Western Premiership (rugby league)

Last updated
Peter McDonald Premiership
Sport Rugby league
Inaugural season2022
Number of teams12
RegionGreater Western & Bidgee (New South Wales Rugby League)
Premiers St. George colours.svg Mudgee Dragons (2024)
Most titles Ireland colours.svg Dubbo CYMS
Western Suburbs colours.svg Forbes Magpies
St. George colours.svg Mudgee Dragons (1 title)
Website Play Rugby League.com
Related competition Group 10 Rugby League
Group 11 Rugby League

The Western Premiership (also known as the Peter McDonald Premiership due to the name of its First Grade competition) is a New South Wales, Australia rugby league competition. The competition commenced in 2022 and incorporates the former Group 10 and Group 11 competitions. [1] [2]

Contents

The competition is named in honour of the late Peter 'Ace' McDonald, a long-time Cowra Magpies, Group 10, Western Division and Country Rugby League administrator, and is played in four grades, these being First-Grade, Reserve-Grade, Under 18s and Ladies League Tag. [3]

History

The competition was founded in 2022 after a series of strategic meetings with Group 10 and 11 clubs conducted by the NSWRL.

The competition initially only had First Grade and Under 18s, with respective reserves and women's tag competitions remaining under the control of Group 10 and Group 11. However, the competition will feature all four grades from 2023, as clubs wanted a full consistent matchday.

Initially, the competition also had two conferences, and implemented a first past the post system to award the historic Group 10 and 11 titles to the clubs who finished first on the ladder the respective historic competitions, however the conference system was scrapped in favour of a single league system from 2024 onwards.

Initially, the First Grade premiers progressed to the two week state NSWRL Presidents Cup finals against the Northern (Newcastle), Southern (Illawarra) and Ron Massey Cup (Sydney) conferences to crown the state semi-professional club champions, however this was scrapped after the 2023 season. [4]

Clubs

14 clubs compete in the Peter McDonald Premiership, of which 12 are in First Grade. All 14 clubs field a Reserve Grade team.

Current clubs

ClubMonikerGroupHome groundPremiershipsPremiership Years
First Grade
Penrith Panthers square flag icon with 2020 colours.svg Bathurst Panthers Group 10 Carrington Park, Bathurst0None
Canterbury colours.svg Bathurst St Patrick's St Pat's Group 10 Jack Arrow Sporting Complex, Bathurst0None
Ireland colours.svg Dubbo CYMS Group 11 Apex Oval, Dubbo12023
New South Wales colours.svg Dubbo Macquarie Raiders Group 11 Apex Oval, Dubbo0None
Western Suburbs colours.svg Forbes Magpies Group 11 Spooner Park, Forbes12022
Wests Tigers colours.svg Lithgow Workmen's Club Wolves Group 10 Tony Luchetti Showground, Lithgow0None
St. George colours.svg Mudgee Dragons Group 10 Glen Willow Oval, Mudgee12024
Wests Tigers colours.svg Nyngan Tigers Group 11 Larkin Oval, Nyngan0None
Ipswich Colours.svg Orange CYMS CYMS Group 10 Wade Park, Orange0None
New South Wales colours.svg Orange Hawks Group 10 Wade Park, Orange0None
France colours.svg Parkes Spacemen Group 11 Pioneer Oval, Parkes0None
Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Wellington Cowboys Group 11 Kennard Park, Wellington0None

Former clubs

TownTeamHome groundConferencePremiershipsPremiership Years
Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg BlayneyBearsKing George Oval Group 10 0None
Western Suburbs colours.svg CowraMagpiesSid Kallas Oval Group 10 0None

Grand Finals

Peter McDonald Premiership (First Grade)

