The Balmain Tigers (also known as the Sydney Tigers from 1995-96) are a rugby league football club based in the inner-western Sydney suburb of Balmain. They were a founding member of the New South Wales Rugby League and one of the most successful in the history of the premiership, with eleven titles. In 1999 they formed a joint venture club with the neighbouring Western Suburbs Magpies club to form the Wests Tigers for competition in the National Rugby League (NRL). They no longer field any senior teams in the lower divisions. At the time of the joint venture only South Sydney Rabbitohs and the St George Dragons had won more titles than the Tigers.
The club's home grounds are at present Leichhardt Oval, in Lilyfield, and T.G Milner Sportsground, in Marsfield. The distinctive black and gold colours of their 1908 thin striped jerseys led their fans to quickly nickname them "THE TIGERS". Though it is claimed they were also known as "The Watersiders" in the early days, this appears a moniker that was used by newspaper journalists rather than Balmain supporters and fans. It seemed to be used to refer not only to most Balmain sporting teams (Lacrosse, Rugby Union, Cricket etc.), but also to Balmain residents in general. The following boxing quote is a good example,taken from "Sydney Sportsman" 11 Dec,1901. "On Xmas Eve, Cam Brookes and Ike Stewart, heavyweights, meet at the Golden Gate, Brookes is another Balmain boy, and the watersiders are sure to follow him to town in shoals." As late as the 1930s some journalists were still using both "Tigers" and "Watersiders" in the same article. One of the earliest newspaper references to Balmain & Tigers appears in "The Arrow" 12 August 1911. The journalist "Gulliver" in his "Football Notes" column reports; "W.G.B. (Balmain) writes: "Who said Balmain weren't rough? Here is an essay on "The Tiger" written by an eight year old boy at one of the local schools.:- The tiger has large padded feet so that he can steal softly upon his prey...The tiger is like the Balmain footballers, because he has black and yellow stripes. He is very wild, but not so wild as the Balmain footballers."
Video Balmain Tigers
History
Foundation club
In 1908 Australia's first season of rugby league began in Sydney and the Balmain club were one of nine foundation clubs. One of the club's founders was future Premier of New South Wales, John Storey. Their home ground was Birchgrove Park. Balmain reached their first Grand Final in only the second year in the competition against the previous year's champions, South Sydney, but would protest as the match was scheduled as a warm up for a Kangaroos vs. Wallabies game at Souths' home ground. Souths were officially awarded the Premiership when they kicked off to an empty half of the field.
After a string of poor years the Tigers managed a strong turn-around to become a dominant force in the Australian Rugby League with the club's first, second and third Premierships coming in successive years dominating the 1915, 1916 and 1917 seasons. Tigers dominance continued winning the 1919 and 1920 seasons comfortably. When they won the 1924 premiership this would be the last success for Balmain for over a decade to come.
Golden era
It would not be until 1939 the Tigers won back the Premiership smashing Souths 33-4. The weekend of the Final will also be remembered for the invasion of Poland by Germany which led to England and Australia going to War.
Post-World War II marked a golden era for Balmain with the Tigers reaching five consecutive Grand Finals winning three of them. In the 1944 Grand Final the Tigers beat the strong favourites Newtown 19-16. Balmain reached the Grand Final again in 1945 but fell at the last hurdle against Easts 22-18. The loss was not long remembered as the Tigers went on to take out the next two seasons, beating St George 14-12 in 1946, and Canterbury 13-9 in 1947. On the hunt for a third successive title, they lost to Wests in 1948.
- The Tigers' jerseys
1960s-1970s
The Tigers would appear in several Grand Final matches throughout the 1950s and 1960s but were just another victim to the mighty St. George Dragons eleven-year streak of Premiership wins in this period, losing in 1956, 1964 and 1966. When the Tigers did take out the competition in the 1969 NSWRFL season it was a classy 11-2 defeat of favourites Souths who boasted 11 internationals, this would signal the last time Balmain would ever win a Grand Final. The side was captained by Peter Provan, brother of Norm, and coached by Leo Nosworthy.
The 1970s were not a great era for the Tigers. The wooden spoon had not been in Balmain since 1911, but it returned for the second time in club history when the Tigers won only 4 games and had 2 draws in 1974 following a number of poor years. That period of time between 1911 and 1974 remains the longest wooden spoon drought for any team. In 1976 things looked more hopeful when Balmain began the year with an undefeated run through the pre-season "Wills Cup" competition. The side also won the 1976 Amco Cup knockout tournament in front of a then-record crowd of 21,600, beating North Sydney. The Tigers won eight straight games and led the competition, but a mid season slump left the Tigers in the same position as in 1975 and they failed to make the finals.
