The 1919 New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership was the twelfth season of Sydney’s professional rugby league club competition, Australia’s first. Eight teams from across the city contested during the season, with Balmain finishing on top of the ladder to claim the premiership.Premiership Roll of Honour at rl1908.com
Season summary Balmain and Eastern Suburbs dominated the 14-round season, dropping just two and three games respectively. Balmain were undefeated after eight rounds but a mid-year Australian tour to New Zealand saw the black and golds lose their representative stars and their lead was lost to Eastern Suburbs for one week late in the season.
With eleven rounds played, Balmain led Eastern Suburbs by one point on the ladder but relinquished this lead by losing their round 12 match against Glebe as Eastern Suburbs beat winless Annandale 28–0. This meant Eastern Suburbs now led by one point with two rounds to play. However, they lost the very next round 15–12 to South Sydney, who had won just four of their twelve previous matches. Meanwhile, Balmain managed to beat Newtown 18–5, giving them the one point advantage heading into the final round.
The final match of the season turned out to be the decider for the premiership, with the top two teams playing one another at the Royal Agricultural Society Ground. The winner of the match would take out the premiership, whilst a draw would give Balmain the title. Ultimately, it was the goal kicking of Balmain's Lyall Wall that secured the premiership, with a 13–4 win over Eastern Suburbs. Five of Wall’s attempts hit the post that day, but four crossed the bar and won Balmain the title. Members of the Balmain premiership winning side included Bob Craig and Bill Kelly.
The City Cup was won by Wests for the second consecutive season.
Teams The teams remained unchanged from the 1918 season
Annandale Balmain, formed on January 23, 1908, at Balmain Town Hall Eastern Suburbs, formed on January 24, 1908, at Paddington Town Hall Glebe, formed on January 9, 1908 Newtown, formed on January 14, 1908 North Sydney, formed on February 7, 1908 South Sydney, formed on January 17, 1908, at Redfern Town Hall Western Suburbs, formed on February 4, 1908
Annandale10th seasonGround: Wentworth Park Coach: Captain: Walter Haddock Balmain12th seasonGround: Birchgrove OvalCoach: Captain: Bob Craig Eastern Suburbs12th seasonGround: Sydney Sports GroundCoach: Captain: Ray Norman Glebe12th seasonGround: Wentworth Park Coach: Alex Burdon Captain: Tom Leggo, Albert Burge Newtown12th seasonGround: Wentworth Park Coach: Charles "Boxer" Russell Captain: Albert "Ricketty" Johnston North Sydney12th seasonGround: North Sydney Oval Captain-Coach: George Green South Sydney12th seasonGround: RAS Showground Coach: Captain: Howard Hallett Western Suburbs12th seasonGround: St. Luke's OvalCoach: Captain: Tedda Courtney
Ladder
TeamPldWDLPFPAPDPts1 Balmain141112277109+168232 Eastern Suburbs14923229108+121203 Western Suburbs14905239130+109184 Glebe14905209134+75185 Newtown14626123186-63146 South Sydney14617208223-15137 Annandale14111286270-18438 North Sydney141112103314-2113
References
External links Rugby League Tables - Notes AFL Tables Rugby League Tables - Season 1919 AFL Tables Premiership History and Statistics RL1908 Results: 1911-20 at rabbitohs.com.au