National Youth Competition (rugby league)

National Youth Competition
Current season or competition:
2014 National Youth Competition (rugby league) season
National Youth Competition logo
Sport Rugby league football
Instituted 2008
Inaugural season 2008
Number of teams 16
Countries  Australia (15 teams)
 New Zealand (1 team)
Premiers New Zealand Warriors (2014)
Most titles New Zealand Warriors (3 titles)
Website Official Holden Cup website
Broadcast partner
Related competition National Rugby League

The 'National Youth Competition (sponsored as the Holden Cup) is the National Rugby League's competition for the under-20s teams of its sixteen clubs. It commenced in 2008 and was originally known as the Toyota Cup.[1] and is run parallel to the main competition, the Telstra Premiership. The competition consists of teams from the 16 clubs that presently participate in the NRL competition, fielding squads made up of players between the ages of 17 and 19.[2] The draw and structure mirrors the NRL, with games played as lead-ins to the corresponding first-grade NRL games.[3] The competition uses a salary cap in the same way as first-grade NRL, and puts a heavy focus on life outside of football for the players.[4] Matches are traditionally played prior to NRL games including the premiership final which is played in the same venue prior the NRL Grand Final.

The New Zealand Warriors are the most successful club in the National Youth Competition's short history, with three premierships from four Grand Final appearances, all coming in 2010, 2011 and 2014. In 2013 the U20's premiership was won by the Penrith Panthers.

History

The National Youth Competition is the National Rugby League's Under 20's premiership. First run in 2008, this competition runs parallel to the senior competition and each game is played before the game of the National Rugby League premiership.

National Youth Competition Premiers

Season Grand Final Information Minor Premiers Points
Premiers Score Runners-Up
2008 Canberra Raiders 28 - 24 * Brisbane Broncos Canberra Raiders 40
2009 Melbourne Storm 24 - 22 Wests Tigers Manly Sea Eagles 43
2010 New Zealand Warriors 42 - 28 South Sydney Rabbitohs South Sydney Rabbitohs 38
2011 New Zealand Warriors 31 - 30 * North Queensland Cowboys New Zealand Warriors 43
2012 Wests Tigers 46 - 06 Canberra Raiders Canterbury Bulldogs 39
2013 Penrith Panthers 42 - 30 New Zealand Warriors Canberra Raiders 43
2014 New Zealand Warriors 34 - 32 Brisbane Broncos Newcastle Knights 40

Player of the Year Award winners

The Toyota Cup Player of the Year award is the premier individual award in the Toyota Cup. The voting for the award is similar to the Dally M Medal voting, where after each Toyota Cup game 3 points are awarded to the best player on ground, 2 points to the second and 1 point to the third. So far, every winner of the award has gone onto play first grade in the NRL. The inaugural winner was Ben Hunt from the Brisbane Broncos in 2008. Hunt is also the youngest player to win the award, at age 18 years, 5 months and 13 days.

Year Winner Position Team
2008 Ben Hunt Halfback Brisbane Broncos
2009 Beau Henry Halfback St. George Illawarra Dragons
2010 Tariq Sims Prop Brisbane Broncos
2011 Jack De Belin Second-row St. George Illawarra Dragons
2012 David Klemmer Prop Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
2013 Bryce Cartwright Second-row Penrith Panthers
2014 Kane Elgey Halfback Gold Coast Titans

Jack Gibson Medal winners

The Jack Gibson Medal is awarded to the man of the match of the Toyota Cup grand final. The award is named after legendary rugby league coach, Jack Gibson. Gibson, who guided Eastern Suburbs to premierships in 1974 and 1975, the Parramatta Eels to three successive premierships from 1981 to 1983 and was named coach of the Team of the Century, died in 2008.

Year Winner Position Team
2008 Josh Dugan Fullback Canberra Raiders
2009 Luke Kelly Halfback Melbourne Storm
2010 Carlos Tuimavave Five-eighth New Zealand Warriors
2011 Jordan Meads Halfback New Zealand Warriors
2012 Matt Mulcahy Five-eighth Wests Tigers
2013 James Roberts Centre Penrith Panthers
2014 Solomone Kata Centre New Zealand Warriors

Teams & Coaches

The Brisbane Broncos Under 20s side is coached by Kurt Richards.
The Canberra Raiders Under 20s side is coached by Andrew Dunemann.
The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Under 20s side is coached by Andrew Patmore.
The Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Under 20s side is coached by James Shepherd.
The Gold Coast Titans Under 20s side is coached by Jamie O'Connor.
The Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Under 20s side is coached by Luke Williamson.
The Melbourne Storm Under 20s side is coached by Dean Pay.
The New Zealand Warriors Under 20s side is coached by Stacey Jones
The Newcastle Knights Under 20s side is coached by Michael Crawley.
The North Queensland Cowboys Under 20s side is coached by Todd Wilson.
The Parramatta Eels Under 20s Side is coached by Steve Speechley.
The Penrith Panthers Under 20s side is coached by Garth Brennan.
The South Sydney Rabbitohs Under 20s side is coached by Ben Gardiner.
The St. George Illawarra Dragons Under 20s side is coached by Justin Holbrook.
The Sydney Roosters Under 20s side is coached by Paul Green & assisted by Anthony Barnes
The Wests Tigers Under 20s side is coached by Todd Payten.

Television Coverage

Australia

New Zealand

Records

References

  1. ↑ Gallop, David (2007). "Australian Rugby Football League Annual Report 2007" (PDF). Australian Rugby League Limited. p. 6. Retrieved 2009-07-15.
  2. ↑ Toyota Cup to blood next group of Joeys : thewest.com.au
  3. ↑ "ARL set to approve national youth comp". The Sydney Morning Herald. 2006-12-12.
  4. ↑ Toyota Cup to kick off in 2008, NRL.COM
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 2007 Big League Annual (page 11)
  6. ↑ Fox Sports to show Toyota Cup live - NRL - Fox Sports
  7. ↑ NGATI NRL RETURNS TO MAORI TELEVISION at media.maoritelevision.com

External links