1950-1959 | Balmain Tigers 1908

1950-1959

1950

Balmain win their fifth Club Championship in ten seasons. The first grade team finished second on the competition ladder but were well-beaten in the semi-final by Wests, 28-10.
The Tigers are captained by Fred De Belin who is also the club’s sole rep player that year playing for NSW and Australia in the Ashes series against Great Britain.
Coached by Athol Smith, Balmain were undefeated in the first six rounds of competition but late season losses to Easts and St George saw the club surrender the minor premiership to eventual premiers Souths.
Although first grade did not make the finals, reserve and third grade teams both won their respective competitions.

Finish: 3rd of ten teams
Most Games: Ken Fogerty, Bruce Hopkins, Joe Jorgenson, Bob Lulham, Leo Nosworthy (19 games)
Most points: Joe Jorgenson (123 points – 4 tries, 60 goals)
Most tries: Bob Lulham (12 tries)
Representative players:
Australia: Fred De Belin
NSW: Fred De Belin

1951

For the first time in more than a decade, the club’s proud black and gold colours are not seen at semi-final time. The Tigers win just six matches to finish in eighth place – their lowest place since 1928.
The loss of Fred De Belin and Jack Hampstead to NSW Country areas and the restriction of try-scoring winger Bob Lulham to just seven matches through injury sees the club struggle for most of the season.
Following the opening round win over Easts, the Tigers lose a club record eight straight matches before rallying late in the season. In the final match of the year, Balmain effectively hand Norths the wooden spoon, winning 32-7.
Balmain is coached by former clubman Jim Duckworth who used five captains during an unsettled season - Kevin Harmey (6 matches), Joe Jorgenson (3), Bruce Hopkins (3), Bobby Lulham (3) and Stan Ponchard (3).

Finish: 8th of ten teams.
Most Games: Ray Lees (17 games)
Most points: Joe Jorgenson (98 points – 2 tries, 46 goals)
Most tries: Stan Ponchard (6 tries)
Representative players:
NSW: Tom Tyrell

1952

Balmain forward Tom Tyrell makes his Test debut against New Zealand midseason and is later the club’s sole representative on the 1952-53 Kangaroo Tour. The club receives the added honour of delegate Norm ‘Latchem’ Robinson being named co-manager of the tour.
After a horror start to the season in which the club did not win a match in any grade during the first four rounds, the Tigers found form in the second half of the season.
Coached by Arthur Patton and captained by Stan Ponchard, Balmain’s winning streak in the middle of the season is only broken by the 10-8 loss to eventual premiers Wests.
Hard-working centre/five-eighth Leo Noswrothy wins the club’s ‘player of the year’ award. Noseworthy would later go on and coach the Tigers to their last grand final success in 1969.

Finish: 6th of ten teams.
Most Games: Bill Marsh, Leo Nosworthy (18 games).
Most points: Joe Jorgenson (96 points – 48 goals)
Most tries: Bob Lulham (11 tries)
Representative players:
Australia: Tom Tyrell
NSW: Tom Tyrell

1953

The 1953 season opens with Balmain’s 38-12 thrashing of Newtown at Leichhardt Oval. The Tigers score six tries, including a trio to backrower Jack Williams, with veteran Joe Jorgenson landing 10 goals. Jorgenson’s season ends the following week when he suffers a leg injury against Easts.
With Tom Tyrell taking over from the injured Stan Ponchard as captain, Balmain finish eighth of ten teams in a very competitive competition where just three points separate the top six teams.
Bob Lulham was again the leading try-scorer with a modest seven tries. Lulham is involved in a celebrated domestic crime case that year which abruptly ends his Sydney career.
Norm ‘Latchem’ Robinson is tapped to advise the visiting American ‘All Stars’ on the finer points of the game.
After another slow start to the season, a series of face-saving wins gives Tigers fans hope for the years ahead.

Finish: 8th of ten teams.
Most Games: Jim Thompson (17 games)
Most points: Jack Davis (74 points – 37 goals)
Most tries: Bob Lulham (7 tries)
Representative players: Nil

1954

Coached by ‘Latchem’ Robinson, Balmain overcome their customary slow start to the season to be undefeated in seven rounds in the middle of the year. Despite their high-scoring, 37-32 win over Wests in the final match of the season, the Tigers finish just outside the top four teams.
The Tigers are captained by centre Jack Fifield in all 18 matches. The versatile Fifield is also Balmain’s top tryscorer (12) and point-scorer (82) that year. Fifield shares the goal-kicking duties with younger brother George during the season.
In the 17-9 win over Easts at Leichhardt Oval at the start of the second round, Jack Fifield covers three positions – fullback, centre and winger – as his injury-ridden team hangs on to win.
Balmain’s Third Grade team defeat Souths in the grand final, 2-0.

