GIO Schoolboy Cup


The ARL Schoolboy Cup, currently known as the NRL Schoolboy Cup, is the premier secondary schools rugby league competition in Australia, held annually since 1975. Formerly known under such names as the Amco Shield, Commonwealth Bank Cup, Arrive Alive Cup and GIO Schoolboy Cup nearly 450 schools from throughout Australia compete in the knock-out competition.
The player of the tournament is awarded the Peter Sterling Medal, renamed in 1996 after Peter Sterling, who won the medal in 1978. The competition is televised on Fox Sports.
The most successful school is St Gregory's College, Campbelltown, with nine titles, while the most recent champions are Kirwan State High School, who won their second title in 2019.

History

The competition started in 1975 as the Amco Shield. The inaugural winners were Patrician Brothers' College, Fairfield who defeated Blacktown High School in the final, 16-8. The match was played at Leichhardt Oval as a curtain raiser to the 1975 Amco Cup final between Eastern Suburbs and Parramatta.
Originally, the televised matches of the competition were played and recorded as the curtain raisers to mid week Amco Cup games. After the midweek competitions died out, the televised matches were played prior to Friday Night Football and were shown on Channel 9 in the weeks leading up to the NRL Grand Final. The games are currently played and recorded midweek and shown on Fox Sports, with commentary by Andrew Voss.
In 1978, Padua College, Brisbane were the first Queensland school and first school from outside of New South Wales to make the final. They lost 19-3 to Patrician Brothers' College, Fairfield.
In 1980, St Gregory's College, Campbelltown became the first school to win back-to-back titles. They later became the first school to win three titles in a row from 1989 to 1991.
In 1982 Holy Cross College, Ryde became the first school to play in four consecutive finals from 1979. They lost three of their four finals, with their only victory coming against Patrician Brothers' College, Fairfield in 1981.
In 1996, Erindale College, Canberra became the first school from the Australian Capital Territory to reach the final. A year later they became the first school from outside of New South Wales to win the competition. They won the competition again in 1998, beating Parramatta Marist High School in both years.
In 2001, Palm Beach Currumbin State High School became the first Queensland school to win the competition. Brisbane's Wavell State High School became the second a year later in 2002.
Endeavour Sports High School won the competition three years in a row from 2004 to 2006, becoming the first school to do so since 1991.
In 2015, Townsville's Kirwan State High School became the first school from North Queensland to win the competition, defeating Patrician Brothers' College, Blacktown, who were in their fourth straight final, losing the last three in a row.
In 2016, Westfields Sports High School won the competition for the first time.
In 2017, Keebra Park State High School became first Queensland school to win the competition three times, becoming the most successful school in the state. A year later, Palm Beach Currumbin won their third title, drawing level with Keebra Park. In 2019, Kirwan State High School won the competition for the second time, making it three straight years a Queensland school has won.

Naming rights

Due to sponsorship, the Schoolboy Cup has gone under many different names since first being held in 1975. Originally known as the Amco Shield, it has been known as the NRL Schoolboy Cup since 2018.
SchoolTitlesRunners-Up
St Gregory's College, Campbelltown92
Patrician Brothers' College, Fairfield63
Endeavour Sports High School42
Keebra Park State High School35
Palm Beach Currumbin State High School31
The Hills Sports High School20
Kirwan State High School20
John Paul II Senior High School, Marayong20
Ashcroft High School21
Erindale College, Canberra21
Parramatta Marist High School21
St Dominic's College, Penrith10
Blacktown Boys High School11
Terra Sancta College11
Wavell State High School11
Westfields Sports High School12
Matraville Sports High School13
Holy Cross College, Ryde15
Patrician Brothers' College Blacktown16
Eagle Vale High School01
Harristown State High School01
McCarthy Catholic Senior High School01
Padua College, Brisbane01
St Francis Xavier's College, Hamilton01
St John's College, Woodlawn01
Christian Brothers' High School, Lewisham02

Peter Sterling Medal

The Peter Sterling Medal is awarded to the most outstanding player in the competition. Sterling, one of rugby league's most decorated players, won the award in 1978 while attending Patrician Brothers' College, Fairfield. In 1996, the medal was renamed in his honour.
SeasonPlayerSchool
1976Steve WhiteBlacktown High School
1977Alan EmeryAshcroft High School
1978Peter SterlingPatrician Brothers' College, Fairfield
1979Ivan HenjakSt Gregory's College, Campbelltown
1980Ben EliasHoly Cross College, Ryde
1981Ben EliasHoly Cross College, Ryde
1982Paul LangmackPatrician Brothers' College, Fairfield
1983Greg AlexanderPatrician Brothers' College, Fairfield
1984Paul OsborneChristian Brothers' High School, Lewisham
1985David RowlesAshcroft High School
1986Damien KenniffSt Gregory's College, Campbelltown
1987David DanesPatrician Brothers' College, Fairfield
1988David BayssariParramatta Marist High School
1989Jason TaylorSt Gregory's College, Campbelltown
1990Troy DicinoskiSt John's College, Woodlawn
1991Damien ChapmanSt Gregory's College, Campbelltown
1992Andrew DunemannHarristown State High School
1993Kris FlintSt Gregory's College, Campbelltown
1994Michael WithersJohn Paul II Senior High School, Marayong
1995Nathan CaylessParramatta Marist High School
1996Chris SmithJohn Paul II Senior High School, Marayong
1997Greg KearyParramatta Marist High School
1998Peter RoseErindale College
1999Christian OrsiniTerra Sancta College
2000Riley MullinsSt Gregory's College, Campbelltown
2001Mat BrownPalm Beach Currumbin State High School
2002Aaron LewisWavell State High School
2003Michael CarlSt Dominic's College, Penrith
2004Beau ChampionEndeavour Sports High School
2005Ben Te'oKeebra Park State High School
2006Matthew MundineEndeavour Sports High School
2007Adam ReynoldsMatraville Sports High School
2008Ryan JamesPalm Beach Currumbin State High School
2009Jordan KahuKeebra Park State High School
2010Gerard McCallumThe Hills Sports High School
2011Kem SeruMatraville Sports High School
2012Jaden ClarkeEndeavour Sports High School
2013Marion SeveKeebra Park State High School
2014Joey TramontanaPatrician Brothers' College Blacktown
2015Julian ChristianKirwan State High School
2016Payne HaasKeebra Park State High School
2017David FifitaKeebra Park State High School
2018Tom DeardenPalm Beach Currumbin State High School
2019Adrian TrevilyanKirwan State High School