New South Wales Rugby Football League season 1938
Encyclopedia
the 1938 New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership was the thirty-first season of Sydney, New South Wales' top-grade rugby league football club competition, Australia's firs. The withdrawal of the University club at the end of the previous season saw eight teams from across the city contest the premiership, which lasted from April until September and culminated in Canterbury-Bankstown's victory over Eastern Suburbs in the final.
beat their lower-ranked opponent Balmain
with the fourth ranked team Eastern Suburbs
defeating their higher-ranked opponent South Sydney
.The two winners then played in the Final.
In only the fourth year after admission to the Sydney first grade competition Canterbury
fielded a side which dominated the regular season and set themselves up for their first title assault against Eastern Suburbs
, themselves looking to win a fourth successive premiership. A crowd of 20,287 was on hand at the Sydney Cricket Ground
with the game officiated by Tom McMahon (the younger of the two pre-war referees of that name).
The first half was a dour struggle for supremacy. Canterbury-Bankstown appeared to have the upper hand but East's Cairns scored first and it took two penalty goals by Canterbury's fullback Tommy Kirk to give the Berries a four points to three lead at half-time.
The Rooster's scored another try early in the second half when Dick Dunn dived over after the Easts' backline had created an overlap. Again the conversion was missed.
Canterbury-Bankstown came back at Easts with great determination and nearly scored on several occasions. Eventually Berries' reserve grader Jim Duncombe, who was in the team because of the illness of Aub Mitchell, was the first man to cross for the blue and whites. A scrum had gone down near Easts' line, Canterbury's Roy McCarter worked a blind side move and Duncombe went through an opening to score. Kirk kicked the goal, and Canterbury-Bankstown led by nine points to six.
The scores were close until about 20 minutes before the end, and then Canterbury made a final and determined rally. Easts' try line was attacked continuously. Joe Gartner, the Canterbury-Bankstown winger, went over for two excellent tries, beating the defence with side-stepping runs. Both were converted, the second by McCarter, the first by Kirk a fine effort from the sideline. Gartner's two tries put the issue beyond doubt, giving Canterbury a lead of 19 to 6.
Canterbury's excellent teamwork was the greatest factor in its success and the determined work of its forwards. They were opposed to an almost all-international Roosters pack with the experience of Ray Stehr and dangerous trygetters in Norval, Pearce, and Pierce. Canterbury's State hooker Roy Kirkaldy secured a good share of ball and with his front-row partners in Henry Porter and Eddie Burns continually stopped the Roosters attack, tackling themselves to a standstill. Nine seasons later in the 1947 Grand Final this Canterbury front three would still be dominating their opposition.
The other Canterbury forwards in Sponberg, McCallum and McCormack also played tirelessly and deservedly chaired their captain Alan Brady from the field to enthusiastic cheers from the Canterbury fans celebrating their first premiership and to sporting congratulations from the Eastern Suburbs men.
This was the first of four Grand Finals in which the Bulldogs and Roosters would contest against each other, with subsequent Grand Finals between the two teams coming in 1974, 1980 and more recently, 2004 (with the Bulldogs emerging victorious in all occasions except 1974).
Canterbury-Bankstown 19 (Tries: Gartner 2, Duncombe. Goals: Kirk 4, McCarter )
defeated
Eastern Suburbs 6 (Tries: Cairns, Dunn )
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 - Canterbury-BankstownCanterbury BulldogsThe Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Belmore, a suburb in the Canterbury-Bankstown region of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, as well as New South Wales Rugby League junior competitions...
