# New South Wales Rugby League premiership

The New South Wales Rugby League premiership was the first rugby league football club competition established in Australia and contributor to today's National Rugby League. Run by the New South Wales Rugby League (initially named the New South Wales Rugby Football League) from 1908 until 1994, the premiership was the state's elite rugby league competition, parallel to Queensland's first-class league, the Brisbane Rugby League.
For most of the premiership's history it was contested by clubs from the state of New South Wales only, but later attempted to grow into a nationwide competition, eventually leading to the competition being played under the auspices of the Australian Rugby League in 1995. Despite this name, the 1995 and 1996 Australian Rugby League Premierships competitions were still administered by the Board and staff of the New South Wales Rugby League.

## History
### 1908: Rugby league premiership in Sydney

The inaugural New South Wales Rugby Football League (NSWRFL) premiership began in 1908, and was made up of eight Sydney-based teams and one team from Newcastle. Cumberland joined the competition after the first round, meaning that they played one game fewer than the rest of the field for the season. Still known as the "foundation clubs" today, these nine teams battled against one another during the 1908 season, with Souths taking the first premiership honours after beating Easts in the Final.
| Club | Nickname | Years Contested | Matches | Matches | Matches | Matches | Matches | Seasons | Seasons | Seasons | Seasons |
| Club | Nickname | Years Contested | Played | Won | Drew | Lost | Win–loss | Played | Premiers | Minor Premiers | Runners-up |
| Balmain | Tigers | 1908–1994 | 1705 | 871 | 68 | 766 | 53.08% | 92 | 11 | 7 | 9 |
| Cumberland | Fruitpickers | 1908 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 12.50% | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Easts | Roosters | 1908–1994 | 1880 | 995 | 67 | 818 | 54.71% | 92 | 11 | 15 | 11 |
| Glebe | Dirty Reds | 1908–1929 | 297 | 163 | 6 | 128 | 55.89% | 22 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Newcastle | Rebels | 1908–1909 | 20 | 9 | 0 | 11 | 45.00% | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Newtown | Jets | 1908–1983 | 1305 | 583 | 59 | 663 | 46.93% | 76 | 3 | 6 | 7 |
| Norths | Bears | 1908–1994 | 1665 | 678 | 71 | 916 | 42.85% | 92 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Souths | Rabbitohs | 1908–1994 | 1813 | 940 | 45 | 828 | 53.09% | 92 | 20 | 17 | 13 |
| Wests | Magpies | 1908–1994 | 1691 | 734 | 49 | 908 | 44.86% | 92 | 4 | 5 | 8 |

