1916 NSWRFL season


The 1916 New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership was the ninth season of Sydney’s top-level professional rugby league competition, Australia’s first. Eight teams from across the city contested during the season which culminated in a grand final between Balmain and South Sydney.

Season summary

Three teams dominated the season, Balmain, South Sydney and Glebe. With two rounds to go, each of the three teams had a genuine chance of winning the premiership with each separated by half a win. This created an interesting scenario with Balmain facing South Sydney and Glebe facing Eastern Suburbs who were placed fourth at the time. As it turned out, Balmain lost 11–7 to Souths, leaving the competition wide open for Glebe to take the competition lead by one point. However, Glebe ended up losing crucially to Eastern Suburbs 8–5 on the same day. With both Balmain and Souths now equal on 20 points with one game to play, it would have taken a miracle for Glebe to come back given that they were still on 19 points. All three teams won their final games, but it was equal placed Balmain and South Sydney that would play off in a premiership decider.

Teams

The teams remained unchanged from the previous season.
Annandale
7th season
Ground: Wentworth Park
Coach:
Captain: Walter Haddock		Balmain
9th season
Ground: Birchgrove Oval
Captain-coach: Arthur Halloway		Eastern Suburbs
9th season
Ground: Sydney Sports Ground
Coach:
Captain: Jack Watkins		Glebe
9th season
Ground: Wentworth Park
Coach:
Captain: Frank Burge
Newtown
9th season
Ground: Erskineville Oval
Coach:
Captain: Paddy McCue		North Sydney
9th season
Ground: St Lukes Oval
Coach: Denis Lutge
Captain: Con Sullivan		South Sydney
9th season
Ground: RAS Showground
Coach:
Captain: Roy Almond		Western Suburbs
9th season
Ground: St. Lukes Oval
Coach:
Captain: Harold Leddy

Ladder

Final

Having won all three grades in 1915 Balmain returned in 1916 to repeat the effort for a second straight season. At the conclusion of the season Balmain and Souths were equal aloft the premiership ladder with 22 points apiece. The League did not expect such a finish and a Final had to be scheduled. This Final was held at the Sydney Cricket Ground where they were to be held for many years to come. The game played on July 26, 1916, in front of just six thousand people, saw the lead change three times in the first half with Balmain ahead 5–3 at the break after a try by Arthur Halloway and a penalty goal by Charles “Chook” Fraser. The second half saw the game played predominantly on Balmain's line, with South Sydney putting on repeated attacks. However, the Balmain defence never gave in and the score didn't change by game's end – a two-point margin securing Balmain's second consecutive title.
Balmain 5
defeated
South Sydney 3