1972 NSWRFL season

Last updated
1972 New South Wales Rugby Football League
Teams12
Premiers Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly-Warringah (1st title)
Minor premiers Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly-Warringah (2nd title)
Matches played136
Points scored4670
Attendance1469899
Top points scorer(s) Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Allan McKean (220)
Player of the year Western Suburbs colours.svg Tommy Raudonikis (Rothmans Medal)
Top try-scorer(s) Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Bob Fulton (19)

The 1972 New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership was the 65th 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 between the Manly-Warringah and Eastern Suburbs clubs.

Contents

Season summary

The 1972 season's Rothmans Medal winner was Western Suburbs' halfback Tommy Raudonikis. Rugby League Week awarded their player of the year award to Eastern Suburbs' five-eighth John Ballesty.

This season, for the first time since 1966, Souths would fail to reach the grand final, and for the first time since 1948 the Grand Final did not feature either Souths or St George.

Following the grand final, several players travelled to France to represent Australia in the 1972 Rugby League World Cup.

Teams

Balmain
Balmain Jersey 1971.png

65th season
Ground: Sydney Sports Ground
Coach: Leo Nosworthy
Captain: Garry Leo

Canterbury-Bankstown
Canterbury-Bankstown Jersey 1970.png

38th season
Ground: Belmore Oval
Coach: Bob Hagan
Captain: Johnny Greaves

Cronulla-Sutherland
Cronulla-Sutherland Jersey 1972.png

6th season
Ground: Endeavour Field
Coach: Tommy Bishop
Captain: Cliff Watson / Ken Maddison

Eastern Suburbs
Eastern Suburbs Jersey 1967.png

65th season
Ground: Sydney Sports Ground
Coach: Don Furner
Captain: Ron Coote

Manly-Warringah
Manly-Warringah Jersey 1971.png

26th season
Ground: Brookvale Oval
Coach: Ron Willey
Captain: Fred Jones

Newtown
Newtown Jersey 1915.png

65th season
Ground: Henson Park
Coach: Harry Bath
Captain: Lionel Williamson

North Sydney
North Sydney Jersey 1969.png

65th season
Ground: North Sydney Oval
Captain-coach: Merv Hicks

Parramatta
Parramatta Jersey 1971.png

26th season
Ground: Cumberland Oval
Coach: Ian Walsh
Captain: Bob O'Reilly

Penrith
Penrith Jersey 1972.png

6th season
Ground: Penrith Park
Coach: Bob Boland
Captain: Ron Lynch

South Sydney
South Sydney Jersey 1968.png

65th season
Ground: Redfern Oval
Coach: Clive Churchill
Captain: John Sattler

St. George
St George Jersey 1959.png

52nd season
Ground: Kogarah Oval
Captain-coach: Graeme Langlands

Western Suburbs
Western Suburbs Jersey 1962.png

65th season
Ground: Lidcombe Oval, Pratten Park
Coach: Don Parish
Captain: Tom Raudonikis

