Brisbane Rugby League 1935 season
League Table
| Team | Played | Won | Lost | Drew | For | Against | Diff | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norths | 10 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 150 | 98 | 52 | 14 |
| Valleys | 10 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 196 | 156 | 40 | 14 |
| Brothers | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 127 | 126 | 1 | 12 |
| Wests | 10 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 141 | 138 | 3 | 8 |
| Easts | 10 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 125 | 147 | -22 | 8 |
| Souths | 10 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 113 | 187 | -74 | 4 |
Rounds
Finals
| Stage | Date | Teams | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Major Semi-Final | 10 August 1935 | Valleys vs Norths | Details |
| Minor Semi-Final | 31 August 1935 | Brothers vs Wests | Details |
| Preliminary Final | 7 September 1935 | Brothers vs Norths | Details |
| Grand Final | 14 September 1935 | Brothers vs Valleys | Details |
Pike Cup
| Stage | Date | Teams | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Final | 15 June 1935 | Norths vs Valleys | Details |
My Brother Vinny
As the shadows lengthened on the afternoon of 14 September 1935, the BRL Grand Final between Valleys and Brothers was deadlocked at six-all after 80 minutes. There’d been a drawn decider before, back in 1910 when Ipswich and Toombul finished 10-apiece, but that was replayed the following weekend.
This time, and for the first time ever, the premiership would be decided in extra time. Within eight minutes of the extra period commencing, Valleys had edged in front through a try to Jack Bates and looked likely premiers.
Brothers had got themselves to the decider largely through their mean defence and the goal-kicking of Eric Hogan and Mick Moloney. Hogan’s three goals were the extent of their scoring to that point. A game-saving rally and try seemed unlikely.
Then, with time almost up and all seemingly lost, the Bretheren launched one “last desperate rush which pierced the Valley defences and ended in McKellar scoring far out near the corner flag”. It was nine-all, and in a scene to be repeated by the North Queensland Cowboys and Johnathan Thurston 80 years later, Brothers had a kick from sideline to win it all.
While Eric Hogan had kicked three goals, he’d also missed a few. Moloney had limped off injured earlier in the game. Responsibility for this most crucial of kicks was therefore passed from Eric Hogan to his brother Vince, who’d landed all of two goals during the season and in his career to date. As recounted by the Daily Standard:
“Bash went the boot on ball, and as the pig skin gracefully sailed over the bar pandemonium broke loose amongst the Brothers’ supporters as they realised their team had again won a premiership after almost a decade of unsuccessful effort”.
Brothers’ premiership was in part a triumph of team building. Fullback Reg Stanton was the best of the local crop, as was front-rower Bill ‘Porky’ Law. Half Phil Duffy and rake M O’Connor were no representative stars but could mix it with the best of them. The signing of back-rower Larry Gillespie who’d been part of Valleys’ 1933 premiership team was a very smart bit of business.
There were also some structural forces at play, and the influence of Carlton on this Brothers team should be mentioned. The Hogan brothers, Moloney, McKellar, five-eighth Leo Dwyer and forward ‘Gerkin’ McGuckin all started their careers at the old south-side club before the league restructured into the new district format in 1933.
Carlton had, of course, established themselves in the BRL through a group of former Merthyr (Christian Brothers) players in 1919. Perhaps it was fitting.
Speaking of the south side, while the new Souths district club looked a lot like Carlton (they were still wearing maroon and white, rather than the black and white which would become their standard), the loss of many of their forebear’s best players doomed the new club to struggle for a few years after ’33.
But 1935 saw some green shoots emerge, and with no clear standout team in the league, it could be argued that Souths were the team of the season, despite finishing last. They beat Norths and Valleys, and produced a number of other creditable performances. Halfback Vizer, back-rower Edmonds and centre Wilkie played superbly. It would be another decade and a few false starts before the south side would rise again. 1935 was a new foundation.
