Super League

[Broncoman]

I'm just wondering because I did this topic during law class for an assingment. What was it like to support the Broncos, Australia and Origin teams throughout the Super League war. I asked my uncle yesterday about this and he said It was crazy.

 

[Foordy]

In 1995 when the Super League aligned players were banned from playing State of Origin, the QLD team was completely written off; on paper the NSW side had the far superior team, most of QLD regulars were affliated with the Super League (quite a few of them were Broncos). QLD had to pick several players from reserve grade (the eligibilty rules were relaxed slightly so QLD could put a team on the park - Adrian Lam was allowed to play)

IMO, the 1995 origin series whitewash by QLD will go down as one of the most remarkable series victories in history.

 

[Broncoman]

Totally agree with that post. That series win is something that every team no matter what sport it is should look up to and inspire too. I'm really after what It was like to support the game during the time, not to have an Origin discussion.

 

[Foordy]

the game lost a lot of fans around that time and it was hard, especially as a Broncos fan because many people believe that the Broncos signing with the breakaway comp gave it is legs and got it off the ground. in fact the super league aligned team actually had to forfeit their round 1 match of the 1995 season due to court battles i believe. and as a fan you never want to see your team forfeit.

 

[JaseC]

It was ****ing great to see my club have the balls to tell the archaic NSW-lead ARL to shove their (NSW-lead) ancient business model up their arses.

If it wasn't for the SuperLeague war, we would still have chook raffles at Redfern on Sundays....oh wait, poor example.

Ok, if it wasn't for the Superleague war, our game wouldn't be on National TV. PROFESSIONAL sports, like SuperRugby, AFL, A-League and even the ANZ Championship would have stolen our market with PROFESSIONALISM and a genuine desire to progress as a sport.

The Broncos, by avidly supporting Superleague, helped turn the professionalism of NRL. Sport is a business. Finally (most) RL clubs understand this. Sure the football was average week in, week out, however the political statement and it's affect, can never be underestimated.

The Superleague war should never have happened, however the ARL was given long enough to drag itself into the modern era and straight refused. Their excuse was because the idea of giving control of "our" game to Murdoch was not in the interests of Australian Rugby League. What they actually meant by that, was giving control of "our" game to Murdoch was not in the best interests of Packer.

Without being too emotional, I do give Arthurson a bad rap. The man did have the original idea of rationalising RL and making the game more national by not having NSWRL as the "Premier" RL competition in Australia. However in true NSWRL-disguised-as-ARL style (further known as the board), the idea that any body other than the board running this competition was never an option, hence he jumped on Packer's tailcoat.

As a Queenslander; I love the legacy the Superleague war gave Rugby League. Professionalism, Nationalism, Growth. 3 virtues the board never gave much thought to.

To this day, it grates me that teams such as Souths and the Roosters can claim they are "foundation clubs" in a sport which formed in 1998. QRL was an entire competition with a rich history which has always been pushed aside by the board and the NSW cronies which still infiltrate "our" game at every level. Just another example by the board and people in power that anything that happened outside of Sydney, ever, holds no credence in RL history.

So to some up my rantings; Supporting RL during the Superleague war? I think everyone agrees the football played in both competitions was of a poorer standard, however the necessity of the rebel competition and the legacy has helped our game grow hundred-fold of where it would be had the board still be running our game.

 

[BroncoMatt]

It was ****ing great to see my club have the balls to tell the archaic NSW-lead ARL to shove their (NSW-lead) ancient business model up their arses.

If it wasn't for the SuperLeague war, we would still have chook raffles at Redfern on Sundays....oh wait, poor example.

Ok, if it wasn't for the Superleague war, our game wouldn't be on National TV. PROFESSIONAL sports, like SuperRugby, AFL, A-League and even the ANZ Championship would have stolen our market with PROFESSIONALISM and a genuine desire to progress as a sport.

The Broncos, by avidly supporting Superleague, helped turn the professionalism of NRL. Sport is a business. Finally (most) RL clubs understand this. Sure the football was average week in, week out, however the political statement and it's affect, can never be underestimated.

The Superleague war should never have happened, however the ARL was given long enough to drag itself into the modern era and straight refused. Their excuse was because the idea of giving control of "our" game to Murdoch was not in the interests of Australian Rugby League. What they actually meant by that, was giving control of "our" game to Murdoch was not in the best interests of Packer.

Without being too emotional, I do give Arthurson a bad rap. The man did have the original idea of rationalising RL and making the game more national by not having NSWRL as the "Premier" RL competition in Australia. However in true NSWRL-disguised-as-ARL style (further known as the board), the idea that any body other than the board running this competition was never an option, hence he jumped on Packer's tailcoat.

As a Queenslander; I love the legacy the Superleague war gave Rugby League. Professionalism, Nationalism, Growth. 3 virtues the board never gave much thought to.

