Kiama Knights
Encyclopedia
The Kiama Knights are an Australia
n rugby league
football team based in Kiama
, a coastal town of the Illawarra
and South Coast regions. The club was formed in 1914 as one of the founding members of South Coast Rugby League
, and continue to participate in this league's local competition.
against nearest neighbour and soon to be biggest rivals, Gerringong
. Gerringong, however, would go on to take out the premiership final with an 11-10 victory at the Kiama Showground, a match that would charge a sixpence to attend. In 1930, Kiama merged with Bombo and they won the title that year. As Bombo-Kiama, the club won the title again in 1933. In 1940 the team would be only referred to by Kiama and this team won the first of four consecutive titles in 1945, an achievement which has not been surpassed in the league to this day. Kiama has won 11 Group 7 premierships overall, behind Gerringong (16), Berry and Albion Park
(12).
, the club was known as the Dinkums, before switching to Warriors the following year. In 1923 the club was known as the Starlights. The Kiama Knights emblem is adopted from that of the Newcastle Knights
.
.
since their inception in 1914. At one stage this ground was called "Church Point", due to its geographical location. The showground has undergone a recent development to its grandstand and pavilion in 2009.
Source: Group 7 History
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
football team based in Kiama
Kiama, New South Wales
-Transport:The town is served by Kiama Station on the South Coast Line. It is served by road in the form of the Princes Highway and the Kiama Bypass.-Attractions:...
, a coastal town of the Illawarra
Illawarra
Illawarra is a region in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is a coastal region situated immediately south of Sydney and north of the Shoalhaven or South Coast region. It encompasses the cities of Wollongong, Shellharbour, Shoalhaven and the town of Kiama. The central region contains Lake...
and South Coast regions. The club was formed in 1914 as one of the founding members of South Coast Rugby League
Group 7 Rugby League
South Coast Group 7 Rugby League is the divisional boundary drawn from the Southern Illawarra and South Coast regions of New South Wales, Australia and is governed by the NSWCRL...
, and continue to participate in this league's local competition.
History
On May 30, 1914, Kiama kicked-off the inaugural South Coast Rugby League competition with a 6-3 home win at Kiama ShowgroundKiama Showground
The Kiama Showground is a sports and entertainment complex of the South Coast-Illawarra region in the coastal town of Kiama. The complex includes two ovals, the Showring and Chittick Oval. The showground is the host site of the Kiama Show which has operated for more than a hundred years...
against nearest neighbour and soon to be biggest rivals, Gerringong
Gerringong Lions
The Gerringong Lions are an Australian rugby league football team based in Gerringong, a coastal town of the Illawarra and South Coast regions. The club was formed in 1914 as one of the founding members of South Coast Rugby League, and continue to participate in this league's local...
. Gerringong, however, would go on to take out the premiership final with an 11-10 victory at the Kiama Showground, a match that would charge a sixpence to attend. In 1930, Kiama merged with Bombo and they won the title that year. As Bombo-Kiama, the club won the title again in 1933. In 1940 the team would be only referred to by Kiama and this team won the first of four consecutive titles in 1945, an achievement which has not been surpassed in the league to this day. Kiama has won 11 Group 7 premierships overall, behind Gerringong (16), Berry and Albion Park
Albion Park-Oak Flats Eagles
The Albion Park-Oak Flats Eagles are an Australian rugby league football team based in Albion Park, a country town of the Illawarra region. The club are a part of Country Rugby League and have competed in both the Illawarra and South Coast competitions, where it competes today...
(12).
Name and Emblem
The Kiama Knights were not always known by this moniker. In 1918, when the competition reformed after World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, the club was known as the Dinkums, before switching to Warriors the following year. In 1923 the club was known as the Starlights. The Kiama Knights emblem is adopted from that of the Newcastle Knights
Newcastle Knights
The Newcastle Knights are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Newcastle, New South Wales. They compete in Australasia's premier rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
.
Colours
The colours used by the Kiama side are red, black and white, following a similar strip to that of the NSWRL Sydney team, the North Sydney BearsNorth Sydney Bears
The North Sydney Bears are an Australian rugby league football club based in North Sydney, New South Wales. They currently compete in the New South Wales Cup, having exited the National Rugby League following the 1999 NRL season after 92 years of top-grade competition. The Bears are based on...
.
Home Ground
The Kiama Knights have played out of the Kiama ShowgroundKiama Showground
The Kiama Showground is a sports and entertainment complex of the South Coast-Illawarra region in the coastal town of Kiama. The complex includes two ovals, the Showring and Chittick Oval. The showground is the host site of the Kiama Show which has operated for more than a hundred years...
since their inception in 1914. At one stage this ground was called "Church Point", due to its geographical location. The showground has undergone a recent development to its grandstand and pavilion in 2009.
