1908 Queensland Rugby League season

1908 Queensland Rugby League season
Queensland Amateur Rugby League
Number of teams 6
Junior Awards
Silver Medal Toombul
Gold Medal A. Dutton
Seasons 1909 >

The first season of Rugby League in Queensland saw the formation of an association in March 1908, footballers begin training in the new code by early May, and the first in a series of representative matches played on May 16. Club football began after teams representing Queensland had played, and then only as junior matches.

Professional Rugby

A catalyst for Rugby League beginning in Australia was a tour by New Zealand footballers, as professionals. In the month of August 1907, meetings of players from most Sydney Rugby Union clubs, “and others interested in the professional movement”, formed the NSW Football League. Speakers at a meeting stated the League’s aim to liberally cover expenses incurred by players due to injury or travel. From the players in attendance, a team was selected for matches against the New Zealand professionals on August 17, 21 and 24. [1] [2]

As noted in the newspapers, the expectation was that players involved in these professional matches would be banned from returning to the amateur sport of Rugby Union and, probably from participating in other amateur sport. [2] [3]

In reports and published letters to newspapers, the merits and faults of Rugby Union’s governing body, and the aims and play of the new code were discussed. The developments and matches in Sydney were followed in the Brisbane papers. In one short report in the Brisbane Telegraph, Dally Messenger was the one player named, amongst several, as switching to the league. [4] [3]

After playing for New South Wales against the New Zealanders, Messenger joined their tour of northern England. The team played matches against Northern Union clubs throughout October, November and December. In January 1908, as the first Australian Rugby League clubs were being formed in Sydney, the New Zealanders played international matches against Wales and England.

Rugby League arrives in Brisbane

On March 11, speakers at the annual meeting of the South Brisbane Rugby Union Club warned of the approach of professionalism. The Brisbane Courier reported, "Mr. D. Carter made more direct and pointed remarks when he stated that efforts were being made to form at least two senior professional teams in Brisbane. The Exhibition ground had been engaged, he said, and matches arranged with New South Wales and New Zealand." [5] [6]

On March 27, a notice in The Telegraph stated, "Queensland Rugby Association have engaged the grounds for football practice on Wednesdays, after Monday, 4th May." [7]

On April 7, The Telegraph reported on the formation of the Queensland Rugby Association:
“It is claimed that the Queensland Rugby Association has been formed with a view to bettering the existing conditions of footballers in Queensland. Its opponents declare that it is intended to promote professionalism, but the promoters object to the term professional.”
The report also listed the “main objects” of the association:

1. To adopt the rules of the Northern Rugby Union of England, as it is contended that their game is the most attractive form of Rugby.
2. To provide for the insurance of players against accident.
3. To bring footballers into line with cricketers, so far as the Commonwealth is concerned, and also with regard to overseas undertakings.
4. To contribute to local charities a percentage of profits.[8]

The inaugural executive committee of the Queensland Rugby Association was: Alf Faulkner (Chairman and Treasurer), Sine Boland (Secretary), J. A. O'Connor, George Watson, John Fihelly, E. L. Buchanan, and Micky J. Dore.

Season summary

Representative matches

The inaugural club competition in New South Wales began in Sydney on April 21 and club matches ran in parallel to representative matches through May, June and July. The first lot of representative matches were played against the returning New Zealand team in Newcastle and Sydney.

New Zealand

Three Queensland footballers, Doug McLean, Micky Dore and Robert Tubman played for Australia against New Zealand in Sydney on May 9. Another three Queenslanders were unavailable for selection due to work commitments. [9]

The New Zealanders arrived in Brisbane on Friday, May 15, and after a reception at their hotel, went to have a look at venue for their matches. There, “The members of the team trained on the Exhibition ground, and also coached some of the Queensland team in the points of the Northern Rugby Union game.” [10]

The first formal Rugby League match in Queensland was played on May 16 between Queensland and New Zealand teams. Queensland had the honour of scoring the first points, through a try in the corner by Arthur O'Brien. New Zealand responded with two quick tries. With a further two tries by the visitors, and all goal kicks unsuccessful, the half-time score was New Zealand 12, Queensland 3. After conceding a try to Doug McLean early in the second half, New Zealand took their score to 34, before a rally by Queensland saw tries to Bill Hardcastle and George Watson. At full-time, New Zealand 34 had defeated Queensland 12.

