1920-1929 | Balmain Tigers 1908

1920 - 1929

1920

Balmain capture their fifth premiership in six seasons (1915-17 and 1919-20).
The Tigers are awarded the title as minor premiers without the need for finals after finishing seven points clear of runners-up Souths.
The club’s premiership medals are awarded to the players by NSW Premier John Storey, the man who had chaired the inaugural meeting that had led to the formation of the club in 1908.
Club captain ‘Pony’ Halloway becomes the first recipient of a testimonial at the end of his Sydney career which nets the veteran player over £100.
During the season, the club’s third grade team is disbanded after six round due to a lack of players.
Chook’ Fraser and ‘Chang’ Schultz star for Australia in the Ashes series win against the visiting England team.

Finish: FIRST of nine teams
Most Games: Jim Craig, Alf Fraser, ‘Chook’ Fraser, Reg Latta, Jack Robinson, Mick Russell, Horrie Watt (13 games)
Most points: Jim Craig (49 points – 11 tries, try, 8 goals)
Most tries: Jim Craig (11 tries)
Representative Players:
Australia: ‘Chook’ Fraser, Bill ‘Chang’ Schultz,
NSW: ‘Chook’ Fraser, Bill ‘Chang’ Schultz, Paddy Conaghan, Jack Robinson, Reg Latta, Alf Fraser

1921

Due to the departure of the 1921-22 ‘Australasian’ Kangaroos, the premiership is shortened to just one round of eight matches.

The Tigers are unable to defend their title and finish the season midfield.
In the City Cup competition, Balmain are beaten in the semi-final by Wests, 11-2.
The club is rewarded with a record four players selected to tour England at the end of the year – ‘Chook’ Fraser, Jim Craig, ‘Chang’ Schultz and Reg Latta.
Ten years after making his debut as a teenager on the 1911-12 Tour, ‘Chook Fraser’ is named captain of the Kangaroos. Unfortunately, he breaks his leg in the deciding Third Test of the Ashes series and the 12-man Kangaroos are unluckily to lose at Salford, 6-0.

Finish: 4th of nine teams.
Most Games: Jim Craig, Alf Fraser, Charles Fraser, Reg Latta, Bill Lucas, George Robinson, Jack Robinson, Bill Schultz, Horrie Watt (8 games)
Most points: Jim Craig (33 points – 5 tries, 9 goals)
Most tries: Jim Craig, Jack Robinson (5 tries)
Representative Players:
Australia: Jim Craig, Charles Fraser, Reg Latta, Bill Schultz
NSW: Charles Fraser, Reg Latta, Horrie Watt, Alf Fraser, Jim Craig, Jack Robinson, Bill Schultz.

1922

The Balmain club misses the versatility of 1921-22 Kangaroo Jim Craig following his defection to the struggling University club. Late in the season, Craig leads ‘The Students’ to an upset 24-14 win over his former club with the champion halfback scoring a try and kicking six goals.
The highlight of the season is the selection of ‘Chook’ Fraser, Bill Schultz and Reg Latta in the Kangaroos versus The Rest match.
At the end of the season, ‘Whip’ Latta and ‘Junker’ Robinson undertake NSW’s historic tour of New Zealand.
The Tigers start well, losing just one game in the opening round of matches, but the club falls away badly in the second half of the season and wins just one game in their last six matches.

Finish: 5th of nine teams.
Most Games: Alf Fraser, Jimmy Love, Bill Lucas, George Robinson (16 games).
Most points: Mick Russell (53 points – 3 tries, 22 goals)
Most tries: Reg Latta, Jack Robinson (5 tries)
Representative Players:
NSW Tour of NZ: Reg Latta, Jack Robinson.

1923

Club legend Charles ‘Chook Fraser’ is granted a Testimonial. The Tigers finish third behind finalists Souths and Easts but go on to win the City Cup competition.
The semi-final of the City Cup competition against Souths is one of the great contests in the club’s history. Played at the RAS Showground on 15 September, the scores are tied 3-all at half-time, 13-all at full-time and finally 18-all after two periods of extra time. Balmain win a midweek replay four days later at the Sports Ground, 8-5.
In the final of the City Cup, ‘Chook’ Fraser leads Balmain to an authoritative 25-5 win over Glebe to claim the club’s second City Cup trophy.
On 10 December, the Tiger faithful turns out to honour ‘Chook’ Fraser at his official Testimonial Dinner.

Finish: 3rd of nine teams.
Most Games: Billy Craig, Mick Russell, Horrie Watt (16 games)
Most Points: Mick Russell (86 points – 2 tries, 40 goals)
Most tries: Dud Millard (8 tries)
Representative Players:
NSW: Jack Robinson, Reg Latta, Alf Fraser, Bill Schultz.

1924

The NSWRL competition is reduced to just one round of matches because of the Lions tour. With Balmain and Souths finishing equal first on 15 points, a final is hastily scheduled for Tuesday, 19 July at the SCG.
In a hard-fought match, the first broadcast live on radio, the Tigers beat arch rivals Souths, 3-0, in the final to win a record sixth premiership.
Reg Latta is awarded a silver trophy as Australia’s ‘Champion Player’ in the Test series against the visiting England ‘Lions’.
Balmain teammate Horrie Watt earns a Test jersey in the opening test of the series in Sydney.
Although the club could not defend its City Cup win, the club annex the ‘Truth and Sportsman’ Gold Cup when they defeat Easts 15-2 in the final.

