The 1923 New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership was the sixteenth season of Sydney’s top-level rugby league club competition, Australia’s first. Nine teams from across the city contested during the season which culminated in Eastern Suburbs’ victory over South Sydney in the premiership final.Premiership Roll of Honour at rl1908.com This season would be the last season that future Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame inductee Duncan Thompson played in, for he returned to Toowoomba after a dispute with North Sydney.
Teams 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 at the North Sydney School of Arts in Mount Street on 7 February 1908. South Sydney, formed on 17 January 1908 at Redfern Town Hall St. George, formed on 8 November 1920 at Kogarah School of Arts Western Suburbs, formed on 4 February 1908 University, formed in 1919 at Sydney University
Balmain16th seasonGround: Birchgrove OvalCaptain-Coach: Charles Fraser Eastern Suburbs16th seasonGround: Sydney Sports Ground Coach: Ray NormanCaptain: Harry CaplesGlebe16th seasonGround: Wentworth Park Captain-Coach: Frank Burge Newtown16th seasonGround: Marrickville Oval Coach: Arthur Halloway & Albert JohnstonCaptain: Alex Bolewski North Sydney16th seasonGround: North Sydney Oval Coach: Captain: Duncan Thompson St. George3rd seasonGround: Hurstville Oval Coach: Herb Gilbert Captain: Clarrie TyeSouth Sydney16th seasonGround: Sydney Sports Ground Captain-Coach: Bill Gillespie University4th seasonCoach: Bill KellyCaptain: Hubert FinnWestern Suburbs16th seasonGround: Pratten ParkCaptain-Coach: Tedda Courtney
Ladder
TeamPldWDLBPFPAPDPts1 Eastern Suburbs1613032235124+111302 South Sydney1613032242173+69303 Balmain1610152247136+111254 Western Suburbs169072257218+39225 North Sydney168082245223+22206 Glebe1660102160193-33167 St. George1650112168236-68148 Newtown1642102161297-136149 Sydney University1621132120235-1159
Finals The top two sides, Eastern Suburbs and South Sydney, tied on equal points at the end of the season. Eastern Suburbs had previously been leading South Sydney by two premiership points coming into the final round of the year, only to lose to third-placed Balmain by one point in front of 14,000 people in their final match. South Sydney on the other hand won their final match against North Sydney to finish level on top of the ladder.
Premiership final Eastern SuburbsPositionSouth Sydney 13. Ed Rigney FB 13.Howard Hallett 9.Cyril Abotomey WG 9.Benny Wearing 10.Jack Dawson CE 12.Tom Barry 16.Les Steel CE 25.Vic Lawrence 26.George Agar WG 17.Oscar Quinlivan 8.Harry Caples (c) FE 8.Bill Gillespie (c) 7.Sid Kaufman HB 7.Alec Johnson 5.Arthur Oxford PR 19.David Watson 4.Bill Richards HK 22.Pat Murphy 19.Tom Molloy PR 24.Perce Horne 3.Bill Ives SR 2.Ern Wilmot 20.Harold Holmes SR 4.Alf O'Connor 6.Jack Watkins LK 6. Jack Lawrence28. Edward Connerton Res. -Ray Norman Coach A final, the second in as many seasons, was played between Eastern Suburbs and South Sydney the following Wednesday 12 September at the Sydney Cricket Ground, attracting a crowd of 15,000 people. With referee Tom McMahon officiating Eastern Suburbs prevailed winners 15–12 and claimed their first premiership since 1913.
Eastern Suburbs 15 (Tries: Caples 2, Steel. Goals: Oxford 3)
South Sydney 12 (Tries: Wearing 2. Goals: Wearing 3)
References
External links Rugby League Tables - Notes AFL Tables Rugby League Tables - Season 1923 AFL Tables Premiership History and Statistics RL1908 History - Introduction North Sydney Bears Hadden, Brad History of the NSWRL Finals Results: 1921-30 at rabbitohs.com.au