The Rugby League Digest presents: The Super League War

We're back! (Kind of...)

Michael and Andy back for a catch-up after two years in the wilderness to announce the release of our back catclogue of History Corners, interviews, and ill-fated Hall of

The Super League War - Epilogue

In the final episode of our in-depth investigation of The Super League War, we look ahead at what came next for the newly formed NRL and survey the terrain of the postwar

Two Tribes II with Steve Mascord

In our penultimate Super League episode we are thrilled to welcome back Steve Mascord to discuss our parallel Super League journeys, the legacy of 1997 and much more. ANy

The Super League War - Chapter 40 - Peace

After three years of backroom deals, broken contracts, court cases, public sniping, and the splitting of the competition, peace was finally declared, and the National Rug

Adelaide Rams with Guy Wilson

Michael is joined by our long time Adelaide correspondent Guy Wilson to discuss the rise and demise of the Rams, Rugby League in South Australia before and after and the

The Super League War - Chapter 39 - Crushed

In this episode we discuss the demise of the Reds, Crushers and Chargers, troubling economic realities, transit lounges, the "original sin" of 1995 mass-expansion, giftin

The Super League War - Chapter 38- Steel City Miracles (Part 2)

Our extended recap of all the on-field action in 1997 concludes with the Newcastle Knights historic grand final win over Manly. We trace the Knights' road to glory, Joey'

The Super League War - Chapter 38 - Steel City Miracles (Part 1)

In this long awaited episode we discuss Newcastle's mining history, identity as the steel city, BHP's closure, the tragic Newcastle earthquake, the miners' strike, seige

The Super League War - Chapter 37 - It's My Game (Part 3)

In this concluding episode of 'The Optus Cup', we discuss the 1997 RLW Player's Poll, shorts fuses of the era, an odd but pleasantly competitive finals system, knee-jerk

The Super League War - Chapter 37 - It's My Game (Part 2)

In part two of our 1997 ARL recap we look at the battlers, the heavyweights, and everyone in between. From coaching drama in Campbelltown to a Tigers resurgence, Roosters

The Super League War - Chapter 37 - It's My Game (Part 1)

In this instalment, we discuss the RLW Players' Q and A, performance-enhancing drugs, the Perth Reds, pokies taxes, schoolboy brawls, notable player scandals, Craig Field

English Rugby League with Anthony Broxton

Michael is joined by English labour historian and author of the upcoming Hope and Glory: Rugby League in Thatcher's Britain Anthony Broxton. In a wide-ranging and fascina

The Super League War - Chapter 36 - The World Club Challenge (Part 3)

The culmination of an unbridled and unmitigated disaster, a piece of ingenious club marketing, Graham Murray's impact on the Mariners, format issues, for and against take

The Super League War - Chapter 36 - The World Club Challenge (Part 2)

In part two of this chapter on the WCC we discuss the relatively competitive round one results, Super League pinning their hopes on Wigan, Tallis vs O'Connor, the state o

The Super League War - Chapter 36 - The World Club Challenge (Part 1)

In this much-anticipated chapter we discuss the genesis of the WCC concept, going from 8 teams to 22, arbitrary promotion expenditure, convoluted formatting, ignoring the

The Super League War - Chapter 35 - Two Tones (Part 2)

In this episode we discuss Super League's legacy on international rugby league, fireworks over developing nations, the Japanese pipe dream, an Anzac Day furore, Langlands

The Super League War - Chapter 35 - Two Tones (Part 1)

In this installment we discuss the abominable '97 Blues jerseys, Tom Raudonikis as coach, QLD feeling flat, spin galore, NSW hooking dramas, disappointing Orign crowds, t

The Super League War - Chapter 34 - The Telstra Cup (Part 5)

In this concluding episode of 'The Telstra Cup' we discuss the semi finals, ANZ Stadium, Princess Diana, Taking the grand final to Brisbane, grand final week celebrations

The Super League War - Chapter 34 - The Telstra Cup (Part 4)

In the penultimate episode of our 1997 Super League season recap we look at the grand finalists Cronulla and Brisbane. A likeable Sharks outfit up against a Broncos team

The Super League War - Chapter 34 - The Telstra Cup (Part 3)

In this the third installment of chapter 34, we discuss Penrith in 1997, Gower the prodigy, Tony Puletua, Ryan Girdler being more than a super boot, an oddly in-depth deb