Rugby league in Victoria
Melbourne tram in 2009 featuring Melbourne Storm advertising livery
Governing bodyVictorian Rugby League
Representative teamVictoria
First played1914, Melbourne
Registered players9,023 (2022)[1]
16,000+ (including variants)[2]
Clubs25[3]
Club competitions
Audience records
Single match91,513 (2015). State of Origin – Queensland v New South Wales (MCG, Melbourne)

Rugby league football has been played and watched by people in the Australian state of Victoria since the early 20th century. While for most of its history there the game's popularity has been marginal due to the dominance of Australian rules football in Victoria, rugby league's popularity has rapidly increased in recent years in the state's capital of Melbourne,[4] due mainly to the introduction of a professional Melbourne-based team in the national competition.[5]

Professional teams visited Melbourne as early as 1914 and occasional exhibition matches were held by clubs from New South Wales, however it was not until 1998 that the first professional club formed in Victoria, the Melbourne Storm, an expansion club to join the National Rugby League premiership.[6]

The Australian Rugby League reports that over $23 million has been invested by the Melbourne Storm and its partners in promoting and developing rugby league in Victoria since 2005 and the club has visited more than 550 schools across the state. Participation has grown significantly since 2006, with 13 amateur clubs playing in the state in 2008, according to the Victorian Rugby League[7] before further expansion prior to the 2009 season saw the competition expand into a divisional league during the 2010s.[8]

History

The modern code of rugby league

In 1895, rugby football underwent a schism in England over the issues of expenses and payment to injured players. This led it to split into rugby union and rugby league. Luring professional sportsmen, the new code of rugby league arrived in Australia in 1907 and came to dominate the sporting scene in Queensland and New South Wales. However, it was not immediately introduced into Victoria, where Australian rules football's VFL, which paid players, was already increasingly popular. Rugby union, however, continued to be played in Victoria by a small number of amateurs.

The 1914 Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand included a match in Melbourne, the first rugby league game to be played in the state. The match between England and New South Wales drew 13,000 spectators.[9]

The Victorian Rugby League was running a rugby league premiership by the 1920s, and also selected a representative Victorian XIII to tour domestically.[10]

The first interstate match held in Victoria was between Western Australia and Victoria at Yarra Park in 1952.[11]

The occasional New South Wales Rugby League Premiership match was taken to Melbourne over the following decades - the most notorious being in 1978 when Manly and Western Suburbs initiated their 'Fibros v Silvertails' battles.[12]

In 1991 the St Kilda Football Club unsuccessfully sought to have NSWRL games played at Moorabbin Oval.[13] but the NSWRL had let Melbourne host a number of premiership games during the early 1990s; with a 1993 Western Suburbs Magpies home game against the St George. Dragons played at Olympic Park. The next season, the Sydney Tigers played two home games at Princes Park.

But attendances for the State of Origin games in the state during the 1990s had been strong.[13] The 1990 State of Origin played at Olympic Park, attracted a capacity crowd of 25,800, and three more were held in 1994, 1995 and 1997 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Over those 3 years, 160,000 people attended; including a then Australian rugby league record crowd of 87,161 in 1994.[12]

In 1991 the first match of the Test series between New Zealand and Australia was played at Olympic Park in front of a crowd of 26,900, the first time a rugby league test match played in Australia was held outside of New South Wales and Queensland.[14] The next year, the second Test between Great Britain and Australia was played at Princes Park in front of a crowd of 33,005.

The first professional team emerges

In August 1991 the NSWRL began to express interest for its 1993 competition,[13] and made a request to the Victorian Rugby League to put forward a proposal. The local league showed significant hesitation, indicating that the game had little support to build upon.[12]

However, during 1993 ARL Chairman Ken Arthurson made it clear that he remained positive about Melbourne and thought it had much to offer. Former Melbourne CEO Chris Johns said; "John and I had been with the Broncos from day one and we had learnt first-hand how the club had progressed in 10 years to become a 'super club'. Melbourne had three times the population of Brisbane and the people down there just love their sport".[15]

Plans to enter Melbourne gained momentum in November 1994 when both the ARL and the organisers of the (then called) News Limited rebel competition both began initiatives to fast track their own teams in the Victorian capital.[15] In 1996, the Australian Rugby League (ARL) decided to establish a Melbourne-based team due to the high attendances at recent State of Origin matches. But in May 1997, Super League boss John Ribot pushed for a Melbourne-based club in the Super League competition, which was the rival against the ARL competition. Former Brisbane Broncos centre Chris Johns became the CEO of the club and Ribot stepped down from head of the Super League to set up the club. The club would be fully owned by News Limited who had a position of influence through their ownership in the Herald Sun, with part of its strategy to use Melbourne's most popular newspaper to provide contra media exposure for the new club. In September 1997, Melbourne announced that Chris Anderson would be their foundation coach, and then the Super League announced that their new team would be named the Melbourne Storm and it would be based at Olympic Park Stadium.[12]

