A rugby league team consists of 13 players on the field, with 4 substitutes on the bench. Each of the 13 players is assigned a position, normally with a standardised number, which reflects their role in attack and defence, although players can take up any position at any time.
72-697: Frank Burge (14 August 1894 – 5 July 1958) was one of the greatest forwards in the history of rugby league in Australia. Later Burge became one of the game's finest coaches. His club career was with Glebe and the St. George Dragons . He represented New South Wales on twenty-six occasions and played thirteen test matches for the Kangaroos and played for Australia in a further twenty-three tour matches. Born on 14 August 1894 in Darlington, New South Wales , Burge
144-559: A capacity of 18,000, is the club's home stadium. The club was one of the foundation members of the Sydney rugby football league competition in 1908. Founded at a meeting on 4 February 1908 at Ashfield Town Hall, they won only one match the following season so were the League's first wooden spooners (after Cumberland were awarded an extra bye). Though they spent long periods of time as also-rans, they did taste premiership success four times in
216-702: A game in 2012 while Balmain Ryde Eastwood Tigers made it to the Grand Final where they were defeated by the Newtown Jets . The Magpies dropped back to the third tier Ron Massey Cup in 2013, with members voting to field a separate NSW Cup team in 2014, although this did not eventuate. In 2015, The Magpies added a team in the Sydney Shield competition to act as a feeder for their Ron Massey Cup campaign. In 2016, Western Suburbs made
288-405: A game, although in the professional game there are other procedures in place for dealing with this. Western Suburbs Magpies The Western Suburbs Magpies (legal name: Western Suburbs District Rugby League Football Club Ltd) is an Australian rugby league football club based in the western suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales. Formed in 1908, Wests , as the club is commonly referred to,
360-416: A game. The captain is the on-field leader of a team and a point of contact between the referee and a team, and can be a player of any position. Some of the captain's responsibilities are stipulated in the laws . Before a match, the two teams' captains toss a coin with the referee. The captain that wins the toss can decide to kick off or can choose which end of the field to defend. The captain that loses
432-464: A game. the Super League allowed up to ten interchanges per team in each game, this was reduced to eight interchanges per team per game, commencing in the 2019 season. Commencing in the 2016 season, Australia's National Rugby League permits up to eight interchanges per team per game. Additionally, if a player is injured due to foul play and an opposition player has been sin-binned or sent off then
504-450: A player suffers a match-ending injury caused by foul play, in which the opposing player was either sin-binned or sent off. Since the change, there have been calls to reduce the number of players that suffer a match-ending injury to two players, in the wake of a few incidents in the NRL. The concussion substitute was used during the 2021 Rugby League World Cup played in 2022, and adopted by
576-687: A side and Wests could. This also went against the Magpies Football Club members wishes and they organised a Protest Rally through the streets of Campbelltown . Wests Ashfield Leagues Club under pressure reinstated funding late in the off season after the Magpies players had already signed on to play with other teams. The Wests Tigers however decided to cease all support of the Magpies NSW Cup side while continuing support for Balmain Ryde Eastwood Tigers . The Magpies failed to win
648-573: A unique coaching career as he never once missed the finals with any team he was in charge of. Burge was awarded life membership of the New South Wales Rugby League in 1935. On 5 July 1958, after watching a Newtown versus North Sydney match at Henson Park , Burge died suddenly after suffering a heart attack, 41 days short of his 64th birthday. A large funeral was held on 8 July at the Woronora Crematorium. He
720-511: Is the only Immortal who has not won a NRL, NSWRL or BRL Premiership. On 20 July 2022, Burge was named in the St. George Dragons District Rugby League Clubs team of the century as head coach. Rugby league positions#Forwards Players are divided into two general types, forwards and backs. Forwards are generally chosen for their size and strength. They are expected to run with the ball, to attack, and to make tackles. Forwards are required to improve
792-590: The Intrust Super Premiership ends the clubs 5-year hiatus from the top level NSWRL competition that it had participated continuously in from 1908 to 2012. For its return the team will be coached by former Western Suburbs 1st grade player Brett Hodgson . In 2018, Wests enjoyed a solid return to the Intrust Super Premiership NSW after finishing in 5th place on the table. In week 1 of the finals, Wests were defeated by
