# Clayton Cup

The Clayton Cup is a trophy that was awarded by the Country Rugby League to the NSW country rugby league team with the best overall record for that season. To be eligible, the team must win the highest level of competition in its region. Usually the winner of the Clayton Cup goes through the season undefeated. In late 2019, the Country Rugby League was absorbed by the New South Wales Rugby League.
The Cup was donated by Reub Clayton, an early rugby league administrator in country NSW. The cup was first awarded in 1937 to West Tamworth. Since then, the Tweed Heads Seagulls, Grafton Ghosts, North Tamworth Bears and Cobar Roosters have been the most successful clubs, each winning the trophy three times.

## Winners

| Year | Club | Group | P | W | L | D | For | Agst | Pct | Coach | Report |
| 1937 | West Tamworth | 4 | 22 | 22 | 0 | 0 | | | | | MG |
| 1938 | Nimmitabel | 19 (Original) | | | | | | | | George King | DL |
| 1939 | Wagga Magpies | 13 | 21 | 17 | 2 | 1 | 314 | 60 | 83.96% | Eric Weissel | DA |
| 1940 | Henty | 13 | 13 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 234 | 72 | 76.47% | Brian Bourke | DA |
| No cup awarded for 1941-1945 seasons due to World War II ||||||||||||
| 1946 | Port Kembla | Illawarra | 18 | 16 | 0 | 2 | 412 | 196 | 67.76% | Harry Nolan | RLN |
| 1947 | Bombala | 19 (Original) | | | | | | | | | |
| 1948 | Cootamundra | 9 | 30 | 27 | 3 | 0 | 469 | 252 | 65.05% | Bob Hobbs | CH |
| 1949 | Tumut | 9 | 24 | 15 | 7 | 2 | 225 | 225 | 50.00% | Jim Jeffrey | TAT |
| 1950 | Bathurst Railway | 10 | 19 | 16 | 3 | 0 | 284 | 109 | 72.26% | W 'Snow' Garlick | NA |
| 1951 | North Tamworth Bears | 4 | 16 | 15 | 1 | 0 | | | | Vic Williams | NMH |
| 1952 | Gundagai | 9 | 44 | 35 | 9 | 0 | 1074 | 501 | 68.19% | Nev. Hand | DA |
| 1953 | Young | 9 | 25 | 21 | 4 | 0 | 777 | 230 | 77.16% | Ian Johnston | NA |
| 1954 | Orange CYMS | 10 | 18 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 300 | 119 | 71.60% | Mick Newland | LM |
| 1955 | Young (2) | 9 | 33 | 30 | 3 | 0 | 1056 | 297 | 78.05% | Leo Trevena | YTC |
| 1956 | Maitland | Newcastle | | | | | | | | | RLN |
| 1957 | Temora | 9 | 25 | 19 | 4 | 2 | 455 | 183 | 71.32% | Tom Kirk | |
| 1958 | Coonamble | 14 | 20 | 19 | 0 | 1 | 311 | 81 | 79.34% | Ray Hyde | RLN |
| 1959 | Dubbo Macquarie | 11 | 18 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 472 | 118 | 80.00% | Leo Nosworthy | |
| 1960 | Goulburn Workers | 8 | | | | | | | | Phil Jackson | CT |
| 1961 | Ballina | 1 | | | | | | | | John Gillard | RLN |
| 1962 | Warialda | 5 | 18 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 511 | 165 | 75.59% | Jim Payne | |
| 1963 | Tweed Heads Seagulls | 18 | | | | | | | | | |
| 1964 | Oberon | 10 | 18 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 427 | 66 | 86.61% | Rolf Trudgett | |
| 1965 | Tullibigeal | 17 | | | | | | | | | |
| 1966 | Picton Magpies | 6 | 14 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 172 | 63 | 73.19% | Billy Peel | |
| 1967 | Casino RSM | 1 | 18 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 480 | 126 | 79.21% | Terry O'Brien | RLN |
| 1968 | Darlington Point | 17 | 21 | 20 | 1 | 0 | 864 | 79 | 91.62% | Bill Watson | RLN |
| 1969 | Tarcutta | 13 | 14 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 362 | 84 | 81.17% | A. Hills | CT |
| 1970 | Delegate | 19 (Original) | 14 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 388 | 118 | 76.68% | Paul Clear | BT |
| 1971 | Cobar | 15 | 16 | 13 | 1 | 2 | 521 | 218 | 70.50% | Brian Lawrence | |
| 1972 | Cobar (2) | 15 | 17 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 567 | 239 | 70.35% | Brian Lawrence | RLN |
| 1973 | Gunnedah | 4 | 16 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 427 | 122 | 77.78% | Roger Buttenshaw | |
| 1974 | Queanbeyan United | 8 | 17 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 499 | 116 | 81.14% | Don Furner | CT |
| 1975 | Albury Blues | 13 | 18 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 680 | 219 | 75.64% | | CT |
| 1976 | Bombala (2) | 16 | 22 | 21 | 1 | 0 | 653 | 179 | 78.49% | B. Laurence | CT |
| 1977 | Belconnen United | 19 (Canberra) | 17 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 406 | 106 | 79.30% | Bob Belford | CT |
| 1978 | Sawtell | 2 | 20 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 461 | 152 | 75.20% | Les Cleal | CT |
| 1979 | Scone | 21 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 428 | 152 | 73.79% | Les Cleal | |
| 1980 | Narwan | 19 | 16 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 563 | | | Eric Kelly | CT |
| 1981 | Bellingen | 2 | 18 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 504 | 97 | 83.86% | R Taylor | |
| 1982 | Warilla | 7 | 20 | 18 | 1 | 1 | 552 | 171 | 76.35% | Col O'Rourke | |
