Login
Login

1971 NSWRFL season

{{Short description|Rugby league competition}}

{{Use Australian English|date=March 2024}}

{{Infobox rugby league season

| year = 1971

| competition = New South Wales Rugby Football League

| image =

| imagesize = 125px

| caption =

| teams = 12

| premiers = 16x16px South Sydney

| count = 20th

| minor premiers = 16x16px Manly-Warringah

| mpcount = 1st

| matches = 136

| points = 4477

| attendance = 1562338

| top point scorer = 16x16px Graeme Langlands (196)

| top try scorer = 16x16px Paul Cross (18)

| MVP = {{leagueicon|South Sydney|16}} Denis Pittard

| MVP_link = Rothmans Medal

| wooden_spoon = Western Suburbs

| wooden_spoon_count = 12th

| prevseason_link = 1970 NSWRFL season

| prevseason_year = 1970

| nextseason_link = 1972 NSWRFL season

| nextseason_year = 1972

}}

The 1971 New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership was the sixty-fourth season of Sydney's professional rugby league football competition, Australia's first. Twelve teams, including six foundation clubs and another six admitted since 1908, competed for the J. J. Giltinan Shield during the season, which culminated in a Grand Final match for the W.D. & H.O. Wills between the South Sydney and St. George clubs.

Season summary

The season saw the number of tackles in a set increased from four to six. In addition, the number of points awarded for a field goal was reduced from two to one.{{cite book

|last=Middleton

|first=David

|title=League of Legends: 100 Years of Rugby League in Australia

|publisher=National Museum of Australia

|year=2008

|location=

|pages=31

|url=http://www.nma.gov.au/shared/libraries/attachments/league_of_legends/rugby_league_a_work_in_progress/files/22453/F_RL_work_in_progress.pdf

|doi=

|id=

|isbn=978-1-876944-64-3

|url-status=dead

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110317093000/http://www.nma.gov.au/shared/libraries/attachments/league_of_legends/rugby_league_a_work_in_progress/files/22453/F_RL_work_in_progress.pdf

|archive-date=2011-03-17

}}

Each side met all others twice in twenty-two regular season rounds, resulting in the top four teams consisting of Manly-Warringah, South Sydney, St. George and Parramatta who fought out three finals for the right to play in the Grand Final.

The 1971 Rothmans Medal was won by South Sydney's five-eighth Denis Pittard while Rugby League Week awarded their player of the year award to South Sydney's halfback Bob Grant.

This season marked the end of a 23-year run where all but two of the premierships were won by St. George or South Sydney.The only exceptions were Western Suburbs winning in 1952 and Balmain winning in 1969.

The 1971 season saw a ban imposed by the NSWRL on TV coverage of games in the Sydney premiership. It was believed that TV coverage was a contributing factor to falling attendances at games. As a result, only the Grand Final was televised, and even then as a one-hour late night highlights package rather than live coverage. The ban was lifted for the 1972 season onwards, as in practice it was shown to have negligible effect on match attendances.

In the sixteenth round, a “double-header” — Balmain played St. George at 1 P.M. and Parramatta played South Sydney at 2:30 P.M. — was held for the first time at the Sydney Cricket Ground, although it did not meet expectation.{{cite news|last=Clarkson|first=Allan|title=Dismissal, Injuries Hit Souths|work=Sydney Morning Herald|date=12 July 1971|page=13}} The “double header” was decided upon{{cite news|last=Clarkson|first=Allan|title=League May Get Bonanza|work=Sydney Morning Herald|date=9 July 1971|page=11}} after it was feared that protests against the apartheid South Africa rugby union tourists, who were scheduled to play in Sydney that Saturday, would affect attendances at League games.{{cite news|last=Humphries|first=Rod|title=League Men To Check on Union Protesters: Souths–P'Matta Still at S.C.G.|work=Sydney Morning Herald|date=6 July 1971|page=17}}

=Teams=

align="center" class="toccolours" style="text-valign: center;" cellpadding=3 cellspacing=2
width=200|

