# Presidents Cup (rugby league)

The NSWRL Presidents Cup is a semi-professional, open-aged rugby league football competition played in New South Wales. The competition is administered by the New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL). The competition includes teams from domestic rugby league clubs (mainly from the Illawarra District), Ron Massey Cup, Sydney Shield and Canterbury Cup clubs.

## History

The Presidents Cup is a rugby league trophy which has been awarded in many competitions, governed by New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL). It was 1910 when Sir James Joynton Smith, the newly appointed President of the NSWRL, donated the trophy. Joynton Smith was the Lord Mayor of Sydney and earned a knighthood for his philanthropic work. A shrewd businessman, he was a key figure in the game up until his death in 1943.
Initially the Presidents Cup was awarded in the Under 21 competition between representative teams from each district's junior league. It ran in this format until the mid-1990s.
As the top tier premiership expanded in the 1980s, and the Under 23s competition was scrapped, the Under 21s competition was expanded. In 1997, with a split competition, the ARL scrapped reserve grade, and the Under 21s served as curtain raisers to first grade games. The following year, the first year of the NRL, the Under 21s competition was scrapped, junior competitions were rationalised, and reserve grade was reintroduced under different names, including Premier League and First Division. The Presidents Cup trophy was awarded to the winner of this competition. In 2008, the centenary of rugby league in Australia, this division was renamed as the NSW Cup competition. The Presidents Cup trophy was awarded for the first two years in this grade, then a new trophy was awarded for the 2010 competition.

### Historic Presidents Cup competitions

Presidents Cup 1910–1996 (Original Under 21's Grade) (Awarded Presidents Cup) :
| Year | Premiers | Score | Runners-up |
| 1910 | Eastern Suburbs Roosters | | |
| 1911 | Eastern Suburbs Roosters | | |
| 1912 | | | |
| 1913 | Eastern Suburbs Roosters | | |
| 1914 | | | |
| 1915 | Eastern Suburbs Roosters | | |
| 1916 | | | |
| 1917 | | | |
| 1918 | North Sydney Bears | | |
| 1919 | Newtown Jets | | |
| 1920 | Eastern Suburbs Roosters | | |
| 1921 | Newtown Jets | | |
| 1922 | Eastern Suburbs Roosters | | |
| 1923 | Eastern Suburbs Roosters | | |
| 1924 | Eastern Suburbs Roosters | | |
| 1925 | Western Suburbs Magpies | | |
| 1926 | | | |
| 1927 | Eastern Suburbs Roosters | | |
| 1928 | Newtown Jets | | |
| 1929 | | | |
| 1930 | | | |
| 1931 | | | |
| 1932 | | | |
| 1933 | North Sydney Bears | | |
| 1934 | | | |
| 1935 | | | |
| 1936 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | | |
| 1937 | | | |
| 1938 | Eastern Suburbs Roosters | | |
| 1939 | | | |
| 1940 | | | |
| 1941 | | | |
| 1942 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | | |
| 1943 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | | |
| 1944 | Newtown Jets | | |
| 1945 | | | |
| 1946 | Manly Warringah Sea Eagles | | |
| 1947 | Western Suburbs Magpies | | |
| 1948 | Eastern Suburbs Roosters | | |
| 1949 | Eastern Suburbs Roosters | | |
| 1950 | Newtown Jets | | |
| 1951 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | | |
| 1952 | | | |
| 1953 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | | |
| 1954 | | | |
| 1955 | Eastern Suburbs Roosters | | |
| 1956 | Newtown Jets | | |
| 1957 | | | |
| 1958 | Western Suburbs Magpies | | |
| 1959 | | | |
| 1960 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | | |
| 1961 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | | |
| 1962 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | | |
| 1963 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | | |
| 1964 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | | |
| 1965 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | | |
| 1966 | | | |
| 1967 | | | |
| 1968 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | | |
| 1969 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | | |
| 1970 | Manly Warringah Sea Eagles | | |
| 1971 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | | |
| 1972 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | | |
| 1973 | | | |
| 1974 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | | |
| 1975 | | | |
| 1976 | | | |
| 1977 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | | |
| 1978 | Eastern Suburbs Roosters | | |
| 1979 | | | |
| 1980 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | | |
| 1981 | St George Dragons | | |
| 1982 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | | |
| 1983 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | | |
| 1984 | | | |
| 1985 | | | |
| 1986 | St George Dragons | 24-20 | Parramatta Eels |
| 1987 | St George Dragons | 32-14 | South Sydney Rabbitohs |
| 1988 | Parramatta Eels | 28-14 | Eastern Suburbs Roosters |
| 1989 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | | Canberra Raiders |
| 1990 | Canberra Raiders | 13-6 | St George Dragons |
| 1991 | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | | Parramatta Eels |
| 1992 | Western Suburbs Magpies | | St George Dragons |
| 1993 | Eastern Suburbs Roosters | | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks |
| 1994 | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | | Eastern Suburbs Roosters |
| 1995 | Newcastle Knights | | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks |
| 1996 | South Queensland Crushers | 23-12 | Parramatta Eels |
Reserve Grade/First Division/Premier League/NSW Cup Premiers 1997–2010 (Awarded Presidents Cup) :
| Year | Premiers | Score | Runners-Up |
| 1997 | Parramatta Eels | 26–16 | Balmain Tigers |
| 1998 | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | 26–22 | Parramatta Eels |
| 1999 | Parramatta Eels | 44–4 | Balmain Tigers |
| 2000 | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | 30–26 | Penrith Panthers |
| 2001 | St. George Illawarra Dragons | 34–10 | Parramatta Eels |
| 2002 | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | 24–22 | St. George Illawarra Dragons |
| 2003 | Canberra Raiders | 31–6 | St Marys-Penrith Saints |
| 2004 | Sydney Roosters | 30–8 | St. George Illawarra Dragons |
| 2005 | Parramatta Eels | 31–12 | Sydney Roosters |
| 2006 | Parramatta Eels | 20–19 | Newtown Jets |
| 2007 | Parramatta Eels | 20–15 | North Sydney Bears |
| 2008 | Wentworthville Magpies | 12–8 | Newtown Jets |
| 2009 | Bankstown City Bulls | 32–0 | Balmain Ryde-Eastwood Tigers |
| 2010 | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | 24–12 | Windsor Wolves |

