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The Newcastle Cobras are a gridiron football club competing in the Gridiron NSW league. Newcastle Cobras Gridiron Inc. are an American Football club based in Newcastle, New South Wales, approximately two hours north of Sydney. The Newcastle Cobras are currently a full member club of NSW Gridiron. Newcastle first started competing in the Men’s Senior competition in 2012 and the Women’s Senior competition in 2013. Newcastle Cobras will have teams competing in both the Men’s and Women’s 2014 competitions.

Uniform
 ja:Template:American football uniforms box At the first AGM held in Dec 2011, the colours and uniform for the Newcastle Cobras was determined. Much debate had raged over the best choice of colours, with the main contenders being: Red and White (distinct from other clubs in the league), Red and Blue (as used by other professional clubs in Newcastle) and Black and Yellow (historical colours of the Newcastle Cobras). To avoid uniform clashes with the other teams in GNSW and to ensure a seperate identity from the other professional sporting teams in the region, the colours of Red and White were chosen. In the Cobras first season, the Cobras wore red jerseys with white pants (home) and white jerseys with white pants (away); both home and away uniforms used a red helmet with NC logos. In 2013 the red jersey was removed; only white jerseys with white pants and red helmets were worn. For the 2014 season, the club will remain with white jerseys with red trim and red helmets, however, the white pants will be replaced with red pants.

The Newcastle Cobras have a throwback uniform of black jerseys with yellow pants, however these have not been worn yet.

2012 Season
The Newcastle Cobras played their first competition match on the 25th August 2012, against the Central Coast Sharks losing 28-12. The Cobras fought hard all season but strugled to get their first victory as a club. The closest the Cobras came to getting the "W" was in the second last game of the season. Down by 2 points with under 4 minutes to play, the Cobras marched the ball down the field to score the go ahead Touchdown. A 2 point conversion put the Cobras up by 6 with a little under 45 seconds to play. Following a good kick return the Central Coast had the ball on the Cobras 30yd line. Throwing into triple coverage, the Sharks came up with the tying touchdown catch. The two point conversion was lost and the Cobras had to settle for a draw, further fuelling the rivalry between the two clubs.

The season culminated in the Cobras one and only home game in Newcastle. The Cobras had to take on the West Sydney Pirates who were placed second. Although clearly outmatched, the Cobras put up a fight infront of the largest crowd of the season. Unfortunately, with a 0-11-1 record for the season, finishing with the wooden spoon.

2013 Season
Having learnt a lot from the 2012 season, the Cobras were eager to get off to a strong start. The 2013 season started on the 24th August against the Woollongong Mustangs. The Cobras were down 14-6 at half time, but started the second half strong. Unfortunately an injury forced the cancellation of the game with over a quarter to play and the Mustangs were given the victory.

On the 7th September the Cobras versed the Central Coast Sharks for the first time that season. The Cobras played smash mouth football, continually rushing the ball down field. Eventually crossing the go ahead score; the two point conversion failed and the Cobras had the lead 6-0. The jubilation of being in front led to a costly mental error, as the ensuing kickoff was returned for a touchdown, promptly converted. Despite not giving up any points on defense and being able to move the ball on offense, the score stayed at 8-6; adding fire to the rivalry.

On Saturday the 21st September, after playing 6 seven-a-side games and 16 senior competition games, the Newcastle Cobras finally got their first competition victory. Playing against the Sutherland Seahawks, the Cobras played smash mouth football on offense, continually marching the ball down the field, while on defense the team was stout, managing to finish the game on a sack-fumble; running out winners 22-20.

The Cobras recorded their second victory ever during their one and only home game of the season. Playing the Bondi Raiders, the Cobras ran out victors 20-18 in front of the vocal home crowd.

The Cobras finished the season with 2-9-0 record. The Cobras had the same record as their rivals the Central Coast, but due to points differential, the Cobras finished 8th (out of 9 teams) one spot behind their rivals.

2014 Season
Registration for the 2014 Season will take place at the end of March, with preseason training set to start early April. The 2014 senior season will start on the last Saturday in August.

Rivalries
The Newcastle Cobras biggest rivals are the Central Coast Sharks. The rivalry stems from two main sources. Firstly, as Newcastle is a two hour drive away from the Sydney area (where most of the teams are located), the relatively close proximity of the Central Coast Sharks (approx. 45 minutes) has helped to give rise to a hard fought rivalry. Secondly, several players and coaches of the Newcastle Cobras played/coached for the Central Coast Sharks in 2011, while waiting for the Cobras to be accepted into the GNSW league.

