SG Ball

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S. G. Ball Cup
SportRugby league
Instituted1965
Inaugural season1965
Number of teams16
Country Australia
Premiers Sydney Roosters (6th title) (2026)
Most titles Parramatta (14 titles)
WebsiteS. G. Ball Cup
Related competitionHarold Matthews Cup
Laurie Daley Cup
Mal Meninga Cup

The S. G. Ball Cup is a junior rugby league football competition played predominantly in New South Wales, between teams made up of male players aged under 19. Teams from Canberra, Melbourne, and Auckland also participate. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic in New South Wales a team from Perth (West Coast) also participated. The competition is administered by the New South Wales Rugby League, and includes both junior representative teams of NRL and NSWRL clubs that do not field a team in the NRL.

The S. G. Ball Cup is named after S. G. "George" Ball, one of the five people responsible for the formation of South Sydney, and who was club secretary for over fifty years.

Clubs

In 2026, 17 clubs fielded teams in the NSWRL S G Ball Cup.

In 2020, 18 clubs fielded teams in the NSWRL S G Ball Cup. After the sixth round on March 14 & 15, the 2020 competition was suspended and subsequently cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia.[1] Three teams from 2020 that did not return in 2021 were Central Coast, New Zealand, and West Coast. New Zealand returned in 2023. Central Coast returned in 2026.

Previous teams that participated in the SG Ball Cup include: Gold Coast (2008–09), Newtown (1970s, early 1980s & 2009), and the Western Sydney Academy of Sport (2007–17).

Eastern Suburbs changed their name to Sydney City and then Sydney.

Central Coast and Sydney both compete as the Roosters. Typically, Sydney compete in navy blue jerseys with red and white chevrons, whilst the Central Coast compete in white jerseys with red and navy blue chevrons.

Melbourne Storm competed in the S.G. Ball Cup from 2009 to 2014, did not compete from 2015 to 2018, and competed as the Victoria Thunderbolts from 2020 to 2022. The club returned as the Melbourne Storm from the 2023 season.

S. G. Ball Cup Premiers

1965 to Current

YearPremiersScoreRunners upMinor PremiersWooden SpoonNotes
1965 Souths5 – 4 CanterburyNot applicable – Knock-Out Competition
1966 Parramatta12 – 0 Souths Parramatta Norths
1967 Parramatta7 – 2 Souths Canterbury Newtown
1968 Parramatta7 – 4 Souths Parramatta Norths[2]
1969 Souths13 – 3 Penrith Souths Newtown[3]
1970 St George12 – 10 Parramatta Souths Easts[4]
1971 Wests7 – 3 Souths Souths Newtown[5]
1972 Canterbury13 – 8 Parramatta Parramatta Norths[6]
1973 Parramatta19 – 10 Penrith Penrith Norths[7]
1974 Souths12 – 8 Balmain Balmain Norths
1975 Souths13 – 2 St George Parramatta Newtown
1976 Souths28 – 3 Wests Souths Norths
1977 Penrith5 – 2 Parramatta[8]
1978 Canterbury14 – 0 Penrith12 teams split into 2 zones of 6 teams.
Semi-Finals were:
Zone 1 1st-place vs Zone 2 2nd-place,
Zone 2 1st-place vs Zone 1 2nd-place.		[9]
1979 Souths8 – 0 Balmain[10]
1980 Souths23 – 10 Balmain[11]
1981 Penrith18 – 9 Balmain[12]
1982 Balmain25 – 16 Newtown Cronulla Easts[13][14]
1983 Parramatta30 – 0 Wests Wests Newtown
1984 St George18 – 16 Parramatta Parramatta Wests[15]
1985 Parramatta32 – 12 St George Canterbury Wests
1986 Souths16 – 8 Parramatta Souths
1987 Parramatta32 – 10 Canberra Parramatta Easts[16][17]
1988 Parramatta20 – 10 Penrith[18]
1989 Illawarra32 – 22 Penrith Illawarra Easts[19]
1990 Newcastle23 – 10 Manly Newcastle Easts
1991 Parramatta32 – 6 Manly Manly Easts[20][21]
1992 St George20 – 0 Canterbury St George Easts
1993 Parramatta28 – 20 St George[22]
1994 Souths22 – 20 Newcastle[23][24]
1995 Canberra36 – 6 Penrith Canberra[25]
1996 Illawarra8 – 0 Parramatta Illawarra Canterbury[26]
1997 Sydney City (Easts)11 – 10 Newcastle Newcastle[27]
1998 Souths20 – 16 Manly Illawarra Canterbury
1999 Parramatta38 – 6 Illawarra Parramatta St George[28][29]
2000 Penrith28 – 24 Illawarra Newcastle Wests[30][31]
2001 Newcastle34 – 26 Penrith Parramatta St George
2002 Wests18 – 16 Parramatta Illawarra Manly
2003 Canberra16 – 4 Parramatta Parramatta St George[32][33]
2004 Newcastle42 – 16 Souths Sydney (Easts) Norths
2005 Canberra34 – 12 Illawarra Parramatta Norths
2006 Penrith18 – 16 Souths Parramatta Norths
2007 Parramatta22 – 12 Penrith Penrith Western Sydney (A)
2008 Sydney (Easts)38 – 20 Parramatta Canterbury Norths
2009 Canterbury42 – 16 Melbourne St George Wests
2010 Sydney (Easts)28 – 24 Parramatta Cronulla Central Coast
2011 Newcastle25 – 24 Canterbury Wests Western Sydney (A)
2012 Balmain42 – 20 Canberra Balmain Western Sydney (A)
2013 Balmain14 – 6 Penrith Penrith West Coast
2014 Sydney (Easts)34 – 30 (iet) Penrith Parramatta West Coast
2015 Cronulla 24 – 16 Souths Canberra Norths
2016 Penrith 25 – 10 Illawarra Newcastle West Coast
2017 Parramatta 30 – 22 Cronulla Cronulla West Coast
2018 Penrith 25 – 14 Canterbury Sydney (Easts) West Coast
2019 Illawarra 34 – 23 Manly Manly West Coast
2020 Season was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[34]
2021 Canberra 18 – 14 Illawarra Sydney (Easts) Norths [35]
2022 Penrith 22 – 20 Sydney (Easts) Sydney (Easts) Victoria (Melbourne) [36]
2023 Parramatta 28 – 22 Newcastle Canberra Melbourne [37]
2024 St George 40 – 18 Canterbury Sydney (Easts) Balmain [38][39]
2025 Sydney (Easts) 33 – 26 (aet) Parramatta Parramatta Norths [40]
2026 Sydney (Easts) 28 – 24 Newcastle Souths Central Coast [41][42]

