1968
The Founding
“Wednesday, 16 August 1968 is not a significant day in history's calendar. But it is an important day for Macquarie University.” A group of visionaries meet, and the club is born.
Macquarie University R.L.F.C. · Est. 16 August 1968
Home of the Tree Frogs
Fifty-five years of green and gold. Thirteen premierships. One club that refused to stay quiet.
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- Premierships
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- Club Championships
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- Arnold Stehr Trophies
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- Years
The Journey
A long and storied history — told the way it happened.
1969
First Footsteps
Two teams enter the North Sydney District competition; the first game is played on 4 April 1969.
1970
The University Cup
Macquarie, Sydney Uni and UNSW found the University Cup — and Macquarie reaches the very first Grand Final. The competition would breed future NRL names: John Muggleton, Neil Whittaker, Warren Boland, Des Hasler.
The 1970s
Coming of Age
Six Grand Final appearances, no silverware yet — but under “no nonsense” coach Theo Burgess, second best stops being acceptable. Legends of the era: Kevin Liggett, Paul Cooney, John Pinkerton, Brian Savage, Jeff Williams, Mark Lucas.
1979
The SCG
Macquarie plays the curtain-raiser to the Australia v Great Britain Ashes Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground — and beats archrival Sydney University, with Steve Tamone as captain.
1980
First Silverware
Second Grade wins the club's first premiership, 22–9 in extra time over Institute of Technology. Coach Brian Savage, captain Tony Carr. The floodgates open.
1981
The Invincibles
Terry Gum's Third Grade goes the entire season undefeated — the only Macquarie side ever to do it. 357 points for, 61 against. Captain: Jeff “Fawlty” Towers.
1984
First Grade Glory
The club's first First Grade premiership, won on Macquarie's own main oval, 17–14 over Catholic College of Education. Coach Brian Savage, captain Steve Tamone.
1988
The Double
Second Grade (coach Terry “Tus” Murray) beats CCE 21–8, then First Grade (coach Kevin McGarrity, captain Brian “Bad” Johnson) grinds out 4–0 in atrocious conditions. The greatest day in the club's first twenty years. From 1980–88: seven premierships and a record 8th Club Championship.
1990
One More for the Road
Second Grade premiers again, 18–14 over CCE. Coach “Tus” Murray — a club-record five Grand Finals as coach.
The Early 90s
The Fold
The university changes, the funding shifts, and the great club goes quiet.
1997
The First Resurrection
Paul Samany — player, president, believer — coaches the club back to silverware: Third Grade Plate, 18–0 over UTS. Captain Eamon Halway.
2001–2006
The Tree Frogs' Golden Era
“Macquarie University, now with a new nickname in the ‘Tree Frogs’, hit the ground running — and didn't stop.” 2004: promoted to First Division.
Enter the Golden Era ↓2017
The Mac Warriors
John Pinkerton and Mick Bona will the club back to life a second time, with little more than sheer determination.
2018
The Final Premiership
Coach Mark Blinkhorn's Second Grade beats TAFE NSW Polecats 26–16 — the club's 8th Bill Buckley Memorial Trophy — and wins the Nines over Sydney University for good measure.
2023
The Women Arrive
Macquarie fields its first Women's Team under coach Mitch Moore.
2024
Full Time
After 55 years, the final whistle. “Will it rise again? It's hard to know. But one thing is for certain — if it does, success will surely follow.”
2026
The Reunion
1 August 2026, Ryde-Eastwood Leagues Club. Thirteen Macquarie Legends honoured. The stories, retold like they were yesterday.
The Totem
Why the Tree Frog?
When Macquarie re-emerged into the NSW Student Rugby League at the turn of the millennium, the club took a new name: the Tree Frogs. It fit better than anyone knew. The green tree frog wears Macquarie's colours — green and gold. It lives quietly in the creeks and bushland around the university. And here is the real truth of the totem: a tree frog can vanish through the dry seasons, then burst back to life when the rain returns. This club folded twice — and twice it came back singing. The club's own historian called those years "hibernation". The Tree Frogs called it half time.
