| Full name | Western Suburbs Magpies |
|---|---|
| Colours | Black and White |
| Entered 1st grade | 1908 (foundation club) |
| Departed 1st grade | 1999 formed joint venture with Balmain Tigers to form Wests Tigers NRL Team |
| Sport | Rugby league |
| League | NSWRL/ARL, NRL |
| 1999 | 17th of 17 |
| Premierships | 4 - 1930, 1934, 1948, 1952, |
| Runners-up | 8 - 1918, 1925, 1932, 1950, 1958, 1961, 1962, 1963, |
| Minor premiers | 5 - 1930, 1948, 1952, 1961, 1978 |
| Wooden spoons | 17 - 1909, 1910, 1912, 1913, 1916, 1933, 1940, 1942, 1953, 1955, 1971, 1983, 1984, 1987, 1988, 1998, 1999 |
| Biggest win | 62 - 5 vs. Year 1908 ( MCMVIII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year History See also History of rugby league The grass roots of rugby league can be traced to early football history, through the playing of ball games The New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL is the governing body for the Sport of Rugby league in New South Wales and is a member of the Australian Rugby Year 1930 ( MCMXXX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display 1930 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1934 ( MCMXXXIV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display full 1934 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1948 ( MCMXLVIII) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the 1948 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1952 ( MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1918 ( MCMXVIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Year 1925 ( MCMXXV) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1932 ( MCMXXXII) was a Leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1950 ( MCML) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1958 ( MCMLVIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. 1961 's New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership was the fifty-fourth season of the Rugby league competition based in Sydney 1962 's New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership was the fifty-fifth season of the Rugby league competition based in Sydney 1963 's New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership was the fifty-sixth season of the Rugby league competition based in Sydney Year 1930 ( MCMXXX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display 1930 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1948 ( MCMXLVIII) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the 1948 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1952 ( MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1961 ( MCMLXI) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1978 ( MCMLXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar) A' 'wooden spoon' is a mock or real award usually given to an individual or team which has come last in a competition but sometimes also to runners-up Year 1909 ( MCMIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting Year 1910 ( MCMX) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting Year 1912 ( MCMXII) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year starting Year 1913 ( MCMXIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Year 1916 ( MCMXVI) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year Year 1933 ( MCMXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1940 ( MCMXL) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full 1940 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1953 ( MCMLIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1955 ( MCMLV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1955 Gregorian calendar) Year 1971 ( MCMLXXI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1971 Gregorian calendar. Year 1983 ( MCMLXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar) Year 1984 ( MCMLXXXIV) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1984 Gregorian calendar) Year 1987 ( MCMLXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar) Year 1988 ( MCMLXXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar) Year 1998 ( MCMXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar) Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) Balmain, March 31, 1974 |
| Worst defeat | 0 - 67 vs. The Balmain Tigers (also known as the Sydney Tigers from 1995-96 were one of the founding rugby league football clubs of the New South Wales Rugby League premiership Events 307 - After divorcing his wife Minervina, Constantine marries Fausta, the daughter of the retired Roman Emperor Year 1974 ( MCMLXXIV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. Souths, July 23, 1910 |
The Western Suburbs Magpies are a rugby league football club in Sydney, Australia. The South Sydney Rabbitohs, also known as Souths, The Bunnies, SSFC or The Rabbits, are an Australian professional Rugby league Events 1632 - Three hundred colonists bound for New France depart from Dieppe France. Year 1910 ( MCMX) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting History See also History of rugby league The grass roots of rugby league can be traced to early football history, through the playing of ball games Sydney (ˈsɪdniː is the most populous city in Australia, with a Metropolitan area population of approximately 4 For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. Formed in 1908, the Wests were one of the nine foundation clubs of the first New South Wales Rugby League competition in Australia. Year 1908 ( MCMVIII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year The New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL is the governing body for the Sport of Rugby league in New South Wales and is a member of the Australian Rugby 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 Balmain Tigers (also known as the Sydney Tigers from 1995-96 were one of the founding rugby league football clubs of the New South Wales Rugby League premiership The Wests Tigers are a professional Rugby league football club in the National Rugby League (NRL the premier Rugby league competition in Australasia The club currently fields sides in the NSWRL Premier League, Jersey Flegg Cup, S.G. Ball Cup and Harold Matthews Cup competitions. The New South Wales Cup or VB New South Wales Cup (for sponsorship reasons is a Rugby league competition for clubs in New South Wales The Clubs In 2007 thirteen clubs fielded teams in the Jersey Flegg Cup. The Clubs In 2008 seventeen clubs will field teams in the SG Ball Cup. The Clubs In 2008 seventeen clubs will field teams in the NSWRL Harold Matthews Cup.
