When the Pneumonic Influenza, or Spanish Flu as it was popularly known, reached Australia in late 1918 (first case was in Melbourne), within days it would travel to Sydney and throughout NSW. Between 1918 and 1920, the pandemic killed more people worldwide – between 50 million and 100 million - than died during World War I.

It travelled to Manilla, in northern NSW where Dally Messenger, rugby league’s first superstar, and his wife, Annie, operated the Royal Hotel. They both became critically ill and were hospitalised. Annie died. Only weeks earlier, they had been visited by Annie’s son from her first marriage, Private Cyril Macaulay, who had recently returned from active service in Europe.

On June 18, 1919, the disease claimed the life of Sergeant Mick Frawley who had played in the Roosters first premiership team. A forward, Frawley began his career with Easts in the code’s first season of 1908, represented Australia against New Zealand the following year, played in the 1911 premiership team and retired. He enlisted in 1916, fought on the Western Front and was only 33 when he died in Moore Park Emergency Hospital from Spanish Flu.

NSW was the worst affected state, as appears to be the case with the coronavirus. In Sydney alone, there were eventually 3500 deaths. It was estimated that 36 per cent of the population was infected with a death rate of one in eight, far higher than today. However, unlike the coronavirus which appears to affect the unwell and elderly, Spanish flu attacked the healthiest, usually those between 18 and 40, and mainly men.

Yet rugby league competitions continued and, in mid-1919, an Australian team toured New Zealand. Crowds increased in Sydney’s eight-team, 56-game competition. In 1918, the average crowd was 5524; 1919 it was 4607; 1920 was 5757 and 1921 was 7585.