Western Suburbs Magpies

History

The club was one of the foundation members of the Sydney rugby football league competition in 1908. Founded at a meeting on 4 February 1908 at Ashfield Town Hall, they won only one match the following season so were the League's second wooden spooners (after Cumberland in 1908). Though they spent long periods of time as also-rans they did taste premiership success four times in the mid 20th century. They won their first premiership in 1930, beating St George 27–2. Four years later they defeated Eastern Suburbs to win their second title. For the 1944 NSWRFL season Queensland 1910s representative player Henry Bolewski became coach the Western Suburbs club, replacing Alf Blair, who moved to South Sydney. Wests improved slightly on the previous season, finishing 5th (out of 8), but failing to make the finals, and Bolewski was replaced by club great, Frank McMillan.

Wests won a second pair of premierships, beating Balmain in 1948 and South Sydney 22–12 in 1952. Both times they defeated a club hunting its third title in a row.

The 1960s

Apart from these occasions, the club was famous for three successive grand final matches in 1961, 1962 and 1963 against the St George Dragons in the midst of their 11-premiership run. The club boasted footballers such as halfback Arthur Summons, Harry 'Bomber' Wells, Kel O'Shea, Noel Kelly and Peter Dimond. The 1963 grand final was immortalised in a photograph which became known as 'The Gladiators' after St. George captain Norm Provan and Summons trudged off the field together.

The 1970s

A final period of glory beckoned in the late 1970s where they spent a few years at the top or near-top of the table, yet failed to make a grand final. Coached by Roy Masters and boasting such players as fullback John Dorahy, half Tommy Raudonikis, five-eighth Graeme O'Grady, Gavin Miller, Ron Giteau, Les Boyd, prop John Donnelly and five-eighth Terry Lamb. However attractive offers from other clubs and then doubts about the club's viability led to years of exodus of talent. Wests did manage to win the 1977 Amco Cup.

The 1980s

John Ribot, a winger for Wests, was the top try-scorer for the 1980 season. In 1983 the NSWRFL attempted to expel Wests from the competition, but a prolonged legal battle saw the Magpies keep their spot, unlike the Newtown Jets. Eventually, Wests relocated to Campbelltown in 1987. Ironically, this was where Newtown had unsuccessfully tried to move to four years earlier.

The 1990s

Wests begun a rebuilding process in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Laurie Freier started the 1988 Winfield Cup season as the club's coach but was replaced during the season by John Bailey.

The club made the semi finals in 1991 and 1992 under coach Warren Ryan. They were also NSWRL Club Champions in 1991 when all three grades made the semi-finals. The team also made it to the Pre-season Challenge Cup final in 1993 but were beaten by a star-studded Canberra side. The club then slipped down the ladder and the coaching reigns were handed over to caretaker Wayne Ellis. The decision to appoint Magpie legend Tommy Raudonikis as coach for the start of the 1995 season sent a shot of adrenalin into the club. Tommy took the Magpies to the finals in 1996. But the club couldn't compete in the players market in 1997 thanks to the Super League war which saw players contracts soar sky high to unsustainable amounts. In 1998 and 1999, a Magpie team filled with a large number of unknown players struggled to be competitive and twice received the wooden spoon. With the club struggling on-field and trying to compete financially against clubs with News Limited funding, the writing was on the wall.

Joint Venture

The well documented war in 1997 between Super League (News Ltd) and the Australian Rugby League (ARL) resulted in a compromise that by the year 2000, the National Rugby League (NRL) competition would be contested by only 14 teams.

With the Wests Magpies struggling on field in the NRL competition, it was decided by the club in the middle of 1999 that to survive the cull they would be required to merge their senior team with another club's team. After initial talks with the Canterbury Bulldogs failed an agreement was reached with the Balmain Tigers on the 27th of July 1999.

The Wests Tigers first competed in the 2000 competition. The club also merged its playing colours from the two joint venture partners.

Major Sponsors

Wests Ashfield Leagues have also been key sponsors & supporters of the club since they were established.

Current Days

The Western Suburbs Magpies home matches are played at Campbelltown Stadium, Leumeah and their training facilities, along with offices are at the Whitlam Centre in Liverpool. The club has state of the art facilities here, and they are regarded as some of the best in the league.