Current Players
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Notable past players
- Shaun TimminsShaun TimminsShaun Timmins is an Australian retired professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s...
- former Illawarra SteelersIllawarra SteelersThe Illawarra Steelers are an Australian rugby league football club based in the city of Wollongong, New South Wales. The club competed in Australia's top-level Rugby League competition from 1982, when they, along with the Canberra Raiders, were admitted into the then New South Wales Rugby Football...
, St. George Illawarra Dragons, New South WalesNew South Wales Rugby LeagueThe New South Wales Rugby League is the governing body of rugby league in New South Wales and is a member of the Australian Rugby League. It was formed in Sydney on 8 August 1907 and was known as the New South Wales Rugby Football League until 1984 when forward thinking marketing managers decided...
and AustralianAustralian Rugby LeagueThe Australian Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in Australia. It is made up of state bodies, including the New South Wales Rugby League and the Queensland Rugby League...
representative player. - Josh MorrisJosh MorrisJosh Morris is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the National Rugby League competition. A New South Wales State of Origin representative backline player, Josh is the twin brother of Brett Morris who plays first grade for his previous club...
- St. George Illawarra Dragons, New South Wales, Australian and Canterbury BulldogsCanterbury BulldogsThe Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Belmore, a suburb in the Canterbury-Bankstown region of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, as well as New South Wales Rugby League junior competitions...
centre. - Brett MorrisBrett MorrisBrett Morris is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the St. George Illawarra Dragons of the National Rugby League. An Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative winger, he is the son of St...
- current St. George Illawarra Dragons, New South Wales, and Australian winger. - Mitch ReinMitch ReinMitch Rein is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the St. George Illawarra Dragons of National Rugby League...
- current St. George Illawarra Dragons hooker.
Team
- Group 7 Rugby LeagueGroup 7 Rugby LeagueSouth Coast Group 7 Rugby League is the divisional boundary drawn from the Southern Illawarra and South Coast regions of New South Wales, Australia and is governed by the NSWCRL...
Premierships: 11
-
- 1925, 1930, 1933, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1950, 1969, 1983, 1985
- Group 7 Rugby League Runners-Up: 12
- 1918, 1919, 1934, 1935, 1940, 1941, 1951, 1953, 1977, 1984, 1990, 1991
- Group 7 Second Grade Premierships: 8
- 1919, 1921, 1923, 1929, 1936, 1950, 1951, 1982
- Group 7 U-18's Premierships: 6
- 1945, 1946, 1982, 1992, 2002, 2004
- Leo O'Dwyer Cups: 4
- 1948, 1949, 1950, 1985
- 1925, 1930, 1933, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1950, 1969, 1983, 1985
Individual
- Michael Cronin Medal: 4
-
- Peter Gentle (1991), Andrew Jackson (1998), Daniel Gunning (2002 & 2006)
- Group 7 Rugby LeagueGroup 7 Rugby LeagueSouth Coast Group 7 Rugby League is the divisional boundary drawn from the Southern Illawarra and South Coast regions of New South Wales, Australia and is governed by the NSWCRL...
Player of the Year: 4
- Group 7 Rugby League
- Peter French (1983), Graham Murtagh (1995), Mark Duncan (2004), Daniel Gunning (2006)
- Group 7 Rugby League Rookie of the Year: 2
- Graham Murtagh (1983), Mitch ReinMitch ReinMitch Rein is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the St. George Illawarra Dragons of National Rugby League...
(2008)- Group 7 Rugby League Leading Point-scorer: 1
- Tony Fitler (1984)
- Group 7 Rugby League Leading Try-scorer: 4
- Peter Gentle (1983), Ian Howcroft (1986), Robert Baillie (1989), Jeremy Alger (2008)
- Group 7 Under-21s Player of the Year: 2
- Scott Morris (2001), John Elliott (2006)
- Group 7 Under-18s Player of the Year: 3
- Dean Antony (1992), Paul Ross (2003), James Gilmore (2009)
- Kevin Walsh Scholarship: 8
- Joe Murphy (1982), Dean Smith (1985), John Watkins & Scott England (1988), Matt Duggan (1990), Samuel Burke (1999), Josh Elliott (2001), Mitch ReinMitch ReinMitch Rein is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the St. George Illawarra Dragons of National Rugby League...
(2005)
- Peter Gentle (1991), Andrew Jackson (1998), Daniel Gunning (2002 & 2006)
Source: Group 7 History
External links
- Kiama Knights Homepage
- Country Rugby League Homepage
- Country Rugby League
- South Coast Rugby League Homepage
- Group 7 Rugby LeagueGroup 7 Rugby LeagueSouth Coast Group 7 Rugby League is the divisional boundary drawn from the Southern Illawarra and South Coast regions of New South Wales, Australia and is governed by the NSWCRL...