Ernest Broughton – An unenviable task (2018)

Very few people know of the second president of the NSWRL. Largely due to the fact he served for less than a month, however Ernest Clement Vernon Broughton was the very definition of a career politician who very much worked himself into the ground.

He was born in Kangaroo Point, Queensland on January 29, 1865. His father was a police magistrate in Drayton at the time. Ernest was the youngest of four children.

In 1882, he finished his schooling and relocated to Sydney. Two years later, at the age of 19, he and his brother had set up a business where they performed real estate valuations, sales and auctions as well as offering financial advice. They set up their office in Pitt St, Sydney.

Late in November 1884, Broughton was one of three men who had their buggy crashed into by a bus that poorly executed an overtake. The buggy was destroyed but the escaped with just some scratches.

Just four months later and Ernest was involved in another mishap. This time while he was out sailing on Lake George with a friend, Albert Cooper, when the boat jolted both men clear due to a heavy squall. Broughton could not swim, but managed to grab hold of a life belt attached to the side of the boat. They lost the bag which contained their shoes and a change of clothes, so had to make their way home in soaked clothes.

1884 was also the year that Ernest Broughton was a member of the School of Arts debating club, becoming its secretary. One of his colleagues there was Edward O’Sullivan, with whom Broughton’s career would regularly cross paths with. They were regularly opposing one another in debates at the School of Arts.

In 1887, he and his brother went their own separate ways and Ernest continued running the business, solely under his own name.

In 1890 he married Amelia Lockyer and the following year became the Manager of the Universal Advance and Investment Association, the first of many boards and committees that he would be a member of.

In 1898 he began campaigning for the seat of Sydney-King in the NSW Legislative Assembly, representing the Progressive Party. He won the seat in 1901, the same year that he also became the Mayor for Ashfield.

In March 1901, he was an office-bearer for the Western Suburbs District Football Club in the early days of the Metropolitan Rugby Union. Two weeks later he was at a meeting of the Political Reform Association, which fought to reduce the number of members in the State Parliament.

In early 1902 he was then on the board for the Ambulance Association, presiding over one meeting, where he stated, to great cheer, “I would be a helper of those who practised the religion of good deeds.”

Four days after that meeting he was in another, this time for the trustees of Hyde Park, where he put forward the motion of having a designated section of the park exclusively for children.

A rather boisterous sitting of the Legislative Assemble in 1903 resulted in a physical altercation between Broughton and Mr Norton. Broughton voiced his disagreement at a comment made by Mr Norton, and called him “a social leper”. Mr Norton became incensed and swung a punch at Broughton. Norton stated afterwards that he gave Broughton a black eye, however Broughton publicly refuted the claim and adding that he scarcely felt the blow. The newspapers of Sydney supported Broughton, stating they had seen him after the incident and there were no indications he had been struck.

In 1904 the electoral boundaries were all changed, which saw an end to Sydney-King and the creation of King. Broughton won this election, thus making him the last sitting member of Sydney-King and the first member of King. In 1904 though, he was aligned with the Liberal Reform Party.

In 1905 he was elected as a member on the board of the British Empire League alongside Edward O’Sullivan.

He had spent many years as a property and infrastructure developer. In 1907 this saw him on hand at the turning of the first sod which marked the beginning of the extension of the train line past Belmore.

In March 1908 he was made president of the East Sydney Aussie Rules club.

5 months later, he put forward a proposal for a gun licence bill, which aimed to have all gun owners licenced.

On March 3 he was appointed as patron of the Eastern Suburbs Rugby League club and two days later, he attends the NSWRL Annual General Meeting, where he was put forward to take over the governance of the game from founding father and fellow politician, Henry Hoyle. Hoyle won the vote by 1.

On March 8 it was learnt that two of the voting delegates were acting on behalf of the Newcastle club, but had not been officially appointed. Hoyle was unable to produce a signed letter, which he claimed he had from the Newcastle club, where the two delegates had been named.

The Newcastle club then revealed that they hadn’t appointed any delegates and thus, all elections at the meeting were deemed null.

The meeting has held again on March 15, where Hoyle was again unable to produce a balance sheet, while he was also accused of having a secret account. Another election for office bearers was demanded. Hoyle, amidst the angst and emotion, resigned on the spot. Broughton was elected President.

On April 6, just 22 days after taking on the role of President of the NSWRL, Ernest Broughton handed in his resignation, citing ill-health, a heavy work schedule and an upcoming holiday, all of which meant he would not be able to devote himself to the role as much as was required.

He was replaced by none other than Edward O’Sullivan.

Broughton had been ordered to take 3 months rest from all his working duties, but he largely ignored the orders, continuing his work in the Legislative Assembly, as Mayor, on the board of all the committee’s he was a member of, while still running his very demanding business, which had expanded to property development as well.

In 1916, His father-in-law passed away, leaving Ernest to handle his will. Shortly after, Ernest himself fell ill and after 12 months of dealing with his poor health, he finally succumbed to it on August 15, 1917, at the age of 52.

In his life, aside from the roles already mentioned, he had also served as:

Treasurer of the Queen Victoria Memorial Fund in connection with the Prince Alfred Hospital

Vice President of the Pioneers Club

Co-founder of the British Empire League in Sydney

Director representing the Government on the Sydney Hospital Board

Treasurer of the Surgical Aid Society

Member of the Sydney Golf Club

Member of the Fresh Air League

Member of the Australian Protestant Defence Association

Justice of the Peace

President of the Ashfield Harrier Club

Vice President of the Sydney District Cricket Club

Jim Devereux - The Other "Master" (2016)

While the legacy of the great Dally “The Master” Messenger has endured the tests of time, and rightfully so, there was another great pioneering centre who many argue was as good as Dally.

Jim Devereux.

James Devereux was born in 1887 in the St.Leonard's. He had 7 siblings - brothers Timothy and Michael and sisters Mary, Madge, Norah, Anne and Kathleen.

James played lower grade Rugby Union in the North Sydney competition, before eventually making his debut in their first grade side in 1906, shortly after turning 21.

The following season, Jim watched on as a rebel New South Wales outfit took on a professional New Zealand visiting side who were en-route to England to play against the rebel Northern Union sides.

