New South Wales Rugby Football League season 1923
Encyclopedia
The 1923 New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership was the sixteenth season of Sydney
's top-level rugby league football club competition, Australia's first. Nine teams from across the city contested during the season which culminated in Eastern suburbs' victory over South Sydney in the premiership final.
The 1923 season was he last in the NSWRFL for future Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame
inductee, Duncan Thompson
.
and South Sydney
, tied on equal points at the end of the season. Eastern Suburbs had previously been leading South Sydney by 2 points coming into the final round of the year, only to lose to third-placed Balmain
by 1 point in front of 14,000 people in the final match. South Sydney on the other hand won their final match against North Sydney
to go level on top of the ladder.
A final
, the second in as many seasons, was played between Eastern Suburbs
and South Sydney
the following Wednesday 12 September at the Sydney Cricket Ground
, attracting a crowd of 15,000 people. With referee Tom McMahon officiating Eastern Suburbs prevailed winners 15-12 and claimed their first premiership since 1913
.
Eastern Suburbs
15 (Tries: Caples
2, Steel
. Goals: Oxford 3)
South Sydney
12 (Tries: Wearing
2. Goals: Wearing 3)
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
's top-level rugby league football club competition, Australia's first. Nine teams from across the city contested during the season which culminated in Eastern suburbs' victory over South Sydney in the premiership final.
The 1923 season was he last in the NSWRFL for future Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame
Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame
The Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame honors players who have shown exceptional skill at rugby league, all-time great coaches and referees, and other major contributors to the game who are Australian...
inductee, Duncan Thompson
Duncan Thompson
Duncan Fulton Thompson MBE was an Australian rugby league footballer, coach and administrator...
.
Teams
- BalmainBalmain TigersThe Balmain Tigers are a rugby league football club based in the inner-western Sydney suburb of Balmain. They were a founding member of the New South Wales Rugby League and one of the most successful in the history of the premiership, with eleven titles...
, formed on January 23, 1908 at Balmain Town Hall - Eastern SuburbsSydney RoostersThe Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
, formed on January 24, 1908 at Paddington Town Hall - Glebe, formed on January 9, 1908
- NewtownNewtown JetsThe Newtown Jets are an Australian rugby league football club based in Newtown, a suburb of Sydney's inner west. They currently compete in the NSWRL Premier League competition, having left the top grade after the 1983 NSWRFL season...
, formed on January 14, 1908 - North SydneyNorth Sydney BearsThe North Sydney Bears are an Australian rugby league football club based in North Sydney, New South Wales. They currently compete in the New South Wales Cup, having exited the National Rugby League following the 1999 NRL season after 92 years of top-grade competition. The Bears are based on...
, formed on February 7, 1908 - South SydneySouth Sydney RabbitohsThe South Sydney Rabbitohs are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in Redfern, a suburb of South-central Sydney, New South Wales. They participate in the National Rugby League premiership and are one of nine existing teams from the state capital...
, formed on January 17, 1908 at Redfern Town Hall - St. GeorgeSt. George DragonsThe St George Dragons was an Australian Rugby league football club in St George, Sydney, New South Wales that played in Australia's top-level Rugby league competition from New South Wales Rugby Football League in 1921 until 1998; in 1999 they formed a joint venture with the Illawarra Steelers,...
, formed on November 8, 1920 at Kogarah School of Arts - Western SuburbsWestern Suburbs MagpiesThe Western Suburbs Magpies are an Australian rugby league football club based in the western suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales. Formed in 1908, Wests, as they are commonly referred to, were one of the nine foundation clubs of the first New South Wales Rugby League competition in Australia...
