It was a foundation member of the Newcastle Rugby League in 1909 and has been one of the most successful teams in that competition.

[1] The club has had a number of players represent Australia including Wally Prigg, a member of the Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame.

[3] A strike in 1909 hastened the conversion to the professional code and the club was formed in New Lambton, though no Rebels players had joined.

Despite attempts by the Newcastle Knights to gain sponsorship from the Wests Leagues Club, in 1995, the club was going to be the majority owner of the Hunter Mariners in the Super League competition until a majority of members of the club made it clear that they would not support a team in the Super League competing against the Knights in August 1995.

The team song for the Rosellas is "Oh have you ever seen a better football team than the one that plays for West, They come from miles away just to see us play for they say that West is best, The Western Suburbs boys fill the crowd with joy - they're the best you've ever seen, So you'd better come along when you hear this song and see the boys in the red and green."