### 1909–1994: Expansion of the premiership

Between 1912 and 1925 the premiers were decided by first past the post. As a result of South Sydney's dominant 1925 season, the NSWRFL introduced a finals system in order to maintain interest in the competition.
Over the decades since the NSWRFL competition started, Sydney suburban teams came and went throughout its history but it was not until 1982 that the competition saw significant expansion outside of the Sydney area. The two new inclusions were from the Australian Capital Territory – the Canberra Raiders – as well as a team from the southern New South Wales region – the Illawarra Steelers. This corresponded with the adoption of commercial sponsorship of the competition for the first time, seeing it become the Winfield Cup (named after the popular cigarette brand).
The NSWRFL had also commenced a very popular and successful mid-week competition in 1973, originally known as the Amco Cup, but also as the Tooth Cup and the National Panasonic Cup. The success of this competition, which included teams from both Brisbane and New Zealand ultimately created pressure for further expansion of the NSWRL competition. In 1984, the New South Wales Rugby Football League changed its name to New South Wales Rugby League.
In 1988, for the very first time, two Queensland teams joined the competition, with the inclusions of the Brisbane Broncos and the Gold Coast-Tweed Giants. This saw the premiership competition move beyond the outer borders of New South Wales. At the same time, as a result of mounting pressure from the central coast of New South Wales, Newcastle returned to the competition with a new franchise. Their return saw the end of an 86-year wait in the wilderness and this time around the team was badged the Newcastle Knights.
| Club | Traditional colours | Years contested | Matches | Matches | Matches | Matches | Matches | Seasons | Seasons | Seasons | Seasons |
| Club | Traditional colours | Years contested | Played | Won | Drew | Lost | Win–loss | Played | Premiers | Minor premiers | Runners-up |
| Annandale | | 1910–1920 | 153 | 25 | 6 | 122 | 18.30% | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| University | | 1920–1937 | 242 | 47 | 5 | 190 | 20.45% | 18 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| St. George | | 1921–1998 | 1545 | 910 | 56 | 579 | 60.71% | 78 | 15 | 15 | 12 |
| Canterbury-Bankstown | | 1935–1994 | 1502 | 778 | 53 | 671 | 53.56% | 71 | 8 | 6 | 8 |
| Manly-Warringah | | 1947–1999 | 1261 | 719 | 35 | 507 | 58.41% | 56 | 7 | 9 | 10 |
| Parramatta | | 1947–1994 | 1321 | 608 | 38 | 675 | 47.46% | 59 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
| Cronulla-Sutherland | | 1967–1994 | 932 | 456 | 22 | 454 | 50.11% | 39 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Penrith | | 1967–1994 | 917 | 379 | 26 | 512 | 42.75% | 39 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Illawarra | | 1982–1998 | 396 | 153 | 13 | 230 | 40.28% | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Canberra | | 1982–1994 | 606 | 323 | 9 | 274 | 54.04% | 24 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Brisbane | | 1988–1994 | 457 | 299 | 11 | 147 | 66.63% | 18 | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| Newcastle | | 1988–1994 | 446 | 234 | 14 | 198 | 54.04% | 18 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Gold Coast | | 1988–1998 | 246 | 53 | 9 | 184 | 23.37% | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
After mostly solid results were obtained by the expansion teams in 1988, there was increasing pressure for new inclusions into the competition. Having decided in May 1992 that a team from Auckland would join the premiership in 1995, the League announced in November that three more new clubs — a second team from Brisbane, and also a team each from Perth and Townsville — will also be invited.
In 1995, some seven years later, the competition expanded further into Queensland, with the inception of the South Queensland Crushers and the North Queensland Cowboys. 1995 also saw a new team in Western Australia, the 'Western Reds', later called the Perth Reds, as well as a New Zealand-based team – the Auckland Warriors. The total number of teams in the competition was now twenty – the largest-scale rugby league competition ever in Australia. The premiership's new national outlook was further reflected in the governing body's name, with the New South Wales Rugby League transferring control of the competition to the Australian Rugby League (ARL).

