1942 NSWRFL season

Teams

• Balmain, formed on 23 January 1908 at Balmain Town Hall
• Canterbury-Bankstown
• Eastern Suburbs, formed on 24 January 1908 at Paddington Town Hall
• Newtown, formed on 14 January 1908
• North Sydney, formed on 7 February 1908
• South Sydney, formed on 17 January 1908 at Redfern Town Hall
• St. George, formed on 8 November 1920 at Kogarah School of Arts
• Western Suburbs, formed on 4 February 1908

Ladder

Finals

The minor premiership was won by Canterbury-Bankstown in a play off against Balmain after both sides had finished the season on twenty points.

In the semi-finals, Canterbury-Bankstown lost their match to St. George whilst Eastern Suburbs, who only just made the finals after South Sydney had drawn their match in the final round of the season, defeated Balmain. The result of the first semi final meant that St. George and Eastern Suburbs played a preliminary final which would decide who met minor premiers Canterbury-Bankstown in the Grand Final. St. George won the match, as they had done four weeks earlier over Easts in the final round of the season proper.

St. George had won two matches in the semis while Canterbury had just one victory, but the Berries were guaranteed a Grand Final berth under a call back of the old rules giving the minor premiers a right of challenge. In the Grand Final, Canterbury-Bankstown narrowly defeated St. George to collect their second premiership victory.

Grand Final

Canterbury-Bankstown St George

Teams

Canterbury's Roy McCarter was ruled out of the match after he injured his collarbone three weeks before the match, in his place Jack Bonnyman was selected at halfback.

Canterbury and St George had played four times against each other 1942 with Canterbury winning the first two matches during the premiership season, while St George won the next two matches in both the City Cup and the finals. St George entered the match as strong favourites with pundits suggesting their forward pack would win the day.

Match details

The Sydney Cricket Ground was a muddy quagmire with a treacherous patch in the centre which kept the teams evenly matched and the crowd in a fever of excitement until the final whistle. Newspaper reports recorded that 7,000 of the crowd on the hill had jumped the fence during the reserve grade final and invaded the half-empty new member's stand. Towards the end of the first grade match 5,000 people crowded onto the touchline and referee O'Brien had to hold up play until officials were able to get them back twenty yards.

Canterbury's defence was tested during a torrid ten-minute period when St. George hurled themselves at the line from never more than eight yards away. The Berries defence held and the Dragons could not break through.

The Canterbury-Bankstown tactics were to keep the game with the forwards and away from the St George backs. Canterbury hooker Roy Kirkaldy won vital scrums. Bob Farrar, Frank Sponberg and Henry Porter were tireless with Porter's handling and kicking skills on display.

Canterbury Lindsay Johnson opened the scoring taking a penalty goal from an acute angle, while St George fullback Ray Lindwall gave St George their first points converting a penalty goal attempt from near halfway.

Turning defence into attack, Canterbury captain Ron Bailey fielded a St George kick close to his own line and drew in two defenders before slinging the ball out to Bob Jackson. The winger dashed more than 75 yards to beat a despairing dive from Ray Lindwall to score. Johnson converted the try to give Canterbury a 7–2 lead.

Saints were able to level the scores before half time through a try to Jack Lindwall after Jackson had been unable to field a cross-field kick. Jack Lindwall picking the ball up and scoring adjacent to the goal posts. Ray Lindwall converted the try.

In the second half St George pressured the Canterbury line and looked to have gone ahead, but Saints captain-coach Len Kelly was held up over the try line and pushed back into the field of play. They would take the lead instead through another penalty goal to Ray Lindwall.

Two penalty goals to Canterbury's Lindsay Johnson put them in front at the final whistle. Johnson's final goal came after he was illegally tackled and his attempt at goal just scraped over the cross bar to give his team the premiership.

Scoreboard

Jackson Johnson

J Lindwall R Lindwall

Other matches

In the reserve grade Grand Final, North Sydney defeated St George 15–5. It was North Sydney's second reserve grade premiership.

Player statistics

The following statistics are as of the conclusion of Round 14. Top 5 point scorers

Top 5 try scorers

Top 5 goal scorers

References

References

1. [http://rl1908.com/clubcomps/Honours.htm Premiership Roll of Honour] {{webarchive. link. (28 April 2007 at ''rl1908.com'')
2. (12 September 1942). "St. George chosen". [[The Daily Telegraph (Sydney)]].
3. (11 September 1942). "McCarter Not For Final Game". [[The Daily Mirror (Sydney)]].
4. "NSWRFL 1942 – Grand Final".
5. (2022). "The Great Grand Finals – Rugby League's Greatest Contests". New Holland.
6. (12 September 1942). "C'BURY-B'TOWN v. ST. GEORGE". [[Big League.
7. Pollard, Jack. (1965). "Gregory's Guide to Rugby League". Grenville Publishing.
8. (13 September 1942). "Puzzle:- How did St. George lose?". [[The Sun (Sydney).
9. (12 September 1942). "Cantabs win League Grand Final". [[The Daily Mirror (Sydney)]].
10. (1942-09-14). "GRAND FINAL: Premiership to Canterbury". [[The Sydney Morning Herald]].
11. link. (6 March 2011 at ''nrlstats.com'')
12. (13 September 1942). "Grand Final Fitting League Finale". [[Truth (Sydney newspaper).