Regular season

Team12345678910111213141516171819202122F1F2F3GF
Balmain WES
+4
NOR
−10
PAR
0
PEN
−5
EAS
−11
STG
−9
CBY
−6
NEW
+5
MAN
+10
SOU
−18
CRO
−4
WES
+9
NOR
+7
PAR
−7
PEN
+9
EAS
−7
STG
−8
CBY
−2
NEW
−13
MAN
−22
SOU
−21
CRO
−23
Canterbury-Bankstown STG
+4
NEW
−12
SOU
−14
WES
−4
PAR
+10
EAS
+6
BAL
+6
MAN
−29
CRO
+21
NOR
−1
PEN
+23
STG
−3
NEW
−2
SOU
−16
WES
+15
PAR
+9
EAS
−7
BAL
+2
MAN
−14
CRO
+5
NOR
+3
PEN
+7
Cronulla-Sutherland NOR
+13
PEN
−3
STG
−37
NEW
−15
SOU
−14
WES
−6
PAR
+14
EAS
−17
CBY
−21
MAN
−14
BAL
+4
NOR
−2
PEN
+2
STG
−1
NEW
−2
SOU
+11
WES
+18
PAR
+18
EAS
−7
CBY
−5
MAN
−5
BAL
+23
Eastern Suburbs NEW
+23
SOU
−9
WES
+16
PAR
+38
BAL
+11
CBY
−6
MAN
+7
CRO
+17
NOR
+14
PEN
+23
STG
0
NEW
−15
SOU
+5
WES
+20
PAR
+21
BAL
+7
CBY
+7
MAN
−3
CRO
+7
NOR
+2
PEN
+23
STG
+9
XMAN
−24
STG
+2
MAN
−5
Manly-Warringah PEN
+28
STG
−18
NEW
+1
SOU
+7
WES
+4
PAR
+2
EAS
−7
CBY
+29
BAL
−10
CRO
+14
NOR
+12
PEN
+20
STG
0
NEW
+1
SOU
+8
WES
+25
PAR
+22
EAS
+3
CBY
+14
BAL
+22
CRO
+5
NOR
+23
XEAS
+24
XEAS
+5
Newtown EAS
−23
CBY
+12
MAN
−1
CRO
+15
NOR
0
PEN
+18
STG
−10
BAL
−5
SOU
−9
WES
−3
PAR
+12
EAS
+15
CBY
+2
MAN
−1
CRO
+2
NOR
+10
PEN
0
STG
−20
BAL
+13
SOU
+8
WES
+6
PAR
−10
North Sydney CRO
−13
BAL
+10
PEN
+19
STG
−8
NEW
0
SOU
−5
WES
−29
PAR
+24
EAS
−14
CBY
+1
MAN
−12
CRO
+2
BAL
−7
PEN
+27
STG
−3
NEW
−10
SOU
−26
WES
+3
PAR
−16
EAS
−2
CBY
−3
MAN
−23
Parramatta SOU
−34
WES
0
BAL
0
EAS
−38
CBY
−10
MAN
−2
CRO
−14
NOR
−24
PEN
+7
STG
−22
NEW
−12
SOU
−10
WES
−42
BAL
+7
EAS
−21
CBY
−9
MAN
−22
CRO
−18
NOR
+16
PEN
−12
STG
−18
NEW
+10
Penrith MAN
−28
CRO
+3
NOR
−19
BAL
+5
STG
−24
NEW
−18
SOU
−6
WES
−18
PAR
−7
EAS
−23
CBY
−23
MAN
−20
CRO
−2
NOR
−27
BAL
−9
STG
−5
NEW
0
SOU
+6
WES
+21
PAR
+12
EAS
−23
CBY
−7
South Sydney PAR
+34
EAS
+9
CBY
+14
MAN
−7
CRO
+14
NOR
+5
PEN
+6
STG
−17
NEW
+9
BAL
+18
WES
+14
PAR
+10
EAS
−5
CBY
+16
MAN
−8
CRO
−11
NOR
+26
PEN
−6
STG
+10
NEW
−8
BAL
+21
WES
−19
STG
−4
St. George CBY
−4
MAN
+18
CRO
+37
NOR
+8
PEN
+24
BAL
+9
NEW
+10
SOU
+17
WES
−4
PAR
+22
EAS
0
CBY
+3
MAN
0
CRO
+1
NOR
+3
PEN
+5
BAL
+8
NEW
+20
SOU
−10
WES
+1
PAR
+18
EAS
−9
SOU
+4
XEAS
−2
Western Suburbs BAL
−4
PAR
0
EAS
−16
CBY
+4
MAN
−4
CRO
+6
NOR
+29
PEN
+18
STG
+4
NEW
+3
SOU
−14
BAL
−9
PAR
+42
EAS
−20
CBY
−15
MAN
−25
CRO
−18
NOR
−3
PEN
−21
STG
−1
NEW
−6
SOU
+19
Team12345678910111213141516171819202122F1F2F3GF

Bold – Home game
X – Bye
Opponent for round listed above margin

Ladder

TeamPldWDLPFPAPDPts
1 Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly-Warringah 221813460255+20537
2 Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Eastern Suburbs 221714514297+21735
3 St. George colours.svg St. George 221624398221+17734
4 South Sydney colours.svg South Sydney 221408456331+12528
5 Newtown colours.svg Newtown 221129402371+3124
6 Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury-Bankstown 2212010382373+924
7 Western Suburbs colours.svg Western Suburbs 228113367398-3117
8 Cronulla colours.svg Cronulla-Sutherland 228014332378-4616
9 North Sydney colours.svg North Sydney 227114320405-8515
10 Balmain colours.svg Balmain 226115333455-12213
11 Penrith colours.svg Penrith 225116278490-21211
12 Parramatta colours.svg Parramatta 224216317585-26810