## Senior grade premiers

Between 1912 and 1925 there was no semi-final system and a final was only played if two clubs finished level at the conclusion of the minor premiership. Souths won the 1909 premiership when Balmain forfeited in protest against the final being played as a preliminary match before a promotional game between the national Rugby League and Rugby Union sides. The 1937 season also featured no finals as the year was disrupted by the Kangaroos tour. Between 1926 and 1953 first played third and second played fourth and winners played off. If the minor premiers were defeated they had a right of challenge, but if they were not defeated there was no true "grand final."
From 1954 a mandatory grand final was introduced in which there was a knockout minor semi-final between third and fourth and a second-chance major semi between first and second. The winner of the major semi went to the grand final and a preliminary final was played between the winner of the minor semi and the loser of the major semi to decide who would meet the winner of the major semi.
In 1973 a final five was devised with the top team going straight into the major semi, the second and third teams playing a major preliminary semi, and the fourth and fifth playing a sudden-death minor preliminary semi. The top team played the winner of the major preliminary semi-final, whilst the winner of the minor preliminary semi played the loser of the major preliminary semi in the minor semi-final (which was played as before under the final four system.
| Season | Grand finals | Grand finals | Grand finals | Minor premiers |
| Season | Premiers | Score | Runners-up | Minor premiers |
| 1908 | Souths | 14–12 | Easts | Souths |
| 1909 | Souths | forfeit | Balmain | Souths |
| 1910 | Newtown | 4–4 | Souths | Newtown |
| 1911 | Easts | 11–8 | Glebe | Glebe |
| 1912 | Easts | N/A | Glebe | N/A |
| 1913 | Easts | N/A | Newtown | N/A |
| 1914 | Souths | N/A | Newtown | N/A |
| 1915 | Balmain | N/A | Glebe | N/A |
| 1916 | Balmain | 5–3 | Souths | Balmain |
| 1917 | Balmain | N/A | Souths | N/A |
| 1918 | Souths | N/A | Wests | N/A |
| 1919 | Balmain | N/A | Easts | N/A |
| 1920 | Balmain | N/A | Souths | N/A |
| 1921 | Norths | N/A | Easts | N/A |
| 1922 | Norths | 35–3 | Glebe | Norths |
| 1923 | Easts | 15–12 | Souths | Easts |
| 1924 | Balmain | 3–0 | Souths | Balmain |
| 1925 | Souths | N/A | Wests | N/A |
| 1926 | Souths | 11–5 | University | Souths |
| 1927 | Souths | 20–11 | St. George | Souths |
| 1928 | Souths | 26–5 | Easts | St. George |
| 1929 | Souths | 30–10 | Newtown | Souths |
| 1930 | Wests | 27–2 | St. George | Wests |
| 1931 | Souths | 12–7 | Easts | Easts |
| 1932 | Souths | 19–12 | Wests | Souths |
| 1933 | Newtown | 18–5 | St. George | Newtown |
| 1934 | Wests | 15–2 | Easts | Easts |
| 1935 | Easts | 19–3 | Souths | Easts |
| 1936 | Easts | 32–12 | Balmain | Easts |
| 1937 | Easts | N/A | Souths | N/A |
| 1938 | Canterbury | 19–6 | Easts | Canterbury |
| 1939 | Balmain | 33–4 | Souths | Balmain |
| 1940 | Easts | 24–14 | Canterbury | Easts |
| 1941 | St. George | 31–14 | Easts | Easts |
| 1942 | Canterbury | 11–9 | St. George | Canterbury |
| 1943 | Newtown | 34–7 | Norths | Newtown |
| 1944 | Balmain | 12–8 | Newtown | Newtown |
| 1945 | Easts | 22–18 | Balmain | Easts |
| 1946 | Balmain | 13–12 | St. George | St. George |
| 1947 | Balmain | 13–9 | Canterbury | Canterbury |
| 1948 | Wests | 8–5 | Balmain | Wests |
| 1949 | St. George | 19–12 | Souths | Souths |
| 1950 | Souths | 21–15 | Wests | Souths |
| 1951 | Souths | 42–14 | Manly | Souths |
| 1952 | Wests | 22–12 | Souths | Wests |
| 1953 | Souths | 31–12 | St. George | Souths |
| 1954 | Souths | 23–15 | Newtown | Newtown |
| 1955 | Souths | 12–11 | Newtown | Newtown |
| 1956 | St. George | 18–12 | Balmain | St. George |
| 1957 | St. George | 31–9 | Manly | St. George |
| 1958 | St. George | 20–9 | Wests | St. George |
| 1959 | St. George | 20–0 | Manly | St. George |
| 1960 | St. George | 31–6 | Easts | St. George |
| 1961 | St. George | 22–0 | Wests | Wests |
| 1962 | St. George | 9–6 | Wests | St. George |
| 1963 | St. George | 8–3 | Wests | St. George |
| 1964 | St. George | 11–6 | Balmain Tigers | St. George |
| 1965 | St. George | 12–8 | Souths | St. George |
| 1966 | St. George | 23–4 | Balmain Tigers | St. George |
| 1967 | Souths | 12–10 | Canterbury | St. George |
| 1968 | Souths | 13–9 | Manly | Souths |
| 1969 | Balmain Tigers | 11–2 | Souths | Souths |
| 1970 | Souths | 23–12 | Manly | Souths |
| 1971 | Souths | 16–10 | St. George | Manly |
| 1972 | Manly | 19–14 | Easts | Manly |
| 1973 | Manly | 10–7 | Cronulla | Manly |
| 1974 | Easts | 19–4 | Canterbury | Easts |
| 1975 | Easts | 38–0 | St. George | Easts |
| 1976 | Manly | 13–10 | Parramatta | Manly |
| 1977 | St. George | 9–9 22–0 | Parramatta | Parramatta |
| 1978 | Manly | 11–11 16–0 | Cronulla | Wests |
| 1979 | St. George | 17–13 | Canterbury | St. George |
| 1980 | Canterbury | 18–4 | Easts | Easts |
| 1981 | Parramatta | 20–11 | Newtown | Easts |
| 1982 | Parramatta | 21–8 | Manly | Parramatta |
| 1983 | Parramatta | 18–6 | Manly | Manly |
| 1984 | Canterbury | 6–4 | Parramatta | Canterbury |
| 1985 | Canterbury | 7–6 | St George | St George |
| 1986 | Parramatta | 4–2 | Canterbury | Parramatta |
| 1987 | Manly | 18–8 | Canberra | Manly |
| 1988 | Canterbury | 24–12 | Balmain | Cronulla |
| 1989 | Canberra | 19–14 | Balmain | Souths |
| 1990 | Canberra | 18–14 | Penrith | Canberra |
| 1991 | Penrith | 19–12 | Canberra | Penrith |
| 1992 | Brisbane | 28–8 | St George | Brisbane |
| 1993 | Brisbane | 14–6 | St George | Canterbury |
| 1994 | Canberra | 36–12 | Canterbury | Canterbury |
* 1909: Balmain refused to play the final in protest to the game being held as a curtain-raiser to a Kangaroos v Wallabies match. Souths played, kicked off, scored and were declared premiers. Many contend though that a 'gentlemans agreement' was reached to postpone the game to the following weekend – and the action undertaken by Souths in starting the match sparked a fierce and bitter rivalry between the clubs that continued for many decades.
* 1910: Top two played off for the title. In the event of a drawn match, the superior record during the season secured the title, Newtown had compiled 23 competition points, Souths 22.
* 1977–78: Drawn games requiring a replay.
* 1989: The score was tied 14 all at normal full-time – extra time was played to decide the winner.

