St George team 1930 (click on pic for larger image)

The Dragon Slayers harden
1930:
SAINTS WIN THEIR FIRST MATCH OF THE NEW DECADE
North Sydney Oval, 21 June 1930: After a slow start to the year which saw them lose their first four matches, St George's 1930 campaign has begun with a win over Norths by 10-7.
St George win final but minor premiers get second chance!

The new decade began with no sign of one of Rugby League's first ever clubs, Glebe. No home ground and geographical considerations had forced the inner city club out of the premiership. The competition was reduced to eight teams thus temporarily doing away with the system of teams getting byes.

Sydney Sports Ground, 27 September 1930: The St George Dragon Slayers, positioned fourth on the ladder have hit form at the right end of the season with two remarkable semi-final wins. The first victory being over Eastern Suburbs 11-10 at Earl Park on September 20.

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Saints then continued their good form into the following weekend when in the final, they defeated minor premiers Western Suburbs 14-6 in front of 16,557 people.
The two teams have met twice before during the season with Wests winning the first encounter in May and St George winning the second match in August.
Under the previous system, the victory in the final would have seen Saints declared premiership champions. But in 1930, the minor premiers, Wests were allowed a second chance if defeated during the finals.
Sydney Sports Ground, 4 October 1930: In what looks more like a return match, the 'Grand Final' of 1930 was decided in front of 12,178 people.
Saints led 2-0 early on and competed well in the first half. But Wests were a crack outfit and they skipped away to a 16-2 as Saints lost veteran forward, Harry Flower [pic right] with an arm injury. Wests went on to defeat St George 27-2.
FRANK BURGE DEPARTS: The season end saw the departure of Frank Burge [pictured] as coach. Frank came to Saints from Glebe in 1927 playing one season as player-coach before remaining as coach.
While Saints didn't win a premiership under Frank, the champion international had indeed instilled the notion and belief that St George could win.
Frank Burge had a profound effect on the club and turned the team into harder more ruthless outfit.
Saints were now a team to be feared.

MORE: THE MIGHTY FRANK BURGE - CLICK HERE

1931:
Saints finished 4th on the ladder in 1931 with 8 wins and 6 losses.
Souths defeat Saints in minor semi final
Sydney Sports Ground, 22 August 1931: Saints ended their season run with a minor semi final loss to Souths in front a crowd of 17,561. Souths scored five tries to one winning 16-5. Souths actually went on to defeat Wests in the preliminary final only to be forced into another playoff in the Grand Final against the previously defeated minor premiers, Easts. Souths won again to claim the 1931 premiership.

1932:
ST GEORGE OUT OF SEMIS FOR FIRST TIME SINCE 1926
Sydney, 27 August 1932: In the same year as the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Saints finish the season in 6th position, ahead of University and Norths. The 1932 record for St George stands at 4 wins, 1 draw and 9 losses for a total of 9 points. Never far away from winning, Saints often went down by narrow margins.