, formed on February 4, 1908 - University, formed in 1919 at Sydney University
 Balmain Tigers The Balmain Tigers are a rugby league football club based in the inner-western Sydney suburb of Balmain. They were a founding member of the New South Wales Rugby League and one of the most successful in the history of the premiership, with eleven titles... |
 Sydney Roosters The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League... |
 |
 Newtown Jets The Newtown Jets are an Australian rugby league football club based in Newtown, a suburb of Sydney's inner west. They currently compete in the NSWRL Premier League competition, having left the top grade after the 1983 NSWRFL season... |
 North Sydney Bears The North Sydney Bears are an Australian rugby league football club based in North Sydney, New South Wales. They currently compete in the New South Wales Cup, having exited the National Rugby League following the 1999 NRL season after 92 years of top-grade competition. The Bears are based on... |
 St. George Dragons The St George Dragons was an Australian Rugby league football club in St George, Sydney, New South Wales that played in Australia's top-level Rugby league competition from New South Wales Rugby Football League in 1921 until 1998; in 1999 they formed a joint venture with the Illawarra Steelers,... |
 South Sydney Rabbitohs The South Sydney Rabbitohs are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in Redfern, a suburb of South-central Sydney, New South Wales. They participate in the National Rugby League premiership and are one of nine existing teams from the state capital... |
 |
 Western Suburbs Magpies The Western Suburbs Magpies are an Australian rugby league football club based in the western suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales. Formed in 1908, Wests, as they are commonly referred to, were one of the nine foundation clubs of the first New South Wales Rugby League competition in Australia... |
Ladder
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | B | PF | PA | PD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Eastern SuburbsSydney Roosters The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League... |
16 | 13 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 235 | 124 | 30 |
| 2 |  South SydneySouth Sydney Rabbitohs The South Sydney Rabbitohs are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in Redfern, a suburb of South-central Sydney, New South Wales. They participate in the National Rugby League premiership and are one of nine existing teams from the state capital... |
16 | 13 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 242 | 173 | 30 |
| 3 | Balmain Balmain Tigers The Balmain Tigers are a rugby league football club based in the inner-western Sydney suburb of Balmain. They were a founding member of the New South Wales Rugby League and one of the most successful in the history of the premiership, with eleven titles... |
16 | 10 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 247 | 136 | 25 |
| 4 |  Western SuburbsWestern Suburbs Magpies The Western Suburbs Magpies are an Australian rugby league football club based in the western suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales. Formed in 1908, Wests, as they are commonly referred to, were one of the nine foundation clubs of the first New South Wales Rugby League competition in Australia... |
16 | 9 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 257 | 218 | 22 |
| 5 |  North SydneyNorth Sydney Bears The North Sydney Bears are an Australian rugby league football club based in North Sydney, New South Wales. They currently compete in the New South Wales Cup, having exited the National Rugby League following the 1999 NRL season after 92 years of top-grade competition. The Bears are based on... |
16 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 245 | 223 | 20 |
| 6 |  Glebe |
16 | 6 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 160 | 193 | |
| 16 | |||||||||
| 7 |  St. GeorgeSt. George Dragons The St George Dragons was an Australian Rugby league football club in St George, Sydney, New South Wales that played in Australia's top-level Rugby league competition from New South Wales Rugby Football League in 1921 until 1998; in 1999 they formed a joint venture with the Illawarra Steelers,... |
16 | 5 | 0 | 11 | 2 | 168 | 236 | |
| 14 | |||||||||
| 8 |  NewtownNewtown Jets The Newtown Jets are an Australian rugby league football club based in Newtown, a suburb of Sydney's inner west. They currently compete in the NSWRL Premier League competition, having left the top grade after the 1983 NSWRFL season... |
16 | 4 | 2 | 10 | 2 | 161 | 297 | |
| 14 | |||||||||
| 9 |  University |
16 | 2 | 1 | 13 | 2 | 120 | 235 | |
| 9 | |||||||||
Finals
The top two sides, Eastern SuburbsSydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
and South Sydney
South Sydney Rabbitohs
The South Sydney Rabbitohs are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in Redfern, a suburb of South-central Sydney, New South Wales. They participate in the National Rugby League premiership and are one of nine existing teams from the state capital...
, tied on equal points at the end of the season. Eastern Suburbs had previously been leading South Sydney by 2 points coming into the final round of the year, only to lose to third-placed Balmain
Balmain Tigers
The Balmain Tigers are a rugby league football club based in the inner-western Sydney suburb of Balmain. They were a founding member of the New South Wales Rugby League and one of the most successful in the history of the premiership, with eleven titles...
by 1 point in front of 14,000 people in the final match. South Sydney on the other hand won their final match against North Sydney
North Sydney Bears
The North Sydney Bears are an Australian rugby league football club based in North Sydney, New South Wales. They currently compete in the New South Wales Cup, having exited the National Rugby League following the 1999 NRL season after 92 years of top-grade competition. The Bears are based on...
to go level on top of the ladder.
Grand Final
| Eastern Suburbs | Position | South Sydney |
|---|---|---|
| Ed Rigney Ed Rigney Ed 'Snowy' Rigney , was a rugby league footballer for the Newtown Jets and the Eastern Suburbs clubs who played in the New South Wales Rugby League- the major rugby league competition in that country.... |
FB | Howard Hallett Howard Hallett Howard Hallett was an Australian rugby league player and coach for theSouth Sydney Rabbitohs in the New South Wales Rugby League premiership. Hallett primarily played at fullback... |
| Cyril Abotomey Cyril Abotomey Cyril Abotomey was a rugby league player for the Eastern Suburbs club which plays in the New South Wales Rugby League competition.... |