## Modern Presidents Cup

After the Metropolitan Cup/Bundaberg Rum Cup/Jim Beam Cup/Ron Massey Cup took over the mantle of the Third Grade Championship. This was until, after the NSWRL-CRL merger in 2020, the champions of the Illawarra Rugby League and Newcastle Rugby League began to playoff against the Ron Massey Cup champions for the prestigious Presidents Cup. The Peter McDonald Premiership became the fourth feeder league to this Champions League-style tournament in 2022 following the Group 10–Group 11 merger.

### 2020 format

In 2020, the competition returned in light of NSWRL competitions being cancelled due to the COVID-19 crisis. These cancelled competitions include the NSW Cup, Ron Massey Cup and the Newcastle Rugby League competition. Nine teams competed in the returning edition; North Sydney Bears, Dubbo CYMS, Thirroul Butchers, Western Suburbs Red Devils, Western Rams, Hills District Bulls, Wentworthville Magpies, Maitland Pumpkin Pickers and Glebe-Burwood Wolves. The competition was played over nine rounds with two weeks of finals including the Grand Final on 27-Sep at Bankwest Stadium, Parramatta. Maitland Pickers won the Grand Final 17–16 over Glebe-Burwood Wolves, capturing the Premiership as well as the minor premiership for topping the regular season ladder. Hooker Alex Langbridge was named both the player of the Grand Final and of the season as a whole.

### 2021–present: Statewide third grade

From 2021, the competition will be the statewide third grade competition, running as an end of season competition for the premiers of Illawarra Rugby League, Newcastle Rugby League, Peter McDonald Premiership and Ron Massey Cup. The Peter McDonald Premiership joined the other three leagues as third-tier competitions through the merger of the fourth tier Group 10 and Group 11 competitions. After 2021 saw the competition cancelled due to COVID, 2022 saw a return to the competition, with Maitland Pickers defending their 2020 title. On 25 September 2022, they defeated The Hills Bulls 36–12. Maitland Pickers Five-Eighth Chad O'Donnell was named player of the match.

## Modern Presidents Cup champions

| Year | Champions | Score | Runners-up | Match information | Match information | Match information |
| Year | Champions | Score | Runners-up | Date | Venue | Referee |
| NSWRL Presidents Cup (2020–23) |||||||
| 2020 | Maitland Pickers | 17 – 16 | Glebe-Burwood Wolves | 27 September 2020 | Bankwest Stadium, Sydney | K. Irons |
| 2021 | Cancelled Due to Covid-19 | Cancelled Due to Covid-19 | Cancelled Due to Covid-19 | Cancelled Due to Covid-19 | Cancelled Due to Covid-19 | Cancelled Due to Covid-19 |
| 2022 | (2) Maitland Pickers | 36 – 12 | Hills District Bulls | 25 September 2022 | CommBank Stadium, Sydney | C. Paddy |
| 2023 | (3) Maitland Pickers | 32 – 10 | St Marys Saints | 24 September 2023 | CommBank Stadium, Sydney | D. Brady |
| Team | Winners | Runners-up | Years won | Years runner-up |
| Maitland Pickers | 3 | 0 | 2020, 2022, 2023 | – |
| Glebe-Burwood Wolves | 0 | 1 | – | 2020 |
| Hills District Bulls | 0 | 1 | – | 2022 |
| St Marys Saints | 0 | 1 | – | 2023 |