1980s-1990s
The Tigers consistently made the finals series in the 1980s reaching the play-offs in 1983, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988 and 1989.
On 4 August 1985 a crowd of 21,707 set a new ground record for Leichhardt Oval.
In 1986, one of Balmain's players, Great Britain captain Garry Schofield topped the try-scorers list for the season. The 1988 Great Britain Lions tour captain Ellery Hanley was signed by the Balmain Tigers to play the remaining rounds of the 1988 NSWRFL season for them once his representative commitments were fulfilled. The Tigers reached the 1988 Grand Final, the first time since the 1969 success, winning a lot of fans along the way with a number of 'backs to the wall' performances winning four consecutive sudden death matches in just 3 weeks. The top five teams out of the premiership table went on to the final series, and this was the first time since 1979 that a team in fifth position had progressed to the Grand Final. In 1988 the Tigers were deemed certain to miss the finals with 8 games left in the regular season. The Tigers remarkably only lost a single game from that point onwards reaching the Grand Final against Canterbury, only to be denied the trophy in a controversial 24-12 loss. Canterbury player, Terry Lamb, is still remembered by fans for knocking out the legendary Ellery Hanley with a high shot in back play midway through the first half. The Tigers were leading the game at the time.
The side would again make the Grand Final in 1989 but this time as favourites. The '89 Final is regarded by many as one of the best ever in the history of Rugby League. In a controversial affair the side lost in extra time against the Canberra Raiders after being ahead 12-2 at half time.
After the heartbreak of the 1989 Grand Final, the Tigers never regained their dominating form (although they did make the finals again in 1990) and went through a rebuilding phase following the retirement of star players Wayne Pearce, Garry Jack, Steve Roach and David Brooks who had all played over 100 games for the club over a period of 10 years or more. The stars were missed as Balmain finished second-last in 1993 and got the wooden spoon in 1994.
The departure of coach Warren Ryan at the end of 1990 was a key turning point for the club. Balmain hired the famous former Wallabies coach-come-radio announcer Alan Jones as coach in 1991. As Paul Sironen admitted years later in his autobiography, the 'running rugby' style of Jones was too simplistic for the structured defensive patterns which had developed in rugby league during the 1980s. Jones also began a controversial clear-out of some of the other Tigers stars who had not retired, notably the Kiwi international Gary Freeman, and often replaced them with inexperienced juniors who were not yet really ready for first grade football. By the time Jones was sacked as coach at the end of 1993, incoming coach Wayne Pearce inherited a massive problem which was only getting worse.
In drastic action Balmain released 31 players at the end of 1994 and moved to Parramatta Stadium as the 'Sydney Tigers'. The Tigers stayed at Parramatta Stadium for 2 seasons before heading back to Leichhardt Oval. The Tigers only averaged 6,565 people attending home games at Parramatta Stadium in what was regarded as a failed experiment.
At the end of the season, 1996 ARL season the League's chief executive John Quayle resigned and was replaced by Balmain president (and former hooker) Neil Whittaker.
Joint Venture
Although things picked up for the club in following years, the Australian Rugby League/Super League war would spell trouble for the club. 1999 was a tumultuous year for the Balmain Tigers. The season began with a dark cloud hanging over the 17 clubs. The Super League/ARL compromise had left 1999 as the last season before the 14 team NRL competition began and with it came the much talked about criteria. On-field Balmain was struggling with a savage injury toll that forced the Tigers to use over 40 players throughout the season.
In July the option of forming a joint venture with fellow foundation club, the Western Suburbs Magpies was put to the Football Club members. The members ultimately voted in favour of a joint venture. As it turned out Balmain was in the top 14 clubs under the criteria (ahead of current NRL teams Penrith and South Sydney) but would have continued to struggle to be financially competitive with bigger clubs. The decision to enter a joint venture saw a crowd of 15,240 turn out in atrocious conditions to watch the Tigers play their last home game in first grade at Leichhardt Oval as the Balmain Tigers.
The new entity, Wests Tigers, made it to the 2005 Grand Final and defeated the North Queensland Cowboys 30-16.
