Limestone Coast Rugby League

Last updated
Limestone Coast Rugby League
Sport Rugby league
Instituted2017
Inaugural season2017
Number of teams5
Country Victoria
Premiers Bullscolours.svg Gunditjmara Bulls (2019)
Most titles Auckland colours.svg Naracoorte Jets (2 titles)
Website NRL Victoria website

The Limestone Coast Rugby League is a rugby league competition held in the Wimmera and South West regions of Victoria and Eastern South Australia. The competition is co-administered by NRL South Australia and NRL Victoria, and features five clubs (three from Victoria and two from South Australia). [1]

Contents

History

The competition was founded in 2017, with four inaugural clubs; the Blue Lake Knights, Horsham Panthers, Naracoorte Jets and Warrnambool Raiders. [2]

The competition was initially dominated by the Naracoorte Jets, who won the first two titles, before Warrnambool broke through for their maiden premiership in 2019. [3]

The competition garnered national attention in 2022 after the ABC News channel ran a series of stories on the Stawell Mounties team which entered the competition for their inaugural season. [4] [5] The side made their way into the Grand Final, where they were defeated 22-8 by the Gunditjmara Bulls. [6]

Clubs

Five clubs are competing in the 2022 season; Blue Lake (Mount Gambier), Gunditjmara (Warrnambool), Naracoorte, Stawell and Warrnambool. [4] [7]

ClubMonikerHome GroundDistrict
Newcastle colours.svg Blue LakeKnightsApollo Soccer Grounds Mount Gambier, South Australia
Bullscolours.svg GunditjmaraBullsDeakin University Warrnambool, Victoria
Auckland colours.svg NaracoorteJetsNaracoorte United Soccer Ground Naracoorte, South Australia
Eastern Suburbs colours.svg StawellMountiesNorth Park Stawell, Victoria
Canberra colours.svg WarrnamboolRaidersFriendly Societies Park Warrnambool, Victoria

Former Clubs

ClubMonikerDistrict
Penrith Panthers square flag icon with 2017 colours.svg HorshamPanthers Horsham, Victoria
Parramatta colours.svg North WarrnamboolWarriors Warrnambool, Victoria

Grand Finals

YearWinnerScoreLoserVenue
2017 Auckland colours.svg Naracoorte Jets26-24 Canberra colours.svg Warrnambool RaidersNaracoorte United Soccer Ground, Naracoorte
2018 Auckland colours.svg Naracoorte Jets32-30 Canberra colours.svg Warrnambool RaidersDeakin University, Warrnambool
2019 Canberra colours.svg Warrnambool Raiders46-22 Auckland colours.svg Naracoorte JetsApollo Soccer Grounds, Mount Gambier
2020Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in Victoria
2021
2022 Bullscolours.svg Gunditjmara Bulls22-8 Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Stawell MountiesNorth Park, Stawell

Source: [8] [9]

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References

  1. "Limestone Coast Rugby League". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2023-01-25.
  2. "Limestone Coast Rugby League". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2023-01-25.
  3. "Growth of the game a bonus for grand finalist Raiders | video, photos". The Standard. 2018-12-15. Retrieved 2023-01-25.
  4. 1 2 "New rugby league team Stawell Mountaineers about to kick off". ABC Wimmera. 2022-09-06. Retrieved 2023-01-25.
  5. "Pacific Islander-led rugby league revolution is in full swing in this Aussie Rules stronghold". ABC News. 2022-12-04. Retrieved 2023-01-25.
  6. "Bulls are toast of the coast". The Standard. 2022-12-18. Retrieved 2023-01-25.
  7. "Bulls eager to charge headfirst into debut season". The Standard. 2018-10-05. Retrieved 2023-01-25.
  8. "Association: NRL SA Limestone Coast". www.playrugbyleague.com. Retrieved 2023-01-25.
  9. "Competition: Limestone Coast Senior Mens Draw". www.playrugbyleague.com. Retrieved 2023-01-25.