Seasons 1940 to 1944

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1940

West tasted success in 1940 – they defeated North 10 to 6 in the Reserve Grade Grand Final. Although finishing 3^rd after the premiership rounds West were able to defeat North 15 – 6 in the semi’s, South 8 – 3 in the final, before winning the Grand Final. The winning West team was C Hincks (goal), J Bell (try), A Peattie, A Payne, J Redman, E Clarke, K Wilkinson, W Screen, G Young, W Harding, A Ravelli, N Hanlon and A Jones (try). In 1^st grade West had 7 wins to finish 6^th in the competition. In an all coalfields Grand Final Kurri 12 def Cessnock 5.In the Club Championship West finished 5^th behind North, Kurri, Cessnock and Waratah. West sides in 1940 were strengthened by good juniors coming from the Belmont area. Col Maxwell had move to St George, and the First grade coach was Dick Welshman. However, during the 1940 season Adolf Hitler was splashing his war paint in Europe, and this would impact on the next few years of Rugby League in Newcastle.

1941

The 1941 season saw many West players heading off to the war front. These included the 1940 First Grade coach Dick Welshman, Bill Iles, Bokum Phillips, Tommy Tucker, Ian Barnett, Geoff Hughes and Joe Brown. The departure of Dick Welshman was a distinct loss to the Rosellas, as this solidly built player was an extremely capable lock forward. But worse was to come, when the Air Force announced that Welshman had paid the ultimate sacrifice while fighting for his country. Ossie Screen took over as First Grade coach in 1941. West finished 3^rd last in First Grade, but made the Reserve Grade Grand Final only to be defeated 8 to 7 by South. In the Club Championship West finished 5^th behind South, Cessnock, North and Central. In the State Cup knockout series West defeated Waratah 18 – 3, but were then defeated by North 18 – 4. In the final of the State Cup Newtown defeated Central 17 – 7 in the final at District Park on 6 April. A couple of interesting names in the 6 stone 7lbs Newcastle school rep team – a Noel Dagwell (father of Allan Dagwell) and an Australian player of the future, Ian Johnstone. However, there was a significant event that occurred on 7 December 1941 when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbour – this was to impact heavily on the 1942 season.

1942

In 1942 one of West’s major gains was Tom (Wimpy) Pittman from Belmont. He was a fine attacking footballer, but strong defence was his real strength. The Army was camped in Lambton Park and West also gained Pat Kirby from Lismore. Because of the Japanese involvement in the war the Army took over New Lambton Oval, and West’s games were played at the Rotunda ground at Lambton Park. Training was difficult because of blackout conditions, which caused new coach, Cec Hinks plenty of problems. On the administration side of the club, Tom Farrell took over as President, and Harry Harding took over as Treasurer. The 1942 season was marred by the war, with both the Maitland and East clubs not fielding teams because of the lack of players.  West failed to reach the semi finals in either 1^st or Reserve grades. On 2 August West played the Army Reserves and were beaten 9 to 2. However, West 1^st grade beat Army 16 – 6. The West team was O Screen, C Maxwell, B Melville, P Kirby, K Donne, D Buckley, K Froome, T Pittman, S Luxford, J Rodgers, A Ravelli, G Sanderson and E Fox. It was now 20 years since West had been Major Premiers in First Grade. Would they have to wait another 20 years to taste success – not one your nelly! They would only have to wait another 19 years!!

1943

In 1943 the Newcastle Rugby League reduced the number of teams from 10 to 8. The Eastern Suburbs club was disbanded, with its boundary being shared by North and South. Also, Maitland and Morpeth merged to form a new club called Maitland United. West were fortunate in gaining the services of Dick Dunn from Eastern Suburbs in Sydney. West started the season with 5 straight wins, but faded in the second round to figure in a 3 way contest for 3^rd place. Eventually, West were defeated 17 – 7 by the Grand Final winners, South Newcastle. The West team was T Screen (Goal), R Snushall, O Screen (Goal), D Hubbuck, F Brown, M Brennan, K Donne, A Peattie, J Rodgers (Try), T Pittman, W Jones, K Banks and G Sanderson. In Reserve Grade West finished 4^th but lost to South 3 – 0 in the semi final. South won Firsts, Reserves and the Club Championship. In the State Cup knockout series West were defeated 43 – 13 in the first round by the eventual winners Balmain. In other games West defeated Army Ack Ack 18 – 13 on 2 May at Belmont Oval.

1944

Cecil Hincks was again West’s coach in 1944. The team had 6 wins, 6 losses and 2 draws to finish 4^th in the competition. However, strong semi final form allowed the team to meet Minor Premiers Waratah / Mayfield in the final at New Lambton Oval – the score being Waratah 18 def West 15. The West team was O Screen (2 goals), G Godfrey, J Nesbitt (Try), F Brown (Goal), A Maddison (Try), E Sutherland, G Freeman, S Tarrant, K Owens, G Maddison (Try), G Sanderson, K Banks and J Rodgers. (Note that George Maddison was the father of Ken and Keith Maddison.) In the State Cup tie West were defeated 31 – 18 by the eventual winners, St George. West Reserves also made the final only to be beaten 18 – 17 by North. In a couple of sidelights to 1944, West Under 18’s were Minor and Major Premiers, and one of the stars was Jim De Courcey, who went on to play First Grade for West and cricket for Australia. Also, a “splinter” team, the Lambton rebels, played social rugby league of a Sunday using the rotunda ground at Lambton Park as their home ground.