Western Premiership (rugby league)

Peter McDonald Premiership
SportRugby league
Inaugural season2022
Number of teams12
RegionGreater Western & Bidgee (New South Wales Rugby League)
Premiers Mudgee Dragons (2024)
Most titles Dubbo CYMS
Forbes Magpies
Mudgee Dragons (1 title)
WebsitePlay Rugby League.com
Related competitionGroup 10 Rugby League
Group 11 Rugby League

The Western Premiership (also known as the Peter McDonald Premiership due to the name of its First Grade competition) is a New South Wales, Australia rugby league competition. The competition commenced in 2022 and incorporates the former Group 10 and Group 11 competitions.[1][2]

The competition is named in honour of the late Peter 'Ace' McDonald, a long-time Cowra Magpies, Group 10, Western Division and Country Rugby League administrator, and is played in four grades, these being First-Grade, Reserve-Grade, Under 18s and Ladies League Tag.[3]

History

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The competition was founded in 2022 after a series of strategic meetings with Group 10 and 11 clubs conducted by the NSWRL.

The competition initially only had First Grade and Under 18s, with respective reserves and women's tag competitions remaining under the control of Group 10 and Group 11. However, the competition will feature all four grades from 2023, as clubs wanted a full consistent matchday.

Initially, the competition also had two conferences, and implemented a first past the post system to award the historic Group 10 and 11 titles to the clubs who finished first on the ladder the respective historic competitions, however the conference system was scrapped in favour of a single league system from 2024 onwards.

Initially, the First Grade premiers progressed to the two week state NSWRL Presidents Cup finals against the Northern (Newcastle), Southern (Illawarra) and Ron Massey Cup (Sydney) conferences to crown the state semi-professional club champions, however this was scrapped after the 2023 season.[4]

Clubs

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14 clubs compete in the Peter McDonald Premiership, of which 12 are in First Grade. All 14 clubs field a Reserve Grade team.

Current Clubs

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Main articles: Group 10 Rugby League and Group 11 Rugby League
Club Moniker Group Home ground Premierships Premiership Years
First Grade
Bathurst Panthers Group 10 Carrington Park, Bathurst 0 None
Bathurst St Patrick's St Pat's Group 10 Jack Arrow Sporting Complex, Bathurst 0 None
Dubbo CYMS Group 11 Apex Oval, Dubbo 1 2023
Dubbo Macquarie Raiders Group 11 Apex Oval, Dubbo 0 None
Forbes Magpies Group 11 Spooner Park, Forbes 1 2022
Lithgow Workmen's Club Wolves Group 10 Tony Luchetti Showground, Lithgow 0 None
Mudgee Dragons Group 10 Glen Willow Oval, Mudgee 1 2024
Nyngan Tigers Group 11 Larkin Oval, Nyngan 0 None
Orange CYMS CYMS Group 10 Wade Park, Orange 0 None
Orange Hawks Group 10 Wade Park, Orange 0 None
Parkes Spacemen Group 11 Pioneer Oval, Parkes 0 None
Wellington Cowboys Group 11 Kennard Park, Wellington 0 None

Former Clubs

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Town Team Home ground Conference Premierships Premiership Years
Blayney Bears King George Oval Group 10 0 None
Cowra Magpies Sid Kallas Oval Group 10 0 None

Grand Finals

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Peter McDonald Premiership (First Grade)

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Year Premiers Score Runner-Up Venue Scott Weir Medal Group 10 Premiers Group 11 Premiers
2022 Forbes 28-16 Dubbo CYMS Apex Oval, Dubbo Mitch Andrews (Forbes) Mudgee Dubbo CYMS
2023[5] Dubbo CYMS 25-12 Mudgee Apex Oval, Dubbo Jarryn Powyer (CYMS) Mudgee Dubbo CYMS

Western Premiership - Reserve Grade

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Year Premiers Score Runner-Up Group 10 Premiers Group 11 Premiers
2022 Bathurst Panthers 29-24 Dubbo CYMS Bathurst Panthers Dubbo CYMS
2023 Dubbo CYMS 32-22 Cowra Cowra Dubbo CYMS

Western Premiership - League Tag

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Year Premiers Score Runner-Up Group 10 Premiers Group 11 Premiers
2022 Bathurst St Patrick's 28-0 Dubbo CYMS Bathurst St Patrick's Dubbo CYMS
2023 Bathurst St Patrick's 32-8 Dubbo Macqurarie Bathurst St Patrick's Dubbo CYMS

Tom Nelson Under 18s Premiership

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Year Premiers Score Runner-Up Group 10 Premiers Group 11 Premiers
2022 Nyngan 26-12 Bathurst St Patrick's N/A N/A
2023 Orange Hawks 42-14 Lithgow Orange Hawks Dubbo CYMS

Western Women's Rugby League

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The Western Womens Rugby League (WWRL) is a post-season women's tackle competition contested in the Central West. It features teams from the Peter McDonald Premiership, and their affiliates (in the case of Orange and Panorama), as well as representative sides from other Western Division competitions such as the Castlereagh League and Woodbridge Cup.[6]

Clubs

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Town Team Home ground Titles Premiership Years
Castlereagh Cougars Coonamble Sports Ground
Lachlan District Lachlan Pioneer Oval, Parkes
Mudgee Dragons Glen Willow Sports Stadium
Orange Vipers Pride Park, Waratah Sports Ground
Panorama Platypi Jack Arrow Sporting Complex 3 2021, 2022, 2023
Wiradjuri Goannas Kennard Park, Wellington
Woodbridge Cup Henry Lawson Oval, Grenfell

References

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  1. ^ "Western Conference system to benefit future generations". New South Wales Rugby League. 2021-03-29. Retrieved 2021-08-17.
  2. ^ Mobbs, Jay-Anna (2 Apr 2022). "Mudgee Dragons defeat Dubbo's Macquarie Raiders in Peter McDonald Premiership opener". Daily Liberal. Australian Community Media. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  3. ^ McGrath, Nick (5 Apr 2022). "Peter McDonald's family says 'Ace' would be honoured by new Western Rams title race". Central Western Daily. Australian Community Media. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  4. ^ "NSWRL announces Western Premiership 2022 structure". New South Wales Rugby League. 2021-07-23. Retrieved 2021-08-17.
  5. ^ Smith, Tallon (2023-09-22). "Grand Final Watch: Dubbo CYMS take Peter McDonald Premiership title, plus a recap of Groups 2, 3 & 7, GTS and the NHRL". Battlers For Bush Footy. Retrieved 2023-09-25.
  6. ^ "Association: Western Womens Rugby League". www.playrugbyleague.com. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
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