The hosts lost the first game in a close battle. A number of changes to the NSW line-up were made for the second game, with Devereux getting called up to play on the wing in what would be his first representative jumper in just his second year of top grade Rugby.

The Kiwis were again too good in game two, but Devereux impressed, dubbed in the press as the “hero of the day,” to retain his place in the third match, which was another hard fought victory to New Zealand.

Three weeks later, Devereux, along with all the other men who played for New South Wales in the three games against the professional New Zealand side, were handed life bans from the Metropolitan Rugby Union.

During the summer of 1907/08, 8 MRU clubs decided to break away and form their own competition, playing Northern Union rules. One of those clubs was Devereux’s own North Sydney, who on February 7, 1908, officially became a Rugby League club, with Jimmy elected as a committee member at the inaugural meeting for the iconic club.

After a strong start to the inaugural 1908 Rugby League season, Devereux was selected at centre, alongside Dally Messenger, for New South Wales against the returning New Zealand side in 2 games before earning a place at centre alongside Messenger in Australia’s first ever Rugby League game and Test, against New Zealand. Despite the narrow loss, Jim was retained for the second test before being moved to the wing for the third.

Devereux’s form saw him earn a place in the Pioneering Kangaroo tour of 1908-09 to England, where he became the first player to score a try in Tests between Australia and Great Britain, when he crossed for the first of 3 tries in the first test played in London.

Team mate Tom McCabe described one of those tries:

He raced for the corner, finding no opening in that direction he wheeled almost at right angles, and beat man after man, and scored between the posts.

Devereux played in 2 of the 3 tests against Great Britain and a mammoth 31 games on the tour, with a total of 17 tries, more than anyone else in the squad.

Another team mate, Peter Moir, revealed in a letter to the Evening News that “Devereux (was) the champion three-quarter.”

Harry Dannatt, a director on the board (and former president) of the Hull Rugby League club managed to secure the services of Devereux and his North Sydney colleague Sid Deane for “a fair price” at the conclusion of the tour in 1909.

Devereux played in 4 games for Hull at the end of the 1908-09 season before staying on for the following season which saw him picked in the York representative team. Hull made it to the final of the 1909-10 Challenge Cup against Leeds which ended in a 7 all draw. Devereux lined up for Hull in the replay just two days later, however Leeds were too strong, running out 26-12 victors.

Jimmy played the first half of the 1910-11 season with Hull before deciding to head back to Australia, accompanying the 1910 Great Britain touring side. He again turned out for North Sydney in just two matches before returning with the British tourists to Hull.

After making a good start to the 1911-12 season, Devereux suffered a series of injuries which hampered him for the rest of the season. He again returned to Australia, this time sharing the ship with the returning 1911-12 Kangaroos, who had just completed a successful tour of Great Britain. Once in Sydney, he played the last 5 games of the year for North Sydney.

1913 saw Devereux earn selection for New South Wales for the first time in 5 years. He played in two games against the visiting New Zealand side, with the hosts winning both games. He then set sail for England yet again.

Once back in England, Jim again played for Hull, playing a starring role in their 1913-14 Challenge Cup victory over Wakefield Trinity, despite playing out of position at halfback.

Devereux scored an impressive 21 tries in just 19 games for Hull in the 1914-15 season before the outbreak of war. Devereux enlisted with the British Army in 1916, earning himself selection in an Australasian Servicemen Rugby Union team later that year. Devereux rose to the rank of Lance Corporal. At the conclusion of the war, he married Daisy Heath, a local lady whom he had known prior to enlisting.

Hull won their first ever Championship in the 1919-20 season in a hard fought 3-2 victory over the mighty Huddersfield side. Hull won back-to-back Championships when they defeat nearby rivals Hull Kingston Rovers 16-14, in a match which saw Devereux score the match winning try.

Devereux and his wife travelled to Australia in 1921, where Jim again made himself available to play for North Sydney, but was unable to break into the all-star backline of Blinkhorn, Peters, Rule and Horder, thus only appeared in 3 games in reserve grade, before retiring from the game.

Jim took on the role of coach of the back-to-back premiers North Sydney in the 1923 season. With his side sitting third and only a slight hope of reaching the final two, the club suffered a cruel setback when legendary halfback Duncan Thompson was wrongly suspended for kicking a player. Thompson was aghast at the accusation and sentence that he vowed never to return to Sydney again. Norths lost all of their remaining games.

Devereux’s team slid again in the shortened 1924 season, winning just 3 of their 8 games and finishing second last. They turned their fortunes around in 1925, running second to the dominant South Sydney outfit right up until the last round, where a loss to Western Suburbs saw them finish the season in fourth.

Jimmy retired from coaching at the end of the 1925 season and went to work on the Sydney Harbour Bridge. On December 3, 1929 he suffered horrific injuries when he was struck by a 35 ton girder that had fallen off a truck. He suffered fractures to his pelvis, left shoulder and right leg, as well as receiving severe head injuries. He miraculously survived, however he had the lower half of his right leg amputated.

Unable to work, the disability and accompanying medical costs almost forced Devereux and his wife into destitution. In 1932, upon learning of the despair of Jimmy, his old club North Sydney donated £50 to help him out. After amassing nearly £500 in medical costs and unable to earn any money, the donation was gratefully accepted. However it wasn’t enough and before the end of the year, he sold his house and decided to return to England with his wife to live a more relaxed life, in an attempt to get away from the hardships that had befallen him since his accident.

Sadly, he passed away just two years later.

He was made an honorary life member of the New South Wales Rugby League in 1914 and was named in the North Sydney Team of the Century in 2008.

Despite weighing just 60kgs, Devereux was described as “an aggressive centre in every sense of the term” by Tom McCabe.

He was fast and agile with a big side-step, was a ruthless tackler and a smart ball-player with great hands. He was constantly regarded as one of the best three-quarters in the world during his time as a player, some even suggesting he was better than Messenger.

