September 8, 1996: St George whip out the Mousetrap
Twenty-five years ago, we craved old-fashioned on-field controversies. On the first weekend of the finals, we got them.
Back in 1996, officials kind of hoped a refereeing controversy would be on the back of the paper. It was preferable to the stuff that was normally there: the interminable Super League War.
And so on the opening weekend of the finals, they got what they hoped for with three of the four play-offs hit by the sort of drama that, at the time, seemed quaint and charming.
On Saturday, the big controversy was St George employing The Mousetrap - their famous dummy half manoeuvre - to end Tim Sheens’ time at Canberra with an 16-14 win, secured by Wayne Bartrim’s sideline conversion.
The trick led directly to a Saints try.
“It’s a move that Nathan Brown and I used at the Sevens and I’m not going to tell you what it’s called because we might use it again,” Anthony Mundine told reporters.
Everyone knew the name anyway - it appeared in the next day’s paper. Technically, Saints were inside the 10 in attack and therefore the play was illegal.
But referees boss Mick Stone said: “We have not enforced offside in attack for 15 years and it would have been morally wrong to do so yesterday.
“I think it’s a bad rule and it shouldn’t be in the book.”
Referee Kelvin Jeffes added: “Brown didn’t impede anyone. I think it’s likely Canberra were standing offside, and it was a matter of playing an advantage.”
In Saturday night’s game at Suncorp Stadium which saw North Sydney edge out Brisbane 21-18, it was alleged Broncos winger Michael Hancock grounded the ball safely in his own in-goal before Greg Florimo claimed a try for the Bears.
Finally, Sydney City’s Shane Rigon claimed to have been taken out by Manly’s Danny Moore as he chased a loose ball for what would have been a Roosters try.
Manly hung on in that game to consign the Roosters to the bottom half of the finals draw, 16-14.
SYDNEY SUPER CLUB ‘A CHANCE FOR ‘97’
Sydney Morning Herald, Friday, August 16 1996
By STEVE MASCORD
AN AMALGAMATED inner city super club could make its debut as early as next year, Australian Rugby League chief executive John Quayle said last night.
Sydney Tigers' chief executive Danny Munk also said it was possible his club would merge as soon as 1997 despite the apparent reluctance of Sydney City to contemplate a proposed amalgamation with the Tigers and South Sydney.
The three clubs met officials of the Sydney Cricket and Sports Ground Trust on Wednesday night but Roosters' chief executive Bernie Gurr says the club is not interested.
He revealed last night that he would consult his board over whether to withdraw from further talks.
"I can understand why Bernie is saying what he is he is doing the right thing as a servant of his club," said Quayle. "But if the Roosters have no interest in it, I wouldn't think they would continue to attend the talks.
"Easts have led the way in talks of mergers in the past, with their St George proposal last year, and I certainly haven't written them off on this occasion."
Quayle, a personal friend of Roosters chairman Nick Politis, was then asked if in his opinion a new, amalgamated Sydney club would emerge in 1998.
"I think, even sooner," he replied. "No proposal has been before the League and I must stress this is only my opinion.
"Obviously, if the Roosters pull out then we still have two clubs who are at least interested in the idea.
"If there is no announcement by the end of this year, then they may decide to focus on 1998."
Munk said that if the ARL scored another comprehensive victory in the Super League appeal, it may become "too humiliating" for poorer clubs to field understrength teams.
"I would rather err on the side of caution and say 1997 is too soon for amalgamations," he said.
"But if the sponsorship market continues to dry up because Of the Olympics, and the player market stays inflated, I suppose it would be possible that something could happen as soon as next year."
Munk said he "could see" a merger occurring between the Rabbitohs and the Tigers if the Roosters remained uninterested.
Another option for the Tigers is to relocate to Melbourne, where they would perhaps be known as the Melbourne Bengals to avoid confusion with basketball's Tigers.
But Victorian rugby league officials have repeatedly stated a preference for an all-new franchise, rather than a relocated Sydney team.
Gurr continued to play down the situation, saying he couldn't see any Sydney club merging as early as 1997.
In other news, a secret 1995 loan of more than $I million made by the Australian Rugby League to South Queensland is thought to be a major reason behind the League's reluctance to make another loan.
ARL sources confirmed last night that the Crushers were the only one of four new clubs last year to ask for, and be granted, a loan but they are thought to be on time with repayments.
The ARL is expected to grant another loan once administrators, appointed on Wednesday, undertake a widespread cost-cutting program.
Crushers' chief executive Alan Graham refused yesterday to confirm or deny the club already had a loan from the League.
"I don't think I should be discussing details of the club's financial position publicly at this time," Graham said."It's a matter between us and the League."
Crushers' players were reported to be planning a meeting with ARL officials to discuss the club's plight, which has prevented many of them from receiving half-yearly payments.
Player spokesman John Jones said: "We are at the mercy of the ARL and have had no assurance when we are going to get paid. If we had signed with Super League, it would have put a strain on the ARL The fact is, we stuck loyal and we would have expected the same loyalty back from the ARL."
Player representatives told the club yesterday they planned to seek assistance from their union, the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance.
In on-field news, St George centre Nick Zisti (calf) has pulled out of Sunday's clash with the Crushers at Suncorp Stadium. Damien Smith is his replacement.
Tonight, Auckland host Canterbury at Ericsson Stadium in a match which will determine the Warriors' 1996 fate.
The Bulldogs have had interchange forward Steve Reardon (thigh) in doubt but he is now expected to play.
Tonight's teams:
AUCKLAND: Greg Alexander (c); Sean Hoppe, Tea Ropati, Richard Blackmore, John Kirwan; Gene Ngamu, Stacey Jones; Phil Blake, Stephen Kearney. Denis Betts, Joe Vagana, Mark Horo, Andy Platt. Res: Marc Ellis, Awen Guttenbeil, Bryan Henare, Hltro Okesene.
CANTERBURY: Rod Silva: John Timu, Shane Marteene, Steven Hughes, Daryl Halligan; Terry Lamb, Craig Polla-Mounter; Glen Hughes, Robert Relf, Steven Price, Mitch Newton, Brett Clements, Darren Britt (c). Res: Steve Reardon, Michael Smith, Jason Lidden, Scott Hill.
GAMES
ARL qualifying final: