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.[1] NSWRFL teams also competed for the 1975 Amco Cup.

1975 New South Wales Rugby Football League
Teams12
Premiers Eastern Suburbs (11th title)
Minor premiers Eastern Suburbs (13th title)
Matches played140
Points scored4,444
Attendance1,528,180
Top points scorer(s) Graham Eadie (242)
Rothmans Medal Steve Rogers
Top try-scorer(s) Johnny Mayes (16)

Season summary

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The season saw the introduction of differential penalties for scrum offences. Each side faced each other twice in twenty-two regular season rounds from March to August,[2] resulting in a top five of Eastern Suburbs, Manly-Warringah, St. George, Canterbury-Bankstown and Parramatta who battled it out for the premiership over six finals matches. With three sides finishing in equal fifth place, two elimination finals playoffs also had to be played.[3]

Western Suburbs had 1 point deducted for fielding an ineligible player in round 8. After losing two consecutive matches in rounds 2 and 3, defending premiers Eastern Suburbs posted nineteen consecutive wins to close out the regular season; a streak than ran from round 4 to round 22 and remained the record for the most consecutive wins in premiership history until Melbourne Storm equalled the record in 2021; Round 3 to Round 23, although they were later eliminated by eventual Premiers Penrith Panthers in the preliminary final.

The 1975 season's Rothmans Medallist was Cronulla-Sutherland centre Steve Rogers. Rugby League Week gave their player of the year award to Manly-Warringah back Bob Fulton.

Teams

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Balmain
Tigers
 

68th season
Ground: Leichhardt Oval
Coach: Paul Broughton
Captain: Brian Lockwood, Keith Outten

Canterbury-Bankstown
 

45th season
Ground: Belmore Sports Ground
Coach: Malcolm Clift
Captain(s): Tim Pickup, John Peek, Barry Phillis

Cronulla-Sutherland
Sharks
 

9th season
Ground: Endeavour Field
Coach: Johnny Raper
Captain: Greg Pierce

Eastern Suburbs
Roosters
 

68th season
Ground: Sydney Sports Ground
Coach: Jack Gibson
Captain: Arthur Beetson

Manly-Warringah
Sea Eagles
 

29th season
Ground: Brookvale Oval
Coach: Frank Stanton
Captain(s): Bob Fulton / Mal Reilly

Newtown
Jets
 

68th season
Ground: Henson Park
Coach: Clarrie Jeffries
Captain: Barry Cox

North Sydney
Bears
 

68th season
Ground: North Sydney Oval
Coach: Noel Kelly
Captain: Bruce Walker

Parramatta
Eels
 

29th season
Ground: Cumberland Oval
Coach: Norm Provan
Captain(s): John Baker,→ Denis Fitzgerald

Penrith
Panthers
 

9th season
Ground: Penrith Football Stadium
Coach: Barry Harris & Mike Stephenson
Captain: Zac Olejarnik

South Sydney
Rabbitohs
 

68th season
Ground: Redfern Oval
Coach(s): Clive Churchill / Bob McCarthy
Captain: Bob McCarthy