!width=200|

!width=200|

!width=200|

align="center"|BalmainFile:Balmain Jersey 1971.png

64th season
Ground: Sydney Sports Ground

Coach: Leo Nosworthy
Captain: Keith Outten

|align="center"|Canterbury-BankstownFile:Canterbury-Bankstown Jersey 1970.png

37th season
Ground:Belmore Sports Ground

Coach: Bob Hagan
Captain(s): Johnny Greaves / Terry Reynolds

|align="center"|Cronulla-SutherlandFile:Cronulla-Sutherland Jersey 1971.png

5th season
Ground: Endeavour Field

Captain-coach: Tommy Bishop

|align="center"|Eastern SuburbsFile:Eastern Suburbs Jersey 1967.png

64th season
Ground: Sydney Sports Ground

Coach: Don Furner
Captain: Kevin Junee

align="center"|Manly-WarringahFile:Manly-Warringah Jersey 1971.png

25th season
Ground: Brookvale Oval

Coach: Ron Willey
Captain: Fred Jones

|align="center"|NewtownFile:Newtown Jersey 1915.png

64th season
Ground: Henson Park

Coach: Harry Bath
Captain: Brian Moore / Barry Briggs

|align="center"|North SydneyFile:North Sydney Jersey 1969.png

64th season
Ground: North Sydney Oval

Coach: Merv Hicks
Captain: Noel Cavanagh

|align="center"|ParramattaFile:Parramatta Jersey 1971.png

25th season
Ground: Cumberland Oval

Coach: Ian Walsh
Captain: Dick Thornett

align="center"|PenrithFile:Penrith Jersey 1971.png

5th season
Ground: Penrith Park

Coach: Bob Boland
Captain: Ian McKechnie

|align="center"|South SydneyFile:South Sydney Jersey 1965.png

64th season
Ground: Redfern Oval

Coach: Clive Churchill
Captain: John Sattler

|align="center"|St. GeorgeFile:St George Jersey 1959.png

51st season
Ground: Kogarah Jubilee Oval

Coach: Jack Gibson
Captain: Graeme Langlands

|align="center"|Western Suburbs

64th season
Ground: Lidcombe Oval

Coach: Ron Watson
Captain: Tommy Raudonikis

Regular season

class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:85%; text-align:center; width:90%"
valign="top"

