End of an Era: 1945-1954 /

The second decade of Canterbury's history was one of great transitions; Club legends were farewelled, leadership positions chopped and changed and results waned throughout a turbulent period. 

Still, there were a number of influential figures throughout the decade who helped breathe life into the Club and put pride back in the badge. 

• 1945 - A Slight Improvement
• 1946 - Back in the Winner's Circle and Back in Blue and White
• 1947 - On the Hunt
• 1948 - Back to the Pack
• 1949 - Changing of the Guard
• 1950 - Eddie's Last Hurrah
• 1951 - The Tale of Two Coaches
• 1952 - Further Decline But Fred Arrives
• 1953 - A Swift Rise, a Swift Fall
• 1954 - Down and Out

1945 - A Slight Improvement

A change in leadership saw Canterbury improve ever so slightly from their wooden spoon season in 1944, with the introduction of George Kilham as Captain and Bill Kelly as Coach.

Canterbury finished in sixth position with four wins and a draw in their fourteen-round season, with back-to-back results in Round 4 and Round 5 against Souths (17-13) and St George (16-7) respectively.

Their only other wins came in Round 8 against Norths (21-13) and Round 11 again against wooden spooners Souths (16-6).

Arguably their greatest result came in Round 12 at Leichhardt Oval with a 23-all draw with eventual grand finalists Balmain.  

While neither Coach or Captain retained their roles going into the next season, a swift improvement in results was about to happen for the men from Belmore. 

Season Snapshot

• Second rower George Kilham, in his second season at the Club was appointed Captain.
• Experienced mentor Bill Kelly joined as Coach in his 19th and final season before retiring. 
• The side claimed just four wins and a draw across the season, with two of them coming against wooden spooners, Souths. 
• The side also won the first round of the State Championship against Cessnock (28-9).

Debutants: Len Bennett, George Endycott, Ross Henderson, Roy Mitchell, John Harding, Vince Whale, Bill Anderson, Len Holmes, Bill Mitchell, Eddie Hall, Bob Hobbs, Ron Wilkinson, George Maddock, Keith Gersbach, Don Hickey

1946 - Back in the Winner's Circle and Back in Blue and White

With the world finally at peace, Rugby League could kick on - and Canterbury were back in the winner's circle with a return to the finals and a point away from another decider. 

After three seasons in the ill-fated maroon and sky blue jersey, the Club returned to its traditional design of Blue and White butchers-stripes in one of the many changes to the season.

While centre Ron Bailey was reinstated as Captain, in what would be his final and arguably season for the Club, it would be front rower Eddie Burns who led the side back to the Semi-Finals for the first time since the 1942 Premiership season. 

Interestingly enough, Bailey - following the change in leadership at club level - created history by becoming the first Canterbury player to have the honour of captaining Australia, doing so in the second game of the Ashes series. 

Back in club land, Canterbury had improved considerably under Burns and new Coach Ross McKinnon, who had been part of Eastern Suburbs' three-peat in the 1930s - recording eight wins during the season to finish in fourth place. 

They recovered from a slow start (one win in the first four rounds) to string together an undefeated from Round 5 to Round 9, including victories over heavyweights Easts (15-10) and Balmain (18-11). 

A three-match run heading into the Semi-Finals - including a last round 16-5 win over Wests that solidified their spot in the post-season - led to a tense 12-10 win against Newtown.

The next week against old foes Balmain would be just as tense, with Canterbury falling agonisingly short against their rivals, 8-7. Their opponents would go on to defeat St George in the Grand Final Challenge and claim the Premiership. 

Season Snapshot

• Ron Bailey became the Club's first player to captain Australia, doing so against England in the second game of the Ashes series. 
• The Club's jersey returned to the famous Blue and White butchers stripes it had been synonymous with. 
• The season also marked Bailey's last at the Club, following an incredible career that saw him captain the side on a total of 56 occasions in his 81 appearances in first-grade. 
• Front rower Eddie Burns took over the captaincy after the first two months, leading the side back to the Semi-Finals in his first foray in the role.  
• Ross McKinnon, who had enjoyed success with Easts as a player in the 1930s, was instilled as Coach. 
• The side finished the year in the Final against Balmain, going down by a single point at the SCG, 8-7. 

