Melbourne Rugby League

Last updated
Melbourne Rugby League
Sport Rugby league
Formerly known as Victorian Rugby League
Instituted1951
Inaugural season1952
Number of teams17
Country Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
PremiersMens: Truganina Rabbitohs (3rd title)
Womens: Casey Warriors (2nd title) (2024)
Most titlesSt Kilda Saints RLC (10 titles)
Website NRL Victoria website

The Melbourne Rugby League (currently the Storm Premiership for branding reasons) is a rugby league football competition located in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia and run by NRL Victoria. As of the 2022 season, there are currently 17 competing teams across the varying age groups who are affiliated with the Melbourne Storm junior system. [1]

Contents

The Senior competition features three men's grades and one women's grade.

History

The 1914 Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand included a match in Melbourne, the first rugby league game to be played in the state. The match between England and New South Wales drew 13,000 spectators.

The Victorian Rugby League was running a rugby league premiership by the 1920s, and also selected a representative Victorian XIII to tour domestically.

After the initial Melbourne competition folded, the current competition was inaugurated in 1952 and has been running ever since. [2]

Clubs

ColoursClubsLocationGroundFoundedPremierships1st2nd3rdWRLJnr
Wcatscolours.svg Altona Roosters Newport Bruce Comben Reserve, Altona Meadows19878 (1997, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012)YesNoYesYesYes
New Zealand Kiwis colours.svg Casey Warriors Cranbourne Casey Fields, Cranbourne East20101 (2015)NoYesYesYesYes
Western Reds colours.svg Doveton Steelers Doveton Betula Reserve, Doveton20011 (2007)NoNoYesNoYes
Gold Coast Chargers colours.svg Eastern Raptors Boronia Colchester Reserve, Colchester Rd, Boronia20110NoYesNoNoYes
Canberra colours.svg Frankston Raiders Frankston Peninsula Reserve, Frankston20151 (1983)NoNoYesNoYes
Cronulla colours.svg Geelong Sharks Geelong Ervin Reserve, Newcomb20230NoNoYesNoYes
Wellington colours.svg Hume Eagles Craigieburn Hothlyn Drive Reserve, Craigieburn20200NoNoNoNoYes
Mackay Cutters colours.svg Melton Broncos Melton Mt Carberry Reserve, Melton South20130NoNoYesNoYes
Leigh colours.svg Mernda Dragons Lalor Huskisson Reserve, Lalor20150NoNoNoNoYes
Canadacolours.png North West Wolves Niddrie AJ Davis Reserve, Fullarton Rd, Airport West20100NoNoYesNoYes
Parramatta colours.svg Northern Thunder Broadmeadows Seabrook Reserve, Goulburn St, Broadmeadows19990YesNoYesNoYes
Souths-Logan Magpies Colours.svg Pakenham Eels Officer Comely Banks Recreation Reserve, Officer20160NoYesNoNoYes
Norths Devils colours.svg South Eastern Titans Dandenong Greaves Reserve, Dandenong20070NoNoYesNoYes
Balmain colours.svg Sunbury United Tigers Sunbury Langama Park, Sunbury19924 (2009, 2011, 2013, 2014)YesNoNoNoYes
North Queensland colours.svg Sunshine Cowboys Ardeer More Park, Ardeer20160NoYesNoYesYes
South Sydney colours.svg Truganina Rabbitohs Truganina Clearwood Drive Reserve, Truganina20153 (2019, 2022, 2024)YesYesNoYesYes
Penrith Panthers square flag icon with 2020 colours.svg Waverley Oakleigh Panthers Clayton Fregon Reserve, Clayton19765 (1980, 1992, 1993, 1994, 2023)YesYesNoNoYes
Wests Panthers Colours.svg Werribee Bears Werribee Haines Reserve, Werribee20083 (2016, 2017, 2018)YesNoYesYesYes

