New South Wales Rugby Football League season 1926
Encyclopedia
The 1926 New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership was the nineteenth 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 South Sydney's victory over Sydney University in the premiership final.
The 1926 season saw the introduction of the finals series to determine the Premiership between the leading four teams. The "first past the post" method had resulted in a number of seasons where the premiership was decided before the end of scheduled matches, killing interest in the final rounds.
The rules concerning the play-the-ball were changed so that only two players could play at the ball, with one player from each side being allowed to stand immediately behind, and all other players having to stay behind that second man until the ball was heeled. Previously any number of players could play at the ball, and by 1925 play-the-balls had become a real mess.
The rules were changed so that when a ball was forced in goal by the defending side play restarted with a line drop-out rather than a scrum.
These changes combined with the use of multiple reserve balls made league a faster and much more attractive game to watch, and the fans returned.
. But five successive losses at the back end of the season saw them fall to fourth on the ladder. This though was enough to secure their only ever finals berth in their eighteen year history. South Sydney
for the second season straight showed consistent good form, and in the end comfortably won the minor premiership.
In the semi-finals, both University and South Sydney comfortably defeated their opponents to progress to the final.
The 1926 season was the most successful of the eighteen seasons between the wars in which University competed in the top Sydney grade. This may have had to do with their coach Bill Kelly or their new trainer the former Kangaroo
Sid Pearce
. Or perhaps they benefitted from that season's play-the-ball rule change which initially resulted in a cleaner and faster game that suited the lighter and quicker Students. Whatever the reason they won their first seven games.
However their loss of centre Frank O'Rourke to a broken hand, saw them slip in the final rounds to finish fourth. The play-off system and South Sydney's "right-of-challenge" as minor-premiers required University to beat the powerful Glebe side and then South Sydney twice to take the title.
In the semi-final against Glebe, University regained their early season form and trounced Glebe by 29-3.
O'Rourke returned for the Final and lined up with state representatives Harry "Butt" Finn, Jim McIntyre and A.S."Georgie" Lane in front of 20,000 at the Royal Agricultural Society Grounds
.
In the opening twenty minutes University had three opportunities to score but poor finishing let them down. After withstanding the Students' attack Souths responded with eleven points of their own by the half-time break. Early in the second half University's centre McCormack hit back with an intercept try to pull the deficit back to 11-5 however the Rabbitohs defence held for the remainder of the game and they claimed the premiership.
Refereee Webby Neill himself a former premiership winning Rabbitoh, sent off South's Edward Root
during the match.
South Sydney 11 (Tries: Brogan, Finch, Watson. Goal: Blair)
University 5 (Tries: Paddy McCormack. Goal: Jim McIntyre)
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 South Sydney's victory over Sydney University in the premiership final.
Season summary
Rugby league had been going through a period of declining popularity. Falling crowd numbers led to the NSWRFL making a substantial loss in 1925, forcing changes to be made.The 1926 season saw the introduction of the finals series to determine the Premiership between the leading four teams. The "first past the post" method had resulted in a number of seasons where the premiership was decided before the end of scheduled matches, killing interest in the final rounds.
The rules concerning the play-the-ball were changed so that only two players could play at the ball, with one player from each side being allowed to stand immediately behind, and all other players having to stay behind that second man until the ball was heeled. Previously any number of players could play at the ball, and by 1925 play-the-balls had become a real mess.
The rules were changed so that when a ball was forced in goal by the defending side play restarted with a line drop-out rather than a scrum.
These changes combined with the use of multiple reserve balls made league a faster and much more attractive game to watch, and the fans returned.
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 |  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 | 14 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 318 | 146 | 32 |
| 2 |  Glebe |
16 | 9 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 188 | 168 | 23 |
| 3 |  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 | 9 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 207 | 192 | 23 |
| 4 |  University |
16 | 9 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 198 | 217 | |
| 22 | |||||||||
| 5 |  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 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 252 | 227 | 20 |
| 6 |  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 | 7 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 189 | 223 | |
| 18 | |||||||||
| 7 |  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 | 7 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 227 | 271 | |
| 18 | |||||||||
| 8 |  BalmainBalmain 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 | 6 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 187 | 184 | 16 |
| 9 |  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 | 2 | 0 | 14 | 2 | 169 | 307 | |
| 8 | |||||||||
Finals
At one stage in the second half of the season, University had been sitting just one win behind reigning premiers 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...
. But five successive losses at the back end of the season saw them fall to fourth on the ladder. This though was enough to secure their only ever finals berth in their eighteen year history. 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...
for the second season straight showed consistent good form, and in the end comfortably won the minor premiership.
In the semi-finals, both University and South Sydney comfortably defeated their opponents to progress to the final.
