1930-1939 | Balmain Tigers 1908

1930 - 1939

1930

Cec Fifield and Norm Robinson take on co-captain and co-coaching roles. With both players injured in the latter part of the season, veteran rep forward Reg Latta takes on the captaincy.
The onset of the ‘Great Depression’ has a huge impact on the working-class suburb of Balmain. Rampant unemployment in the city meant that many men had to travel to the country areas. The Tigers often struggle for players during the season.
Despite this, the Tigers’ reserve grade and President’s Cup teams win their respective competitions which augurs well for the club’s future success.
In July, Reg ‘Whip’ Latta becomes the first clubman to play 200 grade games for Balmain. Following the match against Norths at Wentworth Park, Latta is presented with trophies and is awarded Life Membership of the club.

Finish: 6th of eight teams
Most Games: Reg Latta, Charlie Richards (14 games)
Most points: George Bishop (31 points – 1 try, 14 points), Syd Christensen (31 points – 9 tries, 2 goals)
Most tries: Syd Christensen (9 tries)
Representative Players:
NSW: George Bishop

1931

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.

‘Chook’ Fraser is lured out of retirement to take on the coaching role at Balmain. The Tigers respond by making a return to finals football for the first time since 1924.
Having lost more than 25 players to country areas or retirement, the League Retention Fund and Balmain’s Beneficiary Fund contribute more than £200 to support players at the height of the Depression.
Four losses early in the season had the Tigers at the bottom of the table ahead of winless University. Balmain’s midseason shift to the newly-opened Drummoyne Oval, however, marks the club’s change of fortune.
Four consecutive wins at the end of the season, including three at Drummoyne Oval, sees Balmain snare fourth place on the ladder.
The club’s season ends in a 15-7 loss to Wests in the semi-final at the Sports Ground.

Finish: 4th of eight teams.
Most Games: George Franklin (15 games).
Most points: Mal Fallon (55 points – 5 tries, 20 goals)
Most tries: J O’Dowd (7 tries)
Representative Players: Nil

1932

1933

Coached by former clubman ‘Wee’ George Robinson, Balmain finish just outside the top four in fifth place.
In one of the closest competitions on record, three drawn matches (against Wests, Easts and Norths) cost the Tigers a place in the finals.
At the end of the season, rep hooker George Bishop is selected to make his second Kangaroo Tour only to be ruled out with injury. The club then supplies its own medical report that Bishop is fit to tour but is overruled. Several clubs later take part in a fund-raiser for Bishop and Easts’ Ernie Norman, who was also ruled out, raising more than £100 for the two players.
Balmain defeats Souths in the reserve grade grand final which was played after seven players joined the first grade squad on their end of season tour of North Queensland.

Finish: 5th of eight teams.
Most Games: Edmund Beaver, Charlie Richards, Norm Robinson, Arthur Toby (13 games)
Most points: Syd Christensen (86 points – 6 tries, 34 goals)
Most tries: Syd Christensen (6 tries)
Representative Players:
NSW: George Bishop

1934

Captained by Syd ‘Sarty’ Christensen, the 1934 season marks the debut of Leichhardt Oval as Balmain’s home ground. The Tigers lose their first match played there, against Wests on Anzac Day, 18-5.
Balmain win only four games and finish second last, just ahead of University. Two of the Tigers’ season wins are against the hapless ‘Students’.
Despite the club’s poor season, Christensen becomes the first clubman to top 100 points in a season which is almost half his team’s 206 points.
The highlight of the season is the 24-15 win over defending premiers Newtown at Marrickville Oval in July.
Rather than relying on local juniors to carry the ‘black and gold’ flag during such a lean time, former Easts, NSW and Australian Test pivot Joe ‘Chimpy’ Busch is signed as Balmain captain-coach at season’s end.

Finish: 7th of eight teams.
Most Games: Syd Christensen, George Frankland, Tommy Grahame, Bill Johnson, Bill Williams (14 games).
Most points: Syd Christensen (100 points – 6 tries, 41 goals)
Most tries: George Frankland (7 tries)
Representative Players: Nil

1935

In a high-scoring year, which marks the introduction of the Canterbury club, Balmain just miss the top four when they finish fifth on the competition table.
In the early part of the season, Balmain tries to match the champion Easts team at the top of the table but the 8-all draw against Norths in July is the turning point to the club’s fortunes.
‘Sarty’ Christensen breaks his own point-scoring record in amassing 154 points for the season.
Local junior Sid ‘Snow’ Goodwin also sets a club record 16 tries for the season, including a record five tries in the opening match against University.
Sid Goodwin is rewarded with a late call up on the Australian tour of New Zealand at the end of the season. Goodwin plays in all three Tests on the wing, crossing for two tries.

