Australian rugby league wooden spooners

The Australian rugby league wooden spooners are the team that finished last in the premier top-grade rugby league competition in Australia, which is currently the National Rugby League, and was previously the New South Wales Rugby Football League (1908-1994), the Australian Rugby League (1995-1997), and Super League (1997). Each of these seasons is considered to represent one continuous line of competition dating back from the first season in 1908. The wooden spoon is an unofficial award, however, fans often bring "real" wooden spoons to taunt opposition sides who are struggling on the bottom of the ladder.

Since the Melbourne Storm's salary cap breach which saw them win the wooden spoon in the 2010 NRL season (more below), betting agencies have instead placed wagers on who would suffer the most losses in a single season, rather than win the wooden spoon itself.

NRL & Predecessors Team No. SP % Years 1 Western Suburbs Magpies17*9218.5%1909, 1910, 1912, 1913, 1916, 1933, 1940, 1942, 1953, 1955, 1971, 1983, 1984, 1987, 1988, 1998, 1999 2 Parramatta Eels148017.5%1947, 1952, 1954, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1970, 1972, 2012, 2013, 2018 3 Sydney University101855.6%1921†, 1923, 1927, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1934, 1935†, 1936, 1937† 4 North Sydney Bears9929.8%1915, 1917, 1919, 1932, 1941, 1948, 1950, 1951, 1979 =5 Newtown Jets87610.5%1924, 1925, 1928, 1939, 1968, 1976, 1977, 1978 South Sydney Rabbitohs81176.8%1945, 1946†, 1962, 1975, 1990, 2003, 2004, 2006 7 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs6926.5%1943, 1944, 1964, 2002, 2008, 2021 =8 Newcastle Knights53912.8%2005, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2025 Sydney Roosters51194.2%1949, 1963, 1965, 1966†, 2009=10 Penrith Panthers4606.7%1973, 1980, 2001, 2007 Balmain Tigers4924.3%1911, 1974, 1981, 1994=12 Annandale31127.3%1914, 1918†, 1920† Gold Coast Seagulls31127.3%1991, 1992, 1993 Illawarra Steelers31717.6%1985, 1986, 1989 Wests Tigers32711.1%2022, 2023, 2024 North Queensland Cowboys3329.4%1995, 1997 (SL), 2000 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks3605.0%1967, 1969, 2014 St George Dragons3783.8%1922, 1926, 1938=18 South Queensland Crushers2366.7%1996, 1997 (ARL) Gold Coast Titans22010.0%2011, 2019=21 Cumberland1*1100%1908* (disputed) St. George Illawarra Dragons1283.6%2026 Melbourne Storm1293.4%2010 Brisbane Broncos1392.6% 2020 Canberra Raiders1452.2%1982 =25 Hunter Mariners010% Newcastle Rebels020% Adelaide Rams020% Western Reds030% Northern Eagles030% Dolphins040% Glebe0220% New Zealand Warriors0320% Manly Warringah Sea Eagles0770%

NRL Women's Premiership Bold teams indicate that the club still exists in the present competition. Team No. SP % Years1 St. George Illawarra Dragons3933.3%2018, 2020,† 20262 West Tigers2450.0%2024, 20253 Parramatta Eels1616.7%2023 Gold Coast Titans1616.7%2022 Newcastle Knights1616.7%2021† Sydney Roosters1911.1%2019†4 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs020.0%— Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks040.0%— Canberra Raiders040.0%— New Zealand Warriors050.0%— North Queensland Cowboys060.0&– Brisbane Broncos090.0%—SP = seasons played; † = winless season

NRL Under-20s

Team No. Years 1 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles310 2011, 2013, 2016 =2 New Zealand Warriors 1 10 2017 =2 South Sydney Rabbitohs 1 10 2015 =2 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 1 10 2014 =2 Gold Coast Titans 1 10 2012 =2 Parramatta Eels 1 10 2010 =2 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 1 10 2009 =2 North Queensland Cowboys 1 10 2008 =9 Brisbane Broncos 0 10 =9 Canberra Raiders 0 10 =9 Melbourne Storm 0 10 =9 Newcastle Knights 0 10 =9 Penrith Panthers 0 10 =9 St. George Illawarra Dragons 0 10 =9 Sydney Roosters 0 10 =9 Wests Tigers 0 10

