The Rugby League Digest presents: The Super League War

Michael and Andy back for a catch-up after two years in the wilderness to announce the release of our back catclogue of History Corners, interviews, and ill-fated Hall of Fame discussions. Subscribe to this new podcast feed for this plus the occasional check-in episode when the occasion strikes us. All old episodes will be available from Monday 16 February. And please join us upstairs at Hotel Sweeneys in the Sydney CBD from 11am on Sunday 1 March for a Las Vegas NRL watch party. Will be a fantastic afternoon, please register using the link below: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/rld-catch-up-vegas-2026-tickets-1982149570724?aff=oddtdtcreator Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the final episode of our in-depth investigation of The Super League War, we look ahead at what came next for the newly formed NRL and survey the terrain of the postwar Rugby League landscape*. Then, we examine the legacy of Super League and celebrate the stories and characters who have shaped our series. Finally, we pay sincere tribute to the listeners who have come along for the ride. Be sure to join us to celebrate one last time at our wrap party, Saturday June 8: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/897010561737?aff=oddtdtcreator Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In our penultimate Super League episode we are thrilled to welcome back Steve Mascord to discuss our parallel Super League journeys, the legacy of 1997 and much more. ANyone who hasn't yet got a copy of Two Tribes can go to www.haroldhoarder.com and enter the code "rugby league digest" for a special discount offer. And don't forget to register for our Super League Wrap Party on Saturday June 8: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/897010561737?aff=oddtdtcreator Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After three years of backroom deals, broken contracts, court cases, public sniping, and the splitting of the competition, peace was finally declared, and the National Rugby League was born. In our final chapter, we look at the rocky road to peace throughout 1997, covering every false start, potshot, rejected peace proposal, and, finally, the meeting that saw the game come together and the road to rationalisation begin. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Michael is joined by our long time Adelaide correspondent Guy Wilson to discuss the rise and demise of the Rams, Rugby League in South Australia before and after and the case for a return to big time Rugby League in Adelaide. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we discuss the demise of the Reds, Crushers and Chargers, troubling economic realities, transit lounges, the "original sin" of 1995 mass-expansion, gifting Perth to rugby union, the Crushers’ surprisingly good start, Packer the (off)white knight, packed lunches, throwing open the gates, winning their last ever game, failed merger plans, the great Rugby League man Eric Cox, players getting shafted and much more! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our extended recap of all the on-field action in 1997 concludes with the Newcastle Knights historic grand final win over Manly. We trace the Knights' road to glory, Joey's redemption arc, the convoy of Sid Foggs willing them to victory, Chief's leadership masterclass, that famous last second win, the insane scenes that followed in Newcastle, and much, much more! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this long awaited episode we discuss Newcastle's mining history, identity as the steel city, BHP's closure, the tragic Newcastle earthquake, the miners' strike, seige mentality as a cultural feauture, Barabara Davis and the Aussies for the ARL, vitriol towards the Hunter Mariners, mascot mayhem, stadium wars, merger discussions, further Graham Murray appreciation, and much, much more! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this concluding episode of 'The Optus Cup', we discuss the 1997 RLW Player's Poll, shorts fuses of the era, an odd but pleasantly competitive finals system, knee-jerk calls to implement the video ref, Nick Kosef vs the Johns family, Tony Butterfield vs Terry Hill, some pre grand final Darren Albert magic, a Craig Field game-winner, some cruel injuries, suspension mayhem, and much more! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In part two of our 1997 ARL recap we look at the battlers, the heavyweights, and everyone in between. From coaching drama in Campbelltown to a Tigers resurgence, Roosters on the rise, the miracle of the Chargers and much, much more! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this instalment, we discuss the RLW Players' Q and A, performance-enhancing drugs, the Perth Reds, pokies taxes, schoolboy brawls, notable player scandals, Craig Field, Willie Peters, Paul McGregor, Tim Brasher, Tom Brock, Ken Shine, Craig Coleman and much more! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Michael is joined by English labour historian and author of the upcoming Hope and Glory: Rugby League in Thatcher's Britain Anthony Broxton. In a wide-ranging and fascinating interview we look at the state of ENglish Rugby League before, during and after the disastrous 1997 World Club Challenge Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The culmination of an unbridled and unmitigated disaster, a piece of ingenious club marketing, Graham Murray's impact on the Mariners, format issues, for and against taken to the extreme, Paris St Germain squalor, coaching carnage, London Broncos on the rise, Shaun Edwards and Heather Small, Richard Branson and London, the WCC finals, Renouf scores five, a lackluster grand final, the cold hard stats, disastrous crowds, yet another fact-finding report, passing the buck, the legacy of the competition and much, much more! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In part two of this chapter on the WCC we discuss the relatively competitive round one results, Super League pinning their hopes on Wigan, Tallis vs O'Connor, the state of the UK Super League, Wigan vs Tescos, Bradford Bullmania, rating UK Super League stars, Perth's problems, John Ribot and Super League in damage control, an impromptu Brian Smith fan club meeting, jet lag scientists, blaming the media, blaming referees, and much, much more! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this much-anticipated chapter we discuss the genesis of the WCC concept, going from 8 teams to 22, arbitrary promotion expenditure, convoluted formatting, ignoring the lower grades, goals of globalisation, cavalier management, the players loving the concept, presenting it as 'cup football", Super League spin, obsession with travel, players in holiday mode, bonding sessions, Ridgey holds court, and much, much more! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we discuss Super League's legacy on international rugby league, fireworks over developing nations, the Japanese pipe dream, an Anzac Day furore, Langlands defects to Super League, the Super League test vs City Country, eligibility farces abound, the Nikau vs Blackmore feud, NZ wins the test, a truncated UK tour, open letter news, referee controversy, the black mark of the asterisk on rep careers, ARL test matches, the embarrassing but arguable necessary Rest of the World reboot, NZRL playing footsies with the ARL, premature compromise ideas and much more! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this installment we discuss the abominable '97 Blues jerseys, Tom Raudonikis as coach, QLD feeling flat, spin galore, NSW hooking dramas, disappointing Orign crowds, the Aaron Raper incident, Daryl Rodgers, cattle dog, Chris Close the voice of reason, the Super League Tri-Series, scheduling mayhem, remembering Peter Jackson, spin cycles, Ribot Norton, the epic Tri-Series final, Noel Goldthorpe's career, Bill Harrigan's follies, the legacy of the Tri-Series, and much, much more! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this concluding episode of 'The Telstra Cup' we discuss the semi finals, ANZ Stadium, Princess Diana, Taking the grand final to Brisbane, grand final week celebrations, ET's stirring speech, the excellence of Bill Harrigan, our Olivia, Human Nature, our love for Steve Renouf, John Plath's contribution, Ray Warren's professionalism, the overall feeling of Super League's only domestic season and much, much more! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the penultimate episode of our 1997 Super League season recap we look at the grand finalists Cronulla and Brisbane. A likeable Sharks outfit up against a Broncos team looking for redemption after three seasons of disappointment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this the third installment of chapter 34, we discuss Penrith in 1997, Gower the prodigy, Tony Puletua, Ryan Girdler being more than a super boot, an oddly in-depth debate on rugby league’s sexiest man, Matt Adamson, the Bulldogs season, their halfback woes, Hazem El Masri breaks out, hitman Haumono, Halligan the dealmaker, Steve Price, crowd violence, intra-familial disputes at the family club, Canberra’s decline, Mal taking the reigns, hookers galore, Mullins’ star falls, the greatness of Laurie Daley, Clyde and Stuart’s departures, Noa Nadruku insanity and much, much more! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.