The New Zealand All Blacks played a further three matches in Queensland. On Tuesday, May 20, they defeated a Brisbane team 43 to 10. All but one of the Brisbane team had taken the field for Queensland on the 17th. Strengthened by the inclusion of Bundaberg's Bill Heidke and a guest, Dally Messenger, Queensland held New Zealand to a 12-all draw on May 23. The final game in Queensland was against Australia on the 30th. New Zealand won 24-12. This match was the second in a three match Test series. Four Queenslanders - J. Edward Baird, Micky Dore, Bill Hardcastle and George Watson - played in the Australian team.

New Zealand Maori

New Zealand Maori played five matches in and against Queensland. The first three were held at the Exhibition Ground in Brisbane, on June 27, July 1 and 4. Queensland lost the first two (16-19 and 5-13) but won the third (6-5).
In the fourth match, played in Toowoomba on July 7, "A regrettable incident happened past within a few minutes of full time, and the game ended abruptly". After a scuffle between players, a Maori forward struck a Queensland player and he, in turn, was struck by a spectator as some of the crowd entered the field. The referee, Micky Dore, "ordered the offending player off the field, and [Maori captain] Asher resenting the action led his men off the field, followed by a "howling" mob of spectators". Holding an 11 to 9 lead, the Queensland players remained on the field until full time. [11]

Remarkably, the Maori team kept their commitment in Warwick the following day, July 8, but Queensland won that match, 23 to 14. [12]

Inter-State Matches

A Queensland team ventured to Sydney to play two matches against New South Wales. Both were played at the Royal Agricultural Ground. New South Wales won 43-nil on July 11 and, a week later, by 12 points to 3.

Club matches

The teams that appeared in newspaper reports included Milton, North Brisbane (A & B), St, Bridget's and Toombul.

The Brisbane Courier listed the playing line-ups for a match between North Brisbane and Toombul on July 18 and printed the result, Toombul winning by 30 points to 5, the following Monday. [13] [14]

The season concluded on September 12 with a match between Toombul and a Combined Thirteen. Toombul won the match, 37 to nil, and consequently, "were awarded the silver medal and their captain a gold medal, while A. Dutton wing forward of the Toombuls was awarded a gold medal for best individual player." [15] [16]

Sources

  • Darling Downs Gazette
  • The Brisbane Courier
  • The Sydney Morning Herald
  • The Telegraph (Brisbane)
  • Truth (Brisbane)

References

  1. ↑ "Professional Rugby". The Sydney Morning Herald (Sydney: National Library of Australia). 10 August 1907. p. 14. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  2. 1 2 "Professional Football". The Sydney Morning Herald (Sydney: National Library of Australia). 13 August 1907. p. 7. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  3. 1 2 "The Professional Movement". The Sydney Morning Herald (Sydney: National Library of Australia). 12 August 1907. pp. 10–11. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  4. ↑ "Rugby Football - Meeting of Professionals". The Telegraph (Brisbane: National Library of Australia). 13 August 1907. p. 8. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  5. ↑ "Professional Football". The Brisbane Courier (Brisbane: National Library of Australia). 11 March 1908. p. 6. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  6. ↑ "South Brisbane Football Club". The Telegraph (Brisbane: National Library of Australia). 14 March 1908. p. 7. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  7. ↑ "National Association - Finance". The Telegraph (Brisbane: National Library of Australia). 27 March 1908. p. 9. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  8. ↑ "Rugby Football - Queensland Rugby Association Formed". The Telegraph (Brisbane: National Library of Australia). 7 April 1908. p. 5. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  9. ↑ "Rugby Union". Truth (Brisbane: National Library of Australia). 3 May 1908. p. 8. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  10. ↑ "All Blacks Football". The Telegraph (Brisbane: National Library of Australia). 16 May 1908. p. 8. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  11. ↑ "Football - Maoris v Queensland". Darling Downs Gazette (Toowoomba: National Library of Australia). 8 July 1908. p. 8. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  12. ↑ "Maori Footballers". The Telegraph (Brisbane: National Library of Australia). 9 July 1908. p. 9. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  13. ↑ "North Brisbane v Toombul". The Brisbane Courier (Brisbane: National Library of Australia). 18 July 1908. p. 6. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  14. ↑ "Australia v All Maoris". The Brisbane Courier (Brisbane: National Library of Australia). 20 July 1908. p. 2. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  15. ↑ "Northern Union Game". The Brisbane Courier (Brisbane: National Library of Australia). 14 September 1908. p. 3. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  16. ↑ "Rugby Football League". The Telegraph (Brisbane: National Library of Australia). 11 September 1908. p. 9. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
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