Camden Rams

Last updated

'Camden Rams
Club information
Full nameCamden Rugby League Football Club
Nickname(s)Camden Rams
ColoursRed
Navy
White
Founded1910;114 years ago (1910)
Current details
Ground(s)
Coach2024 Bradley Speechley
Captain2024 Bradley Speechley
Competition Group 6 Rugby League then to Wests Group Macarthur since 2022 due to change with CRL and NSWRL
Records
Premierships13 (1922, 1923, 1948, 1951, 1978, 1994, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2016, 2022, 2024)
Most capped' – Andrew Willis is the only person to have coached and won Premierships in each premier competition with the Rams. 2000 - First Grade, 2016 - U18s, 2019 - Reserve Grade, 2021 - Women’s Rugby League. Josh Goulton and Jackson Willis have won 3 First Grade Premierships with the Rams 2016, 2022 and 2024.

The Camden Rugby League Football Club is an Australian rugby league football club based in Camden, New South Wales, formed in 1910. They currently play in the Group 6 Rugby League competition.

Contents

In the 1920s the club competed in the Southern Districts Rugby League. [1] They won premierships in that competition in 1922 and 1923. [2] During the 1930s Camden mostly played for challenge cups, although they did participate in a Group 6 league competition in 1935. [3] Camden returned to the re-formed Group 6 competition in 1946. [4] Semi-finalists in 1947, Camden were minor premiers in 1948. Losing their semi-final to Picton, Camden exercised their right to challenge Bowral in a Grand Final. [5] This match was drawn. [6] [7] In a replay, Camden triumphed by 14 points to five. [8] Further premierships were won in 1951, [9] 1978, 1994, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2016

In 2015 Camden RLFC made the grand final in U18's (Div 1), Reserve Grade and First Grade but was unable to bring home a Premiership in any Grade.

Camden entered a team in the 2016 inaugural Ladies League Tag Group 6 competition taking out the minor Premiership and the Premiership after beating Campbelltown City in the grand final match.

Also in 2016 the U18s, Leaguetag and First Grade all won minor Premierships and went on to take home the Premiership trophy whilst Reserve Grade scrapped into 5th position and went on to win the Premiership. Camden RLFC is the first club in Group 6 CRL history to win the four premier competitions that it competed in the same season. #4from4

First Grade Premiership Coaches:- 2024: Camden Rams RLFC - Bradley Speechley (Undefeated) 2022: Camden Rams RLFC (Captain Coaches - Mason Cerruto and Bradley Speechley) 2016: Camden Rams RLFC (Captain Coach- Scott Borg) 2002: Camden Rams RLFC (Captain Coach- Mitch Newton ) 2000: Camden Rams RLFC (Captain Coach- Andrew Willis) 1998: Camden Rams RLFC (Captain Coach- Peter Gentle) 1997: Camden Rams RLFC (Captain Coach- Peter Gentle) 1994: Camden Rams RLFC (Captain Coach- David Greene) 1978: Camden Rams RLFC (Captain Coach- Rod Jackson) 1951: Camden Rams (Keith Clarke) 1948: Camden Rams (Herb Narvo) 1928: Camden Rams 1922: Camden Rams

In 2019 the Camden Reserve Grade team, coached by Andrew Willis went through the competition to complete the season as undefeated premiers. In the same year U18s won the Premiership and the Rams also won the inaugural Women’s Rugby League competition as undefeated Premiers. The club were named 2019 Club Champions.

With 2020 interrupted with COVID-19 the Rams didn’t field any teams except 3rd grade for the season.

In 2021 the season was cut short with finals not proceeding, again impacted by COVID-19, however Premierships were awarded to all first placed teams when the announcement was made. As a result the Rams Women’s Rugby League team won the premiership.

2022 saw the return of a full season with interruptions through the season but this time as a result of poor weather and flooding rendering grounds unplayable. It was also the first year of the merged competition under NSWRL known as the Wests Group Macarthur Competition, seeing the return of Campbelltown sides from Easts Campbelltown and collegians in First Grade and other clubs in lower grade competitions.

