Ron Massey Cup


The Ron Massey Cup is a semi-professional development level rugby league competition in New South Wales, Australia, run jointly by the New South Wales Rugby League and the Country Rugby League of New South Wales. The competition is run concurrently with the National Rugby League. It currently comprises 13 teams drawn from the Sydney metropolitan area. The competition is named after Ron Massey, a former rugby league coach. Ron Massey died 19 September 2016.
The competition is an expanded version of the former Metropolitan Cup and Second Division competitions. The competition was renamed the Bundaberg Red Cup after the 2008 season, after Bundaberg replaced former sponsor Jim Beam. For the 2013 season, the competition was re-branded as the Ron Massey Cup, when Bundaberg Rum withdrew their sponsorship.

Clubs

2020 season

In 2020, 11 clubs will field a team in the competition.
ColorsClubLocationStadiumFoundedJoined*
Asquith MagpiesAsquith, NSW, AustraliaStorey Park1953
Blacktown Workers Sea EaglesBlacktown, NSW, AustraliaH.E. Laybutt Fields19642012
Cabramatta Two BluesCabramatta, NSW, AustraliaNew Era Stadium19192004
Glebe-Burwood WolvesConcord, NSW, AustraliaGoddard Park20002015b
Guildford OwlsGuildford, NSW, AustraliaMcCredie Park19562003c
Hills District BullsBaulkham Hills, NSW, AustraliaCrestwood Oval19642016
Kaiviti SilktailsLautoka, Viti Levu, FijiChurchill Park20192020
Mounties RLFCMount Pritchard, NSW, AustraliaAubrey Keech Reserve19272007
St Mary's SaintsSt Marys, NSW, AustraliaSt Marys Leagues Stadium19082016d
Wentworthville MagpiesWentworthville, NSW, AustraliaRingrose Park19632003
Windsor WolvesWindsor, NSW, AustraliaWindsor Sporting Complex19082013

*: The season the team joined is in the Jim Beam Cup/Bundaberg Red Cup/Ron Massey Cup, not any other competition before this.

a - Concord Burwood previously competed as a merged entity from 2012 to 2014.

b - Guildford did not compete between 2005 to 2012.

c - St Marys previously competed as a merged entity in 2003.

Former teams in the Ron Massey Cup

1 - Ourimbah withdrew from the competition midway through the 2005 season.

2 - Sydney Bulls withdrew from the competition midway through the 2011 season.

3 - St Johns Eagles joined the competition midway through the 2011 season, replacing the Sydney Bulls.

History

The Ron Massey Cup is the latest in a succession of Sydney-based second tier, semi-professional Rugby League competitions.

Inter-District/Second Division (1963 - 1973)

The second tier senior Rugby League competition in Sydney was the Inter-District Competition established in 1963 by the NSWRL. It was renamed the Second Division in 1964. Like succeeding competitions the Second Division had a high turnover of participating clubs. The 'promotion' of two of the two biggest clubs Penrith Panthers and Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, at the conclusion of the 1966 season did not help the long-term stability of the competition.
During this period Wentworthville was the most successful club, competing in every grand final of the Second Division, winning a total of 8 premierships. Due to their domination of the competition 'Wenty' was widely considered the best candidate for promotion to the NSWRL Premiership when two positions were made available for the 1967 competition. Due to their proximity to Parramatta, where a Premiership club was established in 1947, the Magpies were overlooked.
YearPremiersScoreRunners-UpWinning CoachReferee
1963 Kingsford9-7 Cronulla-CaringbahCol Pearce
1964 Wentworthville Magpies20-5 Ryde-Eastwood HawksLewis JonesJ. Harris
1965 Wentworthville Magpies31-3 PenrithLewis JonesK. Holman
1966 Penrith9-7 Wentworthville MagpiesLeo TrevenaL. Turner
1967 Wentworthville Magpies25-6 Ryde-Eastwood HawksJ. Farrelly
1968 Wentworthville Magpies17-5 Arncliffe ScotsLewis JonesJ. Farrelly
1969 Wentworthville Magpies20-2 Sydney UniversityLewis JonesL. Samuelson
1970 Wentworthville Magpies15-5 BlacktownLewis JonesL. Bruyeres
1971 Wentworthville Magpies21-15 Sydney UniversityLewis JonesKeith Page
1972 Ryde-Eastwood Hawks18-14 Wentworthville MagpiesLaurie FaganKeith Page
1973 Wentworthville Magpies12-8 Ryde-Eastwood HawksD. Rayner