Playing Career:
Australia – 1908-09 – 5 Tests, 3 tries, 1 goal

1908/09 Kangaroo Tour – 31 games, 17 tries, 2 goals
New South Wales – 6 games, 3 tries

North Sydney – 1908, 1910, 1912-13 – Played 17 games, 9 tries
Hull – 1908/09-1911/12, 1913/14-1920/21 – Played 172, 102 tries, 4 goals

(also played 37 games in War Leagues from 1915/16 til 1918/19, scoring 25 tries, 9 goals which are not included in official records)

***This article appeared in the Rugby League Review Magazine***

Glebe - The First Club (2014)

On January 9, 1908, a meeting at the Glebe Town Hall containing the Metropolitan Rugby Union’s best side, Glebe, their officials and board members, politician Henry Hoyle and businessman James Giltinan lead to the iconic club deciding to switch codes and join the breakaway Rugby League for the upcoming season.

The club’s decision to switch codes was the catalyst for Balmain, South Sydney, Eastern Suburbs, Newtown, North Sydney and Western Suburbs to also abandon the MRU and join the Rugby League. It was just as integral to Rugby League’s birth as the procurement of star player Dally Messenger.

The story behind Glebe’s decision is very closely and heavily linked to the rise of professional Rugby in Australia.

In 1899, Glebe board member Lewis Abrams is made President of the MRU in its debut season of 1900. Abrams was an Alderman for the Glebe Council from 1893 til 1898. He was also Secretary of the Glebe Cricket Club from 1892-1900, President of the Glebe Bicycle Club and Secretary of the Glebe Free Trade & Liberal Association.

Abrams was largely responsible for the introduction of what was called ‘electoral cricket’, which was essentially the residential rule which would later be used in Rugby Union and Rugby League for many decades. Abrams was also a key man involved in the creation of the MRU in 1900.

In 1900, the MRU announced that clubs from Sydney University, Eastern Suburbs, North Sydney, Glebe, Newtown, Western Suburbs, South Sydney and Balmain would field teams in all three grades of competition. Glebe was one of the first teams entered into the competition as it was seen as “a stronghold of sport.”

Glebe’s side in the new MRU saw them change their jersey colours from Blue, Black and Yellow, to their iconic maroon (or Dirty Red as they would later be referred to). Abrams accepted the role of Glebe Club Secretary. The club patron was none other than Sydney Mayor, Sir Matthew Harris.

Sir Matthew Harris was a very valuable man to have on board, as he wasn’t just the Mayor of Sydney, but also president of the Wentworth Park trust, a ground which had never had a game of football played on it, but would become Glebe’s home ground for the 1900 season. Harris was also Vice President of the Royal Agricultural Society, whose ground was considered a marquee venue at the time as well.

Glebe’s dominance over the competition combined with an area full of talented and gifted athletes was proven when in the MRU’s debut season, Glebe won all three grades.

On July 23, 1904, Australia played Great Britain in a test at Brisbane’s Exhibition Ground. Glebe’s talented forward Alex Burdon, playing in his third consecutive test for the Wallabies, scored the opening try that gave the Wallabies a 3-0 lead at halftime. During the second half, he suffered a very heavy knock to his shoulder which forced him from the field. In typical Burdon style, he returned to the field 17 minutes later. Great Britain went on to win the game 17-3.

For Burdon though, it was the start of an extended lay off from playing and from work. He would return for the following season. His injury, like in sport today, was just an unfortunate risk every player took when they ran out onto the field.

However, Rugby Union was strictly amateur which meant players were not paid to play. Nor were they financially supported if their Rugby Union injury prevented them from working.

On July 14, 1906, Glebe hosted Auckland City at the Sydney Cricket Ground. In a close fought match, Glebe trailed 11-8 with 10 minutes remaining when Glebe’s George Riddell and Auckland’s George Little collided heavily when they both attempted to kick a loose ball. The collision saw both players suffer an horrific broken leg each. The sight of the injuries was so severe that the referee and players agreed to call the game off early and the players were sent to St.Vincents Hospital. Coincidentally, the same two players collided with each other in a game just 12 months prior which resulted in both players suffering broken collarbones.

The Glebe club decided to hold a benefit concert to raise funds for both players. Glebe officials asked the NSWRU to support their campaign; however the request was declined because the NSWRU would not support any activity that gave players money for their involvement in Rugby Union. Glebe went ahead with the fundraising and managed to raise £45 for each player (approximately 3 months wages).

Former Glebe Rugby Union board member Joe McGraw publicly criticised the NSWRU for their not helping Burdon in 1904 or Riddell in 1906. The NSWRU shortly after agreed to provide extra financial assistance to Riddell and Little.

In 1907, the MRU decided to abolish its insurance cover for players, instead leaving insurance up to the clubs. On May 4, Sydney played South Sydney in a match at the Sydney Cricket Ground. It was towards the end of this game when Burdon infamously broke his arm. With no insurance to cover him while he was injured and unable to work, Burdon’s feeling of anger towards the Rugby Union for twice failing to help him reached its peak. Burdon began attending meetings at Test Cricketer Victor Trumper’s sports store. The meetings were frequently attended by James Giltinan, Trumper, Henry Hoyle and some players who were regular attendees included Trumper’s friend Peter Moir (Glebe), Arthur Hennessy (South Sydney), Bob Graves (Balmain) and Jim Moir (Glebe).

Two weeks after Burdon’s injury, Peter Moir received a telegram from George Smith in New Zealand, who was asking if a team of players in Sydney could be assembled to play against a professional Rugby team from New Zealand who would be visiting Australia en-route to England where they would be partaking in a tour against the professional Northern Union clubs.

Moir took the telegram to Trumper’s shop and a brief meeting was held and the request by Smith was accepted.

Professional Rugby started to become a reality and a great attraction for many disgruntled players. Glebe RU board members who were delegates that sat on the MRU committee actually supported the Rugby League movement and made it clear that they felt that a player revolt towards professionalism was the fault of the Rugby Union for treating the players with such contempt and insincerity.

On August 17, 1907, New Zealand played against New South Wales in a game under Rugby Union rules, but where all players were paid in what is considered the first game of Rugby League in Australia. A huge crowd of 20,000 turned out for the match, which was won by the visitors 12-8. Two more games were played in the following 6 days, with New Zealand winning both. Glebe fullback Charlie Hedley and forward Peter Moir represented NSW in all three games.

The MRU held a meeting shortly after the series finished. Lewis Abrams proposed that the Rugby Union should give its players the same entitlements that Rugby League planned to, as it would ensure that the players would not leave their code. The committee ruled his comments out of order and he was forced to deny that his intentions were to turn Rugby Union professional. The committee then ruled that all players who participated in the games against the visiting New Zealand professionals would be disqualified.

