New South Wales Rugby League season 1912
Encyclopedia
The 1912 New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership was the fifth season of Sydney
's rugby league football club competition, Australia's first. Eight teams from across the city contested during the season for the premiership and the Royal Agricultural Society
Challenge Shield.
may well have been in response to Eastern Suburbs'
victory in the season before, where they overcame minor premiers Glebe in two successive finals to claim the premiership.
With four rounds remaining in the 1912 season, Eastern Suburbs and Glebe were clearly ahead of the rest of the teams and it looked unlikely that they would be caught. The two clubs were matched up against each other in Round 11 at the Sydney Sports Ground in what would ultimately decide the fate of the premiership, with Glebe just two points behind Eastern Suburbs on the ladder. In front of 25,000 people, the two clubs played out a closely fought match in muddy conditions. Dally Messenger
was able to break a 4-4 deadlock late in the match by kicking a field goal
after a scrum win close to the sideline and win the game 6-4 for Eastern Suburbs.
With a four point premiership lead and only three rounds to play, Eastern Suburbs, who had only lost one game before in the season to eventual third-placed Newtown
, looked uncatchable. That turned out to be the case, with Eastern Suburbs winning their remaining three games to take away the premiership.
Also this season Pratten Park
became the Western Suburbs
club's homeground.
.
at North Sydney Oval
15-10 on August 17. The premiership squad was:
A Allen
• Tom Bruce
• JD Campbell
• Harold Corbett
• Barney Dalton
• W Dalton
• Dan Frawley
• Mick Frawley
• Eddie Griffiths
• Arthur Halloway
• Fred Kinghorn
• Charlie Lees
• Dally Messenger
• Wally Messenger
• Larry O'Malley
• Sandy Pearce
• W Smith
• Eddie White
• Percy White
• Bob Williams
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
's rugby league football club competition, Australia's first. Eight teams from across the city contested during the season for the premiership and the Royal Agricultural Society
Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales
The Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales is an Agricultural society based in New South Wales, Australia. They run many of the agricultural shows around New South Wales including the Sydney Royal Easter Show....
Challenge Shield.
Season summary
From 1912 to 1925, the minor premiers were deemed to be the premiers automatically as well unless two clubs were on equal points at the end of the season in which case a final was held. This move by the New South Wales Rugby LeagueNew South Wales Rugby League
The New South Wales Rugby League is the governing body of rugby league in New South Wales and is a member of the Australian Rugby League. It was formed in Sydney on 8 August 1907 and was known as the New South Wales Rugby Football League until 1984 when forward thinking marketing managers decided...
may well have been in response to Eastern Suburbs'
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
victory in the season before, where they overcame minor premiers Glebe in two successive finals to claim the premiership.
With four rounds remaining in the 1912 season, Eastern Suburbs and Glebe were clearly ahead of the rest of the teams and it looked unlikely that they would be caught. The two clubs were matched up against each other in Round 11 at the Sydney Sports Ground in what would ultimately decide the fate of the premiership, with Glebe just two points behind Eastern Suburbs on the ladder. In front of 25,000 people, the two clubs played out a closely fought match in muddy conditions. Dally Messenger
Dally Messenger
Herbert Henry "Dally" Messenger was an Australian rugby union and rugby league footballer, recognised as one of the greatest ever players in either code. Messenger, or 'The Master' as he was dubbed, represented his country in both rugby football codes, playing two rugby union tests and seven...
was able to break a 4-4 deadlock late in the match by kicking a field goal
Field goal (rugby)
A drop goal, also referred to as a dropped goal or field goal, is a method of scoring points in rugby union and rugby league. A drop goal cannot be scored in open play by punting the ball, and instead must be scored by drop kicking the ball over the crossbar and between the uprights. After the...
after a scrum win close to the sideline and win the game 6-4 for Eastern Suburbs.
With a four point premiership lead and only three rounds to play, Eastern Suburbs, who had only lost one game before in the season to eventual third-placed Newtown
Newtown Jets
The Newtown Jets are an Australian rugby league football club based in Newtown, a suburb of Sydney's inner west. They currently compete in the NSWRL Premier League competition, having left the top grade after the 1983 NSWRFL season...
, looked uncatchable. That turned out to be the case, with Eastern Suburbs winning their remaining three games to take away the premiership.
Also this season Pratten Park
Pratten Park
Pratten Park is a sporting complex in the Sydney suburb of Ashfield featuring an oval playing field large enough to play cricket, a lawn bowling club and a tennis club. The Park is best known as the original home of the Western Suburbs Magpies rugby league team, who played there for around half a...
became the Western Suburbs
Western Suburbs Magpies
The Western Suburbs Magpies are an Australian rugby league football club based in the western suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales. Formed in 1908, Wests, as they are commonly referred to, were one of the nine foundation clubs of the first New South Wales Rugby League competition in Australia...
club's homeground.
