1972 NSWRFL season

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.

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

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
65th season
Ground: Sydney Sports Ground
Coach: Leo Nosworthy
Captain: Garry Leo
Canterbury-Bankstown
38th season
Ground: Belmore Oval
Coach: Bob Hagan
Captain: Johnny Greaves
Cronulla-Sutherland
6th season
Ground: Endeavour Field
Coach: Tommy Bishop
Captain: Cliff Watson / Ken Maddison
Eastern Suburbs
65th season
Ground: Sydney Sports Ground
Coach: Don Furner
Captain: Ron Coote
Manly-Warringah

26th season
Ground: Brookvale Oval
Coach: Ron Willey
Captain: Fred Jones
Newtown
65th season
Ground: Henson Park
Coach: Harry Bath
Captain: Lionel Williamson
North Sydney
65th season
Ground: North Sydney Oval
Captain-coach: Merv Hicks
Parramatta
26th season
Ground: Cumberland Oval
Coach: Ian Walsh
Captain: Bob O'Reilly
Penrith
6th season
Ground: Penrith Park
Coach: Bob Boland
Captain: Ron Lynch
South Sydney
65th season
Ground: Redfern Oval
Coach: Clive Churchill
Captain: John Sattler
St. George
52nd season
Ground: Kogarah Oval
Captain-coach: Graeme Langlands
Western Suburbs
65th season
Ground: Lidcombe Oval, Pratten Park
Coach: Don Parish
Captain: Tom Raudonikis

Ladder

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

Finals

Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee Crowd
Semi Finals
St. George 14–10 South Sydney 26 August 1972 Sydney Cricket Ground Keith Page 47,945
Manly-Warringah 32–8 Eastern Suburbs 2 September 1972 Sydney Cricket Ground Keith Page 43,695
Preliminary Final
Eastern Suburbs 8–6 St. George 9 September 1972 Sydney Cricket Ground Keith Page 41,313
Grand Final
Manly-Warringah 19–14 Eastern Suburbs 16 September 1972 Sydney Cricket Ground Keith Page 54,537

Grand final

Manly-Warringah Position Eastern Suburbs
Graham EadieFBAllan McKean
Ken IrvineWGJim Porter
Ray BranighanCEHarry Cameron
Bob FultonCEMark Harris
Max BrownWGBill Mullins
Ian MartinFEJohn Ballesty
Dennis WardHBKevin Junee
Bill HamiltonPRJohn Armstrong
Fred Jones (c)HKPeter Moscatt
John O'NeillPRArthur Beetson
Allan ThomsonSRGreg Bandiera
Terry RandallSRJohn Quayle
Mal ReillyLKRon Coote (c)
BenchLaurie Freier
Ron WilleyCoachDon 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

References

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