NOVEMBER 1997
Fiery Brisbane Broncos’ forward, Gorden Tallis walked a fine-line in Australia’s 38-14 win over Great Britain at London’s Wembley Stadium, with British Team Manager, Phil Lowe suggesting he should have been sent off by Kiwi referee, Phil Houston.
Tallis’s high shot on St Helens’ winger, Alan Hunte should have resulted in a suspension according to Lowe, who 25 years earlier had been one of the heroes of Great Britain’s World Cup Final win over Australia in France.
The November 1, 1997 Test was a Super League clash, and, to this day, is not officially recognised as a ‘full’ Test (at least not in Australia), with a separate category set aside in the records for the ‘rebel’ Internationals. But there was no doubting the quality of the two teams at Wembley, with the British side close to the strongest available, while the Laurie Daley led Australians looked at least as strong as the official ARL Test side, which had played only one match in 1997 – against a Rest of the World selection in Brisbane.
Cronulla’s John Lang was appointed coach of the Super League Australian side, with fellow Queenslander, Brisbane Brothers’ stalwart, Frank Dolan, the manager.
Britain were boosted by the late inclusion of Wigan winger, Jason Robinson, after his club bought out his ARL contract. (Robinson had played for the Rest of the World in the ARL Test). Robinson played fullback at Wembley, after first choice, Stuart Spruce withdrew through injury.
It was Laurie Daley’s day, with the Canberra Raiders’ legend scoring three tries, a display which earned him the British Gas, Man of the Match Award. Daley outplayed Andy Farrell, who had been switched from lock to five eighth in what coach, Andy Goodway hoped would prove a defensive masterstroke.
Despite the shellacking, Farrell said he would like to stay at five eighth for the Second Test, ‘to prove people wrong”.
The try of the match was scored by Australian lock, Darren Smith in the 70th minute, following a brilliant bout of passing.
One of the individual clashes of the game was that between centres, Andrew Ettingshausen (Australia) and Paul Newlove (Britain).
“I think I did about 300 tackles trying to stop Newlove,” Ettingshausen said. “He can blow hot and cold, and he certainly blew hot today.”
Goodway accused his side of lacking self belief, while Lang declared that his side could improve by 20 or 30 percent.
The crowd was a disappointing 41,135 with Rugby Football League Chief Executive, Maurice Lindsay declaring that the rugby league public’s love affair with Wembley wasn’t there anymore.
“There wasn’t the passion there has been in the past, and I think it’s the stadium,” Lindsay said. “I think Old Trafford has taken over from Wembley.”
Lindsay, a ‘villain’ in the eyes of ARL administrators, like Ken Arthurson and John Quayle, because of his decision to align with the News Ltd backed Super League, took aim at the traditional ‘Ashes’ series between the ARL sanctioned Australian side and the Great Britain Lions.
“I’ve never agreed with them being called the Ashes, anyway,” he said. “The Ashes are in cricket.”
Footnote: There had been two competitions in Australia in 1997 – Super League’s Telstra Cup and the ARL’s Optus Cup. Reunification talks were in the pipeline when the SL Australian side left these shores.
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