1940-1949 | Balmain Tigers 1908

1940 - 1949

1940

With war declared (‘God speed, safe return and victory for the Empire’ the League declared), Balmain finish fifth on the ladder, one point out of the top four.
The last round 16-5 loss to Easts proved costly with the Tigers unable to defend their title. Easts went on to win the premiership.
The loss of Frank Hyde to the Newcastle competition saw Balmain without a lot of their attacking flair. Five-eighth Jim Quealey top-scored with a modest 46 points but the lack of a consistent goal-kicker proved costly in many of their tight matches.
Quealey and his captain, Sid Goodwin, achieved rep honours that year when they were both selected for NSW.

Finish: 5th of eight teams
Most Games: Tom Bourke, Dawson Buckley, Bill Johnson, Athol Smith (14 games)
Most points: Jim Quealey (46 points – 4 tries, 17 goals)
Most tries: Jack Redman (8 tries)
Representative players:
NSW: Jim Quealey, Sid Goodwin

1941

For the first time in the club’s history, Balmain win the ‘Fred Flowers Memorial Pennant’ – the Club Championship. Instigated in 1930, the championship was awarded to the club with the highest aggregate points across all three grades.
Frank Hyde returns after a stint as captain-coach in Newcastle, but is injured late in the season and misses the club’s semi-final match against St George.
Arthur Patton returns to the Tigers from Port Kembla and is the club’s top try-scorer with 12 tries.
In a very competitive season, Balmain finish equal first on the ladder with Easts and Canterbury on 18 points, with St George making up the top four.
Balmain are well-beaten by St George in the semi-final, 32-8, with the Saints going on to win their maiden premiership.

Finish: 3rd of eight teams.
Most Games: A Bowery, Dawson Buckley, Arthur Patton, Athol Smith (15 games)
Most points: Tom Bourke (47 points – 5 tries, 16 goals)
Most tries: Sid Goodwin, Arthur Patton (12 tries)
Representative players: Nil

1942

Balmain captain Frank Hyde is banned by the League’s Residential Qualification Committee. Hyde is living at Lane Cove at the time and is forced to play with North Sydney.
Enlistment, military training and employment in essential services at the height of the war disrupted clubs across the game.
Despite this, Balmain finish equal first on the competition ladder with 20 points. Wishing to avoid the problems of the previous year, the League instructed the top two teams to ‘playoff’ to decide the minor premiers and who would have the right to ‘challenge’ in a grand final.
When Canterbury defeat Balmain in the ‘playoff for first’, 26-20, they gain the inside running and go on to win the premiership.
Balmain’s season ends with a 20-14 loss to Easts in the semi-final at the SCG. Although Canterbury also lost their final against St George, they later challenged Saints to a grand final and won 11-9.

Finish: 4th of eight teams.
Most Games: Dawson Buckley, Athol Smith, George Watt (16 games).
Most points: Arthur Patton (42 points - 14 tries)
Most tries: Arthur Patton (14 tries)
Representative players:
No interstate matches due to World War II.

1943

The Tigers celebrate their return to Leichhardt Oval by making the finals in all three grades and winning their second Club Championship.
For the third year in succession, Balmain are tied first on the competition table only to lose form during the semi-final series.
It was a similar story to the previous season: Newtown defeat Balmain in the playoff for first, 11-10, and the following week, the Tigers are bundled out of the finals by St George, 12-5. Newtown go on to win the grand final ‘challenge’ by thrashing the Frank Hyde-coached Norths team, 34-7.
Balmain finish the rugby league year by defeating St George in the final of the State Cup, 18-7, at the SCG. The Tigers beat Wests Newcastle, premiers Newtown and Easts in the semi-final on their way to winning the state-wide competition.

Finish: 4th of eight teams.
Most Games: Dawson Buckley, Jack Hampstead (16 games)
Most points: Frank Dreise (41 points – 5 tries, 13 goals)
Most tries: Tom Bourke, Arthur Patton (6 tries)
Representative players:
No interstate matches due to World War II.

1944

Balmain win premierships in first and third grade, as well as capturing the Club Championship for the second successive year.
The Tigers finish the season in second place on the competition ladder, just one point behind defending premiers Newtown.
Balmain defeat Souths 15-6 in the semi-final to progress to the final against Newtown.
In a major upset, Balmain defeat Newtown 19-16 in the final. There are widespread reports the Blue Bags ‘threw’ the match to get a better price in the grand final challenge.
Coached by ‘Latchem’ Robinson and captained by centre Tom Bourke, Balmain defeat Newtown 12-8 in the grand final. Both teams score two tries in the muddy conditions but the goal-kicking of Joe Jorgensen proves the difference.

Finish: FIRST of eight teams.
Most Games: Syd Christensen, George Frankland, Tommy Grahame, Bill Johnson, Bill Williams (14 games).
Most points: Joe Jorgenson (105 points – 3 tries, 48 goals)
Most tries: Arthur Patton (19 tries)
Representative players:
No interstate matches due to World War II.

1945

Balmain came from equal fourth place on the competition only to go down to Easts in a classic final at the SCG, 22-18.
The Tigers could have finished much higher on the ladder but posted a club record four draws during the season, including three in succession (against Wests, St George and Newtown).
The club grabs a share of fourth place when they defeat Souths 29-12 in the final match of the regular season at the Sports Ground.
On the Thursday, Balmain defeat Norths 9-5 in a play-off for fourth place.
Two days later, the Tigers score an upset 13-9 win over Newtown in the semi-final.
In the final against minor premiers Easts, both teams score four tries but five goals to Easts’ lock Dick Dunn, who also scored three tries, sees the Tigers lose 22-18.

Finish: Runner-up of eight teams.
Most Games: Edmund Beaver, Sid Goodwin, Syd Christensen, Bill Johnson, Jack Redman (16 games).
Most points: Joe Jorgenson (123 points – 5 tries, 54 goals)
Most tries: Harry Leo (9 tries)
Representative players:
NSW: Tom Bourke, Joe Jorgenson, Jack Spencer, Jack Hampstead.

1946

In the first Ashes series played after the war, Balmain fullback Dave Parkinson, five-eighth Pat Devery and centre Joe Jorgenson are selected for Australia.
Jorgenson joins a select group of Balmain players when he is named captain of the Australian team for the First and Third Tests against Great Britain.
Balmain weathers a four-match losing sequence during the rep season to qualify for the finals in third place.
Although the Tigers knock over minor premiers St George in the semi-final, 22-14, Saints retain the right to challenge the final winners to a ‘grand final’.
Balmain defeat Canterbury in the final, 8-7, and then beat Saints in the grand final, 13-12. Joe Jorgenson returns from injury to score two tries in the narrow win but Tom Bourke is the stand-in goal-kicker.

Finish: FIRST of eight teams.
Most Games: Herb Gilbert, Jack Hampstead, Stan Ponchard, Jack Spencer (17 games).
Most points: Joe Jorgenson (66 points – 6 tries, 24 goals)
Most tries: Arthur Patton (10 tries)
Representative players:
Australia: Pat Devery, Joe Jorgenson, Dave Parkinson
NSW: Joe Jorgenson, Pat Devery, Jack Hempstead, Harry Bath, Herb Gilbert, Dave Parkinson.

1947

The 1947 sees the introduction of two new clubs into the NSWRL – Parramatta and Manly-Warringah.
Pat Devery captains NSW in all four interstate matches that year.
Despite winning just six of their 12 matches, the Tigers rally late in the season on the back of some great try-scoring feats from winger Bob Lulham. The Newcastle junior crosses for a club record 28 tries in just 18 matches.
Finishing second on the ladder, Balmain beat Wests in the semi-final, 27-15.
The Tigers defeat Canterbury 25-19 in the final but then have to replay the match at the Sports Ground in the grand final. Balmain win again, 13-9, with Joe Jorgenson scoring all his team’s points with a try and five goals.
At the end of the season, the club conducts a highly successful tour of New Zealand.

Finish: FIRST of ten teams.
Most Games: Tom Bourke, Herb Gilbert, Jack Spencer, George Williams (21 games).
Most points: Pat Devery (142 points – 8 tries, 59 goals)
Most tries: Bobby Lulham (28 tries)
Representative players:
NSW: Bobby Lulham, Pat Devery

1948

Former clubman Athol Smith takes over the coaching reins from ‘Latchem’ Robinson who becomes a rep selector.
Forward Fred De Belin makes his Test debut against New Zealand mid-season. He is later joined by teammate Bob Lulham on the 1948-49 Kangaroo Tour.
Balmain finish equal second on the competition table and defeat minor premiers Wests in the semi-final, 8-7.
In the final against St George, winger Arthur Patton injures his leg but refuses to leave the field (there were no replacement players then). Balmain hang on to win 13-12 and it is later revealed that Patton’s leg is broken.
Balmain play their fifth straight decider but are beaten in a controversial grand final by Wests, 8-5. The referee is former Balmain clubman George Bishop.

Finish: Runner-up of ten teams.
Most Games: Dave Parkinson (21 games).
Most points: Joe Jorgenson (69 points – 1 try, 33 goals)
Most tries: Arthur Patton (18 tries)
Representative players:
Australia: Bobby Lulham, Fred De Belin
NSW: Bobby Lulham, Fred De Belin, Ken Stephen.

1949

Fred De Belin returns from the Kangaroo Tour to lead the Tigers in 1949. In August, he is the club’s sole representative on Australia’s tour of New Zealand.
The Tigers struggle to make the top four after losing key players Joe Jorgenson (NSW Country), Arthur Patton (retired) and Pat Devery and Harry Bath (both to England).
Balmain finish in fourth place and defeat Wests in the semi-final, 201-13.
The club’s attempt to play in the sixth straight premiership decider ends when they are beaten by St George in the final, 18-7. Saints go on to beat minor premiers Souths in the grand final.
The club breaks new ground when it conducts a tour of Western Australia at season’s end. Balmain easily wins its three matches against the WA state team.

Finish: 3rd of ten teams.
Most Games: John Campbell, Ken Fogerty, Leo Nosworthy, Sid Ryan, Jack Spencer, Jim Thompson (20 games).
Most points: Bobby Lulham (101 points - 17 tries, 25 goals)
Most tries: Bobby Lulham (17 tries)
Representative players:
Australia: Fred De Belin
NSW: Fred De Belin, Bobby Lulham