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The 1933 NSWRFL season was the twenty-sixth season of Sydney’s professional rugby league club competition, Australia’s first. Eight teams from across the city contested the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership during the season, which lasted from April until September, and culminated in Newtown’s victory over St. George in the final.[1]
| 1933 New South Wales Rugby Football League | |
|---|---|
| Teams | 8 |
| Premiers |  Newtown (2nd title) |
| Minor premiers | Newtown (2nd title) |
| Matches played | 59 |
| Top points scorer(s) |  Syd Christensen (86) |
| Top try-scorer(s) |  Jack Gray-Spence (11) |
When the Kangaroos sailed for England in July, the NSWRFL premiership, with a mere five rounds completed, was turned on its head. After losing the opening four matches of the season, last-placed Newtown won eleven of their next twelve matches to take the premiership, whilst Wests, who had won four and drawn one of six games, lost several key players and did not win another match. The Magpies lost virtually their entire backline of McMillan, Pearce, Ridley, Mead and the up-and-coming Vic Hey, and also suffered from their refusal to reappoint coach Jim Craig.[2]
Teams
- Balmain, formed on January 23, 1908, at Balmain Town Hall
- Eastern Suburbs, formed on January 24, 1908, at Paddington Town Hall
- Newtown, formed on January 14, 1908
- North Sydney, formed on February 7, 1908
- South Sydney, formed on January 17, 1908, at Redfern Town Hall
- St. George, formed on November 8, 1920, at Kogarah School of Arts
- Western Suburbs, formed on February 4, 1908
- University, formed in 1919 at Sydney University
Balmain 26th season |
Eastern Suburbs 26th season |
Newtown 26th season |
North Sydney 26th season |
St. George 13th season |
South Sydney 26th season |
University 14th season |
Western Suburbs 26th season |
Ladder
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Newtown |
14 | 9 | 0 | 5 | 183 | 125 | +58 | 18 |
| 2 |  Eastern Suburbs |
14 | 8 | 1 | 5 | 224 | 169 | +55 | 17 |
| 3 |  South Sydney |
14 | 8 | 1 | 5 | 182 | 177 | +5 | 17 |
| 4 |  St. George |
14 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 165 | 174 | -9 | 16 |
| 5 | Balmain |
14 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 187 | 210 | -23 | 13 |
| 6 | Sydney University |
14 | 5 | 1 | 8 | 218 | 216 | +2 | 11 |
| 7 |  North Sydney |
14 | 5 | 1 | 8 | 136 | 188 | -52 | 11 |
| 8 |  Western Suburbs |
14 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 210 | 246 | -36 | 9 |
In the two semi finals, Newtown and St. George beat their opponents Eastern Suburbs and South Sydney. In their semi-final Newtown were reduced to twelve men after former representative fullback Alan Righton broke his leg. The two winners then advanced to the final.
| Semi-finals | Final | |||||
| 26 August 1933 - Sports Ground | ||||||
| Newtown | 17 | |||||
| 9 September 1933[3] - Sports Ground | ||||||
| South Sydney | 12 | |||||
| Newtown | 18 | |||||
| 2 September 1933 - Sports Ground | ||||||
| St. George | 5 | |||||
| St. George | 13 | |||||
| Eastern Suburbs | 10 | |||||
Premiership final
| Newtown | Position | St. George |
|---|---|---|
| 13. Tom Ellis | FB | 13. Stan Robinson |
| 25. Joe Gartner | WG | 11. Bernie Martin |
| 11. Alf Griffiths | CE | 51. Max Hollingsworth |
| 20. Frank Gilmore | CE | 14. Norm Tipping |
| 21. Garnet Braybrook | WG | 8. Len Brennan |
| 8. Keith Ellis (c) | FE | 7. Mick Kadwell (Ca./Co.) |
| 7. Hans Mork | HB | 34. Dick Daly |
| 15. Clarrie Tupper | PR | 41. Tom Haywood |
| 3. Clarrie Stevenson | HK | 5. Percy Fairall |
| 18. Henry Porter | PR | 43. Alan Sprouster |
| 5. Alf Smith | SR | 31. Allan Woods |
| 28. Les Bull | SR | 2. Jim Rutherford |
| 6. Jack Thornton | LK | 30. Bill Killiby |
| Charles Russell | Coach | |
The Sydney Sports Ground attracted a large crowd of 18,080 on 9 September to see Newtown take on St George. Both teams were coached by former internationals. St George captain-coach was former Kangaroo and premiership winner with South Sydney Harry 'Mick' Kadwell. Newtown were coached by former dual-international Charles “Boxer” Russell.
The match, refereed by William Fry, was level 5–all at halftime, before the Bluebags finished the stronger to take the premiership.
Newtown 18 (Tries: Alf Griffiths 2, Joe Gartner, George Braybrook. Goals: Frank Gilmore 3)
beat
St George 5 (Tries: Percy Fairall. Goal: Mick Kadwell )
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