In recognition of the rivalry, the two teams battle for the Ryan-Tos Trophey; named after the innaugural head coaches of both clubs. The trophey is awarded to the winning team after each match. Potentially changing hands twice in a season.

Basilisks – Junior Division
Due to the significant distance between Newcastle and Sydney; the location of the Gridion NSW Colt (14-18 years) Competition, Newcastle Cobras are working hard to establish a Junior Competition. Planning for a proposed juniors competition started in 2013, with the goal of having a full 7 a side competition started by March 2015.

Cobras – Ladies Gridiron
The Newcastle Cobras successfully fielded a team in the innaugural season of the Gridiron NSW Women's competition in 2013. The competition saw the Newcastle Cobras take on teams from the University of Technology Sydney, the Bondi Raiders and the Northwestern Pheonix. Although getting off to a tough start, losing the first two games, the Cobras worked hard at training and this was reflected in the standings as the Cobras finished second with a 5-3 record.

Finishing second, the Cobras advanced into the Grandfinal; officially known as "The Opal Bowl". Despite putting up an impressive fight, the Cobras eventually defeated 28-12 in the final.

Coaches

 * Head Coach - Paul Ryan
 * Offensive Co-ordinator – Keith McPhee
 * Defensive Co-ordinator – Mark Houston
 * Special Team Co-ordinator – Gavin Dyett

Committee

 * President – Lee Smith
 * Secretary – Gavin Dyett
 * Treasurer – Brenden Wrightson
 * Vice President (Seniors) – Corey Harragon
 * Vice President (Womens) – Teagon Ashpole
 * Vice President (Juniors) – Wayne Whittington
 * Vice President (Fundraising, Merchandise and Media) – Christopher Rogers

Captains
Offensive: Corey Harragon, Beau-Jon Ryan

Denfensive: Ben Walsh, Brenden Wrightson

Australian Outback Team
Players
 * Mark Legge - 2012 Outback Team

New South Wales Wolf Pack
Players
 * Max Nina - 2013 Playing Squad
 * Wayne Whittington - 2013 Prospect Squad
 * Beau-Jon Ryan - 2013 Training Squad
 * Jacob Ashpole - 2013 Training Squad

Coaches
 * Paul Ryan - 2013 Linebacker Coach
 * Keith McPhee - 2013 Offensive Line Coach
 * Gavin Dyett - 2013 Stats

New South Wales Coyotes
Players
 * Teagan Ashpole - 2013 Playing Squad

Coaches
 * Chris Bondin - Head Coach

Hall of Fame – Life Members
To date the Newcastle Cobras only has one Life member and one Hall of Fame representative. It is hoped that in the years to come, as the club grows, more players and club members will be able to be recognized for their contributions to the club.

Coach Paul Ryan
On the 8th of March 2012, the Newcastle Cobras held their inaugural jersey presentation night. It seemed only fitting that the inaugural jersey be presented to a man that was to become the Newcastle Cobras first ever Life Member, Hall of Famer and the only player to have their number permanently retired from the club; current Head Coach Paul Ryan.

Paul Ryan started his playing career in 1985 for the Campbell Town Cowboys and in that year played for the Australian team then known as the Kookaburras. Paul Ryan then went on to play a major role in the committee that set up the original Newcastle Cobras in 1988. He played for the Newcastle Cobras from their inception in 1988 till they were forced to fold in 1997. During this time, Paul Ryan represented New South Wales an outstanding 15 times between 1989 and 1996 (including the teams National Championship run). Paul Ryan was a member of the only Cobras championship winning team (so far), the 1991 team who beat the Manly Redbacks in the NSW AA Championship.

In 2011 Paul Ryan was contacted by the Newcastle Cobras in the hope that he might like to help the club to get up and running. Although unsure at first, Paul Ryan attended a few training sessions and before long, Paul Ryan became Coach Ryan. Under the tutelage of Coach Peter Tos Snr of the Central Coast Sharks and Australian Under 19 side, Coach Ryan has worked tirelessly to attain his coaching qualifications.

From his outstanding playing career which started for the Campbell town Cowboys in 1985, finished with the Bondi Raiders in 2004 and featured all 10 years of the original Newcastle Cobras in between; along with his 15 starts for New South Wales and 2 starts for Australia. To his help and dedication in starting up and head coaching the current Newcastle Cobras, Coach Paul Ryan’s passion, determination and dedication to the game and to the Newcastle Cobras is undeniable and unmatched.