June 25, 1997: Queensland wins final Origin as the NRL is "invented"
The ARL makes a big announcement, coining the "National Rugby League" for the first time, on Origin day.
July 25, 1997, was a big day in rugby league that year.
Earlier in the day, the ARL spoke about the ‘National Rugby League’ openly for the the first time.
Chief executive Neil Whittaker said the ARL was working towards a single competition in 1998 and that ‘State-based competitions’ would have room for ‘all Optus Cup clubs’.
This was an acknowledgement tha…