Portfolio (Outdated) NRL Jerseys, 1908–2006 – inspired by FootyJumpers

[Lemon Boi]

Inspired by @Mero’s fantastic website www.footyjumpers.com, this thread shall illustrate the jerseys worn in the NRL from its foundation in 1908 to 2006 and (probably, eventually) beyond.

Unless otherwise specified, the jersey/uniform in each image was worn in every match in the years stated.

Teams are posted in this order:
Eastern Suburbs / Sydney City / Roosters
South Sydney Rabbitohs
Cumberland
Newcastle Rebels
Glebe Dirty Reds
Annandale
Newtown Jets
North Sydney Bears
Western Suburbs Magpies
Balmain Tigers
University
St George Dragons
Canterbury–Bankstown Bulldogs
Manly–Warringah Sea Eagles (1947–99)
Parramatta Eels
Cronulla–Sutherland Sharks
Penrith Panthers (1967–2001)
Illawarra Steelers
Canberra Raiders
Brisbane Broncos
Newcastle Knights
Gold Coast–Tweed Giants / Seagulls / Chargers
Auckland / New Zealand Warriors
Western Reds / Perth Reds
South Queensland Crushers
Adelaide Rams
Hunter Mariners
Melbourne Storm
St George–Illawarra Dragons
Wests Tigers
Northern Eagles
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles (2003–06)
Penrith Panthers (2002–06)​

League-wide changes:
1915 – Number panels introduced no later than this year
1940s – Wartime restrictions result in all teams altering their designs
1950s – Teams begin to sew their emblem on their jerseys’ left breast
1975–76 – ¾ length and/or ½ length sleeves adopted by all teams
1978 – Most teams update their emblem into logos

Logos:
1983–84 – NSWRFL
1984–94 – NSWRL
1995–97 – ARL / Super League
1998–2001 – NRL
2002–06 – NRL Telstra Premiership


Comment if you spot any inconsistencies.

 

[Lemon Boi]

Eastern Suburbs, 1908–82

1908–14


1915–43 – Number panel added


1944–46 – Wartime jersey


1947–53 – Same as 1915–43 but with white shorts instead of black


1954–66 – Tricolour jersey


1967–74 – Lighter shade of navy blue, team emblem added


1975–76 – ¾ length sleeves introduced


1977–79 – Stripes added to sides of shorts, socks lighter shade of navy


1980–82 – Team name added to emblem


1982 – Summer jersey worn in Rounds 1, 2, and 3

 

[Lemon Boi]

Eastern Suburbs, 1983–94

1983–84 – NSWRFL logo added


1985–93 – Updated NSWRL logo


1992–93 – ½ length variant of previous jersey


1994 – Number font changed


1994 – Alternate jersey


1994 – Above jersey was occasionally worn with white shorts

 

[Lemon Boi]

Sydney City, 1995–97

1995 – ARL logo


1995 – ARL logo, white pinstripes added to yoke


1995 – Occasional white shorts


1996 – New team logo, ARL logo in Optus badge


1996 – Alternate/away jersey


1997 – New ARL logo


1997 – New ARL logo


1997 special, Round 11

 

[Lemon Boi]

Sydney City / Roosters, 1998–2001

1998 – NRL logo in green badge


1998 – NRL logo in green badge


1999 – Polyester jersey


1999 – Polyester jersey


2000–01 – New team logo, smaller yoke, different sleeve/cuff design


2000 – Steeper yoke


2001 – Everything slightly altered

 

[Lemon Boi]

Sydney Roosters, 2002–06

2002–03 Home


2002–03 Away


2002–03 Alternate


2002–06 Heritage alternate


2004–06 Home


2004 Away/alternate


2005 Away/alternate


2006 Away/alternate

 

[Lemon Boi]

South Sydney, 1908–79

1908


1909–14 – Myrtle stripes wider


1915–44 – Number panel added


1945–46 – Wartime jersey


1947–58 – Same as 1915 jersey with new socks


1959–64


1965–74


1975–76


1977


1978–79

 

[Lemon Boi]

South Sydney, 1980–94

early 1980 – First “Minties” jersey had a yellow number


mid 1980–82 – Stripe removed from back, white number


1983–84 – NSWRFL logo added


1985 – Back to traditional stripes, new NSWRL logo


1986–88 – ½ length sleeves


1988 – Some players wore ¾ length sleeves in 1988


1989–90 – All players in ½ length sleeves, new socks


1991–93 – Logos lower on front of jersey


1994 – Black shorts and striped socks return

 

[Lemon Boi]

South Sydney, 1995–99

1995 – ARL logo


1996 – Optus ARL logo


1997 – Lighter myrtle, white collar, new Optus ARL logo


1998 – NRL logo in green badge


1999 – NRL logo not in badge

 

[Lemon Boi]

South Sydney, 2002–06

2002 Home


2002 Away/alternate


2003 Home


2003 Away/alternate


2004–06 Home


2004 Away/alternate


(NOTE: No white jersey was worn in 2005)