Final
| South Sydney | Position | University |
|---|---|---|
| Alan Righton | FB | Hubert Finn |
| Alby Carr | WG | 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... |
| Vic Lawrence Vic Lawrence Victor "Vic" Lawrence is a former Australian rules footballer who played with North Melbourne in the Victorian Football League .... |
CE | Frank O'Rourke Frank O'Rourke (rugby league) A. Frank O'Rourke is a former professional rugby league footballer of the 1920s and '30s who at representative level has played for New South Wales, and City, and at club level for University of Sydney , and Leeds, playing at , i.e... |
| Harry Finch Harry Finch Harry Finch was a rugby league player in Australia's leading competition - the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership in the 1920s and 1930s. Finch was also an Australian international who played for both the Eastern Suburbs and South Sydney clubs.Finch, a winger, made his first grade... |
CE | Paddy McCormack Paddy McCormack Paddy McCormack is an Irish retired sportsperson. He played Gaelic football with his local club Rhode and was a member of the Offaly senior inter-county team from 1958 until 1972.... |
| Reg Williams | WG | Martin Cunningham Martin Cunningham Martin Cunningham , was a rugby league footballer in the New South Wales Rugby League - Australia's major rugby league competition.... |
| Alf Blair Alf Blair Alf "Smacker" Blair was an Australian rugby league footballer of the 1910s and 20s. An Australian internationaal and New South Wales representative half, he played his club football career with the South Sydney Rabbitohs, with whom he won the 1925, '26, '27 and '29 premierships.-Club career:Blair... (c) |
FE | Georgie Lane (c) |
| Frank Brogan | HB | Ed Wynter Ed Wynter Ed Wynter was an Australian rugby league player for the University club in the New South Wales Rugby League premiership competition.-Point scoring summary:-Matches played:... |
| Arch Thompson | PR | Edward Ryan |
| Harry Cavanagh | HK | Frank Benning |
| George Treweek George Treweek George Treweek was an Australian rugby league footballer of the 1920s and '30s. He was a towering second-row forward for his time who formed an integral part of the champion South Sydney Rabbitohs teams of the 1920s and early 1930s... |
PR | Jim Ward |
| Edward Root Edward Root Eddie Root was an Australian rugby league footballer of the 1920s and 30s. A State and Australian national representative, his club career was played in Sydney with the South Sydney Rabbitohs, the Newtown Bluebags and the St. George Dragons... |
SR | Sammy Ogg |
| Alf O'Connor | SR | Bill Flanagan Bill Flanagan Bill Flanagan is an American author and television executive. He was born in Rhode Island in 1955 and graduated from Brown University in 1977. His books include Written in My Soul , Last of the Moe Haircuts , U2 at the End of the World , and the novels A&R , New Bedlam and Evening's Empire .As... |
| David Watson | LK | Jim McIntyre |
| 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... |
Coach | Bill Kelly |
The 1926 season was the most successful of the eighteen seasons between the wars in which University competed in the top Sydney grade. This may have had to do with their coach Bill Kelly or their new trainer the former Kangaroo
Australian national rugby league team
The Australian national rugby league team have represented Australia in senior men's rugby league football competition since the establishment of the game in Australia in 1908. Administered by the Australian Rugby League, the Kangaroos' are ranked number one in the RLIF World Rankings...
Sid Pearce
Sandy Pearce
Sidney Charles Pearce , better known as Sandy, was a pioneer Australian rugby league footballer and boxer...
. Or perhaps they benefitted from that season's play-the-ball rule change which initially resulted in a cleaner and faster game that suited the lighter and quicker Students. Whatever the reason they won their first seven games.
However their loss of centre Frank O'Rourke to a broken hand, saw them slip in the final rounds to finish fourth. The play-off system and South Sydney's "right-of-challenge" as minor-premiers required University to beat the powerful Glebe side and then South Sydney twice to take the title.
In the semi-final against Glebe, University regained their early season form and trounced Glebe by 29-3.
O'Rourke returned for the Final and lined up with state representatives Harry "Butt" Finn, Jim McIntyre and A.S."Georgie" Lane in front of 20,000 at the Royal Agricultural Society Grounds
Sydney Showground (Moore Park)
The former Sydney Showground at Moore Park was the site of the Sydney Royal Easter Show in New South Wales, Australia from 1882 until 1997, when the Show was moved to the new Sydney Showground at Homebush Bay, which was built for the Sydney 2000 Olympics...
.
In the opening twenty minutes University had three opportunities to score but poor finishing let them down. After withstanding the Students' attack Souths responded with eleven points of their own by the half-time break. Early in the second half University's centre McCormack hit back with an intercept try to pull the deficit back to 11-5 however the Rabbitohs defence held for the remainder of the game and they claimed the premiership.
Refereee Webby Neill himself a former premiership winning Rabbitoh, sent off South's Edward Root
Edward Root
Eddie Root was an Australian rugby league footballer of the 1920s and 30s. A State and Australian national representative, his club career was played in Sydney with the South Sydney Rabbitohs, the Newtown Bluebags and the St. George Dragons...
during the match.
South Sydney 11 (Tries: Brogan, Finch, Watson. Goal: Blair)
University 5 (Tries: Paddy McCormack. Goal: Jim McIntyre)