The 1936 New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership was the twenty-ninth season of Sydney’s top-level rugby league football club competition, Australia’s first. Nine teams from across the city contested the premiership during the season, which lasted from April until September, and culminated in Eastern Suburbs’ victory over Balmain in the final.Premiership Roll of Honour at rl1908.com
Season summary In round 14 of the University club ended a losing streak which had begun round 2, 1934 and marked the most consecutive losses in NSWRL/NRL premiership history at 42. Eastern Suburbs went through 1936 undefeated – a feat achieved by teams in only five other seasons before or since.
The first premiership game of Rugby League at Henson Park was played on 1 April 1936, when Newtown defeated University 20–0.
For the first time since 1919 and only the second since the competition began South Sydney lost more games than it won.
Teams Balmain, formed on 23 January 1908 at Balmain Town Hall Canterbury-Bankstown Eastern Suburbs, formed on 24 January 1908 at Paddington Town Hall 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 University, formed in 1919 at Sydney University Western Suburbs, formed on 4 February 1908
Balmain 29th seasonGround: Leichhardt Oval Coach: Joe BuschCaptain: Syd ChristensenCanterbury-Bankstown 2nd seasonGround: Belmore Sports Ground Coach: Frank BurgeCaptain: Alan BradyEastern Suburbs 29th seasonGround: Sydney Sports Ground Coach: Arthur HallowayCaptain: Dave BrownNewtown 29th seasonGround: Henson Park Coach: Bill KellyCaptain: Hans MorkNorth Sydney 29th seasonGround: North Sydney Oval Coach: Jim CraigCaptain: Rex HarrisonSouth Sydney 29th seasonGround: Sydney Sports Ground Coach: Dave WatsonCaptain: Eric LewisSt. George 16th seasonGround: Earl Park Coach: Arthur Justice / Eddie Root Captain: Eddie RootUniversity 17th Season Coach: Bob WilliamsCaptain: Leo ReddyWestern Suburbs 29th seasonGround: Pratten Park Coach: Frank McMillanCaptain: Cliff Pearce
Ladder
TeamPldWDLBPFPAPDPts1 Eastern Suburbs1311202335145+190282 Balmain139042268161+107223 Canterbury149231213132+81224 North Sydney137152210161+49195 Newtown147071203226-23166 Western Suburbs135172199203-4157 South Sydney135082187185+2148 St. George1330102141228-87109 Sydney University141013199414-3154
Finals In the two semi finals, the top two ranked teams Eastern Suburbs and Balmain beat their lower-ranked opponents North Sydney and Canterbury-Bankstown. Eastern Suburbs and Balmain then played off for the premiership in the Final.
Premiership Final Eastern SuburbsPositionBalmain13. Tom DowlingFB14. Frank Johnston12. Rod O'LoanWG2. Sid Goodwin11. Dave Brown (c)CE15. Gus Reeves23. Jack LynchCE32. Eddie Lockhart9. Fred TotteyWG3. Jack Redman8. Ernie NormanFE5. Syd Christensen (c)7. Viv ThicknesseHB6. Tom Grahame32. Jack CootePR10. Dave Manning17. Tom McLachlanHK9. Bill Alexander Ray StehrPR8. Frank Griffiths4. Harry PierceSR21. Billy Johnson5. Joe PearceSR11. Edmund Beaver6. Andy NorvalLK26. Roy PalmerArthur Halloway CoachJoe Busch In front of a crowd of 14,395 at the Sydney Cricket Ground Easts were vying for back-to-back premierships and took on Balmain.
The match, officiated by referee Lal Deane was tight in the first half with a scoreline favouring Easts 8–6 at the break. In the second half Easts ran away with the game, scoring eight tries all up to Balmain's two.
The game marked the end of a sterling career for champion Tiger and former international halfback Joe “Chimpy” Busch, and was a suitable farewell for Roosters’ captain and star, Dave Brown. Brown headed to English club Warrington for two years, so that he did not play for the Tricolours during the 1937 and 1938 seasons.
Eastern Suburbs 32 (Tries: Fred Tottey 2, Rod O’Loan, Dave Brown, Ray Stehr, Ernie Norman, Jack Lynch, Andy Norval. Goals: Jack Lynch 2, Dave Brown 2 )
defeated
Balmain 12 (Tries: Frank Griffiths, Sid Goodwin. Goals: Sid Christensen 2, Bill Johnson)
References
External links Rugby League Tables - Notes AFL Tables Rugby League Tables - Season 1936 AFL Tables Premiership History and Statistics RL1908 Results: 1931-40 at rabbitohs.com.au