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.
Quick Facts Sport, Formerly known as ...
| 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 | |
| Broadcast partner | Bar TV Sports (Australia) |
Close
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.
More information Club, Year Entered ...
| 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 | |
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More information Club, First Season ...
| 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 |
Close
Lake Macquarie Forklift Services A Grade Premiers
More information Season, Grand Finals ...
| 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 | [[File:Dora | 22px|Dora Creek]] Dora Creek Swampies | [[File:Dora | 22px|Dora Creek]] Dora Creek Swampies | |
Close
Women's Tackle Premiers
More information Season, Grand Finals ...
| 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 |
Close
Ladies League Tag Division One
More information Season, Grand Finals ...
| 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 |
Close
B Grade Premiers
More information Season, Grand Finals ...
| 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 |
Close
C Grade Premiers
More information Season, Grand Finals ...
| 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 |
Close
D Grade Premiers
The competition was split into Northern & Southern Conferences in 2018 and 2019.
More information Season, Grand Finals ...
| 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 |
Close
Northern Conference
More information Season, Grand Finals ...
| 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 |
Close
Southern Conference
More information Season, Grand Finals ...
| 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 |
Close
More information Season, Grand Finals ...
| 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 |
Close
More information Season, Grand Finals ...
| Season | Grand Finals | League Premiers | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premiers | Score | Runners-up | ||
| 2019 | Stroud |
12 – 4 | Dungog |
Stroud |
Close
- "Cessnock Cutters v Tea Gardens Hawks grand final: Photos". 16 September 2014.
- "Panthers grand final success | Pictures". 22 September 2015.
- "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.