 This was the third time in succession Goonellabah Stars had won the Cyril Mayo Memorial Cup since its donation in 1958.In 1961 Irishman Bill Harris left Goonellabah Stars, the most successful club in the competition, to form a new club; Richmond Rovers.Harris' motivation was to "foster younger players ... create more interest in the code by expanding the competition, which he saw as lopsided due to Goonellabah Stars dominance".