Macquarie University had only been open as a tertiary instiution for less than five years, when, in 1969, the Macquarie University Rugby League Football Club (MURLFC) was born. The Club was the brainchild of founders Neal Chapple and Jack Rodwell, who brought together a group of their schoolmates from Marist Bros. Eastwood and Marist Bros. North Sydney, who having entered University, all wanted to play football together.
In its first season Macquarie entered a U19 team and a 'C' grade team in the North Sydney Junior League. Training was held in a small park near North Ryde RSL, although scraping up a team often proved far more demanding. Strangers were dragged out of pubs and buses and coaxed into playing. It wasn't surprising that the teams weren't very successful in this their first year of competitive football.
in 1970, the New South Wales Rugby League formed the University Cup Competition. Macquarie joined Sydney University, University of NSW and University of Newcastle Rugby League clubs to create a competition that was not restricted by the same boundaries as other senior open age competitions within Sydney. Tapping into a new market to promote the game within the Sydney metropolitan area, this initiative by the NSWRL gained real momentum throughout the 70's and 80's and is known today as as the NSW Tertiary Student Rugby League.
In 1970, Macquarie fielded two teams in the newly formed University Cup Competition - MU Balaclava and MU Culloden. The Club consisted of only about 30-35 players. The first coaches were relations of one of the players. In these first years Macquarie could not match it with Sydney University or NSW University who both heralded from the NSWRL Second Division.
In 1973, the University Cup introduced a second division. Macquarie now fielded three teams, one in First Division and two in Second Division. In 1973 and 1974 Macquarie's first successes came in the form of the Arnold Stehr Knockout Competition. In 1975 and 1976 the Club could only manage to field two teams and it wasn't until a year later that things began to change.
In 1977 the Club advertised for a First Grade coach. The man who got the job, Theo Burgess, set about changing the whole face of the Club. Theo gave the Club a more professional outlook. Training became a very serious affair, unlike the touch football days of the early 70's. The Club sought and gained sponsorship. A third Macquarie team was introduced to play as the University Cup Competition expanded to three divisions. The committee also took on a much more active role. In 1978, a fourth grade was introduced. Although no premierships were won during these two years, the foundations had been set for a well organised attack at a title.
1979 marked the start of a real turning point in the Club's onfield success. Macquarie won its first pre-season competition before taking out the Club Championship for the most successful Club across all divisions by season's end. Macquarie would go onto win eight successive Club Championships between 1979 and 1987.
1980 was a memorable year. The Club took out the pre-season and Club Championships for the second successive year, while Second Grade went one better and gave the Club its first Premiership. Brian Savage coached the team which beat NSW Institute 22 - 9 in a Grand Final that was 9 - 9 at full time. In extra time Macquarie powered away to a well deserved win. Tony "Half Tooth" Carr was the Club's first Premiership winning captain.
In 1981, the Club took out the Club Championship 150 points clear of its nearest rival Sydney University. All four grades made the semi finals which in itself was a remarkable achievement by coaches and players alike. Third Grade, coached by Terry Gum and captained by Jeff Towers, went through undefeated to win the Grand Final 10 - 5 against Teachers Club. They were only the second University Cup team to go through a season undefeated.
1984 was the breakthrough year for the Club. Finally breaking the shackles of the "bridesmaids' tag which had seen five unsuccessful Grand Final appearances since 1970, First Division captured the spoils, and with it the University Cup for the first time, with a memorable 17-14 win against long-standing rivals Catholic College. Second and Third Grade finished second in their respective divisions and Macquarie became the first Club in the history of the competition to field all three sides in the major semi-finals.
All up, during this "golden era" of rugby, from 1969 to 1988, MURLFC contested 34 finals, made it to the last dance on 17 occassions, won 7 premierships, and were crowned Club Champions 8 times in 9 years.