Illawarra’s premier Rugby League competition, the Harrigan Cup, will kick off on the Anzac Day Long weekend (Friday 24 April) with a Grand Final rematch as revealed in the 2026 season draw released today.
The Sutherland-Loftus Pirates will join the six-team competition for the 2026 season, which also features last year’s premiers Western Suburbs Devils, Grand Finalists Collegians Collie Dogs, Corrimal Cougars, Dapto Canaries, and Thirroul Butchers. It will be played over 15 rounds followed by a top five finals series.
The opening game of the season will see the Grand Final rematch, with Collegians hosting the Devils at Collegians Sports Stadium, Figtree, and looking to turn the tables after going down 14-8 in a thrilling decider last year.
Dapto and Corrimal, who finished third and fifth respectively after the regular season last year, will face off at Dapto Showground on 25 April, while newcomers Sutherland-Loftus will start their campaign at home at Sutherland Oval against Thirroul.
The Pirates have a history dating back to 1912 with the club playing out of the NRL’s Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks original home ground, Sutherland Oval. The club will also act as a feeder club to the Newtown Jets and Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup and it is expected their team will be made up of players from the Jets and the Sharks Jersey Flegg Cup side.
The Illawarra Rugby League is one of the oldest Rugby League competitions in Australia, having been founded in 1911. Western Suburbs are the most successful club with 18 premierships, including last year’s, while Dapto (17) are close behind them with their last title in 2016.
Click here for the 2026 Harrigan Cup draw