And so on January 9, 1908, Glebe agreed to become a Rugby League club. Many of their board members supported this decision, including the most important of them all at the time, Sir Matthew Harris.

Harris’ switch of allegiance saw the Rugby League gain exclusive use of both Wentworth Park and the Royal Agricultural Showground.

At Glebe’s landmark meeting, Tom McCabe was made a member of the management committee and future Prime Minister Billy Hughes was appointed as club patron. Alderman Percy Lucas was elected as the clubs first President.

On April 11, Glebe played their first game as a Rugby League Club, losing a trial against Western Suburbs 10-9.

On Easter Monday, April 20 at 3.15pm, Glebe kicked off their first official game against Newcastle in front of 3,000 fans at Wentworth Park. Glebe won the match despite playing quite poorly, by 8-5. Glebe went on to win their first 5 straight games before falling to a dominant South Sydney side 21-5. They won the next two before dropping their last game of the season against neighbouring rivals Balmain.

On May 6, 1908, Glebe fullback Charlie Hedley and forward Tom McCabe were selected to play in Australia’s first test match against the visiting New Zealand side. Australia lost 11-10.

On July 11, Hedley and McCabe also played in the first interstate game of Rugby League, when they represented NSW against Queensland. NSW romped home 43-0, with McCabe scoring 2 tries.

Glebe finished the inaugural season third, winning 7 of their 9 games, but the loss of their star first grade players Alex Burdon, Albert Conlon, Arthur Halloway, Charlie Hedley, Tom McCabe and Peter Moir to the pioneering Kangaroo tour to England, saw them lose 16-3 to eventual premiers South Sydney in the semi-final.

The Kangaroo tour was a failure, on and off the field. By the time they returned, Giltinan and Trumper had been sacked and Hoyle had stood down amidst allegations of corruption. Messrs Weymark (Glebe) and Fry (Souths) were heavily amongst the animated discussions to depose the founding trio, when they were given the right to vote on behalf of the Newcastle side at the Annual Meeting, despite there being no official documentation stating such. This incident drew the ire of board members from other clubs and saw about the abrupt ending of the meeting and a second Annual Meeting planned, which sealed the fate of the games founding fathers. This turmoil and financial uncertainty of the code necessitated a change of epic proportions in 1909 to keep the Rugby League alive. So began the purchase of the Gold Medal winning Wallabies players, led by test captain and Glebe’s champion half, Chris McKIvat. The secret meetings between League and the Union players took place at the Shearers Hotel on Bay St, Glebe.  

Glebe’s 1909 season was quite poor compared to the previous year, winning just 4 of 10 games and finishing fifth and consequently missing the finals.

In 1910, the NSWRL introduced a team from Annandale, which automatically impacted on the region that Glebe once had to obtain players. They won 6 of 14 games in 1910 and again finished fifth on the ladder.

Glebe however had picked up former Wallabies Chris McKivat and Jack Hickey for the 1910 from the previous seasons coup. Both were named in the first test side to face England in the first test between the two nations in Australia. Hickey scored the first try for Australia but it wasn’t enough to overcome the British side, who won 27-20.

1911 saw the Glebe club finish the season as Minor Premiers, winning 11 of their 14 games, as well as scoring more points than any other club and conceding less points than all the other clubs as well. The finals system in place at the time was to be a final between first and second. As South Sydney and Eastern Suburbs were both equal second, they had a play off to determine who would play Glebe in the final. Easts had not lost any of their last 7 games and star player Dally Messenger was in vintage form. Easts accounted for Souths 23-10, Messenger scoring 20 points. Easts then defeated Glebe in the final 22-9. This meant that Easts and Glebe were now essentially equal first on the ladder and so a second final was played, which was also won by Easts 11-8. Glebe was without test half Chris McKivat and test forward Peter Moir, who were both on a boat with the Australasian touring side to England.

1911 was also the year that their greatest ever player, Frank Burge, made his debut, aged just 16. He was so impressive that he was seriously being considered for the 1911 Kangaroo tour to England, but it was his young age that prevented him from being selected.

The first final was also declared a testimonial match by the NSWRL for Alex Burdon, Bob Graves and Arthur Hennessy, to thank them for their roles as selectors in 1908. Each man received £152 each.

Glebe also played a representative match against a representative team from Newcastle, winning 12-10. They were the only Sydney team who managed to defeat the Newcastle side.

Glebe continued their run of good form in 1912, when they won 11 of 14 games, finishing second on the ladder. Glebe also managed to reach the final of the inaugural City Cup competition, but were convincingly beat by Souths 30-5. In August, Glebe President Thomas Keegan, a Labor member of the NSW Legislative Assembly, mentioned his displeasure at the omission of Tom Gleeson from the NSW side selected to tour to New Zealand. He also was very critical of the NSWRL for their omission of Chris McKivat from the tour. Keegan finished with a final attack on the NSWRL when he stated that the Glebe players Fritz Theiring and Jack Redmond received very severe suspensions in comparison to Easts Arthur Halloway.

The Glebe club won their first title, when they won the 1912 reserve grade competition.

Champion Glebe centre Jack Hickey is admitted to the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital suffering from typhoid fever, of which he eventually made a full recovery.

September 6, 1913, the day when Glebe’s 10-8 defeat of North Sydney at the Sydney Cricket Ground, gave them their first and only ever first grade title, when they won the City Cup. In the premiership, they slumped, winning 8 of their 14 games and finishing fourth.

In January 1914, the NSWRL announced that it had completed a review of club boundaries, after a request by Glebe the previous year for more territory, as they were finding themselves fighting with Balmain and Annandale. The NSWRL decided that no boundary changes would be made in the short term. March 1914 saw the creation of the Glebe Junior Rugby League.

1914 saw the club slip to fifth on the ladder, winning 7 of their 14 games. In their defence of the City Cup title, they faced Easts in the semi-final, going down 26-9 at the SCG.

January 28, 1915 saw Glebe defeat Balmain 3-0 to win the ‘Australia Day’ Carnival. Frank Burge also won the 100 yards race for Rugby League forwards on the same day.