### Results (senior grade)

| Team | Wins | Losses | Years won | Years lost |
| Souths | 20 | 13 | 1908, 1909, 1914, 1918, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1931, 1932, 1950, 1951, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1967, 1968, 1970, 1971 | 1910, 1916, 1917, 1920, 1923, 1924, 1935, 1937, 1939, 1949, 1952, 1965, 1969 |
| St George | 15 | 12 | 1941, 1949, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1977, 1979 | 1927, 1930, 1933, 1942, 1946, 1953, 1971, 1975, 1985, 1992, 1993, 1996 |
| Easts | 11 | 11 | 1911, 1912, 1913, 1923, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1940, 1945, 1974, 1975 | 1908, 1919, 1921, 1928, 1931, 1934, 1938, 1941, 1960, 1972, 1980 |
| Balmain | 11 | 9 | 1915, 1916, 1917, 1919, 1920, 1924, 1939, 1944, 1946, 1947, 1969 | 1909, 1936, 1945, 1948, 1956, 1964, 1966, 1988, 1989 |
| Manly | 5 | 7 | 1972, 1973, 1976, 1978, 1987 | 1951, 1957, 1959, 1968, 1970, 1982, 1983 |
| Canterbury | 6 | 7 | 1938, 1942, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1988 | 1940, 1947, 1967, 1974, 1979, 1986, 1994 |
| Brisbane | 2 | 0 | 1992, 1993 | |
| Wests | 4 | 8 | 1930, 1934, 1948, 1952 | 1918, 1925, 1932, 1950, 1958, 1961, 1962, 1963 |
| Parramatta | 4 | 3 | 1981, 1982, 1983, 1986 | 1976, 1977, 1984 |
| Newtown | 3 | 7 | 1910, 1933, 1943 | 1913, 1914, 1929, 1944, 1954, 1955, 1981 |
| Canberra | 3 | 2 | 1989, 1990, 1994 | 1987, 1991 |
| Norths | 2 | 1 | 1921, 1922 | 1943 |
| Penrith | 1 | 1 | 1991 | 1990 |
| Cronulla | 0 | 2 | – | 1973, 1978 |
| Glebe | 0 | 4 | – | 1911, 1912, 1915, 1922 |
| Sydney University | 0 | 1 | – | 1926 |

