NSWRFL 1942 Premiers /

Just a few years after the Club's initial triumph, Canterbury-Bankstown took home the Premiership trophy in the midst of World War II. 

The game of Rugby League was the perfect diversion from the world's problems, and 1942 proved to be a record year for the Club; financial returns were the largest ever, with players receiving a bonus almost double previously. 

Meanwhile, the NSWRFL shattered all previous crowd and financial records. 

Still, the wartime effort affected clubs across the competition; Canterbury had to cancel training on some nights due to a lack of players, with many engaging in shift work and military duties. 

The classic case can be found with winger Edgar Newham, who, while restricted to just six matches due to his military duties, scored the most tries for the Club with eleven. 

Lin Johnson kicked 31 goals to lead the scoring with 62 points, while the Three Musketeers - Eddie Burns, Roy Kirkaldy and Henry Porter - all played their 100th first-grade match during the season. 

Whirlwind winger Tony Nash scored four tries in his first-grade debut against Souths at the Sydney Cricket Ground, tallying seven tries from seven games and four in five games for the reserves, before he was selected for Sydney against Country. 

The City Cup knock-out match against St George at Belmore set a suburban crowd record of 12,000, while over £200 was raised for the war effort in the match against Newtown at Henson Park. 

On the field, Canterbury faced Balmain for a play-off for the Minor Premiership, which was won 26-20 in a high-scoring, six tries to four victory. Five of those tries were scored by Newham, a record only equalled by Nigel Vagana in 2002. 

As Minor Premiers, Canterbury earned themselves a second chance for the title, and it was just as well after being blindsided by St George in the semi-finals, 25-10. 

After a tense wait ahead of the Grand Final to see the winner between St George and Easts in the final, a rematch against the Dragons set up a blockbuster finish to the season. 

Grand Final day arrived under grey skies, with the muddy turf at the Sydney Cricket Ground favouring Canterbury's rugged pack of forwards; and despite the atrocious conditions, a crowd of 26,171 braved the weather to witness the 11-9 victory. 

While 'The Entertainers' title was bestowed onto the Premiers of 1980 for their free-flowing style of play, the 1942 brand of Canterbury players were more renowned for their tough, unrelenting 'in your face' attitude. 

The Sydney Morning Herald reported the match: 

Sounder play and the adoption of the correct tactics for the day enabled Canterbury-Bankstown to beat St George by 11 points to 9 in the Rugby League grand final at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday afternoon.

Taking everything into consideration, including the muddy ground with a treacherous patch in the centre, it was a match worthy of the occasion, and thoroughly enjoyed by a crowd of over 28,000.

The evenness of the teams kept the crowd in a fever of excitement until the final whistle. 

Canterbury-Bankstown's defence at one period of the game surpassed anything seen in football this season. For fully 10 minutes St George hurled themselves at the line in an endeavour to break through. They were never more than eight yards from the line, but could not break through.

The ovation for the defenders was deserved. 

It was quickly obvious that Canterbury-Bankstown's tactics were to keep the game in its forwards and away from the St George backs. 

Each forward played his part. R Kirkcaldy [sic] was a comparative idler in the rucks sometimes, but he won the vital scrums. R Farrar, F Sponberg and H Porter were tireless, Porter surprising by his handling and kicking skill on some occasions. 

R Jackson distinguished himself by a magnificent try made possible by a resolute and tricky run, after a movement started by R Bailey, who again revealed the form of a first-class player...

The win was another example of the astute recruitment from the Club, with further expansion into the country in Tommy Ezart, a clever five-eighth from Port Kembla, and second rower George Elley, both of whom featured in sixteen matches across the season. 

Captain Ron Bailey also relinquished his coaching duties, allowing him to flourish in an on-field leadership role.

The side played ten of their seventeen matches at the Sydney Cricket Ground, four of those against St George including the semi-final and Grand Final. 

Canterbury-Bankstown 11 (Bob Jackson try; Lin Johnson 4 goals) def St George 9 (Jack Lindwall try; Ray Lindwall 3 goals)

Canterbury-Bankstown 1942 Premiers

Canterbury-Bankstown 1942 Season Statistics