Charity Shield (NRL)
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| Sport | Rugby league |
|---|---|
| Inaugural season | 1982 |
| Number of teams | 2 |
| Shield Holders | |
| Most titles | |
The National Rugby League's Charity Shield match is an annual pre-season game between the South Sydney Rabbitohs and St. George Illawarra Dragons played before the start of the Premiership regular season. It has been regarded as the unofficial start to the National Rugby League (NRL) season and has been in operation since 1982, with the exception of 2000 and 2001 when Souths were omitted from the NRL.
Originally contested between South Sydney and St. George, and later by the St. George Illawarra Dragons when they formed a joint-venture with Illawarra in 1998 before the 1999 NRL season, the teams go head to head in an annual clash prior to the kickoff of the NRL season.
Since its inception in 1982, the Charity Shield has been played on 42 occasions. Of these, the Dragons (St George and St George Illawarra) have won 18 times, while the Rabbitohs, South Sydney have triumphed outright on 19 occasions. South Sydney holds the shield having won the most recent match in February 2024. Broken down, St George played 17 matches, winning 11; while St George Illawarra, since their joint-venture in 1999, have played 25 matches, winning 7.
The match has been broadcast on national television and is also now regularly screened live in the UK. The Charity Shield is for Souths Cares, Wollongong Hospital and St George Hospital.
Head To Head
| Team | Played | Games won | Games lost | Draws | Shields | PF | PA | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 43 | 20 | 18 | 5 | 25 | 785 | 737 | +48 | |
| 43 | 18 | 19 | 5 | 18 | 737 | 785 | -48 | |
| 17 | 11 | 4 | 2 | 11 | 273 | 217 | +56 | |
| 26 | 7 | 16 | 3 | 7 | 464 | 568 | -104 |
Match results
Biggest wins
| Points | Score | Winner | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 32 | 48–16 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | 2021 |
| 26 | 34–8 | St. George Illawarra Dragons | 2004 |
| 24 | 30–6 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | 1988 |
| 24 | 30–6 | St. George Dragons | 1996 |
| 24 | 30–6 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | 2005 |
Most points scored in a game by a winning side
| Points | Score | Winner | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 48 | 48–16 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | 2021 |
| 46 | 46–26 | St. George Illawarra Dragons | 2025 |
| 38 | 38–20 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | 2014 |
| 36 | 36–24 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | 2019 |
| 34 | 34–8 | St. George Illawarra Dragons | 2004 |
Most points scored in a game by a losing side
| Points | Score | Winner | Runner-up | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | 46–26 | St. George Illawarra Dragons | South Sydney Rabbitohs | 2025 |
| 24 | 36–24 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | St. George Illawarra Dragons | 2019 |
| 20 | 38–20 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | St. George Illawarra Dragons | 2014 |
| 20 | 21–20 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | St. George Dragons | 1992 |
| 20 | 24–20 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | St. George Illawarra Dragons | 2008 |
Most points scored in a game
| Points | Score | Winner | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 72 | 46–26 | St. George Illawarra Dragons | 2025 |
| 66 | 42-24 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | 2023 |
| 64 | 48–16 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | 2021 |
| 60 | 36–24 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | 2019 |
| 58 | 38–20 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | 2014 |
| 52 | 26–26 | Draw | 2010 |
| 46 | 32–14 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | 2017 |
| 44 | 26–18 | St. George Dragons | 1997 |
| 44 | 24–20 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | 2008 |
| 42 | 28–14 | St. George Dragons | 1987 |
| 42 | 34–8 | St. George Illawarra Dragons | 2004 |
| 42 | 32–10 | St. George Illawarra Dragons | 2011 |
Least points scored in a game
| Points | Score | Winner | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | 12–0 | St. George Dragons | 1986 |
| 16 | 9–7 | St. George Dragons | 1982 |
| 18 | 10–8 | St. George Dragons | 1985 |
| 18 | 10–8 | St. George Dragons | 1993 |
| 18 | 14–4 | St. George Dragons | 1998 |
See also
References
- ↑ "NRL Trial: Dragons v Rabbitohs | Austadiums". www.austadiums.com. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
- ↑ "Dragons beaten in Charity Shield". dragons.com.au. 19 February 2017. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
External links
- St. George Illawarra Dragons matches
- South Sydney Rabbitohs matches
- Rugby league competitions in New South Wales
- Rugby league trophies and awards
- Rugby league rivalries
- National Rugby League
- Rugby league in Sydney
- Recurring sporting events established in 1982
- 1982 establishments in Australia
- St. George Dragons
- Sports rivalries in Australia
- Charity events in Australia
- Charity football matches
- Charity sports events
