Balmain Club Records /

Key Information

Club Records 1908-1999

Year entered premiership: 1908

First match: April 20, 1908, won 24-0 v Wests, Birchgrove Oval

First team: Joe Regent; George Wilcox, Gerald Fitzpatrick, Alec Walker, Alf Latta; Tommy O’Donnell, A ‘Tutt’ Bryant; Joe Apoloney, A Ward, Robert Graves (c), Ted McFadden, Alf Dobbs, W Fisher.

First try: Alf Latta (v Wests, Birchgrove Oval, April 20, 1908)

Last match: August 29, 1999, lost 14-42 v Canberra, Bruce Stadium

Last team: Chris Morcome; Laloa Milford, John Carlaw, Nathan Webber, Joel Caine; James Webster, Craig Field; Shane Walker, Adam Nable, Jason Lowrie, Mark Stimson, Mark O’Neill, Darren Senter (c). Interchange: Andrew Meads, Luke O’Donnell, Craig Hancock, Kylie Leuluai. Coach: Wayne Pearce.

Last try: Laloa Milford (v Canberra, Bruce Stadium, August 29, 1999)

Full premiership record: Played 1,705, won 871, lost 766, drew 68, byes 32, for 26,685 (4890 tries, 5,373 goals, 114 field goals), against 25,602 (4,713 tries, 5,027 goals, 112 field goals), points 1,792. Winning percentage: 51.1%.

Colours: Black and gold

Emblem: Tiger

Home grounds: Birchgrove Oval (1908-29, 1931-32, 1942), Wentworth Park (1930), Drummoyne Oval (1932-33), Leichhardt Oval (1934-41, 1943-70, 1973-94, 1997-99), Sydney Sports Ground (1971-72), Parramatta Stadium (1995-96).

Home ground attendance record: 22,750 Balmain v Penrith, Leichhardt Oval, August 27, 1989.

Note: 23,079 attended Cronulla v Souths (Tooth Cup Final), Leichhardt Oval, August 12, 1981.

Major sponsors: Camper Ford (1977), Avis (1978-80), Sharp (1981-82), Saxonvale Wines (1983-85), Alpha Micro Computers (1986-87), Philips (1988-93), MLC Communications (1994-95), Meriton (1997-99)

Titles

First grade (11): 1915, 1916, 1917, 1919, 1920, 1924, 1939, 1944, 1946, 1947, 1969

Runners up (9): 1909, 1936, 1945, 1948, 1956, 1964, 1966, 1988, 1989

Minor premierships (7): 1915, 1916, 1917, 1919, 1920, 1924, 1939

Pre season Cup (2): 1967, 1976

Amco Cup (1): 1976

National Panasonic Cup (2): 1985, 1987

Sevens (1): 1989

Reserve grade (16): 1915, 1916, 1928, 1930, 1933, 1941, 1944, 1946, 1950, 1957, 1958, 1965, 1967, 1978, 1982, 1984

Third grade (and equivalent competitions) 14): 1915, 1916, 1919, 1926, 1934, 1948, 1950, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1960, 1968, 1973 (Under-23s), 1997 (Under-20s)

Club championship (5): 1941, 1943, 1944, 1947, 1950

Most tries in a match: Sid Goodwin, 5, Balmain v University, Leichhardt Oval, April 4, 1935. Arthur Patton, 5, Balmain v Easts, SCG, August 12, 1944. Bob Lulham, 5, Balmain v Parramatta, Leichhardt Oval, August 2, 1947. Dave Topliss, 5, Balmain v Newtown, Henson Park, August 7, 1977.

Most tries in a season: Bobby Lulham, 28, 1947

Most tries for club: Arthur Patton, 95 (1937-1948)

Most goals in a match: Frank Dreise, 11, Balmain v Wests, Pratten Park, July 29, 1944. Keith Barnes, 11, Balmain v Norths, Sydney Sports Ground, July 24, 1960.

Most points in a match: Frank Dreise, 22 (11G), Balmain v Wests, Pratten Park, July 29, 1944. Keith Barnes, 22 (11G), Norths, Sydney Sports Ground, July 24, 1960. Ross Conlon, 22 (1T, 9G), Balmain v Wests, Leichhardt Oval, April 4, 1985.

