Newcastle University Rugby League Club

NURCL History

Contents

1. Introduction
2. Formation
3. The Seventies
4. The Eighties
5. The Nineties
6. The New Millenium

Introduction

The following is phase 1 of our club\'s history. A more comprehensive history will be published next year. All contributions are welcome.
NB: a few gaps need filling in. Please send details if you know the truth.

Formation

OCTOBER- NOVEMBER 1969
A series of informal meetings in the Union Building, of up to a dozen people at any given time, led to the formation of a Rugby League Club on campus.

The first AGM was held soon after and the University of Newcastle Amateur Rugby League Football Club (UNARLFC) was promulgated.

Delegates sought the approval, support and membership of the following relevant bodies: Uni of Newcastle Sports Union, the Newcastle Rugby League and the Newcastle 2nd Division Rugby League. After varying degrees of success with those bodies, 3 delegates then attended the inaugural meeting held to form the NSW Tertiary Rugby League competition, which was established at the Phillip St Sydney offices of the NSW Rugby League, and Newcastle were officially entered into the inaugural comp for the 1970 season.

A further delegation from our infant club approached Western Suburbs Rugby League club for assistance, and from that meeting, the recently retired international League star, Alan Buman became the coach of the UNARLFC\'s team in the 2nd Division comp for 1970.

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The Seventies

Year	Competitions Entered + Achievements	Results
1970	University Cup comp - played Saturdays - Sydney grounds and Newcastle Uni Oval No 1	6th
Newcastle 2nd Div B Grade - played Sundays on suburban grounds only. Coach: Alan Buman	3rd - lost final to Swansea
East Coast Inter Varsity comp in Qld	4th
1971	Uni Cup	5th
Newcastle 2nd Div B Grade. Coach: Alan Buman	2nd - lost GF to Hexham
Inter Varsity	4th
1972	Uni Cup	5th
Newcastle 2nd Div AR Grade	4th (semis)
Newcastle 2nd Div A Grade	1st - defeated Cardiff
Inter Varsity - Armidale	4th
Coaches: Alan Buman, Mick Gallagher, Frank Passmore
1973	Newcastle 2nd Div AR Grade. Coach: Frank Passmore	7th
Newcastle 2nd Div A Grade. Coach: Paul Clarke	8th
1974	Newcastle 2nd Div AR Grade - on Uni grounds	6th
Newcastle 2nd Div A Grade - on Uni grounds	5th
MERIT: John Wondergem - University Blue and Sportsperson of the Year. Peter Hunt, Terry McManus - Sport\'s Union Colours
1975	Uni Cup	5th
Newcastle 2nd Div AR Grade	8th
Newcastle 2nd Div A Grade	5th
Inter Varsity	3rd
MERIT: Terry Kachel - Australian Uni\'s merit team
1976	Newcastle 2nd Div AR Grade. Coach: G.Beveridge	Minor/Major Premiers - defeated Hexham
Newcastle 2nd Div A Grade. Coach: Barry Martin	4th
MERIT: Steve Whiteman - B & F 2nd Div award Terry Kachel - Sport\'s Union Colour
1977	Newcastle 2nd Div AR Grade. Coach: Tony Abthorpe	6th
Newcastle 2nd Div A Grade. Coach: Gordon Beveridge	7th
Inter Varsity hosted by Newcastle	3rd
MERIT: John Arthur - captain, Australian Uni\'s team Keiran McGillicuddy - Australian Uni\'s team Barry Martin - coach, Australian Uni\'s team
1978	Newcastle 2nd DivAR Grade. C/Coach: J.Wondergem	2nd - lost GF
Newcastle 2nd Div A Grade. C/Coach: Derek Bond	7th
MERIT: John Wondergem - B & F 2nd Div award FIRST CLUB REUNION
1979	Newcastle 2nd Div AR Grade. C/Coach: J. Wondergem	7th
Newcastle 2nd Div A Grade. C/Coach: Derek Bond	7th
MERIT: Paul Bleakney, Murray Graham, Warwick Matthews, Kevin Perkins - Australian Uni\'s team Paul Bleakney, Jim Argiris - Newcastle 2nd Div reps Uni Blue - Steve Whiteman. Club Hosted NZ unis team

