1939 NSWRFL season

1939 New South Wales Rugby Football League
Teams	8
Premiers	Balmain (7th title)
Minor premiers	Balmain (7th title)
Matches played	59
Points scored	1555 (total) 26.356 (per match)
Top point scorer(s)	Neville Smith (97)
Top try scorer(s)	Sid Goodwin (18)

The 1939 New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership was the 32nd season of Sydney's top-level rugby league football club competition, Australia’s first. Eight teams from across the city contested the premiership during the season, which lasted from April until September and culminated in Balmain’s victory over South Sydney in the final.^[1]

Season summary

This was to be the St. George club’s final season at Earl Park, Arncliffe, the following season moving back to Hurstville Oval.

Teams

• Balmain, formed on January 23, 1908 at Balmain Town Hall
• Canterbury-Bankstown
• Eastern Suburbs, formed on January 24, 1908 at Paddington Town Hall
• Newtown, formed on January 14, 1908
• North Sydney, formed on February 7, 1908
• South Sydney, formed on January 17, 1908 at Redfern Town Hall
• St. George, formed on November 8, 1920 at Kogarah School of Arts
• Western Suburbs, formed on February 4, 1908

Balmain 32nd season Ground: Leichhardt Oval Coach: Bill Kelly Captain: Sid Goodwin	Canterbury-Bankstown 5th season Ground: Belmore Oval Coach: Jerry Brien Captain: Alan Brady	Eastern Suburbs 32nd season Ground: Sports Ground Captain-coach: Ray Stehr	Newtown 32nd season Ground: Henson Park Coach: Frank Burge Captain: Allan Ellis
North Sydney 32nd season Ground: North Sydney Oval Coach: Bob Williams Captain: Roy Thompson	South Sydney 32nd season Ground: Sports Ground Coach: Charlie Lynch Captain: Fred Felsch	St. George 19th season Ground: Earl Park Captain-coach: Neville Smith	Western Suburbs 32nd season Ground: Pratten Park Coach: Jim Craig Captain: Albert McGuiness

Ladder

The geographical locations of the teams that contested the 1939 premiership across Sydney.

	Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts
1	Balmain	14	10	2	2	249	115	+134	22
2	St. George	14	10	0	4	268	169	+99	20
3	Canterbury-Bankstown	14	10	0	4	234	155	+79	20
4	South Sydney	14	9	0	5	219	158	+61	18
5	Eastern Suburbs	14	8	0	6	192	184	+8	16
6	Western Suburbs	14	2	2	10	148	213	-65	6
7	North Sydney	14	2	2	10	129	272	-143	6
8	Newtown	14	2	0	12	124	297	-173	4

Finals

In the two semi finals, minor premiers Balmain narrowly defeated Canterbury whilst fourth-placed South Sydney beat second-placed St. George.

Home	Score	Away	Match Information
			Date and Time	Venue	Referee	Crowd
Semi Finals
Balmain	13 - 9	Canterbury	19 August 1939	Sydney Cricket Ground	George Bishop	23,774
St. George	10 - 23	South Sydney	26 August 1939	Sydney Cricket Ground	Tom McMahon	21,722
Final
Balmain	33 - 4	South Sydney	2 September 1939	Sydney Cricket Ground	George Bishop	26,972

Premiership Final

The decider was played on the weekend when the world’s future altered dramatically with the invasion of Poland by Germany leading to England, Australia and the world going to war.

The match was played at the Sydney Cricket Ground and refereed by George Bishop in front of 26,972. The game was tight in the first half with the Tiger's scoring one try to lead 7-2 at the break.

In the second-half Balmain ran away with it, scoring six further tries to South Sydney’s nil for a crushing seventh premiership title and the Tigers’ first premiership victory since 1924. Star Balmain players of the time included Sid Goodwin, Frank Hyde, Tom Bourke, Athol Smith, Billy Bischoff, George Watt and Jim Quealey.

Balmain 33 (Tries: Tom Bourke 2, Frank Hyde, J Redman, Jim Quealey, D Buckley, A Smith. Goals: H Day 5, W Johnson )

defeated

South Sydney 4 (Fred Felsch 2 goals)

Balmain Premiers 1939

References

• Rugby League Tables - Notes The World of Rugby League
• Rugby League Tables - Season 1939 The World of Rugby League
• Premiership History and Statistics RL1908
• Collis, Ian; Whiticker, Alan (2007). 100 Years of Rugby League. Chatswood, NSW: New Holland. p. 154. ISBN 978-1-74110-463-9. 
• Results: 1931-40 at rabbitohs.com.au