After a delay that took way too long, the A to Z of the NRL returns, and ironically this one is not about the NRL at all, but is all about the alternative competitions through the years. This time we head back into the history books and remember the extra rugby league competitions that no longer exists – the Toohey’s Challenge Cup, Panasonic Cup, World Sevens, and more.
The extra competitions were from a different time, when rugby league had time for a proper pre-season cup, or a mid-week challenge that involved teams from outside the main NRL/NSWRL competition.
Now given the speed in the game, the money, and the effects of COVID-19, we’ll never see a full on pre-season cup or mid-week competition again, but they did bring a point of interest, and gave teams who would normally not win anything a chance to lift some silverware.
With the Panasonic Cup, it was a preview into the arrival of the Brisbane Broncos in the NSWRL.
So enjoy you trip down through the years of the Toohey’s Challenge Cup, Panasonic Cup and more.
TOOHEY’S CHALLENGE CUP
| Competition | Champions | Teams | Games | Players | Crowd Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Channel Ten Challenge Cup 1978 | North Sydney | 8 | 7 | 56 | * 2,000 |
| Channel Ten Challenge Cup 1990 | Canberra | 16 | 15 | 0 | * 0 |
| Lotto Challenge Cup 1991 | Brisbane | 16 | 15 | 0 | * 6,314 |
| Tooheys Challenge Cup 1992 | Illawarra | 16 | 15 | 0 | * 9,943 |
| Tooheys Challenge Cup 1993 | Canberra | 16 | 15 | 0 | * 11,917 |
| Tooheys Challenge Cup 1994 | South Sydney | 16 | 15 | 0 | * 0 |
| Tooheys Challenge Cup 1995 | Brisbane | 20 | 19 | 0 | * 0
|
https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/competitions/tooheys-challenge-cup/summary.html
PANASONIC CUP
https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/competitions/national-panasonic-cup/summary.html
CRAVEN MILD CUP
https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/competitions/craven-mild-cup/summary.html
WORLD SEVENS
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rugby_League_World_Sevens
