1933 NSWRFL season

The 1933 NSWRFL season was the twenty-sixth season of Sydney’s professional rugby league club competition, Australia’s first. Eight teams from across the city contested the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership during the season, which lasted from April until September, and culminated in Newtown’s victory over St. George in the final.[1]

1933 New South Wales Rugby Football League
Teams8
Premiers Newtown (2nd title)
Minor premiers Newtown (2nd title)
Matches played59
Top points scorer(s) Syd Christensen (86)
Top try-scorer(s) Jack Gray-Spence (11)

Season summary

When the Kangaroos sailed for England in July, the NSWRFL premiership, with a mere five rounds completed, was turned on its head. After losing the opening four matches of the season, last-placed Newtown won eleven of their next twelve matches to take the premiership, whilst Wests, who had won four and drawn one of six games, lost several key players and did not win another match. The Magpies lost virtually their entire backline of McMillan, Pearce, Ridley, Mead and the up-and-coming Vic Hey, and also suffered from their refusal to reappoint coach Jim Craig.[2]

Teams
  • Balmain, formed on January 23, 1908, at Balmain Town Hall
  • 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
  • University, formed in 1919 at Sydney University
Balmain
26th season
Ground: Drummoyne Oval
Coach: George Robinson
Captain: Arthur Toby 		Eastern Suburbs
26th season
Ground: Sydney Sports Ground
Coach: Arthur Halloway
Captain(s): Sid Pearce, Ernie Norman
Newtown
26th season
Ground: Marrickville Oval
Coach: Charles "Boxer" Russell
Captain: Keith Ellis
North Sydney
26th season
Ground: North Sydney Oval
Captain-Coach: Arthur Edwards
St. George
13th season
Ground: Earl Park
Coach: Albert Johnston
Captain: Harry Kadwell		 South Sydney
26th season
Ground: Sydney Sports Ground
Coach: Charlie Lynch
Captain: George Treweek
University
14th season
Coach: Gordon Favelle
Captain: Sammy Ogg 		Western Suburbs
26th season
Ground: Pratten Park
Captain-Coach: Bill Brogan

Ladder
The geographical locations of the teams that contested the 1933 premiership across Sydney.
Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts
1 Newtown 14905183125+5818
2 Eastern Suburbs 14815224169+5517
3 South Sydney 14815182177+517
4 St. George 14806165174-916
5 Balmain 14536187210-2313
6 Sydney University 14518218216+211
7 North Sydney 14518136188-5211
8 Western Suburbs 14419210246-369

Finals

In the two semi finals, the top two ranked teams Newtown and St. George beat their lower-ranked opponents Eastern Suburbs and South Sydney. In their semi-final Newtown were reduced to twelve men after former representative fullback Alan Righton broke his leg. The two winners then advanced to the final.

 
Semi-finalsFinal
 
      
 
26 August 1933 - Sports Ground
 
 
 Newtown 17
 
9 September 1933[3] - Sports Ground
 
 South Sydney 12
 
 Newtown 18
 
2 September 1933 - Sports Ground
 
 St. George 5
 
 St. George 13
 
 
 Eastern Suburbs 10
 

Premiership final
Newtown Position St. George
Tom EllisFBStan Robinson
Joe GartnerWGBernie Martin
Alf GriffithsCEMax Hollingsworth
Frank GilmoreCENorm Tipping
Garnet BraybrookWGLen Brennan
Keith Ellis (c)FEMick Kadwell (Ca./Co.)
Hans MorkHBDick Daly
Clarrie TupperPRTom Haywood
Clarrie StevensonHKPercy Fairall
Henry PorterPRAlan Sprouster
Alf SmithSRAllan Woods
Les BullSRJim Rutherford
Jack ThorntonLKBill Killiby
Charles RussellCoach

The Sydney Sports Ground attracted a large crowd of 18,080 on 9 September to see Newtown take on St George. Both teams were coached by former internationals. St George captain-coach was former Kangaroo and premiership winner with South Sydney Harry 'Mick' Kadwell. Newtown were coached by former dual-international Charles “Boxer” Russell.

The match, refereed by William Fry, was level 5–all at halftime, before the Bluebags finished the stronger to take the premiership.

Newtown 18 (Tries: Alf Griffiths 2, Joe Gartner, George Braybrook. Goals: Frank Gilmore 3)

beat

St George 5 (Tries: Percy Fairall. Goal: Mick Kadwell )

References
  1. Premiership Roll of Honour Archived 2007-04-28 at the Wayback Machine at rl1908.com
  2. Lester, Gary; Clouds of Dust, Buckets of Blood: the Story of the Western Suburbs Rugby League Magpies; p. 94. ISBN 0949853526
  3. Newtown def. St George (18-5) - 09-Sep-1933 Archived 2012-03-04 at the Wayback Machine at nrlstats.com
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