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It was a bizarre function at the Sydney Opera House last Thursday
night. Old rugby league players from years gone by mingled with
the new brigade of sleek-suited marketing types that now run the
game. They were there for the unveiling of the game's Team of
the '70s. Cracking night it was, too. Manly great Bob Fulton in
one corner, St George halfback Billy Smith in the other. Ron Coote,
Changa Langlands, Graham Eadie, Tommy Raudonikis, Mick Cronin
... all under the curved roof of the Opera House, the cheesy pop
tunes from the '70s resting nicely above the din, cold cans of
KB sliding down weathered throats.
At the weekend, the new brigade of players took the mentality
of the '70s onto the field in the third last round of the NRL
competition. They were wearing the same styled jumpers from the
era. But they adopted more than the threads; they adopted the
mindset. On Saturday night, mortal enemies Souths and the Roosters
played as if they were back in the day of no video replays. All-ins,
head high tackles, spear tackles ... Yesterday at Jubilee Stadium,
the Dragons and Parramatta - which had to play each other twice
to decide the 1977 premiership - played in a manner as if everything
was on the line. It wasn't. Both are assured a top-four spot.
Both are favoured to square off in the grand final. But they played
as the men of the '70s would: not for the cash, not for the sponsor's
logo on the jersey, not because they had to. But because they
want to rip the shit out of each other. And they did. The Dragons
won 25-22. A classic.
It's easy to remember the so-called glory days in sepia tones.
As many of the men from the '70s said last Thursday night in between
KBs, the game bears little resemblance to what it did in their
day. But it's fair to suggest that rugby league means as much
now as it did then. The early 1990s were considered to be the
game's true halcyon days. But in the 1970s, before the code expanded
into new markets and those aforementioned sleek-suited types grabbed
hold of it, the game certainly seemed to possess more relevance,
more passion. The game has that feel about it again. Crowd figures
and television ratings are booming. No footy code comes close
to rugby league for pure theatre, on and off the field. After
the Super League holocaust, many doubted if it would bounce back.
But it has.
Who will win the whole shebang is anyone's guess. But one thing
is already evident, before the finals have started: rugby league
is back, baby.
What do you think? Is Rugby League back?
Click your way to our Comebacks
page and tell us. You could win a Shimano 2000 Fishing
Reel worth $80.00
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