Harold Matthews Cup
Every premier of the entry-level under-16/17 junior representative pathway competition for NRL/NSWRL pathway clubs, run since 1970 — the rung below Jersey Flegg Cup and S.G. Ball Cup. The New Zealand Warriors joined the competition from 2024, winning it in their first two seasons.
Data last verified: 11 August 2026.
55 seasons with a champion on record. Parramatta Eels have won the most titles (20).
Champions
| Season | Champion | Runner-up | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Parramatta Eels | — | Single-sourced (Wikipedia); no runner-up, score, or venue found. |
| 1971 | Parramatta Eels | — | Single-sourced; no runner-up, score, or venue found. |
| 1972 | Parramatta Eels | — | Single-sourced; no runner-up, score, or venue found. |
| 1973 | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | — | Single-sourced; no runner-up, score, or venue found. |
| 1974 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | Parramatta Eels | Single-sourced; no score or venue found. |
| 1975 | Parramatta Eels | Illawarra (CRL) | Single-sourced; no score or venue found. |
| 1976 | Parramatta Eels | — | Single-sourced; no runner-up, score, or venue found. |
| 1977 | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | — | Single-sourced; no runner-up, score, or venue found. |
| 1978 | Canberra RL (CRL) | Parramatta Eels | Single-sourced; no score or venue found. |
| 1979 | Penrith Panthers | — | Single-sourced; no runner-up, score, or venue found. |
| 1980 | Group 12 (CRL) | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | Single-sourced; no score or venue found. |
| 1981 | Parramatta Eels | — | Single-sourced; no runner-up, score, or venue found. |
| 1982 | Parramatta Eels | — | Single-sourced; no runner-up, score, or venue found. |
| 1983 | Group 6 RL (CRL) | Penrith Panthers | Single-sourced; no score or venue found. |
| 1984 | Canberra Raiders | Central Coast | Single-sourced; no score or venue found. |
| 1985 | Penrith Panthers | — | Single-sourced; no runner-up, score, or venue found. |
| 1986 | Parramatta Eels | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | Single-sourced; no score or venue found. |
| 1987 | Illawarra Steelers | Penrith Panthers | Single-sourced; no score or venue found. |
| 1988 | Parramatta Eels | Penrith Panthers | Single-sourced; no score or venue found. |
| 1989 | Penrith Panthers | Parramatta Eels | Single-sourced; no score or venue found. |
| 1990 | Parramatta Eels | Gold Coast Seagulls | Single-sourced; no score or venue found. |
| 1991 | Gold Coast Seagulls | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | Single-sourced; no score or venue found. |
| 1992 | Newcastle Knights | South Sydney Rabbitohs | Single-sourced; no score or venue found. |
| 1993 | Canberra Raiders | Parramatta Eels | Single-sourced; no score or venue found. |
| 1994 | Parramatta Eels | Penrith Panthers | Single-sourced; no score or venue found. |
| 1995 | Canberra Raiders | Parramatta Eels | Single-sourced; no score or venue found. |
| 1996 | Illawarra Steelers | Newcastle Knights | Single-sourced; no score or venue found. |
| 1997 | Parramatta Eels | North Sydney Bears | Single-sourced; no score or venue found. |
| 1998 | Parramatta Eels | Illawarra Steelers | Single-sourced; no score or venue found. |
| 1999 | Parramatta Eels | South Sydney Rabbitohs | Single-sourced; no score or venue found. |
| 2000 | Newcastle Knights | Penrith Panthers | Single-sourced; no score or venue found. |
| 2001 | Cronulla Sharks | Penrith Panthers | Single-sourced; no score or venue found. |
| 2002 | Penrith Panthers | Newcastle Knights | Single-sourced; no score or venue found. |
| 2003 | Parramatta Eels | St George Dragons | Single-sourced; no score or venue found. |
| 2004 | Parramatta Eels | Penrith Panthers | Single-sourced; no score or venue found. |
| 2005 | Penrith Panthers | Illawarra Steelers | Single-sourced; no score or venue found. |
| 2006 | Penrith Panthers | Canterbury Bulldogs | Single-sourced; no score or venue found. |
| 2007 | Canterbury Bulldogs | Penrith Panthers | Single-sourced; no score or venue found. |
| 2008 | Parramatta Eels | Penrith Panthers | Single-sourced; no score or venue found. |
| 2009 | Canterbury Bulldogs | Parramatta Eels | Single-sourced; no score or venue found. |
| 2010 | Penrith Panthers | Parramatta Eels | Single-sourced; no score or venue found. |
| 2011 | Canterbury Bulldogs | Illawarra Steelers | Single-sourced; no score or venue found. |
| 2012 | Parramatta Eels | Newcastle Knights | Single-sourced; no score or venue found. |
| 2013 | Parramatta Eels | South Sydney Rabbitohs | Single-sourced; no score or venue found. |
| 2014 | Newcastle Knights | Penrith Panthers | Single-sourced; no score or venue found. |
| 2015 | Cronulla Sharks | Parramatta Eels | Single-sourced; no score or venue found. |
| 2016 | Parramatta Eels | Newcastle Knights | Single-sourced; no score or venue found. |
| 2017 | Newcastle Knights | Manly Sea Eagles | Single-sourced; no score or venue found. |
| 2018 | Manly Sea Eagles | Parramatta Eels | Won 26-18. |
| 2019 | Newcastle Knights | Canterbury Bulldogs | Won 28-8. |
| 2020 | Not held | — | Season cancelled due to COVID-19. No premier. |
| 2021 | Manly Sea Eagles | Parramatta Eels | Won 24-12. |
| 2022 | Wests Magpies | Cronulla Sharks | Won 42-16. |
| 2023 | Canterbury Bulldogs | Newcastle Knights | Won 32-6. |
| 2024 | New Zealand Warriors | Wests Magpies | Won 34-16 — the Warriors' maiden Harold Matthews Cup title, their first season fielding a team in the competition. |
| 2025 | New Zealand Warriors | Newcastle Knights | Won 30-16, a back-to-back title. |
An early record with limited sourcing
Premiers for 1970-2017 come from a single source and could not be cross-checked against a second authority; no scores or venues could be found for that span. 2018 onward is corroborated across multiple sources.
Sources
← All Rugby League competitions
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