With the next chapter of The Super League War dropping next week, we revisit some of our earlier forays into Rugby League history, with reports on kicking tees, Warren Ryan in Newcastle, and the origins of The Immortals.

With the next chapter of The Super League War dropping next week, we revisit some of our earlier forays into Rugby League history, with reports on kicking tees, Warren Ryan in Newcastle, and the origins of The Immortals.

The Rugby League Digest

Rugby League Digest Rewind: The Early Days

Michael is joined by sports journalist and Panthers fan James Smith to discuss the decision of the Penrith Panthers to join Super League. The Panthers found themselves in a desperate fight to retain their standalone status in 1995, leading them to defection. Along the way they lost an all-time great of the game, and Michael and James cover it all.

Michael is joined by sports journalist and Panthers fan James Smith to discuss the decision of the Penrith Panthers to join Super League. The Panthers found themselves in a desperate fight to retain their standalone status in 1995, leading them to defection. Along the way they lost an all-time great of the game, and Michael and James cover it all.

The Super League War: Penrith Case Study featuring James Smith

In this episode, we discuss the legendary 1995 State of Origin series, selection confusion, the ARL's snubbing of Super League players, the Blues taking QLD too lightly, the hiring of Paul Vautin as QLD coach, QLD's team of "Nevilles", Gavin Allen's unique situation, &nbsp; the mythical Queensland spirit, Billy Moore's iconic "Queenslander" call, pre-mediated fighting, the Queenslanders' unbreakable bond and much, much more!

In this episode, we discuss the legendary 1995 State of Origin series, selection confusion, the ARL's snubbing of Super League players, the Blues taking QLD too lightly, the hiring of Paul Vautin as QLD coach, QLD's team of "Nevilles", Gavin Allen's unique situation, &nbsp;the mythical Queensland spirit, Billy Moore's iconic "Queenslander" call, pre-mediated fighting, the Queenslanders' unbreakable bond and much, much more!

The Super League War - Chapter Seventeen - Queenslander!

In this installment we discuss the contract craziness of April '95, the Steve Edmed story, Gus' role in creating that legend, Craig Coleman's windfall, contract top ups, the Bulldogs' Super League contracts, the filthy four's backflip to the ARL, Jarrod McCracken's nuclear heat with the Chris Anderson, Mathew Ridge poking the bear, and much more!&nbsp;&nbsp;

In this installment we discuss the contract craziness of April '95, the Steve Edmed story, Gus' role in creating that legend, Craig Coleman's windfall, contract top ups, the Bulldogs' Super League contracts, the filthy four's backflip to the ARL, Jarrod McCracken's nuclear heat with the Chris Anderson, Mathew Ridge poking the bear, and much more!&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Super League War - Chapter Sixteen - The Filthy Four

With Michael and Andrew on a research break, we replay our recap of the 1987 NSWRL season, originally released in three parts in August 2018. With the nascent Green Machine taking on a Manly side that may be considered a lost dynasty, season 1987 was a turning point in the modernisation process which had begun with incorporation of the league. The RLD will be back with Chapter 16 of the Super League War next week.

With Michael and Andrew on a research break, we replay our recap of the 1987 NSWRL season, originally released in three parts in August 2018. With the nascent Green Machine taking on a Manly side that may be considered a lost dynasty, season 1987 was a turning point in the modernisation process which had begun with incorporation of the league. The RLD will be back with Chapter 16 of the Super League War next week.

RLD Rewind: The 1987 Season

In this instalment we discuss the infamous 1995 speech at Cronulla by retiring great Mal Meninga (now an immortal), vague promises of an ARL job, testimonial dinners, Mal signing with News Limited, an open letter by the surviving immortals, John Raper lashes out, reconciliation attempts being thwarted by a Grand Final snub, the older generation’s views on Super League and much, much more!

In this instalment we discuss the infamous 1995 speech at Cronulla by retiring great Mal Meninga (now an immortal), vague promises of an ARL job, testimonial dinners, Mal signing with News Limited, an open letter by the surviving immortals, John Raper lashes out, reconciliation attempts being thwarted by a Grand Final snub, the older generation’s views on Super League and much, much more!