The new millennium

The 2003 NRL grand final attracted a bigger audience in Melbourne than the 2003 AFL Grand Final did in Sydney.[16] In 2006 the deciding game of the State of Origin drew 54,833 spectators at Telstra Dome.[17] Also that season, Melbourne's television audience for the Storm's NRL grand final appearance was higher than Sydney's was for the Swans' second successive AFL grand final appearance.[18] This would occur again in 2016.

Storm players after the 2007 Grand Final.

The 2007 preliminary final between Parramatta and Melbourne Storm saw the largest ever crowd drawn by the Storm in Melbourne, 33,472.[19] It was a larger than Manly's preliminary final crowd of 32,611.[20]

In 2007 the Victorian Government confirmed that it would be building a new 31,500 rectangular stadium at Olympic Park, for rugby league, union and soccer.[21]

The opening round of the 2008 season saw 20,084 spectators[22] watch the Storm defeat New Zealand Warriors in their first game at Telstra Dome. Melbourne finished the 2008 season with a home average attendance of 12,474,[23] considerably larger than their 2007 average of 11,711.[23][24] They recorded their largest crowd average ever in the 2010 season at 14,670. For the 2008 Rugby League World Cup, the only game in Melbourne against England drew a crowd of 36,297 at the Telstra Dome.[25] This was the second highest attended game in the competition, surpassed only by the final, played in Brisbane that drew 50,559.[26]

2015 saw new records set for rugby league in Victoria with 91,513 spectators attending the second Origin match at the MCG, won by NSW.

The Storm who have won four premierships to date: (1999, 2012, 2017, 2020); as of 2022 regularly attract over 16,000 people to matches,[27] and set a new club membership record of over 40,000.[28]

In a boost for the code in Victoria, Victoria's Rugby League Centre of Excellence was constructed at Seabrook Reserve in Broadmeadows, with the $16.9 million facility opening in 2023.[29] The facility serves as the home ground for Northern Thunder as well as the administration base for NRL Victoria and Touch Football Victoria. It additionally serves as a hub for rugby league programs, and a venue for training, camps and state and national level tournaments, and is also set to serve as the home ground of any future Melbourne Storm NRLW team.[30][31] Features of the facility include a show pitch, three community access competition pitches, a female-friendly pavilion including high-performance training and recovery facilities, and car parking.[32][33][34]

Participation

Players such as Jeremy Smith, born in New Zealand, and Gareth Widdop, born in England,[35] have come through the junior ranks in Melbourne.

In round 23 2012, Mahe Fonua became the first Victorian-born and bred player to play in the NRL when he made his debut for Melbourne Storm. He played his junior career for South East Titans (formerly Berwick Bulldogs) in the Victorian Rugby League.[36][37]

Although born in Samoa, Young Tonumaipea and Richard Kennar both emigrated to Melbourne at young ages and played their junior football with local side Northern Thunder before making their senior NRL debuts for Melbourne Storm.

The junior team (which is largely made up of Victorian locals)[38] were runners up to the Bulldogs in the S. G. Ball Cup in 2009.[39]

Victorian Rugby League

The Victorian Rugby League governs rugby league in Victoria.[40] Victoria is an Affiliated State of the overall Australian governing body the Australian Rugby League.

Victorian Rugby League competitions

The four main rugby league competitions in Victoria are the Melbourne Rugby League, the Murray Cup, the Limestone Coast Rugby League and the Sunraysia-Riverlands Rugby League.[7]

Former competitions include the Central Highlands Rugby League, which was centred around Ballarat. Prior to 2008 and the introduction of the National Youth Competition, Melbourne Rugby League games were played as curtain raisers to senior Melbourne Storm games at Olympic Park.

Representative Team

The Victoria team play in the Affiliated States Championship along with the other three affiliated states (South Australia, Northern Territory and Western Australia) plus the Australian Police and Australian Defence Force. In 2007 Victoria came fourth in the ARL Affiliated States Championships in Perth.[41]

They won their first championship in 2009 [42]

National Rugby League Teams

The National Rugby League (NRL) is Australia's top-level competition for the sport of rugby league.[43] The Melbourne Storm are Victoria's only side in the League, having been initially created on the initiative of Super League for inclusion in their competition in 1997,[13] however they did not start playing until the NRL's commencement in 1998. The club won the premiership in just its second season, 1999,[44] and has been a powerful club for much of its existence. As of 2021, the club has won four premierships, in 1999, 2012,[45] 2017, and 2020. It has also won the World Club Challenge in 2000, 2013, and 2018.