Finish: FIRST of nine teams.
Most Games: Billy Craig, Alf Fraser, Charles Fraser, Bill Schultz (9 games).
Most points: Tommy Kennedy (30 points – 10 tries)
Most tries: Tommy Kennedy (10 tries)
Representative Players:
Australia: Horrie Watt, Reg Latta.
NSW: Dud Millard, Reg Latta, Horrie Watt, Les Hayes

1925

Former clubman and Balmain Club Life Member Alf Fraser is selected as the Tigers’ first non-playing coach.
Balmain finish third on the competition table but an undefeated Souths club is awarded the premiership without the playing of finals.
In April, the curtain is brought down on ‘Chook’ Fraser’s career who departs the club after five appearances to play in the country. Fraser is later awarded Life membership of the Balmain club.
Reg ‘Whip’ Latta captains NSW in all five interstate matches that year and on the Blues’ tour of Queensland. He is joined by Balmain teammates Norm ‘Latchem’ Robinson, Jimmy Love and Les Hayes.
The Tigers are beaten by premiers Souths in the semi-final of the City Cup competition, 8-2. The champion Souths team go on to win City Cup to add to the club’s premiership titles in all three grades.

Finish: 3rd of nine teams.
Most Games: Alf Fraser, Frank McMillan (12 games).
Most points: Frank McMillan (34 points – 17 goals)
Most tries: Reg Latta (7 tries)
Representative Players:
NSW: Reg Latta, Norm ‘Latchem’ Robinson, Jimmy Love, Les Hayes.

1926

The 1926 sees the introduction of the ‘final four’ semi-final system with the mandatory playing of a final. If the minor premiers are defeated in either the semi-final or final, however, they retain the right to challenge the final winners to a ‘grand final’.
Balmain do not take part in any finals series that year after finishing second last on the premiership title. That finish does not reflect the Tigers’ competitiveness, however, who are narrowly beaten by premiers Souths, 7-6, and beat semi-finals University, 19-12, and Glebe, 20-2.
Despite the best efforts of captain Reg Latta and halfback Norm ‘Latchem’ Robinson, the loss of six consecutive matches in the middle of the season sees the club bow out of finals contention.
Souths capture their seventh premiership title, eclipsing the previous record set by Balmain (1915-18, 1919-20 and 1924).

Finish: 8th of nine teams.
Most Games: Des Ponchard, Les Hayes (16 games).
Most points: Tony Russell (28 points – 2 tries, 11 goals)
Most tries: Reg Latta, Jimmy Love (7 tries)
Representative Players:
NSW: Bill Maizey, Norm ‘Latchem’ Robinson

1927

The departure of captain Reg Latta to take on a captain-coach role in Wagga leaves Balmain without the leadership needed to be competitive. The young Tigers win just five matches and draw two others to finish well outside the top four.
The team was captained by halfback Norm ‘Latchem’ Robinson while coach Alf Fraser was able to call upon a selection committee made up of ‘Chook’ Fraser, George Robinson and Jack Robinson.
The highlight of the season was the shock 15-10 win over premiers Souths at Birchgrove Oval after being winless for the previous nine rounds.
The find of the season was the club’s young lock George Bishop who was selected for NSW on their tour of Northern NSW and Queensland. Although bishop made is rep debut in a minor NSW XIII match on the tour, he would go on and have a remarkable career with the club and wider code.

Finish: 7th of nine teams.
Most Games: Ray Elliott, Bill Maizey, Charlie Roberts (16 games).
Most points: Anthony MacFadden (55 points - 1 try, 26 goals)
Most tries: George Bishop (6 tries)
Representative Players:
NSW: George Bishop

1928

The loss of Norm ‘Latchem’ Robinson to NSW Country centre Cootamundra saw Balmain’s ranks further depleted. Robinson ‘went bush’ in an attempt to make the Australian Test team against England but the move failed.
While no Balmain players make the rep teams that year, long-standing club official Harold Mathews is selected as manager of the Australian Test team.
The infamous ‘Earl Park Riot’ takes place in the match against St George on Saturday, 7 July. Angry fans tear fence pailings off and enter the field of play after Balmain forward Tony Russell is involved in several incidents with Saints captain George Carstairs. St George went on to win the match 21-12 with both players taken to hospital in an ambulance.
The Tigers finish second last on the premiership table just ahead of Newtown although the club’s reserve grade team went on to win the premiership.

Finish: 8th of nine teams.
Most Games: George Bishop, Reg Latta, Les Moore, Bill Wiggins (13 games).
Most points: Des Ponchard (52 points – 26 goals)
Most tries: Charlie Roberts (6 tries)
Representative Players: Nil.

1929

Balmain are boosted by the return of Reg Latta and Norm Robinson to the club but finish outside the top four teams with six wins and a draw.
The Tigers are defeated 38-36 in a high-scoring match against North Coast at Birchgrove Oval during the ‘Country Carnival’. Lock George Bishop scores three tries which propels him into the NSW team.
The season would be quite a forgettable one for the club if not for the selection of George Bishop on the 1929-30 Kangaroo Tour. Bishop had drifted into the hooker role late in the season and was a surprise choice as back-up hooker in the Australian squad. He went on to play two Tests on tour and later became a Test referee and Australian selector.

Finish: 6th of nine teams.
Most Games: Reg Latta (16 games).
Most points: Norm Robinson (36 points – 4 tries, 12 goals)
Most tries: Vern Deacon (8 tries)
Representative Players:
Australia: George Bishop
NSW: George Bishop

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