Newcastle & Hunter Rugby League

Newcastle & Hunter Rugby League
SportRugby league
Formerly known asMaitland & Coalfields Rugby League & Lower Hunter Rugby League
Instituted2006
Inaugural season2007
Number of teams45
Country Australia
Grand Final WinnersWaratah Mayfield Cheetahs (2025)
Broadcast partnerBar TV Sports (Australia)

Newcastle & Hunter Community Rugby League is the governing body of second tier rugby league in the Newcastle and Hunter Region and the 4th tier of Rugby League in Australia.

It is now the largest senior Rugby League competition in the world. Newcastle & Hunter Rugby League competitions consist of five senior men's divisions, A Grade, B Grade, C Grade, D Grade Northern Conference & D Grade Southern Conference. The league also has three Ladies League Tag divisions. Currently there are over 45 men's teams from 37 clubs and 21 Ladies League Tag teams.

History

Formed in 2006 after a merger between the Maitland & Coalfields Rugby League and Lower Hunter Rugby League competitions. The inaugural season of Newcastle & Hunter Rugby League commenced in 2007 with 24 teams from 23 clubs entering 3 grades in the first season.

Current clubs

Source:[1]

A-Grade
Club Nickname Founded Home Ground LGA Location
Cardiff Cobras 1934 Cardiff Oval Lake Macquarie Cardiff
Dudley Magpies 1981 John Balcomb Oval Lake Macquarie Dudley
Morpeth Bulls 1911 Morpeth Oval Maitland Morpeth
Raymond Terrace Magpies 2017 Lakeside Sporting Complex Port Stephens Raymond Terrace
Shortland Devils 1968 Tuxford Park Newcastle Shortland
University of Newcastle Seahorses 1970 Bernie Curran Oval Newcastle Callaghan
Waratah Mayfield Cheetahs 1927 Waratah Oval Newcastle Waratah
Windale Eagles 1962 Mick Bird Field Lake Macquarie Windale
B-Grade
Club Nickname Founded Ground LGA Location
Cardiff Cobras 1934 Cardiff Oval Lake Macquarie Cardiff
Dudley Magpies 1981 John Balcomb Oval Lake Macquarie Dudley
East Maitland Griffens 1911 King Edward Park Maitland East Maitland
Hinton Hornets 1913 Stuart Park Maitland Hinton
Karuah Roos Lionel Morten Oval Port Stephens Karuah
Maitland United Hitmen 1988 Coronation Oval Maitland Telarah
Stockton Sharks Lynn Oval Newcastle Stockton
Waratah Mayfield Cheetahs 1927 Waratah Oval Newcastle Waratah
C-Grade
Club Nickname Founded Ground LGA Location
Kotara Bears 1967 Newcastle Hudson Park Adamstown Heights
Clarence Town Cobras 1975 Dungog Clarence Town Park Clarence Town
Dungog Warriors Bennett Park Dungog Dungog
Fingal Bay Bomboras 1998 Fingal Bay Oval Port Stephens Fingal Bay
Kearsley Crushers 2017 Jeffrey Park Cessnock Kearsley
Swansea-Caves Beach Swans 1967 Parbury Park Lake Macquarie Swansea
Stroud Raiders Mid Coast Stroud Showground Stroud
West Wallsend Magpies 1971 Les Wakeman Oval Lake Macquarie West Wallsend
D-Grade Northern
Club Nickname Founded Ground LGA Location
Abermain-Weston Hawks 1913 Howe Park Cessnock Abermain
East Maitland Griffens 1911 Maitland King Edward Park East Maitland
Gloucester Magpies Bert Gallagher Oval Mid Coast Gloucster
Mallabula Panthers 2010 Mallabulla Sporting Complex Port Stephens Mallabulla
Paterson River The Rivers Paterson Showground Maitland Paterson
Raymond Terrace Magpies 2017 Lakeside Sporting Complex Port Stephens Raymond Terrace
Tea Gardens Hawks Myall Park Tea Gardens Hawks Nest
Waratah Mayfield Cheetahs 1927 Waratah Oval Newcastle Waratah
West Maitland Kangaroos 1967 Coronation Oval Maitland Telarah
D-Grade Southern
Cardiff Cobras 1934 Cardiff Oval Lake Macquarie Cardiff
Glendale Gorillas 1967 Bill Bower Oval Lake Macquarie Glendale
Hamilton Ducks Ducks 2019 Newcastle Waratah Park
Mallabula Panthers 2010 Mallabulla Sporting Complex Port Stephens Mallabulla
Morisset Bulls Gibson Field Lake Macquarie Morisset
University of Newcastle Seahorses 1970 Bernie Curran Oval Newcastle Callaghan
Wallsend Maryland Tigers 1967 Newcastle Grange Oval Maryland