WG | Benny Wearing Benny Wearing Benny Wearing was an Australian rugby league footballer of the 1920s and 30s. An Australian international and New South Wales representative three-quarter, he played his club football in the NSWRFL Premiership for the South Sydney Rabbitohs.... |
| Jack Dawson Jack Dawson (rugby league) Jack Dawson was an Australian first-grade rugby league footballer.During his career Dawson played in the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership for the Eastern Suburbs and Balmain clubs... |
CE | Tom Barry Tom Barry (rugby league) Tom Barry was a rugby league player in the Australian competition the New South Wales Rugby League .Barry played for the South Sydney club in the years 1922-25 and the Eastern Suburbs club in 1927... |
| Les Steel Les Steel Les Steel was a rugby league footballer in Australia's major competition - the New South Wales Rugby League .Steel played over 100 matches for his club side, Eastern Suburbs in the years . A Winger, Steel was a try scorer in Easts 1923 premiership victory.-References:... |
CE | Vic Lawrence Vic Lawrence Victor "Vic" Lawrence is a former Australian rules footballer who played with North Melbourne in the Victorian Football League .... |
| George Agar George Agar George Agar was a rugby league player in Australia's leading competition - the New South Wales Rugby League.Agar played 18 matches for the Eastern Suburbs club in the 1923-24 seasons. A Winger, Agar, played in the 1923 premiership winning side'... |
WG | Oscar Quinlivan |
| Harry Caples Harry Caples Harry Caples was an Australian representative rugby league player. His club football was played with the Eastern Suburbs club.A former schoolboy star, Caples attended St. Joseph's College, Hunters Hill before being graded by the Roosters in 1916.... (c) |
FE | Bill Gillespie (c) |
| Sid Kaufman Sid Kaufman Sid 'Sandy' Kaufman was a rugby league player in the Australian competition the New South Wales Rugby League .Kaufman played for the Eastern Suburbs club in the years... |
HB | A. Johnstone |
| Arthur Oxford Arthur Oxford Arthur Oxford was an Australian rugby league footballer, a state and national representative whose club career was played with the Eastern Suburbs Roosters and the South Sydney Rabbitohs from 1915 to 1929.... |
PR | David Watson |
| Bill Richards | HK | Pat Murphy |
| Tom Molloy Tom Molloy Tom Molloy , was a rugby league footballer in the New South Wales Rugby League , Australia's major rugby league competition.A front-rower, Molloy played 7 matches for St George in the years 1921–1922 and 42 for the Eastern Suburbs club in the years 1923–1926.As well as playing for the... |
PR | Perc Horne |
| Bill Ives Bill Ives Bill Ives was an Australian rugby league footballer. He played for the Glebe, Eastern Suburbs and the St. George Dragons clubs in the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership in Australia His usual position was at prop-forward.Brother of Australian test player Clarrie Ives.-Point scoring... |
SR | Ern Wilmot |
| Harold Holmes | SR | Alf O'Connor |
| Jack Watkins Jack Watkins Jack "Bluey" Watkins was an Australian rugby league footballer. He played in the lock forward position, with seven test matches for his country, including the 1921/22 Kangaroo Tour.... |
LK | Jack Lawrence |
| Edward Connerton Edward Connerton Edward Connerton was a rugby league footballer for the Eastern Suburbs club in the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership. A winger, he played in 15 matches for Easts and was a member of their fourth premiership winning side in NSWRFL season 1923.... |
Replacement | - |
| Ray Norman Ray Norman Ray Norman was an Australian rugby league footballer and coach. A state and national representative, his club career was played with Annandale, the South Sydney and the Eastern Suburbs clubs in the NSWRFL.... |
Coach |
A final
Final (competition)
The final of a competition is the match or round in which the winner of the entire event is decided.In sports competitions following a knockout system, where only two individuals or teams compete in each match, the final is usually played between the winners of two semi-finals...
, the second in as many seasons, was played between Eastern Suburbs
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
and South Sydney
South Sydney Rabbitohs
The South Sydney Rabbitohs are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in Redfern, a suburb of South-central Sydney, New South Wales. They participate in the National Rugby League premiership and are one of nine existing teams from the state capital...
the following Wednesday 12 September at the Sydney Cricket Ground
Sydney Cricket Ground
The Sydney Cricket Ground is a sports stadium in Sydney in Australia. It is used for Australian football, Test cricket, One Day International cricket, some rugby league and rugby union matches and is the home ground for the New South Wales Blues cricket team and the Sydney Swans of the Australian...
, attracting a crowd of 15,000 people. With referee Tom McMahon officiating Eastern Suburbs prevailed winners 15-12 and claimed their first premiership since 1913
New South Wales Rugby League season 1913
The 1913 New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership was the sixth season of Sydney's top-level rugby league football club competition, Australia's first...
.
Eastern Suburbs
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
15 (Tries: Caples
Harry Caples
Harry Caples was an Australian representative rugby league player. His club football was played with the Eastern Suburbs club.A former schoolboy star, Caples attended St. Joseph's College, Hunters Hill before being graded by the Roosters in 1916....
2, Steel
Les Steel
Les Steel was a rugby league footballer in Australia's major competition - the New South Wales Rugby League .Steel played over 100 matches for his club side, Eastern Suburbs in the years . A Winger, Steel was a try scorer in Easts 1923 premiership victory.-References:...
. Goals: Oxford 3)
South Sydney
South Sydney Rabbitohs
The South Sydney Rabbitohs are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in Redfern, a suburb of South-central Sydney, New South Wales. They participate in the National Rugby League premiership and are one of nine existing teams from the state capital...
12 (Tries: Wearing
Benny Wearing
Benny Wearing was an Australian rugby league footballer of the 1920s and 30s. An Australian international and New South Wales representative three-quarter, he played his club football in the NSWRFL Premiership for the South Sydney Rabbitohs....
2. Goals: Wearing 3)