- 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 - 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
 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... |
 Canterbury Bulldogs The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Belmore, a suburb in the Canterbury-Bankstown region of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, as well as New South Wales Rugby League junior competitions... |
 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... |
 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... |
 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,... |
 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 | PF | PA | PD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  CanterburyCanterbury Bulldogs The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Belmore, a suburb in the Canterbury-Bankstown region of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, as well as New South Wales Rugby League junior competitions... |
14 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 276 | 135 | 26 |
| 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... |
14 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 254 | 245 | 19 |
| 3 |  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... |
14 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 238 | 176 | 15 |
| 4 |  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... |
14 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 228 | 203 | 15 |
| 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... |
14 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 163 | 220 | |
| 12 | ||||||||
| 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... |
14 | 5 | 1 | 8 | 174 | 228 | |
| 11 | ||||||||
| 7 |  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... |
14 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 155 | 265 | |
| 9 | ||||||||
| 8 |  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,... |
14 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 159 | 275 | |
| 7 | ||||||||
Finals
In the two semi finals, the top ranked team CanterburyCanterbury Bulldogs
The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Belmore, a suburb in the Canterbury-Bankstown region of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, as well as New South Wales Rugby League junior competitions...
beat their lower-ranked opponent 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...
with the fourth ranked team 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...
defeating their higher-ranked opponent 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 two winners then played in the Final.
Premiership Final
| Eastern Suburbs | Position | Canterbury-Bankstown |
|---|---|---|
| Jim Norton | FB | Tom Kirk Tom Kirk Tom Kirk was a rugby league footballer in Australia's New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership of the 1930s and 40s. A fullback and goal-kicker, he played for the Canterbury-Bankstown, Newtown and North Sydney clubs and also played representative football for New South Wales... |
| Percy Dermond Percy Dermond Percy Dermond was a rugby league player in Australia's premier competition the New South Wales Rugby Football League .A Winger, Dermond played for the Eastern Suburbs club in the years , and... |
WG | Edgar Newham Edgar Newham Edgar Newham was a rugby league footballer for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, New South Wales and for the Australian national side.... |
| Dick Dunn Dick Dunn Richard 'Dick' Dunn OAM was an Australian rugby league footballer and coach in the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership .Dunn played 134 matches for the Eastern Suburbs club in the years... |
CE | Alan Brady Alan Brady Alan Brady was a rugby league player for the Western Suburbs and Canterbury clubs, as well as the New South Wales rugby league team.- Club career :... (Ca./Co.) |
| Stan Callaghan | CE | Jim Champion Jim Champion James Henry Champion is a retired American and Canadian Football player and coach.A graduate of Mississippi State, Champion spent two seasons as a linebacker and offensive and defensive tackle for the New York Yanks of the National Football League.After his playing career, Champion became head... |
| Aiden Cairns Aiden Cairns Aiden Cairns was a rugby league player in the Australian competition, the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership.A three-quarter , Cairns, played in 16 matches for the Eastern Suburbs and 23 for the North Sydney club. In the 1938 season Cairns was a try scorer in the Eastern Suburbs... |
WG | Joe Gartner |
| Laurie Pickup | FE | Jim Duncombe |
| Fred Robinson | HB | Roy McCarter |
| Jack Arnold Jack Arnold (rugby league) Jack Arnold was an Australian rugby league footballer in the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership.Arnold played for both Western , and Eastern Suburbs during his career... |
PR | Eddie Burns Eddie Burns Eddie Burns was an Australian rugby league footballer and coach of the mid 20th century. A New South Wales representative prop-forward, he played for the Canterbury-Bankstown club of the NSWRFL Premiership, later becoming their coach.While still a teenager, Burns played in the Canterbury-Bankstown... |
| Noel Hollingdale Noel Hollingdale Noel Hollingdale was a rugby league player in the New South Wales Rugby League competition.Hollingdale played for the Eastern Suburbs club in the years 1938-42. A Hooker, Hollingdale played in 53 matches for the club. In 1940 he was a member of Easts' premiership winning team that defeated... |