Ladder progression

Team12345678910111213141516171819202122
1 Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly-Warringah 224681010121214161819212325272931333537
2 Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Eastern Suburbs 22468810121416171719212325272729313335
3 St. George colours.svg St. George 024681012141416171920222426283030323434
4 South Sydney colours.svg South Sydney 246681012121416182020222222242426262828
5 Newtown colours.svg Newtown 022457777791113131517181820222424
6 Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury-Bankstown 222246881010121212121416161818202224
7 Western Suburbs colours.svg Western Suburbs 011335791113131315151515151515151517
8 Cronulla colours.svg Cronulla-Sutherland 22222244446688810121414141416
9 North Sydney colours.svg North Sydney 024455577991111131313131515151515
10 Balmain colours.svg Balmain 22333335777911111313131313131313
11 Penrith colours.svg Penrith 0224444444444444579111111
12 Parramatta colours.svg Parramatta 01222222444446666688810

Finals

HomeScoreAwayMatch information
Date and timeVenueRefereeCrowd
Semi-finals
St. George colours.svg St. George 14–10 South Sydney colours.svg South Sydney 26 August 1972 Sydney Cricket Ground Keith Page47,945
Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly-Warringah 32–8 Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Eastern Suburbs 2 September 1972 Sydney Cricket Ground Keith Page43,695
Preliminary Final
Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Eastern Suburbs 8–6 St. George colours.svg St. George 9 September 1972 Sydney Cricket Ground Keith Page41,313
Grand Final
Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly-Warringah 19–14 Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Eastern Suburbs 16 September 1972 Sydney Cricket Ground Keith Page54,537

Grand final

Manly-WarringahPositionEastern Suburbs
  1. Graham Eadie
FB
  1. Allan McKean
2. Ken Irvine WG 2. Jim Porter
3. Ray Branighan CE 3. Harry Cameron
4. Bob Fulton CE 4. Mark Harris
5. Max Brown WG 5. Bill Mullins
6. Ian Martin FE 6. John Ballesty
7. Dennis Ward HB 7. Kevin Junee
13. Bill Hamilton PR 13. John Armstrong
12. Fred Jones (c) HK 12. Peter Moscatt
11. John O'Neill PR 11. Arthur Beetson
10. Allan Thomson SR 10. Greg Bandiera
9. Terry Randall SR 9. John Quayle
8. Mal Reilly LK 8. Ron Coote (c)
Bench16. Laurie Freier
Ron Willey Coach Don Furner

After twenty-five years in the competition and five Grand Final losses, Manly finally broke through to win the club's first NSWRFL premiership. [1]

In a controversial match, the Sea-Eagles downed the Eastern Suburbs Roosters 19 to 14, thus shedding their 'bridesmaids' tag. The Roosters were highly critical of referee Keith Page after the match, claiming both of Manly's tries shouldn't have been awarded. To add to their rage, Easts crossed for two tries that were disallowed.

A dour first half saw the teams go to the break tied 4–4, before a try by hooker Fred Jones put Manly ahead. Jones appeared to drop the ball as he attempted to ground it, but was awarded a try nonetheless. For his part Jones contends that he did place the ball with downward pressure. Midway through the second half, controversy flared again when Manly centre Ray Branighan appeared to stop over the Eastern Suburbs try line after accepting what looked like a forward pass from prop Bill Hamilton. However, referee Page allowed it and the Manly fans began celebrating, knowing that at 19–4 their first premiership victory was assured. Although Easts fought back with two late tries to John Ballesty and Bill Mullins and brought the score to 19–14, time ran out for the Roosters and Manly had won their first ever premiership in first grade.

In the end, it was Manly's part-time goal kicker Ray Branighan who proved the difference, kicking six goals from eight attempts.

Manly-Warringah 19 (Tries: Fred Jones, Ray Branighan. Goals: Ray Branighan 6. Field Goal: Bob Fulton)

Eastern Suburbs 14 (Tries: John Ballesty, Bill Mullins. Goals: Allan McKean 4)

Man of the Match: Dennis Ward (Manly).

