105 Years Ago Today... We came to Play

One hundred and five years ago today, Western Suburbs played their first competition match when the inaugural NSWRL season of 1908 kicked off. Easter Monday, 20th April 1908 saw the NSWRL stage double headers at Wentworth Park and Birchgrove Oval. For Western Suburbs, it wasn't the start they wanted, going down to current joint-venture partner, Balmain by 24-0. (other results that famous day were Souths 11 def Norths 7 at Birchgrove whilst at Wentworth Park, Easts 32 def Newtown 16 and Glebe 8 def Newcastle 5).

The Wests team that day was

fullback: G Duffin; threequarters: C Blake, B Duggan, T Phelan, P Franks; halves: R Gormley, L Gormley; fowards: J Abercrombie, T Mount, J Stack (capt), E Mead, W Elliot, A Brown.

Western Suburbs would go onto to win just one match that year, a one point victory over Newtown.

Below is a team photo during the 1908 season.

Five years ago on this day in 2008, Western Suburbs and Balmain returned to Birchgrove Oval for the celebration of the Centenary of Rugby League.

On that day the tables were turned and Western Suburbs defeated Balmain 36-24 in their NSW Cup clash.