!valign="middle"| 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

! GF

align="left"| Balmain

|style="background:#cfc;" |PEN
+22

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|SOU
−17

|style="background:#cfc;" |NEW
+15

|style="background:#cfc;" |EAS
+3

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|STG
−25

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MAN
−24

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PAR
−8

|style="background:#cfc;" |WES
+9

|style="background:#cfc;" |CRO
+23

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CBY
−12

|style="background:#cfc;" |NOR
+19

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PEN
−4

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|SOU
−26

|style="background:#cfc;" |NEW
+3

|style="background:#cfc;" |EAS
+6

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|STG
−9

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MAN
−18

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PAR
−11

|style="background:#cfc;" |WES
+4

|style="background:#cfc;" |CRO
+2

|style="background:#cfc;" |CBY
+18

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NOR
−2

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

align="left"| Canterbury-Bankstown

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|WES
−43

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PAR
−24

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MAN
−27

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NOR
−7

|style="background:#cfc;" |PEN
+10

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|SOU
−17

|style="background:#cfc;" |STG
+5

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|EAS
−17

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NEW
−10

|style="background:#cfc;" |BAL
+12

|style="background:#cfc;" |CRO
+16

|style="background:#cfc;" |WES
+20

|style="background:#cfc;" |PAR
+1

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MAN
−10

|style="background:#cfc;" |NOR
+7

|style="background:#cfc;" |PEN
+12

|style="background:#cfc;" |SOU
+3

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|STG
−12

|style="background:#cfc;" |EAS
+4

|style="background:#cfc;" |NEW
+14

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|BAL
−18

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CRO
−6

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

align="left"| Cronulla-Sutherland

|style="background:#cfc;" |NOR
+39

|style="background:#cfc;" |PEN
+19

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|SOU
−1

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NEW
−1

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|EAS
−6

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|STG
−4

|style="background:#cfc;" |WES
+14

|style="background:#cfc;" |MAN
+7

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|BAL
−23

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PAR
−9

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CBY
−16

|style="background:#cfc;" |NOR
+1

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PEN
−4

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|SOU
−1

|style="background:#cfc;" |NEW
+23

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|EAS
−4

|style="background:#cfc;" |STG
+4

|style="background:#cfc;" |WES
+9

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MAN
−15

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|BAL
−2

|style="background:#cfc;" |PAR
+6

|style="background:#cfc;" |CBY
+6

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

align="left"| Eastern Suburbs

|style="background:#cfc;" |NEW
+19

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MAN
−14

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|STG
−16

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|BAL
−3

|style="background:#cfc;" |CRO
+6

|style="background:#cfc;" |WES
+11

|style="background:#cfc;" |NOR
+2

|style="background:#cfc;" |CBY
+17

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PAR
−8

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PEN
−9

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|SOU
−16

|style="background:#cfc;" |NEW
+13

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MAN
−5

|style="background:#E6E7CE;"|STG
0

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|BAL
−6

|style="background:#cfc;" |CRO
+4

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|WES
−4

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NOR
−2

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CBY
−4

|style="background:#cfc;" |PAR
+26

|style="background:#cfc;" |PEN
+5

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|SOU
−11

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

align="left"| Manly-Warringah

|style="background:#cfc;" |PAR
+29

|style="background:#cfc;" |EAS
+14

|style="background:#cfc;" |CBY
+27

|style="background:#cfc;" |STG
+4

|style="background:#cfc;" |NOR
+10

|style="background:#cfc;" |BAL
+24

|style="background:#cfc;" |SOU
+8

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CRO
−7

|style="background:#cfc;" |PEN
+8

|style="background:#cfc;" |WES
+25

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NEW
−12

|style="background:#cfc;" |PAR
+17

|style="background:#cfc;" |EAS
+5

|style="background:#cfc;" |CBY
+10

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|STG
−17

|style="background:#cfc;" |NOR
+43

|style="background:#cfc;" |BAL
+18

|style="background:#cfc;" |SOU
+1

|style="background:#cfc;" |CRO
+15

|style="background:#cfc;" |PEN
+21

|style="background:#cfc;" |WES
+5

|style="background:#cfc;" |NEW
+20

|style="background:#99ccff;"|X

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|SOU
−6

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|STG
−3

|style="background:#808080;"|

align="left"| Newtown

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|EAS
−19

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|STG
−11

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|BAL
−15

|style="background:#cfc;" |CRO
+1

|style="background:#cfc;" |WES
+1

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PAR
−10

|style="background:#cfc;" |PEN
+23

|style="background:#E6E7CE;"|NOR
0

|style="background:#cfc;" |CBY
+10

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|SOU
−11

|style="background:#cfc;" |MAN
+12

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|EAS
−13

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|STG
−2

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|BAL
−3

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CRO
−23

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|WES
−8

|style="background:#cfc;" |PAR
+5

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PEN
−17

|style="background:#cfc;" |NOR
+4

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CBY
−14

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|SOU
−9

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MAN
−20

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

align="left"| North Sydney

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CRO
−39

|style="background:#cfc;" |WES
+5

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PAR
