The Illawarra Rugby League is a rugby league competition in Wollongong. It is one of the oldest rugby league competitions in Australia, founded in 1911 with five clubs (Dapto, Helensburgh, Mount Keira, Unanderra and Wollongong).ILLAWARRA RUGBY LEAGUE HISTORY 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.
History Only the Northern parts of the Illawarra have traditionally been included in this competition, with teams further south playing in Group 7. However, Shellharbour's decision in 2009 to field a team in the NSW Cup was coupled with a decision to play in the Illawarra Rugby League as well, blurring the boundary between the two competitions. Other Group 7 clubs are fielding teams in the lower leagues of Illawarra competitions and there's a possibility the two competitions may merge.
The Illawarra Division is one of the strongest, along with Newcastle, local competition in New South Wales. The league features many former and current players from the NRL Senior Competition and also players from the NRL Youth Competition. The Illawarra Division Senior representative team are two-time National Country champions and have won the Country Rugby League championships consistently. The Division also supplies players to the NSWRL Harold Matthews and SG Ball Cup competitions.
On 21 July 2011, whilst celebrating their centenary, Illawarra Rugby League announced their "Team of the Century". Immortals Graeme Langlands and Bob Fulton featured at fullback and five-eighth respectively, as well as Harry Wells at centre. The entire team follows: In 2022, the First Grade competition was elevated to Major Competitions Level, with two teams joining from Sydney in Cronulla-Caringbah and De La Salle Caringbah. The former departed after just one season, while the latter lasted four, winning back-to-back minor premierships in 2023 and 2024, before departing at the end of 2025. The Helensburgh Tigers also dropped to reserve grade around this time.
In early 2026, the Sutherland-Loftus Pirates were announced as the replacement for De La Salle, taking over the club's affiliation with NSW Cup club Newtown Jets and joining the Illawarra Cup that season.
Teams The following table lists the clubs and the teams fielded in the 2026 senior competitions: Mojo Homes Illawarra Cup - NSWRL President's Cup Southern Conference (PC), Division 1 (Div1), Division 2 (Div2), Under 18s (U18), Women's tackle (Wom), Ladies League Tag (LLT). The table also indicates whether the club has junior teams.
Clubs are listed by their highest grade of competition.
Club FirstSeason HomegroundPremiershipsPremiership Years 2026 Season First Grade Clubs Collegians Collie Dogs 1933 Collegians Sporting Complex, Figtree121967, 1987, 1996-98, 2004-05, 2007, 2013, 2017, 2019, 2022 Yes Yes - Yes Yes Yes Corrimal Cougars 1912 Robert Zeims Park21948, 1974 Yes Yes - Yes Yes Yes Dapto Canaries 1911 Dapto Showground171966, 1968, 1975-77, 1979, 1982-83, 1985, 1990, 1992, 1994, 2000-02, 2006, 2016 Yes Yes - - Yes Yes Sutherland-Loftus Pirates 2026 Sutherland Oval0None Yes - - - - - Thirroul Butchers 1913 Thomas Gibson Oval101940, 1954, 1973, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2008, 2012, 2014, 2023 Yes Yes - Yes Two Yes Western Suburbs Red Devils 1949 Sid Parrish Park, Figtree161957, 1959, 1969-72, 1978, 1980-81, 1984, 1989, 1991, 2009-11, 2018 Yes Yes - Yes Two Yes Second/Reserve Grade Clubs Avondale Wombats 2024 Dandaloo Sports Ground, Dapto0None - Yes Yes - - - Helensburgh Tigers 1911 Rex Jackson Oval41986, 1988, 1993, 2015 - Yes - - Yes Yes Third Grade Clubs Avondale Greyhounds 1976 Reed Park, Dapto10 - - Yes - Yes Yes Berkeley Eagles 1955 Berkeley Sports Ground4 - Yes Yes Yes - Yes Figtree Crushers 1995 Figtree High School21997, 2020 - - Yes - Yes No Mount Kembla Lowries 1912 Mt Kembla Park81912, 1931, 1936, 1939, 1939 (SG), 1941, 2005, 2006 - - Yes - - - Northern Suburbs Bulldogs 1946 Jim Allen Oval, Wombarra31952, 1960-61 - - Yes - - Yes Windang Sharks/Pelicans 1974 Boronia Oval, Windang2 - - Yes - - Yes Junior/Women's Only Clubs Port Kembla Blacks 1913 Noel Mulligan Oval241922-24, 1927-28, 1934-35, 1937-38, 1941-44, 1946, 1949, 1953, 1955-56, 1962-63, 1965 - - - Yes - Yes Woonona-Bulli Bushrangers 1972 Hollymount Park0None - - - - Yes Yes Map + Local Area in New South Wales