The Super League War - Chapter Fifteen - The Letter

In this instalment we discuss "the vision", the ARL's PR machine, Piers Akerman vs Fatso Vaughn, John Ribot's infamous Footy Show appearance, New Limited's media machine, Rugby League Week playing a straight bat, the heavy impact on print and broadcast journalism, lifelong friendships torn apart and much more!

In this instalment we discuss "the vision", the ARL's PR machine, Piers Akerman vs Fatso Vaughn, John Ribot's infamous Footy Show appearance, New Limited's media machine, Rugby League Week playing a straight bat, the heavy impact on print and broadcast journalism, lifelong friendships torn apart and much more!

The Super League War: Chapter Fourteen - Taking The Game To China

In this chapter, we discuss the infancy of Pay TV in Australia, the many "sliding doors" moments involving rugby league,&nbsp;the sheer power of Packer and Murdoch, the consortium that could have stopped the war, Pay TV's race for content, the Optus Vision grand final debacle and much, much more!

In this chapter, we discuss the infancy of Pay TV in Australia, the many "sliding doors" moments involving rugby league,&nbsp;the sheer power of Packer and Murdoch, the consortium that could have stopped the war, Pay TV's race for content, the Optus Vision grand final debacle and much, much more!

The Super League War: Chapter Thirteen - It's All About Pay TV Mate

With the next chapter of The Super League War still a work in progress, we offer the hilarious episode recorded with Sydney comedian Luke Heggie looking at the all-time Grub 17, originally airing in February 2018. Catch Luke at a venue near you in 2020- details on Instagram via @heggieluke or at www.lukeheggie.com.

With the next chapter of The Super League War still a work in progress, we offer the hilarious episode recorded with Sydney comedian Luke Heggie looking at the all-time Grub 17, originally airing in February 2018. Catch Luke at a venue near you in 2020- details on Instagram via @heggieluke or at www.lukeheggie.com.

Explaining our Absence + Luke Heggie & the Grub 17

The RLD is proud to present Rugby League Reflections, a one day conference to mark 21 years of Tom Brock activities, held on November 11, 2019. In the fourth and final session we hear John Brock's 'Tragedy &amp; Triumph: the story of Albert Burdus, a 1908 foundation player', Terry Williams', 'Almost a Kangaroo: Robert Nicholson', and Tom Mather's 'The Other Dave Brown'. Audio courtesy of Cracker Night Films.

The RLD is proud to present Rugby League Reflections, a one day conference to mark 21 years of Tom Brock activities, held on November 11, 2019. In the fourth and final session we hear John Brock's 'Tragedy &amp; Triumph: the story of Albert Burdus, a 1908 foundation player', Terry Williams', 'Almost a Kangaroo: Robert Nicholson', and Tom Mather's 'The Other Dave Brown'. Audio courtesy of Cracker Night Films.

BONUS EPISODE - Rugby League Reflections Session Four: John Brock, Terry Williams & Tom Mather

The RLD is proud to present Rugby League Reflections, a one day conference to mark 21 years of Tom Brock activities, held on November 11, 2019. In the third of four sessions, we hear Joe Gorman's 'How Rugby League Explains Queensland', Drew Cottle's 'A History of Craig Bellamy's Melbourne Storm', and Spencer Kassimir's 'A Not So Golden Point: Why the Flip of a Coin Should Have No Place in Determining the Winner'. Audio courtesy of Cracker Night Films&nbsp;

The RLD is proud to present Rugby League Reflections, a one day conference to mark 21 years of Tom Brock activities, held on November 11, 2019. In the third of four sessions, we hear Joe Gorman's 'How Rugby League Explains Queensland', Drew Cottle's 'A History of Craig Bellamy's Melbourne Storm', and Spencer Kassimir's 'A Not So Golden Point: Why the Flip of a Coin Should Have No Place in Determining the Winner'. Audio courtesy of Cracker Night Films&nbsp;