Ladies League Tag

LLT A-Grade
Club Nickname Founded Ground LGA Location
Aberglasslyn Ants Cessnock
Central Newcastle Butcher Girls Lake Macquarie
Nelson Bay Bandits Port Stephens
Raymond Terrace Magpies Port Stephens
Singleton United Greyhounds Singleton
University of Newcastle Shehorses Newcastle
Wallsend Maryland Tigers Newcastle
Waratah Mayfield Cheetahs Newcastle
LLT B-Grade
Club Nickname Founded Ground LGA Location
Cessnock Goannas Cessnock
Clarence Town Cobras Dungog
Morpeth Bulls 1911 Morpeth Oval
Raymond Terrace Magpies Port Stephens
Shortland Devils Newcastle
Stockton Sharks Newcastle
Swansea-Caves Beach Swans Lake Macquarie
Thornton-Beresfield Bears Maitland
University of Newcastle Shehorses Newcastle
Waratah Mayfield Cheetahs Newcastle
LLT C-Grade
Club Nickname Founded Ground LGA Location
Dungog Warriors Dungog
East Maitland Griffens 1911 Maitland
Glendale Gorillas Lake Macquarie
Gloucester Magpies Mid Coast Gloucster
Kotara Bears Newcastle
Mallabula Panthers 2010 Mallabulla Sporting Complex Port Stephens Mallabulla
Nelson Bay Bandits Port Stephens
Raymond Terrace Magpies Port Stephens
Stroud Raiders Mid Coast
Tea Gardens Hawks Mid Coast

Former Men's clubs

Club First season Last season Home Ground Region
Aberglasslyn Ants Cessnock
Awabakal United Lake Macquarie
Belmont North Sharks Lenaghan Oval Lake Macquarie
Belmont North Broncos Lenaghan Oval Lake Macquarie
Belmont South Rabbitohs 2011 Leneghan Oval Lake Macquarie
Bolton Point Wolves 1997 Lake Macquarie
Booragul Bears 1996 Tulkaba Park Lake Macquarie
Budgewoi Bulldogs Central Coast
Bulahdelah Woodchoppers Mid North Coast
Carrington Pirates Connelly Oval Newcastle
Cessnock Cutters 2014 Cessnock
Dora Creek Swampies 1969 2025 Neville Thompson Oval Lake Macquarie
Elermore Vale Miners 1995 1998 Newcastle
Gateshead Zebras 1972 2013 Alan Davis Oval Lake Macquarie
Hamilton Ducks 2019 2024 Waratah Park Newcastle
Hamilton Pumas Learmonth Park Newcastle
Kurri Kurri Bulldogs Cessnock
Lakeside Hawks Lakeside Sports Complex Port Stephens
Lambton Kingfishers 1998 2016 Ford Oval Newcastle
Lakes United 1947 2025 Cahill Oval Lake Macquarie
Maitland 1955 2025 Maitland Sportsground Maitland
Merewether Storm 1998 1998 Empire Park Newcastle
Mt Hutton Mountain Lions Lake Macquarie
Northern Lakes Warriors 1976 Central Coast
North Newcastle Blue Bags 1989 2018 Passmore Oval Newcastle
Ourimbah-Wyoming Magpies 2022 Bill Sohier Park Central Coast
Singleton United Greyhounds 1947 2025 Pirtek Park Singleton
South Newcastle Lions Newcastle
Tall Timbers Timber Cutters 2019 Bill Sohier Park Central Coast
Wangi Wangi Warriors 2022 Wangi Oval Lake Macquarie
Warners Bay-Mt Hutton 1997 1997 Mt Hutton Oval Lake Macquarie
Williamtown/ Hexham Jets Hexham Oval Port Stephens/ Newcastle
West Maitland Wallaroos Coronation Oval Maitland
Westlakes Wolves 1998 2002 Tulkaba Park Lake Macquarie
Woodberry Warriors 1974 2025 Fred Harvey Oval Maitland

