NSW Police Rugby League Carnival
By Mick Timms
PPN Associate Writer
The annual NSW Police Rugby League Carnival is being held at Port Macquarie Regional Stadium from Sunday 24 March 2024 to Thursday 28 March 2024.
PANSW wishes the best of luck to all the teams competing.
This year’s carnival features an eight-team Men’s event and a six-team Women’s competition. The teams are divided into two group pools where they play each other once.
The top two teams from Men’s competition will play in the Semi Finals where winner of each Semi will play in the Grand Final on the Thursday. The top teams from Women’s competition will play in the Grand Final, also on the Thursday.
NSW Police Rugby League (NSWPRL) has a long tradition. In the 1960’s informal rugby league games were being played by police teams based in the Sydney metropolitan area. In 1970, a formal competition sanctioned by Commissioner Norman T Allen commenced.
For several decades, the competition was played mid-week in afternoon twilight. The COVID-19 pandemic affected the running of the competition which, in recent years, took on its current 5-day round robin format. The inclusion of the Women’s competition has strengthened NSWPRL and added to its popularity.
Over the decades, the competition has attracted highly skilled players, many of whom had first grade rugby league experience. Several generations of family members also play.
Mr Warren Cocksedge, PANSW Associate Member, played for the Manly police team between 1983 and 1994. Warren, also a former Jersey Flegg and SG Ball player, said NSWPRL was the strongest competition outside of the NRL.
“Not everyone was graded but they were pretty good,” Warren said.
Warren captained the premiership-winning Manly team in 1989 as well as a successful Australian Trans-Tasman Shield police rugby league team. He has a son playing in this year’s carnival.
Rivalries also continue to play out at the NSWPRL carnival. After cancer claimed the lives of Manly’s Rob Mulherrin and Macarthur’s Mark Dooley, the teams established the Mulherrin-Dooley Sheild, which is played for when these great rivals meet.
As well as competing for team success, players will be vying for selection in future state and national police teams.
Note: “NSW Police Rugby League” is the official Facebook page of the sport. Be cautious when connecting as fake sites purporting to represent NSWPRL have appeared.
UPCOMING REUNIONS
No. 2 Division and Regent Street Reunion
A proposed reunion of members past and present is planned for noon on Friday the 21st June, 2024 at the Rooftop Bar of the Aurora Hotel on Elizabeth Street, Surry Hills. Partners welcome. Food and drinks at bar prices.
To RSVP, contact John Villiotis on the No. 2 Division and Regent Street Re-union FB page or email johnv1963@gmail.com
Do you have a story, reunion or other Associate News to share? Contact us at policenews@pansw.org.au.