FREE! Click here to Join FunTrivia. Thousands of games, quizzes, and lots more!

Quiz about Australian Rugby League 19331957

Australian Rugby League 1933-1957 Quiz

The years 1933-1957 were exciting and busy for Australians and for Rugby League. Have a go at this quiz, which asks a question on each season played during this time.

A multiple-choice quiz by timence. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
timence

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
132,398

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
25

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
16 / 25

Plays
253

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 25

1. What caused several of the top sides to struggle in 1933? Hint

The loss of players due to salary cap

The departure of players on the Kangaroo Tour

A spate of injuries

All of these

NEXT>

Question 2 of 25

2. Western Suburbs bounced back from the wooden spoon in 1933 to do what in 1934? Hint

Win the minor premiership but lose the Grand Final

Finish 2nd in the minor premiership but win the Grand Final

Win the minor premiership but lose the Final

Win the minor premiership and the Grand Final

NEXT>

Question 3 of 25

3. Which Easts star, first name Dave, was known as "the Bradman of League", and scored 45 points in a single match in 1935?

Answer: (Last name ONLY)

NEXT>

Question 4 of 25

4. Did Eastern Suburbs finish the 1936 season undefeated?

Yes

NEXT>

Question 5 of 25

5. What was odd about the finishing places in 1937? Hint

There were two runners-up

There was no premier

There were two winners

There was no wooden-spooner

NEXT>

Question 6 of 25

6. Which team, just 3 years after joining the competition, upset Eastern Suburbs in the 1938 Final? Hint

Canterbury-Bankstown

Cronulla-Sutherland

Manly-Warringah

St George

NEXT>

Question 7 of 25

7. 1939 was the first time since 1933 that ____________ ? Hint

a Grand Final was played

Eastern Suburbs didn't come 1st or 2nd

no Final was played

Newtown played in the Grand Final

NEXT>

Question 8 of 25

8. Did the 1940s season get cancelled due to World War II?

Yes

NEXT>

Question 9 of 25

9. 1941: St George finally won its first premiership. How many years did it take them? Hint

NEXT>

Question 10 of 25

10. Canterbury-Bankstown winger Edgar Newham scored 5 tries in the 1942 Grand Final?

True

False

NEXT>

Question 11 of 25

11. 1943: The 'Bluebags' won their third, and what would be their last premiership before exiting the competition in 1983. Who were the 'Bluebags'?

Answer: (One Word)

NEXT>

Question 12 of 25

12. Why did the NSWRL consider abondoning the Grand Final of 1944? Hint

None of these

World War II fighting escalated

Rumours that Newtown threw the Final

The Kangaroo tour

NEXT>

Question 13 of 25

13. Dick Dunn scored how many of East Suburbs' 22 points in the Final of 1945? Hint

NEXT>

Question 14 of 25

14. 1946 saw what occurence in Rugby League history? Hint

The first year Parramatta played in the premiership

The first Grand Final to go into extra time

The first Grand Final to be won by 1 point

The first year Manly-Warringah played in the premiership

NEXT>

Question 15 of 25

15. How many teams contested the 1947 season? Hint

NEXT>

Question 16 of 25

16. 1948 Grand Final: Balmain played in their ____ premiership decider in a row. Hint

4th

5th

6th

3rd

NEXT>

Question 17 of 25

17. 1949: How many of their last 5 matches did St George win before going on to play the semis, and eventually win the Grand Final? Hint

NEXT>

Question 18 of 25

18. 1950: South Sydney won their first title since 1932, and what also happened in 1950? Hint

Australia regained the rugby league ashes for the first time since 1921

Clive Churchill contested his first ever Grand Final

Australia lost the rugby league ashes for the first time since 1921

Clive Churchill played in the forward pack for Souths

NEXT>

Question 19 of 25

19. Which of the following records were broken on Grand Final day, 1951? Hint

Biggest score in a Grand Final

Smallest crowd at a Grand Final

Manly's first Grand Final

All of these

NEXT>

Question 20 of 25

20. What event marred the premiership win by Western Suburbs in 1952? Hint

Rumours that players took performance-enhancing drugs

Rumours about betting on the Grand Final

A massive Grand Final brawl

Forfeits from clubs not wishing to play the Semi Finals

NEXT>

Question 21 of 25

21. 1953: Did the reigning premiers Western Suburbs collect the wooden spoon?