Honours

Newcastle & Hunter Rugby League 2007 - Present

A Grade
Season Minor Premiers Premiers Score Runners-up
2025 Waratah Mayfield Cheetahs Waratah Mayfield Cheetahs 24 - 8 Dudley Magpies
2024 Raymond Terrace Magpies Waratah Mayfield Cheetahs 33-28 Raymond Terrace Magpies
2023 - Dora Creek Swampies 20-14 Waratah Mayfield Cheetahs
2022 - Dora Creek Swampies - Woodberry Warriors
2021 Dora Creek Swampies Dora Creek Swampies - -
2020 Dora Creek Swampies Thornton Beresfield Bears 22–18 Dora Creek Swampies
2019 Dora Creek Swampies Dora Creek Swampies 44–4 Belmont South Rabbitohs
2018 Stockton Sharks Shortland Devils 36–4 Stockton Sharks
2017 Dora Creek Swampies Fingal Bay Bomboras 31–26 Shortland Devils
2016 Windale Eagles Windale Eagles 18–10 Shortland Devils
2015 Belmont South Rabbitohs Belmont South Rabbitohs 34–10 Tea Gardens Hawks
2014 Belmont South Rabbitohs Cardiff Cobras 16–14 Windale Eagles
2013 Wallsend-Maryland Tigers Wallsend-Maryland Tigers 35–16 Belmont South Rabbitohs
2012 Windale Eagles Wallsend-Maryland Tigers 44–16 Windale Eagles
2011 Windale Eagles Windale Eagles 20–16 Mallabula Panthers
2010 Wangi Wangi Warriors Wangi Wangi Warriors 38–18 West Wallsend Magpies
2009 Wyong Roos Wyong Roos 42–22 Cardiff Cobras
2008 - - - -
2007 Cardiff Cobras Cardiff Cobras -
B Grade
Season Minor Premiers Premiers Score Runners-up
2025 Morpeth Bulls University Seahorses 26 - 0 Shortland Devils
2024 Fingal Bay Bomboras East Maitland Griffins 14 - 12 Kotara Bears
2020 Waratah Mayfield Cheetahs Waratah Mayfield Cheetahs 8 – 4 Aberglasslyn Ants
2019 Morpeth Bulls West Wallsend Magpies 18 – 16 University Seahorses
2018 Woodberry Warriors Woodberry Warriors 46 – 10 University Seahorses
2017 Kotara Bears Dudley Magpies 14 – 10 Kotara Bears
2016 West Wallsend Magpies Fingal Bay Bomboras 28 – 24 West Wallsend Magpies
2015 Lambton Kingfishers Mallabula Panthers 16 – 6 Waratah Mayfield Cheetahs
2014 University Seahorses Cessnock Cutters 34 – 26 Tea Gardens Hawks
2013 Morisset Bulls Shortland Devils 22 – 14 Morisset Bulls Morisset Bulls
2012 Raymond Terrace Magpies Stockton Sharks 44 – 18 Raymond Terrace Magpies
2011 Raymond Terrace Magpies Tea Gardens Hawks 30 – 28 Raymond Terrace Magpies
2010 Woodberry Warriors Mallabula Panthers 16 – 12 Raymond Terrace Magpies
2009 Central Wyong Tea Gardens Hawks 26 – 24 Wangi Wangi
2008 - - - -
2007 Windale Eagles Windale Eagles 20 – 16 Morisset Bulls Morisset Bulls
C Grade
Season Minor Premiers Premiers Score Runners-up
2025 Maitland United Karuah Roos 34 - 28 Stockton Sharks
2024 Stockton Sharks Hinton Hornets 32 - 24 Dungog Warriors
2020 Budgewoi Bulldogs Budgewoi Bulldogs 22 – 12 Hamilton Ducks
2019 Aberglasslyn Ants Tall Timbers Timber Cutters 30 – 12 Aberglasslyn Ants
2018 East Maitland Griffins Windale Eagles 24 – 16 East Maitland Griffins
2017 Abermain-Weston Hawks Waratah Mayfield Cheetahs 42 – 28 Abermain-Weston Hawks
2016 Carrington Pirates Carrington Pirates 24 – 18 Dungog Warriors
2015 Paterson River Paterson River 24 – 4 Morisset Bulls
2014 Waratah Mayfield Cheetahs Raymond Terrace Magpies 18 – 12 Waratah Mayfield Cheetahs
2013 Gateshead Zebras Gateshead Zebras 28 – 24 Stroud Raiders
2012 Fingal Bay Bomboras Dudley Magpies 17 – 16 Fingal Bay Bomboras
2011 Swansea Caves Beach Swans Swansea Caves Beach Swans 24 – 18 Paterson River
2010 Dungog Warriors Dungog Warriors 28 – 20 Dora Creek Swampies
2009 Thornton-Beresfield Bears Thornton-Beresfield Bears 32 – 16 Hinton Hornets
D Grade Northern Conference D Grade Southern Conference
Season Minor Premiers Premiers Score Runners-up Minor Premiers Premiers Score Runners-up
2025 Stroud Raiders Clarence Town Cobras 30 - 22 Mallabula Panthers Swansea - Caves Beach Swans Kearsley Crushers 30 - 14 West Wallsend Magpies
2024 Paterson River Paterson River 28 - 26 Karuah Roos Wallsend Maryland Tigers Wallsend Maryland Tigers 54 - 31 Cardiff Cobras
2020 Kotara Bears Kearsley Crushers 18 – 12 Kotara Bears - - - -
2019 Clarence Town Cobras Dungog Warriors 22 – 16 Stroud Raiders Swansea Hamilton Ducks 26 – 14 Kotara Bears
2018 Gloucester Magpies Paterson River 42 – 16 Gloucester Magpies Kotara Bears Abermain-Weston Hawks 18 – 6 Cardiff Cobras
D Grade was split into Northern & Southern Conferences in 2018
2017 Glendale Gorillas Glendale Gorillas 44 – 30 Cardiff Cobras
2016 Hinton Hornets Karuah Roos 24 – 20 Hinton Hornets
2015 Kotara Bears Clarence Town Cobras 30 – 20 Kotara Bears
2014 Williamtown Jets Williamtown Jets 25 – 18 Karuah Roos
2013 Carrington Pirates Carrington Pirates 22 – 18 Thornton Beresfield Bears
2012 Abermain-Weston Hawks Abermain-Weston Hawks 34 – 26 Hinton Hornets
2011 Gloucester Magpies Gloucester Magpies 38 – 24 Morisset Bulls
2010 Stroud Raiders Stroud Raiders 32 – 18 Clarence Town Cobras
2009 Fingal Bay Bomboras Gateshead Zebras 19 – 18 Fingal Bay Bomboras

