The 1976 Eastern Suburbs season was the 69th in the club's history. They competed in the NSWRFL's 1976 Premiership, finishing the regular season 5th (out of 12) to reach the play-offs. They were then knocked out in their first finals match by Canterbury-Bnakstown. Easts also competed in the 1976 Amco Cup.
This season Eastern Suburbs became the first rugby league team, and one of the first in Australian sport, to sport a sponsor's name on their jersey.
Ladder TeamPldWDLPFPAPDPts1 Manly-Warringah221606499252+247322 Parramatta221426347238+109303 St. George221408328298+30284 Eastern Suburbs221318399250+149275 Canterbury-Bankstown221237361337+24276 Balmain221219318287+31257 Western Suburbs221129379313+66248 Cronulla-Sutherland229112378393-15199 Penrith228113352333+191710 South Sydney228014297421-1241611 North Sydney226115272526-2541312 Newtown223019264546-2826
World Club Challenge
Rugby league's inaugural World Club Challenge was contested between Australia's, Eastern Suburbs Roosters and England's St Helens R.F.C., it was played at the Sydney Cricket Ground on 29 June 1976.
Eastern Suburbs 25( Fairfax, Stevens, Ayliffe, Schubert, Townshend Tries; Brass 5 Goals) defeated St Helens RFC 2(G.Pimblett Goal) played at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
The lineups were: Eastern Suburbs • Coach:Jack Gibson • Russell Fairfax • Ian Schubert • Mark Harris • John Brass • Bill Mullins • Trevor Barnes • Kevin Stevens • Barry Reilly • Arthur Beetson(c) • Ian Mackay • Royce Ayliffe • Elwyn Walters • Kel Jones : • Robert Laurie • John Mayes • Grant Hedger • G.Townsend.
St Helens FC • Geoff Pimblett • L.Jones • E.Cunningham • D.Noonan • R.Mathias • W.Benyon • K. Gwilliam • D.Hull • George Nicholls • E. Chisnall • K.Coslett(c) • A.Karalius • J.Mantle:• P.Glynn, F.Wilson • J. Heaton • M. James.
References
External links The Story of Australian Rugby League, Gary Lester