The 1944 NSWRFL season was the thirty-seventh season of the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership, Sydney's top-level rugby league competition, and Australia's first. Eight teams from across the city contested the premiership during the season which culminated in Balmain's victory over Newtown in the grand final.Premiership Roll of Honour at rl1908.com
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 37th seasonGround: Leichhardt Oval Coach: Norm RobinsonCaptain: Arthur PattonCanterbury-Bankstown 10th seasonGround: Belmore Sports Ground Coach: Ron Bailey→Cec FifieldCaptain: Ron BaileyEastern Suburbs 37th seasonGround: Sydney Sports Ground Coach: Sid PearceCaptain: Harry PierceNewtown 37th seasonGround: Henson Park Coach: Arthur FolwellCaptain: Frank FarrellNorth Sydney 37th seasonGround: North Sydney Oval Captain-Coach: Frank HydeSouth Sydney 37th seasonGround: Sydney Sports Ground Coach: Alf BlairCaptain: Jack WalshSt. George 24th seasonGround: Hurstville Oval Coach: Bill KellyCaptain: Len KellyWestern Suburbs 37th seasonGround: Pratten Park Coach: Henry BolewskiCaptain: Paddy Bugden
Ladder
TeamPldWDLPFPAPDPts1 Newtown141103379220+159222 Balmain141013402171+231213 St. George14905230238-8184 South Sydney14716193287-94155 North Sydney14518204202+2116 Western Suburbs14428180246-66107 Eastern Suburbs144010227360-13388 Canterbury143110206297-917
Finals Newtown looked set for back-to-back titles after finishing as minor premiers. Both Newtown and Balmain won their respective semi-finals with the Bluebags blitzing St George by 55 points to 7, which was to remain the Dragons' largest losing margin until 1994St. George: Biggest Losses and the largest margin in a finals match until 2019. However injuries and war duties then ravaged the side including the key losses of Len Smith and Herb Narvo who had starred for them all season. Balmain thus overcame Newtown 19–16 in the final, enabling Newtown a “right of challenge”.
HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeCrowd Semifinals Newtown55–7 St. George26 August 1944Sydney Cricket GroundTom McMahon34,883 Balmain15–6 South Sydney2 September 1944Sydney Cricket GroundJack O'Brien28,237 Final Newtown16–19 Balmain9 September 1944Sydney Cricket GroundTom McMahon41,807 Grand Final Newtown8–12 Balmain16 September 19441944 Grand Final at nrlstats.comSydney Cricket GroundJack O'Brien24,186
Grand Final NewtownPositionBalmain Tom Kirk FB Dave Parkinson Sid Goodwin WG Arthur Patton (c) Lin McLean CE Joe Jorgenson Bruce Ryan CE Tom Bourke Norm Jacobson WG Keith Parkinson Tom Nevin FE Stan Ponchard Jack Kadwell HB Pat Devery Charlie Montgomery PR Jack Hampstead Jimmy Brailey HK George Watt Frank Farrell (c) PR Colin Campbell Keith Phillips SR Athol Smith Leo Ryan SR Sid Ryan Charles Cahill LK Dawson Buckley Arthur Folwell Coach Norm "Latchem" Robinson Newtown exercised their “right of challenge” as minor premiers and called for a Grand Final. In a low-scoring affair Balmain's representative centre Joe Jorgenson kicked two late penalty goals to give the Tigers a 12–8 win and their eighth title.
Balmain 12 (Tries: Devery, K Parkinson. Goals: Jorgenson 3)
defeated
Newtown 8 (Tries: Farrell, McLean. Goals: Kirk)
Player statistics The following statistics are as of the conclusion of Round 14.
Top 5 point scorers PointsPlayerTriesGoalsField Goals154 Tom Kirk274089 Joe Jorgenson340085 Leo Doyle535074 Frank Dreise825060 Sid Goodwin2000 Top 5 try scorers TriesPlayer20 Sid Goodwin19 Arthur Patton12 Bernie Burford11 Keith Parkinson10 Tom Bourke10 Jim Armstrong10 Alf Watsford
Top 5 goal scorers GoalsPlayer74 Tom Kirk40 Joe Jorgenson35 Leo Doyle25 Frank Dreise20 Lin Johnson
References
External links Rugby League Tables - Notes AFL Tables Rugby League Tables - Season 1944 AFL Tables Premiership History and Statistics RL1908 Finals lineups and results Hunterlink site 1944 Labor Daily Cup at rleague.com Results: 1941-1950 at rabbitohs.com.au