1980-1989 | Balmain Tigers 1908

1980 - 1989

Gallery

1980

Former Club President Norm ‘Latchem’ Robinson passes away at age 79. Balmain names the grandstand at Leichhardt Oval in Robinson’s honour.
The Tigers are beaten in the final of the pre-season competition by Manly, 21-12.
Coach Dennis Tutty’s relationship with the Sydney media deteriorates as the club struggles for success.
Winger Larry Corowa scored four tries in the club’s biggest win of the season, 46-5, against Penrith. Corowa is awarded an MBE that year for services to the game.
Balmain players Rod Morris and Greg Oliphant play in the inaugural State of Origin match … for Queensland.
The Tigers are beaten by Parramatta in the final of the midweek Tooth Cup competition, 8-5, at Leichhardt Oval but part ways with Tutty at season’s end.

Finish: 10th of twelve teams
Most Games: Wayne Miranda, Wayne Wigham (21 games)
Most points: Wayne Miranda (159 points – 1 try, 78 goals)
Most tries: Wayne Wigham (16 tries)
Representative players:
Australia: Rod Morris
New Zealand: Olsen Filipaina
NSW: Rod Morris
Queensland: Rod Morris, Greg Oliphant.

1981

Australian Test coach Frank Stanton takes over at the Tigers but the club struggles with injuries during the sidelines.
1980’s Rookie of the Year Wayne Pearce is ruled out after suffering a serious eye injury while Larry Corowa (burst appendix) and Gary Spears (broken leg) and Rod Morris (knee) are also sidelined.
Prop Rod Morris is the club’s sole rep player during the season, playing for Australia in two Test against the visiting French team and for NSW (in traditional interstate matches) and for Queensland in the sole State of Origin match.
Despite late season wins over Wests and Penrith (Balmain’s sole ‘away’ win of the year) and a 24-all draw with St George, Balmain finished last for the third time in the club’s history (also 1911 and 1974).

Finish: LAST of twelve teams.
Most Games: Neil Whittaker, Wayne Wigham (22 games)
Most points: Wayne Miranda (113 points – 3 tries, 52 goals)
Most tries: Phil Schaefer, Larry Corowa (9 tries)
Representative players:
Australia: Rod Morris
NSW: Rod Morris
Queensland: Rod Morris

The 75th Anniversary of Rugby League season sees the introduction of two new clubs in the NSWRL – Canberra and Illawarra – pushing the season out to a record 26 rounds of matches.
Wollongong products Garry Jack and Steve Roach make their mark at the club. Former captain Trevor Ryan returns from Newtown while Manly’s Steve Martin added much-needed spark to the Tigers’ backline.
Wayne Pearce returns from injury to make his Test debut against New Zealand midseason. At the end of the year, he is selected for the 1982 Kangaroos and is named Play of the Tour.
Coached by Laurie Freier, Balmain’s reserve grade team defeats Easts in the grand final 17-12. Veteran clubman Des Bonner plays his 211th grade game in this, his final match (18 first grade).

Finish: 11th of fourteen teams.
Most Games: John Davidson (26 games)
Most points: Wayne Miranda (91 points – 3 tries, 41 goals)
Most tries: Wayne Wigham (11 tries)
Representative players:
Australia: Wayne Pearce

1982

1983

The Tigers overcome a first round slump to be one of the form teams heading into the finals after finishing just two points off second place.
Frank Stanton stood down from rep duties to concentrate on his young club side which responded with four straight wins to bookend their season.
Captain Wayne Pearce, young forwards Steve Roach, Kerry Hemsley and former schoolboy star Ben Elias, led the way.
Late in the season, former Tamworth backrower David Brooks kicked Balmain to a 22-20 win over premiers Parramatta at Belmore Oval.
Balmain’s season ended after a period of extra time in the minor preliminary semi-final against St George. With the scores locked 14-all at fulltime, Saints prevailed 17-14.

Finish: 5th of fourteen teams.
Most Games: Marl Lawson, Kerry Hemsley (26 games)
Most points: David Brooks (124 points – 1 try, 60 goals)
Most tries: Gary Bridge (13 tries)
Representative players:
NSW: Wayne Pearce

1984

Following the axing of the Newtown club, Balmain win 12 and lose 12 matches to finish just two points out of the Top 5.
With Frank Stanton returning to rep coaching for NSW and Australia, Balmain players Garry Jack, Wayne Pearce and Steve Roach were very much to the fore. Fullback Jack made his Test debut in the First Test against Great Britain in Sydney.
Wayne Pearce also plays in all three Tests in Australia’s Ashes whitewash and is awarded the Harry Sunderland Medal as player of the series.
Late round losses to Parramatta, 22-20, and St George, 26-18, cost Balmain a place in the finals.
The lack of a reliable goal-kicker let the Tigers down at crucial times: the club used David brooks, Olsen Filipaina and John Davidson during the season, with Davidson top-scoring with just 60 points.