The Metropolitan League (1974 - 1976)

The Second Division was reorganised in 1974 and renamed the Metropolitan League. It was dominated by the Ryde-Eastwood club. In the absence of Wentworthville, who competed in the Illawarra Rugby League competition, Ryde-Eastwood won all three Metropolitan League titles. The Metropolitan League was dismantled in 1976 and with it the idea of a second tier competition.
YearPremiersScoreRunners-UpWinning CoachReferee
1974 Ryde-Eastwood Hawks37-9 St Marys SaintsLaurie FaganD. MacDonald
1975 Ryde-Eastwood Hawks18-14 Windsor WolvesLaurie Fagan
1976 Ryde-Eastwood Hawks10-8 University of NSW

The Metropolitan Cup (1990 - 2002)

The concept of the second tier competition was resurrected in 1990 with the establishment of the Metropolitan Cup. Many teams that were involved in the former Second Division and Metropolitan League were included in the new competition, including Ryde-Eastwood and Wentworthville. Other teams in the new competition included the Guildford Owls, Mount Pritchard, Bankstown Greyhounds, Western Suburbs Magpies and the Hills District Bulls. The Newtown Jets, who had been exiled from the New South Wales Rugby League premiership at the close of the 1983 season, were also granted admission into the competition in 1991 and became a successful club in their second life, winning 4 premierships.Other teams who competed in the cup over the years included St. Marys Saints, West Wollongong Red Devils, Moorebank Rams, UTS Roosters, Windsor Wolves, Cabramatta Blues, Sydney Bulls and the Kellyville Bushrangers
The final Metropolitan Cup was contested in 2002 and was won by a newly formed club, the Sydney Bulls, defeating Ryde-Eastwood in the last grand final of the Metropolitan Cup.
YearPremiersScoreRunners upWinning CoachReferee
1990 Ryde-Eastwood Hawks19-6 Hills District BullsKen WilsonPeter Filmer
1991 Guildford Owls21-6 Ryde-Eastwood HawksGreg PierceChris Ward
1992 Newtown Jets30-18 Wentworthville MagpiesB Wakefield
1993 St Marys Saints30-10 Ryde-Eastwood HawksMark O'ReillyKelvin Jeffes
1994 St Marys Saints32-14 Hills District BullsMark O'ReillyGraeme West
1995 Newtown Jets26-8 Wentworthville MagpiesCol MurphyMatt Hewitt
1996 Newtown Jets28-16 Ryde-Eastwood HawksCol MurphyDavid Jay
1997 Newtown Jets18-8 Guildford OwlsCol Murphy
1998 Wentworthville Magpies18-12 KellyvilleIan McCann
1999 Wentworthville Magpies30-22 Ryde-Eastwood HawksIan McCann
2000 Ryde-Eastwood Hawks24-10 St Marys SaintsDave Nugent
2001 St Marys Saints20-16 Sydney BullsTim O'BrienKelvin Jeffes
2002 Sydney Bulls44-10 Ryde-Eastwood Hawks

Jim Beam Cup (2003-2008)

The Jim Beam Cup was established in 2003 as part of another overall restructure of the NSWRL competitions operating in the levels below the NRL. The Jim Beam Cup was intended to lay the foundations of a semi-professional 'State League' competition and included four non-Sydney teams from the Central Coast With the inclusion of these clubs the Jim Beam Cup became a cooperative effort between the NSWRL and the CRL.
Radio coverage was heard on Hawkesbury Radio 89.9FM with Peter Jolly and Shane Skeen.
YearPremiersScoreRunners-UpWinning CoachReferee
2003 The Entrance Tigers14-10 Wentworthville MagpiesMatt ParishJason Robinson
2004 Sydney Bulls22-16 The Entrance TigersSteve GhosnRod Lawrence
2005 Windsor Wolves23-18 Sydney BullsSteve GhosnJared Maxwell
2006 Sydney Bulls56-22 Newtown JetsDavid BayssariAllan Shortall
2007 The Entrance Tigers30-20 Sydney BullsJamy ForbesChris James
2008 Windsor Wolves36-16 Sydney BullsTrent RosaAdam Gee

Bundaberg Red Cup (2009 - 2012)