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#1732782583845864-467: The RFL in 2023. As well as their positions, players' roles may be referred to by a range of other terms. Following a tackle, the defending team may position two players – known as markers – at the play-the-ball to stand, one behind the other facing the tackled player and the attacking team's dummy-half. The dummy half or (acting half-back) is the player who stands behind the play-the-ball and collects
936-494: The Wests Tigers , they would form a feeder partnership with rivals Canberra Raiders . The Wests Tigers capitulated. The Western Suburbs Magpies made the semi-finals in 2008, 2009 and 2010. In 2012 funding was withheld from the Magpies by Wests Ashfield Leagues Club Directors (not unanimously) as they now supported Wests Tigers proposal for a single NSW Cup side, even though this was done simply because Balmain couldn't afford
1008-487: The Wyong Roos 18–14 in the elimination final thus ending their season. At the end of the 2019 Canterbury Cup NSW season, Western Suburbs missed out on the finals after finishing in 10th place. Western Suburbs had a difficult year during the 2022 NSW Cup finishing 11th on the table just one spot above wooden spooners Blacktown Workers . Western Suburbs had a tough year in the 2024 NSW Cup finishing last and claiming
1080-505: The loose forward or lock forward packs behind the two-second-rows in the scrum. Some teams choose to simply deploy a third prop in the loose forward position, while other teams use a more skilful player as an additional playmaker. Loose forwards that feature in their nation's Halls of Fame include Australia's Ron Coote , Johnny Raper , Bradley Clyde and Wally Prigg , Great Britain's Vince Karalius , Ellery Hanley and 'Rocky' Turner , and New Zealand's Charlie Seeling . In addition to
1152-440: The touch-lines , where more space can usually be found. The laws of the game recognise standardised numbering of positions. The starting side normally wear the numbers corresponding to their positions, only changing in the case of substitutions and position shifts during the game. In some competitions, such as Super League , players receive a squad number to use all season, no matter what positions they play in. The positions and
1224-559: The "Western Suburbs Magpies Leagues Club", the businesses "Western Suburbs District Rugby League Football Club Ltd" is a fully controlled entity of Wests Ashfield Leagues Club. The Leagues club was formed in the 1950s and is now one of the leading community Clubs in Sydney. The current board of directors of the Wests Magpies (Western Suburbs District Rugby League Football Club) The board of directors comprises 4 members appointed by Wests Ashfield Leagues Club, and 3 members elected by
1296-440: The "back-line" consists of smaller, more agile players. Numbered 1 , the fullback's primary role is the last line of defence, standing behind the main line of defenders. Defensively, fullbacks must be able to chase and tackle any player who breaks the first line of defence, and must be able to catch and return kicks made by the attacking side. Their role in attack is usually as a support player, and they are often used to come into
1368-682: The A Grade and Granville Royals the B Grade. Parramatta District went into the NSWRL 3rd Grade competition in 1911 and Granville Royals joined them in 1912. Campsie Triers and Enfield Mercantile were formed by a split in the Enfield Federals club that had won the B Grade of the WSJRU competition in 1909, in its first year as a club. Val Howell, Frank Howell, S Gagan, G Gagan, A Tanner and Thompson joined Campsie while Lewis, H McCoy, D Nicholls, Prentice and Smythe joined Mercantile. They were together as
1440-611: The Balmain Tigers (the Wests Magpies had six junior players in that group, as opposed to one from Balmain), citing the advantages of both the NRL and NSW Cup teams training together at Concord Oval . This continued from 2006 to 2007. Magpies chairman Kevin Hammond was disappointed at the Wests Tigers decision and informed the Wests Tigers of that in 2008, if the Magpies did not receive a fair share of player allocation from
1512-769: The CRL Group 6 Northern Junior League and parts of the Parramatta DJRL (i.e. Liverpool) in 1987. They were forced to move out of their traditional territory around the Ashfield and Lidcombe areas of inner western Sydney to be able to then survive in the NSWRL . The old WSDJRL area has since been acquired by the Balmain DJRL and Bulldogs (Canterbury) DJRL. Clubs that used to play in the WSDJRL include; The first year of
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#17327825838451584-737: The Feds in 1911 and won both that season and again in 1912, so without the split they might have won titles in each of their first 4 seasons. On Friday 30 May 2008 the centenary of the Western Suburbs Magpies was celebrated with a ball in the Grand Harbour Ballroom at Sydney's Star City Casino . Six inaugural members were also inducted into the Western Suburbs Magpies Hall of Fame: 2010 Inductees 1997 MIA players 2012 Inductees In 2004