Contents |
1908-1915 | 1916-1939 |
1940-1949 | 1950-1958 |
1959-1976 | 1977-1999 |
The club was one of the foundation members of the Sydney rugby football league competition in 1908. Though they spent long periods of time as also-rans they did taste premiership success four times in 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. They won a second pair of premierships over a decade later, 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 St George Dragons were a team in the National Rugby League competition in Australia The club boasted footballers such as halfback Arthur Summons, Harry 'Bomber' Wells, Kel O'Shea, Noel Kelly and Peter Dimond. Arthur Summons (born 13 December 1935 in Sydney, Australia) was an Australian representative Rugby union and Rugby league Harry Wells VC ( September 19, 1888 - September 25, 1915) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross Kel O'Shea (born 13 July, 1933 in Ayr Queensland) is an Australian former representative Rugby league footballer a second-rower Noel Kelly (born 22 January, 1936) is an Australian former professional Rugby league footballer and coach who played at club state and national Peter Dimond (born in Dapto New South Wales) was an Australian Rugby league footballer who played his club rugby league for the Western Suburbs Magpies The 1963 grand final was immortalised in a statue 'The Gladiators' after St. George captain Norm Provan and Summons trudged off the field together. Norman Douglas Sommerville Provan (born 1932) is an Australian former Rugby league footballer and coach
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. The name Roy Masters may refer to two well-known people Roy Masters (commentator is a British-born American talk radio personality Roy Masters John Dorahy (born 28 August 1954 is an Australian former professional Rugby league footballer and coach Tommy Raudonikis OAM (born 1950 in Bathurst New South Wales) is an Australian Rugby league identity Graeme O'Grady is an Australian former professional Rugby league player in the New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL competition Gavin John Miller (born Inverell New South Wales, January 4, 1960) was an Australian Rugby league player who at his peak was regarded Ron Giteau (born 31 May 1955 is an Australian former professional Rugby league player Les Boyd (born in Nyngan New South Wales) is an Australian former Rugby league footballer Terence "Terry" John Lamb OAM, (born 15 September 1961) is an Australian former Rugby league player of the 1980s and However attractive offers from other clubs and then doubts about the club's viability led to years of exodus of talent. Wests did manage to win the 1977 Amco Cup. For background information about this competition please refer to the Amco Cup main page
In 1983 the NSWRFL attempted to expel Wests from the competition, but a prolonged legal battle saw the Magpies keep their spot, unlike the Newtown Jets. The Newtown Jets (formerly the Newtown "Bluebags") are a former first grade Rugby league club who departed the New South Wales Rugby Football League Eventually, Wests relocated to Campbelltown in 1987. For the local government area, see City of Campbelltown. Campbelltown is a Suburb in south-western Ironically, this was where Newtown had unsuccessfully tried to move to four years earlier.
Wests begun a rebuilding process in the late 1980's and early 1990's. The club made the semi finals in 1991 and 1992 under coach Warran Ryan. They were also 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 were beaten by a star studded Canberra side. The club then slipped down the ladder. The decision to appoint Magpie legend Tommy Raudonikis as coach for the start of the 1995 season sent a shot of adrenalin into the club. Tommy took the Magpies to the finals in 1995 and 1996. But the club could not complete in the players market in 1997 thanks to the SuperLeague war which saw players contracts soar sky high to unsustainable amounts. In 1998 and 1999 a Magpie team filled with a large number of unknown players struggled to be competitive and twice won 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 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 the Wests Magpies struggling on field in 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 Bulldogs failed an agreement was reached with the Balmain Tigers.
