Newtown looked set for back-to-back titles after finishing as minor premiers. Both Newtown and
Balmain won their respective semi-finals with the Bluebags blitzing St George by 55 points to 7, which was to remain the Dragons' largest losing margin until 1994 and the largest margin in a finals match until
2019. However injuries and
war duties then ravaged the side including the key losses of
Len Smith and
Herb Narvo who had starred for them all season. Balmain thus overcame Newtown 19–16 in the final, enabling Newtown a “right of challenge”.
Grand Final Newtown exercised their “right of challenge” as minor premiers and called for a Grand Final. In a low-scoring affair Balmain's representative centre
Joe Jorgenson kicked two late penalty goals to give the Tigers a 12–8 win and their eighth title.
Balmain 12 (Tries: Devery, K Parkinson. Goals: Jorgenson 3) defeated
Newtown 8 (Tries: Farrell, McLean. Goals: Kirk) ==Player statistics==