1915 NSWRFL season

1915 NSWRFL season
Teams	8
Premiers	Balmain (1st title)
Minor premiers	Balmain (1st title)
Matches played	56
Points scored	1308 (total) 23.357 (per match)
Top point scorer(s)	Wally Messenger (73)
Top try scorer(s)	Frank Burge (20)

The 1915 New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership was the eighth season of Sydney's top-grade rugby league football club competition, Australia's first. Eight teams from across the city contested during the season, with the Balmain club finishing on top of the ladder to claim the premiership.^[1]

Season summary

Even though World War I had broken out across Europe and many players were unavailable, there was a general consensus amongst the public that the rugby league premiership continue. Midway through the season, three clubs had clearly broken ahead of the others, Balmain, Glebe and South Sydney.

With South Sydney falling away in the second half of the season, Balmain and Glebe were main two contenders for the title, and they soon met with four rounds to play. In front of 20,000 people, the two clubs played out a memorable match at the Sydney Sports Ground, where Balmain eventually prevailed 12-2 winners on a cold, rainy day. Balmain were assured their first premiership without the need for a playoff after their close last-round win over South Sydney 7-4.

Balmain went through 1915 undefeated - a feat achieved by only five other teams since. They won the premiership that year in all three grades. Members of the Balmain premiership winning side included Bob Craig.

Teams

The teams remained unchanged from the 1914 season.

• Annandale
• Balmain, formed on January 23, 1908 at Balmain Town Hall
• Eastern Suburbs, formed on January 24, 1908 at Paddington Town Hall
• Glebe, formed on January 9, 1908
• Newtown, formed on January 14, 1908
• North Sydney, formed on February 7, 1908
• South Sydney, formed on January 17, 1908 at Redfern Town Hall
• Western Suburbs, formed on February 4, 1908

Annandale	Balmain	Eastern Suburbs	Glebe
Newtown	North Sydney	South Sydney	Western Suburbs

Ladder

The geographical locations of the teams that contested the 1915 premiership across Sydney.

	Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts
1	Balmain	14	12	2	0	232	71	+161	26
2	Glebe	14	12	0	2	268	106	+162	24
3	Newtown	14	9	1	4	208	119	+89	19
4	South Sydney	14	8	1	5	157	94	+63	17
5	Eastern Suburbs	14	6	0	8	180	109	+71	12
6	Annandale	14	3	0	11	113	256	-143	6
7	Western Suburbs	14	2	0	12	67	200	-133	4
8	North Sydney	14	2	0	12	83	353	-270	4

References

1. ^ Premiership Roll of Honour at rl1908.com

• Rugby League Tables - Notes The World of Rugby League
• Rugby League Tables - Season 1915 The World of Rugby League
• Premiership History and Statistics RL1908
• 1915 - Balmain Breaks Through For First Title RL1908
• Results: 1911-20 at rabbitohs.com.au