1950 - 1959
Keith Barnes leads Australia in the 1959 Kangaroo Tour

Tigers Golden Jubilee

1950
The 1950 season brought two premierships to the club via the lower grades. Reserve Grade only lost one game all year en route to a Grand Final win over St George 10-6 while Third Grade accounted for Newtown 15-0 in their Grand Final. First Grade made the semi finals but were eliminated by Wests. South Sydney went on to win the Premiership. Tiger captain, Fred de Belin played two tests against Great Britain.

1951
The Tigers failed to make the First Grade semi finals for the first time in 10 years. During the 1940-1950 period Balmain amassed a staggering 9 premierships and 5 club championships in the era long regarded as Balmain's most successful. The loss of senior players and injuries hurt the Tigers and the pain was never more evident than in 8 consecutive defeats. The side rallied to win 5 second round matches and avoid the wooden spoon but second last was a far cry from the efforts of previous seasons.

1952
Balmain again failed to make the semi finals in 1952. After 4 rounds not one Tiger team had registered a win, and after 7 rounds the First Grade side was still winless. The side later fought back to win 4 straight games and take the side to 6th place. Tom Tyrrell was selected to tour Great Britain along with 'Latchem' Robinson who was appointed Tour Manager.  

1953
Tom Tyrrell returned from the Kangaroo Tour to captain the Tigers in '53. The side finished in 8th position but remarkably was only 9 points away from the Minor Premiers in what was a very close competition. Injuries and retirements again affected the club.

1954
1954 strikes a frightening resemblance to the 1997 season. Balmain narrowly missed the semi finals and in the end it was several close losses and poor goal kicking that cost the side dearly. The Tigers finished three points out of the top 4. However the offseason brought a player by the name of Keith Barnes to TigerTown who would inevitably solve these goal kicking problems amongst other things.

1955
Balmain's semi final aspirations were dashed after the first nine games brought only 2 wins. The second round brought out a new team willing to attack and entertain. The side improved immensely and defensive lapses stood as the only remaining impediment to a semi final berth in the near future.

In 14 games Keith Barnes scored 123 points (1 try, 60 goals). Third Grade won their Grand Final 15-5 over Easts to bring the winning feeling back to Balmain.

1956
1956 was regarded as a "watershed" year for the Balmain district. In the Melbourne Olympics Balmain locals Dawn Fraser, Betty Cuthbert and John Hendricks achieved great success. Dawn Fraser is currently a Director of the club. On the footy field the Tigers were doing well too. Attendance records were smashed as people flocked to watch the Tigers in action. St George would meet Balmain in the major semi final and defeat the Tigers 30-25 despite 8 goals from Golden Boots, Keith Barnes.

In the final against Souths Barnes kicked his 17th goal in 2 games to beat Souths 36-33. The Grand Final would be a match of lost opportunities for the Tigers. Captain Brian Staunton scored 2 tries but St George were again too strong and began their run of 10 straight premierships with a 18-12 victory. Third Grade completed a hat-trick of premierships under the coaching of John O'Toole.

1957
The Balmain Club opened a Licensed Club in January 1957 in a refurbished former Mormon Church. On the paddock the club won 9 and lost 9 and failed to make the semi finals. Bill Marsh and Keith Barnes represented the victorious Australian World Cup side. And John O'Toole the supercoach continued his amazing record, this time with Reserve Grade who went on to win their Grand Final 16-7 over Norths. 4 seasons and 4 premierships!!

1958
The Tiger Spirit was never more evident than in 1958, the Club's Golden Jubilee Year, as John O'Toole took over the First Grade side. Losing 6 out of 7 matches in the second round had Balmain looking as a side unworthy of semi final contention. Remarkably they fought their way into equal fourth on 20 points and defeated Newtown 15-4 in the playoff. They then outclassed Souths 22-10 in the semi final to move on to meet the Dragons. St George were Balmain's nemesis throughout this era and defeated the gutsy Tigers 26-21 in the Final.

1959
The Balmain community turned out in droves to celebrate the selection of Keith Barnes as captain of the Kangaroo Tour of England and France. 500 people crammed into the new Leagues Club to toast the 25 year old Tiger. Earlier that year Barnes led Australia against New Zealand, becoming the third Tiger to captain Australia in the club's 50 year history. He was now the first Tiger to be officially named captain of a touring party and it was the achieving of life ambition to captain his adopted country. St George continued their dominance and remained undefeated in 1959. Balmain can take some pride in the fact that they were the only club to hold the mighty Dragons to a draw.