Club today
The club currently competes in both of the junior New South Wales Rugby League competitions, the Harold Matthews Cup and S. G. Ball Cup competitions, recording consecutive SG Ball premierships in 2012-13. From 2000, they played in the NSW Cup as a merged team with the Ryde-Eastwood Hawks and competed as the Balmain Ryde-Eastwood Tigers. From season 2013 onwards, Balmain do not have a senior representative side, having formed a joint venture with the Western Suburbs Magpies to form a Wests Tigers team.
Maps Balmain Tigers
Balmain Leagues Club
Coaching register
Players of note
In May 2003 the Balmain Tigers Team of the Century was named:
2005 the members of the Team of the Century became the inaugural inductees to the Balmain Tigers Hall of Fame. In addition to those inductees a further five were inducted at the inaugural Hall of Fame dinner on 17 March 2005. These were:
A further five were inducted at the Hall of Fame dinner on 29 March 2006. These were:
A further five were inducted at the Hall of Fame dinner on 20 March 2007. These were:
A further six were inducted at the Hall of Fame dinner in 2008. These were:
A further four were inducted in 2009:
Stadiums
The Tigers have had several 'Home game grounds' used in the club's history. The club spent a majority of the early days at Birchgrove Oval (1908 - 1933, and in 1942), with short stints at Wentworth Park (1930) and at Drummoyne Oval (1932 - 1933) in that time.
In 1934, they moved to Leichhardt Oval, where they majority played until they merged with the Western Suburbs Magpies at the end of the 1999 season. In this time, they had short stints at Sydney Showground (1971 - 1972) and Parramatta Stadium (1995 - 1996).
The clubs' existing lower grade sides play home games at Leichhardt Oval and TG Milner Sportsground in Marsfield.
Here is a list of their grounds used as their primary use in first grade:
- Birchgrove Oval (1908 - 1929; 1931 - 1932; 1942)
- Wentworth Park (1930)
- Drummoyne Oval (1932 - 1933)
- Leichhardt Oval (1934 - 1941; 1943 - 1970; 1973 - 1994; 1997 - 1999)
- Sydney Sports Ground (1971 - 1972)
- Parramatta Stadium (1995 - 1996)
Records
Club
Biggest win
- 64-2 vs Wests at Pratten Park on 29 July 1944
Worst defeat
- 5-62 vs Wests at Lidcombe Oval on 31 March 1974
Individual
Most appearances
- Paul Sironen: 246
- Garry Jack: 244
- Ben Elias: 234
- Keith Barnes: 200
- Wayne Pearce: 192
- Tim Brasher: 185
- Charles Fraser: 185
- Steve Roach: 185
- Reg Latta: 176
- Garry Leo: 173
Most tries in a match
- Sid Goodwin: 5 vs University at Leichhardt Oval on 4 April 1935
- Arthur Patton: 5 vs Eastern Suburbs at SCG on 12 August 1944
- Bob Lulham: 5 vs Parramatta at Leichhardt Oval on 2 August 1947
- David Topliss: 5 vs Newtown at Henson Park on 7 August 1977
Most tries in a season
- Bobby Lulham: 28 in NSWRFL season 1947
Most tries for club
- Arthur Patton: 95
- Sid Goodwin: 86
- Bob Lulham: 85
- Tim Brasher: 82
- Jack 'Junker' Robinson: 78
- Bob Mara: 70
Most goals in a match
- Frank Dreise: 11 vs Wests at Pratten Park on 29 July 1944
- Keith Barnes: 11 vs Norths at Sports Ground on 24 July 1960
Most goals in a season
- Len Killeen: 84 in NSWRFL season 1969
Most Goals For Club
- Keith Barnes: 742
Most points in a match
- Frank Dreise: 22 vs Wests at Pratten Park on 29 July 1944
- Keith Barnes: 22 vs Norths at Sports Ground on 24 July 1960
- Ross Conlon: 22 vs Wests at Leichhardt Oval on 4 April 1985
Most points in a season
- Len Killeen: 207 (9 tries, 84 goals, 6 field goals) in NSWRFL season 1969
Most points for club
- Keith Barnes: 1,519 (11 tries, 742 goals, 1 field goal)
Award winners
- Wayne Pearce (Rothmans Medal, 1985)
Major sponsors
- Camperford (1977)
- Avis (1978-1980)
- Sharp (1981-1982)
- Saxonvale Wines (1983-1985)
- Alpha Micro Computers (1986-1987)
- Philips (1988-1993)
- MLC mobiles (1994-1995)
- Meriton Apartments (1997-1999)
Notable fans
- Neville Wran, 35th Premier of New South Wales
- Dawn Fraser, Olympic swimmer
- Anthony Field, founding member of The Wiggles
- John Kerr, 18th Governor General of Australia
- Laurie Nichols
- Harry Triguboff
Balmain Tigers District Junior Rugby League
The Balmain Tigers District Junior Rugby League is one of the oldest Junior Rugby League Competitions in Australia. It administers an affiliation of junior rugby league clubs in the inner west and inner north west of Sydney.