Yes

NEXT>

Question 22 of 25

22. 1954 was a busy year for Rugby League, with the introduction of mandatory Grand Finals. What was also introduced in 1954? Hint

World Cup

Four point try

Limited tackle rule

One point field goal

NEXT>

Question 23 of 25

23. 1955 saw Clive Churchill infamously dropped from the Australian team. But what heroic feat did he perform at club level? Hint

Played most of a match with a broken arm

Score all the points in the Grand Final

Played most of a match with a broken jaw

Score a try in every match he played in

NEXT>

Question 24 of 25

24. 1956: St George began their famous 11 consecutive premierships. Who captained them in 1956? Hint

Norm Provan

Kevin Brown

Billy Wilson

Ken Kearney

NEXT>

Question 25 of 25

25. 1957: season number 50 of Australian Rugby League. What defensive strategy was employed by St George in their premiership romp? Hint

Sliding defence

No strategy at all

Zone defence

Straight-line defence

(Optional) Create a Free FunTrivia ID to save the points you are about to earn:

Select a User ID:

Choose a Password:

Your Email:

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What caused several of the top sides to struggle in 1933?

Answer: The departure of players on the Kangaroo Tour

Back in 1933, South Sydney, Eastern Suburbs and Western Suburbs all lost big-name players to the Kangaroo Tour, which departed during the season (July). Newtown, who lost their first 4 games that year, went on to win the competition. This was Newtown's second premiership, the first was in 1910.

2. Western Suburbs bounced back from the wooden spoon in 1933 to do what in 1934?

Answer: Win the minor premiership and the Grand Final

Western Suburbs finished equal top with Eastern Suburbs, and won the playoff for the minor premiership 7-2. The Grand Final, also between the 2 clubs, was rained out the first weekend, and played a week later. Wests won 15-12.

3. Which Easts star, first name Dave, was known as "the Bradman of League", and scored 45 points in a single match in 1935?

Answer: Brown

During the victory by Eastern Suburbs over newcomers Canterbury-Bankstown (87-15), Brown scored 5 tries and 15 goals. He scored 38 tries in that season. Easts won the competition easily, with only 1 loss.

4. Did Eastern Suburbs finish the 1936 season undefeated?

Answer: Yes

Easts beat Balmain 32-12 in the Final.

5. What was odd about the finishing places in 1937?

Answer: There were two runners-up

Eastern Suburbs were awarded the premiership due to a big lead in the comp, again they were undefeated (they were undefeated in 1936). No final was played, meaning both South Sydney and St George were declared joint runners-up.

6. Which team, just 3 years after joining the competition, upset Eastern Suburbs in the 1938 Final?

Answer: Canterbury-Bankstown

The 'Berries' lost only one match in 1938. Hot favourites Easts made the final, but were beaten 19-6.

7. 1939 was the first time since 1933 that ____________ ?

Answer: Eastern Suburbs didn't come 1st or 2nd

Balmain beat South Sydney 33-4 in the Final. Easts finished 5th, and missed the semi finals altogether.

8. Did the 1940s season get cancelled due to World War II?

Answer: No

Neither the First, nor the Second, World War caused a season to be cancelled. Eastern Suburbs, who missed the semi-finals in 1939, bounced back to beat Canterbury-Bankstown in the Final 24-14.

9. 1941: St George finally won its first premiership. How many years did it take them?

Answer: 20

Joining in 1921, they lost to Easts twice in the regular season but knocked them over in the Final, 31-14.

10. Canterbury-Bankstown winger Edgar Newham scored 5 tries in the 1942 Grand Final?

Answer: False

It was actually a playoff for the minor premiership where this club record was set. Canterbury did win their 2nd premiership, however, beating reigning premiers St George in a very close Grand Final, 11-9.

11. 1943: The 'Bluebags' won their third, and what would be their last premiership before exiting the competition in 1983. Who were the 'Bluebags'?

