1975 NSWRFL season
# 1975 NSWRFL season

The 1975 New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership was the 68th season of Sydney's professional rugby league football competition, Australia's first. Twelve teams, including six of 1908's foundation clubs and another six from across Sydney competed for the J. J. Giltinan Shield during the season, which culminated in a grand final match for the WD & HO Wills Cup between the Eastern Suburbs and St. George clubs. NSWRFL teams also competed for the 1975 Amco Cup.

## Season summary

The season saw the introduction of differential penalties for scrum offences. Each side faced each other twice in twenty-two regular season rounds from March to August, resulting in a top five of Eastern Suburbs, Manly-Warringah, St. George, Canterbury-Bankstown and Parramatta who battled it out for the premiership over six finals matches. With three sides finishing in equal fifth place, two elimination finals playoffs also had to be played.

Western Suburbs had 1 point deducted for fielding an ineligible player in round 8. After losing two consecutive matches in rounds 2 and 3, defending premiers Eastern Suburbs posted nineteen consecutive wins to close out the regular season; a streak than ran from round 4 to round 22 and remained the record for the most consecutive wins in premiership history until Melbourne Storm equalled the record in 2021; Round 3 to Round 23, although they were later eliminated by eventual Premiers Penrith Panthers in the preliminary final.

The 1975 season's Rothmans Medallist was Cronulla-Sutherland centre Steve Rogers. Rugby League Week gave their player of the year award to Manly-Warringah back Bob Fulton.

## Regular season

| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 | GF |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Balmain Tigers | EAS −3 | PAR +3 | NOR −7 | NEW −10 | SOU −37 | STG −26 | CRO +2 | MAN −13 | WES −16 | PEN +15 | CBY +5 | STG +3 | EAS −2 | NOR +13 | NEW +2 | SOU +15 | PAR −21 | CRO −1 | MAN +3 | WES 0 | PEN +7 | CBY −1 | X | PAR −11 | | | | |
| Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | STG +4 | CRO −11 | MAN −12 | WES +1 | PEN +22 | SOU +13 | EAS −19 | PAR +5 | NOR +44 | NEW 0 | BAL −5 | SOU +3 | STG +1 | MAN +18 | WES 0 | PEN −15 | CRO −8 | EAS −22 | PAR −1 | NOR −1 | NEW +25 | BAL +1 | X | X | PAR −1 | | | |
| Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | PEN −2 | CBY +11 | EAS +4 | PAR −7 | NOR +4 | NEW +2 | BAL −2 | STG 0 | SOU +30 | MAN −6 | WES −6 | NEW −9 | PEN −25 | EAS −2 | PAR +14 | NOR +13 | CBY +8 | BAL +1 | STG −3 | SOU −6 | MAN −10 | WES −14 | | | | | | |
| Eastern Suburbs Roosters | BAL +3 | STG −8 | CRO −4 | MAN +6 | WES +6 | PEN +13 | CBY +19 | SOU +3 | PAR +5 | NOR +14 | NEW +9 | PEN +17 | BAL +2 | CRO +2 | MAN +1 | WES +1 | STG +34 | CBY +22 | SOU +19 | PAR +19 | NOR +23 | NEW +27 | X | X | X | STG −3 | MAN +15 | STG +38 |
| Manly Warringah Sea Eagles | WES +2 | PEN +19 | CBY +12 | EAS −6 | PAR −15 | NOR +8 | NEW +13 | BAL +13 | STG +1 | CRO +6 | SOU +4 | NOR +6 | WES −18 | CBY −18 | EAS −1 | PAR +19 | PEN +17 | NEW +5 | BAL −3 | STG −3 | CRO +10 | SOU +54 | X | X | STG −7 | PAR +10 | EAS −15 | |
| Newtown Jets | PAR −9 | NOR −8 | SOU −7 | BAL +10 | STG −17 | CRO −2 | MAN −13 | WES +11 | PEN +14 | CBY 0 | EAS −9 | CRO +9 | PAR +11 | SOU +6 | BAL −2 | STG −6 | NOR −7 | MAN −5 | WES +3 | PEN 0 | CBY −25 | EAS −27 | | | | | | |
| North Sydney Bears | SOU −4 | NEW +8 | BAL +7 | STG −3 | CRO −4 | MAN −8 | WES −13 | PEN +25 | CBY −44 | EAS −14 | PAR −12 | MAN −6 | SOU +2 | BAL −13 | STG +6 | CRO −13 | NEW +7 | WES +3 | PEN +21 | CBY +1 | EAS −23 | PAR −15 | | | | | | |
| Parramatta Eels | NEW +9 | BAL −3 | STG −10 | CRO +7 | MAN +15 | WES −17 | PEN +5 | CBY −5 | EAS −5 | SOU −7 | NOR +12 | WES −4 | NEW −11 | STG 0 | CRO −14 | MAN −19 | BAL +21 | PEN +15 | CBY +1 | EAS −19 | SOU +32 | NOR +15 | WES +5 | BAL +11 | CBY +1 | MAN −10 | | |
| Penrith Panthers | CRO +2 | MAN −19 | WES +9 | SOU −5 | CBY −22 | EAS −13 | PAR −5 | NOR −25 | NEW −14 | BAL −15 | STG −9 | EAS −17 | CRO +25 | WES +5 | SOU +2 | CBY +15 | MAN −17 | PAR −15 | NOR −21 | NEW 0 | BAL −7 | STG +6 | | | | | | |
| South Sydney Rabbitohs | NOR +4 | WES −11 | NEW +7 | PEN +5 | BAL +37 | CBY −13 | STG −7 | EAS −3 | CRO −30 | PAR +7 | MAN −4 | CBY −3 | NOR −2 | NEW −6 | PEN −2 | BAL −15 | WES −11 | STG −17 | EAS −19 | CRO +6 | PAR −32 | MAN −54 | | | | | | |
| St. George Dragons | CBY −4 | EAS +8 | PAR +10 | NOR +3 | NEW +17 | BAL +26 | SOU +7 | CRO 0 | MAN −1 | WES +7 | PEN +9 | BAL −3 | CBY −1 | PAR 0 | NOR −6 | NEW +6 | EAS −34 | SOU +17 | CRO +3 | MAN +3 | WES −14 | PEN −6 | X | X | MAN +7 | EAS +3 | X | EAS −38 |
| Western Suburbs Magpies | MAN −2 | SOU +11 | PEN −9 | CBY −1 | EAS −6 | PAR +17 | NOR +13 | NEW −11 | BAL +16 | STG −7 | CRO +6 | PAR +4 | MAN +18 | PEN −5 | CBY 0 | EAS −1 | SOU +11 | NOR −3 | NEW −3 | BAL 0 | STG +14 | CRO +14 | PAR −5 | | | | | |
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 | GF |