Finish: 5th of nine teams.
Most Games: Edmund Beaver, Syd Christensen, Sid Goodwin, Bill Johnson, Jack Redman (16 games).
Most Points: Syd Christensen (154 points – 12 tries, 59 goals)
Most Tries: Sid Goodwin (16 tries)
Representative Players:
Australia: Sid Goodwin

1936

Balmain throw down the gauntlet to the champion Easts team when they qualify for their first final in twelve years.
After finishing second on the competition ladder, the Tigers defeat Norths 16-13 in the semi-final at the SCG, having lost captain-coach and on-field general ‘Chimpy’ Busch mid-season with a leg injury.
Captained by ‘Sarty’ Christensen who takes over as halfback, Balman are well-beaten by the Dave Brown-led Easts in the final, 32-12. ‘Chimpy’ Busch retires at the end of the season.
Centre-winger Jack Redman was in great form after joining Balmain from the University club, which folded the previous year. Sadly, both Redman and Syd Christensen lost their lives during World War II.

Finish: 2nd of nine teams.
Most Games: Bill Alexander, Edmund Beaver, Syd Christensen, Tommy Grahame, Dave Manning (15 games).
Most points: Syd Christensen (123 points – 9 tries, 48 goals)
Most tries: Sid Goodwin (14 tries)
Representative Players:
NSW: Charlie Richards

1937

The 1937 NSWRL premiership is decided after just nine rounds due to the departure of the Kangaroos for New Zealand, England and France.
Point-scoring winger Arthur Patton joins the club from the Illawarra competition. Patton scores seven tries during the shortened season which is also the most points by any Balmain player. A noted sprinter, Patton goes on to score a club record 95 tries for the Tigers (1937-48)
Coached by former club great Bill Kelly, Balmain finish fourth with four wins and four losses, however no finals are played that year. Easts are undefeated premiers.
Club forward Frank Griffiths is Balmain’s sole representative on the 1937-38 Kangaroo Tour. Griffiths appears in ten minor matches on tour.
The second half of the rugby league season was conducted as a City Cup competition with the Tigers posting a similar record with four wins and four losses.

Finish: 4th of nine teams.
Most Games: Sid Goodwin, Bill Jonson, Frank Johnston, Arthur Patton, Jack Redman (8 games).
Most points: Arthur Patton (21 points – 7 tries)
Most tries: Arthur Patton (21 points – 7 tries)
Representative Players:
Australia: Frank Griffiths

Newtown centre Frank Hyde joins the Balmain club as first grade captain. The Tigers had protested Hyde’s residential eligibility to play for the Newtown club after the 20-year-old starred for the Blue Bags in the City Cup final win over Easts.
The Tigers win their opening four matches, including a club record 57-11 win over Wests at Pratten Park in April. Despite a mid-season slump, the Tigers rally to finish in third position on the ladder.
Balmain are beaten by Canterbury in a high-scoring semi-final, 31-24. In only their fourth season in League, Canterbury go on and beat Easts in the final.
Sid Goodwin, fullback Frank Johnston and 21-year Frank Hyde represent NSW against Queensland and the touring New Zealand.

Finish: 4th of eight teams.
Most Games: Frank Hyde, Bill Johnson, Dave Manning (15 games).
Most points: Frank Johnston (57 points – 1 try, 21 goals)
Most tries: Jack Redman (11 tries)
Representative Players:
NSW: Frank Hyde, Sid Goodwin, Frank Johnston

1938

1939

For the first time in 15 years, Balmain take premiership honours with a 33-4 win over South Sydney in the final. The Tigers are captained by Sid Goodwin and coached by Bill Kelly.
Winger Sid Goodwin breaks his own club record in crossing for 18 tries in 16 matches for the season.
After finishing top of the table, Balmain defeat defending premiers Canterbury in a close semi-final match, 13-9.
In the final, Balmain lead 7-2 at halftime after Frank Hyde crosses for the opening try. Fourth-placed Souths wilt under pressure in the second half as Balmain run in another six tries.
The Tigers plan to tour New Zealand at the end of the season but this is cancelled when Germany invades Poland and England declares war on the day after the premiership final.

Finish: FIRST of eight teams.
Most Games: Bill Bischoff, Hec Day, Sid Goodwin, Bill Johnson, Dave Manning, Athol Smith, George Watt (16 games).
Most points: Hec Day (46 points – 2 tries, 20 goals)
Most tries: Sid Goodwin (18 tries)
Representative Players:
NSW: Sid Goodwin, Frank Hyde

View All History

Gallery

GALLERY