By Tallon Smith After dropping two grades just three years ago, the Berkeley Eagles have announced they will be moving up to the Illawarra Rugby League’s first division in 2024. After going undefeated until the COVID cancellation in 2021 and doing the same only to lose in the grand final last year, the Eagles finally won the title this season, despite dropping just one game … Continue reading Berkeley renaissance bucks Illawarra Rugby League post-COVID decline

By Tallon Smith The Thirroul Butchers have stunned the local rugby league community by taking out the Illawarra Rugby League Premiership with a 24-18 win over two-time defending champions Collegians in the Grand Final at WIN Stadium last Saturday. After facing the serious prospect of missing the finals altogether just a matter of weeks ago as Dapto made a late charge and threatened their spot, … Continue reading Video & Report: Terrific Thirroul take title in instant Illawarra classic

By Tallon Smith The Corrimal Cougars have qualified for their first Reserve Grade Grand Final since 1989 with a 13-12 Preliminary Final win over Collegians at Collegians Sports Complex on Saturday. After making the finals for the first time in 10 years last season, the Cougars have gone another step further this year courtesy of a match winning field goal to captain Josh McConnell in … Continue reading Illawarra Rugby League: Corrimal qualify for Reserve Grade Grand Final for first time in 34 years

By Tallon Smith Collegians have booked their spot in the Illawarra Rugby League Grand Final after recording a 24-6 win over De La Salle in the Major Semi Final at Collegians Sports Stadium on Saturday. The win is an exact reversal of the result of the last time the two sides played in Caringbah two weeks ago, where De La Salle took the leadership of … Continue reading Illawarra Rugby League: Collegians first side into Grand Final after upset win over De La Salle

By Tallon Smith Collegians have secured second spot on the Illawarra Rugby League ladder with a comprehensive 28-14 win over the Western Suburbs Red Devils at Collegians Sports Complex on Saturday. The Collie Dogs’ victory sets up a highly anticipated clash with Minor Premiers De La Salle Caringbah in the Major Semi Final, with the winner going through to the Grand Final at WIN Stadium … Continue reading Illawarra Rugby League: Collegians sew up second place with win over Wests

By Tallon Smith The Corrimal Cougars have broken a 777-day long drought in the Illawarra Rugby League courtesy of a 36-18 win over Dapto at Ziems Park on Saturday. Having last won a First Grade game on June 19, 2021, the Cougars washed away two years of pain in a stunning upset over the finals hopeful Canaries, with the emotion visibly getting the better of … Continue reading Illawarra Rugby League: Corrimal end 777-day drought with win over Dapto

By Tallon Smith The Berkeley Eagles have maintained their undefeated record in the Illawarra Rugby League’s Division 2 Harrigan Shield competition, defeating the Figtree Crushers 22-18 at Berkeley Sports Ground on Saturday afternoon. In a match that ebbed and flowed, with both sides holding the advantage at different times, a try 30 seconds from full-time to Dean Hodgson sealed the win for the Eagles, who … Continue reading Berkeley score last-gasp win over Figtree Crushers in Illawarra Second Division

Report – 27/05/23 The Western Suburbs Red Devils exacted revenge on their arch-rivals Collegians for their 2022 Grand Final loss by virtue of a 22-10 victory at Collegians Sports Complex on Saturday afternoon. The Collie Dogs were a man down for the majority of the match after centre Callan Briggs was sent off for dissent, before a sin bin to prop Joshua Dowel for a … Continue reading Wests defeat Collegians in derby Grand Final rematch

By Tallon Smith The Illawarra Rugby League has offset the loss of two men’s teams, with the new Women’s Southern Corridor Open and Under 18s driving growth in the region’s participation in 2023. This follows the New South Wales Rugby League’s announcement last week that the state participation record has been broken, with 2023’s current figure of 107,917 eclipsing the previous record set in 2021 … Continue reading Record Female Participation Figures spark renaissance for Rugby League in the Illawarra