1915 NSWRFL season

1915 NSWRFL season
Teams 8
Premiers Balmain (1st title)
Minor premiers Balmain (1st title)
Matches played 56
Points scored 1308 (total)
23.357 (per match)
Top point scorer(s) Wally Messenger (73)
Top try scorer(s) Frank Burge (20)

The 1915 New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership was the eighth season of Sydney's top-grade rugby league football club competition, Australia's first. Eight teams from across the city contested during the season, with the Balmain club finishing on top of the ladder to claim the premiership.[1]

Contents

Season summary

Even though World War I had broken out across Europe and many players were unavailable, there was a general consensus amongst the public that the rugby league premiership continue. Midway through the season, three clubs had clearly broken ahead of the others, Balmain, Glebe and South Sydney.

With South Sydney falling away in the second half of the season, Balmain and Glebe were main two contenders for the title, and they soon met with four rounds to play. In front of 20,000 people, the two clubs played out a memorable match at the Sydney Sports Ground, where Balmain eventually prevailed 12-2 winners on a cold, rainy day. Balmain were assured their first premiership without the need for a playoff after their close last-round win over South Sydney 7-4.

Balmain went through 1915 undefeated - a feat achieved by only five other teams since. They won the premiership that year in all three grades. Members of the Balmain premiership winning side included Bob Craig.

Teams

The teams remained unchanged from the 1914 season.

Annandale Balmain Eastern Suburbs Glebe
Newtown North Sydney South Sydney Western Suburbs

Ladder

Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts
1 Balmain 14 12 2 0 232 71 +161 26
2 Glebe 14 12 0 2 268 106 +162 24
3 Newtown 14 9 1 4 208 119 +89 19
4 South Sydney 14 8 1 5 157 94 +63 17
5 Eastern Suburbs 14 6 0 8 180 109 +71 12
6 Annandale 14 3 0 11 113 256 -143 6
7 Western Suburbs 14 2 0 12 67 200 -133 4
8 North Sydney 14 2 0 12 83 353 -270 4

References