The Rugby League Digest presents: The Super League War

 In the second installment of Chapter 30, we discuss the Super League teams forfeiting round one in1996, Illawarra club turmoil, the Crushers failing on and off the field, South Sydney's abysmal record, Balmain punching above their weight, Sironen remaining a one club man, the 1996 awards season, David Farleigh, the last Rothmans medal, the RLW players poll, a mini hall of fame discussion on the year's retirees, a deeper look at Parramatta and their gigantic player splurge, Canterbury-Bankstown and the heroic legacy of Terry Lamb, the Super League Action Movement aka SLAM, and much. much more!

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It is part one of our 1996 season recap. In this episode we look at the state of the game in 1996. Rule changes, falling attendances, threats from AFL and rugby union, and the return of Monday Night Football.

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In part 2 of this Patreon exclusive episode (available to everyone this week), the RLD's heartfelt tribute to Peter Sterling commentary career descends into bashing modern commentary once again, we discuss Joey, Cooper Cronk, the expected exciting top 8 finish in the NRL, Brad Arthur, the Titans' resurgence, the Storm and Roosters' systems, and the magnificent efforts of the Cleveland Rugby League and!

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In this Patreon exclusive episode (available to everyone this week), the RLD goes hard on the NRL / ARLC for their attitude towards the international game, the differences between Australasian Covid response and that of the UK and Europe, the alleged smokescreen about player welfare, Gus's views, the impact of the Olympics, NRL's responsibility to international football, we go broken record on the benefits of a deisgnated rep round, the cancellation of junior and ancillary comps and much more!

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'Tarnished Gold' is a chapter highlighting the farcical nature of both sides of the war regarding the appalling treatment international football. We discus limbo, the City vs Country litmus test, reconnected state or origins squads, rebel teams, Fiji being used as a pawn, coup leader George Speight, cheapening international jerseys, the Rest of The World game abandoned, disastrous Great Britain Super League tour of PNG and New Zealand, and much more!

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To conclude our English miniseries, Michael is joined by the legendary Professor Tony Collins for an expansive look at the RFL's road to Super League, and the fallout afterwards. 

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As a companion piece to our Chapeltown Road chapter of the Super League War, Michael chats to British labour historian Anthony Broxton about Thatcherism, striking miners, economic depression and how it all relates to Rugby League in England. Go to https://tidesofhistory.wordpress.com/ for more of Anthony's important work.

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The RFL receives a mammoth offer to defect to Super League, the ARL begs them to stay, clubs unanimously agree to the switch, then immediately revolt over proposed mergers, fans mobilise with the publication 'Merging on the Ridiculous', the ARL makes a hypocritical raid on English players ... all this against a backdrop of northern economic decline and British classism. A fantastic concluding episode of this chapter!

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In anticipation of a potentially season-defining clash between the Raiders and Dragons in Wollongong Saturday, we bring a Patreon bonus ep from behind the paywall, as Michael and Andy (separately) list their favourite ever Dragons and Raiders teams respectively. NOTE: Andy was horrified to omit one of his favourite players in Steve 'Boxhead' Walters. Take it as read that Steve gets the 9 jersey in this team.

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English two of 'Chapeltown Road' the RLD discusses Engl rugby league in the 1980s. financial peril, expansion plans and at times lack thereof, teams in London, Kent and Carlisle, Australian imports, the bizarre history of the Golden Boot award, the legendary Wigan teams, Chorley, the need for structural change, Cliff Richard, The 'Framing the Future' report and much, much more!

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