CLUB TRADITIONS FORGED IN ACHIEVEMENTS IN 1ST DECADE

• Establishing long lasting relationships with the local Rugby League and its personalities.
• Football success as novices with amateur status in a strong, local \'professional\' suburban comp. The club\'s victory over Cardiff in the Grand Final, in \'72 produced enormous notoriety, helping establish the production of 2 to 3 teams every year. Crowds of up to 500 people attended our home games in strong years.
• Winning 3 premierships in that decade from 7 appearances in semis, finals and grand finals.
• Succeeding in a hostile climate created by the Vice Chancellor\'s culture of branding Rugby League as a symbol of \'violence\' on campus, Sport\'s Union\'s refusal to allow us to play matches on Uni grounds against \'professional\' clubs in the 2nd Div comp and the VC\'s declaration that a Uni Blue would never be awarded to a Rugby League player.
• Ability to work around hostile key personnel to achieve positive outcomes
• John Wondergem\'s Uni Blue in \'74 was a credit to him and a symbol that Rugby League had \'arrived\' in the Sport\'s Union psyche.
• Enormous energy in fundraising in a \'pre-sponsorship\' era, built around a large following, promoting highly successful socials, raffles and profits on kegs and BBQs
• Importance of social bonding within the club\'s ranks drove the club\'s successes.

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The Eighties

Year	Competitions Entered + Achievements	Results
1980	Newcastle 2nd Div AR Grade Pat Turley	8th
Newcastle 2nd Div A Grade Perry Clark	9th
Inter Varsity	3rd
MERIT: Dave Rintoul, Murray Graham - Aust. Uni\'s team Steve Dowling, Gregg Noonan - Newcastle 2nd Div reps Keith Morgan, Graham Hudson - Sports Union Colours
1981	Newcastle 2nd Div AR grade Alan Buman	9th
Newcastle 2nd Div A Grade Barry Martin	8th
MERIT: Pat Turley (capt), Murray Graham, Dave Rintoul - Australian Unis team. Steve Dowling- Newcastle 2nd Div rep Dave Rintoul - University Blue Col Mudge - Sports Union Colours T.Kachel - 7s carnival for schools
1982	Newcastle 2nd Div AR Grade	10th
Newcastle 2nd Div A Grade Barry Martin	9th
Inter Varsity in Newcastle	2nd
1983	Newcastle 2nd Div B Grade	9th
MERIT: Kerry Plater toured New Guineau - Aust Unis team
1984	University Cup Barry Ramsey	4th
MERIT: Kerry Plater - University Blue
1985	University Cup c/c \\Peter Morrow + Clark Channels Mudge	3rd
MERIT: Minor Premiers
1986	Newcastle Amateur comp. Coach: Col Mudge	5th
1987	Newcastle Amateur comp. Coach: Perry Clark	1st - GF v Wangi
1988	Newcastle 2nd Div - Coach: Pat Turley	7th
Newcastle Under 20s. Coach: Perry Clark	semis
Hosted Cambridge uni tours Merit: Bernard Burgess - N\'cle under 20\'s Player of the Year
1989	Newcastle Under 20s
University Cup
MERIT: Perry Clark, Sports Union Colours

THE EIGHTIES - SELF IDENTITY SEARCH

• The search for the optimum comp to play in became a devilish pursuit.
• From 2 teams in the local A division, then back to Tertiary
• Our club drove and shaped Amateur comp under the auspices of NRL for 2 years
• Amateur comp abolition led to survival in local Under 20\'s for several years.
• Under 20\'s created platform for reentry into Tertiary for older players.
• But the spirit of the club prevailed within the \'true believers\'
• A great decade for player representative honours and Sports Union awards.
• The inception of the schools 7s carnival, rated the club well on local scene.