The players never called the home ground anything so formal as a field. To them it was the Lily Pad — Treefrog Headquarters. New recruits were ‘fresh faces at the lily pad’; the crest was a grinning green frog over a football; and the certificates handed out at season's end honoured ‘the Mighty Treefrogs’.
“Last seen leaving the grand final field howling ‘treeeefroooogs’ — like a rampant Billy Moore.”
Do you know the true story of who chose the name, and why? The archive wants it. Get in touch.
The Green & Gold
1968–1990s
The Tree Frogs
2000s
The Mac Warriors
2017–2024
NSW Student Rugby League · Second Division
The Golden Era — 2001–2006
Three premierships in six seasons. A captain-coach who led from every position that mattered. The era that gave the club its name and its roar.
2001
Premiers
Grand Final: defeated UTS.
Captain-Coach: Jason Fuller
President: John Tsiklieris · Secretary: Aiden Nye · Treasurer: Val Reja · Clubman & Best Player: Jason Fuller
The first flag of the new millennium.
2002
A hard season — and the seeds of the comeback. Players' Player: Phil Naylor (also the club's ‘ER’ Award). The certificates read: ‘In recognition of your contribution to the Mighty Treefrogs of 2002.’ Coach & Best Player: Jason Fuller.
2003
Premiers
“Tree frogs running on adrenaline”
Rugby League Review — as it ran in print
Reborn in 2003 — five wins, three losses and soul-searching by late May… then undefeated all the way to the flag.
Season review — John Tsiklieris
Macquarie University produced an emotional and inspirational win to beat hot favourites UWS Macarthur 24–14 in the grand final — a true David and Goliath battle against a bigger side led by former NRL prop Michael Brabek. Troy Porter crashed over twice, John Steel stepped inside magnificently, Matt Mortimer kicked four goals. Then, with two minutes remaining and the game in the balance, Sam Williams scored after a Jason Fuller break. The try sent the crowd and the interchange into a frenzy. On the bell, elder statesman John ‘Toma’ Flint — a Treefrog for two decades, and part of all three of the club's premiership sides to that point — fell to the turf and hugged it.
- Half-time 12–10
- Man of the Match: John Steel
- Tries: Troy Porter 2, John Steel, Sam Williams
- Goals: Matt Mortimer 4
Grand Final: 16 August 2003 · Norford Park, Chester Hill — thirty-five years to the day after the club's founding meeting.
Captain-Coach: Jason Fuller
Programme colours: Green / Gold / White
The 2003 Premiership Tree Frogs
- 1Sam Williams “The Doc”
- 2Aaron Spadaro “Spads”
- 3Troy Porter “The Boy”
- 4Angus Woods “Woodsy”
- 5Matt Mortimer “Elvis”
- 6Jason Fuller (c) “Choppers”
- 7John Steel “Man Of”
- 8Tim McIntyre “Luigi”
- 9Christian Porter “Porter”
- 10Adrian Halpenny “Halpers”
- 11Steve Brogan “Broges”
- 12Michael Hay “Mickey”
- 13Rob Gandiaga “Robbie”
Interchange
- 14Phil Naylor “Philth”
- 15Joshua Grieve “Belvedere”
- 16Dave Merrick “Merrick”
- 17Aiden Nye “Sluggo”
- 18John Flint “Toma”
- 19John Dike “JD”
- 20Avo Kalachian ✦ “Mr Entertainment”
President: Aiden Nye Sr · Secretary: John Tsiklieris · Treasurer: Val Reja · Captain-Coach: Jason Fuller · Clubman: John Flint · Best Player: Jason Fuller · Trainers on the day: Frank Farhart & Val Reja
✦ Avo Kalachian (1975–2009) — 2003 premiership Tree Frog, remembered always.
- d. UWS Nirimba II 36–10
- d. Cumberland College 30–22 (from behind, sudden death)
- Final: d. Cumberland Tigers 34–6, Norford Park
- GRAND FINAL: d. UWS Macarthur 24–14
“The jubilation on the players, officials and supporters' faces was something that money can't buy. If any NRL club wants to see the true spirit of Rugby League, get yourself a tape of the game.”
2004
Promoted to First Division — the flag earned the Tree Frogs a step up to face UTS Jets, Sydney University, UWS Nirimba, UWS Nepean and Bathurst. A hard year up in First Division.
