National Youth Competition (rugby league)
| National Youth Competition | |
|---|---|
Current season or competition:: 2017 National Youth Competition (rugby league) season
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| Sport | Rugby league |
| Instituted | 2008 |
| Inaugural season | 2008 |
| Ceased | 2017 |
| Number of teams | 16 |
| Countries |
 Australia (15 teams) New Zealand (1 team) |
| Premiers |
 Sydney Roosters (2016)
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| Most titles |
 New Zealand Warriors (3 titles)
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| Website | Official Holden Cup website |
| Broadcast partner |
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| Related competition | National Rugby League |
The National Youth Competition (sponsored as the Holden Cup) is the top league of professional rugby league for players aged 20 years or younger in Australasia. Contested by sixteen teams, the NYC commenced in 2008 and was originally known as the Toyota Cup. The competition runs parallel to Australasia's professional competition, the National Rugby League, with NYC matches played immediately prior to the NRL games. Similar to the NRL, the NYC enforces a salary cap and puts a heavy focus on life outside of football for the players.
The New Zealand Warriors are the most successful club in the competition's short history, with three premierships from four Grand Final appearances; in 2010, 2011 and 2014. In 2018, the NYC will be replaced by state-based under-20s competitions in New South Wales and Queensland.
The NYC succeeded the Jersey Flegg Cup in 2008, which existed from 1961 to 2007. The competition was administered by the New South Wales Rugby League as an under-19s competition, until it was changed to an under-20s competition in 1998.
The National Youth Competition Player of the Year award is the premier individual award in the National Youth Competition. The voting for the award is similar to the Dally M Medal voting, where after each National Youth Competition game 3 points are awarded to the best player on ground, 2 points to the second and 1 point to the third. As of 2015, every winner of the award has gone on to play first grade in the NRL. The inaugural winner was Ben Hunt from the Brisbane Broncos in 2008. Hunt is also the youngest player to win the award, at age 18 years, 5 months and 13 days.
The Jack Gibson Medal is awarded to the man of the match of the Toyota Cup grand final. The award is named after legendary rugby league coach, Jack Gibson. Gibson, who guided Eastern Suburbs to premierships in 1974 and 1975, the Parramatta Eels to three successive premierships from 1981 to 1983 and was named coach of the Team of the Century, died in 2008.
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