1937 NSWRFL PREMIERS
Despite Dave Brown taking up a lucrative offer to join Warrington in England, Easts dominated the 1937 season and strung together their third consecutive Premiership for the second time in the Club's history.
Halfback Viv Thickness took over as skipper, as the competition reverted back to a 'first-past-the-post' system with the reintroduction of the City Cup at season's end.
The nine-round competition began as the Red, White and Blue defeated Newtown 27-7 to open their account, with a four-match winning streak from Round 3 to Round 6 including scalps over North Sydney (21-6), Canterbury (23-15), University (52-5) and Balmain (25-2).
A draw to South Sydney in the penultimate round mattered little as they claimed the Club's seventh Premiership with a 23-5 victory over Western Suburbs in the last round, with the Easts faithful in full cheer at the Sports Ground for a second consecutive undefeated season.
An inexperienced side charged through the City Cup with only two losses from their eight rounds, and despite suffering a heavy defeat in the Final against Newtown, Eastern Suburbs had established themselves as one of the most dominant sides in Rugby League history with the completion of their three-peat.
Winger Rod O'Loan continued his stunning try-scoring rate with 16 to his name, while centre Jack Beaton claimed 87 points from five tries and 36 goals.
1937 Player Details /
Player No. |
Player | Age | Games | Tries | Goals | Field Goals |
Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
232 | Jack Beaton | 23 | 8 | 2 | 25 | 56 | |
249 | Stan Callaghan | 20 | 3 | 1 | 3 | ||
178 | Jack Coote | 29 | 7 | 3 | 9 | ||
224 | Tom Dowling | 27 | 8 | 1 | 2 | ||
239 | Ross McKinnon | 23 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 7 | |
237 | Tom McLachlan | 30 | 8 | 1 | 2 | ||
205 | Max Nixon | 26 | 1 | ||||
206 | Ernie Norman | 24 | 8 | 4 | 12 | ||
234 | Andy Norval | 25 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 14 | |
240 | Rod O'Loan | 22 | 8 | 7 | 21 | ||
193 | Joe Pearce | 26 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 5 | |
235 | Harry Pierce | 24 | 8 | 6 | 18 | ||
190 | Ray Stehr | 24 | 8 | 1 | 2 | ||
210 | Viv Thicknesse | 26 | 8 | 2 | 6 | ||
201 | Fred Tottey | 27 | 8 | 10 | 30 |
Total Players: | 15 |
Total Games: | 8 |
Total Tries: | 41 |
Total Points: | 187 |
Youngest Player (Squad): | Stan Callaghan (20) |
Youngest Player (Team): | Rod O'Loan (22) |
Oldest Player: | Tom McLachlan (30) |
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