In 2000 the Western Suburbs Magpies Under 20's team were runners up to the Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs, captained by Mitch Zammit and Luke Duffy. The Western Suburbs Magpies last title was won in 2002 when the Western Suburbs Magpies captained by Liam Fulton won the New South Wales Rugby League Under 18's competition.

From 2000 - 2012 the Western Suburbs Magpies fielded teams in the NSWRL First Grade competition now known as the NSW Cup.

In 2006 the Wests Tigers on advice from Tim Sheens pushed the notion that the NRL side would be better served with a single NSW Cup side. Western Suburbs board opposed this decision and decided to continue fielding their own team. Wests Tigers then allocated all NRL contracted players to the Balmain Tigers (the Wests Magpies had six junior players in that group, as opposed to one from Balmain), citing the advantages of both the NRL and NSW Cup teams training together at Concord Oval. This continued from 2006 to 2007.

Magpies Chairman Kevin Hammond was disappointed at the Wests Tigers decision and informed the Wests Tigers of that in 2008, if the Magpies did not receive a fair share of player allocation from the Wests Tigers, they would form a feeder partnership with rivals Canberra Raiders. The Wests Tigers capitulated.

The Western Suburbs Magpies made the semi finals in 2008, 2009 and 2010.

In 2012 funding was withheld from the Magpies by Wests Ashfield Leagues Club Directors (not unanimously) as they now supported Wests Tigers proposal for a single NSW Cup side, even though this was done simply because Balmain couldn't afford a side and Wests could.

This also went against the Magpies Football Club members wishes and they organised a Protest Rally through the streets of Campbelltown. Wests Ashfield Leagues Club under pressure reinstated funding late in the off season after the Magpies players had already signed on to play with other teams.

The Wests Tigers however decided to cease all support of the Magpies NSW Cup side whilst continuing support for Balmain Ryde Eastwood Tigers even though it was continuously reminded that Wests Tigers shouldn't be the ones telling Wests Ashfield what to do, they are employees of Wests Ashfield and Balmain, NOT the other way around. The Magpies failed to win a game in 2012 whilst Balmain Ryde Eastwood Tigers made it to the Grand Final where they were defeated by the Newtown Jets.

The Magpies dropped back to the third tier Ron Massey Cup in 2013, with members voting to field a separate NSW Cup team in 2014, although this did not eventuate. The Magpies playing in the Ron Massey Cup was a great source of amusement to many on the Balmain side of the Wests Tigers, citing how a once great club had fallen so far. Ironically, as recently as 2014, the Balmain Tigers were trying to raise funds to themselves enter a Balmain team in the Ron Massey Cup.

In 2015 the Magpies added a team in the Sydney Shield competition to act as a feeder for their Ron Massey Cup campaign.

Home grounds

St Luke's Park was the home ground of the Western Suburbs club in 1910 and 1911. They started playing their matches at Pratten Park in Ashfield in 1912, but after pressure from local residents there the council refused the club permission to use that ground, forcing them to return to St. Luke's Oval from 1915 to 1919. The Magpies have played at three home grounds since foundation. They returned to Pratten Park in 1920, remaining there until 1966. They then moved to Lidcombe Oval in 1967. This was due to Ashfield council not allowing the club to play matches on a Sunday (as this was the church day). In 1987, they moved to Campbelltown's Orana Park (located in adjacent Leumeah), which, after a $25 million renovation, is now called Campbelltown Stadium which is now one of the home grounds of the Wests Tigers. The Magpies' lower grade sides play most home games at Campbelltown Stadium, with the occasional game moved to Lidcombe Oval.

Western Suburbs Magpies Leagues Club

There is no Western Suburbs leagues Club. The Magpies are financially supported by the Wests Ashfield Leagues club.

