Eight teams will compete for the Harrigan Plate in reserve grade this season, with two additional teams joining the fray in 2024. Last year’s Second Division winners, Berkeley (pictured), have stepped up to reserve grade and will also defend their Harrigan Shield title.
They are joined by the Avondale Wombats, a former rugby union club that aspires to enter a first-grade team in 2025.
Defending premiers Wests Devils were the standouts in reserve grade last season, winning 12 games with just two losses and a draw on their way to a 54-0 grand final win over Corrimal.
The Cougars, responsible for one of those Devils losses, a 30-18 win in round eight, made it through to the big dance from fourth place with a strong back half of the season. Six of their eight losses came in the first seven rounds.
Helensburgh, who finished third in the regular season, was the only other team to get the points over the Devils with a 28-22 win in round twelve.
The Cougars and Tigers had a ding-dong battle all year, with the Tigers getting the ‘W’ in round five, 22-16, the Cougars winning 18-8 in round 10, and the Tigers again, 24-22 in round 15. The Cougars reversed the result when it mattered most, winning 24-22 in the sudden-death minor semifinal.
The Cougars went on to defeat Collies 13-12 in the prelim final. Thirroul and Dapto are the other two returning teams.
Harrigan Plate (Reserve Grade)
- Avondale Wombats
- Berkeley
- Collegians
- Corrimal
- Dapto
- Helensburgh
- Thirroul
- Western Suburbs
Wombats to make Harrigan Shield debut
Second Division will also be an eight-team competition this year with the addition of the Avondale Wombats.
Premiers Berkeley went through the season undefeated, winning 18-0 over the Avondale Greyhounds in the Grand Final.
Defending their title will be challenging, with many from their grand final side expecting to run out for their newly formed reserve grade side.
Expect added interest in the Harrigan Shield out at Avondale when the Greyhounds and Wombats face off in a new local derby in round two.
Credit to Corrimal and Wests, the only clubs to field teams in all three men’s senior grades and U18s.
Figtree, who were bundled out in straight sets last year after finishing second in the regular season, will aim to go one better in their third season in the competition. They made the finals in both previous attempts.
Northern Suburbs Bulldogs will be looking to bounce back in 2024 after last year’s disappointing season, where they failed to make the finals in their premiership defence.
Harrigan Shield (2nd Division)
- Avondale Greyhounds
- Avondale Wombats
- Berkeley
- Corrimal
- Figtree
- Northern Suburbs
- Western Suburbs
- Windang Sharks
>> Harrigan Shield Season Draw
In the U18s, Thirroul, Wests, Corrimal, and a combined Dapto/Port Kembla team will compete in Southern Corridor competitions with Cronulla and St George teams with draws yet to be finalised.
Harrigan Trophy (Under 18s)
- Corrimal
- Dapto/Port Kembla
- Thirroul
- Western Suburbs
Read More>> Harrigan Premiership Draw Released