Debutants: Ken Charlton, Bert Scraggs, Jeff Simmonds, Roy Hasson, Dick Johnson, Eddie Tracy, Alf Nixon, Alan Rice

1947 - On the Hunt

It was another case of oh-so-close for Canterbury in 1947, who were once again bested by rivals Balmain in their hunt for a third Premiership. 

Despite the newfound leadership of Eddie Burns guiding the side back to the finals for the first time since their last title, Head Coach Ross McKinnon opted for his fellow front rower, Henry Porter, to take the mantle. 

The addition of Manly and Parramatta saw an extension of the season to eighteen rounds, but that only allowed Canterbury to maintain their form; winning thirteen matches and claiming the Minor Premiership by three points. 

An opening round victory against heavyweights Balmain got them off to their best-ever start to a season - winning their opening five matches. 

A three week run mid-season (including another win over Balmain) was met with wins against the competition's newcomers in the final fortnight, handing the Club the Minor Premiership for the first time since 1942. 

While all signs looked like a third Premiership was headed to Belmore, Balmain had other ideas.

In a high-scoring affair at the Sydney Sports Ground in the Final, Canterbury were downed 25-19. Exercising their right to a challenge, their opponents showed why they were the Premiers, retaining their title with a 13-9 victory and ending Canterbury's almighty season in a disappointing fashion. 

Season Snapshot

• Henry Porter was sworn in as Captain, taking over from fellow front rower Eddie Burns. 
• The addition of Manly and Parramatta meant the Premiership now had ten teams, extending to eighteen regular season rounds. 
• The season began with five consecutive wins, their best start to a campaign yet.
• Two wins in the final fortnight guaranteed the side the Minor Premiership, their first since 1942, staying in first place from Round 9 onwards. 
• The season came to a disappointing finish, however, with losses to Balmain in both the Final (25-19) and Grand Final Challenge (13-9). 

Debutants: Bruce Hopkins, Morrie Murphy, Jack O'Brien, Keith Pritchard, Alister Clarke, Bob Baxter, Jack Hartwell Jnr, Jack Fallon, Harry Emptage 

1948 - Back to the Pack

The glories of 1947 weren't able to be replicated the following season, and would mark a decade-long drought between finals appearances. 

Despite Ross McKinnon's retirement, legendary Coach Arthur 'Pony' Halloway, who won multiple titles with Balmain and Easts, was signed up, with plenty of expectation for the side to go one better. 

Unfortunately for the Club and its fans, results of the previous two years were not to be in 1948.

The season started and ended with a string of losses; and while an eleven week period brought them into contention with seven wins, two draws and two losses, four losses in a row to end the season left them outside of the four. 

Eddie Burns and Henry Porter shared the Captaincy; Porter starting the season with the '(c)' next to his name before Burns held it from Round 12 onwards, barring the Round 15 loss to St George. 

It marked a disappointing end to the glittering careers of Porter and star hooker Roy Kirkaldy; both men finishing their careers after eleven seasons at Belmore as Premiership winners in 1938 and 1942 and key figures in the Club's early success.

The annual report paid tribute to the under the heading "OUR FAMOUS FRONT ROW"

It would now appear that our famous front row will be parted, due to the probable retirement of Harry Porter and Roy Kirkaldy from active football, leaving Eddie Burns to carry on. We consider the performance of the three players concerned to be unique in club football, and it may be many years before their record is approached. They have played together since 1938. 

No club has ever possessed three such outstanding players, who have done such a marvellous job over the period of time. The club has paid them a fine tribute by having an enlarged photograph of the three players framed in the club dressing room, and should act as an incentive to the young players coming along to the club.