−26

|style="background:#cfc;" |CBY
+7

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MAN
−10

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PEN
−5

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|EAS
−2

|style="background:#E6E7CE;"|NEW
0

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|SOU
−2

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|STG
−4

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|BAL
−19

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CRO
−1

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|WES
−2

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PAR
−3

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CBY
−7

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MAN
−43

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PEN
−4

|style="background:#cfc;" |EAS
+2

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NEW
−4

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|SOU
−33

|style="background:#cfc;" |STG
+7

|style="background:#cfc;" |BAL
+2

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

align="left"| Parramatta

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MAN
−29

|style="background:#cfc;" |CBY
+24

|style="background:#cfc;" |NOR
+26

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PEN
−12

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|SOU
−7

|style="background:#cfc;" |NEW
+10

|style="background:#cfc;" |BAL
+8

|style="background:#cfc;" |STG
+9

|style="background:#cfc;" |EAS
+8

|style="background:#cfc;" |CRO
+9

|style="background:#cfc;" |WES
+16

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MAN
−17

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CBY
−1

|style="background:#cfc;" |NOR
+3

|style="background:#cfc;" |PEN
+11

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|SOU
−11

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NEW
−5

|style="background:#cfc;" |BAL
+11

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|STG
−1

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|EAS
−26

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CRO
−6

|style="background:#cfc;" |WES
+8

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|STG
−11

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

align="left"| Penrith

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|BAL
−22

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CRO
−19

|style="background:#cfc;" |WES
+9

|style="background:#cfc;" |PAR
+12

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CBY
−10

|style="background:#cfc;" |NOR
+5

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NEW
−23

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|SOU
−2

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MAN
−8

|style="background:#cfc;" |EAS
+9

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|STG
−16

|style="background:#cfc;" |BAL
+4

|style="background:#cfc;" |CRO
+4

|style="background:#cfc;" |WES
+6

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PAR
−11

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CBY
−12

|style="background:#cfc;" |NOR
+4

|style="background:#cfc;" |NEW
+17

|style="background:#cfc;" |SOU
+7

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MAN
−21

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|EAS
−5

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|STG
−17

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

align="left"| South Sydney

|style="background:#cfc;" |STG
+6

|style="background:#cfc;" |BAL
+17

|style="background:#cfc;" |CRO
+1

|style="background:#cfc;" |WES
+24

|style="background:#cfc;" |PAR
+7

|style="background:#cfc;" |CBY
+17

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MAN
−8

|style="background:#cfc;" |PEN
+2

|style="background:#cfc;" |NOR
+2

|style="background:#cfc;" |NEW
+11

|style="background:#cfc;" |EAS
+16

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|STG
−2

|style="background:#cfc;" |BAL
+26

|style="background:#cfc;" |CRO
+1

|style="background:#cfc;" |WES
+18

|style="background:#cfc;" |PAR
+11

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CBY
−3

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MAN
−1

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PEN
−7

|style="background:#cfc;" |NOR
+33

|style="background:#cfc;" |NEW
+9

|style="background:#cfc;" |EAS
+11

|style="background:#99ccff;"|X

|style="background:#cfc;" |MAN
+6

|style="background:#99ccff;"|X

|style="background:#FFD700;"|STG
+6

align="left"| St. George

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|SOU
−6

|style="background:#cfc;" |NEW
+11

|style="background:#cfc;" |EAS
+16

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MAN
−4

|style="background:#cfc;" |BAL
+25

|style="background:#cfc;" |CRO
+4

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CBY
−5

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PAR
−9

|style="background:#cfc;" |WES
+6

|style="background:#cfc;" |NOR
+4

|style="background:#cfc;" |PEN
+16

|style="background:#cfc;" |SOU
+2

|style="background:#cfc;" |NEW
+2

|style="background:#E6E7CE;"|EAS
0

|style="background:#cfc;" |MAN
+17

|style="background:#cfc;" |BAL
+9

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CRO
−4

|style="background:#cfc;" |CBY
+12

|style="background:#cfc;" |PAR
+1

|style="background:#cfc;" |WES
+2

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NOR
−7

|style="background:#cfc;" |PEN
+17

|style="background:#cfc;" |PAR
+11

|style="background:#99ccff;"|X

|style="background:#cfc;" |MAN
+3

|style="background:#D3D3D3;"|SOU
−6

align="left"| Western Suburbs

|style="background:#cfc;" |CBY
+43

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NOR
−5

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PEN
−9

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|SOU
−24

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NEW
−1

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|EAS
−11

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CRO
−14

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|BAL
−9

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|STG
−6

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MAN
−25

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PAR
−16

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CBY
−20

|style="background:#cfc;" |NOR
+2

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PEN
−6

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|SOU
−18

|style="background:#cfc;" |NEW
+8

|style="background:#cfc;" |EAS
+4

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CRO
−9

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|BAL
−4

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|STG
−2

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MAN
−5

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PAR
−8

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

valign="top"

!valign="middle"| 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

! GF

Bold – Home game

X – Bye

Opponent for round listed above margin

=Ladder=

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
width=20 abbr="Position×" |