1656-489: The NRL competition, it was decided by the club in the middle of 1999 that to survive the cull they would be required to merge their senior team with another club's team. After initial talks with the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs failed an agreement was reached with the Balmain Tigers on 27 July 1999. The Wests Tigers first competed in the 2000 competition. The club also merged its playing colours from
1728-608: The WSDJRL are Anthony Minichiello (East Valley United), Mark Minichiello (Liverpool Catholic Club) Frank Pritchard (Campbelltown City) Eric Grothe, Jr. (Eagle Vale), Ryan Hoffman (Campbelltown Collegians), Ben Roberts (Narellan Jets), Sauaso Sue (Macquarie Field Hawks), Israel Folau , Jarryd Hayne , Krisnan Inu , Michael Lett (Ingleburn RSL), Gray Viane , John Skandalis , Ken McGuinness , Kevin McGuinness , Tim Lafai and Mickey & Lopini Paea (all Minto Cobras). The WSDJRL took over its current boundaries from
1800-416: The WSDJRL was 1910 and the final standings were: Parramatta Iona 16, Parramatta District 14, Campsie Triers 11, Granville Royals 11, Enfield Mercantile 9, Ashfield Surryville 7, Auburn Park 2. Since the NSWRL had promised 2 sets of medals the teams then split into 2 grades, Campsie Triers beating Granville Royals in a playoff to go onto the A section and the other 4 teams in the B Finals. Parramatta District won
1872-860: The back row of the scrum: two second-rowers and a loose forward. All three may be referred to as back-rowers. Second-row forwards are numbered 11 and 12 . While their responsibilities are similar in many ways to the props, these players typically possess more speed and agility and take up a wider position in attack and defence. Often each second rower will cover a specific side of the field, working in unison with their respective centre and winger. Second rowers are often relied upon to perform large numbers of tackles in defence. Second-row forwards that feature in their nations' halls of fame include New Zealand's Mark Graham , Australia's Norm Provan , George Treweek and Harry Bath , France's Jean Galia , and Great Britain & England's Martin Hodgson . Numbered 13 ,
1944-493: The ball is passed immediately by the first receiver, then the player catching it is sometimes referred to as the second receiver. A player who can play in a number of different positions is often referred to as a "utility player", "utility forward", or "utility back". Although any player can attempt their team's kicks at goal ( penalty kicks or conversions ), most teams have specific players who train extensively at kicking, and often use only one player to take goal kicks during
2016-410: The ball, before passing, running or kicking the ball. The hooker has become almost synonymous with the dummy half role. However, any player of any position can play the role at any time and this often happens during a game, particularly when the hooker is the player tackled. The first receiver is the name given to the first player to receive the ball off the play-the-ball, i.e. from the dummy-half. If
2088-507: The ball. As such, hookers are required to be reliable passers and often possess a similar skill-set to half backs. There are two props, numbered 8 and 10 , who pack into the front row of the scrum on either side of the hooker. Sometimes called "bookends" in Australasia, the props are usually the largest and heaviest players on a team. In attack, their size and strength means that they are primarily used for running directly into
2160-552: The club for a further three seasons. He maintained an average of a try a game for seventeen seasons scoring 218 tries in 213 senior matches with 146 coming from his 154 Sydney first grade matches. That try-scoring tally today stands at eleventh on an all-time list dominated by backs. Burge's first coaching job was with St. George between 1927 and 1930. Burge coached the club to the 1927 and 1930 grand finals where St. George were defeated on both occasions. Burge's next two coaching jobs saw him take Eastern Suburbs and North Sydney to
2232-1094: The club named its Team of the Century: 1 Frank McMillan – FB 2 Peter Dimond – WG 3 Harry Wells – CE 4 Cliff Pearce – CE 5 Alan Ridley – WG 6 Vic Hey – FE 7 Keith Holman – HB 8 John Donnelly – PR 9 Noel Kelly – HK 10 Ed "Tedda" Courtney – PR 11 Kel O'Shea – SR 12 Arthur Clues – SR 13 Les Boyd – LK 14 Tommy Raudonikis – positions 15 John Dorahy – positions 16 Neville Charlton – positions 17 Bill Carson – positions Roy Masters – positions The following Western Suburbs Magpies players have represented their countries in international competition. Largest crowd : Biggest defeat : 67–0 vs South Sydney (Agricultural Showground, 23 July 1910) Biggest win : 62–5 vs Balmain (Lidcombe Oval, 31 March 1974) Most First Grade Games Most Tries in
