# S. G. Ball 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 and Melbourne, and Auckland (New Zealand Warriors) also participate. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic in New South Wales a team from Perth (West Coast Pirates) also participated. The competition is administered by the New South Wales Rugby League. The competition includes both junior representative teams of NRL and NSW Cup clubs that do not field a team in the NRL competition.
The S. G. Ball Cup is named after S. G. "George" Ball, one of the five people responsible for the formation of the South Sydney Rabbitohs, and who was club secretary for over fifty years.

## Clubs

In 2023, 16 clubs fielded teams in the NSWRL S G Ball Cup.
* Balmain Tigers
* Canberra Raiders
* Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
* Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
* Illawarra Steelers
* Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
* Melbourne Storm
* Newcastle Knights
* New Zealand Warriors
* North Sydney Bears
* Parramatta Eels
* Penrith Panthers
* South Sydney Rabbitohs
* St George Dragons
* Sydney Roosters
* Western Suburbs Magpies
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. Three teams from 2020 that did not return in 2021 were:
* Central Coast Roosters
* West Coast Pirates
* New Zealand Warriors, who returned to the competition in 2023.
Previous teams that participated in the SG Ball Cup include: Gold Coast Titans (2008–09), Newtown Jets (1970s, early 1980s & 2009), Western Sydney Academy of Sport (2007–17).
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

