The Illawarra Rugby League is a rugby league competition in Wollongong, NSW. It is one of the oldest rugby league competitions in Australia, founded in 1911 with five clubs (Dapto, Helensburgh, Mount Keira, Unanderra and Wollongong).[1] The area provides a nursery of juniors for the Illawarra Steelers and St George Illawarra Dragons. The season is contested by seven teams and concludes with a finals series involving the top four teams.
History
Only the Northern parts of the Illawarra have traditionally been included in this competition, with teams further south playing in Group 7. However, Shellharbour's decision in 2009 to field a team in the NSW Cup was coupled with a decision to play in the Illawarra Rugby League as well, blurring the boundary between the two competitions. Other Group 7 clubs are fielding teams in the lower leagues of Illawarra competitions and there's a possibility the two competitions may merge.
The Illawarra Division is one of the strongest, along with Newcastle, local competition in New South Wales. The league features many former and current players from the NRL Senior Competition and also players from the NRL Youth Competition. The Illawarra Division Senior representative team are two-time National Country champions and have won the Country Rugby League championships consistently. The Division also supplies players to the NSWRL Harold Matthews and SG Ball Cup competitions.
On 21 July 2011, whilst celebrating their centenary, Illawarra Rugby League announced their "Team of the Century".[2][3] Immortals Graeme Langlands and Bob Fulton featured at fullback and five-eighth respectively, as well as Harry Wells at centre. The entire team follows:
The following table lists the clubs and the teams fielded in the 2024 senior competitions: Mojo Homes Illawarra Cup - NSWRL President's Cup Southern Conference (PC), Division 1 (Div1), Division 2 (Div2), Under 18s (U18), Women's tackle (Wom), Ladies League Tag (LLT). The table also indicates whether the club has junior teams.
Clubs are listed by their highest grade of competition.
Unanderra (1912–14, 1919–21, 1923, 1926–30, 1945–48 (as Unanderra-Keira); 1922, 1924–25, 1932–33, 1944 lower grades) – Formally merged with Mount Kiera to form Western Suburbs in 1949
University of Wollongong (Books 1988–2005 1st grade; Titans 2009 3rd grade, 2010–11 1st grade; 1975–76 Division 2). Also known as the Lighthouse Keepers.
Tip: To view original newspaper articles on matches up to 1954, hover over the blue number in the Reports column and then click on the article name. That will open the article in Trove.
^"Port's Slashing Win in Hard Fast Match". Illawarra Mercury. Wollongong: State Library of NSW – Microfilm RAV 318. 12 September 1955. p. 12.
^"Port Premier: Clear Cut Win". Illawarra Mercury. Wollongong: State Library of NSW – Microfilm RAV 318. 17 September 1956. p. 8.
^"Power-packed Rugby League finale – North Shone in Attack and Defence". Illawarra Mercury. Wollongong: State Library of NSW – Microfilm RAV 318. 26 September 1960. p. 14.
^"Port Kembla's great win in League grand final". Illawarra Mercury. Wollongong: State Library of NSW – Microfilm RAV 318. 24 September 1962. p. 12.
^"Brilliant Backline Won Grand Final For Port". Illawarra Mercury. Wollongong: State Library of NSW – Microfilm RAV 318. 23 September 1939. p. 15.
^"Fine W'Gong Win in Grand Final". Illawarra Mercury. Wollongong: State Library of NSW – Microfilm RAV 318. 14 September 1964. p. 12.
^"Dream Day is Dapto's". Illawarra Mercury. Wollongong: State Library of NSW – Microfilm RAV 318. 9 September 1968. p. 2.
^"Grand Final Slosh-Up – Devils Devour Canaries 12–4". Illawarra Mercury. Wollongong: State Library of NSW – Microfilm RAV 318. 28 September 1970. p. 1.
^"Day of the Cougar – Cool Cats whip Wolves". Illawarra Mercury. Wollongong: State Library of NSW – Microfilm RAV 318. 30 September 1974. p. 1.
^"Veterans hold sway". Illawarra Mercury. Wollongong: State Library of NSW – Microfilm RAV 318. 10 September 1979. p. 31.
^"Mouse traps IRL crown – Wests end battlers' fairytale". Illawarra Mercury. Wollongong: State Library of NSW – Microfilm RAV 318. 3 September 1984. p. 40.
^"Canaries crush Collies in Illawarra Grand Final". Illawarra Mercury. Wollongong: State Library of NSW – Microfilm RAV 318. 23 September 1985. p. 38.
^"Heroic Helensburgh Carlton League Kings". Illawarra Mercury. Wollongong: State Library of NSW – Microfilm RAV 318. 15 September 1986. p. 22.
^"Creevey's Dogs break 20-year drought". Illawarra Mercury. Wollongong: State Library of NSW – Microfilm RAV 318. 14 September 1987. p. 20.
^"It's a great day for the Tigers". Illawarra Mercury. Wollongong: State Library of NSW – Microfilm RAV 318. 5 September 1988. p. 27.
^"Canaries rule – Awesome Dapto has the Books covered". Illawarra Mercury. Wollongong: State Library of NSW – Microfilm RAV 318. 21 September 1992. p. 26.
^"Canaries crowned Carlton kings". Illawarra Mercury. Wollongong: State Library of NSW – Microfilm RAV 318. 22 August 1994. p. 24.
^"Dogged display earns Collies a premiership". Illawarra Mercury. Wollongong: State Library of NSW – Microfilm RAV 318. 8 September 1997. p. 38.
^"Dog of a day as Collies run riot". Illawarra Mercury. Wollongong: State Library of NSW – Microfilm RAV 318. 14 September 1998. p. 27.