July 5, 1997: Ken Cowley
In an extract from Roy Masters' book Inside Out, Rupert's deputy discussed the personal toll of the war.
On this day 25 years ago, the Sydney Morning Herald ran an intriguing book extract from Roy Masters’ Inside Out, in which News lieutenant Ken Cowley discussed the early days of the war.
On Cowley refusing to take the stand in the original Super League case, a source told Roy: “Cowley’s argument with Murdoch was heard in the corridors in New York. Ken Cowley showed he wasn’t a lapdog.”
Kerry Packer was quoted as telling Cowley when he visited him to suggest a Super League: “I will paper the walls of your office with writs.
“Life has become boring. This is the fight I have been needing for some time. The laws have changed since the rebel cricket days. Believe me, you won’t have a chance in hell.”
Packer later told Cowley “I don’t make any money out of rugby league on TV now” to which Cowley replied: “We’ll do it by ratings.”
When clubs voted 20-0 against working with News, it is suggested Packer told Cowley: “No you know who runs rugby league in this country….”.
Packer and Murdoch had met in London on November 8 - during the 1995 World Cup - in an attempt to end the war.
Cowley and PBL’s Brian Powers were also present at the Wapping summit.
Packer was offered free-to-air rights to Super League on Nine, despite News owning 15 per cent of Seven. Twentieth Century Fox films and TV shows would also move from Seven to Nine - as would the 15 per cent ownership holding itself.
But the Murdoch side insisted all deals were conditional on Packer ending the rugby league fight before Justice James Burchett handed down his decision.
James Packer always insisted PBL had merely undertaken to use its ‘best endeavours’ to end the war.
This is what led Rupert Murdoch to label Kerry Packer a “welsher”.
COWBOYS SHOW NO MERCY FOR
SIMMONS
Sydney Morning Herald, Saturday July 5 1997
NORTH QUEENSLAND 33
PENRITH 26
By STEVE MASCORD
Penrith Stadium
PENRITH coach Royce Simmons held back on the expletives but was no less forthright after last night's shock loss to North Queensland.
Simmons prompted Super League to introduce fines of up to $10,000 for coaches and officials who criticise referees, after his strongly worded attack on Phil Houston last Sunday.
But he targeted his players last night after the 33-26 loss at Penrith Stadium, which looks set to cost the Panthers a share of second spot on the ladder.
"I blame myself I should have made changes last week," he said. "I decided to give the players another chance, but it didn't work out. I tried to address the problems during the week, but obviously they didn't think I was fair dinkum.
"We haven't got much ammunition, but if I need to put some young blokes in there who will put their bodies on the line, that's what I’ll do."
North Queensland coach Tim Sheens was still ruing a refereeing decision in the 29-22 loss to Canterbury last Saturday which, he said, might have cost his side a shot at the semis.
The Cowboys had two tries disallowed in that match, and Sheens said last night: "I got an apology and a touchie (touch judge) was dropped to reserve grade. If we win that game and this one, we might be a bolter for the semi-finals. Now we're 1,000-1 and we realise it."
Last night, North Queensland opened up a 23-12 lead by the 51st minute of a game in which they had to stave off three Panthers comebacks.
Three-try centre Ray Mercy and winger Luke Phillips did much of the damage for the Cowboys.
Phillips landed four goals and bagged two tries.
Penrith centre Ryan Girdler, Super League's leading points-scorer, injured a shoulder and is in doubt for next weekend's clash with Cronulla at Shark Park, while there are faint hopes of captain Greg Alexander making a comeback.
Sheens said the newly imposed moratorium on signing players, also agreed to by the ARL, would hurt the Cowboys.
"Cronulla and Canberra and Brisbane might only be chasing one player, but we're after at least four to improve our depth," he said.
NORTH QUEENSLAND 33 (R Mercy 3 L Phillips 2 J Loomans tries L Phillips 4 goals A Dunemann field goal) bt PENRITH 26 (S Carter R Girdler S Domic,D Farrar tries R Girdler 4 C Gower goals) at Penrith Stadium. Referee: B Grant. Crowd: 5,335.
GAMES
ARL round 15:
Gold Coast 22 St George 14 at Carrara Stadium
Parramatta 20 Western Suburbs 18 at Parramatta Stadium
Super League Australasia round 14:
Hunter 10 Adelaide 2 at Topper Stadium
