1970-1979 | Balmain Tigers 1908

1970-1979

1970

After a poor pre-season, defending premiers Balmain are shocked by the 44-10 loss to Manly in the opening match of the season.
The Tigers are on a three-game winning sequence, however, when they take on Souths in a grand final replay at the SCG in the presence of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip. Souths win 14-5.
Arthur Beetson appears in all three Tests of the Ashes series midseason and is then inexplicably left out of Australia’s World Cup squad at year’s end. Prop Barry McTaggart is the club’s sole rep on tour.
Four losses in the middle of the season leaves the club vulnerable to missing the finals. Despite winning nine second round matches and a draw against Manly, Balmain finish in sixth place, three points outside the top four teams.

Finish: 6th of twelve teams
Most Games: Garry Leo, Barry McTaggart (21 games)
Most points: Len Killeen (131 points – 11 tries, 48 goals and a field goal)
Most tries: John Spencer, Len Killeen, Garry Leo (11 tries)
Representative players:
Australia: Arthur Beetson, Barry McTaggart
NSW: Arthur Beetson.

1971

The departure of Arthur Beetson to the Eastern Suburbs club leaves a huge void in the Balmain club. Injuries to Joe Walsh, Barry McTaggart, Geoff Connell and Terry Parker sees the club eventually finish in fifth place just outside the finals.
Dennis Tutty returns to the Balmain club after sitting out the 1969 and 1970 seasons in an on-going contract dispute seeking a transfer to Penrith. The ‘restraint of trade’ case is resolved in a landmark decision in the NSW Equity Court that November and Tutty was free to play for the Panthers.
Local junior Geoff Starling becomes Australia’s youngest representative, at 18 years and 178 days, when he is selected on the tour of New Zealand. Starling plays in two minor tour matches before making his NSW debut that July.
Talented winger Paul Cross is the League’s leading try-scorer with 18 tries.

Finish: 5th of twelve teams.
Most Games: Paul Cross, Keith Outten, (22 games)
Most points: Len Killeen (81 points – 3 tries, 36 goals)
Most tries: Paul Cross (18 tries)
Representative players:
Australia: Geoff Starling
NSW: Geoff Starling

1972

Balmain shift to the Sydney Sports Ground as Leichhardt Oval undergoes a $225,000 rebuild. The configuration of the ground is changed from east-west to north-south and lighting is installed.
With Len Killeen joining Dennis Tutty at the Panthers, former St George five-eighth Denis Preston is the club’s top point-scorer with 69 points. Former NSW Country Firsts (Wollongong) winger Glen Capelin scores an impressive 15 tries in his first season with the club.
Talented young centre Geoff Starling makes his Test debut against the visiting New Zealand team and is the club’s sole representative in Australia’s end of season World Cup squad.
Seven consecutive losses at the end of the season sees the Tigers finish tenth on the competition table. Injury to club captain Jack Spencer limits him to just three matches that season.

Finish: 10th of twelve teams.
Most Games: Trevor Ryan (21 games)
Most points: Dennis Preston (69 points – 1 try, 33 goals)
Most tries: Glen Capelin (15 tries)
Representative players:
Australia: Geoff Starling
NSW: Geoff Starling

1973

Former Balmain Club Secretary Kevin Humphreys is elected Chairman of the NSWRL and Australian Rugby League.
The introduction of the ‘Final Five’ system makes the competition for a spot in the finals that more competitive but the Tigers struggle to stay in touch with the top teams.
Balmain start the season promisingly with three wins from their first five matches, including a 14-11 victory against that season’s grand finalists Cronulla.
The club then slumps to seven straight losses, including five in succession following their return to Leichhardt Oval.
Veteran prop Garry Leo plays his 200th grade game for the club.
Balmain’s Under 23s team defeats Newtown 10-7 in the grand final.
Geoff Starling is selected to tour with the 1973 Kangaroos to England and France where he appears in all five Test matches.

Finish: 9th of twelve teams.
Most Games: Tim Murphy, Geoff Starling (22 games)
Most points: Mark Tonks (118 points – 4 tries, 55 goals)
Most tries: Geoff Starling, Jack Spencer (7 tries)
Representative players:
Australia: Geoff Starling

1974

Coached by former clubman Alan Mason, who took over from premiership winner Leo Nosworthy after five seasons, the Tigers win just four matches for the season and secure the wooden spoon for the first time since 1911.
Balmain are winless during the pre-season competition and start the season with eight straight losses. This includes the worst loss in the club’s history –
62-5 against Wests at Lidcombe Oval.
The club is also knocked out in the first round of the newly instigated midweek Amco Cup competition by St George, 22-11, in May. The competition is played at Leichhart Oval because on the superior lightning for night matches.
An illness to Balmain Test centre Geoff Starling limits him to just four matches. He is later found to be suffering from Addison’s Disease which ends his career.