The Rams finished the season proper as equal 1st in First grade but 2nd due to fore and against, Undefeated Premiers in Reserve Grade, 3rd in Women’s Rugby League, 5th in U18s, 4th in Conference Gold and out of the finals in Ladies Leaguetag. The WRL were defeated in the grand final whilst Reserve Grade won as Undefeated Premiers under coach Harrison Fox. However, the biggest upset of the day was when Camden defeated the much favoured East Campbelltown side with a convincing 30 - 4 win. It was the first time in the season the Rams had every 1st Grade player available to play, albeit Jackson Willis who played from the bench after badly dislocating a shoulder only weeks prior. Willis and Josh Goulton were the only returning 1st Grade Premiership winners from the 2016 team. The Club was named Club Champions.

In 2022 The Rams player Danny Fualalo capped off a sensational season by being named the Wests Group Macarthur First Grade Player of the Year. [10]

In 2023 the Rams fielded 7 teams and made the finals series for 6 of them. LLT Silver, Women's Rugby League (WRL) and Reserve were defeated in the Preliminary Final. The Rams Inaugural U18 Girls Rugby League team put in a great effort against a more experience opposition and were defeated. The First grade who finished the season as minor Premiers were leading in the second half, only to allow Thirlmere in for two late tries which narrowly defeated the Rams by 2 points. The U18 boys however put on an outstanding performance to defeat Narellan and finish as deserving Undefeated Premiers.

In 2024 the Rams fielded 8 teams into the competition with WRL (in both season 1 and 2), two LLT teams, two U18 Boys teams, U18 Girls Rugby League, Reserve Grade and First Grade. The WRL finished season 2.0 as Minor premiers but missed making it through to the GF. LLT Silver made it though to the finals, but missed making the GF. U18 Gold went on to be Undefeated Premiers beating East Campbelltown 26 -16 in the GF. Reserve grade went on from Minor Premiers to win the Premiership 22-20 over Oakdale. First grade seeking redemption for 2023, went through as Undefeated Premiers beating The Oaks in extra time in the Grand Final 38-26. Josh Goulton and Jackson Willis made it their 3rd First Grade Premiership with the Rams, whilst Brad Speechley, Bailey Dickinson, Ben Powers, Brad Hopkins, Danny Fualalo, Kisi Taulani, Logan Matapuku and Steele Brown got their second Rams First Grade Premiership.

First Grader Jack Miller finished the year as competition top point scorer and joint top try scorer. Club stalwart Chris Browne finished the year as Reserve grade competition top point scorer, whilst Lindsay Munro finished as top Try Scorer. Aiden Richards from 18 Gold took out the competition top point scorer and Joel Collins top try scorer. The Camden Rams were also awarded the Semi Professional Club Championship.

Notable players

Local Juniors played NRL or NRLW:

Local Juniors played NYC (U20)/ Jersey Flegg (U21):

Male Player of the Year:introduced 2018

Female Player of the Year:introduced 2018

Rookie Award (Male):

Rookie Award (Female)introduced 2023

Rising Star Award (Male):

Rising Star Award (Female)introduced 2023

Shaun Durrington Socialiser of the Year:

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Western Suburbs Magpies</span> Australian rugby league club, based in Sydney, NSW

The Western Suburbs Magpies is an Australian rugby league football club based in the western suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales. Formed in 1908, Wests, as the club is commonly referred to, was one of the nine foundation clubs of the first New South Wales Rugby League competition in Australia. The club, as a sole entity, departed the top-flight competition in 1999 after forming a 50–50 joint venture with Balmain Tigers to form the Wests Tigers. The club currently fields sides in the NSW State Cup, Ron Massey Cup (Opens), S.G. Ball Cup and Harold Matthews Cup competitions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Newtown Jets</span> Australian rugby league club, based in Sydney, NSW

The Newtown Jets are an Australian rugby league football club based in Newtown, a suburb of Sydney's inner west. They currently compete in the NSW Cup competition, having left the top grade after the 1983 NSWRFL season. The Jets' home ground is Henson Park, and their team colours are blue and white.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brent Sherwin</span> Australian rugby league footballer