!width=175 |Team

!width=20 abbr="Played" |Pld

!width=20 abbr="Won" |W

!width=20 abbr="Drawn" |D

!width=20 abbr="Lost" |L

!width=20 abbr="Points for" |PF

!width=20 abbr="Points against" |PA

!width=20 abbr="Points difference" |PD

!width=20 abbr="Points" |Pts

style="background: #ccffcc;"

|1

style="text-align:left;"| 16x16px Manly

|22

1903528260+26838
style="background: #ccffcc;"

|2

style="text-align:left;"| 16x16px South Sydney

|22

1705499308+19134
style="background: #ccffcc;"

|3

style="text-align:left;"| 16x16px St. George

|22

1516392283+10931
style="background: #ccffcc;"

|4

style="text-align:left;"| 16x16px Parramatta

|22

12010383355+2824
5style="text-align:left;"| 16x16px Balmain

|22

11011366398|
3222
6style="text-align:left;"| 16x16px Canterbury

|22

11011335422|
8722
7style="text-align:left;"| 16x16px Cronulla

|22

10012352310+4220
8style="text-align:left;"| {{leagueicon|Old Penrith|size=16}} Penrith

|22

10012283372|
8920
9style="text-align:left;"| 16x16px Eastern Suburbs

|22

9112344339+519
10style="text-align:left;"| 16x16px Newtown

|22

7114282401|
11915
11style="text-align:left;"| 16x16px North Sydney

|22

5116265446|
18111
12style="text-align:left;"| 16x16px Western Suburbs

|22

4018336471|
1358

=Ladder progression=

  • Numbers highlighted in green indicate that the team finished the round inside the top 4.
  • 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.

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; line-height: 90%; font-size:90%;" width=100%
width=20 abbr="Position" |

