Balmain Tigers win Club Championship

[Benjirific]

Balmain Tigers are the 2012 NSW Rugby League Club Champions.

Heading into the last round of the State Cup, Penrith were leading the NSW Club Championship by one point but a loss by their team (Windsor) and a win by the Tigers over Western Suburbs Magpies saw Balmain win the Club Championship by 1 point to claim the Flowers Memorial Pennant.

The Flowers Memorial Pennant in the oldest club championship award in rugby league.

Balmain Tigers recorded their best junior representative seasons in 30 years, winning the SG Ball premiership (U18s) and making the Grand Final qualifier in the Harold Matthews (U16) competition. Balmain Ryde Eastwood Tigers finished eighth in the NSW Cup after 26 rounds to qualify for the finals.

Balmain Tigers Chairman David Trodden said winning the Club Championship was an enormous effort.

“It is normally only the bigger clubs who have any hope of winning the club championship,’’ Trodden said.

“In the last 15 years, Parramatta, Penrith and the Bulldogs have won the club championship 13 of the 15 times.

“Parramatta alone have won it 8 times in the last 15 years

“The last time Balmain won the club championship was in 1950\. The Tigers have only won it on five previous occasions with the other years being in 1941, 1943, 1944 and 1946.”

Mr Trodden also praised Balmain Tigers General Manager Paul Sironen for his leadership.

"Paul has delivered an achievement that hasn't been possible in the last 62 years,'' Trodden said.

"He deserves the accolades as he has worked so hard in leading the Balmain Tigers and making them the strong Club they are today."
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This is a massive achievement by Balmain, and a vindication of all the work that Paul Sironen has put into the club. Congratulations to the players, coaches and officials from the club for their result spectacular results.

 

[Yossarian]

1950 huh? A long time between drinks. Well done to everyone concerned. I got to see the HM and SG Ball teams first hand this year and they were a professional, passionate, and courteous group as near as I can tell. A good reward not only for the players but the many behind the scenes people who give up their time for free to do what they love.

 

[Tigerdave]

Nice, well done

 

[Guest]

Great result given the stats over the last 15 years alone.

 

[weststigers4life]

We seem to have an abundant amount of good talent coming through the grades, hopefully we don't lose too many of them.
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_Posted using RoarFEED 2012_

 

[kh_canada]

More importantly, players who are passionate about the game.
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_Posted using RoarFEED 2012_

 

[Gary_Bakerloo]

I know it is the oldest award, but what is the relevance in modern rugby league? Canterbury were minor premiers in the NRL, Toyota Cup and the NSWRL.

 

[Yossarian]

The relevance is that it is a sign of junior strength. You need to place highly in HM and SG Ball to win it.

 

[Snodgrass]

Well down Balmain.
However if Parramatta have won 8 of the past 15 years it clearly has diddly squat to do with what transpires in the seniors.

 

[spudoakes]

i thought the dogs would have won com in first in U21, NSW cup , and first

 

[Yossarian]

i thought the dogs would have won com in first in U21, NSW cup , and first

As I understand it, it doesn't consider NRL or NYC. It is just based on the competitions run by the NSWRL (i.e. NSW Cup + rep juniors)