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Not to be confused with Tasmanian Rugby Union.

NRL Tasmania
NRL Tasmania logo
Founded1953
ResponsibilityTasmania, Australia
HeadquartersCornelian Bay, Tasmania
Key peopleTBA (President)
CompetitionsTasmanian Rugby League Premiership
WebsiteNRL Tasmania Facebook
Tasmania

NRL Tasmania (abbreviated as NRLTas, and formerly the Tasmanian Rugby League) is the organisation responsible for administering the game of rugby league in the Australian state of Tasmania. Tasmania is an affiliated State of the overall Australian governing body, the Australian Rugby League.

History

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20th Century

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The Tasmanian Rugby League was founded at a meeting at Heathorn's Hotel, Hobart on 2 December 1953 and the first competition was held in 1954 with teams including Bellerive (Eastern Shore), Taroona, Newtown and Canterbury. Players were initially recruited from Hobart Rugby Union teams and the first matches were played on 3 April 1954 at the South St Grounds, Bellerive. The first premiership was won by Taroona[1] [2] The first interstate match was played against Victoria on 12 June 1954 with Tasmania winning 18-8.[3]

1990s Golden Era

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Logo prior to 2013

By the mid 1990s the Tasmanian Rugby League was running a statewide competition which included Seven Hobart teams:

  • Glenorchy Stingrays (Saints using st george kit)
  • Sandy Bay Panthers
  • Eastern Shore Eagles
  • Newtown Tigers (not connected to the current Hobart Tigers)
  • Taroona Bulls
  • Hobart City Falcons
  • Derwent Valley Sharks

and two regional teams:

  • Launceston Clippers
  • North-West Warriors (not connected to the current Launceston Warriors)

The Tasmanian Rugby League also ran a Northern Tasmanian vs Southern Tasmanian competition during this period. Ben McKinnon from the Launceston Clippers is the only player to have won the statewide best + fairest on two occasions both in his debut season in 1995 and then again in 1997.

Due to dwindling player numbers the competition contracted to four Hobart teams during the early 2000s and midway through the 2003-04 season the senior amateur competition folded as a result of rising public liability insurance costs.

2009 Rebirth

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In late 2009 a new senior competition was established through the efforts of local 7HO FM Radio Personality Jason 'Wolfie' Wolfgram (President 2009/10), in conjunction with ARL Rugby League Development Officer, Graham McNaney. The decision to re-establish the competition followed a public forum at the Hotel Grand Chancellor in Hobart on Thursday 25 June 2009.

The revised summer competition initially included ten teams:

  • Clarence Eels
  • Hobart Tigers
  • Northern Suburbs Broncos
  • New Norfolk Cowboys
  • Newtown Roosters
  • South Hobart Storm
  • Southern Rabbitohs
  • Sandy Bay Sharks
  • Taroona Dragons
  • University Of Tasmania Panthers

Gala Days and Under 17s junior exhibition matches have also been a feature of the revised competition. In February 2012 a National Rugby League trial match between Brisbane Broncos and Melbourne Storm was held in Hobart. Another Storm trial was held in Tasmania in 2017 against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.

In 2013 The Penrith Panthers Were Talking To The Tasmanian Government about NRL games in Hobart. The Panthers Were Negotiating With Tasmania's State Government About Playing Games For Premiership Points In Hobart, Most Likely Blundstone Arena Or North Hobart Oval.[4][5][6]

The Launceston Warriors were admitted to the competition during the 2012–13 season. A North West Coast Titans team joined the competition in 2013–2014 representing North West Tasmania.[7]

The competition folded in 2014 from a lack of players and support.

Tasmanian Rugby League Premiership

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NRL Tasmania
SportRugby league
Inaugural season2009
Ceased2014–15
Number of teams12
Holders South Hobart Storm (2013-14)
Most titles Hobart Tigers (3 titles)

The Tasmanian Rugby League Premiership was reborn in 2009.

Over its course, the competition consisted of 12 teams at various times:

  • Clarence Eels
  • Hobart Tigers
  • Launceston Warriors
  • North West Coast Titans
  • Northern Suburbs Broncos
  • New Norfolk Cowboys
  • Newtown Roosters
  • South Hobart Storm
  • Southern Rabbitohs
  • Sandy Bay Sharks
  • Taroona Dragons
  • University of Tasmania Panthers

Premierships

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Season Grand Final Minor Premiership
Premiers Score Runners-Up
2009–10 Hobart Tigers 54 – 14 South Hobart Storm Northern Suburbs Broncos
2010–11 Hobart Tigers 42 – 24 Southern Rabbitohs Hobart Tigers
2011–12 Clarence Eels 36 – 20 Southern Rabbitohs Hobart Tigers
2012–13 Hobart Tigers 40 – 30 Southern Rabbitohs Launceston Warriors
2013–14 South Hobart Storm 38 – 18 Hobart Tigers Hobart Tigers

Representative Team

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Tasmania
Team information
NicknameThunder
Governing bodyNRL Tasmania
Home stadiumNorth Hobart Oval
First game
Tasmania Tasmania 18 – 8 Victoria Victoria (state)
12 June 1954, New Town Oval

Tasmania Rugby League Team is the representative team of the Tasmanian Rugby League. They have competed in many competitions since their first game in 1954, most notably in the Affiliated States Championship (sometimes combined with South Australia.

NRL Matches in Tasmania

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NRL club Melbourne Storm have played three NRL trial matches in Hobart, due to Victoria’s close proximity to Tasmania.

In December 2013, it was reported that the Penrith Panthers were in talks with the Tasmanian Government to play Regular Season Matches in Hobart.[8][9][10] However, this proposal never ended up becoming a reality, and no Regular Season NRL matches have ever been played in Tasmania

In July 2022 It Was Reported That The Tasmanian Government Were In Talks With The Melbourne Storm On Bringing Games Back To Hobart.[11]

In September 2024 It Was Confirmed The New Macquarie Point Stadium Will Host One NRL Game Per Season From 2029 Onwards

Date Game Ground Attendance
7/2/98 Melbourne Storm vs Adelaide Rams North Hobart Oval 3,000
18/2/12 Melbourne Storm vs Brisbane Broncos North Hobart Oval 11,752
18/2/17 Melbourne Storm vs Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs North Hobart Oval 6,823

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Rugby League for State". Hobart Mercury. 27 November 1953. Retrieved 15 December 2011.
  2. ^ "Rugby League to Start Tomorrow". Hobart Mercury. 2 April 1954. Retrieved 15 December 2011.
  3. ^ "Tasmania's victory in Rugby League". Hobart Mercury. 14 June 1954. Retrieved 15 December 2011.
  4. ^ "Panthers could play NRL games in Hobart: report". ABC News. 17 December 2013. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  5. ^ "Penrith Panthers in talks to play games in Tasmania". ABC News. 17 December 2013. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  6. ^ "Hobart in a league of its own as NRL deal looms with Penrith Panthers". Hobart Mercury. 17 December 2013. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  7. ^ "Tasmanian Rugby League expands". 10 May 2013. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  8. ^ "Panthers could play NRL games in Hobart: report". ABC News. 17 December 2013. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  9. ^ "Penrith Panthers in talks to play games in Tasmania". ABC News. 17 December 2013. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  10. ^ "Hobart in a league of its own as NRL deal looms with Penrith Panthers". Hobart Mercury. 17 December 2013. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  11. ^ "Could the NRL be Tasmania bound?". Hobart Mercury. 5 July 2022. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
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