2011   Newcastle Knights 25 – 24   Canterbury Bulldogs   Western Suburbs Magpies   Western Sydney Academy
2012   Balmain Tigers 42 – 20   Canberra Raiders   Balmain Tigers   Western Sydney Academy
2013   Balmain Tigers 14 – 6   Penrith Panthers   Penrith Panthers   West Coast Pirates
2014   Sydney Roosters 34 – 30   Penrith Panthers   Parramatta Eels   West Coast Pirates
2015   Cronulla Sharks 24 – 16   South Sydney Rabbitohs   Canberra Raiders   North Sydney Bears
2016   Penrith Panthers 25 – 10   Illawarra Steelers   Newcastle Knights   West Coast Pirates
2017   Parramatta Eels 30 – 22   Cronulla Sharks   Cronulla Sharks   West Coast Pirates
2018   Penrith Panthers 25 – 14   Canterbury Bulldogs   Sydney Roosters   West Coast Pirates
2019   Illawarra Steelers 34 – 23   Manly Sea Eagles   Manly Sea Eagles   West Coast Pirates
2020 Season was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[26]
2021   Canberra Raiders 18 – 14   Illawarra Steelers   Sydney Roosters   North Sydney Bears [27]
2022   Penrith Panthers 22 – 20   Sydney Roosters   Sydney Roosters   Victoria Thunderbolts [28]
2023   Parramatta Eels 28 – 22   Newcastle Knights |   Canberra Raiders   Melbourne Storm [29]
2024   St George Dragons 40 – 18   Canterbury Bulldogs   Sydney Roosters   Balmain Tigers [30][31]
  • U16/s from 1965 until 2005
  • U18/s from 2006 until 2020
  • U19/s from 2021 onwards

Premiership Tally

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No. Club Seasons
1   Parramatta Eels 14 (1966, 1967, 1968, 1973, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1991, 1993, 1999, 2007, 2017, 2023)
2   South Sydney Rabbitohs 10 (1965, 1969, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1979, 1980, 1986, 1994, 1998)
3   Penrith Panthers 7 (1977, 1981, 2000, 2006, 2016, 2018, 2022)
4   Canberra Raiders 4 (1995, 2003, 2005, 2021)
4   Newcastle Knights 4 (1990, 2001, 2004, 2011)
4   Sydney Roosters 4 (1997, 2008, 2010, 2014)
4   St George Dragons 4 (1970, 1984, 1992, 2024)
8   Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 3 (1972, 1978, 2009)
8   Balmain Tigers 3 (1982, 2012, 2013)
8   Illawarra Steelers 3 (1989, 1996, 2019)
11   Western Suburbs Magpies 2 (1971, 2002)
12   Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 1 (2015)

Bold means the team still currently play in the competition.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "NSWRL cancels nine competitions for 2020 season". NSWRL. 27 March 2020. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  2. ^ New South Wales Rugby Football League. "Souths, Parramatta Share Junior Cup Honours". The Rugby League News. 49 (26 (June 22, 1968)). Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League. Retrieved 8 September 2020 – via Trove.
  3. ^ New South Wales Rugby Football League. "Souths Take Junior Cups". The Rugby League News. 50 (22 (June 21, 1969)). Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League. Retrieved 8 September 2020 – via Trove.
  4. ^ New South Wales Rugby Football League. "JUNIOR FINALS". The Rugby League News. 51 (26 (June 27, 1970)). Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League. Retrieved 8 September 2020 – via Trove.
  5. ^ New South Wales Rugby Football League. "Junior Stars Called Up". The Rugby League News. 52 (24 (July 3, 1971)). Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League. Retrieved 8 September 2020 – via Trove.
  6. ^ New South Wales Rugby Football League. "The Juniors - A Goal-Kicking Discovery". The Rugby League News. 53 (23 (June 24, 1972)). Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League. Retrieved 8 September 2020 – via Trove.
  7. ^ New South Wales Rugby Football League. "Cup to Balmain". The Rugby League News. 54 (24 (June 23, 1973)). Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League. Retrieved 8 September 2020 – via Trove.
  8. ^ "Junior Representative Finals". Big League. 59 (13): 39. 17 May 1978.
  9. ^ "Junior Representative Finals". Big League. 60 (16): 33. 6 June 1979.
  10. ^ "Junior Representative Finals". Big League. 61 (14): 37. 28 May 1980.
  11. ^ "Junior Representative Finals". Big League. 62 (15): 42. 3 June 1981.
  12. ^ "S.G. Ball Competition". Big League. 63 (10): 40. 28 April 1982.
  13. ^ "Junior Rep Finals Results". Big League. 63 (12): 38. 12 May 1982.
  14. ^ "Sports results, details". The Canberra Times. Canberra: National Library of Australia. 17 June 1984. p. 30. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  15. ^ Middleton, David (1987). Rugby League 1987-88. Sydney: Lester-Townsend Publishing. p. 139. ISBN 0949853119.
  16. ^ "Times Sport". The Canberra Times. Canberra: National Library of Australia. 14 June 1988. p. 27. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  17. ^ Middleton, David (1990). Rugby League 1989-90. Sydney: Lester-Townsend Publishing. p. 147. ISBN 0949853321.
  18. ^ "Sport". The Canberra Times. Canberra: National Library of Australia. 6 June 1993. p. 12. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  19. ^ "Siren Scores". The Canberra Times. Canberra: National Library of Australia. 5 June 1994. p. 12. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  20. ^ Hannan, Bevan (25 June 1995). "Close shave for Raiders' coach as reserves team makes it six". The Canberra Times. Canberra: National Library of Australia. p. 16. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  21. ^ Middleton, David (1998). Rugby League 1998. Sydney: Harper Sports. pp. 210–211. ISBN 0732264243.
  22. ^ Middleton, David (2000). Rugby League 2000. Sydney: Harper Sports. p. 253. ISBN 0732265576.
  23. ^ Middleton, David (2001). Rugby League 2001. Sydney: Harper Sports. p. 258. ISBN 0732269261.
  24. ^ "Monday Scoreboard - Part 2 - Netball-Water Polo". Daily Telegraph. News Limited. 19 May 2003. p. 48.
  25. ^ "Ball final goes to Raiders". Canberra Times. Fairfax. 18 May 2003. p. 61.
  26. ^ "NSWRL cancels nine competitions for 2020 season". New South Wales Rugby League. 27 March 2020. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  27. ^ McEnally, Andrew (1 May 2021). "Raiders hold off Steelers in hard fought UNE SG Ball Cup Grand Final win". NSWRL. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
  28. ^ Honeysett, Stuart (30 April 2022). "Panthers stage stunning fightback to claim SG Ball Cup premiership". NSWRL. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  29. ^ McDonald, Margie (29 April 2023). "Eels able to outlast determined Knights". NSWRL. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  30. ^ Micallef, Tayla (27 April 2024). "Dragons break 32-year drought". NSWRL. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  31. ^ Beatton, Joel (27 April 2024). "SG Ball Cup: Dragons complete dream season with Grand Final dominance". Dragons.com.au. Retrieved 27 April 2024.