Teams
The teams remained unchanged from the 1911 seasonNew South Wales Rugby League season 1911
The 1911 New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership was the fourth season of Sydney's top-level rugby league football club competition, Australia's first...
.
- Annandale
- BalmainBalmain TigersThe Balmain Tigers are a rugby league football club based in the inner-western Sydney suburb of Balmain. They were a founding member of the New South Wales Rugby League and one of the most successful in the history of the premiership, with eleven titles...
, formed on January 23, 1908 at Balmain Town Hall - Eastern SuburbsSydney RoostersThe Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
, formed on January 24, 1908 at Paddington Town Hall - Glebe, formed on January 9, 1908
- NewtownNewtown JetsThe Newtown Jets are an Australian rugby league football club based in Newtown, a suburb of Sydney's inner west. They currently compete in the NSWRL Premier League competition, having left the top grade after the 1983 NSWRFL season...
, formed on January 14, 1908 - North SydneyNorth Sydney BearsThe North Sydney Bears are an Australian rugby league football club based in North Sydney, New South Wales. They currently compete in the New South Wales Cup, having exited the National Rugby League following the 1999 NRL season after 92 years of top-grade competition. The Bears are based on...
, formed on February 7, 1908 - South SydneySouth Sydney RabbitohsThe South Sydney Rabbitohs are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in Redfern, a suburb of South-central Sydney, New South Wales. They participate in the National Rugby League premiership and are one of nine existing teams from the state capital...
, formed on January 17, 1908 at Redfern Town Hall - Western SuburbsWestern Suburbs MagpiesThe Western Suburbs Magpies are an Australian rugby league football club based in the western suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales. Formed in 1908, Wests, as they are commonly referred to, were one of the nine foundation clubs of the first New South Wales Rugby League competition in Australia...
, formed on February 4, 1908
 |
 Balmain Tigers The Balmain Tigers are a rugby league football club based in the inner-western Sydney suburb of Balmain. They were a founding member of the New South Wales Rugby League and one of the most successful in the history of the premiership, with eleven titles... |
 Sydney Roosters The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League... |
 |
 Newtown Jets The Newtown Jets are an Australian rugby league football club based in Newtown, a suburb of Sydney's inner west. They currently compete in the NSWRL Premier League competition, having left the top grade after the 1983 NSWRFL season... |
 North Sydney Bears The North Sydney Bears are an Australian rugby league football club based in North Sydney, New South Wales. They currently compete in the New South Wales Cup, having exited the National Rugby League following the 1999 NRL season after 92 years of top-grade competition. The Bears are based on... |
 South Sydney Rabbitohs The South Sydney Rabbitohs are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in Redfern, a suburb of South-central Sydney, New South Wales. They participate in the National Rugby League premiership and are one of nine existing teams from the state capital... |
 Western Suburbs Magpies The Western Suburbs Magpies are an Australian rugby league football club based in the western suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales. Formed in 1908, Wests, as they are commonly referred to, were one of the nine foundation clubs of the first New South Wales Rugby League competition in Australia... |
Ladder
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Eastern SuburbsSydney Roosters The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League... |
14 | 13 | 0 | 1 | 230 | 86 | 26 |
| 2 |  Glebe |
14 | 11 | 0 | 3 | 199 | 83 | 22 |
| 3 |  NewtownNewtown Jets The Newtown Jets are an Australian rugby league football club based in Newtown, a suburb of Sydney's inner west. They currently compete in the NSWRL Premier League competition, having left the top grade after the 1983 NSWRFL season... |
14 | 9 | 0 | 5 | 178 | 132 | 18 |
| 4 |  South SydneySouth Sydney Rabbitohs The South Sydney Rabbitohs are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in Redfern, a suburb of South-central Sydney, New South Wales. They participate in the National Rugby League premiership and are one of nine existing teams from the state capital... |
14 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 207 | 137 | 16 |
| 5 |  BalmainBalmain Tigers The Balmain Tigers are a rugby league football club based in the inner-western Sydney suburb of Balmain. They were a founding member of the New South Wales Rugby League and one of the most successful in the history of the premiership, with eleven titles... |
14 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 138 | 168 | |
| 12 | ||||||||
| 6 |  North SydneyNorth Sydney Bears The North Sydney Bears are an Australian rugby league football club based in North Sydney, New South Wales. They currently compete in the New South Wales Cup, having exited the National Rugby League following the 1999 NRL season after 92 years of top-grade competition. The Bears are based on... |
14 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 124 | 197 | |
| 12 | ||||||||
| 7 |  Annandale |
14 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 86 | 134 | |
| 4 | ||||||||
| 8 |  Western SuburbsWestern Suburbs Magpies The Western Suburbs Magpies are an Australian rugby league football club based in the western suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales. Formed in 1908, Wests, as they are commonly referred to, were one of the nine foundation clubs of the first New South Wales Rugby League competition in Australia... |
14 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 100 | 325 | |
| 2 | ||||||||
Premiers
Eastern Suburbs won the premiership when they beat NorthsNorth Sydney Bears
The North Sydney Bears are an Australian rugby league football club based in North Sydney, New South Wales. They currently compete in the New South Wales Cup, having exited the National Rugby League following the 1999 NRL season after 92 years of top-grade competition. The Bears are based on...
at North Sydney Oval
North Sydney Oval
-Development:* The first cricket pitch was laid on 6 December 1867, making it one of the oldest cricket grounds in Australia.* The first structure built, in 1879, was a simple pavilion overlooking the cricket ground...
