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.
Contents
- First grade
- National Youth Competition Holden Cup
- New South Wales Cup
- Queensland Cup
- Brisbane Rugby League premiership
- Ron Massey Cup
- Reversing fortunes
- Avoiding the spoon
- References
Since the Melbourne Storm's salary cap breach which saw them win the wooden spoon in 2010 (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.
First grade
SP denotes seasons played. % refers to the percentage of seasons played that resulted in wooden spoons.
National Youth Competition (Holden Cup)
Bold teams indicate that the club still exists in the present competition.
New South Wales Cup
Bold teams indicate that the club still exists in the present competition.
Queensland Cup
Bold teams indicate that the club still exists in the present competition.
Brisbane Rugby League premiership
Bold teams indicate that the club still exists in the present competition.
Ron Massey Cup
Bold teams indicate that the club still exists in the present competition.
Reversing fortunes
The Western Suburbs Magpies 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 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 2014 the Cronulla 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. In 2010 the Melbourne Storm repeated this feat, 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
Manly have avoided the wooden spoon in their sixty-four completed seasons since entering the competition in 1947 (this period includes the three-year merger period with the North Sydney Bears when the club was part of the Northern Eagles). The closest the club came was in its first year of 1947 and in 2003 with second last placings. The Balmain Tigers also enjoyed a sixty-two season wooden spoon drought from 1911-1974.
None of the merged clubs (Wests Tigers, Northern Eagles or St. George Illawarra) have ever won a wooden spoon.