The club had also won three consecutive minor premierships in 2006, 2007 and 2008[46] and premierships in 2007[47] and 2009,[48] but those titles were stripped, along with the 2010 World Club Challenge title, after the club was found guilty of breaching the salary cap.

Club Location Home Ground(s) First season
Melbourne Storm Melbourne[49] AAMI Park (12 games) (30,050)[50] 1998[13]

Players

Players from Victoria who have played professionally include:

Currently playing professionally

Men's

PlayerVIC junior/senior club/sVIC RepresentativeProfessional/Representative Years*Connections to Victoria, References
Nick Flocas-2022–presentBorn in Melbourne
Fonua PoleSunbury United-2022–presentRaised in, played junior football in and recruited from Melbourne.[51]
Kelma TuilagiCasey WarriorsYes2021–presentPlayed junior football in Melbourne.[52]
Greg MarzhewNorth West Wolves-2021–presentPlayed senior football in Melbourne prior to professional career.[53]
Dean IeremiaSunbury United-2021–presentRaised in, played junior football in and recruited from Melbourne.[54] played for Melbourne Storm (2021–present)
Jamayne Taunoa-BrownAltona Roosters-2020–presentBorn in, played junior football in and recruited from Melbourne.
Connor DonehueMelbourne Storm (juniors)2018–presentPlayed junior football in Melbourne[55][56]
Zev JohnAltona RoostersU20 (2017)2018–presentPlayed junior football in and recruited from Melbourne.
Ben NakubuwaiAltona Roosters-2017–presentPlayed senior football in and recruited from Melbourne.[57]
Charnze Nicoll-KlokstadAltona Roosters-2017–presentPlayed junior football in Melbourne as a 15 year old.[58][59]
Francis TualauSouth Eastern Titans-2017–2018Raised in and recruited from Melbourne.
Aaron TeroiNorthern Thunder RLFC-2016–2017Born, raised in and recruited from Melbourne.[60]
Richard KennarNorthern Thunder RLFC-2015–presentRaised in and recruited from Melbourne. Played for the Melbourne Storm (2015–16)
Young TonumaipeaNorthern Thunder RLFC-2014–presentRaised in and recruited from Melbourne.[61] Played for the Melbourne Storm (2014–18, 2022–present)
Denny SolomonaWaverley Oakleigh Panthers-2014–2016Raised in and recruited from Melbourne.
Kenny BromwichHallam Secondary College, Melbourne Storm (U20)2012–presentRaised in and recruited from Melbourne. Played for Melbourne Storm (2013–22)
Mahe FonuaHallam Secondary CollegeU15 (2006, 2007)2012–presentBorn, raised in and recruited from Melbourne. Played for Melbourne Storm (2012–15)[62]
Gareth WiddopAltona RoostersU18 (?)2010–presentRaised in and recruited from Melbourne, played for Melbourne Storm (2010–2013)
Drury LowAltona Roosters,[63] Waverley Oakleigh Panthers[64]-2010–2014Raised inand played junior football in Melbourne
Selasi Berdie2008-2009Raised in and recruited from Melbourne
Peter Wallace--2005–2018Born in Melbourne[65]
Jeremy SmithAltona Roosters-2004–2016Raised in Melbourne, played for Melbourne Storm (2004–2008)
Jake Webster--2003–presentBorn in Melbourne[66]
Timana Tahu--1999–2014Born in Melbourne[67][68]
Craig Polla-Mounter--1992–2001Born in Melbourne[69]
Jamie Bloem--1992–2005Born in Melbourne[70]
Michael Cook--1989–1991Born in Melbourne[71]
Chris Kinna--1984–1989Born in Melbourne[72]
Frank Cottle--1940–1951Born in Melbourne
Eric McCormack--1927–1932Born in Melbourne
Billy Mitchell--1911–1920Born in Melbourne

Women's

PlayerVIC junior/senior club/sVIC RepresentativeProfessional Years*Connections to Victoria, References
Emmanita Paki--2022–presentBorn in Mildura[73]
Najvada GeorgeWerribee Bears-2019–presentBorn and raised in Melbourne[74][75]