!width=250 |Team

!width=20 abbr="Round 1" |1

!width=20 abbr="Round 2" |2

!width=20 abbr="Round 3" |3

!width=20 abbr="Round 4" |4

!width=20 abbr="Round 5" |5

!width=20 abbr="Round 6" |6

!width=20 abbr="Round 7" |7

!width=20 abbr="Round 8" |8

!width=20 abbr="Round 9" |9

!width=20 abbr="Round 10" |10

!width=20 abbr="Round 11" |11

!width=20 abbr="Round 12" |12

!width=20 abbr="Round 13" |13

!width=20 abbr="Round 14" |14

!width=20 abbr="Round 15" |15

!width=20 abbr="Round 16" |16

!width=20 abbr="Round 17" |17

!width=20 abbr="Round 18" |18

!width=20 abbr="Round 19" |19

!width=20 abbr="Round 20" |20

!width=20 abbr="Round 21" |21

!width=20 abbr="Round 22" |22

1style="text-align:left;"|{{leagueicon|Manly|size=16}} Manly-Warringahstyle="background: #ccffcc;"|2style="background: #ccffcc;"|4style="background: #99ccff;"|6style="background: #99ccff;"|8style="background: #99ccff;"|10style="background: #99ccff;"|12style="background: #99ccff;"|14style="background: #99ccff;"|14style="background: #99ccff;"|16style="background: #99ccff;"|18style="background: #ccffcc;"|18style="background: #99ccff;"|20style="background: #99ccff;"|22style="background: #99ccff;"|24style="background: #ccffcc;"|24style="background: #ccffcc;"|26style="background: #99ccff;"|28style="background: #99ccff;"|30style="background: #99ccff;"|32style="background: #99ccff;"|34style="background: #99ccff;"|36style="background: #99ccff;"|38
2style="text-align:left;"|{{leagueicon|South Sydney|size=16}} South Sydney2style="background: #ccffcc;"|4style="background: #ccffcc;"|6style="background: #ccffcc;"|8style="background: #ccffcc;"|10style="background: #ccffcc;"|12style="background: #ccffcc;"|12style="background: #ccffcc;"|14style="background: #ccffcc;"|16style="background: #ccffcc;"|18style="background: #99ccff;"|20style="background: #ccffcc;"|20style="background: #ccffcc;"|22style="background: #ccffcc;"|24style="background: #99ccff;"|26style="background: #99ccff;"|28style="background: #ccffcc;"|28style="background: #ccffcc;"|28style="background: #ccffcc;"|28style="background: #ccffcc;"|30style="background: #ccffcc;"|32style="background: #ccffcc;"|34
3style="text-align:left;"|{{leagueicon|St. George|size=16}} St. George02style="background: #ccffcc;"|44style="background: #ccffcc;"|6style="background: #ccffcc;"|8style="background: #ccffcc;"|88style="background: #ccffcc;"|10style="background: #ccffcc;"|12style="background: #ccffcc;"|14style="background: #ccffcc;"|16style="background: #ccffcc;"|18style="background: #ccffcc;"|19style="background: #ccffcc;"|21style="background: #ccffcc;"|23style="background: #ccffcc;"|23style="background: #ccffcc;"|25style="background: #ccffcc;"|27style="background: #ccffcc;"|29style="background: #ccffcc;"|29style="background: #ccffcc;"|31
4style="text-align:left;"|{{leagueicon|Parramatta|size=16}} Parramatta02444style="background: #ccffcc;"|6style="background: #ccffcc;"|8style="background: #ccffcc;"|10style="background: #ccffcc;"|12style="background: #ccffcc;"|14style="background: #ccffcc;"|16style="background: #ccffcc;"|16style="background: #ccffcc;"|16style="background: #ccffcc;"|18style="background: #ccffcc;"|20style="background: #ccffcc;"|20style="background: #ccffcc;"|20style="background: #ccffcc;"|22style="background: #ccffcc;"|22style="background: #ccffcc;"|22style="background: #ccffcc;"|22style="background: #ccffcc;"|24
5style="text-align:left;"|{{leagueicon|Balmain|size=16}} Balmainstyle="background: #ccffcc;"|224style="background: #ccffcc;"|6style="background: #ccffcc;"|66681010121212141616161618202222
6style="text-align:left;"|{{leagueicon|Canterbury|size=16}} Canterbury-Bankstownstyle="background: #ffcccc;"|0style="background: #ffcccc;"|0style="background: #ffcccc;"|0style="background: #ffcccc;"|0style="background: #ffcccc;"|2style="background: #ffcccc;"|2444681012121416181820222222
7style="text-align:left;"|{{leagueicon|Cronulla|size=16}} Cronulla-Sutherlandstyle="background: #ccffcc;"|2style="background: #99ccff;"|4style="background: #ccffcc;"|4style="background: #ccffcc;"|444688881010101212141616161820
8style="text-align:left;"|{{leagueicon|Old Penrith|size=16}} Penrith002446666881012141414161820202020
9style="text-align:left;"|{{leagueicon|Eastern Suburbs|size=16}} Eastern Suburbs2222468style="background: #ccffcc;"|101010101212131315151515171919
10style="text-align:left;"|{{leagueicon|Newtown|size=16}} Newtown0002446799111111111111131315151515
11style="text-align:left;"|{{leagueicon|North Sydney|size=16}} North Sydney022444455555555style="background: #ffcccc;"|5style="background: #ffcccc;"|5style="background: #ffcccc;"|7style="background: #ffcccc;"|7style="background: #ffcccc;"|7911
12style="text-align:left;"|{{leagueicon|Western Suburbs|size=16}} Western Suburbsstyle="background: #99ccff;"|2style="background: #ccffcc;"|22222style="background: #ffcccc;"|2style="background: #ffcccc;"|2style="background: #ffcccc;"|2style="background: #ffcccc;"|2style="background: #ffcccc;"|2style="background: #ffcccc;"|2style="background: #ffcccc;"|4style="background: #ffcccc;"|4style="background: #ffcccc;"|468888style="background: #ffcccc;"|8style="background: #ffcccc;"|8

Finals

Under the guidance of revolutionary head-coach Jack Gibson who was in 1971 beginning to embrace the attitude and training methods used in the United States' National Football League, St. George in 1971 had reached the Grand Final in all three grades. They were to lose all three matches. (5–11 v Canterbury-Bankstown in Third Grade; 5–19 v Canterbury-Bankstown in Reserve Grade and 10–16 v South Sydney in the top grade).

border=1 style="border-collapse:collapse; font-size:90%; text-align:center;" cellpadding=3 cellspacing=0 width=100%
bgcolor=#C1D8FF