Season Snapshot

• Ross McKinnon's retirement saw the instalment of Arthur 'Pony' Halloway as Head Coach, lasting just the season. 
• The Club finished in a respectable 5th position, but recorded just seven wins. 
• Eddie Burns and Henry Porter shared the Captaincy throughout the season.
• The season ended in a disappointing four consecutive losses. 
• Porter and Roy Kirkaldy's glittering eleven-year careers at the Club came to an end, with the pair finishing up as dual Premiership winners. 

Debutants: Bernie Courtney, Jim Wilson, Ken Hemsworth, Merv Curran, Frank Stewart, Ron Willey, Noel Hickey, Harry McDonald, Jack English, Vic Jackson, Cedric De Belle, Frank Flynn, Jim Thrill, Nev Charlton

1949 - Changing of the Guard

With two of their key figures in Henry Porter and Roy Kirkaldy retiring, a natural drop in fortunes came in 1949 for Canterbury.

Porter's influence was still felt as Head Coach for the season, but the side finished in a lowly seventh position despite the efforts of his side.

Incoming halfback Bruce Hopkins was announced as Captain, and was replaced by Eddie Burns midseason before curiously regaining the mantle to close the year.

It was one to forget for the Blue and Whites, with just six wins, two draws and ten losses. Interestingly enough, their most successful period between Round 6 and Round 10 that saw them claim four wins from five matches was under Burns' leadership.

But Hopkins took over after a 23-nil loss to Wests, with the side finishing in seventh position only above Manly, Norths and Easts. 

Season Snapshot

• Henry Porter took over as Head Coach immediately following his retirement, in his one and only season. 
• Bruce Hopkins and Eddie Burns shared the captaincy duties with nine games apiece. 
• The side enjoyed a strong five week period between Round 6 and 10 which brought in four wins and a draw.
• The side finished in seventh place. 

Debutants: Athol Halpin, Don Sinclair, Gordon Buchanan, Alan Crumpton, Bill O'Connor, Ron Treuer, Frank O'Sullivan, Cec Cooper

1950 - Eddie's Last Hurrah

While the 1950 season wasn't anything to celebrate in terms of results, it marked the sixteenth and final season of legendary front rower Eddie Burns.

An inaugural player, Burns finished his distinguished career with a whopping 215 games, 61 tries (both Club records at the time) and 199 points.

He was a critical member of the Club's formative years, and the last of the 'Three Musketeers' to call time on a glittering career that included two Premiership victories. 

Another season marked another Head Coach, this time former South Sydney Premiership winner Alby Why.

Unfortunately, the success of his career failed to translate into coaching, with Canterbury finishing with a 9-9 record and finishing outside of finals contention once again.  

The team did, however, send Burns off a winner, with a 34-21 victory over Newtown in the final match. 

Season Snapshot

• The 1950 season marked the end of the front rower Eddie Burns. The third and last remaining member of 'The Three Musketeers' finished with the distinction of being the Club's most capped player and top try scorer. 
• Alby Why joined the Club as Head Coach.
• The side finished in 6th position after a 9-9 record. 

Debutants: Tommy Byrne, Wally Murray, Vic Bulgin, Jack Colgan, Col Cooper

1951 - The Tale of Two Coaches

The arrival newly instilled Captain-Coach Vic Bulgin was a welcomed addition, but short-lived.

The fullback's tenure lasted just five matches, retiring in pursuit of an amateur golfing career.

With that, Alby Why was reinstalled as Head Coach.

While the year started in promising fashion with four wins from their opening seven matches and a place in the top-four, three wins in their last eleven outings resulted in a seventh-placed finish.

As the coaching merry-go-round continued, there seemed to be more questions than answers as the 1950s began. 

Season Snapshot

• Vic Bulgin joined the Club as Captain-Coach of the first-grade side, but his stay lasted just five games before his retired to take up professional golf.
• The side began in strong fashion under Bulgin's leadership, winning four of their first seven matches. 
• Just three wins in their final eleven games resulted in a seventh-placed finish.

