Tina Turner with league stars (from left) Phil Daley, Wayne Pearce, Ben Gonzales, Andrew Ettingshausen and Allan Langer. photo by Stuart Spence
American entertainer, Tina Turner was the talk of the Australian sporting scene, not just the rugby league community, as the new decade began.
Tina was in Australia to promote her latest television commercial for the New South Wales Rugby League, and her media appearance on the banks of Sydney Harbour attracted journalists, photographers and television crews from all over the Southern Hemisphere.
Rugby League was enjoying boom times after the magnificent 1989 extra time Grand Final between Canberra and Balmain, with New Zealand one of the new hot spots for the 13-man code after the game was televised live across the Tasman.
NSWRL G-M, John Quayle boasted that the new promotion was superior to the ‘What You See is What You Get’ campaign which launched the 1989 season.
“Tina’s song this year is more of an anthem, but those who have seen the ad agree it is undoubtedly superior to last year’s” Quayle said. “Tina’s talent and worldwide stature will again make league the most recognisable sport in Australia.”
The 1990 promotion was to the song ‘Simply the Best’ and what a sensation it proved to be, with advertising industry experts still rating it up there with the best launched anywhere in the world.
Grand finalists, Canberra and Balmain had retained coaches, Tim Sheens and Warren Ryan for 1990 with Canberra’s losses from the playing roster including Grand Final extra time try scorer, Steve Jackson (Wests) and interchange back, Kevin Walters (Broncos). The Raiders’ biggest signing was prop, David Woods from Wests.
Balmain’s biggest name off-season recruit was Paul Upfield from St George, rated as the replacement for Paul ‘Nobby’ Clarke (Penrith). Balmain’s former Test centre, Russell Gartner announced his retirement.
Balmain skipper, Wayne Pearce said the loss to Canberra in ’89 had made the Tigers even more determined to win the club’s first title since 1969.
Footnote: In October 1989, my wife Marie and I were enjoying a drink in the Saracen’s Head pub on the banks of the River Wye at Symond’s Yat in Herefordshire, when we heard ‘Simply the Best’ played on the jukebox. I turned to Marie and said: ‘That will be rugby league’s song next year.’ I didn’t know anything about the planned promotion, but you didn’t have to be Einstein to work out the song was the perfect fit.
About Author