2005
One game short
Back in Second Division, the Treefrogs finished third. The season's legend was written on Wazza's bus: eleven Frogs made the trip to Bathurst and beat an eighteen-man home side 7–4 in pouring rain — every point scored by Troy ‘The Boy’ Porter. The run ended 26–20 to Newcastle in the preliminary final at Henson Park.
Coach: Adrian Halpenny · President: John ‘JT’ Tsiklieris · Secretary: Val Reja · Clubman: Rob Gandiaga · Best Player: Michael Hay
2006
Premiers
Grand Final: defeated UWS Nirimba 22–14 at Leichhardt Oval — five tries to three.
Leichhardt Oval — home of the Balmain Tigers.
The kit: white with green-and-gold chevrons (Exchange Hotel Balmain era), carrying the Treefrog badge — a cartoon green tree frog.
Coach: Frank Reale · President: John Tsiklieris · Secretary: Val Reja · Treasurer: Mato Mato · Clubman: John Flint · Best Player: Mark Rutterman
The dynasty's encore.
Were you there?
The 2001–2006 records are incomplete — secretaries, treasurers, clubmen, best players. Help the archive complete the board.
A Dedication
The Captain. The Coach. The Heartbeat.
Jason Fuller
‘Choppers’ — five-eighth
Some men play for a club. Some men coach one. Jason Fuller carried one. When the Tree Frogs era dawned, Fuller was everywhere the club needed him to be — first out of the sheds as captain, last off the training paddock as coach, and at the heart of every decision the club made. He steered the 2001 side past UTS for the club's first premiership of the new millennium, then did it again in 2003, 24–14 over UWS Macarthur. Captain-coach of both. Best player of the era — three seasons running. The engine of the era that gave this club a new name and its old roar. This statue stands where he always stood — out front. And when the 2003 decider hung in the balance with two minutes left, it was a Fuller break that sent Sam Williams over — the try that sealed the era.
“Magical Treefrog captain-coach and playmaker who can sniff out a try from anywhere on the field. Chief organiser of defence and attack — always letting the boys know where to go.”
- 2× Premiership Captain-Coach — 2001 & 2003
- Best Player — 2001, 2002 & 2003
- Clubman 2001 · Coach 2001–2003
Engraved in Timber
The Honour Board
As it hangs — gaps and all. An honour board is honest: where the record is blank, the board stays blank.
| Year | President | Secretary | Treasurer | Coach | Clubman | Best Player |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | J. Pinkerton | J. Rodwell | M. Boland | R. Harding | B. Savage | K. Liggett |
| 1976 | J. Pinkerton | M. Boland | K. Liggett | R. Harding | R. Harding | G. Hope |
| 1977 | J. Pinkerton | G. Brown | K. Liggett | T. Burgess | T. Burgess | P. Cooney |
| 1978 | J. Pinkerton | I. Geddes | J. Williams | T. Burgess | M. Lucas | G. Tumminello |
| 1979 | J. Pinkerton | B. Crawford | R. Dadge | G. Green | J. Pinkerton | S. Tamone |
| 1980 | J. Pinkerton | T. Gum | I. Geddes | G. Green | I. Geddes | M. Aldiss |
| 1981 | J. Pinkerton | T. Gum | M. Pettit | B. Savage | J. Williams | C. Bullier |
| 1982 | J. Williams | S. Bayliss | M. Pettit | B. Savage | S. Bayliss | T. Collins |
| 1983 | P. Samany | M. Pettit | N. Calabria | B. Savage | M. Pettit | A. Murray |
| 1984 | T. Gum | S. Denning | D. F. Gorman | B. Savage | P. Samany | S. Tamone |
| 1985 | T. Gum | M. Pettit | D. F. Gorman | J. McEvoy | M. Pettit | D. M. Elroy |
| 1986 | B. Savage | M. Pettit | P. Wood | J. McEvoy | P. Wood | D. McElroy |