Answer: newtown

Newtown, later known as the Jets, beat North Sydney in the Grand Final 34-7. A record crowd of 60,992 saw the match at the SCG.

12. Why did the NSWRL consider abondoning the Grand Final of 1944?

Answer: Rumours that Newtown threw the Final

A rumour brokw out that Newtown players lost the Final against Balmain on purpose, to obtain better odds for themselves in the Grand Final. The Grand Final, however, did go ahead, and Balmain won that match too, 12-8.

13. Dick Dunn scored how many of East Suburbs' 22 points in the Final of 1945?

Answer: 19

3 tries and 5 goals. Easts won 22-18 over premiers Balmain.

14. 1946 saw what occurence in Rugby League history?

Answer: The first Grand Final to be won by 1 point

St George scored 4 tries to 3, but Balmain won the match 13-12. Parramatta and Manly joined the premiership the following year, 1947.

15. How many teams contested the 1947 season?

Answer: 10

Balmain beat minor premiers Canterbury-Bankstown in the Grand Final, 13-9. The other teams competing that year included Newtown, St George, Western Suburbs, North Sydney, South Sydney, Eastern Suburbs, and newcomers Manly-Warringah and Parramatta.

16. 1948 Grand Final: Balmain played in their ____ premiership decider in a row.

Answer: 5th

Western Suburbs upset the Tigers 8-5 in the Grand Final, with a controversial winning try to second-rower Kevin Hansen right on full time. Balmain players insisted that he was grounded short of the line, but the try was awarded.

17. 1949: How many of their last 5 matches did St George win before going on to play the semis, and eventually win the Grand Final?

Answer: 1

They had 1 win, 3 losses and 1 draw, but went on to beat minor premiers South Sydney in the semi-final 16-12, Balmain 18-17 in the Final, and then South Sydney again in the Grand Final, 19-12.

18. 1950: South Sydney won their first title since 1932, and what also happened in 1950?

Answer: Australia regained the rugby league ashes for the first time since 1921

A golden year for 'the little master', Clive Churchill, who captained Australia and Souths to memorable wins. South Sydney beat Western Suburbs in the Final, 21-15.

19. Which of the following records were broken on Grand Final day, 1951?

Answer: All of these

Souths continued their dominance in 1951, losing only 1 match on their way to a 42-14 belting of Manly-Warringah on Grand Final day. The crowd of 28,505 was the smallest Grand Final crowd up to that date.

20. What event marred the premiership win by Western Suburbs in 1952?

Answer: Rumours about betting on the Grand Final

Referee George Bishop made some highly controversial decisions that day, and it was rumoured that he let Wests win to make some money. This fact was never proven; however, he did retire the following year. For the record, Western Suburbs won the match 22-12 over South Sydney.

21. 1953: Did the reigning premiers Western Suburbs collect the wooden spoon?

Answer: Yes

An incredible fall, from premiers to the bottom of the ladder, all in one year. South Sydney began their run of 3 premierships in a row.

22. 1954 was a busy year for Rugby League, with the introduction of mandatory Grand Finals. What was also introduced in 1954?

Answer: World Cup

Great Britain took out the inaugural Rugby League World Cup, defeating France 16-12 in the Final.

23. 1955 saw Clive Churchill infamously dropped from the Australian team. But what heroic feat did he perform at club level?

Answer: Played most of a match with a broken arm

Six minutes into the match against Manly, he broke his arm, but played the entire remaining match, and ended up kicking the winning goal. He didn't play out the rest of the season, but the Rabbitohs managed to win a thrilling Grand Final without him, beating Newtown 12-11.

24. 1956: St George began their famous 11 consecutive premierships. Who captained them in 1956?

Answer: Ken Kearney

The hooker was captain in 1956 and captain-coach from 1957-1961. He also captained Australia on the Kangaroo Tour of 1956. St George won the Grand Final 18-12 over Balmain. St George were premiers for 11 consecutive season, 1956 to 1966.

25. 1957: season number 50 of Australian Rugby League. What defensive strategy was employed by St George in their premiership romp?

Answer: Straight-line defence

A very simple but effective method. All men stand in a straight line, except the lock, blind-side winger and halfback, who act as cover defenders.

Source: Author timence

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor gtho4 before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.