December 13, 1995: "Only 150 top players in the country"
The idea that some arbitrary judgement on how many players were "elite" should determine competition structure has always struck me as spurious.
There are many aspects of the closing address of Bob Ellicott, acting for the ARL, in the first Super League court case that I could focus on here.
Much of it was what you’d expect - his contention that News Limited ‘vandals’ had wrecked rugby league like a thief in a china shop, his repeated highlighting of Ken Cowley’s failure to take the stand, his mentions of Cowley promising to come through the front door and then doing the opposite.
But it’s this quote from Ellicott - via SMH court reporter Jennie Curtin - that intrigued me: “He said there could only ever be one national elite competition because there were only 150 top players in the country, not enough for a rival set-up.”
Only 150 top players? Given that each team needs at least 25 over the course of a season, that means the ARL’s own silk was admitting there should be only six teams in the entire league.
My understanding is that the NRL’s recent reluctance to expand has been based in part on the reports of talent scouts who say there’s not enough players to support 17 or 18 teams.
It’s no so much a case of “where do they get this data and what constitutes an elite player” as why should the designers of an atomic bomb have a say in where and when it is dropped?
Professional sports are about money. “Standard” is for purists. If two teams were added, “standard” would drop by 12.5 per cent. Who would notice? Purists only, the people we already have watching rugby league.
Shouldn’t we be willing to sacrifice a few purists for the sake of attracting entire cities, states and countries?
If standard is so important to the NRL, why would they seek to invest in Super League, which is of a much lower standard by the admission of most?
Sure, there were some poor games in 1997. The talent pool was severely diluted. But pulling numbers out of the air like 150 is spurious in the extreme to me. In 1995 there were 20 teams and so there was in 1996.
What undermined those seasons was more likely to be speculation about Super League than the dreaded drop in standard.
BEARS SNIFF OUT KNIGHTS SECRET CENTRE
Sydney Morning Herald, August 31 1995
By STEVE MASCORD
NORTH Sydney's Peter Louis last night claimed rival coach Mal Reilly may be protecting teenage centre Owen Craigie before pitching him into Newcastle's starting side for tomorrow night's elimination final at Parramatta Stadium.
In what may be the first round of the annual September mind games, Reilly named Brett Grogan as standby for centre Nathan Barnes, who he said was certain to pull out.
But the Bears expect 17-year- old Craigie to start the match instead.
"I wouldn't be surprised if they use Craigie - he's a very very good player," Louis said.
"As far as I know, he has more experience as a centre than Grogan, but he's only young and they might be trying to keep the pressure off him by not naming him."
Norths continue to struggle on the injury front, with Greg Florimo (ribs), David Hall and Tony Hearn (ankle injuries) unable to train last night, although Gary Larson (hip) came through.
But, consistent with the atmosphere of end-of-season distrust, Reilly said : "We expect all of them bar David Fairleigh to play."
While the battle-scarred Bears seem to have adopted a fatalistic approach, Reilly insisted his side had to maintain intensity and reduce its error rate.
Of the Knights' abysmal Friday night record one win from 13 matches Reilly said: "Anyone who ties success or failure to the time of day you play has something wrong with his head."
Brisbane are another side struggling because of injury, with hooker Kerrod Walters (hip), second-rower Alan Cann (ankle), skipper Allan Langer (leg), and props Andrew Gee (knee) and Gavin Allen (leg) all to undergo fitness tests today.
The Canberra Raiders will travel to Brisbane without a single training run together because of the court case in Sydney involving Laurie Daley, Bradley Clyde, Ricky Stuart, Brett Mullins and Steve Walters.
The players will be required in the NSW Industrial Court until tomorrow morning and will then be rushed to Queensland.
Reserve David Boyle (ankle), winger Ken Nagas (ankle) and prop John Lomax (corked thigh) have so far trained only in the swimming pool.
St George and the Sydney Bulldogs appear to be on a clear run to their elimination final on Saturday, although the unavailability of lock Jason Smith (knee) was a setback for Bulldogs coach Chris Anderson.
"He got a bit of an infection and should be fit for the following weekend," said Anderson.
Manly's Geoff Toovey (neck) and Ian Roberts (knee) are on course for a return against Cronulla in Sunday's qualification final at the Sydney Football Stadium.
In other news, Newcastle Wests last night formally withdrew their support for the Hunter Mariners Super League franchise in response to the demands of supporters.
And Grant Bell was named reserve grade coach for North Queensland next year after being head coach in their debut this year.
Penrith hope to hold talks with Test captain Brad Fittler this week to try to keep him.
Fittler, the ARL's blue-chip signing, was rated a certainty to leave for Sydney City or Manly because of Penrith's link with Super League.
But the Panthers say he signed with them first so their contract takes precedence. Penrith assistant chief executive Mark Levy last night admitted the club was unlikely to take the matter to court.
RESOURCES
Newcastle-North Sydney on Rugby League Project (Craigie didn’t play)
December 13, 1995: "Only 150 top players in the country"
Fully agree Steve. Was the arbitrary NRL goal of an “elite” 14 teams by 2000 worth losing Souths, Perth, Adelaide, South Queensland, Gold Coast? Are the Northern Eagles, Wests Tigers and St George Illawarra the super clubs that were promised today?
The NRL could’ve been a 22 team league with 11 games each week, with 3 games on 9 and 4 games each on Foxtel and Optus - plenty of content for everyone.
In the streaming era, an expanded league could be even more valuable.