1933 NSWRFL season

1933 NSWRFL season
Teams	8
Premiers	Newtown (2nd title)
Minor premiers	Newtown (2nd title)
Matches played	59
Top point scorer(s)	Syd Christensen (86)
Top try scorer(s)	Jack Gray-Spence (11)

The 1933 NSWRFL season was the twenty-sixth season of Sydney's professional rugby league football 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]

Season summary

When the Kangaroos sailed for England in July, the NSWRL premiership with just five rounds completed, was turned on its head. After losing the opening four matches of the season, last-placed Newtown won 11 of their 12 next matches to win the premiership.

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

Ladder

The geographical locations of the teams that contested the 1932 premiership across Sydney.

	Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts
1	Newtown	14	9	0	5	183	125	+58	18
2	Eastern Suburbs	14	8	1	5	224	169	+55	17
3	South Sydney	14	8	1	5	182	177	+5	17
4	St. George	14	8	0	6	165	174	-9	16
5	Balmain	14	5	3	6	187	210	-23	13
6	University	14	5	1	8	218	216	+2	11
7	North Sydney	14	5	1	8	136	188	-52	11
8	Western Suburbs	14	4	1	9	210	246	-36	9

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 Newtwon were reduced to 12 men after former representative fullback Alan Righton broke his leg. The two winners then advanced to the final.

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

Premiership final

Newtown "Bluebags"	Position	St George "Dragon Slayers"
Tom Ellis	FB	Stan Robinson
Joe Gartner	WG	Bernie Martin
Alf Griffiths	CE	Max Hollingsworth
Frank Gilmore	CE	Noel Tipping
George Braybrook	WG	Len Brennan
Keith Ellis (c)	FE	Mick Kadwell (Ca./Co.)
Hans Mork	HB	Dick Daley
Clarrie Tupper	PR	Tom Haywood
Clarrie Stevenson	HK	Percy Fairall
Henry Porter	PR	Alan Sprouster
Alf Smith	SR	Alan Woods
Les Bull	SR	Jim Rutherford
Jack Thornton	LK	Bill Killiby
Charles Russell	Coach

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 Newtown 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 at rl1908.com
2. ^ Newtown def. St George (18-5) - 09-Sep-1933 at nrlstats.com

• Rugby League Tables - Notes The World of Rugby League
• Rugby League Tables - Season 1932 The World of Rugby League
• Premiership History and Statistics RL1908
• Collis, Ian; Whiticker, Alan (2007). 100 Years of Rugby League. Chatswood, NSW: New Holland. pp. page 127. ISBN 978-1-74110-463-9. 
• Results: 1931-40 at rabbitohs.com.au