Brent Sherwin is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer. Bearing the iconic nickname "Shifty", Sherwin plays in the Illawarra Carlton League which is an indirect feeder league to the St George Illawarra Dragons. He plays as a half-back. Sherwin previously played for the Catalans Dragons, Castleford Tigers, the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and has also been represented for City Origin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NSW Cup</span> Australian rugby league competition

The NSW Cup, currently known as the Knock-On Effect NSW Cup for sponsorship reasons, is a rugby league competition for clubs in New South Wales. The competition has a history dating back to the NSWRFL's origins in 1908, starting off as a reserve grade competition, and is now the premier open age competition in the state. The New South Wales Cup, along with the Queensland Cup, acts as a feeder competition to the National Rugby League premiership. The competition is the oldest continuous rugby league competition in the Australia.

Timothy Alexander Pickup was an Australian Rugby League footballer for the North Sydney Bears, Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, New South Wales and Australian national side in the 1970s, playing his First Test for Australia in 1972, only 14 games after his NSWRL First Grade debut. A player with blistering acceleration that could step off both feet, he had good hands, a smart kicking game, was a cunning tactician complimented by the unusual combination of being an exceptional defender for a small man. Pickup also played First Grade Rugby Union for the Manly Rugby Club as a teenage prodigy for three seasons from 1966-68. In retirement Pickup was involved in boxing at famed Newtown PCYC and was Jeff Harding's manager when he won the WBC World Light-Heavyweight title in 1989. He was the foundation CEO of the Adelaide Rams franchise of the Australian Super League in 1995. In 2000 he was awarded the Australian Sports Medal for services to Australian sport. Pickup was named in the North Sydney Bears Team of the Century in 2006 and was a finalist for both the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 70th Anniversary team as well as Manly Rugby Union's Team of the Century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Potter</span> Australian rugby league footballer and coach

Michael Potter is an Australian professional rugby league football coach who most recently served as the interim head coach of the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the National Rugby League (NRL), and a former professional rugby league footballer. He was previously head coach of Super League clubs, the Catalans Dragons, St Helens, the Bradford Bulls and NRL club the Wests Tigers. As a player, he was a New South Wales State of Origin representative fullback, playing his club football for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, the St George Dragons and the Western Reds. He currently works as an assistant coach for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.

Group 11 was a rugby league competition in the surrounding areas of Dubbo, New South Wales, Australia. The competition is played in four grades, these being First-Grade, Reserve-Grade, Under 19s and Ladies League Tag.

The history of the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs stretches from the 1930s to the present day. Based in Belmore, a suburb of Sydney, the Bulldogs in 1935 were admitted to the New South Wales Rugby Football League (NSWRFL) competition, a predecessor of the current NRL competition.

The Sydney Bulls were a rugby league team based in the suburb of Bass Hill in south-western Sydney. Founded in 1999, the club was formed by Lebanese-Australian players and businessmen who were involved in the 1997 Lebanon Rugby League World Sevens side. Since 2000, the Bulls competed in the semi-professional Metropolitan Cup and, since its inception in 2003, the NSWRL Jim Beam Cup competition in NSW, Australia. Their colours are black, white green and red. They were included in the NSW Cup for 2008-2009 and acted as a feeder club for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs under the name of the Bankstown City Bulls. The Sydney Bulls folded at the end of the 2009 season.

The 1988 NSWRL season was the 81st season of professional rugby league football in Australia, and saw the first expansion of the New South Wales Rugby League Premiership outside the borders of New South Wales, and another expansion outside of Sydney, with the addition of three new teams: the Brisbane Broncos, Newcastle Knights and Gold Coast-Tweed Giants. The largest NSWRL premiership yet, sixteen clubs competed during the 1988 season, with the J J Giltinan Shield for minor premiers going to Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. The finals culminated in a grand final for the Winfield Cup between the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and Balmain Tigers. This season NSWRL teams also competed for the 1988 Panasonic Cup.