The outbreak of war saw around 95 players and officials from the Glebe club alone, enlist for service over the duration of the conflict, 66 of whom signed up in 1915-16 alone. Despite this immense loss, the competitions continued and Glebe was in a hard fought battle for first place with neighbours and rivals, Balmain. Both clubs finished the season with 12 wins from 14 games, however, Balmain drew their other two games, whereas Glebe lost theirs, giving Balmain their maiden premiership. In the City Cup, Glebe again reached the final after defeating Balmain 18-13 in the semi-final. They were outclassed by Easts 22-3 the following week.

1915 also saw legendary forward Frank Burge top the try scoring list for the competition, amassing 20 tries.

Burge again topped the try scorer’s board in 1916, this time with 22 tries. Glebe finished third behind Balmain and Souths, who were equal first with 11 wins from their 14 games. Glebe had 10 wins and a draw, The City Cup final was again played out between Easts and Glebe and again, Easts were victorious 18-15. Glebe finished the year playing against Newcastle, but were outclassed 25-6.

The first game of the 1917 could arguably be the start of the demise of Glebe, when they constantly battled with the NSWRL over a number of issues. Round 1 saw Glebe play neighbours Annandale. Glebe had recruited a player from Newcastle, Dan Davies. Davies moved to Sydney and lived with relatives, in Annandale. Glebe changed his address in the hope that no one would notice. But officials from the Annandale club did and after the game, in which Davies scored a try and helped lead Glebe to a convincing 26-5 win, issued a protest to the NSWRL demanding that Glebe’s 2 competition points be taken from them and given to Annandale. The NSWRL decided to strip Glebe of their points for the win only. Then they banned Dan Davies from playing Rugby League for life. Davies returned home to Newcastle to return to his job in the mines.

Events came to a head in July, when Glebe officials complained to the NSWRL that a number of their players were harshly treated by the referee in their Round 12 game against Newtown, when a number were sent off for seemingly minor indiscretions.

During the week, leading up to their Round 13 clash with rivals Balmain, which was scheduled to be played at the SCG, the NSWRL instead switched it to Balmain’s home ground, Birchgrove Oval. This meant a much smaller gate and far less funds for Glebe.

This time the players had decided to revolt, choosing to go on strike for the game against Balmain. Glebe fielded a reserve grade side that was thrashed 40-9. The NSWRL then decided that all players who abandoned the match would receive a 12 month suspension. Glebe lost their last game of the year against perennial strugglers Wests 33-16 to finish the season sixth. Glebe also failed to reach the finals for the City Cup.

After much negotiating, the NSWRL agreed to overturn their month suspension on 12 of the 14 Glebe players by seasons end. Frank Burge and Alby Burge had to wait until May 1918 to have their suspensions lifted.

The 1918 season Glebe finish third, with 9 wins from their 14 games. They also made the finals of the City Cup, but this time they lost their semi-final to Wests 12-8. Burge again scored more tries than anyone else in the competition, this time scoring a club record 24 tries for the season.

Glebe’s reserve grade side picked up their second premiership.

In a match against Easts in 1919, the crowd, angered by the officiating, rushed the ground and upended the referee. It was the same game that also saw Frank Burge score his 100^th try for Glebe. The year again saw Glebe again finish third with 9 wins from 14 games. However in the City Cup, they reached the final, against Wests. Defending their title, Wests went on to defeat Glebe 14-10.

Glebe’s reserve grade side won their third premiership.

In 1920, Frank Burge scores a club and competition record 8 tries in a game, when Glebe defeats new club University 41-0. Burge scored 32 of his side’s points in the match. Glebe finished the year second behind rivals Balmain, with 8 wins from 13 games. They failed to reach the finals of the City Cup.

The year also saw Glebe’s long serving official Mr CHJ Upton resign from his role due to a health issue with his eyes. Upton had been a long respected official and his departure saw communication between the club and the NSWRL suffer immensely.

Glebe’s reserve grade side won their third straight title.

On October 13, 1920, the NSWRL decided to axe Annandale from the competition. This decision gave Glebe some of their old territory back and seemed certain to ensure their future.

Glebe finished third in 1921 despite winning 6 of their 8 games. They lost to Souths 28-14 in the semi-finals of the City Cup. Their reserve grade side won their fourth consecutive Grand final.

The 1922 season finished with Norths and Glebe equal first and thus a final was played. It was the first premiership final Glebe had played in since 1911. However they were completely outclassed by a star studded North Sydney outfit, who ran away 35-3 winners. Glebe lost 21-3 to Easts in the semi-finals of the City Cup.

Glebe celebrated their favourite son, Frank Burge, with a testimonial match against Souths in Round 11 of 1923. The match was played at the Sydney Sports Ground in front of 15,000 fans. Souths won 10-0 in a tough contest. There were suggestions made at the time that the NSWRL tried to schedule other events on at the same time to try and minimise the gate for Glebe, however if it were the case it failed. The testimonial match attracted 15,000 fans, while the other three games of the round attracted a combined total of 9,500.

Just three weeks later in Round 14, was the infamous game where North Sydney’s Test halfback Duncan Thompson was sent off for allegedly kicking Glebe forward Tom McGrath. Thompson was illegally held back after passing the ball and was trying to free himself when he accidentally struck McGrath in the face. Many supporters from both teams supported Thompson’s response that it was an accident; however the NSWRL suspended him for the rest of the year. When they wouldn’t overturn the decision, Thompson returned to Toowoomba and vowed to never play in Sydney ever again.

It would turn out to be the single event that brought North’s two year reign undone.

Glebe finished the season sixth on the ladder, winning 6 of 16 games; however they managed to reach the final of the City Cup, against rivals Balmain.

At fulltime, the scores were tied at 5 all. An extra 8 minutes of extra time was played, however the scored remained unchanged. So another 12 minutes of extra time was ordered, but the duration of the match seemingly took everything out of the Glebe players as Balmain ran in 20 points to win 25-5 in the competition’s first game to last 100 minutes.

1924 saw Glebe climb back up the ladder, finishing third with 4 wins from 8 games. Glebe failed to reach the finals of the City Cup.

Glebe won just 5 of 12 games in 1925; however they managed to reach the City Cup final against a remarkable South Sydney side that had not lost a single premiership or City Cup game all year. They continued that run with a 15-8 win over Glebe in the City Cup final.