Notes:

  • U16/s from 1965 until 2005
  • U18/s from 2006 until 2020
  • U19/s from 2021 onwards

Premiership Tally

No. Club Seasons
1 Parramatta 14 (1966, 1967, 1968, 1973, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1991, 1993, 1999, 2007, 2017, 2023)
2 South Sydney 10 (1965, 1969, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1979, 1980, 1986, 1994, 1998)
3 Penrith 7 (1977, 1981, 2000, 2006, 2016, 2018, 2022)
4 Sydney (Eastern Suburbs) 6 (1997, 2008, 2010, 2014, 2025, 2026)
5 Canberra 4 (1995, 2003, 2005, 2021)
5 Newcastle 4 (1990, 2001, 2004, 2011)
5 St George 4 (1970, 1984, 1992, 2024)
8 Canterbury 3 (1972, 1978, 2009)
8 Balmain 3 (1982, 2012, 2013)
8 Illawarra 3 (1989, 1996, 2019)
11 Western Suburbs 2 (1971, 2002)
12 Cronulla 1 (2015)
— Manly 0
— Norths 0

Bold means the team is currently taking part in the competition.

See also

References

  1. "NSWRL cancels nine competitions for 2020 season". NSWRL. 27 March 2020. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  2. New South Wales Rugby Football League. "Souths, Parramatta Share Junior Cup Honours". The Rugby League News. 49 (26 (June 22, 1968)). Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League. Retrieved 8 September 2020 – via Trove.
  3. New South Wales Rugby Football League. "Souths Take Junior Cups". The Rugby League News. 50 (22 (June 21, 1969)). Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League. Retrieved 8 September 2020 – via Trove.
  4. New South Wales Rugby Football League. "JUNIOR FINALS". The Rugby League News. 51 (26 (June 27, 1970)). Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League. Retrieved 8 September 2020 – via Trove.
  5. New South Wales Rugby Football League. "Junior Stars Called Up". The Rugby League News. 52 (24 (July 3, 1971)). Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League. Retrieved 8 September 2020 – via Trove.
  6. New South Wales Rugby Football League. "The Juniors - A Goal-Kicking Discovery". The Rugby League News. 53 (23 (June 24, 1972)). Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League. Retrieved 8 September 2020 – via Trove.
  7. New South Wales Rugby Football League. "Cup to Balmain". The Rugby League News. 54 (24 (June 23, 1973)). Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League. Retrieved 8 September 2020 – via Trove.
  8. Pask, Tony. Ross, Barry; Gerard, Geoff (eds.). "Penrith's Bright Future". Big League. 58 (18). Flemington, NSW: Forsyth Publications on behalf of New South Wales Rugby League: 11.
  9. "Junior Representative Finals". Big League. 59 (13): 39. 17 May 1978.
  10. "Junior Representative Finals". Big League. 60 (16): 33. 6 June 1979.
  11. "Junior Representative Finals". Big League. 61 (14): 37. 28 May 1980.
  12. "Junior Representative Finals". Big League. 62 (15): 42. 3 June 1981.
  13. "S.G. Ball Competition". Big League. 63 (10): 40. 28 April 1982.
  14. "Junior Rep Finals Results". Big League. 63 (12): 38. 12 May 1982.
  15. "Sports results, details". The Canberra Times. Canberra: National Library of Australia. 17 June 1984. p. 30. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  16. Middleton, David (1987). Rugby League 1987-88. Sydney: Lester-Townsend Publishing. p. 139. ISBN 0949853119.
  17. "Junior Raiders fail at the last hurdle". The Canberra Times. Canberra: National Library of Australia. 9 June 1987. p. 22. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