To this day, it grates me that teams such as Souths and the Roosters can claim they are "foundation clubs" in a sport which formed in 1998. QRL was an entire competition with a rich history which has always been pushed aside by the board and the NSW cronies which still infiltrate "our" game at every level. Just another example by the board and people in power that anything that happened outside of Sydney, ever, holds no credence in RL history.

So to some up my rantings; Supporting RL during the Superleague war? I think everyone agrees the football played in both competitions was of a poorer standard, however the necessity of the rebel competition and the legacy has helped our game grow hundred-fold of where it would be had the board still be running our game.

What he said. Great Post

 

[mrslong]

JaseC nails it.

Great to stick it to the old dog NSWrl.

Broncoman, go pick up Wayne Bennett's book the Man in the Mirror and read his chapters on the SuperLeague days.

 

[simmo77]

What ****s me is that as everyone agrees that both comps were substandard, our win in 97 is always discredited and newcastles isnt.

 

[Broncoman]

The ARL grand final in 97 showed Murdoch and his super league mates that you can have all the money in the world but you can't buy the passion and spirit of Rugby League, absolutley fantastic game with a thrilling finish, while Brisbane won a pretty odinary grand final against the Sharks 26-8 with a dominant display. Also Mrslong I've read Wayne Bennett's book and read through his involvement with Super League.

 

[Broncoman]

What ****s me is that as everyone agrees that both comps were substandard, our win in 97 is always discredited and newcastles isnt.

Newcastle's win united the game and brought everything back together. See in my comment above.

 

[Nashy]

Newcastle's win united the game and brought everything back together. See in my comment above.

Your comments above don't in anyway reflect why you think the ARL GF in 97 united anything.

 

[Broncoman]

How? I stated that it showed $uper League that you can have the money but can't buy spirit and passion and made News wave the white flag in surrender as they found out there competition would never be as good as the ARL. Sucked it hit at that time though, Rugby League was about to dominate Australia.

 

[JaseC]

How did "News wave the white flag in surrender". Also, how did the Broncos GF win over the Sharks not have passion?

I was at that game and so were 58000 other people who considered it a fantastic game. 2 NSW teams played in the ARL GF, yet only 42000 people attended. I guess their lack of numbers was made up by their supposed extreme levels of passion? Perhaps Pepsi Max was around then? I dun't know, I can only speculate, like you love to Broncoman.

Do you actually read Broncoman or do you get your incorrect information of family and friends? I'm not trying to insult, I am genuinely asking. To say what you did, is purely speculation and personal opinion, with no basis in facts. "Spirit and Passion"...from a kid who wasn't out of diaper's when the game's in question were played. I have an interesting fact that many NSWRL fans love to forget, Superleague had better crowds than ARL in 1997. Very interesting isn't it, especially considering how many "foundation" clubs remained loyal to the NSWRL...sorry I meant ARL. I wonder if their "passion" was lost that season.

You're not Ken Arthurson are you?

 

[Fozz]

There was plenty of passion in the Super league.

Not sure how they "lost" when News had joint ownership of the NRL. Seems like a draw to me.

 

[john1420]

Newcastle's win united the game and brought everything back together. See in my comment above.

Newcastle winning didn't do a thing

What united the competition was the fact that the decision makers quickly worked out that 2 comps with 20 (or was it 22?) teams could only mean 1 thing - bankruptcy for most clubs and no comp left at all. The ONLY way to survive was to consolidate and compromise.

Financial realities united the competition Broncoman, not freakin Newcastle

 

[Bucking Beads]

Super League had the right idea but it was also flawed. It is a real shame it wasn't handled better at the time. We could have had a true National competition by now if it was.

 

[Broncoman]

How did "News wave the white flag in surrender". Also, how did the Broncos GF win over the Sharks not have passion?

I was at that game and so were 58000 other people who considered it a fantastic game. 2 NSW teams played in the ARL GF, yet only 42000 people attended. I guess their lack of numbers was made up by their supposed extreme levels of passion? Perhaps Pepsi Max was around then? I dun't know, I can only speculate, like you love to Broncoman.

Do you actually read Broncoman or do you get your incorrect information of family and friends? I'm not trying to insult, I am genuinely asking. To say what you did, is purely speculation and personal opinion, with no basis in facts. "Spirit and Passion"...from a kid who wasn't out of diaper's when the game's in question were played. I have an interesting fact that many NSWRL fans love to forget, Superleague had better crowds than ARL in 1997. Very interesting isn't it, especially considering how many "foundation" clubs remained loyal to the NSWRL...sorry I meant ARL. I wonder if their "passion" was lost that season.

You're not Ken Arthurson are you?

The $uper League grand final was played at QE2 which holds a capacity of 60,000. The ARL grand final was held at the SFS which has a capacity of 42,000. Both grand finals were sell outs so passion doesn't play a factor. The $uper League grand final wasn't worth playing, the result was a foregone conclusion.

 

[Broncoman]

The Super League season fell well below excpectations while the ARL season showed the quality on the field was as strong as ever. Even though the game was in turmoil.