The Eastern Suburbs District Rugby League Football club was founded at a meeting held at the Paddington Town Hall on 24 January 1908.

Legendary cricketer of the time Victor Trumper was appointed to Easts first committee, while Lieutenant-Colonel Onslow was made Patron of the Eastern Suburbs club.

At a subsequent meeting held on 7 February John White was appointed as the club's first President while R. Carty was named treasurer.

The line-ups that day were: Newtown three-quarter Jack Scott had the honour of scoring the first ever try in the New South Wales Rugby League premiership when he took an intercept early in the match.

The try was converted by Lou D'Alpuget and ironically this was also the only goal he ever kicked for Easts while Johnno Stuntz's 4 tries remains the most tries scored on debut in 1st grade.

Eastern Suburbs 32 (Stuntz 4, Miller, Brown, Smith, D'Alpuget tries; Jones 2, D'Alpuget goals, Miller field goal) defeated Newtown 16 Newspaper reports of the match were enthusiastic with one journalist describing the match as, "A capital display considering that the contestants have as yet only a fair acquaintance with the rules."

From the centre Flegg passed to Brown to D'Alpuget to Messenger, who put in a characteristic corkscrew run, and scored a try, Brackenreg kicked the goal.

From a try secured by Frawley Messenger kicked his sixth goal, and the whistle sounded with Eastern Suburbs in the lead by 34 points to 17.

The pace was very warm from the kick-off, North Sydney showing admirable defensive tactics when Eastern Suburbs attacked.

The first score however, was registered by North Sydney, M'Carthy beating several opponents with a dodgy run, and grounding the ball across the opposition line.

Fast open play, was witnessed at this stage, Brown, for Eastern Suburbs, and M'Carthy, for North Sydney, being particularly reliable.

At half time the scores were Eastern Suburbs, 10 points, North Sydney, 5 points.The ground improved during the afternoon under the influence of the wind and sun, but, with the exception of two or three patches was in generally good order, and the men kept their feet well.

A flagrant case of shepherding cost Eastern Suburbs a try, for Green would have scored without any assistance from a club mate who warded off a rear tackler.

Hot work on the Eastern line found Albert Broomham slow in taking a pass which should have given him a good chance for a try.

"The final match to determine the premiership in the first grade of the Rugby League was played on the Agricultural Society's Ground on Saturday in perfect weather.

South Sydney lost the toss, and kicked off from the southern end, an easterly wind blowing across the ground, and the sun shining strongly against them.

Getting the ball from the scrum repeatedly, South Sydney's backs executed several brilliant bursts, but the tackling of their opponents was very safe.

Just before half time, Edward Fry marked at Eastern Suburb’s 25, and Conlin kicked a fine goal, South Sydney leading by 8 points to 7.

The second half proved exciting from start to finish, Eastern Suburbs at first attacked and South Sydney got out of the difficulty by forcing.

McNamara almost repeated the performance a few minutes later, South Sydney rallied, and Levison getting from a scrum at the 25 passed in to Butler, who scored.