St. George
Dragons
 

55th season
Ground: Kogarah Oval
Captain-coach: Graeme Langlands

Western Suburbs
Magpies
 

68th season
Ground: Lidcombe Oval
Coach: Don Parish
Captain: Tom Raudonikis

Regular season

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Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 GF
Balmain Tigers EAS
−3
PAR
+3
NOR
−7
NEW
−10
SOU
−37
STG
−26
CRO
+2
MAN
−13
WES
−16
PEN
+15
CBY
+5
STG
+3
EAS
−2
NOR
+13
NEW
+2
SOU
+15
PAR
−21
CRO
−1
MAN
+3
WES
0
PEN
+7
CBY
−1
X PAR
−11
Canterbury-Bankstown STG
+4
CRO
−11
MAN
−12
WES
+1
PEN
+22
SOU
+13
EAS
−19
PAR
+5
NOR
+44
NEW
0
BAL
−5
SOU
+3
STG
+1
MAN
+18
WES
0
PEN
−15
CRO
−8
EAS
−22
PAR
−1
NOR
−1
NEW
+25
BAL
+1
X X PAR
−1
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks PEN
−2
CBY
+11
EAS
+4
PAR
−7
NOR
+4
NEW
+2
BAL
−2
STG
0
SOU
+30
MAN
−6
WES
−6
NEW
−9
PEN
−25
EAS
−2
PAR
+14
NOR
+13
CBY
+8
BAL
+1
STG
−3
SOU
−6
MAN
−10
WES
−14
Eastern Suburbs Roosters BAL
+3
STG
−8
CRO
−4
MAN
+6
WES
+6
PEN
+13
CBY
+19
SOU
+3
PAR
+5
NOR
+14
NEW
+9
PEN
+17
BAL
+2
CRO
+2
MAN
+1
WES
+1
STG
+34
CBY
+22
SOU
+19
PAR
+19
NOR
+23
NEW
+27
X X X STG
−3
MAN
+15
STG
+38
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles WES
+2
PEN
+19
CBY
+12
EAS
−6
PAR
−15
NOR
+8
NEW
+13
BAL
+13
STG
+1
CRO
+6
SOU
+4
NOR
+6
WES
−18
CBY
−18
EAS
−1
PAR
+19
PEN
+17
NEW
+5
BAL
−3
STG
−3
CRO
+10
SOU
+54
X X STG
−7
PAR
+10
EAS
−15
Newtown Jets PAR
−9
NOR
−8
SOU
−7
BAL
+10
STG
−17
CRO
−2
MAN
−13
WES
+11
PEN
+14
CBY
0
EAS
−9
CRO
+9
PAR
+11
SOU
+6
BAL
−2
STG
−6
NOR
−7
MAN
−5
WES
+3
PEN
0
CBY
−25
EAS
−27
North Sydney Bears SOU
−4
NEW
+8
BAL
+7
STG
−3
CRO
−4
MAN
−8
WES
−13
PEN
+25
CBY
−44
EAS
−14
PAR
−12
MAN
−6
SOU
+2
BAL
−13
STG
+6
CRO
−13
NEW
+7
WES
+3
PEN
+21
CBY
+1
EAS
−23
PAR
−15
Parramatta Eels NEW
+9
BAL
−3
STG
−10
CRO
+7
MAN
+15
WES
−17
PEN
+5
CBY
−5
EAS
−5
SOU
−7
NOR
+12
WES
−4
NEW
−11
STG
0
CRO
−14
MAN
−19
BAL
+21
PEN
+15
CBY
+1
EAS
−19
SOU
+32
NOR
+15
WES
+5
BAL
+11
CBY
+1
MAN
−10
Penrith Panthers CRO
+2
MAN
−19
WES
+9
SOU
−5
CBY
−22
EAS
−13
PAR
−5
NOR
−25
NEW
−14
BAL
−15
STG
−9
EAS
−17
CRO
+25
WES
+5
SOU
+2
CBY
+15
MAN
−17
PAR
−15
NOR
−21
NEW
0
BAL
−7
STG
+6
South Sydney Rabbitohs NOR
+4
WES
−11
NEW
+7
PEN
+5
BAL
+37
CBY
−13
STG
−7
EAS
−3
CRO
−30
PAR
+7
MAN
−4
CBY
−3
NOR
−2
NEW
−6
PEN
−2
BAL
−15
WES
−11
STG
−17
EAS
−19
CRO
+6
PAR
−32
MAN
−54
St. George Dragons CBY
−4
EAS
+8
PAR
+10
NOR
+3
NEW
+17
BAL
+26
SOU
+7
CRO
0
MAN
−1
WES
+7
PEN
+9
BAL
−3
CBY
−1
PAR
0
NOR
−6
NEW
+6
EAS
−34
SOU
+17
CRO
+3
MAN
+3
WES
−14
PEN
−6
X X MAN
+7
EAS
+3
X EAS
−38
Western Suburbs Magpies MAN
−2
SOU
+11
PEN
−9
CBY
−1
EAS
−6
PAR
+17
NOR
+13
NEW
−11
BAL
+16
STG
−7
CRO
+6
PAR
+4
MAN
+18
PEN
−5
CBY
0
EAS
−1
SOU
+11
NOR
−3
NEW
−3
BAL
0
STG
+14
CRO
+14
PAR
−5
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 GF