| 1983 | Tweed Heads Seagulls (2) | 18 | 16 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 432 | 119 | 78.40% | John Harvey | |
| 1984 | Bourke | 15 | 15 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 606 | 166 | 78.50% | Tony Bock | |
| 1985 | Tumbarumba | 13 | 16 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 770 | 111 | 87.40% | Les Cleal | |
| 1986 | Tumbarumba (2) | 13 | 16 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 639 | 91 | 87.53% | Les Cleal | |
| 1987 | Lismore Marist Brothers | 1 | 18 | 17 | 0 | 1 | 481 | 196 | 71.05% | Denis Meaney | |
| 1988 | Bega Roosters | 16 | 16 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 630 | 138 | 82.03% | Lloyd Martin | |
| 1989 | Tweed Heads Seagulls (3) | 18 | 17 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 558 | 155 | 78.26% | John Harvey | |
| 1990 | Singleton | 21 | 23 | 22 | 0 | 1 | 855 | 263 | 76.48% | Richard Jones | |
| 1991 | Mittagong Lions | 6 | 22 | 21 | 1 | 0 | 803 | 204 | 79.74% | Graeme Andrews | CT |
| 1992 | Western Suburbs | Newcastle | 20 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 630 | 248 | 71.75% | Neil Baker | |
| 1993 | Rankins Springs | 17 | 16 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 494 | 190 | 72.22% | Stuart Vearing | |
| 1994 | Forster Tuncurry Hawks | 3 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 0 | | | | Dennis Tutty | |
| 1995 | Forster Tuncurry Hawks (2) | 3 | 19 | 19 | 0 | 0 | | | | Dennis Tutty | |
| 1996 | Werris Creek | 4 | 16 | | 0 | | 857 | 272 | 75.91% | Ron Dellar | |
| 1997 | Eden | 16 | 17 | 17 | 0 | 0 | | | | Chris Brennan | |
| 1998 | Cobar (3) | 11 | 18 | 18 | 0 | 1 | | | | Scott Mieni | |
| 1999 | Barellan | 17 | | | | | | | | | |
| 2000 | Taree City | 3 | 17 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 776 | 293 | 72.59% | Terry McCartney | |
| 2001 | Port Macquarie Sharks | 2 | 20 | 19 | 0 | 1 | | | | | |
| 2002 | Barellan (2) | 17 | 12 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 394 | 175 | 69.24% | Clint Halden | |
| 2003 | Narooma | 16 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 0 | | | | David Boyle | |
| 2004 | Temora (2) | 9 | 19 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 964 | 218 | 81.56% | Chris Brennan | |
| 2005 | Umina Beach | Central Coast | 20 | 19 | 1 | 0 | 770 | 242 | 76.09% | Nathan Johnson | |
| 2006 | Hillston Bluebirds | 17 | 12 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 450 | 148 | 75.25% | Steve Parr | TAN |
| 2007 | Albion Park-Oak Flats | 7 | 16 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 606 | 270 | 69.18% | Jade Lucas & Shane Sainsbury | |
| 2008 | The Entrance Tigers | Central Coast | | | 0 | 0 | | | | Gavin Westwood | |
| 2009 | Yenda | 20 | 18 | 16 | 2 | 0 | | | | Andrew Lavaka | RLW |
| 2010 | Grafton Ghosts | Northern Rivers | 18 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 807 | 206 | 79.66% | Col Speed | DM |
| 2011 | Grafton Ghosts (2) | Northern Rivers | 18 | 16 | 1 | 1 | 566 | 237 | 70.49% | Col Speed | DE |
| 2012 | East Campbelltown Eagles | 6 | 18 | 18 | 0 | 0 | | | | Richard Barnes | CA |
| 2013 | Wauchope Blues | 3 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 552 | 196 | 73.80% | Robbie Trembath | WG |
| 2014 | North Tamworth Bears (2) | 4 | 17 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 1061 | 263 | 80.14% | Brad McManus | NDL |
| 2015 | Port Macquarie Sharks (2) | 3 | 14 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 484 | 197 | 71.07% | Matt Shipway | |
| 2016 | Moruya Sharks | 16 | 16 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 754 | 228 | 76.78% | Tim Weyman | TB |
| 2017 | Grafton Ghosts (3) | 2 | 18 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 852 | 158 | 84.36% | Danny Wicks | DE |
| 2018 | Tweed Coast Raiders | Northern Rivers | 21 | 18 | 2 | 1 | 604 | 236 | 71.90% | Brent Kite | TDN |
| 2019 | North Tamworth Bears (3) | 4 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 700 | 164 | 81.02% | Scott Blanch | NDL |
| No cup awarded for the 2020 and 2021 seasons due to the COVID-19 pandemic ||||||||||||
| 2022 | Scone Thoroughbreds (2) | 21 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 750 | 148 | 80.27% | Adam Clydsdale | NSWRL |

## Sources

| Years | Item | Via |
| 1937 to 1954 | Various Newspapers | Trove |
| 1937 to 1973 | Rugby League News | Trove |
| 1960 to 1991 | Canberra Times | Trove |
| 1967–69, 1971–1996 | Country Rugby League Annual Report | State Library of NSW |
| 2003 to 2014 | Rugby League Week | eResources at State Library of NSW |
| 2010 to 2019 | Various Newspaper Websites | As referenced |
| 2015 to 2019 | Group Rugby League past seasons | SportsTG websites - No longer available |