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1975 NSWRFL season

Rugby league competition


Rugby league competition

FieldValue
year1975
competitionNew South Wales Rugby Football League
teams12
premiers[[Image:Eastern Suburbs colours.svg16x16px]] [Eastern Suburbs](1975-eastern-suburbs-roosters-season)
count11th
minor premiers[[Image:Eastern Suburbs colours.svg16x16px]] [Eastern Suburbs](1975-eastern-suburbs-roosters-season)
mpcount13th
matches140
points4,444
attendance1,528,180
top point scorer[[Image:Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg16x16px]] Graham Eadie (242)
top try scorer[[Image:Eastern Suburbs colours.svg16x16px]] Johnny Mayes (16)
MVPSteve Rogers
MVP_linkRothmans Medal
wooden_spoonSouth Sydney
Rabbitohs
wooden_spoon_count4th
prevseason_link1974 NSWRFL season
prevseason_year1974
nextseason_link1976 NSWRFL season
nextseason_year1976

Rabbitohs](south-sydney-rabbitohs)

The 1975 New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership was the 68th season of Sydney's professional rugby league football competition, Australia's first. Twelve teams, including six of 1908's foundation clubs and another six from across Sydney competed for the J. J. Giltinan Shield during the season, which culminated in a grand final match for the WD & HO Wills Cup between the Eastern Suburbs and St. George clubs. NSWRFL teams also competed for the 1975 Amco Cup.

Season summary

Each side faced each other twice in twenty-two regular season rounds from March to August, resulting in a top five of Eastern Suburbs, Manly-Warringah, St. George, Canterbury-Bankstown and Parramatta who battled it out for the premiership over six finals matches. With three sides finishing in equal fifth place, two elimination finals playoffs also had to be played.

Western Suburbs had 1 point deducted for fielding an ineligible player in round 8. After losing two consecutive matches in rounds 2 and 3, defending premiers Eastern Suburbs posted nineteen consecutive wins to close out the regular season; a streak than ran from round 4 to round 22 and remained the record for the most consecutive wins in premiership history until Melbourne Storm equalled the record in 2021; Round 3 to Round 23, although they were later eliminated by eventual Premiers Penrith Panthers in the preliminary final.

The 1975 season's Rothmans Medallist was Cronulla-Sutherland centre Steve Rogers. Rugby League Week gave their player of the year award to Manly-Warringah back Bob Fulton.

Teams

**Penrith
Panthers**[[File:Penrith Jersey 1975.png100pxcenter]]**South Sydney
Rabbitohs**[[File:South Sydney Jersey 1975.png100pxcenter]]**St. George
Dragons**[[File:St George Jersey 1975.png100pxcenter]]**Western Suburbs
Magpies**[[File:Western Suburbs Jersey 1975.png100pxcenter]]

