The 1936 Eastern Suburbs DRLFC season was the 29th in the club's history. Coached by Arthur Halloway and captained by Dave Brown, they competed in the 1936 NSWRFL Premiership, becoming only the second team to go through a season undefeated and winning their 7th minor premiership. They then went on to reach the Premiership Final, defeating Balmain and claiming their 6th title.
Contents
The NSWRFL's top try scorer for the season was Easts' Fred Tottey with 25 tries. The club's players to represent Australia were: Dave Brown (captain), Jack Beaton, Ernie Norman, Viv Thicknesse, Joe Pearce and Ray Stehr. Brown left Easts, signing a three-year deal with English club the Warrington, at the end of the season.
Squad
The Eastern Suburbs line-up for the 1936 season contained:- Wal Bamford, Jack Beaton, John Beckly, Dave Brown(c), John Clarke, Jack Coote, Jack 'Buster' Craigie, Tom Dowling, Albert Horsell, Jack Lynch, H McCallum, Tom McLachlan, Ross McKinnon, Ernie Norman, Andy Norval, Rod O'Loan, Johnny Parker, Sid 'Joe' Pearce Henry 'harry' Pierce, Viv Thicknesse.
Regular season
Semi Final
Eastern Suburbs 25(Dave Brown 3, Viv Thicknesse, Jack Lynch, Rod O'Loan, Fred Tottey tries; Tom Dowling, Jack Lynch goals) defeated Canterbury Bankstown 13 (J Gartner try; T Kirk 5 goals) at Belmore Sports Ground. Half time: 9-11. Crowd: 7201. Referee: Deane.
Premiership Final
In front of a crowd of 14,395 at the Sydney Cricket Ground Easts were vying for back-to-back premierships and took on Balmain.
The match, officiated by referee Lal Deane was tight in the first half with a scoreline favouring Easts 8-6 at the break. In the second half Easts ran away with the game, scoring eight tries all up to Balmain's two.
The game marked the end of sterling career for Tiger's champion and former international Joe "Chimpy" Busch, and was a suitable farewell for the Roosters' captain and star, Dave Brown, who headed to the English club Warrington for the 1937 and 1938 seasons.
Eastern Suburbs 32 (Tries: Fred Tottey 2, Rod O’Loan, Dave Brown, Ray Stehr, Ernie Norman, Jack Lynch, Andy Norval. Goals: Jack Lynch 2, Dave Brown 2 )
defeated
Balmain 12 (Tries: Frank Griffiths, Sid Goodwin. Goals: Sid Christensen 2, Bill Johnson)