## Reserve grade premiers

| Year | Premiers | Score | Runners-up | Decider | Report | Winning captain(s) | Winning coach | Referee |
| 1908 | Easts | | Souths | No | | | | |
| 1909 | Easts | 11–7 | Glebe | Final | TSS | | | W.P. Finegan |
| 1910 | Easts | 5–2 | Newtown | Final | EN | | | L. Kearney |
| 1911 | Easts | 12–0 | Glebe | Final | ST | | | A. Ballerum |
| 1912 | Glebe | 30–0 | Redfern United | Final | SMH | | | A. Finegan |
| 1913 | Souths | 10–3 | Grosvenor | Final | Sun | | | T. McMahon |
| 1914 | Souths | 6–5 | Easts | Final | Sun | | | J. Buchanan |
| 1915 | Balmain | 9–3 | Glebe | Final | Sun | | | |
| 1916 | Balmain | 6–4 | Easts | Final | Sun | | | |
| 1917 | Souths | | Balmain | No | | | | |
| 1918 | Glebe | | Souths | No | | | | |
| 1919 | Glebe | | Wests | No | | | | |
| 1920 | Glebe | | Souths | No | SMH | | | |
| 1921 | Glebe | | Norths | No | | | | |
| 1922 | Newtown | 10–2 | Glebe | Final | Sun | E. Gallagher | | W. Neill |
| 1923 | Souths | 13–6 | Balmain | Final | SMH | | | A. Thornton |
| 1924 | Souths | | Wests | No | | | | |
| 1925 | Souths | 14–2 | Balmain | Final | TR | | | E. Kerr |
| 1926 | Souths | 25–13 | Norths | Final | Sun | | | L. Dolan |
| 1927 | Souths | 16–5 | St. George | Final | SGC | James Breen | | Lal Deane |
| 1928 | Balmain | 7–5 | Easts | Final | Sun | Arthur Tennant | | B. Wales |
| 1929 | Souths | 26–3 | Wests | Final | Sun | Tom Craigie | | W. Fry |
| 1930 | Balmain | 5–0 | Souths | GF | Truth | S. Lever | | W. Fry |
| 1931 | Souths | 24–5 | St. George | Final | Sun | | | W. Neill |
| 1932 | Souths | 5–2 | Newtown | GF | Sun | Jackie Jones | | W. Fry |
| 1933 | Balmain | 15–12 | Souths | GF | Sun | George Frankland | | W. Fry |
| 1934 | Souths | 13–10 | Balmain | GF | Sun | Jim Tait | | J. Murphy |
| 1935 | Easts | 16–2 | Balmain | GF | Sun | | | T. McMahon |
| 1936 | Wests | 15–5 | Norths | Final | Truth | Jim Parsons | Jerry Brien | T. McMahon |
| 1937 | Easts | | Newtown | No | | | | |
| 1938 | St. George | 9–4 | Balmain | GF | Sun | Jack Kenyon | | A. Davis |
| 1939 | Canterbury | 13–0 | Norths | GF | Sun | Jim Duncombe | | J. McGaulay |
| 1940 | Norths | 10–5 | St. George | GF | SGC | | | Jack O'Brien |
| 1941 | Balmain | 13–4 | St. George | GF | Sun | John Rees | | P. Lee |
| 1942 | Norths | 15–5 | St. George | GF | Sun | | | Aub Oxford |
| 1943 | Souths | 15–9 | Balmain | GF | Sun | George Kilham | | G. Bishop |
| 1944 | Balmain | 11–9 | Norths | Final | Sun | (Jack Danzey Snr) | | Jack O'Brien |
| 1945 | Souths | 11–7 | Canterbury | GF | Sun | Ken Brogan | | Aub Oxford |
| 1946 | Balmain | 8–5 | Easts | GF | Sun | Gil Bo | | XJack O'Brien |
| 1947 | Newtown | 6–2 | Balmain | GF | Sun | Fred Fayers | Keith Ellis | L. Williams |
| 1948 | Newtown | 7–4 | Wests | GF | Sun | | Keith Ellis | Col Pearce |
| 1949 | Easts | 30–7 | Newtown | GF | DT | Jim Hunt | | Aub Oxford |
| 1950 | Balmain | 10–6 | St. George | Final | DT | George Williams | | G. Bishop |
| 1951 | Newtown | 10–6 | St. George | GF | SMH | George Debnam | | Aub Oxford |
| 1952 | Souths | 19–0 | Canterbury | GF | Sun | Ray Mason | | Jack O'Brien |
| 1953 | Souths | 17–11 | Manly | GF | Sun | Norm Nilson | | Aub Oxford |
| 1954 | Manly | 9–4 | Souths | GF | SH | | | Darcy Lawler |
| 1955 | Norths | 9–2 | St. George | GF | | Robert Gorman | | Jack O'Brien |
| 1956 | Souths | 10–6 | Manly | GF | | Ray Mason | | Col Pearce |