Regular season

Team12345678910111213141516171819202122F1F2F3F4F5GFTeam12345678910111213141516171819202122F1F2F3F4F5GF
Balmain TigersEAS
−3**PAR
+3**NOR
−7NEW
−10SOU
−37**STG
−26****CRO
+2**MAN
−13WES
−16PEN
+15**CBY
+5**STG
+3**EAS
−2****NOR
+13****NEW
+2****SOU
+15**PAR
−21CRO
−1**MAN
+3****WES
0****PEN
+7**CBY
−1X**PAR
−11**
Canterbury-Bankstown**STG
+4****CRO
−11**MAN
−12WES
+1**PEN
+22****SOU
+13**EAS
−19**PAR
+5**NOR
+44**NEW
0**BAL
−5SOU
+3STG
+1**MAN
+18****WES
0**PEN
−15CRO
−8**EAS
−22**PAR
−1**NOR
−1**NEW
+25**BAL
+1**XX**PAR
−1**
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks**PEN
−2**CBY
+11EAS
+4PAR
−7**NOR
+4****NEW
+2**BAL
−2**STG
0****SOU
+30**MAN
−6WES
−6NEW
−9PEN
−25**EAS
−2****PAR
+14**NOR
+13**CBY
+8****BAL
+1**STG
−3SOU
−6**MAN
−10****WES
−14**
Eastern Suburbs Roosters**BAL
+3**STG
−8**CRO
−4**MAN
+6**WES
+6**PEN
+13**CBY
+19**SOU
+3PAR
+5**NOR
+14**NEW
+9**PEN
+17**BAL
+2CRO
+2**MAN
+1**WES
+1**STG
+34**CBY
+22**SOU
+19****PAR
+19**NOR
+23**NEW
+27**XXX**STG
−3****MAN
+15****STG
+38**
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles**WES
+2**PEN
+19**CBY
+12****EAS
−6**PAR
−15NOR
+8NEW
+13**BAL
+13****STG
+1****CRO
+6**SOU
+4**NOR
+6**WES
−18CBY
−18EAS
−1**PAR
+19****PEN
+17****NEW
+5**BAL
−3STG
−3CRO
+10**SOU
+54**XX**STG
−7****PAR
+10**EAS
−15
Newtown JetsPAR
−9**NOR
−8****SOU
−7****BAL
+10****STG
−17**CRO
−2**MAN
−13**WES
+11**PEN
+14**CBY
0**EAS
−9****CRO
+9****PAR
+11**SOU
+6BAL
−2STG
−6NOR
−7MAN
−5**WES
+3**PEN
0**CBY
−25**EAS
−27
North Sydney BearsSOU
−4NEW
+8**BAL
+7**STG
−3CRO
−4**MAN
−8****WES
−13**PEN
+25**CBY
−44**EAS
−14PAR
−12MAN
−6**SOU
+2**BAL
−13**STG
+6****CRO
−13****NEW
+7**WES
+3**PEN
+21**CBY
+1**EAS
−23****PAR
−15**
Parramatta Eels**NEW
+9**BAL
−3STG
−10**CRO
+7****MAN
+15**WES
−17**PEN
+5**CBY
−5**EAS
−5**SOU
−7**NOR
+12****WES
−4**NEW
−11**STG
0**CRO
−14MAN
−19**BAL
+21**PEN
+15**CBY
+1**EAS
−19**SOU
+32**NOR
+15WES
+5BAL
+11CBY
+1MAN
−10
Penrith PanthersCRO
+2**MAN
−19****WES
+9**SOU
−5CBY
−22**EAS
−13**PAR
−5**NOR
−25**NEW
−14**BAL
−15**STG
−9EAS
−17**CRO
+25**WES
+5**SOU
+2****CBY
+15**MAN
−17**PAR
−15**NOR
−21**NEW
0**BAL
−7**STG
+6**
South Sydney Rabbitohs**NOR
+4**WES
−11NEW
+7**PEN
+5****BAL
+37**CBY
−13STG
−7**EAS
−3**CRO
−30**PAR
+7****MAN
−4****CBY
−3**NOR
−2**NEW
−6**PEN
−2BAL
−15**WES
−11****STG
−17**EAS
−19**CRO
+6**PAR
−32MAN
−54
St. George DragonsCBY
−4**EAS
+8****PAR
+10****NOR
+3**NEW
+17BAL
+26**SOU
+7**CRO
0MAN
−1**WES
+7****PEN
+9****BAL
−3****CBY
−1**PAR
0NOR
−6**NEW
+6**EAS
−34SOU
+17**CRO
+3****MAN
+3**WES
−14PEN
−6XXMAN
+7EAS
+3XEAS
−38
Western Suburbs MagpiesMAN
−2**SOU
+11**PEN
−9**CBY
−1**EAS
−6**PAR
+17**NOR
+13**NEW
−11****BAL
+16**STG
−7**CRO
+6**PAR
+4**MAN
+18****PEN
−5**CBY
0**EAS
−1**SOU
+11**NOR
−3**NEW
−3BAL
0**STG
+14**CRO
+14**PAR
−5**

Bold – Home game

X – Bye

Opponent for round listed above margin

Ladder

TeamPldWDLPFPAPDPts
1[[Image:Eastern Suburbs colours.svg16x16px]] [Eastern Suburbs](1975-eastern-suburbs-roosters-season)222002431198+233
2[[Image:Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg16x16px]] Manly221507439314+125
3[[Image:St. George colours.svg16x16px]] St. George221228341294+47
4[[Image:Canterbury colours.svg16x16px]] Canterbury221129330287+43
5[[Image:Western Suburbs colours.svg16x16px]] Western Suburbs2210210365289+76
6[[Image:Parramatta colours.svg16x16px]] Parramatta2210111391373+18
7[[Image:Balmain colours.svg16x16px]] Balmain2210111288357-69
8[[Image:Cronulla colours.svg16x16px]] Cronulla229112370375-5
9[[Image:North Sydney colours.svg16x16px]] North Sydney229013322414-92
10[[Image:Newtown colours.svg16x16px]] Newtown227213349422-73
11Penrith227114312452-140
12[[Image:South Sydney colours.svg16x16px]] South Sydney226016298461-163
  • Western Suburbs were stripped of 1 competition point due to an illegal replacement in one game.