| 1987 | B. Savage | M. Pettit | P. Keady | K. McGarrity | B. Johnston | D. McElroy |
| 1988 | B. Savage | M. Pettit | C. Fameli | K. McGarrity | C. Fameli | B. Johnston |
| 1989 | M. Pettit | T. Murray | C. Fameli | M. Skinner | T. Murray | B. Casey |
| 1990 | D. M. Elroy | T. Murray | T. Stevens | T. Murray | T. Murray | D. M. Elroy |
| 1992 | D. McElroy | — | — | B. Edwards | — | — |
| 1996 | H. Zreika | B. Summerhayes | P. Maskell | P. Samany | G. Hazel | C. Magnacca |
| 1997 | P. Samany | T. Sutherland | — | P. Samany | G. Hazel | T. Sutherland |
| 1998 | P. Samany | — | — | J. McEvoy | R. Haleay | E. Haloway |
| 2001 | J. Tsiklieris | A. Nye | V. Reja | J. Fuller | J. Fuller | J. Fuller |
| 2002 | J. Tsiklieris | A. Nye | V. Reja | J. Fuller | P. Naylor | J. Fuller |
| 2003 | A. Nye | J. Tsiklieris | V. Reja | J. Fuller | J. Flint | J. Fuller |
| 2004 | J. Tsiklieris | A. Nye | V. Reja | A. Halpenny | J. Flint | M. Hay |
| 2005 | J. Tsiklieris | V. Reja | — | A. Halpenny | R. Gandiaga | M. Hay |
| 2006 | J. Tsiklieris | V. Reja | M. Mato | F. Reale | J. Flint | M. Rutterman |
| 2017 | J. Pinkerton | B. Biancini | — | M. Blinkhorne | — | — |
| 2018 | J. Pinkerton | S. Quaken | J. Yacoub | M. Blinkhorne | M. Henman | B. Jefferies |
| 2019 | J. Pinkerton | R. Gomes | — | T. Clarke | N. Phillips | L. Wheeler |
| 2020 | J. Pinkerton | R. Gomes | M. Bonifacio | T. King | J. Galea | R. Gomes |
| 2021 | J. Pinkerton | R. Gomes | M. Bonifacio | T. King | — | — |
| 2022 | J. Pinkerton | R. Gomes | L. Wheeler | T. King | T. King | Townsend |
| 2023 | J. Pinkerton | R. Gomes | L. Wheeler | T. King | R. Townsend | — |
| 2025 | — | — | — | A. Halpenny / V. Reja | — | — |
Transcribed from the club honour board as displayed at the 2026 Reunion. The 2001–2006 rows were completed from club records in August 2026 — the golden era, finally inscribed in full. Elsewhere, blanks are blanks on the board itself — help us fill them.
Best of Macquarie's Best
The Macquarie Legends
At the 2026 Reunion, a Selection Committee that deliberated for six months announced thirteen Macquarie Legends — a full football team of the Best of Macquarie's Best across 55 years.
01LEGEND
02LEGEND
03LEGEND
04LEGEND
05LEGEND
06LEGEND
07LEGEND
08LEGEND
09LEGEND
10LEGEND
11LEGEND
12LEGEND
13LEGEND
Names to be inscribed.
Brilliance & Service
Phil “The Lightning” Naylor
One of the most brilliant players in the club's history — and one of its great clubmen. Best Player, 2002. A Second Division premier in 2003.
In Memoriam
Lest We Forget
We remember the ones who can't be there — a big part of our lives, passed on but never forgotten.
- Bob Barber
- Geoff Brown
- Theo Burgess
- Warwick Bolton
- Paul Cooney
- Ron Cory
- Paul Gleeson
- Brian Johnston
- Syd Kenny
- Kevin Liggett
- Tony Monago
- Terry Murray
- Ken Sheehan
- Steve Tamone
- Ron Wilson
- Olsen Filipana
- Ian Geddes
- Alan Curry
- Paul Woods
- Paul Murphy
- Brett Edwards
- Hilton Humphries
- John Frangos
- Steve Curry
- Dave Daly
- Graham Collyer
- Graham Hope
- Stuart McEvoy
- Avo Kalachian
Lest We Forget.
The Team Photos
Every side, every era
Arms folded against the brick wall. Boots in the grass. Fifty-five years of Macquarie teams, photographed the way clubs have always photographed themselves.
The Archive
From the Archive
The club archive — 55 years of team photos, Grand Final days and reunion nights — is being digitised and will appear here.