YearPremiersScoreRunner-UpVenueScott Weir MedalGroup 10 PremiersGroup 11 Premiers
2022 Western Suburbs colours.svg Forbes28-16 Ireland colours.svg Dubbo CYMSApex Oval, DubboMitch Andrews (Forbes) St. George colours.svg Mudgee Ireland colours.svg Dubbo CYMS
2023 [5] Ireland colours.svg Dubbo CYMS25-12 St. George colours.svg MudgeeApex Oval, DubboJarryn Powyer (CYMS) St. George colours.svg Mudgee Ireland colours.svg Dubbo CYMS

Western Premiership - Reserve Grade

YearPremiersScoreRunner-UpGroup 10 PremiersGroup 11 Premiers
2022 Penrith Panthers square flag icon with 2020 colours.svg Bathurst Panthers29-24 Ireland colours.svg Dubbo CYMS Penrith Panthers square flag icon with 2020 colours.svg Bathurst Panthers Ireland colours.svg Dubbo CYMS
2023 Ireland colours.svg Dubbo CYMS32-22 Western Suburbs colours.svg Cowra Western Suburbs colours.svg Cowra Ireland colours.svg Dubbo CYMS

Western Premiership - League Tag

YearPremiersScoreRunner-UpGroup 10 PremiersGroup 11 Premiers
2022 Canterbury colours.svg Bathurst St Patrick's28-0 Ireland colours.svg Dubbo CYMS Canterbury colours.svg Bathurst St Patrick's Ireland colours.svg Dubbo CYMS
2023 Canterbury colours.svg Bathurst St Patrick's32-8 New South Wales colours.svg Dubbo Macqurarie Canterbury colours.svg Bathurst St Patrick's Ireland colours.svg Dubbo CYMS

Tom Nelson Under 18s Premiership

YearPremiersScoreRunner-UpGroup 10 PremiersGroup 11 Premiers
2022 Wests Tigers colours.svg Nyngan26-12 Canterbury colours.svg Bathurst St Patrick'sN/AN/A
2023 New South Wales colours.svg Orange Hawks42-14 Wests Tigers colours.svg Lithgow New South Wales colours.svg Orange Hawks Ireland colours.svg Dubbo CYMS

Western Women's Rugby League

The Western Womens Rugby League (WWRL) is a post-season women's tackle competition contested in the Central West. It features teams from the Peter McDonald Premiership, and their affiliates (in the case of Orange and Panorama), as well as representative sides from other Western Division competitions such as the Castlereagh League and Woodbridge Cup. [6]

Clubs

TownTeamHome groundTitlesPremiership Years
Ireland colours.svg Castlereagh CougarsCoonamble Sports Ground
Glebe colours.svg Lachlan DistrictLachlanPioneer Oval, Parkes
St. George colours.svg Mudgee DragonsGlen Willow Sports Stadium
Panthers colours.svg Orange VipersPride Park, Waratah Sports Ground
Parramatta colours.svg Panorama PlatypiJack Arrow Sporting Complex32021, 2022, 2023
Scorpions.png Wiradjuri GoannasKennard Park, Wellington
Country colours.svg Woodbridge CupHenry Lawson Oval, Grenfell

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References

  1. ↑ "Western Conference system to benefit future generations". New South Wales Rugby League. 2021-03-29. Retrieved 2021-08-17.
  2. ↑ Mobbs, Jay-Anna (2 Apr 2022). "Mudgee Dragons defeat Dubbo's Macquarie Raiders in Peter McDonald Premiership opener". Daily Liberal. Australian Community Media. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  3. ↑ McGrath, Nick (5 Apr 2022). "Peter McDonald's family says 'Ace' would be honoured by new Western Rams title race". Central Western Daily. Australian Community Media. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  4. ↑ "NSWRL announces Western Premiership 2022 structure". New South Wales Rugby League. 2021-07-23. Retrieved 2021-08-17.
  5. ↑ Smith, Tallon (2023-09-22). "Grand Final Watch: Dubbo CYMS take Peter McDonald Premiership title, plus a recap of Groups 2, 3 & 7, GTS and the NHRL". Battlers For Bush Footy. Retrieved 2023-09-25.
  6. ↑ "Association: Western Womens Rugby League". www.playrugbyleague.com. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
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