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With all the talk of expansion and internationalism, now is a good time to pause and reflect on the rich tapestry that is rugby league’s history.
With their nickname ‘The Dales’, Annandale early on decided upon being the gentle force of rugby league, graciously losing almost every match during the few years of their existence.
Always considerate of the feelings of others, Annandale removed themselves from the competition before it got too much. With a bit more inner west gusto, though, fans are in no doubt that they would have survived and kicked the winning field goal in the 1989 final.
Cumberland were the great rugby league innovators of the west. Long before Parramatta began dabbling with mediocrity, the blue and golds of the basin had mastered the art of doing nothing with everything. Entering the league one round late, the Fruitpickers packed up shop at the end of the season and went back to doing what they did best, which was nothing. Had they survived, it is quite likely that they would have qualified for the 1981 decider and set up a smoothie stall during halftime.
Australia’s first club, Glebe, still maintain a top-five winning percentage. Except in games that counted. They did once win the City Cup but by all reports the players, who were striking as usual, went out on to the paddock thinking it was a training session. The Dirty Reds’ continual agitation against the game’s administration clearly had nothing to do with the decision to vote them out of the competition. Experts agree that, had they survived the vote, they would have lost the 1997 decider against Cronulla.
Without enough frequent flyer points to carry them through, the Newtown Jets were forced to dump their excess baggage and fly economy. They then netted more premierships during the next 10 years of short haul routes than in their previous 80. Unfortunately their upgrade never came through and plans to relocate to Badgery’s Creek failed to take off. A likely World Club Challenge final against the Mariners would have been a highlight had they survived.
Official club lore has it that, embarrassed by 1921 and 1922, the North Sydney Bears spent the next 70 years trying to erase the anomalies from the record. The mid-to-late nineties almost saw their efforts go to waste. However in a stunning return to form Norths decided to wait for rain to fall before building their new stadium. Bears fans breathed a sigh of relief. Had they survived, it is certain they would have forfeited the 2007 and 2009 grand finals.
Taking a break from their studies in 1926, University pulled out the biggest shock of their cellar-dweller existence. Contesting their one and only finals appearance, the Students upset Glebe to reach the big one. Unfortunately, exams were on the following week and so University lost the final to Souths. They then spent eight of the remaining eleven years of their existence studying how to get out of last place. Rumour has it that all the lawyers involved in the Super League War were descendants of that 1926 grand final team.
While the legends of these clubs live on, spare a thought for the clubs who worked hard to emulate them but never quite succeeded.
Like Souths, whose 40 years in the wilderness came to nought when they were forced into modernity. Or Brisbane, who decided to go cold turkey on success by dumping their coach before cracking and rehiring him. And let’s not forget the infamous Bulldogs and Storm who both had to cheat in order try their hands at a wooden spoon.
Yes, rugby league’s history is a most fascinating one indeed.
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