District Junior Competition

The Western Suburbs District Junior Rugby League (WSDJRL) also known as the "Junior Magpies" administers junior rugby league on behalf of the Western Suburbs Magpies and the Wests Tigers joint venture. It consists of a network of affiliated junior rugby league clubs throughout the greater Campbelltown and Liverpool areas of southwestern Sydney. As of 2016 the following clubs were involved in the WSDJRL;

The following clubs also competed in the WSDJRL, but have now folded:

" Ashcroft JRLFC

" Ingleburn Bulldogs JRLFC

" Liverpool Titans JRLFC

The WSDJRL has produced many ex and current Wests Tigers players including Brett Hodgson (Eagle Vale-St Andrews & Ingleburn RSL), Dean Collis (Campbelltown Warriors), Bryce Gibbs (All Saints Liverpool), Shannon Gallant (All Saints Liverpool & Campbelltown City) Chris Lawrence (Eagle Vale), and Shannon McDonnell (All Saints Liverpool). David Noaofaluma (Campbelltown Warriors, Campbelltown Collegians) James Tedesco (Eagle Vale St.Andrews) also Camden Rams (group 6, CRL) Other notable NRL players who grew up playing junior rugby league in the WSDJRL are Anthony Minichiello (East Valley United), Mark Minichiello (Liverpool Catholic Club) Frank Pritchard (Campbelltown City)Eric Grothe, Jr. (Eagle Vale), Ryan Hoffman (Campbelltown Collegians), Ben Roberts (Narellan Jets), Sauaso Sue (Macquarie Field Hawks), Israel Folau, Jarryd Hayne, Krisnan Inu, Michael Lett (Ingleburn RSL), Gray Viane, John Skandalis, Ken McGuinness, Kevin McGuinness, Tim Lafai and Mickey & Lopini Paea (all Minto Cobras).

The WSDJRL took over its current boundaries from the CRL Group 6 Northern Junior League and parts of the Parramatta DJRL (i.e. Liverpool) in 1987. They were forced to move out of their traditional territory around the Ashfield and Lidcombe areas of inner western Sydney to be able to then survive in the NSWRL. The old WSDJRL area has since been acquired by the Balmain DJRL and Bulldogs (Canterbury) DJRL. Clubs that used to play in the WSDJRL include;

Hall of Fame

On Friday 30 May 2008 the centenary of the Western Suburbs Magpies was celebrated with a ball in the Grand Harbour Ballroom at Sydney's Star City Casino. Six inaugural members were also inducted into the Western Suburbs Magpies Hall of Fame:

2010 Inductees

1997 MIA players

2012 Inductees

Team of the Century

In 2004 the club named its Team of the Century:

International Representatives

The following Western Suburbs Magpies players have represented their countries in international competition.

Magpies Test Captains

Club

NSWRL Reserve Grade: 3 (1936, 1961, 1981)

NSWRL Third Grade: 9 (1936, 1938, 1939, 1944, 1958, 1961, 1967)

Under 23 Premiership: 1 (1977)

President's Cup: 1 (1925, 1947, 1958, 1992)

Flegg Memorial Trophy: 2 (1961, 1981)

NSWRL SG Ball U18's: 2 (1971, 2002)

Largest crowd:

Biggest defeat: 67 – 0 vs South Sydney (Agricultural Showground, 23 July 1910)

Biggest win: 62 -5 vs Balmain (Lidcombe Oval, 31 March 1974)

Individual

Most First Grade Games (150 or more)

1. 203 – Keith Holman
2. 201 – Tom Raudonikis
3. 162 – Trevor Cogger
4. 160 – Wayne Smith
5. 157 – Tedda Courtney
6. 155 – Peter Dimond
7. 150 – Frank McMillan

Most Tries In a Match: Alan Ridley, 6 vs Newtown, Pratten Park, July 11, 1936

Most Tries In a Season: Alan Ridley, 18 in 1932 and Paul Smith, 18 in 1994

Most 1st Grade Tries For Club: Peter Dimond, 83

Most Tries For Club (All grades): Trevor Cogger, 88

Most Goals In a Match: Les Mead, 12 v Canterbury, Pratten Park, August 31, 1935

Most Games missed [ Wayne Shields] v Everyone,All locations 1997

Most Points In a Match: Les Mead, 27 ( 1 try, 12 goals ) v Canterbury, Pratten Park, August 31, 1935

Most Points In a Season: Peter Rowles, 215 ( 8 tries, 94 goals, 3 field goals ) in 1978

Most Points For Club: Bill Keato, 776 ( 6 tries, 379 goals )

All Time 1st Grade Numbered Players List

Below is a list of all players that played for the Western Suburbs Magpies in the NSWRL, ARL and NRL First Grade competitions from 1908 to 1999.

Notable fans