The 1950 New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership was the forty-third season of Sydney’s top-level rugby league competition, Australia’s first. Ten teams from across the city contested the premiership during the season which culminated in a grand final between South Sydney and Western Suburbs.
Teams Balmain 43rd seasonGround: Leichhardt Oval Coach: Athol SmithCaptain: Fred de BelinCanterbury-Bankstown 16th seasonGround: Belmore Sports Ground Coach: Alby WhyCaptain: Eddie Burns Eastern Suburbs 43rd seasonGround: Sydney Sports Ground Coach: Ernie Norman Captain: Ferris Ashton Manly-Warringah 4th seasonGround: Brookvale Oval Coach: Wally O'Connell Captain: Perce Pritchard Newtown 43rd seasonGround: Erskineville Oval Captain-Coach: Frank FarrellNorth Sydney 43rd seasonGround: North Sydney Oval Coach: Frank Hyde Captain: Martin Gallagher Parramatta 4th seasonGround: Cumberland Oval Coach: Vic HeyCaptain: Bob Hobbs South Sydney 43rd seasonGround: Redfern Oval Captain-Coach: Jack RaynerSt. George 30th seasonGround: Jubilee Oval Coach: Jim Duckworth Captain: Johnny Hawke Western Suburbs 43rd seasonGround: Pratten Park Coach: Jeff Smith Captain: Frank Stanmore
Ladder TeamPldWDLPFPAPDPts1 South Sydney181404323228+95282 Balmain181224255208+47263 Newtown181125347269+78244 Western Suburbs181026307259+48225 St. George18936336261+75216 Canterbury18909296277+19187 Eastern Suburbs187011237345-108148 Manly186012231293-62129 Parramatta183312203296-93910 North Sydney183015258357-996
Finals HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeCrowd Semifinals South Sydney30–4 Newtown2 September 1950Sydney Cricket GroundGeorge Bishop33,514 Balmain10–28 Western Suburbs9 September 1950Sydney Sports GroundTom McMahon33,542 Final South Sydney21–15 Western Suburbs16 September 1950Sydney Sports GroundTom McMahon32,373
Final South SydneyPositionWestern Suburbs13. Clive Churchill FB William Keato 12. John Graves WG 22. Jack Wall 11. Kevin Woolfe CE 20. Dev Dines 10. Milton Atkinson CE 3. Jack Woods 9. Cliff Smailes WG 26. John Lackey 26. Greg Hawick FE 6. Frank Stanmore (c) 8. Bill Stewart HB 7. Keith Holman Denis Donoghue PR 57. Don Stait 2. Ernie Hammerton HK 15. Alan Hornery 18. Ken Macreadie PR 5. Bill Horder5. Bernie Purcell SR 17. Kevin Hansen 4. Jack Rayner (Ca./Co.) SR 9. Don Milton 6. Les Cowie LK 8. Peter McLean In a close and physical encounter South Sydney held a 17–11 six point lead at half time. The second half was tryless, but South Sydney kept ahead on penalty goals throughout.
Souths’ captain Jack Rayner led the team in fine style to their first title in eighteen years while the club's internationals all stood up and were counted. Forward Bernie Purcell kicked five long-range penalty goals in succession; fullback Clive Churchill ran Wests’ heavyweight forwards off their legs and winger Johnny Graves scored two great tries.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 21 (Tries: Graves 2, Smailes. Goals: Purcell 5, Graves 1.)
Western Suburbs Magpies 15 (Tries: Holman. Goals: Keato 6.)
Player statistics The following statistics are as of the conclusion of Round 18.
Top 5 point scorers PointsPlayerTriesGoalsField Goals152 Bill Keato2730124 Joe Jorgenson4560116 Noel Pidding6490111 Darcy Russell1540106 Bernie Purcell8410 Top 5 try scorers TriesPlayer16 Jack Troy13 Ron Roberts12 Bobby Lulham12 Mitchell Wallace12 Peter O'Brien
Top 5 goal scorers GoalsPlayer73 Bill Keato56 Joe Jorgenson54 Darcy Russell49 Noel Pidding47 Ron Willey
References
External links Rugby League Tables - Season 1950 AFL Tables Results:1941-1950 at rabbitohs.com.au 1950 Labor Daily Cup at rleague.com NSWRFL season 1950 at rugbyleagueproject.org