The Wests Tigers were created and first competed in the year 2000 competition. The club also merged its playing colours from the two joint venture partners. Black (Wests and Balmain),Gold (Balmain) and white (wests)
The Western Suburbs Magpies home matches are played at Campbelltown Sports Ground, and their training facilities, along with offices are at the Whitlam Centre in Liverpool. The club has state of the art facilities here, and they are regarded as some of the best in the league.
The Wests Magpies last title was won in 2002 when the Wests Magpies captained by Liam Fulton won the New South Wales Rugby League Under 18's competition.
In a match that had more turning points than the Pacific Highway, Western Suburbs came from behind to score an unforgettable 18-16 win over Parramatta in the 2002 SG Ball Grand Final.
Parramatta started like a house on fire, with hooker Heath L'Estrange held up after only three minutes.
The Maggies struggled to get into the game early on, with Matthew Brinkworth and Aaryn Longmore both forced from the field in the opening exchanges, even though they each returned later.
Thirteen minutes into the action Luke Shatte posted the first points when he trailed a David Wah break and crossed. Michael Witt's conversion from out wide made it 6-0.
Soon after the kickoff, a Bryce Gibbs tackle flattened Kane Cleal, who was taken from the field and subsequently to hospital.
Three minutes later, L'Estrange, who was just about the best player afield, burrowed over from dummy half to extend the Eels' lead to 10-0. When Ryan Hinchcliffe crossed on the 20 minute mark it was 14-0 lead and Wests were struggling.
The Magpies were struggling to control their discipline at this stage and were fortunate only to concede a further penalty goal before the break, Witt's goal giving Parra a 16-0 lead at the change of ends.
Three minutes before the interval Aaron Sweeney was sinbinned after Referee Cummins' patience was exhausted. The Eels had a great opportunity to extend their lead right on half time but a wayward pass and some scrambling cover defence kept the score at 16-0.
Peter Gentle's team knew they had to score first in the second half and Albert Hopoate obliged, posting the Black and Whites first try after good lead up work by Ryan Crook.
When Sweeney returned to the field, Wests lifted another gear, especially when Brinkworth burrowed over from dummy half. He converted his own try to make it 16-10 and the game all of a sudden had a new look.
Four minutes later the match was wide open when Jamie Szczerbanik was on the end of some excellent hands to score out wide. Brinkworth's unsuccessful attempt at conversion left the margin two points.
With the game in the balance both sides were ripping in, especially in defence. With eleven minutes remaining Parra second rower Brendan Oake was sent off for an alleged high tackle. It was unfortunate for Oake and the Eels, as he seemed to pay the ultimate price for the sins of other players.
A minute later the Magpies almost took full toll but Nathan Waters was unable to hold Brinkworth's pass. Wests kept the Eels under the hammer and a grubber from Hopoate in the dying minutes almost conjured a try for Crook. With three minutes remaining the same combination came good, a flat pass from Hopoate sending beanpole winger Crook over and Magpie supporters into delirium.
When fulltime sounded the Magpies celebrated in a style befitting their victory, and it would have been a big night in Campbelltown.
Best for the winners were Hopoate, Borg, Ryan Hoffman, Liam Fulton and the front row of Gibbs Brinkworth and Sweeney. Parramatta were best served by L'Estrange, Wah, Hinchcliffe and Michael Witt.
