Port Kembla Blacks
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| Club information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Port Kembla District Rugby League Football Club |
| Nickname(s) | The Blacks |
| Colours |
Black White |
| Founded | 1914 |
| Current details | |
| Ground(s) |
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| Competition | Illawarra Rugby League |
| Records | |
| Premierships | 22 (1922, 1923, 1924, 1927, 1928, 1934, 1935, 1937, 1938, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1946, 1949, 1953, 1955, 1956, 1958, 1962, 1963, 1965) |
The Port Kembla Blacks (or Port Kembla Rugby League Football Club) are a Rugby League team from Port Kembla, New South Wales, Australia that competed in the Illawarra Rugby League competition before moving to the South Coast Group Seven competition in 2013.
The Port Kembla District Rugby League Football Club first entered the local rugby league competition in 1914, fielding a Third Grade team. The club wore an all-dark green jersey, playing on a home ground which was a section of the old golf links (the original Port Kembla Golf Club), located near Hill 60. The club played only one year before the First World War interrupted the competition.
In 1919, at the completion of World War I, the PKDRLFC resumed playing in the local 3rd Grade competition, this time playing in all-black jerseys (and becoming known as “The Blacks”). The Club entered 3rd Grade in 1919, Reserve Grade in 1920, and then First Grade in 1921. The club didn't have to wait long to win their maiden First Grade title and start a history of strong and respected local rugby league teams. 1922, the year of this first victory, also became the first of three consecutive First Grade titles for “The Blacks”.
The Club won five First Grade titles before adding a single white vee to their playing strip. The first top grade premiership in this jersey was won in 1934. It was not until the mid-1950s that the second white vee was added to the jersey to form the now famous Port Kembla “traditional” jersey. A few alternate strips were trialled in later years including a predominantly white jersey with horizontal black stripes in the mid-1980s, and the more modern sublimated strip from 1994. In 1999, the Club reverted to a more traditional playing strip, while still using the sublimated print jersey. The essence of the black jersey with two white vees was clearly evident, and still is today.
1946 saw the Port Kembla District RLFC win the Clayton Cup, presented to the Country Rugby League First Grade club with the best season record. The First Grade team in 1946 went through the season undefeated – a feat also achieved in 1928 and 1941. No other Illawarra rugby league club has achieved this feat since. The PKDRLFC enjoyed all three grades winning their respective premierships on three occasions – 1937, 1938 and 1958. Port Kembla also holds the record for the most first grade titles won in all Australian rugby league competitions, including the NRL – 22 in total.
The Port Kembla Rugby League Football Club are credited with establishing the Port Kembla Leagues Club in the early 1950s, the Club's Major sponsor for most of its existence.
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