Team | Nickname | League | Qualification | Participation (bold indicates winners) |
Enter in Round 1 |
Canterbury-Bankstown | Bulldogs | NSWRL | Winners of the 1985 New South Wales Rugby League Premiership | 13th (Previous: 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985) |
St. George | Dragons | NSWRL | Runners-Up in the 1985 New South Wales Rugby League Premiership | 13th (Previous: 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985) |
Parramatta | Eels | NSWRL | Third Place in the 1985 New South Wales Rugby League Premiership | 13th (Previous: 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985) |
Balmain | Tigers | NSWRL | Fourth Place in the 1985 New South Wales Rugby League Premiership | 13th (Previous: 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985) |
Penrith | Panthers | NSWRL | Fifth Place in the 1985 New South Wales Rugby League Premiership | 13th (Previous: 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985) |
Manly-Warringah | Sea Eagles | NSWRL | Sixth Place in the 1985 New South Wales Rugby League Premiership | 13th (Previous: 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985) |
Eastern Suburbs | Roosters | NSWRL | Seventh Place in the 1985 New South Wales Rugby League Premiership | 13th (Previous: 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985) |
Cronulla-Sutherland | Sharks | NSWRL | Eighth Place in the 1985 New South Wales Rugby League Premiership | 13th (Previous: 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985) |
South Sydney | Rabbitohs | NSWRL | Ninth Place in the 1985 New South Wales Rugby League Premiership | 13th (Previous: 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985) |
Canberra | Raiders | NSWRL | Tenth Place in the 1985 New South Wales Rugby League Premiership | 5th (Previous: 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985) |
North Sydney | Bears | NSWRL | Eleventh Place in the 1985 New South Wales Rugby League Premiership | 13th (Previous: 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985) |
Western Suburbs | Magpies | NSWRL | Twelfth Place in the 1985 New South Wales Rugby League Premiership | 13th (Previous: 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985) |
Illawarra | Steelers | NSWRL | Thirteenth Place in the 1985 New South Wales Rugby League Premiership | 5th (Previous: 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985) |
Brisbane | Poinsettias | BRL | League Representative Team | 8th (Previous: 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985) |
NSW Country | Kangaroos | CRL | Country League Representative Team | 8th (Previous: 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985) |
Enter in Preliminary round |
Port Moresby | Vipers | PNGRFL | League Representative Team | 1st |
Western Australia | Black Swans | WARL | State Representative Team | 3rd (Previous: 1977, 1978) |