!rowspan=2 width=21%|Home

!rowspan=2 width=6%|Score

!rowspan=2 width=21%|Away

!colspan=6|Match Information

bgcolor=#EFEFEF

!width=17%|Date and Time

!width=17%|Venue

!width=11%|Referee

!width=7%|Crowd

bgcolor="#D0E7FF"

| colspan=7 | Semi-finals

bgcolor=#F5FAFF

|align=left | 23x23px St. George

|19–8

|align=left | 23x23px Parramatta

|28 August 1971

|Sydney Cricket Ground

|Keith Page

|38,157

bgcolor=#F5FAFF

|align=left | 23x23px Manly-Warringah

|13–19

|align=left | 23x23px South Sydney

|4 September 1971

|Sydney Cricket Ground

|Keith Holman

|50,261

bgcolor="#D0E7FF"

| colspan=7 | Preliminary Final

bgcolor=#F5FAFF

|align=left | 23x23px Manly-Warringah

|12–15

|align=left | 23x23px St. George

|11 September 1971

|Sydney Cricket Ground

|Keith Page

|45,883

bgcolor="#D0E7FF"

| colspan=7 | Grand Final

bgcolor=#F5FAFF

|align=left | 23x23px South Sydney

|16–10

|align=left | 23x23px St. George

|18 September 1971

|Sydney Cricket Ground

|Keith Holman

|62,838

=Grand Final=

align="right" class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%; margin-left:1em"
bgcolor="#FF0033"

! style="width:140px; border:3px solid red; background: green; color: white"|South Sydney

! style="width:40px; text-align:center; background:#eee; color:black;"|Position

! style="width:140px; border:3px solid red; background: white; color: red"|St. George

align=center

|

  1. Eric Simms

| FB

# Graeme Langlands (c)
align=center

| 2. Keith Edwards

WG2. Ken Batty
align=center

| 3. Paul Sait

CE3. Bob Clapham
align=center

| 4. Bob Honan

CE4. Ken Maddison
align=center

| 5. Ray Branighan

WG5. Geoff Carr
align=center

| 6. Denis Pittard

FE6. Tony Branson
align=center

| 7. Bob Grant

HB7. Billy Smith
align=center

| 13. John Sattler (c)

PR13. Harry Eden
align=center

| 12. George Piggins

HK12. Colin Rasmussen
align=center

| 11. John O'Neill

PR11. Grahame Bowen
align=center

| 10. Bob McCarthy

SR10. Peter Fitzgerald
align=center

| 9. Gary Stevens

SR9. Barry Beath
align=center

| 8. Ron Coote

LK8. Ted Walton
align=center

|

Reserve22. Mick Dryden
align=center

|

Reserve39. Russell Cox
align=center

| Clive Churchill

CoachJack Gibson

Against a battle-hardened South Sydney side with a larger pack, the young Dragons went into the Grand Final as clear underdogs. Only Smith, Madison and Langlands for St. George had Grand Final experience of the level enjoyed by the entire Rabbitoh pack. Many of the Rabbitohs were playing in their fourth or fifth successive Grand Final.

The first half was a gruelling affair, with the sole point coming from an Eric Simms field goal. McCarthy crossed the Dragons’ try-line in the sixth minute but was called back on a forward pass ruling by referee Holman. Simms attempted a long-range field goal in the eighth minute which was unsuccessful, and Grant took another vain field goal shot minutes later. Souths dominated possession and field-position in the first fifteen minutes and were just held at bay by the rugged defence of the Dragons, especially from their centre, Clapham. Pittard made a {{convert|75|m|yard}} break at the fourteen-minute mark and was brought down {{convert|3|m|yard|2}} from the Dragons’ line by a desperate diving tackle from Smith. In the fifteenth minute Simms took another field goal attempt from dead in front and was successful. Souths attack was free-flowing, and they kept the play alive with late offloads whilst St. George adopted a more structured play of one-off running or moving the ball across the backline. In the twentieth minute Beath was stopped in the Souths' corner by a classy Coote cover tackle.

Langlands missed two penalty goal attempts in the first half, one mid-way through the period and another shortly before the break. Only Beath and Smith regularly broke through Souths' defences. At the interval Souths were in front by the unlikely scoreline of 1–0.

When play resumed Souths continued with their adventurous style of keeping the ball alive, they broke through poor Dragon defence and Branighan scored in the corner. Simms hit the post with the conversion attempt. Cox had replaced Bowen for St. George at half-time. Sattler tested out Cox early in the half with niggle and surreptitious fouls and appeared to eye-gouge Langlands in the 55th minute. The match began to turn spiteful at that point when Beath was penalised for using his knees on McCarthy. Coote scored the second try after a break by Sait, Simms converted and then added a penalty goal a few minutes later. At this stage Souths held an 11–0 lead and looked to be racing away with the match as St. George failed to complete tackles allowing the Rabbitohs to continually off-load.

