Western Suburbs Red Devils

Last updated

Western Suburbs Red Devils
Western Suburbs Red Devils.png
Club information
Full nameWestern Suburbs Rugby League Football Club
Nickname(s)Red Devils
Short nameWests
ColoursRed
Blue
Founded1949;75 years ago (1949)
Website http://www.westsdevils.com.au/home
Current details
Ground(s)
Competition Illawarra Rugby League
Records
Premierships16 (1957, 1959, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1984, 1989, 1991, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2018)
Runners-up10 (1958, 1973, 1979, 1983, 1993, 1995, 2005, 2012, 2016, 2022)
Minor premierships 9 (1977, 1978, 1983, 1991, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2018)

The Western Suburbs Red Devils (Wests Illawarra, Wests Wollongong, Wests Red Devils or simply Wests Devils) are an Australian rugby league football team based in Figtree, a suburb of Wollongong. The club is a member of the Country Rugby League and compete in the Illawarra Rugby League premiership. The club play out of Figtree Oval, Figtree. Wests wear red and blue jerseys and have won 16 premierships. Wests Illawarra Leagues club is a thriving club in Unanderra.

Contents

History

Wests formed in 1949 with the amalgamation of clubs in the district (primarily Unanderra and Mount Keira). The Leagues Club was established in Unanderra and opened in 1956. The Red Devils won the premiership the following year with a 22–6 win over Wollongong. They repeated this effort in 1959 when they defeated Northern Suburbs 12–6 in the Grand Final. [1]

With Don Parish at the helm as captain-coach, Wests took back-to-back titles in 1969–70. Warren Ryan continued this trend the following two seasons when he took over, defeating Thirroul (18–11 in 1971, and 23–9 in 1972). Cronulla Sharks legend, Tommy Bishop also guided the team to a premiership in 1978. [1]

Wests were again premiers two years later, winning in 1980 and 1981. The following year the Illawarra Steelers were accepted into the NSWRL premiership, thus all the sides in the league became feeder clubs to this side. Being premiers, a large portion of the Red Devils were contracted to the Steelers. This made life difficult in the 1982 premiership for the Red Devils, but within three years they won another premiership. They followed this up with another in 1989 and 1991.

The Red Devils went through a dry spell from here, not winning the premiership for 18 years. They came close during Brendon Reeves' reign in 2005. They did eventually break the drought in 2009 when they defeated reigning premiers, Thirroul, 14–4 under coach Paul McGregor in his first season. [2] They went back-to-back with a 24–0 win in 2010, again over the Butchers. In 2011, Wests made it a treble of grand final wins with a 34–24 victory over Helensburgh. The Red Devils were unable to match the team of the 60-70s that won four consecutive premierships when they lost 20–16 to finals rivals Thirroul in the 2012 grand final.

In 2018 Wests found enough to hold off Thirroul 18–16 to claim their first Illawarra League crown in eight seasons. The Devils ran in four first-half tries to lead 18–0 at the break before a second-half fightback saw the Butchers get within two with 18 minutes to play. [3]

Players

Notable former players

Player Country Firsts City Firsts Country Origin New South Wales Australia
YearsAppsYearsAppsYearsAppsYearsAppsYearsApps
Bob Fulton [4] 1967–197891971–72, 197461968–7851
Graham Lye 1969–70
David Waite [5] 197311973–7421973–746
John Dorahy [6] 1972–73219801198811979219782
Royce Ayliffe [7] 1982319811
Garry Jack [8] 198611984–852198711984–89171984–8829
Steve Roach [9] 1986-862198411988, 199021984–86, 1988, 1990–91171985–86, 1988–9127
Jason Ryles [10] 2001, 2003, 200532002–0582001–02, 2004–0515
Brett Stewart [11] 200712007–12820071
Glenn Stewart [12] 2008, 2010–1132009, 201252008–095
Bruce Olive1959–621958
Al Maddelena1969
Brian Hetherington [13] 1977, 19842198611984, 19862
Brett Rodwell [14] 1991, 1993, 1995319951

Players in bold represent current NRL players.

Honours

Team

1957, 1959, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1984, 1989, 1991, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2018
1985,1964, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2011
1962, 1992, 2003, 2005, 2011, 2016, 2018

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wollongong</span> City in New South Wales, Australia

Wollongong, colloquially referred to as The Gong, is a city located in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia. The name is believed to originate from the Dharawal language, meaning either 'five islands/clouds', 'ground near water' or 'sound of the sea'. Wollongong lies on the narrow coastal strip between the Illawarra Escarpment and the Pacific Ocean, 85 kilometres south of central Sydney. Wollongong had an estimated urban population of 302,739 at June 2018, making it the third-largest city in New South Wales after Sydney and Newcastle and the tenth-largest city in Australia by population. The city's current Lord Mayor is Gordon Bradbery AM who was elected in 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thirroul, New South Wales</span> Suburb of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia

Thirroul is a northern seaside suburb of the city of Wollongong, Australia. Situated between Austinmer and Bulli, it is approximately 13 kilometres north of Wollongong, and 73 km south of Sydney. It lies between the Pacific Ocean and a section of the Illawarra escarpment known as Lady Fuller Park, adjacent to Bulli Pass Scenic Reserve.