Bold – Home game X – Bye Opponent for round listed above margin

### Ladder

| | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Eastern Suburbs | 22 | 20 | 0 | 2 | 431 | 198 | +233 | 40 |
| 2 | Manly-Warringah | 22 | 15 | 0 | 7 | 439 | 314 | +125 | 30 |
| 3 | St. George | 22 | 12 | 2 | 8 | 341 | 294 | +47 | 26 |
| 4 | Canterbury-Bankstown | 22 | 11 | 2 | 9 | 330 | 287 | +43 | 24 |
| 5 | Western Suburbs | 22 | 10 | 2 | 10 | 365 | 289 | +76 | 21 |
| 6 | Parramatta | 22 | 10 | 1 | 11 | 391 | 373 | +18 | 21 |
| 7 | Balmain | 22 | 10 | 1 | 11 | 288 | 357 | -69 | 21 |
| 8 | Cronulla-Sutherland | 22 | 9 | 1 | 12 | 370 | 375 | -5 | 19 |
| 9 | North Sydney | 22 | 9 | 0 | 13 | 322 | 414 | -92 | 18 |
| 10 | Newtown | 22 | 7 | 2 | 13 | 349 | 422 | -73 | 16 |
| 11 | Penrith | 22 | 7 | 1 | 14 | 312 | 452 | -140 | 15 |
| 12 | South Sydney | 22 | 6 | 0 | 16 | 298 | 461 | -163 | 12 |

* Western Suburbs were stripped of 1 competition point due to an illegal replacement in one game.

### Ladder progression

* Numbers highlighted in green indicate that the team finished the round inside the top 5.
* Numbers highlighted in blue indicates the team finished first on the ladder in that round.
* Numbers highlighted in red indicates the team finished last place on the ladder in that round.

| | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Eastern Suburbs Roosters | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 28 | 30 | 32 | 34 | 36 | 38 | 40 |
| 2 | Manly Warringah Sea Eagles | 2 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 28 | 30 |
| 3 | St. George Dragons | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 26 |
| 4 | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 22 | 24 |
| 5 | Western Suburbs Magpies | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 19 | 21 |
| 6 | Parramatta Eels | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 21 |
| 7 | Balmain Tigers | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 19 | 21 | 21 |
| 8 | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 |
| 9 | North Sydney Bears | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
| 10 | Newtown Jets | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 |
| 11 | Penrith Panthers | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 15 |
| 12 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 |

## Finals

Balmain, Parramatta and Western Suburbs tied for fifth place, necessitating a play-off drawn from a hat.

| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Home | Score | Away | Date and Time | Venue | Referee | Crowd |
| Playoffs |||||||
| Western Suburbs | 13–18 | Parramatta | 26 August 1975 | Sydney Cricket Ground | Greg Hartley | 9,920 |
| Parramatta | 19–8 | Balmain | 28 August 1975 | Sydney Cricket Ground | Gary Cook | 19,914 |
| Qualifying Finals |||||||
| Manly-Warringah | 3–10 | St. George | 30 August 1975 | Sydney Cricket Ground | Laurie Bruyeres | 23,492 |
| Canterbury-Bankstown | 5–6 | Parramatta | 31 August 1975 | Sydney Cricket Ground | Gary Cook | 19,312 |
| Semi-finals |||||||
| Eastern Suburbs | 5–8 | St. George | 6 September 1975 | Sydney Cricket Ground | Laurie Bruyeres | 28,851 |
| Manly-Warringah | 22–12 | Parramatta | 7 September 1975 | Sydney Cricket Ground | Gary Cook | 26,109 |
| Preliminary final |||||||
| Eastern Suburbs | 28–13 | Manly-Warringah | 13 September 1975 | Sydney Cricket Ground | Laurie Bruyeres | 31,645 |
| Grand final |||||||
| St. George | 0–38 | Eastern Suburbs | 20 September 1975 | Sydney Cricket Ground | Laurie Bruyeres | 63,047 |

### Chart

| Qualifying final | Qualifying final | Qualifying final | Major semi-final | Major semi-final | Major semi-final | Preliminary final | Preliminary final | Preliminary final | Grand final | Grand final | Grand final |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | | | 1 | Eastern Suburbs | 5 | | | | St. George | 0 |
| | | | | St. George | 8 | | | | Eastern Suburbs | Eastern Suburbs | 38 |
| 2 | Manly | 3 | | | | Eastern Suburbs | Eastern Suburbs | 28 | | | |
| 3 | St. George | 10 | Minor semi-final | Minor semi-final | Minor semi-final | Manly | Manly | 13 | | | |
| | | | Manly | Manly | 22 | | | | | | |
| 4 | Canterbury | 5 | Parramatta | Parramatta | 12 | | | | | | |
| 5 | Parramatta | 6 | | | | | | | | | |

### Grand final

| St. George | Position | Eastern Suburbs |
| - | - | - |
| Graeme Langlands (c) | FB | Ian Schubert |
| 2. Paul Mills | WG | 2. Bruce Pickett |
| 3. Roy Ferguson | CE | 3. John Brass |
| 4. Ted Goodwin | CE | 4. John Rheinberger |
| 5. John Chapman | WG | 5. Bill Mullins |
| 6. John Bailey | FE | 6. John Peard |
| 7. Billy Smith | HB | 7. Johnny Mayes |
| 13. Barry Beath | PR | 13. Ian Mackay |
| 12. Steve Edge | HK | 12. Elwyn Walters |
| 11. Henry Tatana | PR | 18.Grant Hedger |
| 10. Peter Fitzgerald | SR | 11. Arthur Beetson (c) |
| 9. Robert Stone | SR | 10. Ron Coote |
| 8. Lindsay Drake | LK | 8. Kevin Stevens |
| 14. Robert Finch | Reserve | 9. Bunny Reilly |
| 15. Bruce Starkey | Reserve | 19. Des O'Reilly |
| Graeme Langlands | Coach | Jack Gibson |

This was the first grand final to be telecast in colour. The star-studded Eastern Suburbs line up had lost only 2 matches in the 22-game regular season and were clear starting favourites. However, St. George looked a chance early on when utility back "Lord Ted" Goodwin put on a chip and chase. Goodwin collided with Eastern Suburbs' fullback Ian Schubert, came off second best and was out of touch for the remainder of the match. Things were also wrong with captain-coach Graeme Langlands who was struggling with his coordination following an ill-directed pain killing injection that numbed his right leg and severely affected his form.

At half-time, Eastern Suburbs were up 5–0. Just after the break the Roosters' prop Ian McKay crashed over from close range and the floodgates opened. Eastern Suburbs unleashed a torrent of tries with Johnny Mayes, Arthur Beetson, John Brass, Bruce Pickett and boom recruit Schubert all scoring.

Despite his numbed leg, Langlands returned in the second half hoping it would come good. It didn't and he was replaced. By the end of the game, St. George had been completely demoralised by Easts in a 38–0 record Grand final defeat. Fellow Immortal and peer Australian Captain Arthur Beetson attempted in vain to console the forlorn Langlands at match end.

Easts' eight tries in the grand final matched South Sydney's record achievement in the 1951 final (subsequently equalled again by Manly in 2008).

Eastern Suburbs 38 Tries: Brass (2), Mayes (2), McKay, Beetson, Pickett, Schubert Goals: Peard (7)

St George 0

## Player statistics

The following statistics are as of the conclusion of Round 22.

| Points | Player | Tries | Goals | Field Goals |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 223 | Graham Eadie | 13 | 92 | 0 |
| 183 | John Brass | 4 | 85 | 1 |
| 183 | John Dorahy | 11 | 75 | 0 |
| 156 | Steve Rogers | 8 | 66 | 0 |
| 153 | Eric Simms | 5 | 68 | 2 |
| Tries | Player |
| 14 | Johnny Mayes |
| 14 | Mark Harris |
| 13 | Bob Fulton |
| 13 | Graham Eadie |
| 12 | Jim Porter |
| Goals | Player |
| 92 | Graham Eadie |
| 85 | John Brass |
| 75 | John Dorahy |
| 68 | Eric Simms |
| 66 | Steve Rogers |
