1946 NSWRFL season
The 1946 New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership was the thirty-ninth season of Sydney’s top-level rugby league competition, Australia’s first. Eight teams from across the city contested during the season which culminated in Balmain’s victory over St. George in the premiership final.
Season summary
The South Sydney club did not win a single match in 1946, continuing a losing streak that started in round 8, 1945 and which would run till round 1, 1947.Eastern Suburbs’ Lionel Cooper took out the New South Wales “Player of the Year” award.
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 39th season Ground: Leichhardt Oval Coach: Norm Robinson Captain: Tom Bourke | Canterbury-Bankstown 12th season Ground: Belmore Oval Coach: Ross McKinnon Captain: Ron Bailey | Eastern Suburbs 39th season Ground: Sydney Sports Ground Captain-Coach: Ray Stehr | Newtown 39th season Ground: Henson Park Coach: Frank Farrell & Len Smith Captain: Frank Farrell |
| North Sydney 39th season Ground: North Sydney Oval Coach: Harry Forbes Captain: Jim Scoular | South Sydney 39th season Ground: Sydney Sports Ground Coach: Arthur Hennessy Captain: Clem Kennedy | St. George 26th season Ground: Hurstville Oval Captain-Coach: Herb Narvo | Western Suburbs 39th season Ground: Pratten Park Captain-Coach: Jack Walsh |
Ladder
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | |
| 1 | St. George | 14 | 11 | 0 | 3 | 264 | 203 | +61 | 22 |
| 2 | Newtown | 14 | 10 | 0 | 4 | 294 | 189 | +105 | 20 |
| 3 | Balmain | 14 | 9 | 0 | 5 | 279 | 193 | +86 | 18 |
| 4 | Canterbury-Bankstown | 14 | 8 | 1 | 5 | 212 | 196 | +16 | 17 |
| 5 | Eastern Suburbs | 14 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 213 | 174 | +39 | 16 |
| 6 | North Sydney | 14 | 5 | 0 | 9 | 248 | 283 | -35 | 10 |
| 7 | Western Suburbs | 14 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 224 | 267 | -43 | 9 |
| 8 | South Sydney | 14 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 124 | 353 | -229 | 0 |
Finals
With just two rounds remaining, Newtown looked on track for the minor premiership until they lost to Eastern Suburbs and then Balmain in the two final rounds of the year. This left St. George to take the minor premiership, and with it, a guaranteed place in a Final. This proved costly for Newtown who were narrowly beaten by Canterbury-Bankstown in the semi final eliminator, meaning they were out of the competition. St. George also lost their first round match, meaning they immediately got sent into the Grand Final against the winner of a Balmain and Canterbury-Bankstown match, which Balmain won by a point.Grand Final
In spite of St George’s status as minor premiers, Balmain were Grand Final favourites due to their comprehensive routing of the Dragons in the first semi-final. Ultimately though the decider, played on Saturday 14 September, was a closely fought contest.A series of dubious decisions by referee George Bishop gave Balmain an advantage. There was a disallowed try to St George and two Balmain tries which came off what appeared to be forward passes, one when Balmain’s Joe Jorgenson scored after receiving a ball that seemed to have been propelled at least a yard forward.
The Dragons came close to victory when late in the game Jack Lindwall scored in the corner but his brother, prospective Test bowler, Ray Lindwall was unable to convert it. Lindwall in fact missed all four conversion attempts on the day.
The Tigers had won seven straight victories to take the premiership.
Tensions of the encounter overflowed after full-time and the match concluded on an ugly note when Saints forward, Jim Hale went toe to toe with Balmain hooker, Herb Gilbert, Jr, himself a former Dragon. Hale was then attacked by a spectator and an all-in brawl followed.
Balmain 13
defeated
St George 12