1926 was Frank Burge’s last year playing for Glebe, as he decided to accept a captain/coach role with St.George for the 1927 season. In his Round 8 game against University, Burge got badly injured and was carried off the field. Glebe finished the season equal second with Easts, having won 9 of 16 games (with 1 draw). Glebe however lost to finals debutants University in the first semi-final 29-3.

At the Glebe Annual Meeting on March 18, 1927, Alex Burdon suggested that the club consider importing players to improve their results and performances on the field, just like Norths did a few years earlier. His suggestion was met with great opposition and was refused. Consequently, the season saw Glebe turn out their worst season ever, winning just 4 of their 16 games, only one more than the last placed University. Glebe’s administration had become quite poor, as had the coaching. It wasn’t long before the on-field performance dropped immensely as well.

Glebe’s third grade side won their maiden title, giving the club 7 titles over all 3 grades, but the first grade side being the only one not to win a premiership.

In 1928 Glebe won 4 of their 12 games and finished sixth. They also lost their long-time home ground of Wentworth Park at seasons end. A match against Easts at the Agricultural Showground saw angry scenes amongst the crowd.

On June 8, Lewis Abrams died. Some people at the time suggested that the heart and soul of Glebe died with him.

In 1929 Glebe won 3 of their 16 games and finished second last again. A NSWRL special committee revealed its report regarding revised boundaries on November 4. When NSWRL Secretary Horrie Miller unrolled a map of the boundary changes, all of Glebe’s territory had been absorbed by neighbouring club and rival, Balmain. The meeting grew very animated and an adjournment was made, whereby the matter would be readdressed in a weeks’ time,

On November 11, 1929, a ballot was held to determine if Glebe should be axed from the competition. The result was 13 votes to 12 in favour. The NSWRL stated that there were a number of reasons, but most prominent were Glebe’s recent poor form, a lack of home ground, low crowds and a growth of interest in soccer in the area. It’s also suggested that Glebe’s many battles with the NSWRL hierarchy helped sway the decision against Glebe’s favour.

Local politician Tom Keegan, who had been a member of the NSW Legislative Assembly since 1910, lobbied the community in the week between the two meetings, in a bid to get the Glebe team reinstated for the 1930 season. He managed to obtain 3,000 signatures which Messrs E.Lloyd and F.Benning presented to the NSWRL, along with a provision that Glebe be retained. The petition and the request were ruled out of order by Harry Flegg. Non-voting delegates from nearly all the clubs sided with Glebe (including the benefactors of Glebe’s demise, Balmain) and suggested that if Glebe were to be given some of South Sydney’s territory, then they would stand a chance of not only survival, but prospering once again.

But the NSWRL stood by their decision and Glebe were no more.

On November 18, a public meeting was held at the Glebe Town Hall, convened by the Mayor of Glebe with the intention of forming a protest against the NSWRL decision. But despite their efforts and good intentions, the decision would not be overturned.

The decision decimated the area and its interest in Rugby League died off very quickly. It was such a proud sporting area full of very loyal and passionate athletes that when it was announced that Glebe would no longer compete, almost their entire squad of players from the 1929 season retired from game. Syd Christensen moved to Balmain and helped lead their resurrection in the late 1930’s. When he retired at the end of the 1937 season, he was the last man that had played for Glebe left playing.

And it was on Armistice Day, 1929, that the NSWRL finally got their peace with the Glebe club. A team whose history was integral to Rugby League’s birth and growth had given way to plans for an expansion to the Belmore region of Sydney. In fact, it would take 6 years before a team from that area was introduced into the competition.

****************This article appeared in 2 parts in the Rugby League Review Magazine***********************

Edward Larkin - A Leader Of Men (2014)

Edward Rennix Larkin was a man who is most remembered and revered for his leadership qualities in everything he involved himself. He was a constable in the police force, a journalist, a sergeant in the army, a captain of his Rugby Union club Endeavour, a parliamentarian and the first fulltime secretary of the NSWRL.

Born in Lambton in 1880, his family soon after relocated to Camperdown in Sydney where Larkin attended school at St Benedict’s Broadway, where he showed a glimpse of his future self by being named school captain in 1894. The following year he moved to St Joseph’s at Hunters Hill where he played in the schools Rugby Union team in 1896.

All throughout his schooling days, Larkin was a very adept athlete, showing great proficiency in swimming, Rugby Union, cricket and cycling. He was also equally gifted academically; his place on the Literary and Debating Club for St Joseph’s laid the early platform for his future career as a parliamentarian. Promptly after finishing his schooling he joined the Endeavour Rugby Union club.

In 1903 Larkin married and started a family before joining the Metropolitan Police Force where he was promoted to Constable in 1905. 1903 also saw him appointed captain of the Newtown Rugby Union first grade team. His form throughout the year was stellar and saw him earn representative honours for NSW against Queensland and later against the touring New Zealand side. It was while he was on a train from Sydney to Brisbane, where he was seated with team mates John Maund, Alec Burdon, Denis Lutge and Peter Moir, that it was observed that there were as many NSWRU officials on board as there were players, and according to Maund, they were eating oysters and drinking whisky while the players went without. This was the start of discontent by players against the Rugby Union hierarchy that would continue to simmer for the next few years.

Larkin’s form for NSW was good enough to see him earn a test jumper for the Wallabies, starting as hooker against New Zealand. Larkin’s team mates that day were future Rugby League pioneers and test players Denis Lutge, Bill Hardcastle and Alec Burdon. The Wallabies were soundly beaten 22-3 and wholesale changes meant that Larkin’s test career was over.

By 1906, Larkin was part of a growing number of players who had grown tiresome with the Rugby Union administration for not providing any compensation for lost time due to injuries.

In 1907 the players had had enough and sided with James Giltinan’s proposed rival code, Rugby League. The new code started in 1908, with the season ending in a tour to England.

The tour returned home as a financial disaster. Some players remained in England as there wasn’t enough money to bring them all back. The English Northern Union paid for most of the players return fares.

Edward Larkin’s growing sense of social justice saw him join the Willoughby branch of the Labor Party in 1909.

