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The 1920 New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership was the thirteenth season of Sydney's professional rugby league football club competition, Australia's first. The introduction of a Sydney University side saw nine teams from across the city contest during the season. Balmain were crowned premiers by virtue of finishing the season on top of the League.[1]
| 1920 New South Wales Rugby Football League | |
|---|---|
| Teams | 9 |
| Premiers |  Balmain (5th title) |
| Minor premiers | Balmain (5th title) |
| Matches played | 60 |
| Points scored | 1981 |
| Top points scorer(s) |  Frank Burge (110) |
| Top try-scorer(s) |  Gordon Wright (18) |
Due to the 1920 Great Britain Lions tour, from rounds 5 to 8, several players in the NSWRFL were selected to play matches for Metropolis (Sydney), New South Wales and Australia.
In a round 7 game between Glebe and University Frank Burge scored eight tries which remains the standing record for the most tries by an individual in a NSWRL/NRL premiership match. Arthur Oxford set the pace in goal kicking, scoring 29 goals in three games. He also took the record of most goals in succession (23) which would stand until 1978.
The NSWRFL ran the City Cup competition for the second half of the season.
The Balmain Tigers again dominated the season, while University's first year was a disappointment: the Students conceded a whopping 118 tries in thirteen games for a record “tries against” average of 9.08 per match that has not been beaten since.[2] Balmain played consistently and defensively throughout the season except for a slip-up 13–30 loss to Eastern Suburbs in Round 10. Holding a seven-point lead on the premiership ladder with three rounds left to play secured their fifth premiership in six years. The final three rounds were left unplayed and no Finals were contested.
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With the addition of Sydney University's team, the League was again at nine sides. At the end of the season however, Annandale exited the League after eleven seasons,[3] having won only fifteen and drawn four of 126 games since 1912.[4]
- Annandale
- Balmain, formed on January 23, 1908, at Balmain Town Hall
- Eastern Suburbs, formed on January 24, 1908, at Paddington Town Hall
- Glebe, formed on January 9, 1908
- Newtown, formed on January 14, 1908
- North Sydney, formed on February 7, 1908
- South Sydney, formed on January 17, 1908, at Redfern Town Hall
- Western Suburbs, formed on February 4, 1908
- University, formed in 1919 at Sydney University
 11th season Ground: Birchgrove Park Coach: Captain: Tom McGuiness |
 13th season Ground: Birchgrove Park Captain-Coach: Arthur Halloway |
 13th season Ground: Sydney Sports Ground Coach: Captain: Ray Norman |
 13th season Ground: RAS Showground Coach: Captain: Frank Burge |
 13th season Ground: Marrickville Oval Captain-Coach: Albert Johnston |
 13th season Ground: North Sydney Oval Coach: Chris McKivat Captain: Harold Horder |
 13th season Ground: RAS Showground Coach: Captain: Reg Fusedale |
 1st season Coach: Paddy McCue Captain: Alan McLeod |
 13th season Ground: Pratten Park Captain-coach: Tedda Courtney |
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| Team | Pld | W | D | L | B | PF | PA | PD | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Balmain |
13 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 287 | 114 | +173 | 27 |
| 2 |  South Sydney |
13 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 258 | 149 | +109 | 20 |
| 3 | Glebe |
13 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 268 | 166 | +102 | 20 |
| 4 |  Western Suburbs |
14 | 8 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 309 | 141 | +168 | 19 |
| 5 |  North Sydney |
13 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 237 | 151 | +86 | 18 |
| 6 | Eastern Suburbs |
14 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 254 | 175 | +79 | 18 |
| 7 |  Newtown |
14 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 208 | 203 | +5 | 18 |
| 8 |  Sydney University |
13 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 2 | 101 | 498 | -397 | 6 |
| 9 |  Annandale |
13 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 2 | 59 | 384 | -325 | 4 |
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