The Illawarra Rugby League launched its 2024 season at the Steelers Club on Friday evening, April 5th.
This season, 13 clubs have nominated 32 teams to compete in the men’s and women’s senior competitions, with the first grade men’s competition to be known as the Harrigan Premiership.
Meanwhile, over 2,000 players in 164 aged-based Illawarra teams will compete in the South32 Illawarra Junior League (U6-12s) and the South32 Illawarra/Group 7 merged competitions (U13-16).
In addition, 76 teams—from U9s to Opens—are participating in the South32 Blues and Open Ladies League Tag competitions.
Back-to-Back Butchers?
Defending Premiers Thirroul have retained most of last year’s grand final-winning squad as they pursue back-to-back first-grade titles in the newly named Harrigan Premiership. The Butchers will face tough opposition from last year’s minor premiers, De La Salle, who are back for their third crack at the Illawarra crown.
The Shire outfit looks formidable again this year with the experienced spine of Eli Levido, last season’s top points scorer, Jack Williams, and the club’s 2023 best and fairest player Jazz Flavell all returning. Crowd favourite Jackson ‘Jacko’ Stewart will again lead the De La forward pack with his renowned ‘kamikaze’ playing style.
The Butchers will also come up against stiff opposition from their grand final opponents, Collegians, who will be without League MVP Callum Gromek, now plying his trade for the Sydney Roosters, and perennial finals combatants Western Suburbs.
The Devils have been bolstered by the signing of former St George Illawarra Dragons veteran Tautau Moga and George Jennings. Jennings last played in the NRL for the Melbourne Storm, scoring 12 tries in 21 games from 2021-2023. He was also a member of the Storm feeder team, the Brisbane Tigers, who won the 2023 Queensland Cup grand final.
Dapto also pulled off a significant off-season coup by signing former NRL and Samoan international Joey Leilua, who will join ex-NRL stars Aaron Gray and Pita Godinet in the Canaries bid to return to finals footy after falling short in recent seasons.
Corrimal’s stocks also rose in the off-season with the return of former coach Sean Maloney, who will share the first-grade duties with ex-Newcastle Knights and Blues halfback Jarrod Mullen. While relying on a host of local juniors including young gun Viliame Mahe, the club has signed English forward Nathan Mason, who has experience playing in the Super League. Mullen will also pull on the boots.
Women And Girls In League Of Their Own
Three Illawarra-based Open Women teams, Corrimal, Wests, and Collegians, will compete in a nine-team Southern Corridor Competition against teams from Cronulla and St George.
Corrimal, Collegians, and Windang will also play in the Southern Corridor U18 Girls competition along with teams from Cronulla, St George and Group 7.
A Win For Wombats
Eight teams will compete in the Harrigan Plate (Reserve Grade), including the Avondale Wombats, a former rugby union club, which will also compete in the eight-team Harrigan Shield (Second Division). The Wombats also hope to field a first-grade team in 2025.
Berkeley, last year’s Harrigan Shield winners, has also nominated a team in reserve grade along with Collegians, Corrimal, Dapto, Helensburgh, Thirroul, and Wests.
The Eagles will defend their Harrigan Shield crown against the Avondale Greyhounds, Cougars, Figtree Crushers, Northern Suburbs Bulldogs, Wests Devils, Windang Sharks, and Wombats.
In the U18’s Boys, four sides will likely compete for the Harrigan Trophy.
Numbers On The Up
Illawarra Rugby League received 3,481 male and female registrations for 2024, an overall increase of 12% from 2023. This includes 2,201 males, up 6%, and 1,280 females, up 23%.
The South32 Illawarra Junior Rugby League, scheduled to start this weekend, was postponed due to inclement weather, with the Harrigan Premiership and lower grades commencing on 20 April.
Pictured: Viliami Vahe (Corrimal), Mitch Porter (Wests), Josh Dowell (Collegians), Wes Dawson (Dealer Principal, Harrigan Motor Group), Hayden Crosland (Thirroul), Troy Pieper (Dapto). Absent: Jackson Stewart (De La Salle, due to inclement weather).