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

Ladder

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Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts
1   Eastern Suburbs 22 20 0 2 431 198 +233 40
2   Manly 22 15 0 7 439 314 +125 30
3   St. George 22 12 2 8 341 294 +47 26
4   Canterbury 22 11 2 9 330 287 +43 24
5   Western Suburbs 22 10 2 10 365 289 +76 21
6   Parramatta 22 10 1 11 391 373 +18 21
7   Balmain 22 10 1 11 288 357 -69 21
8   Cronulla 22 9 1 12 370 375 -5 19
9   North Sydney 22 9 0 13 322 414 -92 18
10   Newtown 22 7 2 13 349 422 -73 16
11   Penrith 22 7 1 14 312 452 -140 15
12   South Sydney 22 6 0 16 298 461 -163 12
  • Western Suburbs were stripped of 1 competition point due to an illegal replacement in one game.

Ladder progression

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  • Numbers highlighted in green indicate that the team finished the round inside the top 5.
  • Numbers highlighted in blue indicates the team finished first on the ladder in that round.
  • Numbers highlighted in red indicates the team finished last place on the ladder in that round.
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22
1   Eastern Suburbs Roosters 2 2 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40
2   Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 2 4 6 6 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 20 20 20 22 24 26 26 26 28 30
3   St. George Dragons 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 13 13 15 17 17 17 18 18 20 20 22 24 26 26 26
4   Canterbury-Bankstown 2 2 2 4 6 8 8 10 12 13 13 15 17 19 20 20 20 20 20 20 22 24
5   Western Suburbs Magpies 0 2 2 2 2 4 6 6 8 8 10 12 14 14 15 14 16 16 16 17 19 21
6   Parramatta Eels 2 2 2 4 6 6 8 8 8 8 10 10 10 11 11 11 13 15 17 17 19 21
7   Balmain Tigers 0 2 2 2 2 2 4 4 4 6 8 10 10 12 14 16 16 16 18 19 21 21
8   Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 0 2 4 4 6 8 8 9 11 11 11 11 11 11 13 15 17 19 19 19 19 19
9   North Sydney Bears 0 2 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 6 6 6 8 8 10 10 12 14 16 18 18 18
10   Newtown Jets 0 0 0 2 2 2 2 4 6 7 7 9 11 13 13 13 13 13 15 16 16 16
11   Penrith Panthers 2 2 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 8 10 12 12 12 12 13 13 15
12   South Sydney Rabbitohs 2 2 4 6 8 8 8 8 8 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 12 12 12

Finals

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Balmain, Parramatta and Western Suburbs tied for fifth place, necessitating a play-off drawn from a hat.[4]

Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee Crowd
Playoffs
  Western Suburbs 13–18   Parramatta 26 August 1975 Sydney Cricket Ground Greg Hartley 9,920
  Parramatta 19–8   Balmain 28 August 1975 Sydney Cricket Ground Gary Cook 19,914
Qualifying Finals
  Manly-Warringah 3–10   St. George 30 August 1975 Sydney Cricket Ground Laurie Bruyeres 23,492
  Canterbury-Bankstown 5–6   Parramatta 31 August 1975 Sydney Cricket Ground Gary Cook 19,312
Semi-finals
  Eastern Suburbs 5–8   St. George 6 September 1975 Sydney Cricket Ground Laurie Bruyeres 28,851
  Manly-Warringah 22–12   Parramatta 7 September 1975 Sydney Cricket Ground Gary Cook 26,109
Preliminary final
  Eastern Suburbs 28–13   Manly-Warringah 13 September 1975 Sydney Cricket Ground Laurie Bruyeres 31,645
Grand final
  St. George 0–38   Eastern Suburbs 20 September 1975 Sydney Cricket Ground Laurie Bruyeres 63,047[5]

Chart

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Qualifying finalMajor semi-finalPreliminary finalGrand final
1  Eastern Suburbs5  St. George0
  St. George8  Eastern Suburbs38
2  Manly3  Eastern Suburbs28
3  St. George10Minor semi-final  Manly13
  Manly22
4  Canterbury5  Parramatta12
5  Parramatta6