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2304-403: The club then played at Pratten Park sporadically over the next two decades playing games there in 1971, 1972, 1973, 1977 and 1985. The final ever first grade game to be played at Pratten Park was on 18 August 1985 against Penrith, Penrith won the match by 42–16. They then moved to Lidcombe Oval in 1967. This was due to Ashfield council not allowing the club to play matches on a Sunday (as this
2376-606: The club's viability led to years of exodus of talent. Wests did manage to win the 1977 Amco Cup . John Ribot , a winger for Wests, was the top try-scorer for the 1980 season. In 1983 the NSWRFL attempted to expel Wests from the competition, but a prolonged legal battle to keep their spot ensued, unlike the Newtown Jets who did not compete that year. Richard Conti appeared against New South Wales Rugby League bosses John Quayle and Colin Love in 1985, successfully advocating to keep
2448-464: The defensive line to help the fullback. Wingers that feature in their nations' rugby league halls of fame are Great Britain's Billy Batten , Billy Boston and Clive Sullivan , Australia's Brian Bevan , John Ferguson , Ken Irvine , Harold Horder and Brian Carlson , South African Tom van Vollenhoven and France's Raymond Contrastin . There are only 2 centres, right and left, numbered 3 and 4 respectively. They are usually positioned just inside
2520-400: The defensive line, as a kind of " battering ram " to simply gain metres. Similarly, props are relied upon to defend against such running from the opposition's forwards. Prop forwards that feature in their respective nations' rugby league halls of fame are Australia's Arthur Beetson , Duncan Hall , Frank Burge and Herb Steinohrt and New Zealand's Cliff Johnson . Three forwards make up
2592-574: The domestic 1914 Ashes series against Great Britain appearing in all three Tests. He is listed on the Australian Players Register as Kangaroo No. 88. Burge was the New South Wales Rugby Football League 's top try-scorer in 1915 , 1916 and 1918 an extremely rare feat in even one year for a forward. On the 1919 tour of New Zealand Burge played in all four tests. In the 1920 season, he
2664-480: The embattled club in the competition. He was later appointed the chairman of the NSWRL Judiciary. Eventually, Wests relocated to Campbelltown in 1987. Ironically, this was where Newtown had unsuccessfully tried to move to four years earlier. Wests began a rebuilding process in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Laurie Freier started the 1988 Winfield Cup season as the club's coach but was replaced during
2736-504: The field. Also known as wingers . There are two wings in a rugby league team, numbered 2 and 5 . They are usually positioned closest to the touch-line on each side of the field. They are generally among the fastest players in a team, with the speed to exploit space that is created for them and finish an attacking move. In defence their primary role is to mark their opposing wingers, and they are also usually required to catch and return kicks made by an attacking team, often dropping behind
2808-648: The finals, and Bolewski was replaced by club great, Frank McMillan . Wests won a second pair of premierships, beating Balmain in 1948 and South Sydney 22–12 in 1952. Both times they defeated a club hunting its third title in a row. Apart from these occasions, the club was famous for three successive grand final matches in 1961, 1962 and 1963 against the St George Dragons in the midst of their 11-premiership run. The club boasted footballers such as halfback Arthur Summons , Harry 'Bomber' Wells , Kel O'Shea , Noel Kelly and Peter Dimond . The 1963 grand final
2880-428: The forwards from lock to prop, he had the speed of a back to complement his strength and an anticipation that made him a support player without peer. Burge was a teetotaller who was way ahead of his time in observing a strict diet, he used coaching concepts familiar in modern sports psychology and upheld an all-year training regime that continued right through the long Sydney summer off-season. He debuted for Australia in
2952-461: The forwards, they direct the ball and are usually the team's main play-makers, and as such are typically required to be the most skillful and intelligent players on the team. These players also usually perform most tactical kicking for their team. Numbered 6 , the stand-off or five-eighth is usually a strong passer and runner, while also being agile. Often this player is referred to as "second receiver", as in attacking situations they are typically
Frank Burge - Misplaced Pages Continue
