Rugby league is a game that’s been loved throughout the ages, by all ages, and so it should be.
It’s fast, exciting and can ignite a passion within us that may very well have otherwise been left undiscovered. Over time however Australia’s first grade competition, now the National Rugby League (NRL), has lost some of its character, character that can still be found within its little brother, New South Wales Cup (NSW Cup).
NSW Cup is a competition comprising 12 teams, 11 NSW based and one New Zealand, which feed into various NRL clubs. Its funding is limited, clubs often depend on volunteers and games are rarely played in stadiums. While this combination of factors might sound dismal, they actually create the basis for some good old school, much missed footy.
You won’t find a NSW Cup game played under the bright lights of a half empty ANZ stadium, where it can take the better part of an hour to leave the car park after the full time whistle. Nor will you find games played at places that charge a premium for the mid-strength beer you’ll try not to spill as you climb stairs and shuffle between narrow rows to get back to your seat.
Rather you’ll find them played at classic suburban grounds, where you can sit inches from the action on a sunny Saturday or Sunday afternoon. The grounds themselves are in competition, eating a sausage sizzle sprawled out on the hill at Henson Park rivals watching the sky turn pink over North Sydney oval in the final moments of a game.
These beautiful grounds are home to clubs that are bursting with rich history and strong traditions. The Newtown Jets and the North Sydney Bears, both foundation rugby league clubs in Australia, compete in NSW Cup after famously having been exiled from first grade.
Their fans went with them, many swearing an oath not to return to an NRL game until their teams are reinstated. NSW Cup fans really are the most die-hard in rugby league. While every footy fan is a win for the game, the intensity of an atmosphere is certainly heightened when the crowd is comprised entirely of people whose mood will be determined by the final score.
They trek from all over NSW, multiple times a season, decked out in club colours that are sometimes even inked into their skin, to cheer on their boys. Their stories are fascinating, live history lessons of their clubs greatest moments whether they were alive for them or not. And their loyalty does not go unrewarded.
NSW Cup is filled with quality players and games that make for an entertaining 80 minutes of footy. The close games are as intense as any first grade game. Just ask anyone at North Sydney Oval earlier this season when the mighty Bears beat rivals Manly on the siren.
Entertaining footy is supplemented by how free flowing the games are. There’s no video referee or bunker, there’s no getting suspended for a gentle pat on the ref’s back and there’s no glancing to a big screen after a try to see if it will even be rewarded.
Instead celebrations are instantaneous and in the moment, something the NRL commentators pine for every first grade match after they watch a successful dummy, a great break, a 30-metre run down the field as the player slams the ball over the try line only to have the ref blow his whistle and call for review.
First grade has lost some of its character but the NRL is still a brilliant competition that does boast the best players. However if you’re one for the glory days of rugby league, rally the troops, get yourself down to a NSW Cup game and be entertained by great footy right up until the siren sounds.
And when the siren does sound, be welcomed by the Bears into their change room for a post-match chant or be invited by the Jets to their sponsor pubs for a drink with the players and relive an era of rugby league many have forgotten.
Ari Janiw
Roar Rookie
I am glad Jets got the win over Manly! That comeback reminds me of when the Jets came back from being 30 points down against Panthers to win the game in 2014. Very disappointing that the Bears didn't get the win over the Dogs to make finals. It was a very sad scene at North Sydney Oval on the buzzer!
Chris
Guest
I wish you could get 11000 crowds for a non final game be it League or Union at North Sydney Oval all the time.
Johnno
Guest
You were at Bears game it must of been fun.
Johnno
Guest
Ari, 2 amazing games today to round up the NSW Cup season. 1)Jets at Henson Park pulled off one of best comebacks in modern rugby league history. Down 12-38 with 20 minutes to go vs Manly, they somehow comeback and got 5 tries to win 40-38. Remarkable. 2)Bears game at North sydney oval a thriller, they almost won on buzzer, chip kick but player was deemed off side who scored, lost 10-6 in a vtirual play off spot for 8th and last semi final spot. 2 great games today, NSW cup has rocked this 2016 season, so many close games, and great clubs. Look forward to the Blacktown workers merger with Manly next year in 2017, will be interesting. What a day of NSW Cup footy.
Bigj
Guest
Queenland cup is the same. Better refs and cheaper entry and they have a broadcast deal, would not say better games or atmosphere though. I always enjoyed going to Cowboys v Broncos/Titans games regardless of what ground, you always get a passionate large crowd and a decent game of footy. But then again everything is better Up here in qld
Ari Janiw
Roar Rookie
Yes I was at the Shute Shiel grand final, I'm a big Uni supporter (having studied there) and love both codes. The NSW Cup final definitely belongs to a suburban ground. I'm not 100% sure but I think I remember hearing that no NSW Cup finals would be played at North Sydney Oval this year because they need to get the ground ready for cricket season, I'll try to confirm that today at the game.