The NSWRL 1909 season started with a volatile meeting in which NSWRL President Henry Hoyle stood down; Treasurer James Giltinan and Secretary Victor Trumper were sacked amidst allegations lead by Alexander Knox, that the trio had misappropriated funds. Liberal politician Ernest Broughton was appointed President and Larkin the first full-time secretary. Their goal was to try and keep the game alive.

Larkin accepted the position and resigned from the Police force. To show their gratitude, the North Sydney Police gave him a gold chain and the Superintendent’s office gave him an inscribed gold sovereign purse, for his services.

One of the first noticeable changes Larkin introduced was improved advertising of games. Shortly after he began his new role rumours surfaced that Larkin was in talks with South Africa about sending a Rugby League team to Australia.

S George Ball, Bill Flegg, John Quinlan, Horrie Miller and Larkin devised a plan to both promote Rugby League and improve the games financial situation by playing the Rugby Union Wallabies against the Rugby League Kangaroo’s in three matches. The plan would involve the Wallabies being paid so that they were defined as professionals and thus ineligible to play Rugby Union, leaving Rugby League as their only football option available.

Upon hearing of this scheme, NSWRL president Broughton and Alexander Knox were greatly opposed, so much so that Broughton resigned from his post when his demands to cease the scheme were ignored.

Labor politician Edward O’Sullivan took over from Broughton and was more than happy to let the Wallabies coup go ahead. The quintet soon found that the Wallabies pay demands were much higher than they expected and decided to ask entrepreneur and South Sydney Hospital director, James Joynton-Smith, for his assistance to which he agreed.

With negotiations completed the games went ahead, but after the third game there was still a financial shortfall from the purchase of the Wallabies, so a fourth match was planned to be played on the same day as the 1909 final. Knox was publicly scathing of the new administration, but after numerous attacks were foiled, he eventually resigned from the NSWRL board.

Days before the 1909 final, Balmain officials approached Larkin to complain about the schedule to which Larkin suggested that if they don’t play it would be a sign of disloyalty. Balmain refused to take the field on game day, forming a picket line outside the ground. South Sydney was declared premiers. The fourth game between the Wallabies and the Kangaroos went ahead and the season ended with the NSWRL being debt free and with a very small sum of money in the bank.

Due to ill-health O’Sullivan was forced to resign at the end of the season and his place was taken by Joynton-Smith.

The following year, Larkin worked tirelessly to expand Rugby League, especially at grass roots level. He successfully convinced Catholic Schools and the Marist Brothers to adopt Rugby League over Rugby Union in their schools. In his annual report concluding the 1910 season he even revealed that he had begun plans to take the game to the United States.

Larkin became a Justice of the Peace in 1911 and in 1913 he decided he would run for a seat in parliament. He became the first Labor member to win a seat on Sydney’s North Shore when he became the member for Willoughby after a tight election that saw him win 51.61% of the vote in a second ballot.

During his time in parliament, Larkin advocated for a bridge to be built across the harbour. He also forged an agreement with the SCG trust to have Rugby League games played at the SCG. Upon winning, Larkin decided to resign his post as Treasurer, amidst many calls from within the NSWRL for him to stay on in a part-time capacity. He was also a director at the Royal North Shore Hospital, President of the NSW League of Wheelmen and President of the Australian Federal Cycling Council and he was struggling to find the time to fulfill his duties at a level acceptable by his standards.

In 1914, Larkin agreed to serve as interim treasurer of the NSWRL, but his time was cut short by the outbreak of World War I.

The Labor Prime Minister (and former Glebe Rugby League club patron) Billy Hughes, had been working tirelessly to have conscription introduced, however it was vigourously opposed by the majority of parliament and the public.

On August 17, 1914, Edward Larkin enlisted to join the Armed Services. Many of his colleagues urged him not to go, as his leadership abilities would be required on home soil. Larkin enlisted because he felt it was his duty as an athlete and as a leader of athletes to volunteer to serve for the country so as to inspire other athletes to do the same. Some also saw his decision to join as a way of helping to promote more men to join the war effort as soldiers.

Shortly after enlisting, Larkin was promoted to Sergeant. On October 18 he departed for Egypt, where he was prominent in organising Rugby League games amongst the soldiers. In early 1915 while still in Egypt he fell ill and was granted permission to return home. Larkin refused and just weeks later joined the 1^st Battalion, which contained his brother Martin, and disembarked for Turkey.

On the first day of battle at Gallipoli, Larkin’s battalion was one of the very first to set foot on shore. His battalion made it to the top of a ridge before they were gunned down by heavy machine gun fire. When approached by the stretcher bearers, Larkin reportedly waved them away and said “There’s plenty worse than me out there.” They later found him dead. His body was so badly mutilated that many soldiers believed he had been tortured, which infuriated the Australians, before they learnt of his true demise. His brother died beside him.

Upon hearing of Larkin’s death, many memorial services were held. His old school, St Joseph’s, held a service followed by a meeting of its officials who decided that a scholarship would be created to put Larkin’s eldest son through school. The scholarship hoped to raise £1,000, with any extra funds to be used to put the children of other former students, who fell at war, through school.

His parliamentarian colleagues also set up a trust fund for his widow and children, which raised enough to pay £180 off his overdraft and £50 to his wife.

The NSWRL also donated a total of £171 to his wife, which were the profits from the City Cup Final of 1915.

A commemorative tablet honouring the fallen MP’s Sergeant Edward Larkin and Lieutenant-Colonel George Braund, was unveiled in November 1915.

There is no known grave for Edward Larkin.

All that remains is a small inscription upon a memorial at Lone Pine, Gallipoli, just metres away from where he died.

1917 (2013)

The 1917 season started amid public pressures against the game for continuing to run during the war. Administrators of the game believed that competition should continue as it gave people an enjoyable escape from the depressing realities of war. Since the beginning of the war, the NSWRL had regularly played matches against teams made up of servicemen, as well as exhibition games and donating monies from many of the largest drawing games to the war campaign.

Because of a large number of Rugby League players enlisting for war service, clubs had to start looking further afield than their own suburb to find top quality players so as to remain competitive.

From 1908 til 1959, clubs were not restricted by a salary cap as they are today. Instead, they had to abide by a very strict residential rule, which meant that players had to live in the area of the team they were to represent for one year, or if they were coming from the country, interstate or overseas, just 28 days.

