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]
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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.
The teams remained unchanged from the 1914 season.
Annandale | Balmain | Eastern Suburbs | Glebe |
Newtown | North Sydney | South Sydney | Western Suburbs |
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 |
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