1915 - Balmain Breaks Through For First Title

With the Great War underway rugby league continued on despite the absence of many players. Games of football provided much needed entertainment for the public and there was general agreement that the competition should continue despite the war. While Easts run of three titles had been widely acclaimed, it was soon matched by a Balmain team that would ultimately win five titles in six seasons, beginning with 1915. Halfway through the season Balmain, Glebe and Souths were in front of the rest.

However, the Rabbitohs fell away soon after and with four matches remaining the Watersiders and Dirty Reds faced each other in a top-of-the-table clash - the winner was almost assured of the premiership. At the Sydney Sports Ground over 20,000 were on hand to witness a hard fought match in cold, drizzling late-winter rain. Balmain converted a handy 5-2 lead into a comfortable 12-2 win over the luckless Glebe side to kick two points clear on the table. In the last round a loss by the unbeaten Balmain to Souths could still see them forced into a Final against Glebe for the title. Again at the Sports Ground, Balmain prevailed over the Rabbitohs by 7-4 and claimed their maiden premiership.

History Article © Sean Fagan / RL1908