It was Sunday, October 1, 1949.

Back when they were known as Central Charlestown, the Butcher Boys won the Newcastle Rugby League grand final against Kurri Kurri, 28–2.

A star of the team was a teenage Robert Marjoribanks (better known as Bobby Banks), one of Newcastle’s most beloved footy exports.

He went on to play for Australia 15 times and, oddly, played 31 games for Queensland despite his Novocastrian roots.

Bobby’s premiership is still Central’s most recent.

On Sunday, September 29, 2024, the Central Newcastle Butcher Boys get their chance to snap one of regional footy’s longest hoodoos.

“In terms of a grand final for Newcastle Rugby League, I think this one’s the most important one that’s come in recent decades,” captain Cameron Anderson said.

The occasion is already history making — it’s the first time the club’s top grade has made it to a grand final in 61 years.

“We’ve had lots of old boys throughout the week reach out and thank us and say that the monkey is off their back, not just ours now,” Anderson said.

Foundation club

Rugby league had only been around in Australia for two years when the Butcher Boys first laced up their boots in 1910.

They are one of four foundation clubs in Newcastle — alongside South Newcastle, Western Suburbs and North Newcastle.

The club’s name came from those early days, due to its kit’s resemblance to a butcher’s apron.

The club boasts a long list of famous players including “The Little Master” Clive Churchill, the code’s first “Immortal”.

Club vice-president Bruce Lawrence has “bled blue and white” his entire life, but can’t remember a whole lot of Central’s last grand final.

“I got asked that the other week, what was the highlight of [the 1963 grand final],” he said 

“I said, ‘I think jumping the fence without getting caught and pinching a packet of chips.'”

He said he would be proud of this squad no matter what happened on Sunday.

“If they can get it home, it’ll be massive for our community,” he said.

Formidable opponent

Standing in the way of the Butcher Boys’ grand final fairytale is the Maitland Pickers.

The club is chasing its third consecutive first-grade title.

“I know that [Central] are going to come out firing, and we’re just going to have to do our best to try and match it,” said halfback Chad O’Donnell.

“But we’re feeling good, preparations are good, and we’re building into Sunday.”

It’s a bittersweet game for O’Donnell — Cameron Anderson is one of his best mates.

“I’m really proud of him … it sucks that we have to go to battle, but for 80 minutes, we know that there’s no friendships out there,” he said.

“If you’re not a Pickers fan this weekend, you’re probably going to be going for Central. 

For the old boys

Bobby Banks missed seeing his beloved Butcher Boys playing in a grand final by only two and a half months.

He died on the July 10, 2024, aged 94.

His funeral was dotted with blue and white. 

At the team’s successful grand final qualifying game against the Entrance Tigers last weekend, Anderson said the squad knew what the moment would have meant to Bobby.

“We were only saying after the game that Bobby Banks only had to hold on a couple more months to see us make a grand final,” he said.

“At his funeral, when we attended as a club, they spoke really highly of him and his love and relationship with this club.

The grand final will kick off at 3pm Sunday, September 29 at Newcastle’s Hunter Stadium.