Rivalry round cup honours two great rugby league servants

The Group Six rugby league season is shaping up as one of the most exciting in recent years.

Now the Campbelltown City Kangaroos and the Mittagong Lions have added a little spice to the mixture to make it even more interesting.

The two clubs have just announced that in 2017 they will be playing each other for the Corkery-Andrews Cup.

The cup honours two great rugby league men, Ray Corkery and Grahame Andrews.

Corkery put in almost 50 years of service to local rugby league, while Andrews, as the current chairman of Group Six, is on his way to a mighty contribution as well.

Campbelltown City Kangaroos secretary Alex Melville said younger fans might be surprised that the two clubs were to be pitted against each other as part of a “rivalry round’’.

“On the surface it would appear a little strange our two clubs could play each other in a rivalry round,’’ Melville said.

“But before the Kangaroos’ recess from Group 6 between 1984 and 2008 there was a long history, and sometimes bitter rivalry, between the two clubs.

“The 1962-63 grand finals, the 1970 preliminary final and an under 18 grand final in 1983 that gave rise to Mittagong’s golden era, are cases in point.’’

Mr Melville said Ray Corkery, recruited in 1969 from the great St George team, remains the Kangaroos’ most successful ever coach.

It was Corkery who helped end the Bowral and Mittagong-led dominance of the 1960s with a premiership treble in 1969-71 for Campbelltown.

“He was coaxed out of retirement for the 1983 season, City’s last first grade premiership title,’’ Melville said.

“Ray Corkery has recently retired from the board of directors at Wests Leagues Campbelltown, ending a 47 year association with rugby league in the region and our club felt compelled to honour him.’’

Grahame Andrews steered Mittagong during their last golden era: the 1988, 1991 and 1995 first grade titles.

Melville said City were also proud to honour Andrews, given his integral role as Group 6 president in reviving the fortunes of the blue and gold club.

The inaugural Corkery-Andrews Cup will be presented for the first time at Highlands Golf Club after the round one clash on Saturday, April 1.

When the teams meet in Fullwood Reserve for the return match, the presentations will be held in the Court Tavern Campbelltown, major sponsors of the Kangaroos.