Finish: 6th of ten teams.
Most Games: Jack Fifield, Neville Watt (18 games).
Most points: Jack Fifield (82 points – 12 tries, 23 goals)
Most tries: Jack Fifield (12 tries)
Representative players: Nil

1955

In his debut season with the Tigers, 20-year-old Illawarra fullback Keith Barnes top scores with 123 points. Barnes goes remains the top point-scorer in the history of the Balmain club.
Balmain is captained by Bill Marsh who represents NSW and Australia in the test series against the visiting France team. Marsh is later adjudged to be The Sun Herald Player of the Year.
The club’s best win of the season comes in Round 2 with a 18-14 win over eventual grand finalists Newtown. Late season victories against Canterbury, 26-22, and Easts, 38-30, sees the Tigers finish a respectable sixth place on the competition table.
In a sign of future success, Balmain’s Third Grade team wins the grand final against Easts, 15-5.

Finish: 6th of ten teams.
Most Games: Kevin Humphreys, Brian Staunton (18 games).
Most points: Keith Barnes (123 points – 1 try, 60 goals)
Most tries: Jack Fifield, Terry McGovern, Bill Marsh, Brian Staunton (8 tries)
Representative players:
Australia: Bill Marsh
NSW: Bill Marsh

1956

Keith Barnes sets a new season point-scoring record with 180 points. All points are from goals, cementing the name ‘Golden Boots’ in the club’s history.
With rep forward Bill Marsh moving to Cootamundra as captain-coach, Brian Staunton leads the club into the finals.
Balmain breaks crowd records at Leichhardt Oval with ten wins from eleven matches at the start the season.
After finishing second in the minor premiership, Balmain are defeated by St George in the major semi-final, 30-25.
The Tigers then beat Souths in a high-scoring final at the SCG, 36-33, with centre Kevin Mosman scoring three tries.
In the first mandatory grand final played, a 12-man Saints team proves too strong for Balmain, winning 18-12 on their way to eleven straight premierships.
Balmain’s Third Grade team complete a hattrick of premiership titles.

Finish: Runner-Up of ten teams.
Most Games: Gus Gray, Bob Heaney, Ron Moses, Kevin Mosman (21 games).
Most points: Keith Barnes (180 points – 90 goals)
Most tries: Kevin Mosman (12 tries)
Representative players:
NSW: Ron Potter

1957

Balmain Leagues Club opens its doors. The brainchild of Harold Mathews, the club purchases the site of a former Mormon Church in Nelson Street, Rozelle, in 1956 and opens a licensed club the following year.
The Tigers are boosted by the return of forward Bill Marsh but injuries late in the season sees the club miss the finals with nine wins and nine losses.
Keith Barnes makes his international debut when he is selected in Australia’s World Cup squad. Welsh-born Barnes makes plays in the 25-5 win over New Zealand in Brisbane.
Experienced forward Bill Marsh plays in all three Tests of Australia’s historic World Cup win.
Five losses in the final six matches of the seasons sees the Tigers miss the finals.
Third Grade coach John O’Toole takes over the club’s Reserve Grade squad and keeps his imposing record intact when his team defeats Norths in the grand final, 16-7.

Finish: 6th of ten teams.
Most Games: Brian Staunton (18 games).
Most points: Keith Barnes (93 points – 3 tries, 42 goals)
Most tries: Des Horne (18 tries)
Representative players:
Australia: Keith Barnes, Bill Marsh
NSW: Keith Barnes, Bill Marsh.

1958

Successful lower grade coach John O’Toole takes on the first grade role. After a good first half of the season, the Tigers falter in the second round. Late season wins over Easts, 19-9, and Canterbury, 22-10, sees the Tigers grab equal fourth place on the ladder.
Balmain defeat Norths in a midweek play-off for fourth at Redfern Oval. In the minor semi-final against Manly four days later, the Tigers win 22-10.
Taking on defending premiers St George in the preliminary final, Balmain’s belated run ends with a 26-21 loss. Saints then go on to win their third straight title.
Balmain captain Bill Marsh continues his Test career with three appearances against the visiting Great Britain ‘Lions’.
In the League’s 50th Anniversary year, Balmain travel to Western Australia to propagate the code to play two matches.
Finish: 3rd of ten teams.

Most Games: Bill Bischoff, Danny Johnston (20 games).
Most points: Keith Barnes (148 points – 2 tries, 71 goals)
Most tries: Des Horne (7 tries)
Representative players:
Australia: Bill Marsh
NSW: Keith Barnes, Bill Marsh, Geoff Hawkey

1959

Midseason, Balmain fullback Keith Barnes is selected as Australian Test captain for the series against New Zealand.
At club level, the Tigers are captained by Bill Marsh and Ron Clifford before Barnes takes over towards the end of the season. He remains captain for much of the next decade.
The Tigers finish a long way behind the standard set by undefeated premiers St George. The do, however, inflict the only draw against Saints that year – 20-all at Kogarah Oval in May.
Balmain perform well in the City Cup competition at the end of the season, beating Easts, 30-13, and Canterbury, 29-12, before narrowly losing to Norths in the semi-final, 14-13.
At age 24, Keith Barnes is named captain of the 1959-60 Kangaroos. He is the fifth and last Balmain player to lead his country following the records of Bob Graves, ‘Pony’ Halloway, ‘Chook’ Fraser and Joe Jorgensen.

Finish: 7th of ten teams.
Most Games: Ron Mack (18 games).
Most points: Keith Barnes (99 points – 1 try, 48 goals)
Most tries: Ron Mack (15 tries)
Representative players:
Australia: Keith Barnes
NSW: Keith Barnes

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