Referee: Keith Page

Attendance: 54,537

Player statistics

The following statistics are as of the conclusion of Round 22.

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The 1970 New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership was the 63rd season of Sydney's professional rugby league football competition, Australia's first. Twelve teams, including six foundation clubs and another six admitted post 1908, 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 Manly-Warringah and South Sydney clubs.

The 1981 New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership was the 74th season of Sydney's professional rugby league football competition, Australia's first. Twelve clubs, including six of 1908's foundation teams and another six from around Sydney competed for the J J Giltinan Shield and WD & HO Wills Cup during the season, which culminated in a grand final between the Parramatta and Newtown clubs. NSWRFL clubs also competed in the 1981 Tooth Cup and players from NSWRFL clubs were selected to represent the New South Wales team.

1959's New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership was the 52nd season of the rugby league competition based in Sydney. Ten teams from across the city competed for the J. J. Giltinan Shield during the season, which culminated in a grand final between St. George and Manly-Warringah.

The 1974 New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership was the 67th 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 Canterbury-Bankstown clubs. This season NSWRFL teams also competed for the inaugural Amco Cup.

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The 1983 NSWRFL season was the 76th season of professional rugby league football in Australia. Fourteen teams competed for the J J Giltinan Shield and Winfield Cup during the season, which culminated in a replay of the previous year's grand final between the Parramatta and Manly-Warringah clubs. During the season, NSWRFL teams also competed for the 1983 KB Cup.

The 1951 New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership was the forty-fourth season of Sydney’s top-level rugby league competition, Australia’s first. Ten teams from across the city competed for the newly created J. J. Giltinan Shield during the season which culminated in a grand final between South Sydney and Manly-Warringah.

The 1973 New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership was the sixty-sixth season of the rugby league competition based in Sydney. Twelve district clubs from across the city, including six foundation clubs, competed for the J.J. Giltinan Shield and WD & HO Wills Cup during the season, which culminated in a grand final between Manly-Warringah and Cronulla-Sutherland. This season also saw the introduction of an Under-23s competition to replace the former “Third Grade” as well as a five-team finals series.

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.

The 1976 New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership was the 69th 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 around Sydney, competed for the J. J. Giltinan Shield and WD & HO Wills Cup during the season, which culminated in a grand final between the Manly-Warringah and Parramatta clubs. NSWRFL teams also competed for the 1976 Amco Cup.

The 1978 NSWRFL season was the 71st season of the NSWRFL Premiership, Sydney's professional rugby league football competition, and Australia's first. Twelve clubs, including six of 1908's foundation teams and another six from around Sydney competed for the J.J. Giltinan Shield and WD & HO Wills Cup during the season, which culminated in a grand final between the Manly-Warringah and Cronulla-Sutherland clubs that was drawn and had to be re-played. NSWRFL teams also competed for the 1978 Amco Cup.

The 1972 Eastern Suburbs season was the 65th in the club's history. They competed in the NSWRFL's 1972 premiership, winning 18 of their 25 matches and finishing runners-up, defeated by Manly-Warringah.

The history of the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles dates back to 1932 when the Manly-Warringah Junior Rugby Football League was founded. In 1947 the New South Wales Rugby Football League included two additional teams: Manly-Warringah DRLFC and Parramatta DRLFC. The new club adopted the nickname "Sea Eagles" and went on to compete in every season of top-level rugby league until merging with the nearby North Sydney Bears to form the Northern Eagles club at the end of 1999. After three years the joint-venture team was disbanded with the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles returning as a sole entity once more to the National Rugby League.

The 1972 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles season was the 26th in the club's history since their entry into the then New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership in 1947. After 5 previous Grand Final losses, the Sea Eagles broke through for their first premiership win.

The 1973 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles season was the 27th in the club's history since their entry into the then New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership in 1947. Manly went into the 1973 season as the reigning premiers having won the 1972 Grand Final defeating Eastern Suburbs 19-14.

References

  1. Clarkson, Alan (17 September 1972). "Manly – deserved winners". The Sun-Herald . Australia. p. 72. Retrieved 19 September 2010.