Helensburgh NSW 2508
Helensburgh Tigers
Last updated 7 July 2026
The Helensburgh Tigers RLFC are Helensburgh’s local rugby league club — gold and black, playing home games at Rex Jackson Park in the town centre. The Tigers are a foundation club of the Illawarra Rugby League, which began in 1911 alongside Dapto, Wollongong, Unanderra, and Mount Keira.
Their first senior match was a 2–0 loss to Wollongong in that inaugural season. The club has been in and out of top grade over the decades, but remains one of the northern Illawarra’s enduring community clubs.
Quick facts
Rex Jackson Park is a Wollongong City Council sportsground on Walker Street, named after former local MP Rex Jackson. Check the council’s ground-status page before visiting — fields can close after wet weather.
Premierships
Illawarra Rugby League first-grade premierships (4):
- 1986 — maiden title
- 1988
- 1993
- 2015 — defeated Western Suburbs 16–10
The club has also won multiple reserve-grade titles. For current ladders, draws, and junior results, see the club website or Facebook — do not rely on this page for this weekend’s fixtures.
Notable alumni
Helensburgh has produced juniors who went on to NRL and representative football, including:
- Damien Cook — South Sydney Rabbitohs, St George Illawarra Dragons, Canterbury Bulldogs; NSW and Australian representative
- Justin Poore — St George Illawarra Dragons, Parramatta Eels
- Neil Piccinelli — Illawarra Steelers, Hunter Mariners, Newcastle Knights
- Jessica Sergis — Australian Jillaroos and NRLW
Community
The Tigers remain a cornerstone of Helensburgh community life. Generations of local families have played juniors on Walker Street; gold and black are woven through town sport and school life, including Helensburgh Public School sports colours.
Local sponsors have historically included Metropolitan Coal / Peabody Energy and other Helensburgh businesses. Home games on a winter Saturday are still one of the easiest ways to see the town gather — especially when the seniors are playing at the ovals.
Related pages
Sources: Wikipedia, BarTV Sports, Wollongong City Council.