Debutants: Alan Schwebel, Ken Taylor, Laurie White, Jack Bradley, Fred Dunn, Merve Lette, Laurie Campbell, Ron Smith

1952 - Further Decline But Fred Arrives

It was hard to fathom that things could go from bad to worse, but in 1952, they did.

The side managed just five wins and a draw across the season, finishing just above Parramatta in ninth place. 

It marked the final season of Alby Why as Head Coach following three difficult seasons at the helm. 

Once again, it was a case of a strong start (three wins from the opening five matches), but a mid-season string of six losses saw the side end their season with three losses and a draw.

In a shining light, however, young hooker Fred Anderson debuted in Round 5, going on to play ten games in his first of twelve seasons at the Club.

Season Snapshot

• The year was Alby Why's final year as Head Coach.
• The side slipped down to ninth place, finishing only above lowly Parramatta.
• The season started with three wins from their opening five matches, but three losses and a draw to end. 
• A mid-season streak of six losses kick-started the drop down the ladder.
• Young hooker Fred Anderson made his first-grade debut, and would go on to become a shining light of the next decade. 

Debutants: Brian Barnes, Jack Gearin, Pat Rankin, Barry Stenhouse, Jack White, Fred Anderson, Alan Hockley, Dave Kerrigan, William Miller

1953 - A Swift Rise, a Swift Fall 

The inclusion of their first new full-time Head Coach in four years seemed to galvanise the side, giving joy back to the Canterbury faithful. 

While the role of Captaincy had a number of faces - with Cec and Col Cooper, Ron Willey and Ken Charlton all leading the side out throughout the season - results looked to have finally turned around for the Belmore boys.

A seven-week run between Round 8 and Round 14 saw the side win all but one match - a 9-all draw with Parramatta. 

Things were looking up for Canterbury, however as well as they had done to reach first-place on the ladder, a horror final month consigned them to another season outside of the finals. 

It was a remarkable drop in form that saw three losses and a draw to finish the season in a winless August and a disappointing end to what was such a promising year. 

Season Snapshot

• Balmain Premiership-winner Jack Hampstead became the Club's 16th Head Coach.
• Four players - Cec Cooper (13), Ron Willey (1), Col Cooper (3) and Ken Charlton (1) Captained the side throughout the season. 
• The side failed to lose a match between Round 8 and Round 14. 
• The side enjoyed five weeks at the top of the table from Round 12 to Round 16, only for a winless final month consigning them to fifth place. 

Debutants: Ray Gartner, Carl Keogh, Ted Schell, Jim Gartner, Mick Keevers, Dave Schiemer, Ron Ricketts, Brian Whitmore, Wally Brown, Kevin O'Callaghan, Geoff Stretton

1954 - Down and Out

In another disappointing year, Canterbury failed to reach higher than fifth position on the ladder in 1954 - following an impressive 29-3 victory in Round 2 against Balmain.

Their three other victories in the NSWRFL Premiership came against Easts (16-12 in Round 7 and 24-15 in Round 16), and a 17-3 victory over Parramatta in Round 12.

Wests' Premiership-winning halfback Leo Trevena was recruited to Captain the side, managing just eleven matches before departing. 

Few could blame him though, with the side winning just four matches and unable to regain the early-season form from the season prior. 

The season ended in dismal fashion - one win in their final two months which included heavy losses to Manly (45-7), Souths (39-9) and St George (41-14).

Hampstead's time as Head Coach also came to an end, with yet another change in leadership required heading into the Club's third decade. 

Season Snapshot

• Canterbury failed to reach higher than fifth position, winning just four matches.
• In their final two months, the side managed just one victory from seven matches.
• Leo Trevena joined as Captain, playing just eleven matches before departing. 
• Head Coach Jack Hampstead's tenure also ended. 

Debutants: Barry Nelson, Leo Trevena, Bruce Flynn, Cliff Dunn, Keith Hudson, Malcolm Clift, Peter Considine, Malcolm Jones, David Hill, Vince Nolan, Alan Mason, Nick Evans