New South Wales Rugby League season 1908
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| 1908 New South Wales Rugby League season | |
|---|---|
 Logo of the NSWRL |
|
| Teams | 9 |
| Premiers |  South Sydney (1st title) |
| Minor Premiers | South Sydney (1st title) |
| Matches played | 43 |
| Points scored | 1108 (average 25.767 per match) |
The 1908 New South Wales Rugby League premiership was the inaugural season of the rugby league competition based in Sydney. Eight teams contested the first round of the season; seven teams from Sydney and one team from Newcastle. Cumberland later joined the competition in the second round, making it nine teams who contested for the first premiership in total.
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[edit] History
Early in the 20th century in Sydney, the game of rugby union was contested in competitions that were affiliated with the Rugby Football Union based in England. Only a decade earlier, a breakaway version of rugby began in England, with the Northern Union being formed as a direct consequence. The reasons for this split were ultimately based around the fact that clubs had wanted to compensate their players for time away from work due to injuries and travelling. After the Rugby Football Union denied the clubs' requests for compensation, many northern English clubs split away from the Rugby Football Union and entered a new competition, which implemented gradual rule changes to the rugby game in attempt to make a more attractive game for crowds. When crowd numbers started to rise, clubs were able to afford to pay players benefits as a direct result of increased gate takings. This new game was known as rugby league.
In 1906 in Sydney, crowd numbers for rugby union matches began to increase significantly following the arrival of player Dally Messenger, whose individual skill was considered a pleasure to watch. It was around this time that the discontent of players to their rugby clubs for still failing to shift away from the amateur culture of the Rugby Football Union was starting to show. Even though bigger crowds had brought increased revenue to the game, players ended up failing to see any of the increased revenue going back to them. But in the latter half of 1907 and unknown to the general public, Dally Messenger secretely agreed to sign on to play in a professional rugby league competition that would start the following year, run by the New South Wales Rugby League. It would turn out to be Messenger's popularity that would ensure the success of the new concept.
Early in 1908, a number of rugby union clubs held meetings across Sydney and Newcastle to decide whether or not breakaway rugby league clubs should be formed or not in preparation for the new rugby league premiership starting in the following months. The popularity amongst players in support of the new competition was overwhelming, with only some players deciding to continue playing in the traditional amateur rugby union competition. The rugby league clubs that were formed were essentially breakaway clubs, and in most instances, teams continued the use of their team colours into the new competition.
On April 20, 1908, the first premiership was underway, with the first four games all held at the Agricultural Field and at Birchgrove.
[edit] Teams
- Balmain, formed on January 23, 1908 at Balmain Town Hall
- Cumberland, formed on April 20, 1908 at Horse and Jockey Hotel, Homebush
- Eastern Suburbs, formed on January 24, 1908 at Paddington Town Hall
- Glebe, formed on January 9, 1908
- Newcastle, formed on February 8, 1908 at Pike's Rooms, Bolton Street, Newcastle
- 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
[edit] Ladder
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | B | PF | PA | PD | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Sydney |
9 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 194 | 53 | +141 | 18 |
| 2 |  Eastern Suburbs |
9 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 183 | 90 | +93 | 18 |
| 3 |  Glebe |
9 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 106 | 63 | +43 | 16 |
| 4 |  North Sydney |
9 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 155 | 66 | +89 | 14 |
| 5 |  Newcastle |
9 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 151 | 116 | +35 | 10 |
| 6 |  Balmain |
9 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 86 | 113 | -27 | 9 |
| 7 |  Newtown |
9 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 70 | 148 | -78 | 5 |
| 8 |  Western Suburbs |
9 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 47 | 190 | -143 | 4 |
| 9 |  Cumberland |
8 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 38 | 191 | -153 | 4 |
[edit] Finals
The competition was decided on which side had the most premiership points at the end of the year. After the regular season had completed, the top four teams played an extra round in order break the deadlock between South Sydney and Eastern Suburbs which both ended up on 18 points. After these two teams won their respective semi-finals, a final was played between the two sides. South Sydney overcame a depleted Eastern Suburbs side to take away the inaugural premiership.
| Semi finals | Finals | ||||||
| 15 August 1908 - Agricultural | |||||||
| Eastern Suburbs |
23 | ||||||
| North Sydney |
10 | ||||||
| 29 August 1908 - Agricultural | |||||||
| South Sydney |
14 | ||||||
| Eastern Suburbs |
12 | ||||||
| 15 August 1908 - Wentworth | |||||||
| South Sydney |
16 | ||||||
| Glebe |
3 | ||||||
[edit] Final
The following is a report from Sydney newspaper The Sydney Morning Herald on the final between South Sydney and Eastern Suburbs.
| The final match to determine the premiership in the first grade of the Rugby League was played on the Agricultural Society's Ground on Saturday in perfect weather. The match was shorn of much interest on account of prominent members of both teams being absent, on their way to England. In accordance with the League rules, one-third of the profits of the match will be devoted to charity. The game, which was brilliant, and at times rather rough, resulted in a victory for South Sydney by 14 points to 12. The winners deserved their victory.
South Sydney lost the toss, and kicked off from the southern end, an easterly wind blowing across the ground, and the sun shining strongly against them. Play hummed from the beginning. South Sydney having the better of matters, the forwards putting in splendid work. Getting the ball from the scrum repeatedly, South Sydney's backs executed several brilliant bursts, but the tackling of their opponents was very safe. However, they broke through once, Conlin making a beautiful feinting run, and then passing to Senior, on the wing, the latter scoring a pretty try. Immediately afterwards Brackenrigg kicked a penalty goal for Eastern Suburbs. South Sydney now attacked strongly, and appeared likely to score, but Miller, intercepting a yard or so from his own line, raced the whole length of the ground and scored a beautiful try behind the posts. Brackenrigg converted, making the scores 7 points to 6 in favour of Eastern Suburbs. On resuming South Sydney obtained the upper hand, forwards and backs playing brilliantly. They made repeated dashes, but could not break through for a long time. Once Storie got across, but was tackled. Then the three-quarters made fine dashes on either wing. From the last of these, which ended on the line, Golding scored a try, which Green failed to convert. Just before half time, Fry marked at Eastern Suburb’s 25, and Conlin kicked a fine goal, South Sydney leading by 8 points to 7. The second half proved exciting from start to finish, Eastern Suburbs at first attacked and South Sydney got out of the difficulty by forcing. South Sydney now became aggressive, the three-quarters combining very neatly. They repeatedly penetrated the defence, but could not put the finishing touch to the movements for some time. At length Levison obtained a scrum and passed to Conlin, on the wing. The latter dashed for the line, and scored. The kick at goal failed. South Sydney 11 points to 7. Eastern Suburbs put in fine work. Frawley and Brackenrigg dribbling almost to the line. Then McNamara dropped a field goal from centre, which reduced South Sydney's lead to 2 points. McNamara almost repeated the performance a few minutes later, South Sydney rallied, and Levison getting from a scrum at the 25 passed in to Butler, who scored. The kick at goal failed. Play now became very rough, several players being knocked out temporarily, and the referee had to administer cautions. Near time, Eastern Suburbs came with a rush, and Miller scored a good try, which Brackenrigg failed to convert. There was no further scoring, South Sydney winning by 14 points to 12. |
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—The Sydney Morning Herald, South Sydney Claim Rugby League Title |
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[edit] References
- Rugby League Tables - Notes The World of Rugby League
- Rugby League Tables - Season 1908 The World of Rugby League
- Premiership History and Statistics RL1908
- History - Introduction North Sydney Bears