2006 Abomination (I can’t make this on MS Paint)

 

[Lemon Boi]

Cumberland, 1908

1908



Newcastle, 1908–09

1908–09



Glebe, 1908–1929

1908–10


1911–14


1915–29



Annandale, 1910–1920

1910–14


1915–20



Newtown, 1908–75

1908–14


1915–49


1950–75

 

[Lemon Boi]

Newtown, 1976–83

1976


1977


1978–82


1978–82, alternate blue shorts


1983



North Sydney, 1908–69

1908–14


1915–31


1932–41


1942–53


1954–69

 

[Lemon Boi]

North Sydney, 1970–82

1970–74


1970 warm weather jersey


1971–74 warm weather jersey


1975


1975 warm weather jersey


1976–77


1976–77 warm weather jersey


1978


1978 warm weather jersey


1979–82

 

[Lemon Boi]

North Sydney, 1983–93

1983–84


1985–86


1987–91


1992–93, ¾ length sleeve variant


1992–93, ½ length sleeve variant


1992 alternate, ¾ length sleeve variant


1992 alternate, ½ length sleeve variant


1993 alternate, ¾ length sleeve variant


1993 alternate, ½ length sleeve variant

 

[Heardy_101]

Looking good!

 

[jle101]

Excellent work mate. You've clearly put a lot of research into this. Have you thought about posting this project on a Rugby League forum somewhere? You might get a few more people interested in it than here.

 

[rabbitoh21]

Really well done. Have wanted to do this for years but never had the time.

 

[Lemon Boi]

North Sydney, 1994–99

1994, ¾ length sleeve variant


1994, ½ length sleeve variant


1995, ¾ length sleeve variant


1995, ½ length sleeve variant


1996


1997


1997–99 alternate (were slightly different in design each year, also had different ARL/NRL logos)


1998


1998 special, Round 17 (worn with different team crest)


1999

 

[Lemon Boi]

Western Suburbs, 1908–48

1908–14


1915–17


1918–25


1926–28


1929


1930


1931–42


1943


1944–47


1948

 

[Lemon Boi]

Western Suburbs, 1949–77

1949–52


1953–60


1961


1962–72


1973


1974


1974, white shorts were worn at least once this year (and probably in other years prior to 1978)


1975–77

 

[AuntyBlindEye]

I don't think this is quite comprehensive enough.

Nah good stuff LB. It's always good to have more jumper nerds around.

 

[Lemon Boi]

Western Suburbs, 1978–84

1978–82, ½ length sleeve variant


1978–80 and 1982 alternate, ½ length sleeve variant


1981–82, ¾ length sleeve variant


1981 alternate, ¾ length sleeve variant


1981 alternate, ½ length sleeve variant


1982 alternate, ¾ length sleeve variant


1983–84, ¾ length sleeve variant


1983–84, ½ length sleeve variant


1983–84 alternate, ¾ length sleeve variant


1983–84 alternate, ½ length sleeve variant

 

[AuntyBlindEye]

This is just the start of a series of 402 images.

And I’d go into the 2000s but my trusty MS Paint can’t cope with the curves and gradients.

Haha * me that's a decent effort. I'll be along for the ride.

You need to get a "legit" copy of illustrator or Photoshop to knock about in. This talent it's too big for MS paint.

 

[Lemon Boi]

Western Suburbs, 1985–94

1985–89, ¾ length sleeve variant


1985–89 alternate, ¾ length sleeve variant


1985–91, ½ length sleeve variant


1985–91 alternate, ½ length sleeve variant


1988–89 alternative alternate, ¾ length sleeve variant


1988–91 alternative alternate, ½ length sleeve variant


1992–94, ¾ length sleeve variant


1992–94, ½ length sleeve variant


1992–94 alternate, ¾ length sleeve variant


1992–94 alternate, ½ length sleeve variant

 

[AuntyBlindEye]

Balmain, 1908–1968

1908–1914: Black-and-orange striped jersey, white collar, black cuffs, black shorts, black socks with three orange stripes on top-fold
View attachment 806810

1915–1929: Wide black-and-orange striped jersey, white collar, black cuffs, white panel with black number, black shorts, black socks with three orange stripes on top-fold
View attachment 806811

1930–1939: Black-and-orange double-pinstriped jersey, white collar, black cuffs, white panel with black number, black shorts, black socks with orange top-fold
View attachment 806812

1940–1947: Orange jersey with black vee, white collar, orange cuffs, white panel with black number, black shorts, black socks with orange top-fold
View attachment 806813

1948–1952: (same as 1930 design)
View attachment 806814

1953–(approx.)1956: Orange jersey with two black vees, white collar with lace-up neck, orange cuffs, black number, black shorts, black socks with three orange stripes
View attachment 806815

(no earlier than) 1957–1968: Same design as 1953 with club emblem added
View attachment 806816

The 1908 and 1930 designs are great. I'd love to see a team with an orange/black kit.