| Year | Premiers | Score | Runners Up | Minor Premiers | Wooden Spoon | Notes |
| 1965 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | 5 – 4 | Canterbury Bulldogs | Not applicable – Knock-Out Competition | Not applicable – Knock-Out Competition | |
| 1966 | Parramatta Eels | 12 – 0 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | Parramatta Eels | North Sydney Bears | |
| 1967 | Parramatta Eels | 7 – 2 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | Canterbury Bulldogs | Newtown Jets | |
| 1968 | Parramatta Eels | 7 – 4 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | Parramatta Eels | North Sydney Bears | |
| 1969 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | 13 – 3 | Penrith Panthers | South Sydney Rabbitohs | Newtown Jets | |
| 1970 | St George Dragons | 12 – 10 | Parramatta Eels | South Sydney Rabbitohs | Eastern Suburbs Roosters | |
| 1971 | Western Suburbs Magpies | 7 – 3 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | South Sydney Rabbitohs | Newtown Jets | |
| 1972 | Canterbury Bulldogs | 13 – 8 | Parramatta Eels | Parramatta Eels | North Sydney Bears | |
| 1973 | Parramatta Eels | 19 – 10 | Penrith Panthers | Penrith Panthers | North Sydney Bears | |
| 1974 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | 12 – 8 | Balmain Tigers | Balmain Tigers | North Sydney Bears | |
| 1975 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | 13 – 2 | St George Dragons | Parramatta Eels | Newtown Jets | |
| 1976 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | 28 – 3 | Western Suburbs Magpies | South Sydney Rabbitohs | North Sydney Bears | |
| 1977 | Penrith Panthers | 5 – 2 | Parramatta Eels | | | |
| 1978 | Canterbury Bulldogs | 14 – 0 | Penrith Panthers | 12 teams split into 2 zones of 6 teams. Semi-Finals were Zone 1 1st-place vs Zone 2 2nd-place, and Zone 2 1st-place vs Zone 1 2nd-place. | 12 teams split into 2 zones of 6 teams. Semi-Finals were Zone 1 1st-place vs Zone 2 2nd-place, and Zone 2 1st-place vs Zone 1 2nd-place. | |
| 1979 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | 8 – 0 | Balmain Tigers | 12 teams split into 2 zones of 6 teams. Semi-Finals were Zone 1 1st-place vs Zone 2 2nd-place, and Zone 2 1st-place vs Zone 1 2nd-place. | 12 teams split into 2 zones of 6 teams. Semi-Finals were Zone 1 1st-place vs Zone 2 2nd-place, and Zone 2 1st-place vs Zone 1 2nd-place. | |
| 1980 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | 23 – 10 | Balmain Tigers | 12 teams split into 2 zones of 6 teams. Semi-Finals were Zone 1 1st-place vs Zone 2 2nd-place, and Zone 2 1st-place vs Zone 1 2nd-place. | 12 teams split into 2 zones of 6 teams. Semi-Finals were Zone 1 1st-place vs Zone 2 2nd-place, and Zone 2 1st-place vs Zone 1 2nd-place. | |
| 1981 | Penrith Panthers | 18 – 9 | Balmain Tigers | 12 teams split into 2 zones of 6 teams. Semi-Finals were Zone 1 1st-place vs Zone 2 2nd-place, and Zone 2 1st-place vs Zone 1 2nd-place. | 12 teams split into 2 zones of 6 teams. Semi-Finals were Zone 1 1st-place vs Zone 2 2nd-place, and Zone 2 1st-place vs Zone 1 2nd-place. | |
| 1982 | Balmain Tigers | 25 – 16 | Newtown Jets | Cronulla Sharks | Eastern Suburbs Roosters | |
| 1983 | Parramatta Eels | 30 – 0 | Western Suburbs Magpies | Western Suburbs Magpies | Newtown Jets | |
| 1984 | St George Dragons | 18 – 16 | Parramatta Eels | Parramatta Eels | Western Suburbs Magpies | |
| 1985 | Parramatta Eels | 32 – 12 | St George Dragons | Canterbury Bulldogs | Western Suburbs Magpies | |
| 1986 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | 16 – 8 | Parramatta Eels | South Sydney Rabbitohs | | |
| 1987 | Parramatta Eels | 32 – 10 | Canberra Raiders | Parramatta Eels | Eastern Suburbs Roosters | |
| 1988 | Parramatta Eels | 20 – 10 | Penrith Panthers | | | |
| 1989 | Illawarra Steelers | 32 – 22 | Penrith Panthers | Illawarra Steelers | Eastern Suburbs Roosters | |
| 1990 | Newcastle Knights | 23 – 10 | Manly Sea Eagles | Newcastle Knights | Eastern Suburbs Roosters | |
| 1991 | Parramatta Eels | 32 – 6 | Manly Sea Eagles | Manly Sea Eagles | Eastern Suburbs Roosters | |
| 1992 | St George Dragons | 20 – 0 | Canterbury Bulldogs | St George Dragons | Eastern Suburbs Roosters | |
| 1993 | Parramatta Eels | 28 – 20 | St George Dragons | | | |
| 1994 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | 22 – 20 | Newcastle Knights | | | |
| 1995 | Canberra Raiders | 36 – 6 | Penrith Panthers | Canberra Raiders | | |