Grand final

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St. George Position Eastern Suburbs
1. Graeme Langlands (Ca./Co) FB 1. Ian Schubert
2. Paul Mills WG 2. Bruce Pickett
3. Roy Ferguson CE 3. John Brass
4. Ted Goodwin CE 4. John Rheinberger
5. John Chapman WG 5. Bill Mullins
6. John Bailey FE 6. John Peard
7. Billy Smith HB 7. Johnny Mayes
13. Barry Beath PR 13. Ian Mackay
12. Steve Edge HK 12. Elwyn Walters
11. Henry Tatana PR 18. Grant Hedger
10. Peter Fitzgerald SR 11. Arthur Beetson (c)
9. Robert Stone SR 10. Ron Coote
8. Lindsay Drake LK 8. Kevin Stevens
14. Robert Finch Reserve 9. Barry Reilly
15. Bruce Starkey Reserve 19. Des O'Reilly
Coach Jack Gibson

This was the first grand final to be telecast in colour.[6] The star-studded Eastern Suburbs line up had lost only 2 matches in the 22-game regular season and were clear starting favourites. However, St. George looked a chance early on when utility back "Lord Ted" Goodwin put on a chip and chase. Goodwin collided with Eastern Suburbs' fullback Ian Schubert, came off second best and was out of touch for the remainder of the match. Things were also wrong with captain-coach Graeme Langlands who was struggling with his coordination following an ill-directed pain killing injection that numbed his right leg and severely affected his form.[7]

At half-time, Eastern Suburbs were up 5–0. Just after the break the Roosters' prop Ian McKay crashed over from close range and the floodgates opened. Eastern Suburbs unleashed a torrent of tries with Johnny Mayes, Arthur Beetson, John Brass, Bruce Pickett and boom recruit Schubert all scoring.

Despite his numbed leg, Langlands returned in the second half hoping it would come good. It didn't and he was replaced.[8] By the end of the game, St. George had been completely demoralised by Easts in a 38–0 record Grand final defeat. Fellow Immortal and peer Australian Captain Arthur Beetson attempted in vain to console the forlorn Langlands at match end.

Easts' eight tries in the grand final matched South Sydney's record achievement in the 1951 final (subsequently equalled again by Manly in 2008).

20 September 1975
Eastern Suburbs Roosters   38 – 0   St. George Dragons
Tries:
Johnny Mayes 2
John Brass 2
Ian Mackay 1
Arthur Beetson 1
Bruce Pickett 1
Ian Schubert 1
Goals:
John Peard 7/8
John Brass 0/1
Field Goals:
John Brass 0/1
1st: 5 - 0
2nd: 33 - 0
Report
Goals:
Henry Tatana 0/1
Sydney Cricket Ground
Attendance: 63,047
Referee: Laurie Bruyeres
Player of the Match: Ian Schubert[a]

Player statistics

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

Notes

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  1. ^ Awarded retrospectively in 2008.

References

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  1. ^ 1975 J J Giltinan Shield and WD & HO Wills Cup Archived May 25, 2012, at the Wayback Machine at rleague.com
  2. ^ Results: 1971-1980 Archived August 28, 2008, at the Wayback Machine at rabbitohs.com.au
  3. ^ NSWRFL 1975 at rugbyleagueproject.org
  4. ^ "Form over five years". The Sun-Herald. 19 March 1978. Retrieved 19 June 2011.
  5. ^ Rugby League Tables – Season 1975 Archived 2007-03-23 at the Wayback Machine at stats.rleague.com
  6. ^ "Fans turn Parra blue and gold". The Sydney Morning Herald. Australia: Fairfax Digital. 2009-10-02. Archived from the original on 2009-10-29. Retrieved 2010-04-11.
  7. ^ Coady, Ben (2009-09-28). "Grand final dramas". WA Today. Australia: Fairfax Digital. Archived from the original on 2018-10-04. Retrieved 2010-01-15.
  8. ^ Clarkson, Alan (1986-09-26). "The Best Grand finals I've Seen". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. p. 77. Archived from the original on 2012-03-02. Retrieved 2010-09-14.