The 1948 NSWRFL season was the forty-first New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership season, Sydney’s top-level rugby league football competition, and Australia’s first. The teams remained unchanged from the previous season, with ten clubs from across the city contesting the premiership during the season which culminated in Western Suburbs’ victory over Balmain in the grand final.Premiership Roll of Honour at rl1908.com
Season summary When Balmain’s young stars of 1946 and 1947 Pat Devery and Harry Bath left for big money offers in England it seemed doubtful that the Tigers would be able to continue their run of success. However Balmain gave themselves every chance to achieve their third title in a row and made it through to the Grand Final match up against Wests.
Teams
Balmain, formed on January 23, 1908, at Balmain Town Hall Canterbury-Bankstown Eastern Suburbs, formed on January 24, 1908, at Paddington Town Hall Manly-Warringah Newtown, formed on January 14, 1908 North Sydney, formed on February 7, 1908 Parramatta, formed in November 1946 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 41st seasonGround: Leichhardt Oval Coach: Athol Smith Captain: Tom Bourke Canterbury-Bankstown 14th seasonGround: Belmore Sports Ground Coach: Arthur HallowayCaptain: Henry Porter Eastern Suburbs 41st seasonGround: Sydney Sports Ground Coach: Percy Williams Captain: Wally O'Connell Manly-Warringah 2nd seasonGround: Brookvale Oval Coach: Ray StehrCaptain: Ron O'Connell Newtown 41st seasonGround: Erskineville Oval Captain-Coach: Frank FarrellNorth Sydney 41st seasonGround: North Sydney Oval Coach: Cliff Pearce Captain: Frank Cottle Parramatta 2nd seasonGround: Cumberland Oval Captain-coach: Vic HeySouth Sydney 41st seasonGround: Redfern Oval Coach: Dave WatsonCaptain: Jack Rayner St. George 28th seasonGround: Hurstville Oval Coach: Jim DuckworthCaptain: Matt McCoyWestern Suburbs 41st seasonGround: Pratten Park Coach: Jeff Smith Captain: Jack Walsh
Ladder TeamPldWDLPFPAPDPts1 Western Suburbs (P)181602322189+133322 Newtown181305386248+138263 Balmain181224287222+65264 St. George181017332262+70215 Canterbury18729282276+6166 Eastern Suburbs18729225248-23167 South Sydney187110265302-37158 Parramatta185112237346-109119 Manly184113221334-113910 North Sydney183213191321-1308
Finals In Balmain’s preliminary final match up with St George, Balmain winger Arthur Patton refused to leave the field whilst injured as the Tigers held on to win 13–12. At game’s end it was found that he had a broken leg. HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeCrowd Semifinals Western Suburbs7–8 Balmain28 August 1948Sydney Cricket GroundGeorge Bishop25,907 Newtown8–20 St. George4 September 1948Sydney Cricket GroundJack O'Brien31,310 Preliminary Final Balmain13–12 St. George11 September 1948Sydney Cricket GroundJack O'Brien37,404 Grand Final Western Suburbs8–5 Balmain18 September 19481948 Grand Final at nrlstats.comSydney Sports GroundGeorge Bishop29,122
Grand Final Western SuburbsPositionBalmain 13. William Keato FB Dave Parkinson 49. Col Hudson WG 30. Leo Nosworthy 10. Eric Bennett CE 6. George Williams 12. Lindsay Rodda CE 4. Tom Bourke (c) 11. John Lackey WG 42. Mitchell Wallace 8. Frank Stanmore FE 32. William Sneddon 7. Neville Hogan HB 20. Des Bryan 19. Bill Horder PR 10. Jim Thomson 2. William Brown HK 45Robert Crane Jack Walsh (c) PR 8. Jack Spencer 14. Kevin Hansen SR 12. Sid Ryan 5. Don Milton SR 25. Pat Madden 6. Peter McLean LK 13. Jack Hampstead Jeff Smith Coach Athol Smith After rainy conditions the Grand Final was played on a soft Sydney Sports Ground surface. The Tigers led the game until the final quarter when a 40-metre run by Wests’ second rower Kevin Hansen saw him tackled right on the tryline. The referee awarded the try and Wests held an 8–5 break until full-time to record their third premiership win.
Western Suburbs Magpies 8 (Tries: Hudson, Hansen. Goals: Keato)
defeated
Balmain Tigers 5 (Tries: Bourke. Goals: Bourke)
Player statistics The following statistics are as of the conclusion of Round 18.
Top 5 point scorers PointsPlayerTriesGoalsField Goals101 Jack Lindwall937094 Colin Schomberg047093 Bill Keato145092 Oriel Kennerson243081 Norm Jacobson2700 Top 5 try scorers TriesPlayer27 Norm Jacobson18 Arthur Patton11 Eddie Tracey11 Len Allmond9 Eric Bennett9 Pat Leal9 Len Smith9 Jack Lindwall
Top 5 goal scorers GoalsPlayer47 Colin Schomberg45 Bill Keato43 Oriel Kennerson37 Jack Lindwall33 Joe Jorgenson
References
External links Rugby League Tables - Notes AFL Tables Rugby League Tables - Season 1948 AFL Tables Premiership History and Statistics RL1908 Finals lineups and results Hunterlink site Results: 1941-1950 at rabbitohs.com.au 1948 Labor Daily Cup at rleague.com NSWRFL season 1948 at rugbyleagueproject.org