Ladder progression

  • Numbers highlighted in green indicate that the team finished the round inside the top 5.
  • Numbers highlighted in blue indicates the team finished first on the ladder in that round.
  • Numbers highlighted in red indicates the team finished last place on the ladder in that round.
Team12345678910111213141516171819202122
1Eastern Suburbs Roosters222468101214161820222426283032343638
2Manly Warringah Sea Eagles246668101214161820202020222426262628
3St. George Dragons0246810121313151717171818202022242626
4Canterbury-Bankstown22246881012131315171920202020202022
5Western Suburbs Magpies02222466881012141415141616161719
6Parramatta Eels22246688881010101111111315171719
7Balmain Tigers0222224446810101214161616181921
8Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks0244688911111111111113151719191919
9North Sydney Bears0244444666668810101214161818
10Newtown Jets000222246779111313131313151616
11Penrith Panthers2244444444446810121212121313
12South Sydney Rabbitohs224688888101010101010101010101212

Finals

Balmain, Parramatta and Western Suburbs tied for fifth place, necessitating a play-off drawn from a hat.

HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeCrowd
**Playoffs**
[[Image:Western Suburbs colours.svg23x23px]] Western Suburbs13–18[[Image:Parramatta colours.svg23x23px]] Parramatta26 August 1975Sydney Cricket GroundGreg Hartley9,920
[[Image:Parramatta colours.svg23x23px]] Parramatta19–8[[Image:Balmain colours.svg23x23px]] Balmain28 August 1975Sydney Cricket GroundGary Cook19,914
**Qualifying Finals**
[[Image:Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg23x23px]] Manly-Warringah3–10[[Image:St. George colours.svg23x23px]] St. George30 August 1975Sydney Cricket GroundLaurie Bruyeres23,492
[[Image:Canterbury colours.svg23x23px]] Canterbury-Bankstown5–6[[Image:Parramatta colours.svg23x23px]] Parramatta31 August 1975Sydney Cricket GroundGary Cook19,312
**Semi-finals**
[[Image:Eastern Suburbs colours.svg23x23px]] [Eastern Suburbs](1975-eastern-suburbs-roosters-season)5–8[[Image:St. George colours.svg23x23px]] St. George6 September 1975Sydney Cricket GroundLaurie Bruyeres28,851
[[Image:Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg23x23px]] Manly-Warringah22–12[[Image:Parramatta colours.svg23x23px]] Parramatta7 September 1975Sydney Cricket GroundGary Cook26,109
**Preliminary final**
[[Image:Eastern Suburbs colours.svg23x23px]] [Eastern Suburbs](1975-eastern-suburbs-roosters-season)28–13[[Image:Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg23x23px]] Manly-Warringah13 September 1975Sydney Cricket GroundLaurie Bruyeres31,645
**Grand final**
[[Image:St. George colours.svg23x23px]] St. George0–38[[Image:Eastern Suburbs colours.svg23x23px]] [Eastern Suburbs](1975-eastern-suburbs-roosters-season)20 September 1975Sydney Cricket GroundLaurie Bruyeres63,047

Chart

| team-width=150

| RD1-seed1=2 | RD1-team1= Manly | RD1-score1=3 | RD1-seed2=3 | RD1-team2= St. George | RD1-score2=10

| RD1-seed3=4 | RD1-team3= Canterbury | RD1-score3=5 | RD1-seed4=5 | RD1-team4= Parramatta | RD1-score4=6

| RD2-seed1=1 | RD2-team1= Eastern Suburbs | RD2-score1=5 | RD2-seed2= | RD2-team2= St. George | RD2-score2=8

| RD2-seed3= | RD2-team3= Manly | RD2-score3=22 | RD2-seed4= | RD2-team4= Parramatta | RD2-score4=12

| RD3-seed1= | RD3-team1= Eastern Suburbs | RD3-score1=28 | RD3-seed2= | RD3-team2= Manly | RD3-score2=13

| RD4-seed1= | RD4-team1= St. George | RD4-score1=0 | RD4-seed2= | RD4-team2= Eastern Suburbs | RD4-score2=38