The Dragons then rallied and fought back with a try to Barry Beath after a brave blind-side fifth tackle move by Billy Smith which was followed by a magnificent sideline conversion from Langlands. Smith was proving to be the Dragons’ only attacking spark until he was collared by Piggins and Sattler in a cynical head high tackle at the 65th minute. With the penalty that ensued Langlands took play to the other end of the field and Ted Walton scored for St. George. Langlands again converted from out wide. With the score at 11–10 and only twelve minutes remaining, Saints looked to be getting on top of their more fancied rivals. However a match-winning try two minutes from full-time by Bob McCarthy running freely off Ron Coote, showed the experience of the Rabbitohs, who took their fourth title in a five-year period.

McCarthy and Coote had starred for Souths and continually threatened to split the Dragons' defence. Souths hooker George Piggins who had been called into the side to replace regular season rake Elwyn Walters, was hailed as a hero, playing himself to a standstill in what was ultimately a closely fought encounter.

The victory was to be South Sydney's last for a period of 43 years, with the club not to win another Premiership until 2014.

South Sydney 16 (Tries: Branighan, Coote, McCarthy. Goals: Simms 3. Field Goal: Simms.)

St. George 10 (Tries: Beath, Walton. Goals: Langlands 2.)

{{Clear}}

Player statistics

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

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

Top 5 point scorers

class="wikitable" style="text-align:left;"
width=50 |Points

!width=200 |Player

!width=30 |Tries

!width=30 |Goals

!width=30 |Field Goals

171

|{{leagueicon|St. George}} Graeme Langlands

|align=center|11

|align=center|69

|align=center|0

169

|{{leagueicon|South Sydney}} Eric Simms

|align=center|3

|align=center|80

|align=center|0

137

|{{leagueicon|Manly}} Derek Moritz

|align=center|13

|align=center|49

|align=center|0

135

|{{leagueicon|Parramatta}} Keith Campbell

|align=center|1

|align=center|66

|align=center|0

130

|{{leagueicon|Eastern Suburbs}} Allan McKean

|align=center|0

|align=center|65

|align=center|0

Top 5 try scorers

class="wikitable" style="text-align:left;"
width=50 |Tries

!width=200 |Player

18

|{{leagueicon|Balmain}} Paul Cross

17

|{{leagueicon|Cronulla}} Ray Corcoran

15

|{{leagueicon|South Sydney}} Bob McCarthy

15

|{{leagueicon|Manly}} Bob Fulton

14

|{{leagueicon|Manly}} Ken Irvine

{{col-2}}

Top 5 goal scorers

class="wikitable" style="text-align:left;"
width=50 |Goals

!width=200 |Player

80

|{{leagueicon|South Sydney}} Eric Simms

69

|{{leagueicon|St. George}} Graeme Langlands

66

|{{leagueicon|Parramatta}} Keith Campbell

65

|{{leagueicon|Eastern Suburbs}} Allan McKean

52

|{{leagueicon|Manly}} Bob Batty

{{col-end}}

Notes

{{reflist|group="note"}}

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20070323001535/http://www.stats.rleague.com/rl/seas/1971.html Rugby League Tables - Season 1971] The World of Rugby League
  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20080828042010/http://www.rabbitohs.com.au/The-Club/Tradition/Results---1971-1980.html Results:1971-80 at rabbitohs.com.au]
  • [http://www.rleague.com//db/year/1953/j_j_giltinan_shield/index.php/db/year/1971/j_j_giltinan_shield_and_wd_ho_wills_cup/index.php 1971 J J Giltinan Shield and WD & HO Wills Cup at rleague.com]{{dead link|date=January 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20080820172650/http://www.rugbyleagueproject.com/competitions/NSWRL_1971.html NSWRFL season 1971 at rugbyleagueproject.com]

{{South Sydney Rabbitohs squad 1971 NSWRFL premiership}}

{{South Sydney Rabbitohs}}

{{National Rugby League seasons}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:NSWRFL season}}

Category:1971 in Australian rugby league

1971