October 31, 1996: "It's hard to smile when you're holding your breath"
A pre-decision clipping plus Kerrod Walters joins the Adelaide Rams.
Much is made - most recently, in the current episode of Rugby League Digest - of the fact Brisbane stockpiled very good players for 1997.
And it’s true: Gorden Tallis and Anthony Mundine were determined to join them and Super League’s much-vaunted ‘collegiate’ approach to things was in scant evidence when they did.
But some good players were also released.
On October 31, 1996, it was announced to the world that hooker Kerrod Walters would be heading to Adelaide after he was cut from Wayne Bennett’s first grade squad.
The Rams were also talking to Willie Carne - but didn’t end up getting him.
HOLD THAT THOUGHT, YOUR HONOURS, UNTIL MONDAY
Sydney Morning Herald, Tuesday, September 24 1996
IT’S grand final week, there’s a fairytale beckoning for St George, groin injuries are on the back page where they belong and the only things that can spoil league's mini-renaissance are two small words.
Sorry, but I'm going to have to say them; the S' word and the 'L' word. Super League!
League is enjoying its first period of hoopla since round one last year, when the breakaway league spoileD the expansion party which was in lull swing in Perth, Auckland, North Queensland and Brisbane.
The game fell into its deepest depression, but this week should see the faithful rediscovering their grins.
Then again, it's hard to smile when you're holding your breath, and it's our duty to remind all that the Federal Court decision on Super League is in imminent.
It was reported on Sunday that;the three judges hearing the News Ltd appeal are ready to hand down their decision.
The law, of course, is above such trivial matters as grand finals. By the time you read this, representatives of the judges chambers might have already summoned everyone to court tomorrow morning.
To date, the timing of the drama has been poor, to say the least. Last year was the game's centenary and it was a disaster. So an appeal decision in grand final week would just be icing on the cake when it comes to the game's abysmal run of outs.
That's what you get for having 13 players in a team.
One positive is that with two ARL clubs in the grand final, we are not faced with the prospect of a team withdrawing from the decider to go off and play Wigan or another Super League club.
But before you decide to be idealistic about upholding the letter of the law, Your Honours, I ask you to consider this: If Super League was given its 200 or so players tomorrow and allowed to start in some form in 1997, Sunday's grand final would be a schmozzle.
Instead of focusing on Anthony Mundine's athleticism and Steve Menzies' guile, Ken Arthurson's post-match speech would be the centre of attention.
Even if Saints pull off an amazing win, halfback Noel Goldthorpe would field more questions about the Hunter Mariners than his two tries in which he beat five tacklers.
If the ARL wins, player hysteria about the much-touted escape clause in their News Ltd contracts and endless compromise speculation will dominate the sports pages instead of Geoff Toovey's eye or St George's remarkable season.
Not even the trumps at Super League want to wreck the week of 40 or so footballers and thousands who have decided to care about the game again.
If there's one thing both sides have in common, it's the fact that they need every single one of those fans.
League may be on the verge of an exciting new era, or still at death's door. But please take a humble tip. Your Honours: we don't want to know until Monday.
Please let the season which started with a strike end with a bang.