The 1915 New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership was the eighth season of Sydney’s top-grade rugby league football club competition, Australia’s first. Eight teams from across the city contested during the season, with the Balmain club finishing on top of the ladder to claim the premiership.Premiership Roll of Honour at rl1908.com
Season summary Even though World War I had broken out across Europe and many players were unavailable, there was a general consensus amongst the public that the rugby league premiership continue. On 8 May in good weather the first matches were played between the eventual top four clubs: In front of a record crowd of 13,000 Glebe defeated defending premiers Easts at the SCG, and at Wentworth Oval Balmain drew 11–all with Newtown. Midway through the season, three clubs had clearly broken ahead of the others: Balmain, Glebe and South Sydney. With South Sydney falling away in the second half of the season, Balmain and Glebe became the two remaining contenders for the title, and they clashed with four rounds to play. In front of 20,000 people, the two clubs played out a memorable match at the Sydney Sports Ground, where Balmain eventually prevailed 12–2 on a cold, rainy day. Balmain were assured their first premiership without the need for a playoff after their close last-round win over South Sydney 7–4.
Balmain went through 1915 undefeated – a feat achieved by only five other teams since. They won the premiership in all three grades. Members of the Balmain first-grade premiership winning side included Bob Craig, Bill Schultz and E. Burnicle.
In 1915, the NSWRFL lost its first ever full-time Secretary Edward Larkin when he was killed in fighting at Gallipoli on 25 April.
Teams The teams remained unchanged from the 1914 season.
Annandale Balmain, formed on 23 January 1908 at Balmain Town Hall Eastern Suburbs, formed on 24 January 1908 at Paddington Town Hall Glebe, formed on 9 January 1908 Newtown, formed on 14 January 1908 North Sydney, formed on February 7, 1908, at the North Sydney School of Arts in Mount Street South Sydney, formed on 17 January 1908 at Redfern Town Hall Western Suburbs, formed on 4 February 1908
Annandale6th seasonGround: Wentworth ParkCoach: Captain: Robert Stuart Balmain8th seasonGround: Birchgrove OvalCaptain-coach: Bill KellyEastern Suburbs8th seasonGround: Sydney Sports GroundCoach: Captain: Sandy Pearce Glebe8th seasonGround: Wentworth Park Coach: Captain: Frank Burge Newtown8th seasonGround: Erskineville Oval, SydneyCoach: Captain: Paddy McCue North Sydney8th seasonGround: North Sydney Oval Coach: Denis Lutge Captain: Con Sullivan South Sydney8th seasonGround: RAS Showground Coach: Arthur Hennessy Captain: Arthur Butler Western Suburbs8th seasonGround: St Lukes OvalCoach: Captain: Tedda Courtney
Ladder
TeamPldWDLPFPAPDPts1 Balmain14122023271+161262 Glebe141202268106+162243 Newtown14914208119+89194 South Sydney1481515794+63175 Eastern Suburbs14608180109+71126 Annandale143011113256-14367 Western Suburbs14201267200-13348 North Sydney14201283353-2704
References
External links Rugby League Tables - Notes AFL Tables Rugby League Tables - Season 1915 AFL Tables Premiership History and Statistics RL1908 1915 - Balmain Breaks Through For First Title RL1908 Results: 1911-20 at rabbitohs.com.au