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The Nineties

Year	Competitions Entered + Achievements	Results
1990	Newcastle Under 20s. Coach: Pat Turley	5th
University Cup. Coach: Wayne \'Spud\' Murphy	2nd - GF loss
1991	Newcastle Under 20s. Coach: Pat Turley	5th
University Cup. Coach: Wayne \'Spud\' Murphy	2nd - GF loss
Rod Buckle - Uni Cup Player of Year
1992	University Cup	1st - GF Win
Under 20s. Coach: Neil Olsen	1st - GF Win
1993	Under 20s. Coach: Neil Olsen
1994	University Cup
Under 20\'s (1st Div). Coach: Neil Olsen
MERIT: 28 teams enter the schoolboy 7\'s carnival from Moree, Armidale, Tamworth, Taree, Gosford, etc.[/td]
1995	Tertiary comp. C/Coach: Matt Sharman	2nd - GF loss
MERIT: Geoff O\'Dell, Sports Union Colours
1996	Under 20\'s. Coach: L. Carathanassis	2nd - GF loss
1997	Lower Hunter. Coach: Michael Searston	2nd - GF loss
1998	Lower Hunter. Coach: Michael Searston	2nd - GF loss
1999	Tertiary Comp. Coach: Michael Searston	Semi-finalists

THE NINETIES - THE OLD BREED/THE NEW BREED

• A great era, as the likes of Pat Turley, Spud Murphy, Col Mudge and Neil Ollsen hand over to Matt Sharman, Mick Searston and the pup, Geoff O’Dell.
• A new era of thinking emerges in the club.
• The club seeks sponsorship in local pubs like the Royal, the Clarendon, SJs, the Albion, etc. and a new dynamic drives the club away from backyard kegs.
• The desire to \'professionalise\' the club follows. Sponsored training gear, clothing etc. Guest speakers at Presso night (eg Mark Sargent)
• The concept of \'Networking\' between the club and the Old Boys\' ranks came from both bodies.
• Success comes in the form of many GF appearances for the club with 1992 the peak of this decade.
• The sevens carnival also peaked in 1994. Of the 28 teams present, 18 were coached by former Newcastle Uni RL club players.

The New Millenium

Year	Competitions Entered + Achievements	Results
2000	Tertiary Comp (2 teams). Coach: Matt Sharman
MERIT: Michael Millgate, Trent Bonar, Dave Kearsey, Reg Spencer, Rob Spencer - Country Universities Reps Trent Bonar - NSW Residents Rep
2001	Lower Hunter. Coach: Matt Sharman	1st - GF win over Mallabula
Tertiary Comp. Coach: Heath Roods	2nd - GF loss
MERIT: Even Gauslaa, Danny Bayly, Nathan Yule - Lower Hunter Reps
2002	Lower Hunter. Coach: Matt Sharman	2nd - GF loss vs Dudley
Tertiary comp. Coach: Heath Roods
2003	Lower Hunter. Coach: Danny Bayly	2nd - GF loss
Tertiary comp
2004	1st grade. Coach: Heath Roods	2nd - GF loss
2nd grade
2005	1st grade. Coach: Heath Roods	Semis
2006	Lower Hunter. C/Coach: Lucas Duncombe	2nd - GF loss
Tertiary comp
MERIT: Lucas Duncombe tours NZ in Australian Uni\'s team.
2007	Tertiary comp
MERIT: Lucas Duncombe receives University Blue
2008	Tertiary comp. Coach: Geoff O\'Dell	1st - GF win over Bathurst
MERIT:- Shaun \'Rabbi\' Johnston receives University Colours jacket. Geoff O’Dell receives a Testimonial Award for 20 years of continuous active service for the club. Neil Bolte receives award for more than a decade of club sponsorship.

CLUB TRADITIONS EVOLVE

• One of the most successful decades for continuing Rugby League success. The Committees / Boards have skilfully chosen comps to suit the club\'s needs, strengths and fluctuations in key player personnel.
• The 2001 GF win over Mallabula rates up there as on of the club\'s best.
• The introduction of the VSU forced all clubs to become more dynamic fundraisers as Sports Union contributions diminished.
• Our club\'s Boards have been assisted by funds from the annual club Trots Night, the re-emergence of the annual 7s Carnival and the Sea Horse Old Boys club patronage.
• Wise choices in pub sponsors - the Lass and the Royal have been tops.
• Another huge decade of success on the field with many GF appearances and premierships.
• This club has always been a great landing pad for country students who believe that Rugby League is \"The Greatest Game of All.\"
• At this point of the club\'s history, the last word could go the Bernie Curran, who based on his observations of our club\'s footy success and its healthy links with the community (7s carnival, etc.) and for its productive links with its foundation members, has declared that one of the most effective clubs on campus is the Uni of Newcastle Amateur Rugby League Football Club.
• Congrats to all concerned. Go you Seahorses, you good things!

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TO BE CONTINUED...