Book Review: Rugby League 100 Years in Pictures
A Photographic History of a Century of Rugby League in Australia
Rugby League: 100 Years in Pictures (New Holland, 2008) is a comprehensive pictorial overview of the history of the game of rugby league in Australia. It offers a chronological tour through the great teams and players that are part of past and recent rugby league folklore.
In addition to the historic photographs of rugby league, authors Ian Collis and Alan Whiticker have provided an overall summary of each era covered as well as detailed captions describing the images provided.
1908 – 1919 The Foundation of Rugby League in Australia
The Australian Rugby League was formed as a breakaway “rebel” league from the popular game of Rugby Union. The chapter of the book chronicling these years is particularly interesting as it contains many match-day programs, letters and photographs covering the launching of the new code of rugby football.
Famous Rugby League Players and Teams – Past and Present
From the game’s inception, star players and all-conquering teams have always captured the imaginations of the fans. Indeed Collis and Whiticker point out that the signing of star rugby player “Dally” Messenger was essential to raising initial public support for the breakaway league. The book includes many photographs of the famous names of past and present rugby league including:
- Dally Messenger
- Charles “Chook” Fraser
- Clive Churchill
- Rex Mossop
- Reg Gasnier
- Johnny Raper
- Jack Gibson (coach)
- Arthur Beetson
- Bob Fulton
- Peter Sterling
- Ray Price
- Wally Lewis
- Wayne Bennett (coach)
- Brad Fittler
- Andrew Johns
- Darren Lockyer
Great attention is given, particularly in the early chapters, to the national Kangaroos teams that toured England in the early years of the game, as well as the NSW and Queensland teams that went on to form the State of Origin competition.
The St George Dragons’ world-record eleven football premierships from 1956 to 1966 are covered in the chapter entitled “1960-1969 Saints, Souths and the Swinging Sixties”.
Historic Moments in Rugby League
From the game’s origins to the current professional code, Rugby League has given its fans many memorable moments. While the chapters pertaining to older days of the sport do not contain as many action shots of these great memories, the examples of programs and memorabilia capture the history-making moments.
In the latter chapters, with sports photography developing as technology increased, the colour photographs capture many of the game’s most spectacular scenes – including match-winning tries and jubilant teams celebrating amazing victories.
Off-field moments are not ignored, with coverage provided of such moments as the SuperLeague split in 1997 and the privatization of the South Sydney Club in 2002, spearheaded by actor Russell Crowe and businessman Peter Holmes a Court.
Rugby League: 100 Years in Pictures captures the magic moments that are part of rugby league history. Ample facts and information make the book a must-have for any fan of Rugby League trivia and statistics, particularly in this centenary year. It would make a welcome gift to any fan of the game – young or old.
Rugby League: 100 Years in Pictures (ISBN:9781 74110 5964, 304 pages)
Rugby League: 100 Years in Pictures
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