  18. "Times Sport". The Canberra Times. Canberra: National Library of Australia. 14 June 1988. p. 27. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  19. Middleton, David (1990). Rugby League 1989-90. Sydney: Lester-Townsend Publishing. p. 147. ISBN 0949853321.
  20. "Winfield Cup - S.G. Ball". The Canberra Times. Canberra: National Library of Australia. 24 May 1991. p. 32. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
  21. "Young Raiders pull off a long shot". The Canberra Times. Canberra: National Library of Australia. 19 May 1991. p. 16. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
  22. "Sport". The Canberra Times. Canberra: National Library of Australia. 6 June 1993. p. 12. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  23. "Siren Scores". The Canberra Times. Canberra: National Library of Australia. 5 June 1994. p. 12. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  24. Melehan, Sean (6 June 1994). "Knights juniors beaten on bell". Newcastle Herald. p. 4.
  25. Hannan, Bevan (25 June 1995). "Close shave for Raiders' coach as reserves team makes it six". The Canberra Times. Canberra: National Library of Australia. p. 16. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  26. Gandon, Mike (7 September 1996). "Junior seize the day - Grand final glory for Steelers". Illawarra Mercury. p. 68.
  27. Middleton, David (1998). Rugby League 1998. Sydney: Harper Sports. pp. 210–211. ISBN 0732264243.
  28. Gandon, Mike (10 May 1999). "Junior Eels pull off cup double - Too good for brave Illawarra". Illawarra Mercury. p. 26.
  29. Middleton, David (2000). Rugby League 2000. Sydney: Harper Sports. p. 253. ISBN 0732265576.
  30. Murray, Dave (1 May 2000). "Penrith youngsters snatch SG Ball grand final - Steelers gallant in defeat". Illawarra Mercury. p. 19.
  31. Middleton, David (2001). Rugby League 2001. Sydney: Harper Sports. p. 258. ISBN 0732269261.
  32. "Monday Scoreboard - Part 2 - Netball-Water Polo". Daily Telegraph. News Limited. 19 May 2003. p. 48.
  33. "Ball final goes to Raiders". Canberra Times. Fairfax. 18 May 2003. p. 61.
  34. "NSWRL cancels nine competitions for 2020 season". New South Wales Rugby League. 27 March 2020. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  35. McEnally, Andrew (1 May 2021). "Raiders hold off Steelers in hard fought UNE SG Ball Cup Grand Final win". NSWRL. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
  36. Honeysett, Stuart (30 April 2022). "Panthers stage stunning fightback to claim SG Ball Cup premiership". NSWRL. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  37. McDonald, Margie (29 April 2023). "Eels able to outlast determined Knights". NSWRL. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  38. Micallef, Tayla (27 April 2024). "Dragons break 32-year drought". NSWRL. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  39. Beatton, Joel (27 April 2024). "SG Ball Cup: Dragons complete dream season with Grand Final dominance". Dragons.com.au. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  40. McDonald, Margie (3 May 2025). "Roosters pull a premiership from the fire in a SG Ball Cup thriller". NSWRL. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
  41. "Juniors Reps in Qualifying Finals as Seniors Take on Eels". Rabbitohs.com.au. 30 April 2026. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  42. Gavin, Tahlie (2 May 2026). "Roosters snatch back-to-back titles in SG Ball Cup thriller". NSWRL. Retrieved 2 May 2026.