2019 - THE 50th ANNIVERSARY OF THE 1969 GRAND FINAL

The 1969 Grand Final is a classic tale of the underdog battling against all odds. South Sydney were the competitions' dominant team boasting eleven international players, and had beaten the Balmain Tigers in a semi final just weeks before. To make matters worse, Arthur Beetson was sent-off in that game, making him unavailable for Balmain in the Grand Final. 

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As unlikely as it seems, Balmain went on to win the Grand Final by eleven points to two on 20th September 1969, in front of 58,825 fans at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

 

Despite appearing in two more memorable grand finals in the 1980's, it was to be Balmain's last premiership before forming a joint venture with the Western Suburbs Magpies in 1999.

 

The debate continues 50 years on... did Balmain slow-play the 1969 Grand Final and alter the pace to suit themselves, or were Souths overconfident, underestimating their opposition?

To many of the Leichhardt Oval faithful the 20th September 1969 remains a day to remember.