Defunct Clubs

ColoursClubsLocationGroundFoundedDefunct Year
Widnes colours.svg Ballarat Highlanders Ballarat Doug Dean Reserve2000sMoved to Central Highlands Rugby League in 2005 as Ballarat Dragons. Folded 2015.
Canterbury colours.svg Berwick Bulldogs Berwick Greaves Reserve1992 2007 (Replaced South Eastern Titans)
Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury RLFC Canterbury
Central Comets colours.svg Casey Chiefs Casey Casey Fields, Cranbourne East1997 2005 (Renamed Casey Sharks)
Cronulla colours.svg Casey Sharks Casey Casey Fields, Cranbourne East2005 2010 (Renamed Casey Warriors)
New South Wales colours.svg Coburg RLFC Coburg Brearley Reserve 19811994
Port Moresby Vipers Colours.svg Craigieburn Phoenix Craigieburn Hothlyn Drive Reserve2008 2016 (Renamed Hume City Bulldogs)
Newcastle colours.svg Dandenong Knights Dandenong Greaves Reserve2002
Australian colours.svg East Sale RAAF Sale
North Sydney colours.svg Essendon RLC Essendon
New Zealand colours.svg Fitzroy All Blacks Fitzroy
Cronulla colours.svg Frankston Sharks Frankston Ballam Park19812007 Replaced
Australian colours.svg Geelong Bulldogs Geelong Osborne Park1991 1993
Canberra colours.svg Geelong Raiders Geelong Rippleside Park20102012
Australian colours.svg Geelong Tiger Snakes Geelong Friers Reserve2004 2010 (Renamed Geelong Raiders)
Adelaide colours.svg Gippsland Wildcats Morwell Maryvale Reserve2002
Canterbury colours.svg Hume City Bulldogs Craigieburn Hothlyn Drive Reserve2016 2020 (Renamed Hume Eagles)
Canberra colours.svg Laverton RLFC Laverton 1987 (Merged with Point Cook RLFC)
Widnes colours.svg Maroondah Magpies Bayswater Glen Park20042007
Faxcolours.svg Melbourne University Parkville HG Smith Oval2003
Widnes colours.svg Moorabbin Rams Moorabbin Keys Road Reserve 1965 (Rugby Union)2007 Returned to Rugby Union
Western Suburbs colours.svg Parkdale RLFC Parkdale
Western Suburbs colours.svg Point Cook RLFC Point Cook
Wellington colours.svg Richmond RLC Richmond
Canadacolours.png St Kilda Saints St Kilda Elwood Reserve2003
Western Suburbs colours.svg Tottenham RLFC Tottenham
Gold Coast Titans colours.svg Wodonga Storm Wodonga Baranduda Recreation Reserve2000s2022 (left MRL in 2014 for Murray Cup)

Mens First Grade Premiers

Since the commencement of the competition in 1952, the St Kilda Saints RLC have won the most premierships (10) over all, however, of the current clubs, the most premierships have been won by Altona Roosters (8). [2]

