1930 NSWRFL season

1930 NSWRFL season
Teams	8
Premiers	Western Suburbs (1st title)
Minor premiers	Western Suburbs (1st title)
Matches played	60
Points scored	1721 (total) 28.683 (per match)
Top point scorer(s)	Jim Craig (86)
Top try scorer(s)	Morrie Boyle (15)

The 1930 New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership was the twenty-third season of Sydney's top-level rugby league football competition, Australias's first. During the season, which lasted from April until October, eight teams from across the city contested the premiership which was won by Western Suburbs who defeated St. George in the final.^[1]

Season summary

In spite of the reduced number of clubs 1930 was the NSWRL's most drawn out season. Because of representative fixtures and the need for a Grand Final, the season didn't end until 4 October.

The 1930 season was also the last in the NSWRFL for future Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame inductee, Jim Craig.

Teams

Foundation club Glebe was voted out of the competition by the New South Wales Rugby League General Committee 13 votes to 12 at the end of 1929, having come second last two years in a row. Although the team never won a premiership, it also managed to avoid the wooden spoon every season during its existence. After the decision was made, many fans and local politicians rallied to reverse the decision but to no avail. One reason suggested as to why this occurred include the fact that the area was gradually shifting away from a residential to industrial centre, with the League perhaps believing that there was no future for the game in the area.

As a result of Glebe's omission, the competition was reduced to eight teams, including six of the remaining nine foundation clubs.

• Balmain, formed on 23 January 1908 at Balmain Town Hall
• Eastern Suburbs, formed on 24 January 1908 at Paddington Town Hall
• Newtown, formed on 14 January 1908
• North Sydney, formed on 7 February 1908
• South Sydney, formed on 17 January 1908 at Redfern Town Hall
• St. George, formed on 8 November 1920 at Kogarah School of Arts
• Western Suburbs, formed on 4 February 1908
• University, formed in 1919 at Sydney University

Balmain	Eastern Suburbs	Newtown	North Sydney
St. George	South Sydney	University	Western Suburbs

Ladder

The geographical locations of the teams that contested the 1930 premiership across Sydney.

	Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts
1	Western Suburbs	14	12	0	2	237	130	+107	24
2	Eastern Suburbs	14	11	0	3	316	178	+138	22
3	South Sydney	14	9	0	5	234	174	+60	18
4	St. George	14	6	2	6	161	151	+10	14
5	Newtown	14	6	1	7	194	176	+18	13
6	Balmain	14	5	2	7	214	218	-4	12
7	North Sydney	14	2	1	11	164	289	-125	5
8	University	14	2	0	12	117	321	-204	4

Finals

In the two semi finals, St. George beat second-placed Eastern Suburbs whilst minor premiers Western Suburbs beat South Sydney. The two winners then played a final in which St. George upset Western Suburbs 14-6, as they previously did in Round 11.

The finals system set in place then forced the final to be replayed, in what was known as the "Right of Challenge". This system ensured that in the event that the minor premiers lost in either the first or second round of the finals, then regardless they would be given a second chance in a premiership decider. With this being the first season where the "Right of Challenge" was exercised, the 1930 decider was thus the first "Grand Final" played in the NSWRL.

	Semi-finals				Final
	20 September 1930 - Earl Park
	Eastern Suburbs	10
	St. George	11
					27 September 1930 - Sports Ground
					Western Suburbs	27
					St. George	2
	20 September 1930 - Sports Ground
	Western Suburbs	9
	South Sydney	5

Final

Western Suburbs	Position	St. George
Frank McMillan	FB	Jack McCormack
Alan Brady	WG	Eric Freestone
Cliff Pearce	CE	Jack Lennox
Ken Sherwood	CE	Walter Greenslands
Ray Morris	WG	Benny Martin
Jack Rosa	FE	Arnold Traynor
Jim Craig (Ca./Co.)	HB	Bill Hyland
Bill Brogan	PR	Harry Flower
Bob Lindfield	HK	Arthur Justice (c)
Cecil Rhodes	PR	Reg Schuman
Bill Carpenter	SR	Bill Hardman
Charlie Cornwell	SR	Jim Wearmouth
Frank Matterson	LK	Percy Fairall
	Coach	Frank Burge

Having pipped Eastern Suburbs 11-10 at their home ground of Earl Park on 20 September, Saints continued their good form into the following weekend in the final, defeating minor premiers Western Suburbs 14-6 in front of 16,557 people. The two teams had met twice before during the season with Wests winning the first encounter in May and St George winning the second match in August. Under the previous system, victory in the final would have seen St George declared premiership champions. But in 1930, Wests were allowed a second chance as minor premiers if defeated during the finals.

Grand Final

The re-match decider was played in front of 12,178 people on 4 October at the Sydney Sports Ground and officiated by referee Lal Deane. St. George led 2-0 early and competed in the first half. But Western Suburbs were a crack outfit and after Saints lost veteran forward, Harry Flower with an arm injury, they skipped away to a 16-2 lead. Wests eventually ran in seven tries and crushed St George 27-2 to take away their first premiership since their 1908 foundation admission to the top grade competition.

It was the final game as a player for Wests captain-coach and versatile representative star Jim Craig.

Western Suburbs 27 (Tries: Alan Brady 3, Jim Craig, Charlie Cornwell, R Morris, C Rhodes. Goals Jim Craig 2, Bill Brogan goals)

St George 2 (B Hyland goal)

References

1. ^ Premiership Roll of Honour at rl1908.com

• Rugby League Tables - Notes The World of Rugby League
• Rugby League Tables - Season 1930 The World of Rugby League
• Premiership History and Statistics RL1908
• Results: 1921-30 at rabbitohs.com.au