See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Ausplay Sports Report 2022 - Soccer, Australian Football, Rugby League & Rugby Union
  2. ↑ "Annual report 2021-2022" (PDF). touchfootball.com.au. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  3. ↑ NRL Victoria clubs
  4. ↑ "World class stadium for Storm a reality". sportsaustralia.com. SportsAustralia. 5 March 2007. Retrieved 4 December 2009.
  5. ↑ Heming, Wayne (30 October 2009). "Brisbane Broncos voted Australia's most popular football team". foxsports.com.au. AAP. Retrieved 31 October 2009.
  6. ↑ "More Clubs added to the Victoria Rugby League Comp in 2009 - The Front Row Forum :: Rugby League". Forums.leagueunlimited.com. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
  7. 1 2 "Latest News - Victorian Rugby League". SportingPulse. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
  8. ↑ "More Clubs added to the Victoria Rugby League Comp in 2009 - Page 4 - The Front Row Forum :: Rugby League". Forums.leagueunlimited.com. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
  9. ↑ Sydney Morning Herald, 17 August 1914
  10. ↑ "Football: Rugby League Final". The Argus. Australia. 7 September 1923. p. 4. Retrieved 4 December 2009.
  11. ↑ "Rugby League Match Today". The Age. No. 30, 326. Victoria, Australia. 10 July 1952. p. 12. Retrieved 12 September 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. 1 2 3 4 "Melbourne Storm - Official Website". Archived from the original on 14 July 2008. Retrieved 18 July 2008.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 "Rugby League". www.rl1908.com. Archived from the original on 21 June 2002.
  14. ↑ Deane, Steve (23 October 2009). "Top 10 moments in Kiwi league". nzherald.co.nz. New Zealand: APN Holdings NZ Limited. Retrieved 5 February 2010.
  15. 1 2 Collis, Ian & Whitaker, Alan (2004). The History of Rugby League Clubs. Sydney: New Holland Publishers (Australia) Pty Ltd. p. 344. ISBN 1741100755.
  16. ↑ Evans, Chris (7 October 2003). "Rugby League rates in AFL state". The Age. The Age Company. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
  17. ↑ "Etihad Stadium Crowds (Docklands Stadium)". Austadiums. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
  18. ↑ Stevenson, Andrew (3 October 2006). "Rugby league - the game they play in Melbourne". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Digital. Retrieved 16 December 2009.
  19. ↑ "Melbourne Storm to face Manly in NRL Grand Final". Herald Sun. 23 September 2007.
  20. ↑ "Rugby League Tables / Attendances 2007". Stats.rleague.com. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
  21. ↑ "Major Projects - Melbourne Rectangular Stadium". Archived from the original on 11 October 2007. Retrieved 13 August 2007.
  22. ↑ "Grandstand Forums". rleague.com. Archived from the original on 6 March 2008. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
  23. 1 2 "Rugby League Tables / Attendances /Melbourne". Stats.rleague.com. 9 June 2013. Archived from the original on 1 August 2013. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
  24. ↑ "Melbourne Storm - Official Website". www.melbournestorm.com.au. Archived from the original on 15 June 2005.
  25. ↑ Read, Brent (2 November 2008). "Livewire Billy Slater kills off rugby league World Cup". The Australian.
  26. ↑ "Kiwis re-write rugby league history". Stuff.co.nz. NZPA. 22 November 2008. Retrieved 6 November 2011.
  27. ↑ "Rugby League Tables / Attendances 2022".
  28. ↑ "Record 40,000 Ride The Storm in 2022". melbournestorm.com.au. 23 August 2022. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  29. ↑ "Rugby League Centre Builds Momentum For Women, Youth". Premier of Victoria. Victorian Government. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  30. ↑ Walter, Brad. "New $12m facility to boost Storm's NRLW bid". National Rugby League. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  31. ↑ "The Perfect Storm For Rugby League In Victoria". Premier of Victoria. Victorian Government. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  32. ↑ "New Field of Dreams for rugby league in Victoria". Melbourne Storm. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  33. ↑ Ward, Roy. "Storm chase NRL Women's licence for new state training centre". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  34. ↑ "Rugby league set to take Broadmeadows by storm". Sport and Recreation Victoria. Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  35. ↑ Local talent is Storm's aim
  36. ↑ "Rd 23 Late Mail & Live Chat". Melbourne Storm. 10 August 2012. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
  37. ↑ "Mahe our first, but certainly not the last, home-bred Victorian NRL player". The Australian. 11 August 2012.
  38. ↑ "News - Official Site of Melbourne Storm | News, video, fixture, tickets, membership". Melbournestorm.com.au. 7 January 2012. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