| 1957 | Balmain | 16–7 | Norths | GF | | Ron Clifford | | Col Pearce |
| 1958 | Balmain | 20–10 | St. George | GF | RLN | Ron Proudfoot | | Col Pearce |
| 1959 | Norths | 19–10 | St. George | GF | RLN | Robert Sullivan | Robert Sullivan | Col Pearce |
| 1960 | Manly | 17–6 | Balmain | GF | RLN | Robert Lenon | Neville Pierce | Col Pearce |
| 1961 | Wests | 9–3 | Manly | GF | RLN | Roger Buttenshaw | Dudley Beger | Darcy Lawler |
| 1962 | St. George | 19–0 | Wests | GF | RLN | Peter Armstrong | Sid Ryan | Arthur Neville |
| 1963 | St. George | 5–4 | Souths | GF | | Peter Armstrong | Sid Ryan | Col Pearce |
| 1964 | St. George | 7–2 | Souths | GF | RLN | Johnny Riley | Sid Ryan | F. Erickson |
| 1965 | Balmain | 9–7 | St. George | GF | RLN | Jack Danzey | Leo Nosworthy | J. Harris |
| 1966 | Souths | 12–4 | Balmain | GF | RLN | Colin Dunn | "Chick" Cowie | J. Bradley |
| 1967 | Balmain | 11–7 | Souths | GF | | Robert Boland | Leo Nosworthy | Laurie Bruyeres |
| 1968 | Souths | 17–7 | Manly | GF | | Dennis Lee | Fred Nelson | Les Samuelson |
| 1969 | Manly | 10–6 | Balmain | GF | | George McTaggart | Ron Willey | Keith Holman |
| 1970 | Newtown | 6–0 | Easts | GF | | Robert Green | Clarrie Jeffreys | Keith Holman |
| 1971 | Canterbury | 11–5 | St. George | GF | | Barry Phillis | Malcolm Clift | Keith Page |
| 1972 | Canterbury | 14–3 | St. George | GF | | Barry Phillis | Malcolm Clift | Laurie Bruyeres |
| 1973 | Manly | 22–14 | St. George | GF | | Max Krilich | Frank Stanton | Laurie Bruyeres |
| 1974 | Newtown | 6–5 | Easts | GF | | Des O'Connor | Charlie Renilson | Keith Page |
| 1975 | Parramatta | 21–13 | Cronulla | GF | | John Baker | Terry Fearnley | Keith Page |
| 1976 | St. George | 17–12 | Cronulla | GF | | Billy Smith | Peter Dickerson | Greg Hartley |
| 1977 | Parramatta | 11–9 | Manly | GF | | Graham Murray | Len Stacker | Jack Danzey |
| 1978 | Balmain | 10–5 | St. George | GF | | William Hillard | Dennis Tutty | Jack Danzey |
| 1979 | Parramatta | 22–2 | Canterbury | GF | | John Kolc | Mick Alchin | Jack Danzey |
| 1980 | Canterbury | 18–16 | Parramatta | GF | | Mal Creavey | Geoff Connell | Jack Danzey |
| 1981 | Wests | 19–2 | Parramatta | GF | CT | Ian Schubert | Laurie Freier | |
| 1982 | Balmain | 17–12 | Easts | GF | CT | Bill Hilliard | Laurie Freier | |
| 1983 | Souths | 12–6 | Manly | GF | CT | Nathan Gibbs | Wally Watsford | B. Barnes |
| 1984 | Balmain | 10–8 | St. George | GF | | Mike Marketo | Peter Duffy | C. Ward |
| 1985 | St. George | 22–16 | Canberra | GF | CT | George Moroko | John Bailey | Mick Stone |
| 1986 | Easts | 10–2 | Parramatta | GF | | Dave Brown | Jim Morgan | Kevin Roberts |
| 1987 | Penrith | 11–0 | Manly | GF | | Craig Izzard | Graham Murray | Greg McCallum |
| 1988 | Manly | 22–2 | Easts | GF | | Peter Cullum | Alan Thompson | Graham Annesley |
| 1989 | Norths | 11–6 | Parramatta | GF | CT | Gary Maguire | Steve Martin | Mick Stone |
| 1990 | Brisbane | 14–6 | Canberra | GF | CT, VH | Ray Herring | Bill Gardner | Greg McCallum |
| 1991 | Norths | 12–6 | Canberra | GF | CT | Gary Smith | Peter Louis | Eddie Ward |
| 1992 | Norths | 28–14 | Balmain | GF | CT | Gary Smith | Peter Louis | Graham Annesley |
| 1993 | Norths | 5–4 | Newcastle | GF | CT | Alan Wilson | Peter Mulholland | Bill Harrigan |
| 1994 | Cronulla | 14–4 | Newcastle | GF | | Alan Wilson | John Dykes | Bill Harrigan |