Former clubs First Grade Clubs with at least one season in 1st Grade Albion Park (1926–31 lower grades, 1934–37 1st Grade) Army (1942–43 1st & 2nd grade) Bombo (1925–27) Bulli (1926 1st grade, 1927–31 lower grades) Cronulla-Caringbah Sharks (2022 1st grade) De La Salle Caringbah (2022–25 1st grade) Diggers (1919 2nd grade, 1920–21 1st grade) Gerringong (1925–27) Glebe (1921–23 lower grades, 1924–28 1st grade) Jamberoo (1928–30) Kiama (1926 3rd grade, 1927–28 1st grade) Mount Keira (1912–13, 1920, 1924-28, 1932-39, 1945-48 (as Unanderra-Kiera) 1st grade; 1914 & 1919 2nd grades, 1922–23 lower grades, 1929–31 lower grades, 1940–44 lower grades) – Formally merged with Unanderra to form Western Suburbs in 1949 Main Roads Board (1927) North Wollongong (1931 1st grade, 1923–24 3rd grade) Scarborough (1938–40 1st grade, 1920–21 & 1941–46 lower grades) Services (1942–43 1st grade; a separate team from Army) Shellharbour Sharks (2009–13 1st grade; 1928, 1930 & 1944 lower grades) Unanderra (1912–14, 1919–21, 1923, 1926–30, 1945–48 (as Unanderra-Keira); 1922, 1924–25, 1932–33, 1944 lower grades) – Formally merged with Mount Kiera to form Western Suburbs in 1949 University of Wollongong (Books 1988–2005 1st grade; Titans 2009 3rd grade, 2010–11 1st grade; 1975–76 Division 2). Also known as the Lighthouse Keepers. Wentworthville Magpies (1975–77) West Wollongong (1921–24 lower grades, 1925–26 1st grade, 1927–28 lower grades, 1929–35 1st grade) Wollongong (Buccaneers 1912–14, 1919–24, 1929–71 1st grade; Wolves 1972–88 1st grade; Bulls 1997 lower grades, 1998–2005 1st grade; Wollongong-University Bulls joint venture 2006–08 1st grade)
Lower Grades only Clubs or teams that participated in two or more seasons are listed below. Participants in the Amateur Rugby League (1982–87) are included. Albion Park Outlaws (1991–97, 2010–13) Austinmer (1997–99) Balgownie Tigers (1913–14, 1921–22, 1944–52, 1973–93) Baxters Goannas (1991–93) Bellambi (1997–2002) Bomaderry Swamp Rats (2016–18 Women) Bulli Hotel Colts (1989–95, 2005–09) Cabbage Tree Hotel (1994) Coniston (1931–33) Fairy Meadow Chargers (1972–90) Guinerys Goannas (1979–90) Harp Angels (1986-91; Harp Hares 2003) Illawarra All Blacks (1992–93) Imperial Hotel Knights (1991–94) Kiama Surf Bees (1988–92) Lakeview Bears (1989–95) Open Hearth Hotel (1975–78) North Wollongong Surf (1972–79, 2009–14) Ryans Hotel (1981–83 Roos, 1985–87 Colts) Shellharbour Barracudas (1996–97) South Pacific Lions (1981–82) Tech (1944–54 Under 18/19 & 16/17 teams) The Blues (Berkeley, 1997–99) Unanderra Falcons (1981–97) Welcome Inn (1995 Knights, 1996 Steamers)
First Grade Premiers Tip: To view original newspaper articles on matches up to 1954, hover over the blue number in the Reports column and then click on the article name. That will open the article in Trove.
SeasonGrand Final InformationMinor PremiersPremiersScoreRunners-UpReport1911 Wollongong5–5 Mt. KeiraIM Wollongong1912 Berkeley (Unanderra)11–0 Mt. KeiraIM1913 Wollongong10–5 Mt. Keira Wollongong1914 Unanderra5–3 WollongongIM1915 UnanderraIM1916–1918 – No competition due to World War I1919 Unanderra8–5 WollongongIM1920 Wollongong Wollongong1921 Wollongong5–3 Port KemblaIM1922 Port Kembla0–0 WollongongIM1922 Port Kembla5–3 WollongongIM1923 Port Kembla3–0 WollongongIM1924 Port Kembla22–13 Wollongong (Glebe)IM1925 Gerringong9–8 Port KemblaSCT1926 Wollongong (Glebe)13–7 Mt. KeiraIM1927 Port Kembla2–0 Wollongong (Glebe)IM Port Kembla1928 Port Kembla10–6 Mt. KeiraIM