The 1937 New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership was the 30th season of the Sydney, New South Wales-based top-grade rugby league club competition, Australia's first. Nine teams from across the city contested the premiership during the season, which lasted from April until June, with Eastern Suburbs being crowned champions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cabramatta Two Blues</span> Australian rugby league club, based in Cabramatta, NSW

Cabramatta Two Blues, colloquially known as Cabra, is an Australian rugby league football club that was originally formed in 1919 and then later completely formed as the Two Blues in 1939. They have always based from the Parramatta Junior Leagues, and their junior teams compete in the Parramatta District Junior Rugby League Association. They currently compete in the Sydney Shield and have previously competed in the Ron Massey Cup however both sides did not field a side for the 2022 season in either competition. They play out of the Cabramatta, New South Wales, Sports Ground Complex which can fit up to 5,000 spectators. The Two Blues have won numerous A-Grade Titles with their last Premiership received in 2002.

Robert Mears is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer. His usual position was as a hooker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Campbelltown Eagles</span> Australian rugby league club, based in Campbelltown, NSW

East Campbelltown Eagles are an Australian Junior Rugby League Club that also supports a semi-professional rugby league team. The team previously competed in the Western Suburbs 1st Grade competition, Canterbury 1st Grade competition, Jim Beam Cup, Bundaberg Red Cup, the Wests Juniors/Group 6 combined competition, Group 6 CRL Competition and now the Semi Professional New South Wales Sydney Shield Competition.

Peter Mulholland was an Australian rugby league football coach. He coached ARL premiership expansion club Western Reds in their first two seasons before moving to France to take up the coaching position of Super League expansion team, Paris Saint-Germain. Before moving to the Bulldogs, Mulholland was Assistant Coach from 1999 to 2001 and Director of Recruitment (2002–2008) at the Penrith Panthers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Pritchard Mounties</span> Australian rugby league club, based in Mount Pritchard, NSW

The Mounties Rugby League Football Club is an Australian rugby league football club based in Mount Pritchard, New South Wales formed in 1927. They currently play in the Ron Massey Cup and Sydney Shield.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Berkeley Vale Panthers</span> Australian rugby league club, based in Berkeley Vale, NSW

Berkeley Vale Panthers Rugby League Club is an Australian rugby league football club based in Berkeley Vale, New South Wales. They enter and organise teams for both junior & senior rugby league.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mason Cerruto</span> Italy international rugby league footballer

Mason Cerruto is an Italy international rugby league footballer who most recently played for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the NSW Cup. Cerruto is a utility back capable of playing at fullback, centre and wing. He was a member of Italy's squad for the 2017 World Cup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Macarthur Rugby League</span> Rugby league competition in New South Wales, Australia

The Macarthur Conference Rugby League is a senior Rugby league competition in New South Wales, Australia, administered by the New South Wales Rugby League. Formerly known as Group 6 Rugby League, the competition was, until 2019, run under the auspices of the Country Rugby League. The geographical area covered by the former CRL Group 6 takes in much of the Southern Highlands and southern Macarthur regions of New South Wales, extending from Marulan, New South Wales in the south, to Mount Annan/ the M5 in the north and Warragamba in the west.

References

  1. "Football". Camden News . Camden: National Library of Australia. 22 July 1920. p. 3. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  2. "Football". Camden News . Camden: National Library of Australia. 6 September 1923. p. 6. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  3. "Football". The Southern Mail . Bowral: National Library of Australia. 31 May 1935. p. 2. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  4. "Point Scores". The Southern Mail . Bowral: National Library of Australia. 12 July 1946. p. 5. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  5. "Football". The Picton Post . Picton: National Library of Australia. 22 July 1948. p. 2. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  6. "Football". Camden News . Camden: National Library of Australia. 5 August 1948. p. 9. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  7. "Fifteen All Draw". The Southern Mail . Bowral: National Library of Australia. 6 August 1948. p. 7. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  8. "Bowral Defeated in Grand Final". The Southern Mail . Bowral: National Library of Australia. 13 August 1948. p. 4. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  9. "Camden Wins Football Premiership". Camden News . Camden: National Library of Australia. 30 August 1951. p. 8. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  10. "Camden Rams History - Camden Rams RLFC - FOX SPORTS PULSE". Archived from the original on 13 April 2015. Retrieved 13 April 2015.