A Journal devoted to the interests oF Rugby Leagu• Football, a1td containing the only authorised List of Names, Numbers, Co/ors and Positions of Players. Put.lished by the N.S. W. Rugby Foutuall Lea:Jue a.t their Office, 165 Phillip Street, Sydney, N.o. W. Vol. 4-No. 1 �COPYRIGHT) SYDNEY, MAY 5, 1923. Price-Threepence - - -- p,N CLE. Plp.-< L.8sl_year JVc15 a 11eco,,d bur11/ait {/// th,s is over/!! 1/ '"·\t 'J;J,,rt-,J....i ,.. - '---- 2 THE RUGBY LEAGUE NEWS. May 5, 1923. I I liftiugby lltngut N thts Vol. 4-No. 1 (0OPYRr QHT) SYDNEY, MAY 5, 1923. Price-Threepence =================-::-_""""'.::-:_ _=--= ======================= public schools, the Great Metropoli­ tan Colleges, the Catholic Schools We Wish S access competition, Christian Brothers' competition ; then there is the Tram­ way and Warehouse competitions, to our Readers and other organisations that have, their being and existence in th" throughout -1923. League, which again must confound the detractor. To sum the whole matter up the­ As will be notice<l by referring to average person who foll()ws football our first page, the goal of the League does not stop to think what a great. is "Success,,, -and there is no re­ deal of sacrifice is entailed by those futing the fact that the footsteps of painstaking officials of the League, the League leads to success, for as who comprise the various committees season succeeds season the modern and sub-committees, :and who give Hugby game is proving more-itnd up such a great measure of their more a lodestone that attracts and: time and thought to help further holds all lovers of good, red-blooded, the game they are so wrapt up in� stirring contests, 'ho matter whether Take for instance a club secretary it be a different brand of football, or representing his district on the head any other athletic pastime. Week after week, ye u will see at the body ; he has to devote practically various grounds all class€ s of citi­ the whole of his evenings to meet­ @Ils-clerics, gentlemen of leisure, ings, and training, .and very often l9rny-handed sons of toil;· men who pressure of business compels a couple eebound down to a dreary grind of H. R. Miller, of midday meetings du1in6 the week,. columns of figures, Supreme Court . so that when Sunday comes 'tis no, jpdges, etc; not to mention the Secretary, N.S.W.R.F.L. wonder his son and heir might ask.1 ihousands of ladies, who find in an l\famma who is the man who staJV 11:hilarating game of League R Ugf-;•�r and wails, "What is the League here on Sundays -he might at least. That very antidote to soot}1 their doing with so and so?", "Whj be pardoned for making; the query .. weary systems that makes life a don't they do this?" etc. pleas'ure, and gives them something No, my master, 1he orr1c.iats of the to steady those jaded nerves and' A few of the items which the n ugby League are not to be envied, fit them for the battle of life dur­ League is doing both for football for could one see the hurried exodus ing the intervening space between and charity may not ba out of from the meetings in haste to catch matches. place. Fnr instance during last last trains and b:::ats at midnight season no less a sum than £1,903 The N.S.W. Rugby League wish with the· chairman's notification ls 9d (an increase of just on £200 ringing in their ears of an adjourn­ to extend to all their patrons the over the previous season) was ex­ best of good wishes, and also assure pended on junior football; referees' ment, it would bring home to them them that the matter of the enter­ fees for the various grade and the amount of time these men reall�- lliainment of football lovers will be junior matches swallowed up £1,233 do give up to the game. the first and paramount thought, in­ 12s. These are but a couple of aofar as keeping the game on a high Following on this record seascn the serious outgoings, and when the for Rugby League, we find the fol­ estal both as regnrds skill and expense of sending teams to tour. anliness are conc�rned. lowing items in the N.Z. Rugbs­ New Zealand and Queensland is Union balance sheet�- The doings of the League in 1922 taken into consideration (running arf> still fresh in the minds of fol­ into thousands of pounds) there is "The New Zealand Rugby Union's lo,\·ers, and suffice it to say that no room for the pessimist to give balance-sheet shows a loss for the it was a record season in more ways effect to his words of grief. period April 1 to December 21 last than one. The number of junior teams play­ of £1817. Notwithstanding the undoubted ing our code is legion and each sea­ popularity of the game, there is still son sees a further increase in all ''The tour of New South Wales lhe pessimist who goes around­ grades. Then again we havet the resulted in a loss of £494 , and the outside the gates, for he is generally game being fostered and daily ac­ Maori tour of New South Wales a too near to pay his way-who weeps cumulating further adherents in the loss of £195.'' 