Brisbane Rugby League Team No. % Years 1 Souths Magpies 147618.42% 1926, 1933†, 1934†, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1941, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1965, 1968, 1969, 1977 =2 Wynnum-Manly Seagulls 134429.55% 1953, 1957, 1962, 1964, 1966, 1967, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1979, 1990, 1991 Wests Panthers 138016.25% 1918, 1923, 1929, 1942, 1943†, 1946†, 1947, 1974, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986 4 Easts Tigers 117814.10% 1917, 1928, 1938, 1939, 1940†, 1944†, 1945†, 1955, 1956, 1961, 1987 5 Norths Devils 7759.33% 1949, 1950, 1954, 1976, 1978, 1984, 19946 University51435.71%1921, 1924, 1925†, 1927, 1930=7 Logan City Scorpions3742.86%1988, 1989, 1993 Past Brothers 3644.69% 1931, 1963, 1981 Fortitude Valley 3853.53% 1948, 1951, 1975=10Railways2450%1913, 1920West End2540%1915†, 1919=12South Brisbane United11100%1911†Ipswich Starlights11100%1916Wynnum11100%1932South Coast11100%1952Woolloongabba1333.33%1912 Toombul 1425% 1909North Brisbane1425%1914South Brisbane1616.67%1910 Ipswich Jets1911.11% 1992 Past Brothers (Merthyr)1128.33%1922† = winless season

NSW Cup

Team No. SP Years 1 Western Suburbs Magpies 3 7 2012, 2017, 2024 2 Newcastle Knights 2 7 2016, 2018 2 Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles 2 5 2019, 2022 2 North Sydney Bears 2 7 2010, 2014 2 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 2 6 2011, 2026 3 Wyong Roos 1 7 2013 3 Wentworthville Magpies 1 7 2015 3 Sydney Roosters 1 3 2023 3 South Sydney Rabbitohs 1 7 2025 3 Mount Pritchard Mounties 0 7 3 Penrith Panthers 0 7 3 St. George Illawarra Dragons 0 1 3 Illawarra Cutters 0 6 3 Newtown Jets 0 7 3 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 0 2 3 Windsor Wolves 0 3 3 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 0 4 3 New Zealand Warriors 0 2 3 Parramatta Eels 0 5 SP denotes seasons played, Bold denotes team is still in competition

Queensland Cup Bold teams indicate that the club still exists in the present competition. Team No. Years1 Central Queensland Capras6292005, 2007, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021=2 Souths Logan Magpies4291999, 2001, 2012, 2022 Ipswich Jets4291996†, 2006, 2010, 2023†=4 Mackay Cutters3172009, 2016, 2018 Sunshine Coast Falcons3172011, 2013, 20146 Logan Scorpions261997, 2002†=7 Norths Devils1292008 Brothers-Valleys112004 Wests Panthers172003† Cairns Cyclones152000 Western Clydesdales1132024 Bundaberg Grizzlies131998† Papua New Guinea Hunters121202614 Aspley Broncos01 Gold Coast Vikings01 Mackay Sea Eagles01 Townsville Stingers01 Port Moresby Vipers02 Brisbane Brothers03 Townsville Blackhawks010 North Queensland Young Guns06 Northern Pride017 Tweed Heads Seagulls023 Burleigh Bears028 Brisbane Tigers029 Redcliffe Dolphins029 Wynnum Manly Seagulls029† = winless seasonNote: 2020 season cancelled after one round

Ron Massey Cup Team No. SP Years 1 Kingsgrove Colts 3 2013, 2015, 2016 2 Brothers Penrith 2 2018, 2019 2 Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles 2 2012, 2025 2 Western Suburbs Magpies 1 2017, 2022 2 Manly Leagues 1 2026 3 Burwood North Ryde 1 2014 3 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 1 2023 3 Hills District Bulls 1 2024 4 Concord-Burwood-Glebe Wolves 0 4 Auburn Warriors 0 4 Wentworthville Magpies 0 4 St Marys Saints 0 4 The Entrance Tigers 0 4 St Johns Eagles 0 4 Windsor Wolves 0 4 Asquith Magpies 0 4 Guildford Owls 0 4 Cabramatta Two Blues 0 4 Newtown Jets 0 SP denotes seasons played, Bold denotes still in competition

Reversing fortunes Western Suburbs were the only team to finish last in a season (1933) and then back up with a premiership in the following year. In season 2009 the Sydney Roosters finished last, winning just five games, however conjured a remarkable turnaround on and off the field to make the Grand final the following season.