3024-943: The greater Campbelltown and Liverpool areas of southwestern Sydney. As of 2016 the following clubs were involved in the WSDJRL; The league was placed into administration in January 2019, with the NSWRL stepping in to manage the competition. The following clubs also competed in the WSDJRL, but have now folded: The WSDJRL has produced many ex and current Wests Tigers players including Brett Hodgson (Eagle Vale-St Andrews & Ingleburn RSL), Dean Collis (Campbelltown Warriors), Bryce Gibbs (All Saints Liverpool), Shannon Gallant (All Saints Liverpool & Campbelltown City) Chris Lawrence (Eagle Vale), and Shannon McDonnell (All Saints Liverpool). David Noaofaluma (Campbelltown Warriors, Campbelltown Collegians) James Tedesco (Eagle Vale St. Andrews) also Camden Rams (group 6, CRL) Other notable NRL players who grew up playing junior rugby league in
3096-685: The greatest league player ever." In 2004 he was admitted into the Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame. In February 2008, Burge was named in the list of Australia's 100 Greatest Players (1908–2007) which was commissioned by the NRL and ARL to celebrate the code's centenary year in Australia. Burge went on to be named as an interchange player in Australian rugby league's Team of the Century . Announced on 17 April 2008,
3168-429: The injured player's team is given a free interchange. Often an interchange bench will include at least one (and usually two) replacement props, as it is generally considered to be the most physically taxing position and these players are likely to tire the quickest. Commencing in 2021, a player named as the squad's 18th player on match day is able to take the field when three players fail a head injury assessment; or when
3240-579: The line to create an overlap in attack. Fullbacks that feature in their respective nations' rugby league halls of fame are France's Puig Aubert , Australia's Clive Churchill , Charles Fraser , Graeme Langlands , Graham Eadie and Billy Slater , Great Britain/Wales' Jim Sullivan , New Zealand's Des White and Great Britain's Kris Radlinski . There are four threequarters: two wingers and two centres - right wing (2), right centre (3), left centre (4) and left wing (5). Typically these players work in pairs, with one winger and one centre occupying each side of
3312-485: The members of the football club The Western Suburbs District Junior Rugby League (WSDJRL) was a completely separate entity to the Western Suburbs Magpies DRLFC. They were known as the "Junior Magpies", and administered the junior rugby league on behalf of the Western Suburbs Magpies and the Wests Tigers joint venture. It consisted of a network of affiliated junior rugby league clubs throughout
3384-522: The mid-20th century. They won their first premiership in 1930, beating St George 27–2. Four years later they defeated Eastern Suburbs to win their second title. For the 1944 NSWRFL season , Queensland 1910s representative player Henry Bolewski became coach the Western Suburbs club, replacing Alf Blair , who moved to South Sydney . Wests slightly improved on their performance from the previous season, finishing 5th (out of 8), but failing to make
3456-406: The modern game it is largely immaterial which players pack down in the scrum. Despite this, forwards are still referred to by the position they would traditionally take in the scrum. The front row of the scrum traditionally included the hooker with the two props on either side. All three may be referred to as front-rowers, but this term is now most commonly just used as a colloquialism to refer to
3528-492: The number 1. The rules governing if and when a replacement can be used have varied over the history of the game; currently they can be used for any reason by their coach – typically because of injury, to manage fatigue, for tactical reasons or due to poor performance. Under current rules, players who have been substituted are typically allowed to be substituted back into the game later on. Leagues in different countries have had different rules on how many interchanges can be made in
3600-487: The numbers are defined by the game's laws as: In practice, the term 'front row forward' is used less frequently than the term 'Prop' of which a team has two. The scrum half is often known as the half back, especially in Australasia, and the lock forward is usually known as loose forward in England. There are seven backs, numbered 1 to 7. For these positions, the emphasis is on speed and ball-handling skills. Generally,
3672-490: The preliminary final match against St Mary's in The Ron Massey Cup but lost the match in a close tussle. 2017 proved to be a bad year for Wests as The Ron Massey Cup side finished with the wooden spoon and The Sydney Shield side finished second last. On 5 June 2017, it was announced that Western Suburbs had placed a bid to be included into the Intrust Super Premiership season for 2018. The re-entry to
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#17327825838453744-443: The preliminary finals respectively. In 1936, he coached Canterbury-Bankstown to their first finals series. He had similar success with Newtown in 1940 taking them to the finals after a second-placed finish. He returned to North Sydney in 1945 and once more guided them to the finals. In his final coaching role, Burge took Western Suburbs to the preliminary final in 1947. Following this match, Burge retired from coaching. He had
