New South Wales Rugby Football League season 1940
Encyclopedia
The 1940 New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership was the thirty-third season of Sydney
's top-level rugby league football club competition, Australia's first. Eight teams from across the city contested the premiership during the season, which lasted from April until August, culminating in Eastern Suburbs' victory over Canterbury-Bankstown in the final.
defeated St. George
whilst fourth-placed Canterbury
beat second-placed Newtown
. Eastern Suburbs then beat Canterbury-Bankstown in the Final to collect their eighth premiership.
Led by their standard-setting captain-coach Dave Brown
, the Roosters continued their strong season performance with a semi-final victory over St George to gain a Final berth.
Although Brown was ruled out on the morning of the decider with a leg injury, replacement Bill Brew slotted into the side and scored a try after backing up second rower Sid "Joe" Pearce who also scored the next try. The young Easts team who averaged 20 years of age overcame Canterbury by six tries to two.
Eastern Suburbs 24 (Tries: Pierce 2, O'Loan, Brew, Pearce, Clarke. Goals: Dunn 2 )
defeated
Canterbury-Bankstown 14 (Tries: Bonnyman, Denton. Goals: Johnson 4)
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. Eight teams from across the city contested the premiership during the season, which lasted from April until August, culminating in Eastern Suburbs' victory over Canterbury-Bankstown in the final.
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-Bankstown
- 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... |
 |
 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 |  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 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 250 | 136 | 19 |
| 2 |  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 | 9 | 0 | 5 | 261 | 200 | 18 |
| 3 |  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 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 263 | 203 | 16 |
| 4 |  Canterbury-Bankstown |
14 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 204 | 195 | 16 |
| 5 |  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 | 199 | 162 | 15 |
| 6 |  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 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 165 | 259 | |
| 14 | ||||||||
| 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... |
14 | 4 | 0 | 10 | 156 | 243 | |
| 8 | ||||||||
| 8 |  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 | 3 | 0 | 11 | 159 | 259 | |
| 6 | ||||||||
Finals
In the two semi finals, minor premiers 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...
defeated St. George
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,...
whilst fourth-placed 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...
beat second-placed Newtown
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...
. Eastern Suburbs then beat Canterbury-Bankstown in the Final to collect their eighth premiership.
| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date and Time | Venue | Referee | Crowd | |||||
| Semi Finals | ||||||||
| 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... |
10 - 3 | St. George 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,... |
17 August 1940 | 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... |
Jack O'Brien | 17,473 | ||
| Newtown 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... |
11 - 19 | 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... |
24 August 1940 | 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... |
Jack O'Brien | 22,061 | ||
| Final | ||||||||
| 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... |
24 - 14 | 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... |
31 August 1940 | 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... |
Jack O'Brien | 24,167 | ||
Premiership Final
| Eastern Suburbs | Position | Canterbury-Bankstown |
|---|---|---|
| Doug Bartlett | FB | Lindsay Johnson |
| Rod O'Loan Rod O'Loan Rod O'Loan was an Australian rugby league footballer for the Eastern Suburbs club in the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership.... |
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.... |
| Stan Callaghan | CE | Merv Denton Merv Denton Merv Denton was an Australian rugby league winger for the Canterbury Bulldogs, Balmain Tigers and for the New South Wales Rugby League team.-External links:*... |
| 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 | Bob Russell |
| Bill Brew Bill Brew William ‘Billy’ Brew was a rugby league player in the Australian competition the New South Wales Rugby League in the years 1940 and 1941.... |
WG | Jack Bonnyman Jack Bonnyman Jack Bonnyman was a rugby league player for the Canterbury Bulldogs and New South Wales.... (c) |
| Fred May Fred May Fred May was a rugby league player in the New South Wales Rugby League .May played for the Eastern Suburbs club, now the Sydney Roosters, in the years 1940 and '41. A five-eight, May was a member of East's premiership winning side that defeated the Canterbury Bulldogs in the 1940 decider... |
FE | Ted Anderson |
| Sel Lisle Sel Lisle Sel Lisle was an Australian rugby league player, a first-grade premiership winning halfback of the 1940s who made a number of state representative appearances.Lisle played for the Eastern Sububs club from 1940-42 and 1944-47... |
HB | Roy McCarter |
| 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 | Jim Gibbs |
| 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:*... |
| John Clarke | PR | Jack Reilly |
| 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 | Bob Allison |
| 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 | Bob Farrar |
| Andrew Norval | LK | Gordon Clunas |
| Dave Brown Dave Brown (rugby league footballer Easts) David Michael Brown born Kogarah, New South Wales, died on 23 February 1974 in Sydney) was one of Australia's greatest rugby league footballers.... |
Coach | 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 :... |
Led by their standard-setting captain-coach Dave Brown
Dave Brown (rugby league footballer Easts)
David Michael Brown born Kogarah, New South Wales, died on 23 February 1974 in Sydney) was one of Australia's greatest rugby league footballers....
, the Roosters continued their strong season performance with a semi-final victory over St George to gain a Final berth.
Although Brown was ruled out on the morning of the decider with a leg injury, replacement Bill Brew slotted into the side and scored a try after backing up second rower Sid "Joe" Pearce who also scored the next try. The young Easts team who averaged 20 years of age overcame Canterbury by six tries to two.
Eastern Suburbs 24 (Tries: Pierce 2, O'Loan, Brew, Pearce, Clarke. Goals: Dunn 2 )
defeated
Canterbury-Bankstown 14 (Tries: Bonnyman, Denton. Goals: Johnson 4)