Most points in a season: Len Killeen, 207 (9T, 84G, 6FG), 1969

Most points for club: Keith Barnes, 1,519 (11T, 742G, 1FG), (1955-1968)

Biggest win: 64 2 v Wests, Pratten Park, July 29, 1944 (highest score)

Most consecutive wins: 12, August 21, 1965 to June 25, 1966

Worst defeat: 62-5 v Wests, Lidcombe Oval, March 31, 1974

Highest score conceded: 64, Norths 64, Balmain 12, North Sydney Oval, May 30, 1999

Most consecutive losses: 10, May 14, 1994 to August 6, 1994

Most first grade games: Paul Sironen 249, Garry Jack 244, Ben Elias 234, Keith Barnes 194, Wayne Pearce 192, Tim Brasher 185, Charles Fraser 185, Steve Roach 185, Reg Latta 176, Garry Leo 173, John Davidson 172, John Spencer jnr 161, Trevor Ryan 159, Bob Boland 157, Jack Robinson 156, Peter Provan 155

Oldest player: Robert Craig, 37 and 364 days in 1919

Youngest player: Charles “Chook” Fraser, 17 and 214 days in 1910

Representatives

Internationals

Australia (39): Keith Barnes, Arthur Beetson, George Bishop, Tim Brasher, Larry Corowa, Jim Craig, Robert Craig, Fred de Belin, Pat Devery, Alf Dobbs, Ben Elias, Charles Fraser, Sid Goodwin, Robert Graves, Frank Griffiths, Arthur Halloway, Garry Jack, Joe Jorgenson, Bill Kelly, Reg Latta, Bob Lulham, Bruce McGuire, Allan McMahon, Charles McMurtrie, Barry McTaggart, Bill Marsh, Rod Morris, Dave Parkinson, Wayne Pearce, Peter Provan, Steve Roach, Jack Robinson, Bill Schultz, Paul Sironen, Geoff Starling, Dennis Tutty, Tom Tyrrell, Horrie Watt, Fred Woolley

Test captains (5): Robert Graves (1909), Arthur ‘Pony’ Halloway (1919), Charles Fraser (1921), Joe Jorgenson (1946), Keith Barnes (1959-62)

World Cup captains (1): Keith Barnes (1960)

Record Test or World Cup representation: 5 players v New Zealand, October 9, 1988 (Garry Jack, Ben Elias, Steve Roach, Paul Sironen, Wayne Pearce).

New Zealand (4): Esene Faimalo, Olsen Filipaina, Gary Freeman, Jason Lowrie

State of Origin

Representatives (10):

New South Wales (8): Tim Brasher, David Brooks, Ben Elias, Garry Jack, Bruce McGuire, Wayne Pearce, Steve Roach, Paul Sironen

Queensland (2): Rod Morris, Greg Oliphant

Record State of Origin representation: 5 players, 1985 (Game 3): Jack, Pearce, Brooks, Roach, Elias (New South Wales).

Rothmans Medal winners (1): Wayne Pearce (1985)

First grade coaches: Wayne Pearce (1994 99), Alan Jones (1991 93), Warren Ryan (1988 90), Bill Anderson (1987), Frank Stanton (1981 86), Dennis Tutty (1980), Ron Willey (1977 79), Paul Broughton (1975 76), Alan Mason (1974), Leo Nosworthy (1969 73), Keith Barnes (1967 68), Harry Bath (1961 66), John O’Toole (1958 60), Sid Ryan (1957), Norman ‘Latchem’ Robinson (1930, 1944 47, 1954 56), Arthur Patton (1952 53), Jim Duckworth (1951), Athol Smith (1948 50), Bill Kelly (1914 15, 1938 43), Harold Matthews (1937), Joe ‘Chimpy’ Busch (1935 36), George Robinson (1933 34), Charles ‘Chook’ Fraser (1921 25, 1932), Reg Latta (1929, 1931), Cec ‘Dick’ Fifield (1930), Andrew ‘Son’ Fraser (1925 29), Arthur ‘Pony’ Halloway (1916 20), Robert Graves (1908 13).

Finishing Positions

Last updated 9/12/2020