For the 1917 season, Glebe officials travelled to Newcastle and were very impressed with a burly centre from Lambton by the name of Dan ‘Laddo’ Davies, who was playing for Newcastle Wests.

Davies agreed to join Glebe for the 1917 season and moved to Sydney early in 1917, so that he would have lived in the area long enough to be ready to play in Glebe’s first match of the year.

When Davies arrived in Sydney, he lived with a relative in the suburb neighbouring Glebe, Annandale, who also had a team in the NSWRL first grade competition. Glebe administrators were aware of Davies’ residence, but reassured him that players regularly play for teams outside the suburb they live in, which was very much not the case at all.

On May 12, the 1917 season began. Davies ran out for Glebe, ironically against Annandale. His participation in this match was the catalyst for a series of events between Glebe, the NSWRL and the entire Newcastle Rugby League that would have severe, far reaching ramifications that spanned several years.

Glebe beat Annandale 26-5 with Davies on debut. Annandale, aware that Davies was living in their area, lodged a complaint requesting the game be forfeited by Glebe for fielding an illegible player.

An official investigation began regarding the matter. Davies was asked to sign a declaration by Glebe officials stating that he had indeed been living in the Glebe area, however it was quickly found to be false.

The NSWRL stripped Glebe of its two competition points for the win against Annandale. Davies' dishonesty saw him being handed a life ban by the NSWRL.

Glebe believed they were being discriminated against and future events of that season would suggest such, but it was the demeanour of the club that caused things to get out of control. In their Round 12 hard fought victory against Newtown, three Glebe players were sent off. On the following Monday, two of the sent off players received excessive suspensions for the rest of the season for seemingly minor incidents which numerous previous occurrences actually avoided punishment.

Glebe grew more vocal in their opposition to the penalties handed down by the NSWRL and in turn, the NSWRL handed down even more severe punishments for indiscretions by the Glebe club and its players in an attempt to show that they were in control.

The next week, Glebe was to line up against neighbouring rivals Balmain. The two clubs had always held a strong and passionate rivalry, like most neighbouring clubs do. These games always drew good crowds and provided more often than not, close, hard fought and entertaining matches, which invariably meant that gate takings for these matches would always be among the highest of the year at club level. Balmain had won back to back premierships in 1915 and 1916, with Glebe finishing second and third respectively in both seasons. 1917 was proving to be again very similar. Balmain were clear competition leaders and Glebe were fourth when the two sides were set to meet each other for their second match in the 1917 season in Round 13, which was scheduled to be played at the SCG, ensuring both clubs would receive a generous sum from gate takings as it was deemed a neutral venue, thus both sides would receive an equal gate taking for the match.

Because of the reactions by Glebe over the Davies decision, and the excessive suspensions from the previous week, the NSWRL made a last minute decision to switch the game from the SCG, to the significantly smaller Birchgrove Oval. This meant that Glebe not only missed out on a share of a potentially larger gate taking, but they would receive no monies at all as the game would be played at Balmain’s home ground.

Glebe officials were outraged and the first grade players decided to boycott the match. Glebe had fully intended to forfeit the match as a protest against the NSWRL, however they instead fielded a second rate team made up of reserve graders and juniors. Balmain flogged Glebe 40-9, Glebe's worst defeat since 1910 when they were beaten 36-0 by Easts.

The NSWRL were angered by the Glebe players for boycotting the game, so they decided to review the issue over two weeks, to allow themselves time to calm after the incident so as to not make a rash decision. This ploy failed as they decided to suspend the 14 First Grade Glebe players for the rest of the 1917 season, as well as the entire 1918 season, including the Burge brothers Albert, Laidley and Frank.

During the long off season, the NSWRL overturned the suspensions of twelve of the suspended Glebe players amid much anger and heavy criticism from the media and the public. Frank and Alby Burge later had their suspensions cut back to May 1918, ensuring that they would be able to play in the first competition match of the 1918 season, which ironically again, was against Annandale.

Upon receiving his punishment, Dan Davies quietly and promptly returned home to Lambton to go back to work in the coal mines. Upon his arrival back home, just weeks after his sentence was handed down, his former club Newcastle Wests tried to have the penalty overturned so that he could play exclusively in Newcastle, however the NSWRL would not shift their stance. Soon after their appeal was rejected, Newcastle Wests threatened to boycott their match at Wickham Oval against Newcastle Norths, unless Norths allowed Davies to play for Wests. Norths agreed and the match went ahead.

However, the NSWRL soon learnt of Davies match in Newcastle and their action was swift and more excessive than any of their suspensions and bannings handed to Glebe during 1917. Every player and administrator from the Newcastle competition, except for Newcastle Easts were banned for life.

The suspended players and officials started their own rebel competition, which included all the prominent stars in the local competition, who were known as the ‘Bolsheviks’. Upon hearing the news of the rebel code, the NSWRL again imposed life bans on everyone associated with the rebel competition, but as it wasn’t administered by the NSWRL, the bans were duly ignored and the rebel competition continued.

Newcastle Easts remained loyal to the NSWRL and thus were left with the task of helping recreate a new competition which contained all players from the now rebel clubs who wanted to remain loyal to the NSWRL The loyalists were known as the ‘Lilywhites’. This competition consisted of mostly second string sides which saw the Lilywhites competition quickly become the lesser of the two.

For the 1918 and 1919 seasons, Newcastle had two competitions running simultaneously, but as the rebel competition was the more successful, the NSWRL eventually lifted all its life bans imposed on players and officials in the Newcastle competition and sanity was restored, allowing the competitions to be reunified again for the 1920 season.

Annandale eventually exited from the NSWRL at the end of the 1920 season.  Glebe followed suit in 1929, despite being one of the consistently best performing sides since the games inception in 1908. It is believed that when the board had to decide on Glebe’s existence, past indiscretions by the club factored heavily in the NSWRL decision to axe the club.

The residential rule was eventually scrapped in 1959 when the game was going through several changes, such as the introduction of poker machines, overseas players and future expansion plans.

Davies played for Newcastle Wests in the Bolshevik competition and was selected to represent Newcastle against the touring English side in 1920. He eventually retired in 1923 at the ripe old age of 28. He lived the rest of his life in Newcastle up until his death in 1967.

***************This article appeared in the Men of League magazine**********************