| 1930 NSWRFL season | |
| Teams | 8 |
| Premiers | Western Suburbs (1st title) |
| Minor premiers | Western Suburbs (1st title) |
| Matches played | 60 |
| Points scored | 1721 (total) 28.683 (per match) |
| Top point scorer(s) | Jim Craig (86) |
| Top try scorer(s) | Morrie Boyle (15) |
The 1930 New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership was the twenty-third season of Sydney's top-level rugby league football competition, Australias's first. During the season, which lasted from April until October, eight teams from across the city contested the premiership which was won by Western Suburbs who defeated St. George in the final.[1]
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In spite of the reduced number of clubs 1930 was the NSWRL's most drawn out season. Because of representative fixtures and the need for a Grand Final, the season didn't end until 4 October.
The 1930 season was also the last in the NSWRFL for future Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame inductee, Jim Craig.
Foundation club Glebe was voted out of the competition by the New South Wales Rugby League General Committee 13 votes to 12 at the end of 1929, having come second last two years in a row. Although the team never won a premiership, it also managed to avoid the wooden spoon every season during its existence. After the decision was made, many fans and local politicians rallied to reverse the decision but to no avail. One reason suggested as to why this occurred include the fact that the area was gradually shifting away from a residential to industrial centre, with the League perhaps believing that there was no future for the game in the area.
As a result of Glebe's omission, the competition was reduced to eight teams, including six of the remaining nine foundation clubs.
| Balmain | Eastern Suburbs | Newtown | North Sydney |
| St. George | South Sydney | University | Western Suburbs |
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Western Suburbs | 14 | 12 | 0 | 2 | 237 | 130 | +107 | 24 |
| 2 | Eastern Suburbs | 14 | 11 | 0 | 3 | 316 | 178 | +138 | 22 |
| 3 | South Sydney | 14 | 9 | 0 | 5 | 234 | 174 | +60 | 18 |
| 4 | St. George | 14 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 161 | 151 | +10 | 14 |
| 5 | Newtown | 14 | 6 | 1 | 7 | 194 | 176 | +18 | 13 |
| 6 | Balmain | 14 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 214 | 218 | -4 | 12 |
| 7 | North Sydney | 14 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 164 | 289 | -125 | 5 |
| 8 | University | 14 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 117 | 321 | -204 | 4 |
In the two semi finals, St. George beat second-placed Eastern Suburbs whilst minor premiers Western Suburbs beat defending premiers South Sydney. The two winners then played a final in which St. George upset Western Suburbs 14-6, as they previously did in Round 11.
The finals system set in place then forced the final to be replayed, in what was known as the "Right of Challenge". This system ensured that in the event that the minor premiers lost in either the first or second round of the finals, then regardless they would be given a second chance in a premiership decider. With this being the first season where the "Right of Challenge" was exercised, the 1930 decider was thus the first "Grand Final" played in the NSWRL.
| Semi-finals | Final | ||||||
| 20 September 1930 - Earl Park | |||||||
| Eastern Suburbs | 10 | ||||||
| St. George | 11 | ||||||
| 27 September 1930 - Sports Ground | |||||||
| Western Suburbs | 27 | ||||||
| St. George | 2 | ||||||
| 20 September 1930 - Sports Ground | |||||||
| Western Suburbs | 9 | ||||||
| South Sydney | 5 | ||||||
| Western Suburbs | Position | St. George |
|---|---|---|
| Frank McMillan | FB | Jack McCormack |
| Alan Brady | WG | Eric Freestone |
| Cliff Pearce | CE | Jack Lennox |
| Ken Sherwood | CE | Walter Greenslands |
| Ray Morris | WG | Benny Martin |
| Jack Rosa | FE | Arnold Traynor |
| Jim Craig (Ca./Co.) | HB | Bill Hyland |
| Bill Brogan | PR | Harry Flower |
| Bob Lindfield | HK | Arthur Justice (c) |
| Cecil Rhodes | PR | Reg Schuman |
| Bill Carpenter | SR | Bill Hardman |
| Charlie Cornwell | SR | Jim Wearmouth |
| Frank Matterson | LK | Percy Fairall |
| Coach | Frank Burge |
Having pipped Eastern Suburbs 11-10 at their home ground of Earl Park on 20 September, Saints continued their good form into the following weekend in the final, defeating minor premiers Western Suburbs 14-6 in front of 16,557 people. The two teams had met twice before during the season with Wests winning the first encounter in May and St George winning the second match in August. Under the previous system, victory in the final would have seen St George declared premiership champions. But in 1930, Wests were allowed a second chance as minor premiers if defeated during the finals.
The re-match decider was played in front of 12,178 people on 4 October at the Sydney Sports Ground and officiated by referee Lal Deane. St. George led 2-0 early and competed in the first half. But Western Suburbs were a crack outfit and after Saints lost veteran forward, Harry Flower with an arm injury, they skipped away to a 16-2 lead. Wests eventually ran in seven tries and crushed St George 27-2 to take away their first premiership since their 1908 foundation admission to the top grade competition.
It was the final game as a player for Wests captain-coach and versatile representative star Jim Craig.
Western Suburbs 27 (Tries: Alan Brady 3, Jim Craig, Charlie Cornwell, R Morris, C Rhodes. Goals Jim Craig 2, Bill Brogan goals)
St George 2 (B Hyland goal)
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