The 1944 NSWRFL season was the thirty-seventh season of the

New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership The New South Wales Rugby League premiership was the first rugby league football club competition established in Australia and contributor to today's National Rugby League. Run by the New South Wales Rugby League (initially named the New Sout ...

Sydney Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountain ...

’s top-level

rugby league Rugby league football, commonly known as just rugby league and sometimes football, footy, rugby or league, is a full-contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular field measuring 68 metres (75 yards) wide and 112 ...

competition, and Australia’s first. Eight teams from across the city contested the premiership during the season which culminated in Balmain’s victory over Newtown in the grand final.

Teams

* Balmain, formed on January 23, 1908, at Balmain Town Hall *

Canterbury-Bankstown Canterbury-Bankstown is a customary region of Sydney, Australia, in the south-western suburbs. The area is located around the Bankstown railway line, to the west of the St George region and to the south of the Inner West region. The suburbs o ...

Eastern Suburbs Eastern Suburbs may refer to: Places *Eastern Suburbs (Mumbai), India *Eastern Suburbs (Sydney), Australia **Eastern Suburbs railway line, Sydney, Australia Sports clubs ;Association football *Eastern Suburbs AFC, Auckland, New Zealand * Eastern ...

, 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 Saint George (Greek: Γεώργιος (Geórgios), Latin: Georgius, Arabic: القديس جرجس; died 23 April 303), also George of Lydda, was a Christian who is venerated as a saint in Christianity. According to tradition he was a soldier ...

, formed on November 8, 1920, at Kogarah School of Arts * Western Suburbs, formed on February 4, 1908

Ladder

Finals

Newtown looked set for back-to-back titles after finishing as minor premiers. Both Newtown and Balmain won their respective semi-finals with the Bluebags blitzing St George by 55 points to 7, which was to remain the Dragons’ largest losing margin until 1994 and the largest margin in a finals match until

2019 File:2019 collage v1.png, From top left, clockwise: Hong Kong protests turn to widespread riots and civil disobedience; House of Representatives votes to adopt articles of impeachment against Donald Trump; CRISPR gene editing first used to experim ...

. However injuries and

war War is an intense armed conflict between states, governments, societies, or paramilitary groups such as mercenaries, insurgents, and militias. It is generally characterized by extreme violence, destruction, and mortality, using regular o ...

duties then ravaged the side including the key losses of Len Smith and

Herb Narvo Hermann Olaf Frances "Herb" Narvo (19 August 1912 – 28 July 1958) was an Australian rugby league footballer and boxer of the 1930s and 1940s. He was a national representative rugby league player and national heavyweight boxing champion. He h ...

who had starred for them all season. Balmain thus overcame Newtown 19–16 in the Final, enabling Newtown a “right of challenge”.

Grand Final

Newtown exercised their “right of challenge” as minor premiers and called for a Grand Final. In a low-scoring affair Balmain's representative centre

Joe Jorgenson Joe Jorgenson (12 September 1921 – 7 May 1993) was an Australian rugby league footballer of the 1940s and '50s. He was a three-quarter for the Australian national team who played in three Tests in 1946, two as captain. Jorgensen also repres ...

kicked two late penalty goals to give the Tigers a 12–8 win and their eighth title. Balmain 12 (Tries: Devery, K Parkinson. Goals: Jorgenson 3) defeated Newtown 8 (Tries: Farrell, McLean. Goals: Kirk) Balmain v Newtown 1944 grand final

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

External links

Rugby League Tables - Notes
''AFL Tables''

''AFL Tables''

''RL1908''

''Hunterlink site''
1944 Labor Daily Cup at rleague.com

at ''rabbitohs.com.au'' {{National Rugby League seasons New South Wales Rugby League premiership Nswrfl season