Western Suburbs Magpies 18 defeated Parramatta Eels 16
Referee: Ben Cummins Touch Judges: Luke Bugden Gerard Bailey
Kogarah Oval Saturday May 4, 2002, 2:00 PM
The Magpies have played at three home grounds since foundation. They played at Pratten Park in Ashfield for their first sixty years, then they moved to Lidcombe Oval in the late seventies. Pratten Park is a sporting complex in the Sydney suburb of Ashfield featuring an oval playing field large enough to play Cricket, a lawn bowling club Ashfield is a Suburb in the This was due to Ashfield council not allowing the club to play matches on a Sunday (as this was the church day). In 1987, they moved to Campbelltown's Orana Park, which, after a $25 million renovation, is now called Campbelltown Stadium which is now one of the home grounds of the Wests Tigers. Year 1987 ( MCMLXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar) For the local government area, see City of Campbelltown. Campbelltown is a Suburb in south-western Campbelltown Stadium, formerly Orana Park and Campbelltown Sports Ground, is a Rugby league stadium in Campbelltown New South Wales, Australia Campbelltown Stadium, formerly Orana Park and Campbelltown Sports Ground, is a Rugby league stadium in Campbelltown New South Wales, Australia The Wests Tigers are a professional Rugby league football club in the National Rugby League (NRL the premier Rugby league competition in Australasia
The Western Suburbs District Junior Rugby League (WSDJRL) also known as the "Junior Magpies" administers junior rugby league on behalf of the Western Suburbs Magpies and the Wests Tigers joint venture. The Wests Tigers are a professional Rugby league football club in the National Rugby League (NRL the premier Rugby league competition in Australasia It consists of a network of affiliated junior rugby league clubs throughout the Campbelltown, Camden and Liverpool areas of southwestern Sydney. Campbelltown can refer to;Places in Australia Towns/suburbs Campbelltown New South Wales Campbelltown South Australia Liverpool ( is a City and Metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary As of 2007 the following clubs were involved in the WSDJRL;
The WSDJRL has produced many current Wests Tigers players including Brett Hodgson (Eagle Vale-St Andrews & Ingleburn RSL), Dean Collis (Campbelltown Warriors), Bryce Gibbs (All Saints Liverpool), Chris Lawrence (Eagle Vale), and Shannon McDonnell (All Saints Liverpool). The Wests Tigers are a professional Rugby league football club in the National Rugby League (NRL the premier Rugby league competition in Australasia Brett Hodgson (born 12 February 1978 in Liverpool, New South Wales) is an Australian professional Rugby league player currently contracted to Dean Collis (born 21 October, 1985 in Campbelltown New South Wales, Australia) is an Australian professional Rugby league Bryce Gibbs may refer to Bryce Gibbs (Australian rules footballer Bryce Gibbs (rugby league See also Christopher J Lawrence (born in Ealing, London on July 27, 1933) is a British former Racing driver from England Shannon McDonnell (born 5 August, 1987 in Sydney New South Wales) is an Australian Rugby league player for the Wests Tigers Other notable NRL players who grew up playing junior rugby league in the WSDJRL are Anthony Minichello (East Valley United), Eric Grothe, Jr. (Eagle Vale), Ryan Hoffman (Campbelltown Collegians), Israel Folau, Jarryd Hayne, Krisnan Inu, and Mickey & Lopini Paea (all Minto Cobras). Anthony Minichiello (born 24 May 1980 is an Australian professional Rugby league player for the Sydney Roosters in the National Rugby League Eric Raymond Grothe Jr (born March 15, 1980 in Sydney NSW) is an Australian Rugby league player for the Parramatta Eels Ryan Hoffman (born 26 January 1984 in Canberra) and is an Australian professional Rugby league player in the National Rugby League (NRL Israel Folau (born 3 April 1989 in Minto New South Wales) is an Australian professional Rugby league player currently contracted with the Melbourne Storm Jarryd Hayne (born 15 February 1988) is an Australian professional Rugby league player currently playing for the Parramatta Eels, in the Krisnan Nevada Inu (born 17 March 1987) is a New Zealand professional Rugby league player for the Parramatta Eels in the Australian
The WSDJRL took over its current boundaries from the old Campbelltown City Group 6 country rugby league club 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 New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL is the governing body for the Sport of Rugby league in New South Wales and is a member of the Australian Rugby 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;
