The 1939 New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership was the thirty-second season of Sydney’s top-level rugby league club competition, Australia’s first. Eight teams from across the city contested the premiership during the season, which lasted from April until September and culminated in Balmain’s victory over South Sydney in the final.Premiership Roll of Honour at rl1908.com
Season summary This was to be the St. George club’s final season at Earl Park, Arncliffe, the following season moving back to Hurstville Oval.
Teams Balmain, formed on January 23, 1908, at Balmain Town Hall Canterbury-Bankstown Eastern Suburbs, formed on January 24, 1908, at Paddington Town Hall 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
Balmain 32nd seasonGround: Leichhardt Oval Coach: Bill KellyCaptain: Sid GoodwinCanterbury-Bankstown 5th seasonGround: Belmore Oval Coach: Jerry BrienCaptain: Alan BradyEastern Suburbs 32nd seasonGround: Sports Ground Captain-coach: Ray StehrNewtown 32nd seasonGround: Henson Park Coach: Frank BurgeCaptain: Allan EllisNorth Sydney 32nd seasonGround: North Sydney Oval Coach: Bob Williams Captain: Roy ThompsonSouth Sydney 32nd seasonGround: Sports Ground Coach: Charlie LynchCaptain: Fred FelschSt. George 19th seasonGround: Earl Park Captain-coach: Neville SmithWestern Suburbs 32nd seasonGround: Pratten Park Coach: Jim Craig Captain: Albert McGuinness
Ladder
TeamPldWDLPFPAPDPts1 Balmain141022249115+134222 St. George141004268169+99203 Canterbury141004234155+79204 South Sydney14905219158+61185 Eastern Suburbs14806192184+8166 Western Suburbs142210148213-6567 North Sydney142210129272-14368 Newtown142012124297-1734
Finals In the two semi finals, minor premiers Balmain narrowly defeated Canterbury whilst fourth-placed South Sydney beat second-placed St. George.
HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeCrowd Semifinals Balmain13–9 Canterbury19 August 1939Sydney Cricket GroundGeorge Bishop23,774 St. George10–23 South Sydney26 August 1939Sydney Cricket GroundTom McMahon21,722 Final Balmain33–4 South Sydney2 September 1939Sydney Cricket GroundGeorge Bishop26,972
Premiership final BalmainPositionSouth Sydney Hec Day FB 16. Dick Johnson 2. Sid Goodwin (c) WG 12. Harry Thompson 5. Jack Winchester CE 11. Alan Quinlivan 3. Frank Hyde CE 14. Fred Felsch (c) 17. Tom Bourke WG 13. Alan Tuohey 7. Billy Bischoff FE 10. Jack Kadwell 4. Jim Quealey HB 20. Albert Webster 21. Dawson Buckley PR 36. John Whitfield 9. George Watt HK 4. George Kilham 6. Dave Manning PR Jack Walsh 12. Athol Smith SR 2. Percy Fairall 11. Billy Johnson SR 3. Johnny Brown 13. Jack Redman LK 8. Eddie Hinson Bill Kelly Coach Charlie Lynch The decider was played on the weekend when the world’s future altered dramatically with the invasion of Poland by Germany leading to England, Australia and the world going to war.
The match was played at the Sydney Cricket Ground and refereed by George Bishop in front of 26,972. The game was tight in the first half with the Tigers scoring one try to lead 7–2 at the break.
In the second-half Balmain ran away with it, scoring six further tries to South Sydney’s none for a crushing seventh premiership title and the Tigers’ first since 1924. Star Balmain players of the time included Sid Goodwin, Frank Hyde, Tom Bourke, Athol Smith, Billy Bischoff, George Watt and Jim Quealey.
Balmain 33 (Tries: Tom Bourke 2, Frank Hyde, J. Redman, Jim Quealey, D. Buckley, A. Smith. Goals: H. Day 5, W. Johnson )
defeated
South Sydney 4 (Fred Felsch 2 goals)
References
External links Rugby League Tables - Notes AFL Tables Rugby League Tables - Season 1939 AFL Tables Premiership History and Statistics RL1908
Results: 1931-40 at rabbitohs.com.au