In 2026, the Newcastle Knights repeated the feat of the Sydney Roosters from 2010, going from wooden spooners in 2025 to make it to the 2026 Grand Final and got within 1 point of the premiership, against the Sydney Roosters.

In 2003, the Penrith Panthers won a premiership after finishing wooden spooners in 2001, and after finishing round 2 of the 2003 season in last place (15th). In the 2014 NRL season, the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks were the wooden spoon recipients. They went on to win the 2016 Premiership.

After winning the 1942 premiership, Canterbury-Bankstown then crashed to last place in season 1943. After winning the 1952 premiership, Western Suburbs finished last in the season 1953. South Sydney went from minor premiers in 1989 to wooden spooners in 1990.

In 2010, the Melbourne Storm received the wooden spoon, albeit in unusual circumstances. The Storm then went on to win its first official minor premiership in the 2011 season, before finishing one game short of the grand final.

Avoiding the spoon As of 2026, the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles have avoided the wooden spoon in their 77 completed seasons since entering the competition in 1947. They are the only current club from the pre-ARL era to have avoided the wooden spoon. Two other current clubs have also never claimed the wooden spoon: New Zealand Warriors (32), and Dolphins (4).

The Balmain Tigers enjoyed a sixty-two season wooden spoon drought from 1911-1974, and St. George Dragons had gone 60 seasons (1939-1998) prior to the joint venture with the Illawarra Steelers.

Spoon Bowl In recent NRL seasons, the media had started to describe the matches between the two last placed sides as the "Spoon Bowl". One of the first instances the term being used was in 2011 when the Parramatta Eels and the Gold Coast Titans played against each other in the final match of the regular season with the loser receiving the wooden spoon. In 2014, the term was used again when Canberra played against Cronulla with both sides sitting on the bottom of the table. In 2015, Newcastle and Penrith played against each other in the third instance of the "Spoon Bowl" term to be used. In 2017, the Wests Tigers and Newcastle played in the fourth spoon bowl game with Wests defeating Newcastle and avoiding last place. In 2018, Parramatta who were in last place and Canterbury who were in second last faced off against each other in the fifth edition of the spoon bowl. There were fears before the match that it could have been the lowest crowd for an NRL game in 20 years. Parramatta went on to win the game 14-8. In Round 24 of the 2018 season, Parramatta played against North Queensland in the sixth edition of the spoon bowl. North Queensland won the match 44-6 in Townsville which was also Johnathan Thurston's final home game before retirement, the match was also Matt Scott's 250th game. The result ensured Parramatta finished with the wooden spoon, their 14th in total.

In round 24 of the 2022 NRL season, the Gold Coast who were second last on the table played against Newcastle who were third bottom in the Spoon Bowl match. The Gold Coast needed a win to ensure their survival from the wooden spoon whilst Newcastle could have mathematically still received it. The Gold Coast would win the match 36-26, ensuring the Wests Tigers would finish last for the first time in their 22-year history.

In round 21 of the 2023 NRL season, St. George Illawarra and the Wests Tigers contested the 8th edition of the spoon bowl match. St. George Illawarra were in second last place on the table just two points clear of Wests Tigers who were bottom of the ladder. St. George Illawarra would win the match 18-14 in a close contest; by the end of the year, St. George Illawarra were only separated from Wests by that one win, leaving the Tigers with the wooden spoon.

In round 27 of the 2024 NRL season, Parramatta and the Wests Tigers played in the 9th edition of the Spoon Bowl fixture with Parramatta winning the match 60-26 which condemned Wests to their third consecutive wooden spoon.

In round 23 of the 2025 NRL season, South Sydney and the Gold Coast contested the 10th edition of the Spoon Bowl with South Sydney narrowly winning 20-18. Unlike the previous three iterations of the spoon bowl, the 2025 game had no bearing on the ultimate last place finisher; South Sydney would win two more games to finish in 14th, while the Gold Coast eventually won another game in round 27, condemning the Newcastle Knights to the wooden spoon on for and against.

See also

Wooden spoon (award)

Notes

References

External links