Before Tina Turner, rugby league advertisements effectively consisted of Rex Mossop ordering people to watch.
“The game’s on Saturday and I strongly advise you bastards to watch,” Mossop would declare, or something like that, and dutifully we’d tune in to Match Of The Day on the JVC Panavision, perhaps even “taping it” on Betamax home videocassette tape.
And that, apart from television commercials for “the big game” which were largely and unapologeticaly ads for the cigarettes of Winfield, was about that.
And then creative types in pastel happy pants remembered sex, and how it sells. And they changed rugby league forever.
For out came the diva, Tina Turner! It was 1989 and it was actually Tina Turner, a genuine American Famous Person, a red-lipped black momma with legs and booty and gleaming white teeth. And she knew us! Australians! How about that?
John Quayle had brokered the deal with Turner and her manager, Roger Davies, and convinced said cigarette manufacturers to pay for it.
Later Quayle found himself in Turner’s home in London as Turner “paraded in front of him in a variety of outfits for a one-day shoot she would do at Fulham’s home ground. When she emerged in red hot pants, [Quayle] declared: ‘That’s the one, Tina!’,” as reported in the Sydney Morning Herald.
And pretty soon there she was, Tina Turner! On the box, with Cliff Lyons and Gavin Miller and big sweaty Martin Bella, and she’s belting out ‘What You Get Is What You See’ about our rugby league players. And didn’t we feel good. And the voice-over man told us: “The big game has never looked so good.”
And it was true. It never had.
A year later it was Tina again, of course, this time with ‘Simply The Best’, an apt anthem for the self-proclaimed ‘Greatest Game of All’. And rugby league, for decades the game of the wharfie, brickie and dockyard knuckleman, was sexy. It was show business. It always had been, after a fashion – people paid to watch its sterling entertainments. But it wasn’t until Tina lobbed that rugby league worked out how to truly make bank.
Because we, the people, the fans, the consumer, loved it. We still do.
Despite more ructions than a particularly dramatic and blood-soaked soap opera written, directed and starring baby-faced kook Kim Jong-un, rugby league today is a billion-dollar baby. It’s run by a commission of rich, smart bankers, far removed from the leagues club chook rafflers from days of yore. The game has flourished.
Tina Turner and Andrew Ettingshausen punch on. (Photo by Patrick Riviere/Getty Images)
But the ads since Tina have never hit the same heights. They have often been catchy enough, because, like Tina’s tunes, they are already hits.
Jon Bon Jovi, the Hoodoo Gurus and Tom Jones sang anthems. Jimmy Barnes sang Simply the Best with Tina.
Frankie Goes To Hollywood embraced the Super League War with “Two Tribes” and Chumbawamba did “Tubthumping”.
A kid from Australian Idol sang “Feels Like Woah”, which felt like Christian soft-cock rock.
And Thomas Keneally did an arty, spoken-word and ultimately completely shit-house bit of schtick called “Blow That Whistle, Ref”, which people threw VB stubbies at.
In 2020 the NRL trotted out Simply the Best again, with montages of cracking footy action, fans doing fan stuff, and nods to indigenous culture, women’s footy and LGBTQI folks that, predictably, triggered a few types because that’s what these things do.
Australians all let us rejoice because we need to chill out a bit.
It’s hard to remember back to February if the NRL had a song this year – things moves fast in the New Roaring ‘20s – but Simply the Best could get another go, just as it did in 2020 when Jimmy Barnes belted it out from a mighty construction site crater that would become Allianz Stadium.
Tina Turner, a legend, who has died aged 83, could tell you that. Rex Mossop, not so much.
Bernie Vinson
Roar Rookie
Before Tina Turner, one forgettable NRL commercial was a young North Sydney hooker saying RL had changed and was much safer games but within 2 years he was out of the game injured. And of course his club finished shortly after. BTW some people think Tina Turner and her songs were RL only. She sold the rights to that song to many sporting competitions throughout the world so the NRL had Aussie rights only.
Still remember when she sang it and the lyrics and the video - think that was the year Canberra won it! Absolutely legendary, and couldn't agree more - no other theme song or singer comes close.
Dandragon
Roar Rookie
Like Tony said, it just means “goodbye” in Latin. But in Latin texts, it doesn’t carry that same sense of emotion like we use it. Just means “bye”. Nothing more.
NQR
Roar Rookie
Simply the best promotion of Rugby league ever was Tina Turner teaming up with the greatest game of all. What a legend. Thanks Tina.
Broken Shoulder
Roar Rookie
Who passed and made you king?
Steven Harris
Forced AFL to counter with the" I'd like to see that" ad campaign, but still today when Simply the best comes on the radio I think of the greatest game of all.
Hoy
Roar Guru
I actually didn't mind "blow that whistle, Ref...", but both Tina's ads were the pinnacle of preseason/through season advertising. They were awesome.
Tony
Roar Guru
Agree. It's a bit like saying "passed" instead of "died"
Birdy
Roar Rookie
Hi Tony, I got that on you tube several times but I don’t understand why the change from RIP. RIP has been used forever. Vale sounds so trendy. :silly:
Birdy
Roar Rookie
Nailed it Albo
Thom
Roar Rookie
Enjoyed the clip on TV thismorning. Tina still looked the goods in today's world. The jerseys the players were in not so striking. Rip Tina your music will go on.
Mungbean74
Roar Rookie
RIP Tina. I was 16 when the Simply the Best promo came out and was playing rugby on the Gold Coast. It was huge for the game!
Nat
Roar Guru
As much as Tina did for the game I'm sure it wasn't her hardest gig either. Hanging out with a shirtless ET and a bunch of other players would not be a bad day at the office for Tina. By all reports she even got involved with the after party at the Broncos GF win. RIP Tina.
KenW
Roar Rookie
Vale is Latin for farewell.
Tony
Roar Guru
Farewell in latin apparently
The Barry
Roar Guru
Nice read Matt
Albo
Roar Rookie
Yep ! There has never been a greater sporting advertisement in Australia than that fronted by Tina Turner, well surpassing the Tooheys " How do you feel ?" cricket add of the 70's. There was obviously a great chemistry between Tina , her songs, and the players chosen to star in the ad. And it reflected the fun & excitement of our great game. RIP great lady ! :crying:
Birdy
Roar Rookie
Loved Tina but never got to her concerts. No doubt one of RLs greatest promotions. ps. What is vale? It has crept in over the last few years.google doesn't even satisfy. What is wrong with RIP.
Tony
Roar Guru
I certainly hope someone gave old Ike a good beating before he died
E-Meter
Roar Rookie
You forgot Billy Thorpe! But Tina was the best ever.