The league caters for age groups from under 6's to A Grade (opens). The Senior competition (Under 13's - A Grade) is a combined inner Sydney competition with the St. George, South Sydney & Eastern Suburbs District Junior Rugby League. The Under 6's to Under 8's is a non-competitive competition. The Under 9's to Under 12's play in a modified competition.
As of 2009 there were ten clubs in the Balmain Tigers Junior Rugby League, with over 120 teams. These clubs are;
- Balmain PCYC (formerly known as Balmain Police Boys)
- Carlingford Cougars (formerly known as St Gerards Carlingford)
- Concord-Burwood United Wolves (merger of Burwood Utd & Concord Utd in the 1990s, former Western Suburbs junior clubs)
- Dundas Shamrocks Junior Rugby League Football Club (formerly known as St Patricks Dundas)
- Five Dock RSL Dockers (former Western Suburbs junior club)
- Holy Cross Rhinos (Ryde)
- Leichhardt Juniors
- Leichhardt Wanderers (known as Leichhardt Gladstone until the 1930s) who are the oldest continuously running junior league team in Australia - having fielded at least one team every year since 1913.
- North Ryde Hawks
- Strathfield Raiders
- West Ryde-Denistone Stones
- Enfield Federals (joined 2010, former Western Suburbs junior club)
Some extinct clubs that once played in the Balmain District junior competition include;
- Drummoyne Sports (until the 1990s)
- Balmain Waratahs (until the 1990s)
- Ermington-Rydalmere (until the 1990s)
- Glebe Police Boys (until the 1990s)
- Balmain United (until the 1990s)
- Cricketers Arms (until the 1990s - Darling St, Balmain - now known as Monkey Bar)
- Sackville Sharks
- Ryde District Devils (until the 1980s)
- Birchgrove Scorpions (until the 1980s)
- Gladesville Sports (until the 1980s)
- West Ryde-Dundas
- Rozelle Codocks (until the 1970s)
- Pyrmont Colts (until the 1970s)
- Glebe Shamrocks (aka St James Sports Club - until the 1970s)
- Ryde CYO (until the 1970s)
- Carlingford CYO (until the 1970s)
- Balmain Arlines (until the 1970s)
- Glebe Youth
- Bing & Swing (Glebe, former Glebe district junior team - folded in 1930)
- Balmain Iona (aka Rozelle Iona)
- Drummoyne Rovers (1920s)
- Rozelle Fernleigh (1920s)
- Marist College Eastwood
Some notable Balmain juniors include;
- Wayne Pearce (Balmain Police Boys)
- Paul Sironen (North Ryde)
- Benny Elias (Holy Cross)
- Dene Halatau (North Ryde, formerly of Wentworthville)
- Robbie Farah (Leichhardt Wanderers, formerly of Enfield Federals)
- Bronson Harrison (Leichhardt Wanderers & Balmain PCYC)
- Josh Lewis (Leichhardt Wanderers)
- Kurtley Beale (North Ryde)
- Mitchell Pearce (North Ryde)
- Alan Thompson (North Ryde)
- Wayne Wigham (North Ryde)
- Mark O'Neill (North Ryde & Dundas Shamrocks)
- Kevin Hardwick (Ryde District Devils & Ermington-Rydalmere)
- John Davidson (Birchgrove Scorpions & Ermington-Rydalmere)
- Ron Ryan (North Ryde)
See also
- Wests Tigers
References
- RL1908 history of Balmain Tigers
- tigers.org.au
Further reading
- Whiticker, Alan (1988). The history of the Balmain Tigers. Sherborne Sutherland Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86275-000-5.
External links
- Official website
Source of article : Wikipedia
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