Club record
Cessnock Goannas: premierships, grand finals and the record
Nine Newcastle Rugby League premierships, the last in 2020, and 21 runner-up finishes since 1932. The most recent grand final was a 30-8 loss to Maitland in 2025.
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When has Cessnock won the premiership?
Nine times, starting in 1941 and most recently in 2020, when Cessnock beat South Newcastle 20-6 in a season shortened by COVID-19 and played the grand final at Maitland Sportsground. The 1950s were the club’s strongest decade, with titles in 1950, 1954 and 1955 and another in 1960. The longest wait between premierships was 26 years, from 1977 to 2003.
| Year | Score | Beat | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 20-6 | South Newcastle | Maitland Sportsground, Maitland |
| 2003 | 22-20 | Raymond Terrace | Newcastle No.1 Sportsground, Newcastle |
| 1977 | 21-17 | Maitland | Newcastle No.1 Sportsground, Newcastle |
| 1972 | 18-10 | Maitland | |
| 1960 | 33-5 | Maitland | |
| 1955 | 9-7 | Maitland | |
| 1954 | 14-13 | Maitland | |
| 1950 | 19-12 | Central Newcastle | Maitland Showground, Maitland |
| 1941 | 18-3 | South Newcastle | Newcastle No.1 Sportsground, Newcastle |
How often has Cessnock finished runner-up?
21 times since 1932, including three years running from 1979 to 1981 and again from 2008 to 2010. Counting wins and losses together, Cessnock has finished in the top two 30 times.
| Year | Premiers | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Maitland | 30-8 |
| 2019 | Western Suburbs | 36-20 |
| 2014 | Western Suburbs | 22-8 |
| 2012 | Western Suburbs | 16-14 |
| 2010 | Maitland | 24-8 |
| 2009 | Wyong | 36-4 |
| 2008 | Western Suburbs | 12-10 |
| 1999 | Western Suburbs | 22-18 |
| 1985 | Lakes United | 12-6 |
| 1983 | Maitland | 20-12 |
| 1981 | Western Suburbs | 13-2 |
| 1980 | Western Suburbs | 17-3 |
| 1979 | Northern Suburbs | 20-8 |
| 1966 | Western Suburbs | 31-9 |
| 1958 | Maitland | 22-7 |
| 1956 | Maitland | 16-9 |
| 1953 | Northern Suburbs | 16-11 |
| 1940 | Kurri Kurri | 12-5 |
| 1937 | Central Newcastle | 22-7 |
| 1936 | Waratah-Mayfield | 12-2 |
| 1932 | Eastern Suburbs | 20-17 |
Before 1960 a minor premier beaten in the finals could challenge the winner, so some early runner-up finishes were a lost final or challenge match rather than a single grand final.
The 1954 side
Cessnock’s 1954 premiership came in the season Newcastle beat the touring Great Britain team twice, with Cessnock fullback Dave Parkinson kicking the goals both times. Read the story of that season.
Where does Cessnock play?
Home games are at Cessnock Sportsground, part of Baddeley Park in Vincent Street, which Cessnock City Library’s local studies page describes as a ground used for rugby league, soccer, hockey, cricket and community events. It is listed as Cessnock’s home ground in the league’s 2026 draw.
Cessnock is one of ten clubs in the 2026 first grade competition, the Denton Engineering Cup. How the season, the clubs and the grounds fit together is in our guide to the competition.
Sources
- NSWRL honour roll (premiers and runners-up to 2017)
- Wikipedia, Newcastle Rugby League (scores, venues, 2018 to 2026)
- NSWRL, 22 September 2025
- Cessnock City Library, Baddeley Park