Ladies League Tag

A Grade
Season Minor Premiers Premiers Score Runners-up
2025 Central Butcher Girls Waratah Mayfield Cheetahs 16 - 12 Central Butcher Girls
2024 Central Butcher Girls Central Butcher Girls 18-0 University She Horses
2020 Aberglasslyn Ants Aberglasslyn Ants 14–2 University She Horses
2019 Aberglasslyn Ants Aberglasslyn Ants 20–0 University She Horses
2018 Aberglasslyn Ants Aberglasslyn Ants 18–4 University She Horses
2017 Aberglasslyn Ants Aberglasslyn Ants 18–0 University She Horses
2016 Umina Bunnies Umina Bunnies 20–0
B Grade
Season Minor Premiers Premiers Score Runners-up
2025 Singleton Greyhounds Waratah Mayfield Cheetahs 7 - 6 Aberglasslyn Ants
2024 Wallsend Maryland Tigers Wallsend Maryland Tigers 16–8 Cardiff Cobras
2017 - Cardiff Cobras 8–6 West Wallsend Magpies
2020 Shortland Devils Shortland Devils 10–6 Dungog Warriors
2019 Tea Gardens Hawks West Wallsend Magpies 32–0 Wangi Wangi Warriors
2018 Mallabula Panthers Mallabula Panthers 8–0 Swansea Caves Beach Swans
C Grade
Season Minor Premiers Premiers Score Runners-up
2025 Raymond Terrace Magpies Raymond Terrace Magpies 12 - 8 Swansea - Caves Beach Swans
2024 Dungog Warriors Dungog Warriors 10 – 8 Shortland Devils
2019 Stroud Raiders Stroud Raiders 12 – 4 Dungog Warriors

Women's Tackle Premiers

Season Minor Premiers Premiers Score Runners-up
2020 Berkeley Vale Panthers Berkeley Vale Panthers 24–14 Aberglasslyn Ants
2019 Berkeley Vale Panthers Berkeley Vale Panthers 32–4 Waratah Mayfield Cheetahs

References

  1. ^ "Association: Newcastle Hunter Rugby League". www.playrugbyleague.com. Retrieved 27 August 2025.