## Third Grade

In addition to Reserve Grade, there was a Third Grade competition contested from 1908 until the 1980s.
Third Grade :
| Season | Premiers |
| 1908 | Sydney |
| 1909 | South Sydney Federal |
| 1910 | Sydney |
| 1911 | Leichhardt |
| 1912 | South Sydney |
| 1913 | South Sydney Federal |
| 1914 | Eastern Suburbs |
| 1915 | Balmain |
| 1916 | Balmain |
| 1917 | |
| 1918 | South Sydney |
| 1919 | |
| 1920 | |
| 1921 | |
| 1922 | |
| 1923 | |
| 1924 | |
| 1925 | South Sydney |
| 1926 | |
| 1927 | Glebe |
| 1928 | South Sydney |
| 1929 | |
| 1930 | |
| 1931 | |
| 1932 | |
| 1933 | South Sydney |
| 1934 | |
| 1935 | |
| 1936 | Western Suburbs |
| 1937 | North Sydney |
| 1938 | Western Suburbs |
| 1939 | Western Suburbs |
| 1940 | |
| 1941 | |
| 1942 | |
| 1943 | |
| 1944 | Western Suburbs |
| 1945 | North Sydney |
| 1946 | Manly-Warringah |
| 1947 | |
| 1948 | |
| 1949 | |
| 1950 | |
| 1951 | |
| 1952 | Manly-Warringah |
| 1953 | |
| 1954 | |
| 1955 | |
| 1956 | |
| 1957 | |
| 1958 | Western Suburbs |
| 1959 | North Sydney |
| 1960 | |
| 1961 | Western Suburbs |
| 1962 | South Sydney |
| 1963 | St. George |
| 1964 | |
| 1965 | |
| 1966 | |
| 1967 | Western Suburbs |
| 1968 | |
| 1969 | South Sydney |
| 1970 | Manly-Warringah |
| 1971 | |
| 1972 | |
| 1973 | |
| 1974 | |
| 1975 | |
| 1976 | |
| 1977 | |
| 1978 | Penrith |
| 1979 | |
| 1980 | |
| 1981 | South Sydney |
| 1982 | |
| 1983 | |
| 1984 | |
| 1985 | St George |
| 1986 | South Sydney |
| 1987 | Eastern Suburbs |
| Merged with Presidents Cup in 1988 ||