1939 NSWRFL season

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.[1]

1939 New South Wales Rugby Football League
Teams8
Premiers Balmain (7th title)
Minor premiers Balmain (7th title)
Matches played59
Points scored1655
Top points scorer(s) Neville Smith (97)
Top try-scorer(s) Sid Goodwin (18)

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 season
Ground: Leichhardt Oval
Coach: Bill Kelly
Captain: Sid Goodwin
Canterbury-Bankstown
5th season
Ground: Belmore Oval
Coach: Jerry Brien
Captain: Alan Brady		 Eastern Suburbs
32nd season
Ground: Sports Ground
Captain-coach: Ray Stehr
Newtown
32nd season
Ground: Henson Park
Coach: Frank Burge
Captain: Allan Ellis
North Sydney
32nd season
Ground: North Sydney Oval
Coach: Bob Williams
Captain: Roy Thompson		 South Sydney
32nd season
Ground: Sports Ground
Coach: Charlie Lynch
Captain: Fred Felsch		 St. George
19th season
Ground: Earl Park
Captain-coach: Neville Smith		 Western Suburbs
32nd season
Ground: Pratten Park
Coach: Jim Craig
Captain: Albert McGuiness

Ladder
The geographical locations of the teams that contested the 1939 premiership across Sydney.
Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts
1 Balmain 141022249115+13422
2 St. George 141004268169+9920
3 Canterbury-Bankstown 141004234155+7920
4 South Sydney 14905219158+6118
5 Eastern Suburbs 14806192184+816
6 Western Suburbs 142210148213-656
7 North Sydney 142210129272-1436
8 Newtown 142012124297-1734

Finals

In the two semi finals, minor premiers Balmain narrowly defeated Canterbury whilst fourth-placed South Sydney beat second-placed St. George.

Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee Crowd
Semi Finals
Balmain 13–9 Canterbury 19 August 1939 Sydney Cricket Ground George Bishop 23,774
St. George 10–23 South Sydney 26 August 1939 Sydney Cricket Ground Tom McMahon 21,722
Final
Balmain 33–4 South Sydney 2 September 1939 Sydney Cricket Ground George Bishop 26,972

Premiership Final
Balmain Position South Sydney
Hec DayFBDick Johnson
Sid Goodwin (c)WGHarry Thompson
Jack WinchesterCEAlan Quinlivan
Frank HydeCEFred Felsch (c)
Tom BourkeWGAlan Tuohey
Billy BischoffFEJack Kadwell
Jim QuealeyHBAlbert Webster
Dawson BuckleyPRJohn Whitfield
George WattHKGeorge Kilham
Dave ManningPRJack Walsh
Athol SmithSRPercy Fairall
Billy JohnsonSRJohnny Brown
Jack RedmanLKEddie Hinson
Bill KellyCoachCharlie 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)

Balmain Premiers 1939
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References
  1. Premiership Roll of Honour Archived 2007-04-28 at the Wayback Machine at rl1908.com
  • Rugby League Tables - Notes AFL Tables
  • Rugby League Tables - Season 1939 AFL Tables
  • Premiership History and Statistics RL1908
  • Collis, Ian; Whiticker, Alan (2007). 100 Years of Rugby League. Chatswood, NSW: New Holland. p. 154. ISBN 978-1-74110-463-9.
  • Results: 1931-40 at rabbitohs.com.au
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