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 100th 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***********************