SeasonPremiersScoreRunners-up
1952 Ballarat RAAF
1953 Essendon RLC
1954 Richmond RLC
1955 Western Suburbs colours.svg Moorabbin Rams
1956 Canberra colours.svg Laverton RLFC
1957 Richmond RLC
1958 Canterbury RLFC
1959 Ballarat RLFC
1960 Ballarat RLFC
1961 Canberra colours.svg Laverton RLFC
1962 Point Cook RLFC
1963 Point Cook RLFC
1964 Tottenham RLFC
1965 Canberra colours.svg Laverton RLFC
1966 Western Suburbs colours.svg Moorabbin Rams
1967 Point Cook RLFC
1968 Western Suburbs colours.svg Moorabbin Rams
1969 Western Suburbs colours.svg Moorabbin Rams
1970 Western Suburbs colours.svg Moorabbin Rams
1971 RAAF East Sale
1972 Western Suburbs colours.svg Moorabbin Rams
1973Melbourne RLFC
1974 Western Suburbs colours.svg Moorabbin Rams
1975Match Abandoned
1976 RAAF Bombers
1977 Western Suburbs colours.svg Moorabbin Rams
1978 RAAF Laverton
1979No Record
1980 Australian colours.svg Waverley RLFC
1981 Canadacolours.png St Kilda Saints RL
1982 Canadacolours.png St Kilda Saints RL
1983 Canberra colours.svg Frankston RLFC
1984 New Zealand colours.svg Fitzroy All Blacks
1985 Canberra colours.svg Laverton RLFC
1986Parkdale RLFC
1987 New South Wales colours.svg Coburg Lions
1988Laverton RLFC
1989 New South Wales colours.svg Coburg Lions24-18 Penrith Panthers square flag icon with 2020 colours.svg Waverley Oakleigh Panthers
1990 New South Wales colours.svg Coburg Lions20-14 Canadacolours.png St Kilda Saints RL
1991 Canadacolours.png St Kilda Saints RL26-10 New South Wales colours.svg Coburg Lions
1992 Penrith Panthers square flag icon with 2020 colours.svg Waverley Oakleigh Panthers 24-12Peninsula
1993 Penrith Panthers square flag icon with 2020 colours.svg Waverley Oakleigh Panthers 34-22 Canadacolours.png St Kilda Saints RL
1994 Penrith Panthers square flag icon with 2020 colours.svg Waverley Oakleigh Panthers 20-16 Canadacolours.png St Kilda Saints RL
1995 Canadacolours.png St Kilda Saints RL38-26 Penrith Panthers square flag icon with 2020 colours.svg Waverley Oakleigh Panthers
1996 Canadacolours.png St Kilda Saints RL38-18 Penrith Panthers square flag icon with 2020 colours.svg Waverley Oakleigh Panthers
1997 Wcatscolours.svg Altona Roosters 28-12 Canadacolours.png St Kilda Saints RL
1998 Canadacolours.png St Kilda Saints RL38-10 Wcatscolours.svg Altona Roosters
1999 Canadacolours.png St Kilda Saints RL54-0 Penrith Panthers square flag icon with 2020 colours.svg Waverley Oakleigh Panthers
2000 Canadacolours.png St Kilda Saints RL26-8Sunbury Cougars
2001 [3] Canadacolours.png St Kilda Saints RL58-22 Cronulla colours.svg Southern Sharks
2002 [4] Canadacolours.png St Kilda Saints RL26-14 Wcatscolours.svg Altona Roosters
2003 Wcatscolours.svg Altona Roosters 40-12 Canadacolours.png St Kilda Saints RL
2004 [5] Wcatscolours.svg Altona Roosters 54-22 Cronulla colours.svg Southern Sharks
2005 [6] Wcatscolours.svg Altona Roosters 36–16 Western Reds colours.svg Doveton Steelers
2006 [7] Wcatscolours.svg Altona Roosters 20–12 New Zealand colours.svg Casey Sharks
2007 [8] Western Reds colours.svg Doveton Steelers 23–22 Wcatscolours.svg Altona Roosters
2008 [9] Wcatscolours.svg Altona Roosters 72–10 Widnes colours.svg Moorabbin Rams
2009 [10] Balmain colours.svg Sunbury Tigers 48–18 New Zealand colours.svg Casey Sharks
2010 [11] Wcatscolours.svg Altona Roosters 28–26 Balmain colours.svg Sunbury Tigers
2011 [12] Balmain colours.svg Sunbury Tigers 32–26 Canadacolours.png North West Wolves
2012 [13] Wcatscolours.svg Altona Roosters 25–22 Balmain colours.svg Sunbury Tigers
2013 [14] Balmain colours.svg Sunbury Tigers 34–16 Wcatscolours.svg Altona Roosters
2014 [15] Balmain colours.svg Sunbury Tigers 48–16 New Zealand colours.svg Casey Warriors
2015 [16] New Zealand colours.svg Casey Warriors 30–22 Wests Panthers Colours.svg Werribee Bears
2016 [17] Wests Panthers Colours.svg Werribee Bears 14–10 New Zealand colours.svg Casey Warriors
2017 [18] Wests Panthers Colours.svg Werribee Bears 20-18 New Zealand colours.svg Casey Warriors
2018 [19] Wests Panthers Colours.svg Werribee Bears 12–8 Balmain colours.svg Sunbury Tigers
2019 South Sydney colours.svg Truganina Rabbitohs 52–16 Wcatscolours.svg Altona Roosters
2020Seasons Cancelled due to the COVID-19 Pandemic
2021
2022 South Sydney colours.svg Truganina Rabbitohs 48–12 Wcatscolours.svg Altona Roosters
2023 Penrith Panthers square flag icon with 2020 colours.svg Waverley Oakleigh Panthers 28–18 South Sydney colours.svg Truganina Rabbitohs
2024 South Sydney colours.svg Truganina Rabbitohs 36–14 Balmain colours.svg Sunbury Tigers

