Cyril Connell Challenge

The Cyril Connell Challenge is an under-16 competition administered by the Queensland Rugby League. First run in 2021, the competition replaced the QRL Junior State Championships, which ran from 2017 to 2020. The 2020 competition was ultimately cancelled in the wake of the COVID pandemic before the tournament re-commenced in a round robin format for the 2021 season. Originally known as The Cyril Connell Cup the competition, which began in 2009, included the junior representative teams of Queensland Cup clubs. The competition also featured teams from Victoria and the Northern Territory. In the 2016 season, the Cyril Connell Cup consisted of sixteen clubs: fifteen based within Queensland and one in Victoria. Eleven of the sixteen clubs were junior representative teams for Queensland Cup clubs. From 2011 to 2016, the winners of the Grand Final played the winners of the New South Wales’ under-16 competition, the Harold Matthews Cup, in the National Final.

Cyril Connell Challenge
SportRugby league
Instituted2009
Inaugural season2009
Ceased2017
Number of teams16
Country Australia
Most titles Norths Devils (3 titles)
Websitewww.QRL.com.au
Related competitionHarold Matthews Cup

The Cyril Connell Cup/Challenge was named after Cyril Connell Jr., who played 24 games for Queensland and 2 Tests for Australia between 1952 and 1957.

Teams

In 2021 The Cyril Connell Challenge comprised 15 teams from across the state split into 3 pools. Thirteen of the fifteen clubs were junior representative teams for Queensland Cup clubs. Tweed Heads Seagulls and Redcliffe Dolphins finished equal top of the ladder after going undefeated during their campaigns. Redcliffe would remain undefeated, topping the table in both the 2022 and 2023 editions of the tournament.

Clubs
Mal Meninga Cup
Club Seasons City Stadium Premierships (Last)
Central Crows 2011–2016 Bundaberg, Queensland Across the Waves Sportsground 0
Central Queensland Capras 2009–2016 Rockhampton, Queensland Browne Park 0
Easts Tigers 2009–2016 Brisbane, Queensland Suzuki Stadium 0
Gold Coast Blue 2010 Gold Coast, Queensland Merv Craig Sporting Complex 0
Gold Coast Gold 2011–2012 Gold Coast, Queensland Pizzey Park 0
Gold Coast Green 2010–2016 Gold Coast, Queensland Pizzey Park 0
Gold Coast Vikings 2009 Gold Coast, Queensland Pizzey Park 0
Gold Coast White 2013–2016 Gold Coast, Queensland Pizzey Park 0
Ipswich Jets 2009–2016 Ipswich, Queensland North Ipswich Reserve 0
Mackay Cutters 2009–2016 Mackay, Queensland BB Print Stadium Mackay 0
Northern Pride 2009–2016 Cairns, Queensland Barlow Park 1 (2014)
Northern Territory Rugby League 2009–2010 Darwin, Northern Territory Richardson Park 1 (2011)
Norths Devils 2009–2016 Brisbane, Queensland Bishop Park 3 (2013)
Redcliffe Dolphins 2009–2016 Redcliffe, Queensland Dolphin Oval 0
Souths Logan Magpies 2009–2016 Brisbane, Queensland Davies Park 1 (2012)
Sunshine Coast Falcons 2009–2016 Sunshine Coast, Queensland Sunshine Coast Stadium 0
Toowoomba Clydesdales 2009–2016 Toowoomba, Queensland Gold Park 0
Townsville Blackhawks 2009–2016 Townsville, Queensland Jack Manski Oval 2 (2016)
Victoria Rugby League 2015–2016 Melbourne, Victoria Casey Fields 0
Wests Panthers 2011–2012 Brisbane, Queensland Purtell Park 0
Wide Bay Bulls 2009 Bundaberg, Queensland - 0
Wynnum Manly Seagulls 2009–2016 Brisbane, Queensland BMD Kougari Oval 0
  • Central Crows played as Central United from 2011 to 2013.
  • CQ Capras played as Central Comets from 2009 to 2011.
  • Townsville Blackhawks played as Townsville Stingers from 2009 to 2015.
  • Western Mustangs played as Toowoomba Clydesdales from 2009 to 2016.

Grand Final results
Season Grand Finals
Premiers Score Runners-up Venue
2009 Norths Devils 42–30 Townsville Stingers Bishop Park
2010 Norths Devils 26–24 Gold Coast Blue Langlands Park
2011 Easts Tigers 28–10 Central Comets Langlands Park
2012 Souths Logan Magpies 10–6 Townsville Stingers BMD Kougari Oval
2013 Norths Devils 44–6 Easts Tigers Langlands Park
2014 Northern Pride 14–12 Townsville Stingers Barlow Park
2015 Townsville Stingers 31–30 Sunshine Coast Falcons Tapout Energy Stadium
2016 Townsville Blackhawks 20–18 Souths Logan Magpies Suzuki Stadium

See also

References
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