Finish: LAST of twelve teams.
Most Games: Peter Boulton, Trevor Ryan (21 games).
Most points: Jim Fiddler (83 points – 1 try, 40 goals)
Most tries: Trevor Forwood, Frank Ragen (6 tries)
Representative players:
NSW: Jeff Shield

1975

With Paul Broughton taking over as coach, Balmain finish equal fifth on the competition with Wests and Parramatta. The last round 17-16 loss to Canterbury costs the club outright fifth place.
In a hurried week of play-offs, the Tigers are beaten by Parramatta on the Tuesday, 18-9, who then go on and beat Wests (Thursday) and Canterbury in the preliminary semi-final (Sunday).
In his first season with the club, former NSW Country (Illawarra) centre Allan McMahon represents NSW and Australia in the World Cup competition at the end of the year.
Balmain overcome another slow start to be semi-final contenders late in the season. Great Britain Test forward Brian Lockwood is lured away from Canterbury and leads the Tigers’ revival.

Finish: 7th of twelve teams.
Most Games: Mike Fish, Trevor Ryan (22 games).
Most points: Graham Roberts (71 points – 3 tries, 31 goals)
Most tries: Allan McMahon (8 tries)
Representative players:
Australia: Allan McMahon
NSW: Allan McMahon, Les Mara.

1976

Balmain are undefeated in the Wills pre-season competition and defeat Manly 17-5 in the final at Leichhardt Oval.
Following a 25-24 loss to Canterbury in the opening match of the season, the Tigers are undefeated in their next eight matches to sit atop the competition.
The selection of three Balmain players for NSW and the club’s run in the Amco Cup unsettles the Tigers’ momentum.
Balmain defeats Norths 21-7 in the final of the Amco Cup. The 30-11 loss to Manly four days later costs the Tigers a place in the finals.
At the end of the season, six Balmain players are selected in a Combined Sydney squad to tour New Zealand under the coaching of Noel Kelly.

Finish: 6th of twelve teams.
Most Games: Mike Fish, Arthur Mountier (22 games).
Most points: Greg Cox (97 points – 5 tries, 41 goals)
Most tries: Mike Fish (10 tries)
Representative players:
NSW: Allan McMahon, Les Mara, Steve Lavers ** 10-5 Lang Park
Combined Sydney Tour of New Zealand: Allan McMahon, Les Mara, Greg Cox, Neil Pringle, Arthur Mountier, Steve Lavers.

1977

Coached by former Manly premiership winner Ron Willey and captained by Trevor Ryan, Balmain return to finals football for the first time since the glory days of 1969. Ryan also played his 100th grade game during the season.
The Tigers are boosted by the arrival of Great Britain star David Topliss in May. Five-eighth Topliss scores a club record-equalling five tries in the match against Newtown.
Holy Cross, Ryde, product Greg Cox top-scores for the club with 187 points for the season. The 20-year-old halfback joins Cronulla at the end of the season.
David Topliss produces a masterclass in the 23-15 win over Manly in the minor preliminary semi-final. The club’s finals run ends the following week against Easts, however, 26-2.

Finish: 4th of twelve teams.
Most Games: Mike Fish (24 games).
Most points: Greg Cox (187 points – 3 tries, 89 goals)
Most tries: Mike Fish (13 tries)
Representative players:
Australia: Allan McMahon
NSW: Allan McMahon.

1978

Former Tweed Heads and Queanbeyan winger Larry Corowa emerges as the most exciting prospect since the great Ken Irvine. The ‘Balmain Flash’ crosses for 24 tries in 21 games which also places him at the top of the club’s point-scoring list.
The 21-year-old Corowa makes his NSW debut for midseason and is selected on the 1978 Kangaroos Tour alongside teammate Allan McMahon at season’s end.
Without the services of their star Great Britain players, Balmain fail to produce the form of the previous season. However, the Tigers record good wins over that season’s premiers Manly, and the previous year’s grand finalists Parramatta and St George.
Norm ‘Latchem’ Robinson ends his long association with the Balmain club when he retires as Club President.

Finish: 9th of twelve teams.
Most Games: Geoff Naylor (22 games)
Most points: Larry Corowa (72 points - 24 tries)
Most tries: Larry Corowa (24 tries)
Representative players:
Australia: Allan McMahon, Larry Corowa
NSW: Larry Corowa

1979

The Tigers secure the services of Queensland Test players Greg Oliphant and Rod Morris. Coach Willey names Oliphant as season club captain.
Balmain are beaten by Easts in the final of the pre-season competition, 12-9, which was played at the SCG before Queen Elizabeth II.
A recurring arm injury to club hooker Noel Maybury sees Crookwell’s Neil Whittaker secure his first grade position.
Larry Corowa scores a try in his Test debut in the First Test of the Ashes series playing alongside teammate Rod Morris (Allan McMahon was a non-playing reserve in this series).
After a promising season, a trio of losses late in the premiership sees Balmain miss the top five by a single point. The Tigers are effectively knocked out of finals contention after the 12-11 loss to Souths in the final match of the season.

Finish: 6th of twelve teams.
Most Games: Gary Spears, Wayne Wigham (22 games).
Most points: Wayne Miranda (130 points – 4 tries, 59 goals)
Most tries: Larry Corowa (14 tries)
Representative players:
Australia: Larry Corowa, Rod Morris
NSW: Larry Corowa, Rod Morris

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