  39. ↑ "SG Ball @ Melbourne Storm". www.melbournestorm.com.au. Archived from the original on 27 February 2009.
  40. ↑ NRL. "NRL - The official site of the National Rugby League - NRL.com". Australianrugbyleague.com.au. Archived from the original on 4 June 2004. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
  41. ↑ Messina, Joe (2007). "Australian Rugby Football League Annual Report 2007" (PDF). Australian Rugby League Limited. p. 13. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 September 2009. Retrieved 15 July 2009.
  42. ↑ "Australian Rugby League". Archived from the original on 5 January 2010. Retrieved 27 February 2010.
  43. ↑ "Australian NRL - in Wakefield". Archived from the original on 19 October 2007. Retrieved 12 October 2008.
  44. ↑ "Melbourne Storm - Official Website". www.melbournestorm.com.au. Archived from the original on 14 June 2006.
  45. ↑ Melbourne Storm Enjoys Famous Victory In A Potentially Infamous Nrl Grand Final Herald Sun
  46. ↑ "Grandstand Forums". rleague.com. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
  47. ↑ "Melbourne Storm - Official Website". www.melbournestorm.com.au. Archived from the original on 23 October 2007.
  48. ↑ "Plenty of angry NRL viewers | Herald Sun". Archived from the original on 14 October 2009.
  49. ↑ "Melbourne Storm Rugby League Club - About - Google". Google Maps. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
  50. ↑ "AAMI Park (Melbourne Rectangular Stadium)". Austadiums. 7 May 2010. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
  51. ↑ "Pole: A dream come true". Wests Tigers. 29 June 2022.
  52. ↑ "Wests Tigers profile - Kelma Tuilagi". weststigers.com.au. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  53. ↑ "Wolves on the prowl, and winning". Hume Weekly. 6 November 2012. p. 15. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  54. ↑ "Melbourne school to fly flag for Victoria in schoolboys final". NRL. 10 September 2018. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
  55. ↑ Mascord, Steve (23 September 2019). "Meet USA Hawks star Connor Donehue". usarl.org. USA Rugby League. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
  56. ↑ "World Nines, NRL: Connor Donehue, USA Hawks, Melbourne Storm, John Donehue". Fox Sports. Australia: Fox Sports (Australia). 17 October 2019. Retrieved 18 October 2019.
  57. ↑ Gray, John (1 October 2013). "Storm front - Hurricanes young gun on Melbourne's radar". Irrigator. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  58. ↑ "Introducing Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad". Warriors.kiwi. 20 November 2015. Retrieved 24 February 2016.
  59. ↑ "Warriors sign Melbourne Storm utility back harnze Nicoll-Klokstad on two-year deal". Stuff. 23 October 2015. Retrieved 24 February 2016.
  60. ↑ "Hope of Storm place in air for Rugby League teen". Hume Leader. 15 December 2010 – via EBSCOHost.
  61. ↑ "Local Young Gun to Stay with Storm". Melbourne Storm. 28 May 2014. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
  62. ↑ Mahe Fonua Set To Make History With Melbourne Storm In The Nrl Grand Final The Daily Telegraph
  63. ↑ Jenkinson, Lance (19 April 2015). "Altona Roosters plan to make it a year to remember". Maribyrnong Star Weekly. Archived from the original on 18 April 2015. Retrieved 19 April 2015.
  64. ↑ "Drury Low". the Bulldogs. 15 April 2015. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
  65. ↑ Player Profile: "WOW Brisbane Broncos". Archived from the original on 15 March 2009. Retrieved 30 March 2009., broncos.com.au
  66. ↑ "Jake Webster - Career Stats & Summary". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
  67. ↑ "Timana Tahu :: NSW Rugby - the Home of the HSBC Waratahs". www.nswrugby.com.au. Archived from the original on 22 December 2007. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  68. ↑ "Profile from Timana Tahu". bebo.com. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
  69. ↑ "Craig Polla-Mounter". Misterfixit.tripod.com. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
  70. ↑ "Bloem Close To Crossing Divide". sportinglife.com. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  71. ↑ Brave and Game Biographies : Michael Terrance Cook Archived 2012-02-25 at the Wayback Machine
  72. ↑ "THE RAIDERS IN '87". The Canberra Times. Vol. 61, no. 18, 774. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 27 February 1987. p. 5 (SUPPLEMENT TO THE CANBERRA TIMES). Retrieved 3 May 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  73. ↑ "Emmanita Paki - Career Stats & Summary - Rugby League Project". www.rugbyleagueproject.org.
  74. ↑ "Dad's advice to Dragons NRLW gun Najvada George: rugby league girls don't cry". The Daily Telegraph. 2 October 2019.
  75. ↑ "Najvada George - Player profile". Dandenong Rangers.
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