TheAmco Cup (subsequently known by various other sponsors' names including theTooth Cup,KB Cup,National Panasonic Cup andPanasonic Cup) was a mid-weekrugby league competition held inAustralia between 1974 and 1989. The format was usually a straight knock-out, but various group formats were used between 1979 and 1982. It aired onChannel Ten withRay Warren andKeith Barnes the commentators for many years. The concept was created byColin McLennan.
Promoter Colin McLennan, who also brought to Australia the jazz legend Benny Goodman and comedians Dudley Moore and Peter Cook, was the man who brought the mid-week Cup to life.[1]The competition was essentially a "made for TV" event, featuring 4 x 20-minute quarters and a penalty countback rule in the event of a draw. Matches were played under floodlights, usually on a Wednesday evening. InitiallyLeichhardt Oval inSydney was the main venue, though later matches were played atLang Park inBrisbane,Parramatta Stadium and various country centres inNew South Wales. The competition was scrapped after the increasingly professional clubs resented the additional burdens on their players caused by the mid-week games. In 1990 it was replaced by a preseason challenge cup played for only by theSydney Rugby League premiership teams.
Western Division
Penrith
Easterm Suburbs
Parramatta
Balmain
North Sydney
Western Suburbs
St. George
Cronulla
Brisbane
South Sydney
Manly
Newtown
Brisbane
Illawarra