HK | Roy Kirkaldy Roy Kirkaldy Roy Kirkaldy was a rugby league player for the Canterbury Bulldogs and for the New South Wales Rugby League team. A hooker, Kirkaldy retired after winning the 1942 premiership with Canterbury-Bankstown, only having played that season because of pressure from the club.-References:*... |
| Ray Stehr Ray Stehr Raymond Ernest Stehr was an Australian rugby league footballer, a state and national representative player whose club career was played at Sydney's Eastern Suburbs club. He has been named as one of the nation's finest footballers of the 20th century.-Early life:Stehr was born in the country New... (c) |
PR | Henry Porter |
| Harry Pierce Harry Pierce Henry "Harry" Pierce was a rugby league footballer in Australia's leading competition the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership. He played for both the St George Dragons and the Eastern Suburbs clubs.... |
SR | Jim McCormack |
| Sid Pearce Joe Pearce Sid 'Joe' Pearce was an Australian rugby league footballer of the 1930s and 40s. An Australian international and New South Wales representative second-row forward, he played his club football for Eastern Suburbs with whom he won the NSWRFL Premiership in 1935, '36, 37 'and '40... |
SR | Roy McCallum |
| Andy Norval Andy Norval Andy Norval was an Australian rugby league player, a national and state representative lock-forward whose club career was with Sydney's Eastern Suburbs club.... |
LK | Frank Sponberg Frank Sponberg Frank Sponberg was a rugby league player for the Western Suburbs Magpies, Canterbury Bulldogs and for the New South Wales Rugby League team.... |
| Arthur Halloway Arthur Halloway Arthur 'Pony' Halloway , was a pioneering Australian rugby league footballer and coach. Born in Sydney, New South Wales he played for the Glebe Dirty Reds , Balmain Tigers and Eastern Suburbs , in the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership.He was a Half-back for the Australian national... |
Coach | Jimmy Craig |
In only the fourth year after admission to the Sydney first grade competition Canterbury
Canterbury Bulldogs
The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Belmore, a suburb in the Canterbury-Bankstown region of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, as well as New South Wales Rugby League junior competitions...
fielded a side which dominated the regular season and set themselves up for their first title assault against 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...
, themselves looking to win a fourth successive premiership. A crowd of 20,287 was on hand 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...
with the game officiated by Tom McMahon (the younger of the two pre-war referees of that name).
The first half was a dour struggle for supremacy. Canterbury-Bankstown appeared to have the upper hand but East's Cairns scored first and it took two penalty goals by Canterbury's fullback Tommy Kirk to give the Berries a four points to three lead at half-time.
The Rooster's scored another try early in the second half when Dick Dunn dived over after the Easts' backline had created an overlap. Again the conversion was missed.
Canterbury-Bankstown came back at Easts with great determination and nearly scored on several occasions. Eventually Berries' reserve grader Jim Duncombe, who was in the team because of the illness of Aub Mitchell, was the first man to cross for the blue and whites. A scrum had gone down near Easts' line, Canterbury's Roy McCarter worked a blind side move and Duncombe went through an opening to score. Kirk kicked the goal, and Canterbury-Bankstown led by nine points to six.
The scores were close until about 20 minutes before the end, and then Canterbury made a final and determined rally. Easts' try line was attacked continuously. Joe Gartner, the Canterbury-Bankstown winger, went over for two excellent tries, beating the defence with side-stepping runs. Both were converted, the second by McCarter, the first by Kirk a fine effort from the sideline. Gartner's two tries put the issue beyond doubt, giving Canterbury a lead of 19 to 6.
Canterbury's excellent teamwork was the greatest factor in its success and the determined work of its forwards. They were opposed to an almost all-international Roosters pack with the experience of Ray Stehr and dangerous trygetters in Norval, Pearce, and Pierce. Canterbury's State hooker Roy Kirkaldy secured a good share of ball and with his front-row partners in Henry Porter and Eddie Burns continually stopped the Roosters attack, tackling themselves to a standstill. Nine seasons later in the 1947 Grand Final this Canterbury front three would still be dominating their opposition.
The other Canterbury forwards in Sponberg, McCallum and McCormack also played tirelessly and deservedly chaired their captain Alan Brady from the field to enthusiastic cheers from the Canterbury fans celebrating their first premiership and to sporting congratulations from the Eastern Suburbs men.
This was the first of four Grand Finals in which the Bulldogs and Roosters would contest against each other, with subsequent Grand Finals between the two teams coming in 1974, 1980 and more recently, 2004 (with the Bulldogs emerging victorious in all occasions except 1974).
Canterbury-Bankstown 19 (Tries: Gartner 2, Duncombe. Goals: Kirk 4, McCarter )
defeated
Eastern Suburbs 6 (Tries: Cairns, Dunn )