Reece Simmonds is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 2000s and 2010s. He was born in Sydney, and played in the National Rugby League (NRL) for the St George Illawarra Dragons and the South Sydney Rabbitohs (2007).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Illawarra Rugby League</span> Rugby league competition in Australia

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. 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.

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

Collegians are an Australian rugby league football team based in Wollongong. The club are a part of Country Rugby League and compete in the Illawarra Rugby League premiership.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Figtree, New South Wales</span> Suburb of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia

Figtree is an inner western suburb of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia. It is south-west of West Wollongong and connected to Wollongong by the Princes Highway

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AFL South Coast</span>

The AFL South Coast is an Australian rules football competition in the Shoalhaven and Illawarra regions of New South Wales. The AFLSC has three divisions of senior men's football and one division of senior women's football. In 2012 The South Coast AFL became "AFL South Coast" incorporating the three leagues of South Coast AFL Seniors, Shoalhaven Juniors and Illawarra Juniors.

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

The Berkeley Eagles are an Australian rugby league football team based in Berkeley, a suburb of Wollongong. The club are a part of Country Rugby League and has competed in the Illawarra competition.

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

The Helensburgh Tigers are an Australian rugby league football team based in Helensburgh, a country town of the Illawarra region. The club are a part of Country Rugby League and has competed in the Illawarra Rugby League premiership since its inception in 1911.

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

The Corrimal Cougars are an Australian rugby league football team based in Corrimal, a northern suburb of the city of Wollongong. The club are a part of Country Rugby League and has competed in the Illawarra Rugby League premiership since 1912.

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

The Dapto Canaries are an Australian rugby league football team based in the Wollongong suburb of Dapto. The club are a part of Country Rugby League and have competed in the Illawarra Rugby League premiership since its inception in 1911.

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

The Thirroul Butchers are an Australian rugby league football team based in Thirroul, a coastal town and suburb of Wollongong. The club was formed in 1913 and entered the Illawarra Rugby League, where it still competes today.

Football South Coast is a sport governing body and soccer competition based in the Illawarra and South Coast regions of New South Wales. All competitions and soccer activity of Football South Coast is under control of Football New South Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Jardine (rugby league)</span> Australian rugby league footballer

George Jardine was an Australian rugby league footballer who played in the 1940s and 1950s. Jardine played in the New South Wales premiership competition and won a premiership with St. George in 1949.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arthur Patton</span> Australian RL coach and former rugby league footballer

Arthur William Patton (1916–1990) was an Australian rugby league footballer who played in the 1930s and 1940s, and later became a coach and administrator. His playing, coaching & administrative career was the Balmain club in Sydney.

Mal Creevey was an Australian professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s and 1980s. Creevey was a foundation player for Illawarra playing in the club's first season.

Keith Glen (1939–2017) was an Australian rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s.

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

Jayden “Bud” Sullivan is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a halfback, five-eighth or hooker for the Wests Tigers in the National Rugby League (NRL).

References

  1. 1 2 Western Suburbs History
  2. ↑ Gandon, Mike (7 September 2009). "Red Devils cap off year of domination – Local News – Sport – Rugby League". Illawarra Mercury. Retrieved 14 October 2011.
  3. ↑ "Gutsy Devils tackle their way to 2018 title". 9 September 2018.
  4. ↑ "Bob Fulton – Career Stats & Summary". Rugbyleagueproject.org. Retrieved 14 October 2011.
  5. ↑ "David Waite – Career Stats & Summary". Rugbyleagueproject.org. Retrieved 14 October 2011.
  6. ↑ "Search results for "john dorahy" - Rugby League Project".
  7. ↑ "Royce Ayliffe – Career Stats & Summary". Rugbyleagueproject.org. Retrieved 14 October 2011.
  8. ↑ "Search results for "garry jack" - Rugby League Project".
  9. ↑ "Steve Roach – Career Stats & Summary". Rugbyleagueproject.org. 24 August 1962. Retrieved 14 October 2011.
  10. ↑ "Jason Ryles – Career Stats & Summary". Rugbyleagueproject.org. 17 January 1979. Retrieved 14 October 2011.
  11. ↑ "Brett Stewart – Career Stats & Summary". Rugbyleagueproject.org. 27 February 1985. Retrieved 14 October 2011.
  12. ↑ "Glenn Stewart – Career Stats & Summary". Rugbyleagueproject.org. 11 January 1984. Retrieved 14 October 2011.
  13. ↑ "Brian Hetherington – Career Stats & Summary". Rugbyleagueproject.org. 14 January 1954. Retrieved 14 October 2011.
  14. ↑ "Brett Rodwell – Career Stats & Summary". Rugbyleagueproject.org. 23 May 1970. Retrieved 14 October 2011.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.