Grand final

St. GeorgePositionEastern Suburbs
1. Graeme Langlands (Ca./Co)FB1. Ian Schubert
2. Paul MillsWG2. Bruce Pickett
3. Roy FergusonCE3. John Brass
4. Ted GoodwinCE4. John Rheinberger
5. John ChapmanWG5. Bill Mullins
6. John BaileyFE6. John Peard
7. Billy SmithHB7. Johnny Mayes
13. Barry BeathPR13. Ian Mackay
12. Steve EdgeHK12. Elwyn Walters
11. Henry TatanaPR18. Grant Hedger
10. Peter FitzgeraldSR11. Arthur Beetson (c)
9. Robert StoneSR10. Ron Coote
8. Lindsay DrakeLK8. Kevin Stevens
14. Robert FinchReserve9. Barry Reilly
15. Bruce StarkeyReserve19. Des O'Reilly
CoachJack Gibson

This was the first grand final to be telecast in colour.{{cite news |access-date=2010-04-11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091029151810/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/sport/fans-turn-parra-blue-and-gold-20091003-ggpe.html |archive-date=2009-10-29 The star-studded Eastern Suburbs line up had lost only 2 matches in the 22-game regular season and were clear starting favourites. However, St. George looked a chance early on when utility back "Lord Ted" Goodwin put on a chip and chase. Goodwin collided with Eastern Suburbs' fullback Ian Schubert, came off second best and was out of touch for the remainder of the match. Things were also wrong with captain-coach Graeme Langlands who was struggling with his coordination following an ill-directed pain killing injection that numbed his right leg and severely affected his form.{{cite news | access-date = 2010-01-15 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181004074123/http://blogs.watoday.com.au/executive-style/sportandstyle/bencoady/2009/09/28/grandfinaldra.html | archive-date = 2018-10-04 | url-status = dead

At half-time, Eastern Suburbs were up 5–0. Just after the break the Roosters' prop Ian McKay crashed over from close range and the floodgates opened. Eastern Suburbs unleashed a torrent of tries with Johnny Mayes, Arthur Beetson, John Brass, Bruce Pickett and boom recruit Schubert all scoring.

Despite his numbed leg, Langlands returned in the second half hoping it would come good. It didn't and he was replaced. By the end of the game, St. George had been completely demoralised by Easts in a 38–0 record Grand final defeat. Fellow Immortal and peer Australian Captain Arthur Beetson attempted in vain to console the forlorn Langlands at match end.

Easts' eight tries in the grand final matched South Sydney's record achievement in the 1951 final (subsequently equalled again by Manly in 2008).

2nd: 33 - 0 Report Johnny Mayes 2 John Brass 2 Ian Mackay 1 Arthur Beetson 1 Bruce Pickett 1 Ian Schubert 1 Goals: John Peard 7/8 John Brass 0/1 Field Goals: John Brass 0/1 Henry Tatana 0/1

Player statistics

The following statistics are as of the conclusion of Round 22. Top 5 point scorers

PointsPlayerTriesGoalsField Goals223183183156153
Graham Eadie13920
John Brass4851
John Dorahy11750
Steve Rogers8660
Eric Simms5682

Top 5 try scorers

TriesPlayer1414131312
Johnny Mayes
Mark Harris
Bob Fulton
Graham Eadie
Jim Porter

Top 5 goal scorers

GoalsPlayer9285756866
Graham Eadie
John Brass
John Dorahy
Eric Simms
Steve Rogers

Notes

References

References

  1. [http://www.rleague.com//db/year/1975/j_j_giltinan_shield_and_wd_ho_wills_cup/index.php 1975 J J Giltinan Shield and WD & HO Wills Cup] {{webarchive. link. (May 25, 2012 at ''rleague.com'')
  2. [http://www.rabbitohs.com.au/The-Club/Tradition/Results---1971-1980.html Results: 1971-1980] {{webarchive. link. (August 28, 2008 at ''rabbitohs.com.au'')
  3. [https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/NSWRFL_1975/summary.html NSWRFL 1975] at ''rugbyleagueproject.org''
  4. (19 March 1978). "Form over five years". [[The Sun-Herald]].
  5. [http://www.stats.rleague.com/rl/seas/1975.html Rugby League Tables – Season 1975] {{Webarchive. link. (2007-03-23 at ''stats.rleague.com'')
  6. Clarkson, Alan. (1986-09-26). "The Best Grand finals I've Seen". [[Fairfax Media]].
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