The Rugby League Digest presents: The Super League War

As we kick off season three, we see a clearing of the decks of some of the major players in the war to date, Cowley goes, Frykberg arrives, Ribot and Quayle stand down, and we reflect on Ribot and Quayle's legacies, Quayle's replacement Neil Whittaker, Arko steps down, but the hurt remains, interstate fighting, the ghost of Jeans West, Arko's amazing legacy and much, much more! Hosted on Acast. Se...

Americanisation was a cultural buzzword inside and outside Rugby League during the Super League period, and American sport was an obvious influence on the presentation of the Super League vision. But what did it all mean? We break it down with academic and Rugby League fan Spencer Kassimir. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The big one! Michael is joined by Super League fellow traveller Steve Mascord to discuss the war and his new, greatly anticipated book Two Tribes. RLD listeners can go to http://stevemascord.com/product/twotribes and enter product code "rugby league digest" for a great discount offer on Two Tribes discussed at the end of the episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the second and final episode of this chapter, we look at the fallout from News Limited's comprehensive court victory. It was a frenzied week of speculation following the judgment, with crisis talks at the ARL and in club boardrooms, possible club defections, yet another loyalty agreement, a pay-TV rescue package, and much more! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The RLD takes an in-depth look at the appeal judgment, the lead up to the case, predictions, the court's interpretation competition, overturning nearly all of Justice Burchett's decision, the immediate courtroom reactions, Ray Hadley's public backflip, Arko's naive reaction to the result, the question of legality versus morality and much, much more! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more...

In this concluding episode of Chapter 30: The Optus Cup, we discuss the semi-final runs of Manly and St George, the post mortems for their victims, a surprisingly entertaining grand final despite popular sentiment, the infamous Manson blunder, John Raper's memorabilia fiasco and much, much more! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this penultimate episode of the Optus Cup chapter we compare the seasons of the 1996 ARL grand finalists, we discuss Manly's veterans, the impact of unlimited interchange, the Lyons and Menzies combination, offer some overdue Daniel Gartner appreciation, discuss Manly's gun back row, Joey's "red hair" game, Rod Reddy's departure as Dragons coach and the impact of David Waite, Mark Coyne's leade...

While we are immersed in the 1996 season it is time for a deep dive on Parramatta's buying spree and its failure to generate instant success, with former Wallaby and Gain Line Analytics founder Ben Darwin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

 In the second installment of Chapter 30, we discuss the Super League teams forfeiting round one in1996, Illawarra club turmoil, the Crushers failing on and off the field, South Sydney's abysmal record, Balmain punching above their weight, Sironen remaining a one club man, the 1996 awards season, David Farleigh, the last Rothmans medal, the RLW players poll, a mini hall of fame discussio...

It is part one of our 1996 season recap. In this episode we look at the state of the game in 1996. Rule changes, falling attendances, threats from AFL and rugby union, and the return of Monday Night Football. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

'Tarnished Gold' is a chapter highlighting the farcical nature of both sides of the war regarding the appalling treatment international football. We discus limbo, the City vs Country litmus test, reconnected state or origins squads, rebel teams, Fiji being used as a pawn, coup leader George Speight, cheapening international jerseys, the Rest of The World game abandoned, disastrous Great Britain Su...

To conclude our English miniseries, Michael is joined by the legendary Professor Tony Collins for an expansive look at the RFL's road to Super League, and the fallout afterwards.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As a companion piece to our Chapeltown Road chapter of the Super League War, Michael chats to British labour historian Anthony Broxton about Thatcherism, striking miners, economic depression and how it all relates to Rugby League in England. Go to https://tidesofhistory.wordpress.com/ for more of Anthony's important work. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The RFL receives a mammoth offer to defect to Super League, the ARL begs them to stay, clubs unanimously agree to the switch, then immediately revolt over proposed mergers, fans mobilise with the publication 'Merging on the Ridiculous', the ARL makes a hypocritical raid on English players ... all this against a backdrop of northern economic decline and British classism. A fantastic concluding...

English two of 'Chapeltown Road' the RLD discusses Engl rugby league in the 1980s. financial peril, expansion plans and at times lack thereof, teams in London, Kent and Carlisle, Australian imports, the bizarre history of the Golden Boot award, the legendary Wigan teams, Chorley, the need for structural change, Cliff Richard, The 'Framing the Future' report and much, much more! Hosted on Acast. Se...

In this episode the RLD discusses the cultural idiosyncrasies of the English game, the lasting impact and legacy of the 1982 'Invincibles', comparing kangaroo tour squads, the British sporting psyche, fudging gate figures, fighting Paul Weller and The Jam, a golden generation of British players, a gulf in professionalism, the Larder report, Ryan Giggs' unwise career move, the brilliance of Garry S...

The RLD is joined this week by a very special guest to discuss the incredible 1996 Challenge Cup Final between the Bradford Bulls and St Helens, Mike Mehall Wood is a brilliant journalist with a life long immersion in English rugby league and an inner circle view on the English Super League, the move to summer rugby league and indeed the impact of the war on the game as a whole, a must listen...

Michael is joined by ABC Overnights host and Manly diehard Rod Quinn. We discuss the 1970s dynasty, power and influence in the 1980s, premiership glory in the 1990s, Super League, the Northern Eagles fiasco and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this part three and concluding instalment of chapter twenty-seven ‘Together Again’, Michael and Andrew discuss historic cases of players sitting out including Dennis Tutty and Ron Coote, the irrepressible Matthew Ridge finding his way back to Manly, the mental toll of the war on Ian Roberts and an in depth look at the legendary Gordon Tallis “lost season”! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy...

Michael sits down with former Magpies general manager Daniel Watson Hayes to discuss all things Western Suburbs. This was a long-planned interview brought forward in the wake of Tommy Raudonikis' sad passing, so we pay tribute to the legend before turning our eye over the last 40 years of Magpies history. The move to Campbelltown, the Wok-led resurgence, riding out the Super League war and enterin...

In part two of this chapter we discuss the "player run" Plan B to Super League called Global League. question marks over its supposed independence, Super League players boycott round one 1996,Warriors have second thoughts, a Magpies vs Steelers blockbuster opener, the courts stopping global league, clubs backflip, paranoia abounds, Laurie Daley is a target for all and sundry, Super League referees...

The gravity from Justice Burchett's decision reaches the players, and as the start of the 1996 ARL season draws near, there was still no indication that the Super League players were ready to return to the fold. In the first of three episodes on the events of March 1996, we look at how the players reacted and what it meant for the ARL competition. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more in...

Chris Leeson is the host of a new podcast called BRL Moments in Time, a history of the Brisbane Rugby League competition. In an illuminating conversation Chris unpacks some of that history and gives us an insight into what we can expect from this very worthy project. BRL Moments in Time is available now, wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the concluding instalment of this chapter we delve into Justice Burchett's judgment, the damning appraisal of Super League and its key people, the court defining the market and what is meant by competition, the ARL celebrations, the physical and emotional toll on Arko, Super League's contingency plans, faux American entertainment, crippling court orders, reports and blueprints for the game, New...

In part one of this chapter we find the ARL and Super League at Federal Court appearing before Justice James Burchett, we discuss both sides' star studded legal teams, the key legal points, Super League trials, sponsor spats, on-field innovations, the success of the World Nines, Andrew unnerving Russell Crowe and much, much more! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.