3816-427: The props. The hooker or rake , numbered 9 , traditionally packs in the middle of the scrum's front row. The position is named because of the traditional role of "hooking" the ball back with the foot when it enters the scrum. It is usually the hooker who plays in the dummy-half position, receiving the ball from the play-the-ball and continuing the team's attack by passing the ball to a teammate or by running with
3888-471: The season by John Bailey . The club made the semi-finals in 1991 and 1992 under coach Warren Ryan . Wests were NSWRL Club Champions in 1991 when all three grades made the semi-finals. The team also made it to the pre-season Challenge Cup final in 1993 but was beaten by a star-studded Canberra side. The club then slipped down the ladder and the coaching reins were handed over to caretaker Wayne Ellis . The decision to appoint Tommy Raudonikis as coach for
3960-690: The second player to receive the ball (after the half-back) and are then able to initiate an attacking move. Numbered 7 , the scrum-half or half-back is usually involved in directing the team's play. The position is sometimes referred to as "first receiver", as half-backs are often the first to receive the ball from the dummy-half after a play-the-ball. This makes them important decision-makers in attack. A rugby league forward pack consists of six players who tend to be bigger and stronger than backs, and generally rely more on their strength and size to fulfill their roles than play-making skills. The forwards also traditionally formed and contested scrums ; however, in
4032-462: The start of the 1995 season sent a shot of adrenaline into the club. Raudonikis took the Magpies to the finals in 1996. However the club could not compete in the player market in 1997 thanks to the Super League war which saw players' contracts soar sky high to unsustainable levels. In 1998 and 1999, a Magpie team filled with many unknown players struggled to be competitive and twice received
4104-411: The team is the panel's majority choice for each of the thirteen starting positions and four interchange players. In 2008 New South Wales announced their rugby league team of the century, naming Burge at prop. Joining fellow pre-WWII greats Dave Brown and Dally Messenger , Burge was inducted as a Rugby League Immortal in 2018, along with recent greats Norm Provan and Mal Meninga . Uniquely, Burge
4176-402: The team's field position thus creating space and time for the backs. Backs are usually smaller and faster, though a big, fast player can be of advantage in the backs. Their roles require speed and ball-playing skills, rather than just strength, to take advantage of the field position gained by the forwards. Typically forwards tend to operate in the centre of the field, while backs operate nearer to
4248-410: The thirteen on-field players, there are a maximum of five substitute players who start the game on their team's bench. Usually, they will be numbered 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18. Each player normally keeps their number for the whole game, regardless of which position they play in. That is, if player number 14 replaces the fullback, they will wear the number 14 for the whole game, and not change shirts to display
4320-413: The toss then takes the other of the alternatives. The captain is often seen as responsible for a team's discipline. When a team persistently breaks the laws, the referee while issuing a caution will often speak with the team's captain to encourage them to improve their team's discipline. The captains are also traditionally responsible for appointing a substitute should a player suffer an injury during
4392-626: The two joint venture partners. Wests Ashfield Leagues have also been key sponsors & supporters of the club since they were established. The Western Suburbs Magpies home matches are played at Lidcombe Oval , Lidcombe and their training facilities are near by. In 2000 the Western Suburbs Magpies Under 20s team were runners up to the Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs, captained by Mitch Zammit and Luke Duffy. The Western Suburbs Magpies last title
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#17327825838454464-424: The war-interrupted eight-year period between 1914 and 1922. He played 16 seasons and a record 148 first grade games for Glebe and was club captain for many years. His career tally of 146 first grade tries stood for eighty years as the highest by a forward until Manly-Warringah back rower Steven Menzies broke it in 2004. Burge moved to St. George in 1927, retired as a player at the end of that season, and coached
