Tiger,
Tiger, Burning Bright
A History of the Balmain Rugby League Club
by Ray Chesterton (hardcover - 278 pages)
"Tiger,
Tiger, Burning Bright" is the first line of a poem by William Blake
- it characterises the Balmain Tigers Rugby League Club and it is an
apt title for the book that so well documents their long and eventful
history. Founded in 1908 at the dawn of the game in Australia Balmain
has gone on to be, alongside Souths and Saints, one of the most popular
teams and enduring images of rugby league.
The
book is packed full of details unearthed in research during its preparation
and is well written by Ray Chesterton. The author provides an interesting
context for the Balmain history. He has taken the time to inform the
reader of what else happened in the game, Sydney and the world, at each
point in Balmain's history. So we can see the context in which Balmain,
its players and supporters were enjoying their Tiger success or otherwise.
And
that is much of what is the Balmain story - how the club was an integral
part of the wider community. To have only written about the Tigers 11
premiership wins would not have told the whole story of the club and
its place in life in Balmain and Sydney's history.
There are studies of great Balmain players from all eras in the book,
including Charles 'Chook' Fraser, 'Pony' Halloway, 'Whip' Latta, Keith
Barnes, Ben Elias, Steve Roach, Paul Sironen, Wayne Pearce and many
others who have proudly worn the black and gold.
The book tells the stories of the premiership wins, and the unlucky
defeats of 1988 and 1989. It also has an in-depth look at the events
surrounding the 1909 Final (for which they will never forgive Souths!)
and the Earl Park riot of 1928.
It
also includes dozens of great colour and black and white photographs
from the birth of the club to the final game at Leichhardt before the
arrival of the Wests Tigers.
It
also includes a wonderful resource in a section dedicated to providing
the full statistics of the club. 
It
includes a remarkable database of every season - listing every player
used, how many games they played and points scored, results against
all teams (including play-offs) and where the Tigers team finished on
the points table.
As
a Balmain fan this is a must have book that does the Tigers proudly.
For a fan of the game of rugby league there is a lot to commend the
book, particularly as much of it is presented in the wider context of
the game in Sydney and Australia. "Tiger, Tiger, Burning Bright"
is a worthwhile addition to anyone's book collection.
You
can sample a piece of "Tiger, Tiger, Burning Bright" on the
infamous Earl Park riot of 1928 by clicking
here.
Published
by Playright Publishing P/L
- ISBN 0-949853-71-2
Copies
of "Tiger, Tiger, Burning Bright" are available from: www.tigers.org.au
