The 1924 New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership was the seventeenth 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 Balmain’s victory over South Sydney in the premiership final.Premiership Roll of Honour at rl1908.com The 1924 season was the last in the NSWRFL for future Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame inductee, Harold Horder.
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 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
Balmain17th seasonGround: Birchgrove OvalCaptain-Coach: Charles Fraser Eastern Suburbs17th seasonGround: Sydney Sports Ground Coach: Captains: Arthur Oxford, Jack Watkins Glebe17th seasonGround: Birchgrove Oval Coach: Jack Hickey Captain: Bill Benson Newtown17th seasonGround: Marrickville Oval Coach: Bill FarnsworthCaptain: Tom Ellis North Sydney17th seasonGround: North Sydney Oval Coach: Jim DevereuxCaptain: Clarrie Ives South Sydney17th seasonGround: Sydney Cricket Ground Coach: Owen McCarthy Captain: Harold Horder St. George4th seasonGround: Earl Park Coach: Herb Gilbert Captain: Arnold Traynor, George Carstairs University5th seasonCoach: Bill KellyCaptain: Hubert Finn, Alby Lane Western Suburbs17th seasonGround: Pratten Park Coach: Albert "Ricketty" Johnston Captains: Tedda Courtney, Clarrie Prentice
Ladder Because of the British Lions tour of Australia, and interstate matches, the 1924 season was shortened to a single round of eight matches. No club fixtures were played on the weekends of 31 May, 7 June, 21 June nor 28 June.Haddan, Steve; History of the NSW Rugby League Finals; pp. 42-43
TeamPldWDLBPFPAPDPts1 Balmain8611112453+71152 South Sydney8611110460+44153 Western Suburbs84041130103+27104 Glebe840418795-8105 St. George8323194125-31106 North Sydney83051107128-2187 Eastern Suburbs8305185106-2188 Sydney University8215185115-3079 Newtown8215198129-317
Premiership Final BalmainPositionSouth Sydney 19. Des Ponchard FB 18. Howard Hallett 6. Jim Love WG 14. Benny Wearing 2. Dud Millard CE 2. Harold Horder 5. Billy Craig CE 15. Oscar Quinlivan 16. Tommy Kennedy WG 5. Cec Blinkhorn Charles Fraser (Ca./Co.) FE 6. Alf Blair 24. Norman Robinson HB 32. Frank Brogan 10. Bill Schultz PR 22. David Watson 9. Horrie Watt HK 9. Ern Wilmot 12. Alf Fraser PR 13. Jack Lawrence 15. Roy Liston SR 11. Edward Root 8. Les Hayes SR 37. Pat Murphy 14. Reg Latta LK 21. Alby Carr Coach Owen McCarthy Balmain and South Sydney finished equal at the top of the ladder, having dropped just one game each. The teams had earlier met in Round 5, with a 10–10 draw being the result at the Sydney Cricket Ground in front of a crowd of around 16,000.
The Final was played before a crowd of around 15,000 at the Sydney Cricket Ground on 29 July 1924 and refereed by former Rabbitoh premiership winner Webby Neill. Balmain led 3–0 at half-time and both sides failed to score in the second half. The Tigers thus claimed their sixth premiership within ten years. At the time it was the lowest-scoring Final since the start of the NSWRFL premiership and the first time a team had been held scoreless in a Final.
The Final was also the first rugby league match broadcast on radio with commentary by Balmain secretary Bob Savage.
Balmain 3 (Try: Latta)
defeated
South Sydney 0
References
External links Rugby League Tables - Notes AFL Tables Rugby League Tables - Season 1924 AFL Tables Premiership History and Statistics RL1908 History - Introduction North Sydney Bears Andrews, Malcolm (2006) The ABC of Rugby League Austn Broadcasting Corpn, Sydney Results: 1921-30 at rabbitohs.com.au