# 1932 NSWRFL season

The 1932 New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership was the twenty-fifth season of Sydney’s top-level rugby league competition, Australia’s first. During the season, which lasted from April until September, eight teams from across the city contested the premiership, culminating in South Sydney’s victory over Western Suburbs in the final.

## Teams

* Balmain, formed on January 23, 1908, at Balmain Town Hall
* Eastern Suburbs, 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, formed on November 8, 1920, at Kogarah School of Arts
* Western Suburbs, formed on February 4, 1908
* University, formed in 1919 at Sydney University

## Ladder

| | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts |
| 1 | South Sydney | 14 | 13 | 0 | 1 | 292 | 130 | +162 | 26 |
| 2 | Western Suburbs | 14 | 11 | 0 | 3 | 321 | 156 | +165 | 22 |
| 3 | Eastern Suburbs | 14 | 9 | 0 | 5 | 253 | 133 | +120 | 18 |
| 4 | Balmain | 14 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 204 | 227 | -23 | 15 |
| 5 | Newtown | 14 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 201 | 251 | -50 | 14 |
| 6 | St. George | 14 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 140 | 203 | -63 | 9 |
| 7 | Sydney University | 14 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 134 | 275 | -141 | 4 |
| 8 | North Sydney | 14 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 147 | 317 | -170 | 4 |

## Finals

In the two semi finals, the top two ranked teams South Sydney and Western Suburbs beat their lower-ranked opponents Eastern Suburbs and Balmain, respectively. The two winners then played in a final in which favourites and minor premiers South Sydney were beaten by Western Suburbs. However the finals system set in place then forced the final to be replayed, in what was known as the "Right of Challenge". This system ensured that in the event that the minor premiers lost in either the first or second round of the finals, then they would be given a second chance no matter what in what would later become the final premiership decider.
| Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Final | Final |
| 3 September 1932 - Sports Ground | 3 September 1932 - Sports Ground |
| South Sydney | 26 |
| South Sydney | 26 | 17 September 1932 - Sports Ground | 17 September 1932 - Sports Ground |
| Eastern Suburbs | 8 | 17 September 1932 - Sports Ground | 17 September 1932 - Sports Ground |
| Eastern Suburbs | 8 | South Sydney | 19 |
| 10 September 1932 - Sports Ground | 10 September 1932 - Sports Ground | | South Sydney | 19 |
| 10 September 1932 - Sports Ground | 10 September 1932 - Sports Ground | Western Suburbs | 12 |
| Western Suburbs | 15 | Western Suburbs | 12 |
| Balmain | 7 | | |

### Grand Final

| South Sydney | Position | Western Suburbs |
| 22. Albert Spillane | FB | Frank McMillan |
| 9. Benny Wearing | WG | 15. Alan Ridley |
| 15. Alby Black | CE | 3. Cliff Pearce |
| 29. Pat Maher | CE | 5. Ray Morris |
| 12. Jack Why | WG | 59. Harry Rankine |
| 7. Jim Deeley | FE | 7. Les Mead |
| 6. Percy Williams | HB | 6. Jack McGlinn |
| 19. Eddie Root | PR | 11. Cecil Rhodes |
| 16. Jack Peterson | HK | 12. Bob Lindfield |
| 3. Frank Curran | PR | 17. Bill Brogan (c) |
| 20. George Treweek (c) | SR | 10. Charlie Cornwell |
| 5. Frank O'Connor | SR | 16. Bill Ryan |
| Eric Lewis | LK | 8. Frank Sponberg |
| Charlie Lynch | Coach | Jim Craig |
In the Grand Final, South Sydney beat Western Suburbs 19–12 to take away their seventh premiership in eight years.
The match was played on Saturday, 24 September 1932 at the Sydney Sports Ground and refereed by Lal Deane before a crowd of 16,925. It was a titanic battle in which Souths led 9–2 at half-time before Wests fought back to level at 12–12. Minutes from full-time a towering penalty goal by Benny Wearing edged Souths ahead 14–12 before they closed out the game with a converted try by Eric Lewis.
The Whiticker/Collis reference quotes a rather prosaic Labor Daily in praise of both sides: “The ebb and flow of the grand final thrilled thousands who saw a great battle. A battle of the gladiators, fighting till their lungs seemed only fit to burst, while over 16,000 people hearts beating wildly to the thump of running feet, looked on gasping, cheering and rising from their seats in sheer delight”.
South Sydney 19 (Tries: Jack Why, Alby Black, Eric Lewis. Goals: Benny Wearing 4, Percy Williams)
Western Suburbs 12 (Tries: Alan Ridley, Harry Rankine. Goals: Les Mead 3)