Women's First Grade Premiers

The NRL Victoria women's first grade competition has been run since 2015. The most premierships have been won by Werribee Bears (2). [2]

SeasonPremiersScoreRunners-up
2015 [16] Gold Coast Titans colours.svg South Eastern Titans
2016 [17] Bullscolours.svg Doveton Steelers
2017 [18] South Sydney colours.svg Truganina Rabbitohs 28–4 Bullscolours.svg Doveton Steelers
2018 [19] Wests Panthers Colours.svg Werribee Bears 14–12 South Sydney colours.svg Truganina Rabbitohs
2019 Wests Panthers Colours.svg Werribee Bears
2020Seasons Cancelled due to the COVID-19 Pandemic
2021
2022 Wests Panthers Colours.svg Werribee Bears 10–6 South Sydney colours.svg Truganina Rabbitohs
2023 New Zealand colours.svg Casey Warriors 40–4 Wests Panthers Colours.svg Werribee Bears
2024 New Zealand colours.svg Casey Warriors 16–12 South Sydney colours.svg Truganina Rabbitohs

Notable Juniors

Altona Roosters

Doveton Steelers

North West Wolves

South Eastern Titans

Northern Thunder

Waverley Oakleigh Panthers

Sunbury Tigers

Casey Warriors

Werribee Bears

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "Association: NRL Victoria". www.playrugbyleague.com. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  2. 1 2 3 "Premiers".
  3. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-03-05. Retrieved 2016-11-23.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-03-05. Retrieved 2016-11-23.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-03-05. Retrieved 2016-11-23.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-30. Retrieved 2016-11-23.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-03-05. Retrieved 2016-11-23.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-03-05. Retrieved 2016-09-25.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-03-05. Retrieved 2016-11-23.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  10. ↑ [ dead link ]
  11. ↑ [ dead link ]
  12. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-08-05. Retrieved 2016-06-28.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  13. ↑ "Results for 2012 VRL First Grade - SportsTG". Archived from the original on 2016-10-11. Retrieved 2016-06-28.
  14. ↑ [ dead link ]
  15. ↑ [ dead link ]
  16. 1 2 Itsou, Michael (8 September 2015). "NRL Victoria First Grade Grand Final Match Report". NRL Victoria Sporting Pulse. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  17. 1 2 http://www.starweekly.com.au/sports/werribee-bears-claim-first-ever-top-flight-title/ [ bare URL ]
  18. 1 2 "2017 NRL Victoria Grand Final Day Recap - NRL Victoria - SportsTG". websites.sportstg.com. Archived from the original on 2017-10-22.
  19. 1 2 "2018 NRL Victoria Grand Final Recap - NRL Victoria - SportsTG". websites.sportstg.com. Archived from the original on 2018-09-12.
  20. 1 2 Jenkinson, Lance (19 April 2015). "Altona Roosters plan to make it a year to remember". Maribyrnong Star Weekly. Archived from the original on 18 April 2015.
  21. 1 2 "Drury Low". The Bulldogs. 15 April 2015. Archived from the original on 6 April 2015. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
  22. ↑ Rashneel Kumar. "Rising Kuki star signed by Warriors" . Retrieved 24 February 2016.
  23. ↑ "Mahe Fonua". Melbourne Storm. 15 April 2015. Archived from the original on 19 April 2015. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
  24. ↑ "Rising stars aim for the top". Berwick Star News. 21 July 2008. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  25. ↑ "Local Young Gun to Stay with Storm". Melbourne Storm. 28 May 2014. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
  26. ↑ "Richard Kennar". Melbourne Storm. 15 April 2015. Archived from the original on 19 April 2015. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
  27. ↑ Meade, Michaela (18 May 2021). "Thunder star signs with Storm". Northern Star Weekly. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
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