Gerringong Rugby League Club has a long and rich history. 

The Lions have won the most premierships in the South Coast competition and punch far above their weight for such a small town. 

Reading about local lads Hamish Stewart and Dylan Egan recently making their NRL debuts for the Dragons reminded everyone of the large number of Gerringong boys who have played in the top rugby league competition in Australia. 

Some have even represented our country.

In 2014, Barry Ross wrote an excellent book on the history of the club which compares favourably with any such publication, even those of major Sydney clubs. His book, "Gerringong Rugby League Football Club: Celebrating 100 years 1914-2014: From our boys to Lions”, gave me great help for this article.

Scrolling through eBay one day I came across an item that was a list of the premiers in the Wollongong District Rugby league competition. 

The Wollongong area has competed with success against touring international sides and produced and continue to produce champions, such as Graeme Langlands, Steve Roach and Jason Ryles.

But scrolling through the list I glanced upon a premier team 100 years ago - Gerringong.

Gerringong? What is a little town on the South Coast doing with a premiership trophy from 1925 in the Wollongong competition?

Seeing that it is the 100th anniversary of that great year I thought I might reminisce about those “good old days”.

At the start of that season it was thought it might be a good idea to join the South Coast and Wollongong competitions together. This did not last long. However, Gerringong decided to join the Wollongong competition. 

Some South Coast clubs were glad to see the back of the dominant Gerringong club. The rugby league had begun in 1914 and in the nine seasons since then Gerringong had won six.

As the season developed it was clear Gerringong was the team to beat in a six-club competition. 

Gerringong finished minor premiers after winning 10 games, drawing and losing only one each. Glebe and Port Kembla finished equal second and under the rules at the time, those teams played off for the honour of meeting Gerringong in the final.

Port won and the final was played at Kiama Showground on 29 August 1925.

Now you can imagine the excitement. Port Kembla had been a powerhouse in the Wollongong competition for many years, and the new boys from Gerringong were minor premiers.

Fans from both towns had to scour the district to find as many cars as they could to transport the crowds to the game. Not many people could afford cars in those days. 

Around 3000 spectators packed in to watch. Now it may not seem a big number compared to crowds today, but this was a record for the rugby league on the South Coast.

The game itself lived up to all the expectations. The result was in doubt until the last minute. A missed goal from in front for Port was very costly. 

Mind you, Gerringong did score three tries, they just did not kick any goals! They won by the skinniest of margins, 9-8.

A rugby match at Gerringong in 1909. Photo: Athol Noble Collection

An interesting sidelight came from an injury to a Port player, S Harris who broke his collarbone in a tackle. Although I believe replacements were allowed, he refused to come off. 

When he had the ball, he had to tuck it under his one good arm left and just lean into the tackle. The Gerringong players were at a loss as to how to tackle him without causing him immense pain. On more than one occasion they stopped him by just holding him around the waist.

The Gerringong team on that glorious day was Jack Miller, H. Morrow, Clive Cant, C. Miller, W. Guthrie backs, Vic Martin and Ray Miller halves, Vince Fields, J. Wall, Hedley Chittick, Roy Love, A. Burgess, S. Miller forwards.

The back of the postcard featuring the match in 1909. Photo: Athol Noble Collection

It is interesting to note that a lot of the names in the Gerringong Rugby League team reappeared in the Gerringong Cricket Club’s first-grade team that also won the local competition. Sport in Gerringong 100 years ago was particularly strong.

For the pictures to accompany this article I would like to share with you, not photographs from 1925, but special ones from a time long before.

Before Gerringong Rugby League Club was established in 1914 the local lads played Rugby Union. 

Once I went in search of an old cricket scorebook from 1894 that I knew Athol Noble had. Michael Tierney was kind enough to give me access to Athol’s collection that included, in addition to the aforementioned scorebook, a collection of Gerringong football memorabilia. 

Jack and Vince Fields. Photo: Athol Noble Collection

Among that collection were some great old photos. One was of the two Fields boys, Jack and Vince. Both of these players were some of the best players Gerringong have ever had. And that is saying something.  

Two other photos grabbed my attention. These were from games at what is now Michael Cronin Oval. One game was not dated but the postcard type picture stated it was a 1909 Gerringong v Berry rugby union game.

Sitting at the eastern end of the oval one Friday morning, watching members of the club mark out the field for the big weekend game, I got to thinking that the goalposts looked a bit more secure than 1909. 

I also wondered if the Gerringong players would be wearing hats.