The 2009 Grand Final was a closely fought battle between Minor Premiers Wentworthville Magpies and Cabramatta Two Blues, with Wentworthville coming out victorious by 24-20 in the game at Leichhardt Oval.
YearPremiersScoreRunners-upWinning CoachReferee
2009 Wentworthville Magpies24-10 Cabramatta Two BluesBrett CookChris Sutton
2010 Wentworthville Magpies38-28 Bankstown City BullsBrett CookJon Stone
2011 Cabramatta Two Blues28-20 Mount Pritchard MountiesCorey RuttleRobert Bowen
2012 Wentworthville Magpies16-14 The Entrance TigersAlex ChanPhil Henderson

Ron Massey Cup (2013 - )

During the 2012/13 offseason it was announced that Bundaberg Rum had withdrawn their sponsorship, and the competition would be renamed as the Ron Massey Cup, after the great Parramatta assistant coach.
YearPremiersScoreRunners-upWinning CoachReferee
2013 Wentworthville Magpies32-18 Mount Pritchard MountiesAlex ChanAdam Cassidy
2014 The Entrance Tigers22-18 Mount Pritchard MountiesJamy ForbesAdam Cassidy
2015 Mount Pritchard Mounties30-14 Asquith MagpiesChris HutchinsonDaniel Olford
2016 Mount Pritchard Mounties36-16 St Marys SaintsMark SpeechleyRyan Jackson
2017 Wentworthville Magpies38-4 Auburn WarriosChris YatesRyan Jackson
2018 Wentworthville Magpies38-4 St Marys SaintsBrett CookDarian Furner
2019 Wentworthville Magpies32-14 St Marys SaintsBrett CookKieron Irons

Premiership Tally

12 different teams
No.ClubPremierships
1 Wentworthville Magpies17
2 Ryde-Eastwood Hawks6
3 Newtown Jets4
4 The Entrance Tigers3
5 Sydney Bulls3
6 St Mary's Saints3
7 Mount Pritchard Mounties2
8 Windsor Wolves2
9 Cabramatta Two Blues1
10 Guildford Owls1
11 Penrith Brothers1
12Kingsford1

Bold means the team is still currently playing in the competition.

Teams

Since its establishment in 2003 the competition has both expanded and contracted in terms of numbers of sides competing. Aside from the original expansion of the Sydney-based competition into the Central Coast, the Bundaberg Red Cup has continued to expand throughout Sydney, moving away from its Western Sydney base in 2005 with the inclusion of two Northern Sydney sides: the Asquith Magpies and Belrose Eagles.

2003

2003 saw the inauguration of the new Jim Beam Cup. It featured eight teams from Sydney and four from the Central Coast.
The St Mary's-Penrith Cougars left to focus on their NSW Premier League side, and were replaced by the Cabramatta Two-Blues.
The Woy Woy Roosters withdrew.
In 2007, 12 clubs competed for the Jim Beam Cup. New clubs Shellharbour, Chester Hill, Seven Hills and Mount Pritchard competed for the first time. The Newtown Jets dropped out of the competition to concentrate on their club's 2007 NSWRL Premier League campaign.
In terms of geographical spread four clubs were based in the Parramatta District, two on the Central Coast of NSW and Canterbury-Bankstown and one each in Penrith, Manly-Warringah, Illawarra and North Sydney.

2008

In 2008, for the first time, an interstate team entered the competition, a Western Australia Rugby League representative side known as the WA Reds, with a view to developing the game in the state in order to secure a future NRL franchise in 2011 - 2012. The Cronulla Sutherland Sharks and the Campbelltown Eagles also joined the competition. The Seven Hills Demons announced that they would not field a team in the Jim Beam Cup in Season 2008. The Entrance Tigers, who had claimed the 2007 title, unfortunately pulled out of the Jim Beam Cup due to the restrictions placed on gambling and smoking in clubs and pubs. The Asquith Magpies also withdrew from the competition.
In 2011, the Kingsgrove Colts joined the competition, based in the St George catchment area. As of Round 6, the Sydney Bulls left the competition due to financial difficulties.
The Asquith Magpies returned, replacing the St Johns Eagles. The Guildford Owls made their return, and the Western Suburbs Magpies made their return following the merger of the NSW Cup entities.

2014

The reigning premiers, The Entrance Tigers withdrew. Western Suburbs, Cabramatta and Kingsgrove missed the eight-team finals series.

2016

The Hills District Bulls and St Mary's Saints joined the competition.

2017

Auburn did not field a team in the competition after being liquidated.

2019