The 1918 New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership was the eleventh season of Sydney’s professional rugby league club competition, Australia’s first. Eight teams from across the city contested during the season, with South Sydney finishing on top of the ladder to claim the premiership.Premiership Roll of Honour at rl1908.com
Season summary The quality of the competition in 1918 suffered due to the loss of players fighting in World War I. South Sydney and Western Suburbs dominated the season, dropping just two and three games respectively. With just three rounds to go, both sides met each square on 18 points each. A win for South Sydney would virtually guarantee them the premiership unless they dropped their final two games. At the end of the day, South Sydney prevailed 11–3 and went on to win all their remaining matches, taking away their fourth premiership from eleven seasons.
The season also saw the struggling Dales fail to win a game from fourteen starts. It was the first winless season in NSWRFL history and signalled the end for the club, who would play only a further two seasons in the premiership.
The Western Suburbs club claimed their first title by winning the knockout competition, the City Cup.
Teams The lineup of teams remained unchanged from the previous season.
Annandale Balmain, formed on 23 January 1908 at Balmain Town Hall Eastern Suburbs, formed on 24 January 1908 at Paddington Town Hall Glebe, formed on 9 January 1908 Newtown, formed on 14 January 1908 North Sydney, formed on 7 February 1908 South Sydney, formed on 17 January 1908 at Redfern Town Hall Western Suburbs, formed on 4 February 1908
Annandale9th seasonGround:Wentworth Park Coach: Captain: Arthur Butler Balmain11th seasonGround: Birchgrove OvalCaptain-Coach: Arthur HallowayEastern Suburbs11th seasonGround: Sydney Sports GroundCoach: Sandy Pearce Captain: Sandy Pearce Glebe11th seasonGround: Wentworth Park Coach: Chris McKivat Captain: Albert Burge Newtown11th seasonGround: Erskineville Oval Coach: Captain: George BainNorth Sydney11th seasonGround: North Sydney OvalCoach: George Green Captain: Cec Blinkhorn South Sydney11th seasonGround: RAS Showground Coach: Arthur HennessyCaptain: Howard Hallett Western Suburbs11th seasonGround: St. Luke's OvalCoach:Tedda Courtney Captain: Herb Gilbert
Ladder
TeamPldWDLPFPAPDPts1 South Sydney141202257121+136242 Western Suburbs141103182102+80223 Glebe14905212128+84184 Balmain14815215148+67175 Eastern Suburbs14806160153+7166 North Sydney14329131202-7187 Newtown14239115175-6078 Annandale14001473316-2430
References
External links Rugby League Tables - Notes AFL Tables Rugby League Tables - Season 1918 AFL Tables Premiership History and Statistics RL1908 Results: 1911-20 at rabbitohs.com.au