Tallon Smith

The Illawarra Rugby League’s flagship Harrigan Cup first grade competition will continue in the same format in 2026 after the Sutherland-Loftus Pirates were unveiled as the crucial sixth team for the upcoming season.

The Sutherland Shire club have affiliated with NSW Cup team Newtown Jets, and will act as their reserves side in the Illawarra’s premier competition, replacing De La Salle Caringbah, who have departed to focus on fielding an A-Grade team in the local Cronulla District competition.

In a statement to Battlers For Bush Footy, the Sutherland-Loftus club confirmed that they are actively working towards fielding a side in the Harrigan Cup in 2026.

“Sutherland Loftus JRLFC is in an active rebuild,” the statement read.

“As part of this work, the club is progressing a Harrigan Cup opportunity in partnership with the Jets and the Sharks.

“Formal confirmation is expected shortly and an expression of interest for head coach is now open so the program can launch at full pace.”

After winning back-to-back premierships in 2011 and 2012 in the Cronulla-Sutherland A-Grade competition, the Pirates’ senior numbers dwindled throughout the decade, with the club last fielding an A-Grade team in 2013, and a Second Grade team in 2017.

After further decline, the club finally hit rock bottom last season, fielding an Over 35’s League Tag side as its only team in the 2025 competition.

However, with a new committee in place, the club is set to undertake a rebuild, with the Harrigan Cup project devised as a strategy to breathe new life into the club.

Sutherland-Loftus JRLFC President Tim Lennon said that the club is excited about the prospect of fielding a team after a lengthy absence from senior football.

“Our Executive is exploring every opportunity to set ‘Sutho’ up for success, and the Harrigan Cup project is a great example of that intent,” he said.

“We’re excited about this partnership and expect to finalise details in the coming days. 

“In the meantime, expressions of interest for head coach are open.

“We want the right leader in place from day one so they can hit the ground running.”

The news of the Pirates’ entry into the Harrigan Cup comes after a summer of uncertainty for the Illawarra Rugby League, with De La Salle’s exit creating concerns around the future of the first grade competition given just five teams remained.

Battlers For Bush Footy understands that various proposals were discussed for the upcoming season, including crossover play with Sydney Shield clubs to reduce the repetitiveness of the regular season fixture, followed by a local finals series, a proposal which was met with opposition by at least two local clubs.

However, following Sunday night’s announcement, those plans have been shelved, with the competition set to continue under its current format in 2026.

Though plans are yet to be finalised, Sutherland-Loftus will essentially replace De La Salle as the host club for the remaining players in Newtown’s squad that are not selected for NSW Cup fixtures.

A source from the Newtown club speaking on the condition of anonymity confirmed that the club has formed a partnership with Sutherland-Loftus for the upcoming season, and is actively working with the club on the details of the agreement, including how many players will be supplied to the club each week.

The affiliation of the clubs completes a three-tiered system, which links the Sharks NRL team, the Jets in the NSW Cup, and the Pirates in the Illawarra Cup.

With the new side set to take the field in three months’ time, attention will now turn to appointing a coach for the campaign.

Interested applicants can find more details on both the Sutherland-Loftus Pirates and Newtown Jets Facebook pages.