Finish: 9th of thirteen teams.
Most Games: Simon Booth, John Davidson (24 games).
Most points: John Davidson (60 points – 7 tries, 16 goals)
Most tries: Garry Jack (8 tries)
Representative players:
Australia: Garry Jack, Wayne Pearce
NSW: Garry Jack, Wayne Pearce, Steve Roach.

1985

Balmain finish second in the race to the minor premiership after defeating Cronulla, 14-12, in the final of the midweek National Panasonic Cup
Five Balmain players star in NSW’s historic State of Origin win. Steve Roach and Ben Elias make their Test debuts against the Kiwis that year alongside Jack and Pearce.
Former Wests and Canterbury winger Ross Conlon top-scores with 196 points.
Wayne Pearce win the Rothmans Medal as the game’s ‘Best and Fairest’ player.
A Canterbury try 60 seconds from the end of extra-time in the major preliminary semi-final see Balmain lose 14-8. The Tigers are well-beaten by Parramatta the following week, 32-4, to end their season.

Finish: 4th of thirteen teams.
Most Games: David Brooks, Scott Gale, John Davidson (26 games).
Most points: Ross Conlon (196 points – 4 tries, 90 goals)
Most tries: John Davidson (12 tries)
Representative players:
Australia: Garry Jack, Wayne Pearce, Steve Roach, Ben Elias.
NSW: Garry Jack, Wayne Pearce, Steve Roach, Ben Elias, David Brooks.

1986

Wayne Pearce leads NSW to a historic Origin series whitewash. He then suffers a knee injury in the Test against the Kiwis.
Balmain makes the final of the midweek Cup, going down to Parramatta, 32-16.
The Tigers make the premiership final the hard way after winning a midweek play-off for fifth and backs to the wall wins against Manly, 29-22, and Souths, 28-16.
Balmain’s season ends with a 28-16 loss to Canterbury in the preliminary final.
Although captain Pearce is controversially ruled out of the Kangaroos Tour, Garry Jack, Steve Roach, Ben Elias and Paul Sironen all gain selection.

Finish: 3rd of thirteen teams.
Most Games: Scott Gale (28 games).
Most points: Ross Conlon (196 points – 4 tries, 90 goals)
Most tries: Garry Schofield (13 tries)
Representative players:
Australia: Garry Jack, Wayne Pearce, Steve Roach, Ben Elias, Paul Sironen.
NSW: Garry Jack, Wayne Pearce, Steve Roach, Ben Elias, Paul Sironen.

1987

Former Souths coach and well-known TV commentator Bill Anderson takes over as Balmain coach. The Tigers open the season with wins over the previous year’s grand finalists the Eels and Canterbury.
The Tigers struggle through a horror stretch of midweek matches to defeat Penrith in the final of the Panasonic Cup.
Balmain are without the services of Steve Roach for most of the season but are boosted by the arrivals of Great Britain Test stars Garry Schofield and Lee Crooks.
Late-season losses to wooden spooners Wests and Manly sees the Tigers limp into fourth place on the ladder. They are eventually knocked out of the finals in the match against Souths, 15-12.
Ross Conlon top-scores with the same 196 points total for the third straight season.

Finish: 5th of twelve teams.
Most Games: Scote Gale (24 games).
Most points: Ross Conlon (196 points – 4 tries, 90 goals)
Most tries: Scott Gale (11 tries)
Representative players:
Australia: Garry Jack, Wayne Pearce
NSW: Garry Jack, Wayne Pearce

1988

• The NSWRL expands to 16 teams with Newcastle and interstate clubs Brisbane and the Gold Coast joining the League.
• Former Canterbury premiership-winning coach Warren Ryan arrives at Balmain.
• The turning point in the club’s fortunes is the signing of Great Britain star Ellery Hanley at the end of the Ashes series.
• The Tigers win a series of sudden death matches to make the grand final against Canterbury, only to lose 24-12.
Finish: Runners-up of sixteen teams.
Most Games: Ben Elias, Bruce Maguire (27 games)
Most points: Ross Conlon (168 points - 2 tries, 80 goals)
Most tries: Ben Elias (9 tries)
Representative players:
Australia: Garry Jack, Wayne Pearce, Steve Roach, Ben Elias, Paul Sironen.
New Zealand: Gary Freeman
NSW: Garry Jack, Wayne Pearce, Steve Roach, Ben Elias, Paul Sironen.

1989

Former Canterbury forward Bruce McGuire joins Balmain teammates Steve Roach and Paul Sironen on Australia’s tour of New Zealand.
After finishing third on the competition ladder, Balmain defeats Penrith in the major preliminary semi-final before charging into the grand final after a 20-10 win over minor premiers Souths.
Leading 12-2 at halftime in the grand final against Canberra, the Tigers are beaten in the period of extra-time, 19-14.

Finish: Runners-up of sixteen teams.
Most Games: Michael Neil, Michael Pobjie (23 games).
Most points: Andy Currier (146 points – 10 tries, 53 goals)
Most tries: Andy Currier, James Grant (10 tries)
Representative players:
Australia: Steve Roach, Paul Sironen, Bruce McGuire.
New Zealand: Gary Freeman
NSW: Garry Jack, Paul Sironen, Bruce McGuire.