The 1932 New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership was the twenty-fifth season of Sydney’s top-level rugby league competition, Australia’s first. During the season, which lasted from April until September, eight teams from across the city contested the premiership, culminating in South Sydney’s victory over Western Suburbs in the final.[1][2]

1932 New South Wales Rugby Football League
Teams8
Premiers South Sydney (11th title)
Minor premiers South Sydney (9th title)
Matches played60
Points scored1810
Top points scorer(s) Les Mead (104 points)
Top try-scorer(s) Alan Ridley (18 tries)

Teams

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Balmain
 
25th season
Ground: Birchgrove Oval
 
Coach: Charles Fraser
Captain: Charlie Roberts
Eastern Suburbs
 
25th season
Ground: Sydney Sports Ground
 
Coach: Frank Burge
Captain: Joe Pearce
Newtown
 

25th season
Ground: Marrickville Oval
Captain: Tom Ellis

North Sydney
 

25th Season
Ground: North Sydney Oval
Captain: Bill Leckie

St. George
 
12th season
Ground: Earl Park
Coach: Harry Kadwell
 
Captain: Arthur Justice
South Sydney
 
25th season
Ground: Sydney Sports Ground
Coach: Charlie Lynch
 
Captain: George Treweek
University
 
13th season
 
Captain: Sammy Ogg
Western Suburbs
 
25th season
Ground: Pratten Park
 
Coach: Jim Craig
Captain: Bill Brogan

Ladder

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The geographical locations of the teams that contested the 1932 premiership across Sydney.
Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts
1   South Sydney 14 13 0 1 292 130 +162 26
2   Western Suburbs 14 11 0 3 321 156 +165 22
3   Eastern Suburbs 14 9 0 5 253 133 +120 18
4   Balmain 14 7 1 6 204 227 -23 15
5   Newtown 14 7 0 7 201 251 -50 14
6   St. George 14 4 1 9 140 203 -63 9
7   Sydney University 14 2 0 12 134 275 -141 4
8   North Sydney 14 2 0 12 147 317 -170 4

Finals

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In the two semi finals, the top two ranked teams South Sydney and Western Suburbs beat their lower-ranked opponents Eastern Suburbs and Balmain, respectively. The two winners then played in a final in which favourites and minor premiers South Sydney were beaten by Western Suburbs. However the finals system set in place then forced the final to be replayed, in what was known as the "Right of Challenge". This system ensured that in the event that the minor premiers lost in either the first or second round of the finals, then they would be given a second chance no matter what in what would later become the final premiership decider.

 
Semi-finalsFinal
 
      
 
3 September 1932 - Sports Ground
 
 
  South Sydney 26
 
17 September 1932 - Sports Ground
 
  Eastern Suburbs 8
 
  South Sydney 19
 
10 September 1932 - Sports Ground[3]
 
  Western Suburbs 12
 
  Western Suburbs 15
 
 
  Balmain 7
 

Grand Final

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South Sydney Position Western Suburbs
22. Albert Spillane FB
  1. Frank McMillan
9. Benny Wearing WG 15. Alan Ridley
15. Alby Black CE 3. Cliff Pearce
29. Pat Maher CE 5. Ray Morris
12. Jack Why WG 59. Harry Rankine
7. Jim Deeley FE 7. Les Mead
6. Percy Williams HB 6. Jack McGlinn
19. Eddie Root PR 11. Cecil Rhodes
16. Jack Peterson HK 12. Bob Lindfield
3. Frank Curran PR 17. Bill Brogan (c)
20. George Treweek (c) SR 10. Charlie Cornwell
5. Frank O'Connor SR 16. Bill Ryan
  1. Eric Lewis
LK 8. Frank Sponberg
Charlie Lynch Coach Jim Craig

In the Grand Final, South Sydney beat Western Suburbs 19–12 to take away their seventh premiership in eight years.

The match was played on Saturday, 24 September 1932 at the Sydney Sports Ground and refereed by Lal Deane before a crowd of 16,925. It was a titanic battle in which Souths led 9–2 at half-time before Wests fought back to level at 12–12. Minutes from full-time a towering penalty goal by Benny Wearing edged Souths ahead 14–12 before they closed out the game with a converted try by Eric Lewis.

The Whiticker/Collis reference quotes a rather prosaic Labor Daily[4] in praise of both sides: “The ebb and flow of the grand final thrilled thousands who saw a great battle. A battle of the gladiators, fighting till their lungs seemed only fit to burst, while over 16,000 people hearts beating wildly to the thump of running feet, looked on gasping, cheering and rising from their seats in sheer delight”.

South Sydney 19 (Tries: Jack Why, Alby Black, Eric Lewis. Goals: Benny Wearing 4, Percy Williams)

Western Suburbs 12 (Tries: Alan Ridley, Harry Rankine. Goals: Les Mead 3)

References

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  1. ^ Premiership Roll of Honour Archived 2010-10-11 at the Wayback Machine at rl1908.com
  2. ^ Results: 1931-40 Archived 2008-07-24 at the Wayback Machine at rabbitohs.com.au
  3. ^ ""Souths" v "Wests" in Final". The Sydney Mail. Australia. 1932-09-14. p. 31. Retrieved 2009-12-04.
  4. ^ "Whiticker & Collis p 36"
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