15-10 on August 17. The premiership squad was:
A Allen
A Allen
A Allen was a rugby league footballer in Australias leading competition the New South Wales Rugby League .Allen was a member of the Eastern Suburbs rugby league side in the 1912 season, The year the club claimed its second title, and is recognised as being the 63rd player to play for the Eastern...
• Tom Bruce
Tom Bruce (rugby league)
Tom Bruce was a rugby league footballer in the New South Wales Rugby League competition.Bruce, a halfback, played in 19 matches for the Eastern Suburbs club In the years 1909-1912)...
• JD Campbell
John Campbell (rugby league)
John Dennison 'Dinny' Campbell was a national representative for Australia in rugby union before switching codes and playing rugby league for the Eastern Suburbs club during the 1910-12 and 1921 seasons....
• Harold Corbett
Harold Corbett
Harold William Corbett was a pioneer Australian rugby league footballer and soldier who served in World War I and died on the Western Front.-Rugby:...
• Barney Dalton
Barney Dalton
Bernard Hugh Dalton was a rugby league player In the Australian competition – the New South Wales Rugby League. He was born in 1891 in Sydney.A winger, Dalton played for the Eastern Suburbs club side in the years and...
• W Dalton
W Dalton
W. Dalton was rugby league footballer in the New South Wales Rugby League in the 1911-12 seasons.Dalton, a Lock, played for the Eastern Suburbs club the year that club won its first premiership, he was also a member of their second premiership side in 1912. Dalton is recognised as being the...
• Dan Frawley
Dan Frawley
Dan Frawley was a pioneer Australian rugby league footballer, a national representative player. He played his career as a winger with the Eastern Suburbs club in Sydney and is considered one of the nation's finest footballers of the 20th century...
• Mick Frawley
Mick Frawley
Mick Frawley was an Australian rugby league footballer who played for the Eastern Suburbs club in the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership....
• Eddie Griffiths
Eddie Griffiths
Edward James Griffiths was an Australian fire fighter, veteran of the Gallipoli campaign and a three-time premiership-winning rugby league player with the Eastern Suburbs club....
• Arthur Halloway
Arthur Halloway
Arthur 'Pony' Halloway , was a pioneering Australian rugby league footballer and coach. Born in Sydney, New South Wales he played for the Glebe Dirty Reds , Balmain Tigers and Eastern Suburbs , in the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership.He was a Half-back for the Australian national...
• Fred Kinghorn
Fred Kinghorn
Fred Kinghorn, A rugby league footballer, Kinghorn played for the Eastern Suburbs club in the New South Wales Rugby League competition....
• Charlie Lees
Charlie Lees
Charlie Lees was a rugby league player in the Australian competition - the NSWRFL.Lees played for the Eastern Suburbs club in the years...
• Dally Messenger
Dally Messenger
Herbert Henry "Dally" Messenger was an Australian rugby union and rugby league footballer, recognised as one of the greatest ever players in either code. Messenger, or 'The Master' as he was dubbed, represented his country in both rugby football codes, playing two rugby union tests and seven...
• Wally Messenger
Wally Messenger
Wally Messenger was an Australian international rugby league footballer of the 1910s. He was a state and national representative whose club career was with played with Eastern Suburbs in the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership...
• Larry O'Malley
Larry O'Malley
Larry 'Jersey' O'Malley was an Australian rugby league player for the Eastern Suburbs club. He was the fifth Australian rugby league captain and the second from the Eastern Suburbs Club....
• Sandy Pearce
Sandy Pearce
Sidney Charles Pearce , better known as Sandy, was a pioneer Australian rugby league footballer and boxer...
• W Smith
W. Smith (rugby league)
W. Smith was a rugby league footballer in the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership, Australia's first major competition in the sport....
• Eddie White
Eddie White
Eddie White was an Australian rugby league footballer in the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership.A winger, White played 35 matches for the Eastern Suburbs club in the years . White was a member of Eastern Suburbs first premiership winning team in 1911 and was a member of the sides...
• Percy White
Percy White
Percy Rowett White was born in the Sydney city of Paddington in Australia. He was a rugby league player in the New South Wales Rugby League competition....
• Bob Williams
Bob Williams (rugby)
Robert 'Botsy' Williams was an Australian Rugby league player for the Eastern Suburbs club.Williams had a distinguishing career with the Eastern Suburbs club, a long serving member who was one of the first to play in 100 matches for the club. The rugby union convert played in 118 matches for the...