4 THE RUGBY LEAGUE NEW�. May !'i. 1923. - WEEKES' HOTEL CAFE .6.D.4 Hottle Department CORNER MA.Jr.EET AND CASTLEREAGH STREETS Phone: 2432 City. AL TERA TION IN RULE B�ARING ON RESIDEN­ N. Matterson, Western Suburbs' dock will probably be busiest. Al­ TIAL QUALIFICATION. ce,ntre three-quarter, who played though the Red brigade does not s6me good games last year, has usually .field a champion rearguard, been� showing great form alreadv the side is generally a splendidly Th League has made material e in the trial matches. On Satur­ balanced combination with a sound alterations in the rule relating to , day last he was the best back on knowledge of tactics, and very hard the residential qual�fications of the ground, and it was largely ow­ to subdue. It was ever thus with ;players with a view to tightening ing to his splendid defensive play the Reds. With Frank Burge .as rup that portion which previously that ·Newtown were unable to adviser this- season. Glebe should ;allowed scope for sharp practice. score inore than on try. In the nrofit immensely, and it would -not The. rule as amended will read as e �econd half when his side got a be a great surprise to behold them follows:- greater share of the ball from the lowering the colours of the favour­ " That a player residing six con­ scrum, he- showed that he is also ites wnen the test comes.-D. •.secutive months in a country centre a great attacking centre by sc;:or­ be treated as a country player. A ing- two good tries, and combin'ing :Player from a country centre or with the other backs in many at­ -0ther State on living six consecu- tacking movements.-J.R. Probably not any forward of the -tive months in the metropolitan North Sydney six deserves his :area to be considered a resident of nlace in the side more than the the metropolis." * hefty Reg FarnelL. Reg got few "No person shall be eligible for On Saturday last Western chances last season, and most of the position of delegate unless he Suburbs gave a trial to a former his time was spent on the toueh­ bas been a member of the district Irish International player namerl line awaiting a call from infield. .club for at least 12 months." Stewart. Although, he had onlv Towards the close of the season, "No person shall be eligible to one run during the wHek, and wa1 however, his chance came; he llold office in any club unless he is a stranger both to the League Reized it with both hands, and a bona-fide resident of a district, game and to his team mates, he TJlayed some magniflcient games, ..and unless otherwise provided for showed glimpses of high-class foot­ his heady tactics delighting the ·by the N.S.W. Rugby Football ball as a centre three-quarter. He· fans. Although no longer a juven­ League." never failed to grass his man with ile, Reg can still be depended upon a good low tackle, and hie; taking to ke-ep moving at top speed, and The draw for the President's Cup and giving of passes was . first­ play the game like a gentleman. :is as follows:-Western Distriet v. class. He was principa!ly re­ -D. Eastern Suburbs; North Sydney v. sponsible for the only try scored, .South Sydney; St. George v and only for lack of condition could have scored himself. West­ Glebe; Newtown v Western Balmain and St. George have Suburbs; Southern Districts v Can­ ern Suburbs' selectors should give played three premiership games, terbury-Bankstown; Balmain, bye. t_his player an opportunity, as there the former winning all, scoring 11 is no doubt that, on his form on tries 6 goals ( 45 points) to 2 tries Saturday, he will, when in con- 7 goals (20 points). TRAaNINC QUARTERS. dition and more familiar with the The District teams are situated at League code, prove a worthy ac­ ·the following training quarters:---- quisition to the team.-J.R. N�wtown . .. .. Marrickville Oval {Jlebe ............ Wentworth Park * Lord Ra lan Ho!el University .