| 1996 | Illawarra Steelers | 8 – 0 | Parramatta Eels | Illawarra Steelers | Canterbury Bulldogs | |
| 1997 | Sydney City Roosters | 11 – 10 | Newcastle Knights | Newcastle Knights | | |
| 1998 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | 20 – 16 | Manly Sea Eagles | Illawarra Steelers | Canterbury Bulldogs | |
| 1999 | Parramatta Eels | 38 – 6 | Illawarra Steelers | Parramatta Eels | St George Dragons | |
| 2000 | Penrith Panthers | 28 – 24 | Illawarra Steelers | Newcastle Knights | Western Suburbs Magpies | |
| 2001 | Newcastle Knights | 34 – 26 | Penrith Panthers | Parramatta Eels | St George Dragons | |
| 2002 | Western Suburbs Magpies | 18 – 16 | Parramatta Eels | Illawarra Steelers | Manly Sea Eagles | |
| 2003 | Canberra Raiders | 16 – 4 | Parramatta Eels | Parramatta Eels | St George Dragons | |
| 2004 | Newcastle Knights | 42 – 16 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | Sydney Roosters | North Sydney Bears | |
| 2005 | Canberra Raiders | 34 – 12 | Illawarra Steelers | Parramatta Eels | North Sydney Bears | |
| 2006 | Penrith Panthers | 18 – 16 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | Parramatta Eels | North Sydney Bears | |
| 2007 | Parramatta Eels | 22 – 12 | Penrith Panthers | Penrith Panthers | Western Sydney Academy | |
| 2008 | Sydney Roosters | 38 – 20 | Parramatta Eels | Canterbury Bulldogs | North Sydney Bears | |
| 2009 | Canterbury Bulldogs | 42 – 16 | Melbourne Storm | St George Dragons | Western Suburbs Magpies | |
| 2010 | Sydney Roosters | 28 – 24 | Parramatta Eels | Cronulla Sharks | Central Coast Centurions | |
| 2011 | Newcastle Knights | 25 – 24 | Canterbury Bulldogs | Western Suburbs Magpies | Western Sydney Academy | |
| 2012 | Balmain Tigers | 42 – 20 | Canberra Raiders | Balmain Tigers | Western Sydney Academy | |
| 2013 | Balmain Tigers | 14 – 6 | Penrith Panthers | Penrith Panthers | West Coast Pirates | |
| 2014 | Sydney Roosters | 34 – 30 | Penrith Panthers | Parramatta Eels | West Coast Pirates | |
| 2015 | Cronulla Sharks | 24 – 16 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | Canberra Raiders | North Sydney Bears | |
| 2016 | Penrith Panthers | 25 – 10 | Illawarra Steelers | Newcastle Knights | West Coast Pirates | |
| 2017 | Parramatta Eels | 30 – 22 | Cronulla Sharks | Cronulla Sharks | West Coast Pirates | |
| 2018 | Penrith Panthers | 25 – 14 | Canterbury Bulldogs | Sydney Roosters | West Coast Pirates | |
| 2019 | Illawarra Steelers | 34 – 23 | Manly Sea Eagles | Manly Sea Eagles | West Coast Pirates | |
| 2020 | Season was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. | Season was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. | Season was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. | Season was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. | Season was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. | Season was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. |
| 2021 | Canberra Raiders | 18 – 14 | Illawarra Steelers | Sydney Roosters | North Sydney Bears | |
| 2022 | Penrith Panthers | 22 – 20 | Sydney Roosters | Sydney Roosters | Victoria Thunderbolts | |
| 2023 | Parramatta Eels | 28 – 22 | Newcastle Knights | | Canberra Raiders | Melbourne Storm | |
| 2024 | St George Dragons | 40 – 18 | Canterbury Bulldogs | Sydney Roosters | Balmain Tigers | |
* U16/s from 1965 until 2005
* U18/s from 2006 until 2020
* U19/s from 2021 onwards

## Premiership Tally

| No. | Club | Seasons |
| 1 | Parramatta Eels | 14 (1966, 1967, 1968, 1973, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1991, 1993, 1999, 2007, 2017, 2023) |
| 2 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | 10 (1965, 1969, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1979, 1980, 1986, 1994, 1998) |
| 3 | Penrith Panthers | 7 (1977, 1981, 2000, 2006, 2016, 2018, 2022) |
| 4 | Canberra Raiders | 4 (1995, 2003, 2005, 2021) |
| 4 | Newcastle Knights | 4 (1990, 2001, 2004, 2011) |
| 4 | Sydney Roosters | 4 (1997, 2008, 2010, 2014) |
| 4 | St George Dragons | 4 (1970, 1984, 1992, 2024) |
| 8 | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | 3 (1972, 1978, 2009) |
| 8 | Balmain Tigers | 3 (1982, 2012, 2013) |
| 8 | Illawarra Steelers | 3 (1989, 1996, 2019) |
| 11 | Western Suburbs Magpies | 2 (1971, 2002) |
| 12 | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | 1 (2015) |
Bold means the team still currently play in the competition.