In 2004 the club named its Team of the Century:
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The following Western Suburbs Magpies players have represented their countries in international competition. A typical Rugby league team consists of thirteen players on the field plus four substitutes on the bench A typical Rugby league team consists of thirteen players on the field plus four substitutes on the bench Kel O'Shea (born 13 July, 1933 in Ayr Queensland) is an Australian former representative Rugby league footballer a second-rower A typical Rugby league team consists of thirteen players on the field plus four substitutes on the bench Arthur Clues (1924–1998 was an Australian professional Rugby league player for Wests, New South Wales, and Australia. A typical Rugby league team consists of thirteen players on the field plus four substitutes on the bench Les Boyd (born in Nyngan New South Wales) is an Australian former Rugby league footballer Tommy Raudonikis OAM (born 1950 in Bathurst New South Wales) is an Australian Rugby league identity John Dorahy (born 28 August 1954 is an Australian former professional Rugby league footballer and coach Bill Carson ( July 8, 1926 - February 15, 2007) Born in Meridian Oklahoma Carson was a California Western swing Coach (baseball|Coach (basketball|Coach (ice hockeyIn Sports a coach or manager is an individual involved in the direction instruction and training of the operations The name Roy Masters may refer to two well-known people Roy Masters (commentator is a British-born American talk radio personality Roy Masters
Australia | New Zealand
England
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Wests Leagues Ashfield have also been key sponsors & supporters of the club since they were established. Frank McMillan (1899 - 1966 was an Australian Rugby league footballer and coach Keith Holman is a former Australian Rugby league footballer, a national and state representative half-back whose club career was played with Arthur Summons (born 13 December 1935 in Sydney, Australia) was an Australian representative Rugby union and Rugby league Peter Dimond (born in Dapto New South Wales) was an Australian Rugby league footballer who played his club rugby league for the Western Suburbs Magpies Harry Wells VC ( September 19, 1888 - September 25, 1915) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross Kel O'Shea (born 13 July, 1933 in Ayr Queensland) is an Australian former representative Rugby league footballer a second-rower Noel Kelly (born 22 January, 1936) is an Australian former professional Rugby league footballer and coach who played at club state and national John Ribot (born John Ribot de Bressac on 3 March, 1955) is an Australian sports administrator and former Rugby league footballer of the 1970s Terence "Terry" John Lamb OAM, (born 15 September 1961) is an Australian former Rugby league player of the 1980s and Paul Langmack is an Australian former Rugby league coach and representative and premiership-winning player Ken McGuinness (born 14 September 1975) is an Australian former rugby league player for the Western Suburbs Magpies, Wests Tigers and Shane Perry (born November 9, 1977) is an Australian professional Rugby league player who currently plays for the Brisbane Broncos David "Cement" Gillespie (born in Sydney New South Wales) is an Australian former professional Rugby league footballer Terry Hill (born 22 January 1972 in Newtown New South Wales] is a former Australian professional Rugby league player in the National Tommy Raudonikis OAM (born 1950 in Bathurst New South Wales) is an Australian Rugby league identity Jim Serdaris (born in Sydney Australia) is an Australian former Rugby league player for the South Sydney Rabbitohs, Canterbury Bulldogs Les Boyd (born in Nyngan New South Wales) is an Australian former Rugby league footballer Jason Taylor (born 2 February 1971) is an Australian former professional Rugby league player and current coach of the South Sydney Rabbitohs Mark Horo is a former Rugby league player Mark Horo was a New Zealand international and played at the 1995 Rugby League World Cup. Stephen Peter Kearney (born June 11 1972 in Paraparaumu New Zealand) is a New Zealand Rugby league coach and former player Harvey Howard is an English former professional Rugby league footballer Lee Crooks (born January 14 1978 in Wakefield, England) is a professional footballer who now plays for Ossett Town in the Garry Schofield OBE (born Hunslet, Leeds) is an English former Rugby league footballer Ellery Hanley MBE (born 27 March 1961 in Leeds) is an English former Rugby league player and is now the head coach