Season 2020 marks the 40th Anniversary of Western Suburbs (now West Harbour) Second Division win over Hornsby at Concord Oval.
After only a year in the Second Division, the resounding 28-3 victory also ensured the Club’s triumphant return to Sydney’s top tier of rugby.
Key to the Club’s 1980 success was First Grade halfback, Neale Murphy.
“I was at Drummoyne Rowing Club one weekend and watched the Norths v Western Suburbs Semi-Final,” he said.
“Here were these two huge forward packs, the Norths pack in particular who had about five Australian representatives in their scrum alone.
“I remember watching these two packs belt each other and Western Suburbs did not give an inch all game. I knew after watching that I wanted to play for the Club.”
A Drummoyne Rugby Junior, Murphy made the transition to Wests after a badly broken leg ended his season in 1976.
“I remember my first training session vividly,” he said.
“I turned up to training at Concord Oval and I was wearing a singlet, a skimpy pair of shorts and track shoes.
“The First Grade Coach at the time just looked at me and asked me what the hell I was wearing.
“For a good couple of hours, we bashed each other in a training match and I knew walking away that I was at a proper rugby Club.”
After two lean seasons, the Club was relegated in 1980 to play against the likes of Port Hacking, Mosman and Penrith in the Second Division.
This was a situation not averse to many foundation Clubs at the time, with the likes of Sydney University and Eastwood also experiencing relegation in the early 1980’s.
“The Club rebuilt itself after the disappointment that year,” Murphy said.
“What we were able to achieve from that point was depth, with more and more Colts coming to us and allowing us to play an attractive style of Rugby.
“We had some electrifying backs, and we could just run our opposition off their feet.”
The Clubs top team did not experience defeat in the 1980 season until the major semi-final against eventual runners up, Hornsby.
It was the shock loss Murphy believes they needed, as he led his side out two weeks later to a convincing Grand Final performance.
In what was a successful day for the Club, Western Suburbs featured in all four finals matches at Concord Oval, with Second and Third Grade also victorious.
“That day proved where we belong in Sydney rugby,” Murphy said.
“We knew we were a First Division Club, it was just a matter of harnessing the serious amount of talent that we had.”
Neale Murphy’s leadership and rugby excellence were recognised with the Ken Catchpole Medal in 1981 and the Herald Cup in 1985.
While his playing career ended for the Club that year, Murphy went on to serve as Chairman of Selectors and First Grade Coach intermittently over the next decade.
“What I love about the Club is we promote hard, tough and fair rugby,” he said.
“The achievements in my years, especially that 1980 season, built depth and a history that I always look back with happy memories.
“This Club has become part of the fabric of our community and we’re proud to call the Inner West our home.”
Declan Armstrong
Media and Communications Officer | West Harbour Pirates Rugby Club