Port Kembla1929 WollongongForfeit Port KemblaIM Wollongong1930 Wollongong13–6 Port KemblaIM Port Kembla1931 Wollongong31–14 ThirroulIM Wollongong1932 Wollongong5–4 Mt. KeiraSCT1933 West Wollongong17–17 WollongongIM West Wollongong1933 Replay West Wollongong16–11 WollongongIM1934 Port Kembla8–6 West WollongongIM West Wollongong1935 Port Kembla15–8 West WollongongIM Port Kembla1936 Mount Kembla12–8 Port KemblaIM Port Kembla1937 Port Kembla41–10 WollongongIM Port Kembla1938 Port Kembla18–5 Mount KemblaIM Port Kembla1939 (SG) Mount Kembla26–15 Port KemblaIM Mount Kembla1939 Mount Kembla0–0 CorrimalIM Corrimal1939 Replay Mount Kembla8–2 CorrimalIM Corrimal1940 Thirroul4–3 CorrimalIM Thirroul1941 Port Kembla24–7 Corrimal1942 Port Kembla17–9 Collegians (CBC)IM Port Kembla1943 Port Kembla16–5 Port KemblaIM Wollongong1944 Port Kembla30–8 ThirroulIM Port Kembla1945 Wollongong5–2 Port KemblaIM1946 Port Kembla19–14 WollongongIM1947 Wollongong21–8 Port KemblaIM Port Kembla1948 Corrimal22–7 Port KemblaIM Port Kembla1949 Port Kembla20–9 WollongongIM Wollongong1950 Wollongong9–6 Port KemblaIM Port Kembla1951 Wollongong15–11 CorrimalIM Corrimal1952 North Wollongong18–5 Port KemblaIM North Wollongong1953 Port Kembla10–7 North WollongongIM Port Kembla1954 Thirroul20–7 Port KemblaIM Thirroul1955 Port Kembla20–7 WollongongIM Port Kembla1956 Port Kembla14–9 WollongongIM Wollongong1957 Wests22–6 Wollongong1958 Port Kembla10–8 Wests1959 Wests12–6 North Wollongong1960 North Wollongong10–5 Port KemblaIM Port Kembla1961 North Wollongong10–2 Wollongong1962 Port Kembla10–9 North WollongongIM North Wollongong1963 Port Kembla13–0 North WollongongIM Port Kembla1964 Wollongong23–5 Port KemblaIM Wollongong1965 Port Kembla6–4 Wollongong Collegians1966 Dapto13–6 Collegians Collegians1967 Collegians12–4 Port Kembla Collegians1968 Dapto17–11 Port KemblaIM Port Kembla1969 Wests11–2 Port Kembla Port Kembla1970 Wests12–4 DaptoIM Thirroul1971 Wests18–11 Thirroul1972 Wests23–9 Thirroul1973 Thirroul8–6 Wests1974 Corrimal22–8 WollongongIM Wollongong1975 Dapto15–2 Thirroul1976 Dapto22–6 Corrimal1977 Dapto18–5 Port Kembla Wests1978 Wests17–13 Port Kembla Wests1979 Dapto22–3 WestsIM Wests1980 Wests6–0 Port Kembla1981 Wests22–0 Corrimal1982 Dapto15–12 Corrimal Corrimal1983 Dapto23–10 Wests Wests1984 Wests24–4 HelensburghIM Wests1985 Dapto40–4 CollegiansIM Dapto1986 Helensburgh8–6 CollegiansIM Collegians1987 Collegians16–2 WestsIM Thirroul1988 Helensburgh20–16 CollegiansIM Collegians1989 Wests13–12 Corrimal Corrimal1990 Dapto28–2 Collegians1991 Wests14–12 Dapto Wests1992 Dapto28–6 UniversityIM Dapto1993 Helensburgh22–8 Wests Helensburgh1994 Dapto22–14 WestsIM1995 Thirroul23–22 Wests Thirroul1996 Collegians11–2 Thirroul Collegians1997 Collegians32–16 DaptoIM1998 Collegians34–10 UniversityIM1999 Thirroul40–12 Collegians2000 Dapto30–14 Thirroul Dapto2001 Dapto18–12 Thirroul Collegians2002 Dapto20–16 Collegians Collegians2003 Thirroul28–22 DaptoRLW Thirroul2004 Collegians10–4 Thirroul Collegians2005 Collegians16–14 Wests Collegians2006 Dapto34–14 Thirroul Dapto2007 Collegians20–18 Dapto Dapto2008 Thirroul16–12 Collegians Thirroul2009 Wests14–4 Thirroul Wests2010 Wests24–0 Thirroul Wests2011 Wests34–24 Helensburgh Wests2012 Thirroul20–16 Wests TB Wests2013 Collegians29–28 Helensburgh Collegians2014 Thirroul18–16 Helensburgh IM VH Thirroul2015 Helensburgh16–10 Wests VH Helensburgh2016 Dapto28–16 Wests VH Dapto2017 Collegians22–14 Dapto IM VH Dapto2018 Wests18–16 Thirroul VH Wests2019 Collegians16–14 Wests IM VH Thirroul 2020No 1st Grade competition due to COVID-19. 2021 Competition suspended and subsequently abandoned due to COVID-19. 2022 Collegians 12–10 Wests VH NS Thirroul2023 Thirroul24–18 CollegiansBFBF De La Salle Caringbah2024 Wests31–20 ThirroulBFBF De La Salle Caringbah2025 Wests14–8 CollegiansBFBF Collegians2026 Collegians 56–12 CorrimalIM BFBF Corrimal
Reserve Grade Premiers