FLASHBACK: January 2000

Rugby League in the year of the Sydney Olympics started with an unprecedented flurry of January trials, along with the World Club Challenge and a touch of controversy, via sensational comments from a club coach and a senior player.

The trials were required because of the early finish to the season, with the Grand Final set for August 27. The Olympics were to start on September 15. 

Normally I spent a big part of January on leave, but this year I was required for duty, as you will see from what I have written in this article. My role in 2000 was to work through until the end of August, then have September off, before heading to Europe for the World Cup. I wasn’t required for Olympics duty.

Chris Anderson, coach of premiers, Melbourne Storm, fired a broadside at the NRL early in January, accusing it of being unwieldy, and lacking in direction, a challenge thrown out, no doubt, to new chief executive, David Moffett.

Anderson, never one for sentiment, did not offer a new deal to winger, Craig Smith, even though he scored the match winning try in the 1999 Grand Final. As a result, Smith announced his retirement from rugby league, and went back to social rugby union. Melbourne travelled to Britain in mid-January for the annual match against the English champions, in this instance, Merseyside club, St Helens.

The match was played at a neutral venue – Wigan’s JJB Stadium – and a crowd of only 13,394 rocked up, no doubt because of the pessimism of British fans following the embarrassments of Super League’s World Club Challenge in 1997, and Great Britain’s poor performances in the 1999 Tri-series.

Their concerns were well founded with Melbourne winning 44-6, with Robbie Ross and Scott Hill each scoring two tries while Brad Watts kicked six goals. Hill and Brett Kimmorley called the shots and Saints had no answers. Queenslander, Watts filled the wing spot occupied by Smith in the grand final against St George Illawarra.

St Helens were coached by English legend, Ellery Hanley and included the likes of English Internationals Sean Long, Paul Newlove, Paul Sculthorpe and Sonny Nickle as well as Kiwi stars, Sean Hoppe and Kevin Iro.

I first met new NRL CEO, David Moffett on January 13 when he visited Brisbane. He was pressed for a time, so I had to interview him in the back of a cab on the way to Brisbane Airport for his flight back to Sydney. Many people – me included – regarded him as a rugby union man, but Moffett went out of his way to tell me he grew up following Brisbane club football, and ‘The Golden Greek’ Fonda Metassa (Norths) was one of his favourite players. A few days later I saw Fonda at Broncos training and relayed the story to him.

“I’m not surprised,” he said, with a shrug of the shoulders.

Meanwhile Wests Tigers’ centre, Terry Hill verbally attacked, Peter Sharp, suggesting he needed to perform in charge of the Northern Eagles, or he could find himself back in his home town, Maitland coaching the ‘Pumpkin Pickers’, in the Newcastle club competition. The Northern Eagles were a joint venture between Manly and North Sydney, an unlikely marriage. Hill had played for Manly, and obviously didn’t have a lot of time for Sharp.

The year began with St George Illawarra coach, David Waite calling for a stand-along Origin game rather than a series, because of its impact on the NRL. Waite learned around the same time that his recruit from Manly, Solomon Haumono had decided to retire, despite training with the club leading up to Christmas. (Haumono later changed his mind, but played only two games for the Dragons in 2000).

The first trial was played on January 12 when Canberra travelled to Rockhampton to clash with Central Comets, a match the Raiders won 26-22.

I had returned to work on Monday, January 10, covering Broncos’ training at Red Hill and interviewing Kerrod Walters for a back page story about his bid for first grade selection, despite the presence of Luke Priddis, who was seen as the club’s long term hooker.

I covered my first trial on January 14 in Toowoomba where the Broncos played Melbourne, and I was selected by a local radio station to name the Best and Fairest player. Can’t remember now who I voted for, or the score for that matter. I remember my disappointment on my return to my hotel – the Burke and Wills – to discover that the stubby of beer I reached for in the fridge had been filled with water by a dick head previous guest. It had to be a city slicker. Surely nobody from west of the Great Divide would do that.

The next trial I covered was a 32-18 win by the Northern Eagles over the Roosters at Dolphin Oval. After the game I caught up with the likes of Redcliffe personalities, Tony Murphy, Don McLennan, Tony Obst, Mark Schultz, Terry Webb and Wally Day; fellow journalist, Miles McIvor; former Test centre, Russell Gartner and former Brisbane Norths’ halfback, Steve Kavanagh.

The next day it was down to Miami for a Newcastle Knights v Burleigh Bears match where I caught up with my former Murwillumbah Brothers’ captain-coach, Ray McCarron, who was selling doubles for Burleigh

Three days later I flew to Rockhampton for an Australia Day trial between Wests Tigers and Parramatta, interviewing Tigers’ off-season recruit, Matt Seers, a NSW State of Origin rep. In the Leagues Club I caught up with former Cowboys and South Sydney back, Justin Loomans, who was sporting two ear rings, which was quite unusual for the time.  Parramatta named Nathan Cayless, 21, their skipper, the youngest man to lead the Eels.

News also broke that Broncos’ legend, Allan Langer had received an AM in the Australia Day honours, while Knights’ icon, Paul ‘Chief’ Harragon, was the recipient of an Order of Australia Medal.

On January 28 I attended the NRL Launch at Fox Studios in Sydney, with Welsh crooner, Tom Jones’ featured in the new promotion. Tom wasn’t there, and no-on really remembers that campaign, unlike Tina Turner’s Simply The Best.

Iconic coach, Warren ‘Wok’ Ryan wasn’t happy with something journalist, Tony Adams had written about coaches for that season, and let Adams know, in the blunt terms the WOK is famous for. I caught up with fellow scribes, Adams, Sharon Mathieson (who had succeeded Brad Walter as chief league writer at Australian Association Press after his defection to the Sydney Morning Herald) and Greg Prichard. Greg and I enjoyed a few drinks with former dual international, John Brass and former Roosters and Canterbury prop, Jim Hall and their wives. John was a NRL director while Jim was the NRL Judiciary Commissioner.

The next day there was a photo shoot at Homebush for News Ltd’s coverage of the coming season. Mike Westlake (Herald Sun Melbourne) and yours truly were the inter-state reps.

Everything was in place for a huge year.

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