BONUS EPISODE - Rugby League Reflections Session Three: Joe Gorman, Drew Cottle & Spencer Kassimir

The RLD is proud to present Rugby League Reflections, a one day conference to mark 21 years of Tom Brock activities, held on November 11, 2019. In the second of four sessions we hear Andy Carr's 'Reading the Game: Exploring Rugby League News (1920-1973) via Trove', Kath Haines', 'Founded in a Fight’: Why the founding story of the NSW Ladies Rugby Football League in Sydney, 1921, deserves a place in Rugby League’s pantheon of great internecine fights', and Melissa McMahon's 'Unlucky 13: Amateurism as a weapon of war in Vichy France'. Audio courtesy of Cracker Night Films.

The RLD is proud to present Rugby League Reflections, a one day conference to mark 21 years of Tom Brock activities, held on November 11, 2019. In the second of four sessions we hear Andy Carr's 'Reading the Game: Exploring Rugby League News (1920-1973) via Trove', Kath Haines', 'Founded in a Fight’: Why the founding story of the NSW Ladies Rugby Football League in Sydney, 1921, deserves a place in Rugby League’s pantheon of great internecine fights', and Melissa McMahon's 'Unlucky 13: Amateurism as a weapon of war in Vichy France'. Audio courtesy of Cracker Night Films.

BONUS EPISODE - Rugby League Reflections Session Two: Andy Carr, Kath Haines & Melissa McMahon

The RLD is proud to present Rugby League Reflections, a one day conference to mark 21 years of Tom Brock activities, held on November 11, 2019. In the first of four sessions we hear Heidi Norman's 'Aboriginal Participation in Rugby League: interpreting state ambitions and community agency', Patrick Skene's 'Olsen Filipaina: pioneer of the Pasifika revolution' and Guy Hansen's 'The 1989 Premiership- greatest grand final ever?'. Audio courtesy of Cracker Night Films.

The RLD is proud to present Rugby League Reflections, a one day conference to mark 21 years of Tom Brock activities, held on November 11, 2019. In the first of four sessions we hear Heidi Norman's 'Aboriginal Participation in Rugby League: interpreting state ambitions and community agency', Patrick Skene's 'Olsen Filipaina: pioneer of the Pasifika revolution' and Guy Hansen's 'The 1989 Premiership- greatest grand final ever?'. Audio courtesy of Cracker Night Films.

BONUS EPISODE - Rugby League Reflections Session One: Heidi Norman, Patrick Skene & Guy Hansen

In this episode the RLD examines Super League signing the game's top referees, the ARL's banning of the refs, the crushing defection of the English Rugby Football League, Maurice Lindsay's influence, The English switch to summer, NZ and the Warriors go as well, despite being a Super League afterthought, the beginnings of the Pacific revolution and much more!&nbsp;

In this episode the RLD examines Super League signing the game's top referees, the ARL's banning of the refs, the crushing defection of the English Rugby Football League, Maurice Lindsay's influence, The English switch to summer, NZ and the Warriors go as well, despite being a Super League afterthought, the beginnings of the Pacific revolution and much more!&nbsp;

The Super League War: Chapter Twelve - ARL Isolated

In this episode, the RLD dissects the pivotal signing of the Newcastle Knights to the ARL. We analyse the bungled Super League pitch, the role of the Knight's administration, Gus and Bozo , 'gee up' culture, Joey's signature, legendary coach and honourary Novocastrian Mal Reilly, 'Ausies for the ARL', the formation of the Hunter Mariners and much, much more!

In this episode, the RLD dissects the pivotal signing of the Newcastle Knights to the ARL. We analyse the bungled Super League pitch, the role of the Knight's administration, Gus and Bozo , 'gee up' culture, Joey's signature, legendary coach and honourary Novocastrian Mal Reilly, 'Ausies for the ARL', the formation of the Hunter Mariners and much, much more!

The Super League War: Chapter Eleven - Chief Drives The Bus

A weekly digest of all things Rugby League- past, present and future.

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The Rugby League Digest

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