1916 NSWRFL season

Rugby league competition March 2024 1916 New South Wales Rugby Football League 8 16x16px Balmain 2nd 16x16px Balmain 16x16px Western Suburbs 5th 2nd 57 1174 16x16px Charles Fraser (94) 16x16px Frank Burge (22) 1915 NSWRFL season 1915 1917 NSWRFL season 1917 The 1916 New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership was the ninth season of Sydney’s top-level professional rugby league competition, Australia’s first. Eight teams from across the city contested during the season which culminated in a grand final between Balmain and South Sydney.Premiership Roll of Honour https://web.archive.org/web/20110514030740/http://rl1908.com/clubcomps/Honours.htm 2011-05-14 at rl1908.com Season summary Three teams dominated the season, Balmain, South Sydney and Glebe. With two rounds to go, each of the three teams had a genuine chance of winning the premiership with each separated by half a win. This created an interesting scenario with Balmain (20 points, first) facing South Sydney (18 points, third) and Glebe (19 points, second) facing Eastern Suburbs who were placed fourth at the time. As it turned out, Balmain lost 11–7 to Souths, leaving the competition wide open for Glebe to take the competition lead by one point. However, Glebe ended up losing crucially to Eastern Suburbs 8–5 on the same day. With both Balmain and Souths now equal on 20 points with one game to play, it would have taken a miracle for Glebe to come back given that they were still on 19 points. All three teams won their final games, but it was equal placed Balmain and South Sydney that would play off in a premiership decider.200px|thumb|right|The geographical locations of the teams that contested the 1916 premiership across Sydney. Teams The teams remained unchanged from the previous season. Annandale Balmain, formed on January 23, 1908, at Balmain Town Hall Eastern Suburbs, formed on January 24, 1908, at Paddington Town Hall Glebe, formed on January 9, 1908 Newtown, formed on January 14, 1908 North Sydney, formed on February 7, 1908 South Sydney, formed on January 17, 1908, at Redfern Town Hall Western Suburbs, formed on February 4, 1908 100px|centerAnnandale7th seasonGround: Wentworth ParkCoach: Captain: Walter Haddock100px|centerBalmain9th seasonGround: Birchgrove OvalCaptain-coach: Arthur Halloway100px|centerEastern Suburbs9th seasonGround: Sydney Sports GroundCoach: Captain: Jack Watkins100px|centerGlebe9th seasonGround: Wentworth ParkCoach: Captain: Frank Burge100px|centerNewtown9th seasonGround: Erskineville OvalCoach: Captain: Paddy McCue100px|centerNorth Sydney9th seasonGround: North Sydney Oval Coach: Denis Lutge Captain: Con Sullivan100px|centerSouth Sydney9th seasonGround: RAS ShowgroundCoach: Captain: Roy Almond100px|centerWestern Suburbs9th seasonGround: St. Lukes OvalCoach: Captain: Harold Leddy Ladder TeamPldWDLPFPAPDPts116x16px Balmain141103181100+8122216x16px South Sydney141103170117+5322316x16px Glebe141013217106+11121416x16px Eastern Suburbs1472517089+8116516x16px North Sydney14509108189-8110616x16px Newtown14419134153-199716x16px Annandale14401094163-698816x16px Western Suburbs14201292249-1574 Final BalmainPositionSouth Sydney Lyall Wall FB Wally Dymant Reg Latta WG Gordon VaughanCharles Fraser CE C. Phelps Jim Craig CE Rex Norman Jack 'Junker' Robinson WG Bill Cann Albert "Rick" Johnston FE Roy NormanArthur Halloway (c) HB George McGowan Alf Fraser PR Roy Almond D. Cranston HK John Kerwick Edward Burnicle PR Owen McCarthy Bill Schultz SR Arthur Oxford D. Stewart SR George MooreRobert Craig LK Bill GrovesHaving won all three grades in 1915 Balmain returned in 1916 to repeat the effort for a second straight season. At the conclusion of the season Balmain and Souths were equal aloft the premiership ladder with 22 points apiece. The League did not expect such a finish and a Final had to be scheduled. This Final was held at the Sydney Cricket Ground where they were to be held for many years to come. The game played on July 26, 1916, in front of just six thousand people, saw the lead change three times in the first half with Balmain ahead 5–3 at the break after a try by Arthur Halloway and a penalty goal by Charles “Chook” Fraser. The second half saw the game played predominantly on Balmain's line, with South Sydney putting on repeated attacks. However, the Balmain defence never gave in and the score didn't change by game's end – a two-point margin securing Balmain's second consecutive title. Balmain 5 (Try: Arthur Halloway. Goal: Charles Fraser) defeated South Sydney 3 (Try: Gordon Vaughan ) References External links Rugby League Tables - Notes AFL Tables Rugby League Tables - Season 1916 AFL Tables Premiership History and Statistics RL1908 1916 - Balmain Beats Souths In Final RL1908 Results: 1911-20 at rabbitohs.com.au Category:New South Wales Rugby League premiership Nswrfl Season