Johnno
Guest
Ari, maybe you went to the gaem the shute shield final at North sydney oval that both the north sydney bears and northern suburbs rugby union side use. My post here isn't a code war as I like both sport and want them both at thie level to flourish. But recently 3 weeks ago the shute shield grand final got 11,000 people to north sydney oval, despite the high ticket prices and on TV. This is just a 3 minute clip of how good NSW Cup rugby league or sydney shute shield can be. The atmosphere was electric I wish I went. I know there different sports, but I wish the NSW Cup final, the highest placed side would host the grand final, rather than at Pirtek Parrammatta where all 3 grand finals are played in 1 day(sydney shield/ron massey cup/NSW Cup). Imagine the NSW Cup grand final atmosphere if Henson Park or North sydney oval or Leichardt oval could host the NSW Cup final with the highest place side getting home ground advantage. Henson Park would almost be full. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8ssxYHpjlQ
Swanny
Guest
Newtown Norths Wests. Illawarra are all missed If I lived in Sydney I would be watching this competition .. The nrl is shite
Johnno
Guest
1 refs seem to work better, maybe as pace is slower. Test-footy has 1 ref. Often though in Test-footy I find both sides are off-side alot which isn't a good thing, but 1-ref often seems to make game flow more. At NSW/QLD cup level you don't need video even if refs make wrong call, it does speed up the game no doubt about it.
Johnno
Guest
Hi Ari, yep a great game I like both clubs and many others in NSW Cup. I didn't see you as was on the hill, if I see you behind any Bears merchandise stand in future NSW Cup games I'll buy some bears merchandise and say hi from the roar, good article.
Ari Janiw
Roar Rookie
Hi Johnno, Yes it was a great game at a great ground! You may have seen me behind the Bears merch stand!
maximus182
Roar Guru
Brilliant piece, well done. I have become a fan of the feeder competitions over the last few years. So true about the free-flowing footy and getting to celebrate a try properly because there is no video ref.
maximus182
Roar Guru
Brilliant piece, well done. I have become a fan of the feeder competitions over the last few years. So true about the free-flowing footy and getting to be able to celebrate a try properly because there is no video ref.
Tripehound
Guest
Great article Ari, for all the brouhaha, sleek advertising, commercial and corporate interests of the top-flight, the soul of our game is imbued in the clubs and people that aren't in the lime light but where Rugby League is stamped indelibly on our hearts and runs through us like a stick of Blackpool rock. We love it and it loves us!
Arnold Krewanty
Guest
Yes, but they are feeder club to the raiders - a country town! Questions has got to be asked, why does Canberra have a feeder club? The Raiders, by far, put I this most effort of working with bush footy to produce juniors. knights a close second.
Johnno
Guest
So many NSW Cup spots are up for grabs tommorow, the last round of the 2016 NSW Cup season one of best ever. http://www.nswrl.com.au/news/2016/08/26/previews_intrust_sup.html
Johnno
Guest
Tommorow is reunion day at Henson Park(all ex jets players turn up). Jets vs Manly. Manly it will be there last game tomoz at NSW Cup level. As next year Blacktown Workers will become the affiliate club for Manly in the NSW Cup. Bears vs Bulldogs at North sydney oval in a big game as Bears might still make 8 if results go there way. Last weekend of NSW cup before 2017 semi's start. I'd love to see on NRL GF Day, Newtown Jets vs PNG Hunters/or North Sydney Bears vs PNG Hunters, better than the NRL GF that would be for atmosphere.
Up the Wahs
Roar Guru
Jerry says is right* ha ha won't let me edit.
Johnno
Guest
Bears playing Bulldogs at North sydney oval tommorow, bears win and Panthers beat warriors in Auckland, Bears make 8 for next weeks finals series. Last week Jets vs Bears was best game at any level of rugby league all year, as both teams slugged it out for finals spots and Frank Hyde shield. Love to have these 2 great teams back in the NRL, there historical importance would be a tragedy if they were watered down anymore than they have been.
Johnno
Guest
Ari, I went to Newtown Jets vs North Sydney Bears last weekend at Henson Park, it was the best game of the season at any level of rugby league in Australia. The match, was very high intensity with alot riding on it(Jets to keep top-4 spot/Bears to keep and cling to there 8th spot with 1 round to play now this weekend). It was like a NRL grand final. Norths missed 2 field goals, and on the buzzer the Jets broke the deadlock and scored on the buzzer, what a game. The match had very high-importance, as next year the NRL under head of football Brian Canavan is doing a whole of game review from NRL-down. Everything is up for grabs and being discussed. I hope these 2 heritage clubs Newtown Jets(oldest RL club in OZ) and North Sydney Bears(1st club to get a NSWRL licence,) stay in the proposed platinum league. A super league style war is brewing out in club land next year, from NRL-down potentially. But these 2 heritage clubs last weekend, really marked there turf last weekend about there importantce. It got a alot of press on the NSWRL website. It was a sunny day, Henson park was a big crowd, boy it was played at high intensity, as if these 2-clubs were righting for there survival and showing what they got. I hope they don't get relegated in 2018 to the Ron Massey Cup when the new TV deal comes in in 2018. West Magpies have been relegated to ron massey cup this year, and west tigers now in NSW Cup, it's not the same. But Newtown Jets/North Sydney Bears are very important to the future in my view of rugby league in OZ, and if they are watered down below NSW Cup level in 2018, it will be a major injustice on rugby league in Australia. I'd like to see them both back in the NRL as they have alot of history and cover alot fo geography, and Newtown Jets is an iconic name that has wider appeal. North shore of sydney, people who are cashed up, has been raided by AFL/Rugby/soccer since the Bears got kicked out of NRL. But both Jets/Bears last week put on the best game of rugby league at any level last weekend. It was grand final intensity and a very important match for both teams in the bigger picture of there futures, and boy did they show the NRL of there importance to rugby league in OZ.