Warilla-Lake South Gorillas


The Warilla-Lake South Gorillas are an Australian rugby league football team based in Lake Illawarra, a coastal town of the Illawarra region. The club is a part of Country Rugby League and have competed in the South Coast first grade competition since 1970. The club's greatest achievement to date is winning the Clayton Cup in 1982.

History

The very first team to play for Warilla was an under-9's side in the Illawarra competition in 1964. On the back of this, in 1965, Warilla successfully split from Shellharbour-Lake Illawarra to form their own club known as Warilla. The club fielded an under-18s squad that year entered their inaugural grade team in reserves in 1966. In 1969, the club took its first step into first grade, as well as fielding a third grade side for the first time.
The Gorillas won their first premiership in 1978. Their success continued winning three more first grade grand finals in the 80's and again in the 90's. The turn of the century wasn't as fruitful for the club winning no first grade titles, although they participated in a few finals. Notably, the Gorillas lost two consecutive grand finals, in 2009 to the Albion Park-Oak Flats Eagles and in 2010 to the Gerringong Lions.
In 2011 Warilla ended their 14-year premiership drought by defeating the Gerringong Lions 36–6. Prop Alex Volkanovski was named man of the match in his final game for the Gorillas before embarking on his UFC career. Since the Gorillas grand final win in 2011 they appeared in three losing grand finals, 2013 to the Gerringong Lions, 2014 to the Nowra-Bomaderry Jets and in 2016 to the Gerringong Lions.
In 2020, the Gorillas and the Lions rivalry continued in the 2020 grand final. Gerringong won this encounter 20-6 which featured Tyran Wishart who would go on and play in the NRL. In 2022, the Gorillas would have there revenge against the Lions winning their 9 premiership with a 16-14 win.
The Gorillas did not enter a first-grade team in 2025. This was the first time they did not feature in first grade side since their inception into the Group 7 Rugby League competition in 1969.

Colours

The team's colours are gold and blue.

Notable Juniors

Notable First Grade Players that have played at Warilla-Lake South Gorillas include:

Honours

Team

Group 7 Rugby League Premierships: 9First Grade Minor Premierships: 9Second Grade Premierships: 8Third Grade Premierships : 3U-18's Premierships: 11Club Championships: 11Clayton Cup: 1
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Individuals

Michael Cronin Medal: 7Group 7 Player of the Year: 10Rookie of the Year: 6Leading Point-scorer of the Year: 4Leading Try-scorer of the Year: 7Kevin Walsh Scholarship: 6Under-18s Player of the Year: 8Under-21s Player of the Year: 2
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