4536-807: The wingers and are typically the second-closest players to the touch-line on each side of the field. In attack their primary role is to provide an attacking threat out wide and as such they often need to be some of the fastest players on the pitch, often providing the pass for their winger to finish off a move, by drawing and passing to give the fast wingers space to move. In defence, they are expected to mark their opposite centre. Centres that feature in their countries' halls of fame are France's Max Rousié , England's Eric Ashton , Harold Wagstaff and Neil Fox , Wales' Gus Risman and Australia's Reg Gasnier , H "Dally" Messenger , Dave Brown , Jim Craig , Bob Fulton , Mal Meninga , and Greg Inglis . There are two halves. Positioned more centrally in attack, beside or behind
4608-601: The wooden spoon. Wests only managed to win six games for the entire campaign. St Luke's Park was the home ground of the Western Suburbs club in 1910 and 1911 . They started playing their matches at Pratten Park in Ashfield in 1912, but after pressure from local residents there the council refused the club permission to use that ground, forcing them to return to St. Luke's Oval from 1915 to 1919. The Magpies have played at three home grounds since foundation. They returned to Pratten Park in 1920, remaining there until 1966,
4680-597: The wooden spoon. With the club struggling on-field and trying to compete financially against clubs with News Limited funding, the writing was on the wall. The well documented Super League War in 1997 between Super League (News Ltd) and the Australian Rugby League (ARL) resulted in a compromise that by the year 2000, the National Rugby League (NRL) competition would be contested by only 14 teams. With Western Suburbs struggling on field in
4752-712: Was immortalised in a photograph which became known as ' The Gladiators ' after St. George captain Norm Provan and Summons trudged off the field together. A final period of glory beckoned in the late 1970s where they spent a few years at the top or near-top of the table, yet failed to make a grand final. Coached by Roy Masters and boasting such players as fullback John Dorahy , half Tommy Raudonikis , five-eighth Graeme O'Grady , Gavin Miller , Ron Giteau , Les Boyd , prop John Donnelly and five-eighth Terry Lamb . However attractive offers from other clubs and then doubts about
4824-596: Was one of the nine foundation clubs of the first New South Wales Rugby League competition in Australia. The club, as a sole entity, departed the top-flight competition in 1999 after forming a 50–50 joint venture with Balmain Tigers to form the Wests Tigers . The club currently fields sides in the NSW State Cup (Canterbury Cup), Ron Massey Cup (Opens), S.G. Ball Cup (Under 19's) and Harold Matthews Cup (Under 17's) competitions. Campbelltown Stadium , which has
4896-586: Was playing first grade rugby union at age 14, the youngest ever to play senior rugby in either code. Upon switching to the professional New South Wales Rugby Football League , Burge was playing first grade for Glebe at age 16 and was selected for the state at age 18. After his attempt to enlist in the Australian Imperial Force was rejected because of a speech impediment, Burge devoted his energies to rugby league. At 93 kilograms or 14 stone 9 pounds and equally effective anywhere in
4968-437: Was survived by his wife Millie. Burge's former University rival Dick O'Brien said on Burge's death: " May I say, as Anthony did of Caesar: his life was gentle, the elements so mixed in him that nature might stand up and say to all the world "This was a man" '. Revered Sun Herald sports journalist, Tom Goodwin said of Burge : "I believe Frank Burge was the greatest forward the game has ever produced. Indeed, he may have been
5040-626: Was the league's top point scorer. Burge holds the NSWRFL/NSWRL/ARL/NRL record for most tries in a match, scoring eight in a club match for Glebe in 1920. Again in 1920 he appeared in all three Tests of the domestic Ashes series and then was selected on the 1921–22 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain where he played in all three tests and twenty representative tour matches scoring 33 tries in 23 matches, more than any touring forward before or since. Burge's representative record shows him appearing in every single Australian Test match played in
5112-405: Was the church day). In 1987, they moved to Campbelltown 's Orana Park (located in adjacent Leumeah), which, after a $ 25 million renovation, is now called Campbelltown Stadium which is now one of the home grounds of the Wests Tigers . The Magpies' lower grade sides play most home games at Campbelltown Stadium, with the occasional game moved to Lidcombe Oval. While no leagues club is called
5184-767: Was won in 2002 when the Western Suburbs Magpies captained by Liam Fulton won the New South Wales Rugby League Under 18's competition. From 2000 to 2012 the Western Suburbs Magpies fielded teams in the NSWRL First Grade competition now known as the NSW Cup . In 2006 the Wests Tigers on advice from Tim Sheens pushed the notion that the NRL side would be better served with a single NSW Cup side. Western Suburbs board opposed this decision and decided to continue fielding their own team. Wests Tigers then allocated all NRL contracted players to
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