## Conference winners
### Central Conference

| Year | Premiers | Score | Runners-up | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| Year | Premiers | Score | Runners-up | Date | Venue | Referee |
| NSWRL Presidents Cup (2020) |||||||
| 2020 | Maitland Pickers | 17 – 16 | Glebe-Burwood Wolves | 27 September 2020 | Bankwest Stadium, Sydney | K. Irons |
| Ron Massey Cup (2021–present) |||||||
| 2021 | Cancelled Due to Covid-19 | Cancelled Due to Covid-19 | Cancelled Due to Covid-19 | Cancelled Due to Covid-19 | Cancelled Due to Covid-19 | Cancelled Due to Covid-19 |
| 2022 | Hills District Bulls | 18 – 12 | Glebe Dirty Reds | 4 September 2022 | Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, Sydney | D. Brady |
| 2023 | St Marys Saints | 40 – 12 | Wentworthville Magpies | 3 September 2023 | Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, Sydney | C. Wills |
| Team | Winners | Runners-up | Years won | Years runner-up |
| Maitland Pickers | 1 | 0 | 2020 | – |
| Hills District Bulls | 1 | 0 | 2022 | – |
| St Marys Saints | 1 | 0 | 2023 | – |
| Glebe-Burwood Wolves | 0 | 1 | – | 2020 |
| Glebe Dirty Reds | 0 | 1 | – | 2022 |
| Wentworthville Magpies | 0 | 1 | – | 2023 |

### Northern Conference

| Year | Premiers | Score | Runners-up | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| Year | Premiers | Score | Runners-up | Date | Venue | Referee |
| Denton Engineering Cup (2021–present) |||||||
| 2021 | Cancelled Due to Covid-19 | Cancelled Due to Covid-19 | Cancelled Due to Covid-19 | Cancelled Due to Covid-19 | Cancelled Due to Covid-19 | Cancelled Due to Covid-19 |
| 2022 | Maitland Pickers | 40 – 4 | Macquarie Scorpions | 11 September 2022 | McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle | J. Butler |
| 2023 | (2) Maitland Pickers | 46 – 10 | South Newcastle Lions | 3 September 2023 | McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle | J. Butler |
| Team | Winners | Runners-up | Years won | Years runner-up |
| Maitland Pickers | 2 | 0 | 2022, 2023 | – |
| Macquarie Scorpions | 0 | 1 | – | 2022 |
| South Newcastle Lions | 0 | 1 | – | 2023 |

### Southern Conference

| Year | Premiers | Score | Runners-up | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| Year | Premiers | Score | Runners-up | Date | Venue | Referee |
| Mojo Homes Illawarra Cup (2021–present) |||||||
| 2021 | Cancelled Due to Covid-19 | Cancelled Due to Covid-19 | Cancelled Due to Covid-19 | Cancelled Due to Covid-19 | Cancelled Due to Covid-19 | Cancelled Due to Covid-19 |
| 2022 | Collegians Collie Dogs | 12 – 10 | Western Subrubs Red Devils | 4 September 2022 | WIN Stadium, Wollongong | R. Jackson |
| 2023 | Thirroul Butchers | 24 – 18 | Collegians Collie Dogs | 2 September 2023 | WIN Stadium, Wollongong | L. Greenfield |
| Team | Winners | Runners-up | Years won | Years runner-up |
| Collegians Collie Dogs | 1 | 1 | 2022 | 2023 |
| Thirroul Butchers | 1 | 0 | 2023 | – |
| Western Subrubs Red Devils | 0 | 1 | – | 2022 |

### Western Conference

| Year | Premiers | Score | Runners-up | Match information | Match information | Match information |
| Year | Premiers | Score | Runners-up | Date | Venue | Referee |
| Peter McDonald Premiership (2022–present) |||||||
| 2022 | Forbes Magpies | 28 – 16 | Dubbo CYMS | 4 September 2022 | Apex Oval, Dubbo | B. Greatbatch |
| 2023 | Dubbo CYMS | 25 – 12 | Mudgee Dragons | 10 September 2023 | Apex Oval, Dubbo | A. Pond |
| Team | Winners | Runners-up | Years won | Years runner-up |
| Dubbo CYMS | 1 | 1 | 2023 | 2022 |
| Forbes Magpies | 1 | 0 | 2022 | – |
| Mudgee Dragons | 0 | 1 | – | 2023 |