Redcap's BRL

Coming of age: The 1926 Brisbane Rugby League season

The 1926 Brisbane Rugby League season is now live on Redcap’s BRL. Click here to see all the details from the season, including Brothers’ journey to their first BRL title.

When does a sporting competition come of age? Is it something measurable or comparative, or is it more of a feeling? Is there, in retrospect, a difference?

Whatever the case, 1926 feels like the start of something. Nothing is ever permanent in rugby league, but the clubs were now well established and a collective self-governing entity, they had a stable home at the Ekka, crowds were flocking at record levels, and Redcap was in his prime, with his articles in the Courier often spanning half a page.

There was still tension with the QRL, and it would escalate into a full-blown schism, but the BRL was in rude health and ready for the fight.

Champion Wests’ winger Cec Aynsley had gone to Ipswich, tempted down the road to join ‘the genius’ Jimmy Craig at Starlights. But the BRL was a net importer of representative talent, with the international trio of Johnny Hunt (University), Vic Armbruster (Grammars) and Tom Gorman (Brothers) all drawn to Brisbane.

After years in the doldrums, University finally became a force, with Hunt, crafty halfback Hulbert and goal-kicking forward McDougall leading them through an impressive patch of mid-season form and into the finals.

Coorparoo, Carlton, Valleys and Grammars all had handy teams and could beat anybody on their day. Wests were a motley crew of veterans, uber-veterans (evergreen half Billy Brereton, and winger Bill McVinish who was back from the dead) and youngsters trying to find their way, but still managed to jam a stick in the proverbial spokes of some more fancied riders.

Then there was Brothers, who won their first premiership behind a forward pack that had been evolving for a few seasons around the burly M Burke and the fantastic Fins, Harold Hamalainen and Eino Riipinen. Tricky standoff Jack Woodward found his ideal link man in the champion centre and future Kangaroo skipper Gorman, and few could resist.

Five of the seven clubs who’d emerged from the primordial stew of 1909-1921 had won a title, and Grammars were on the brink. Even the ‘Students’ were on the up and played a much-publicised game against their Sydney counterparts during the season. The prominence of rugby league in the ivy-clad tertiary institutions, as envisioned by Doc Evatt, wouldn’t last, but for now University had a bright future. It just wouldn’t all unfold in rugby league.

More complete BRL seasons coming soon on Redcap’s BRL.