The 1926 New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership was the nineteenth 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 South Sydney’s victory over Sydney University in the premiership final.Premiership Roll of Honour at rl1908.com
Season summary Rugby league had been going through a period of declining popularity. The “first past the post” method had resulted in a number of seasons where the premiership was decided before the end of scheduled matches, killing interest during the closing rounds. Falling crowd numbers led to the NSWRFL making a substantial loss in 1925, forcing changes to be made. For the 1926 season a finals series was introduced to maintain interest in the competition. The Premiership would therefore be determined amongst the leading four teams.
The league agreed to ban the use of substitutes in order to align with the rules used in British rugby league.
The rules concerning the play-the-ball were also changed. Only two players could play at the ball, with one player from each side being allowed to stand immediately behind, and all other players having to stay behind that second man until the ball was heeled. Previously any number of players could play at the ball, and by 1925 play-the-balls had become a real mess.
The rules were changed so that when a ball was forced in goal by the defending side play restarted with a line drop-out rather than a scrum.
These changes combined with the use of multiple reserve balls turned rugby league into a faster and much more attractive spectacle, and the fans returned.
Teams 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 St. George, formed on November 8, 1920, at Kogarah School of Arts Western Suburbs, formed on February 4, 1908 University, formed in 1919 at Sydney University
Balmain19th seasonGround: Birchgrove OvalCoach: Alf FraserCaptain: Reg LattaEastern Suburbs19th seasonGround: RAS ShowgroundCaptains:Arthur Oxford, Les SteelGlebe19th seasonGround: Wentworth ParkCaptain: Frank Burge, Tom McGrathNewtown19th seasonGround: Marrickville OvalCoach: Albert "Ricketty" JohnstonCaptain: Charles KellNorth Sydney19th seasonGround: North Sydney OvalCaptain: Leo O'ConnorSt. George6th seasonGround: Earl ParkCaptain-Coach: Arnold TraynorSouth Sydney19th seasonGround: Sydney Cricket GroundCoach: Howard HallettCaptain: Alf BlairUniversity7th seasonCoach: Bill KellyCaptain: A.S. LaneWestern Suburbs19th seasonGround: Pratten ParkCoach: Captain: Gordon Stettler
Ladder
Team1 South Sydney1614022318146+172322 Glebe169162188168+20233 Eastern Suburbs169162207192+15234 Sydney University169072198217–19225 Western Suburbs168082252227+25206 Newtown167092189223–34187 North Sydney167092227271–44188 Balmain1660102187184+3169 St. George1620142169307–1388
Finals At one stage in the second half of the season, University had been sitting just one win behind reigning premiers South Sydney. But five successive losses at the back end of the season saw them fall to fourth on the ladder. This though was enough to secure their only ever finals berth in their eighteen-year history. South Sydney for the second season straight showed consistent good form, and in the end comfortably won the minor premiership.
In the semi-finals, both University and South Sydney comfortably defeated their opponents to progress to the final.
Final South SydneyPositionSydney University Alan Righton FB Hubert Finn Alby Carr WG Tom Barry Vic Lawrence CE Frank O'Rourke Harry Finch CE Paddy McCormack Reg Williams WG Martin Cunningham Alf Blair (c) FE A.S. Lane (c) Frank Brogan HB Ed Wynter Arch Thompson PR Edward Ryan Harry Cavanough HK Frank Benning George Treweek PR Jim Ward Edward Root SR Sammy Ogg Alf O'Connor SR Bill Flanagan David Watson LK John McIntyre Howard Hallett Coach Bill Kelly The 1926 season was the most successful of the eighteen seasons between the wars in which University competed in the top Sydney grade. This may have had to do with their coach Bill Kelly or their new trainer, the former Kangaroo Sid Pearce. Or perhaps they benefitted from that season’s play-the-ball rule change which initially resulted in a cleaner and faster game that suited the lighter and quicker Students. Whatever the reason they won their first seven games.
However the loss of their centre Frank O'Rourke to a broken hand, saw them slip in the final rounds to finish fourth. The play-off system and South Sydney’s “right-of-challenge” as minor-premiers required University to beat the powerful Glebe side and then South Sydney twice to take the title.
In the semi-final against Glebe, University regained their early season form and trounced Glebe by 29–3.
O'Rourke returned for the Final and lined up with state representatives Hubert “Butt” Finn, Jim McIntyre and Alby Lane in front of 20,000 at the Royal Agricultural Society Grounds.
In the opening twenty minutes University had three opportunities to score but poor finishing let them down. After withstanding the Students’ attack Souths responded with eleven points of their own by the half-time break. Early in the second half University’s McCormack hit back with an intercept try to pull the deficit back to 11–5 however the Rabbitohs defence held for the remainder of the game and they claimed the premiership.
Referee Webby Neill, himself a former premiership winning Rabbitoh, sent off Souths’ Edward Root during the match.
South Sydney 11 (Tries: Brogan, Finch, Watson. Goal: Blair)
University 5 (Tries: Paddy McCormack. Goal: Jim McIntyre)
References
External links Rugby League Tables - Notes AFL Tables Rugby League Tables - Season 1926 AFL Tables Premiership History and Statistics RL1908 History - Introduction North Sydney Bears History of the University Club Sean Fagan's RL1908 Results: 1921-30 at rabbitohs.com.au