Broncos halfback Allan Langer
A Hotline was set-up at Australian Rugby League headquarters for players concerned about their futures in light of the Federal Court ruling which stopped the proposed News Ltd backed Super League competition in its tracks.
Australian Rugby League chief executive, John Quayle said he recognised the high level of confusion among players and wanted to make expert legal advice available and offer counselling. Super League officials were in a state of shock after the court ruled that clubs and players aligned with the rebel league could only play under the ARL umbrella with ARL solicitor, Colin Love warning the players would be in contempt of court if they played games not sanctioned by the establishment.
The Brisbane Broncos were at the forefront of the Super League push and their players indicated they were prepared to effectively take strike action rather than play in the ARL. This would give ARL local club South Queensland a chance to be the only team in town.
ARL chairman, Ken Arthurson said he hoped common sense would prevail and the 12 ARL clubs and eight SL clubs would all contest the planned 20 team competition. (Super League had created two new clubs – Hunter Mariners and Adelaide Rams which were set to be part of their 10 team competition).
Crushers’ chief executive, Alan Graham said he was always happy to work with the Broncos and the Crushers had never said a bad word against them. “Brisbane is big enough for two clubs,” Graham said.
Broncos’ prop, Glenn Lazarus said the club would never get a fair deal from the ARL and it would be “immoral” to even consider a return to the establishment’s competition.
“I certainly wouldn’t go back while Ken Arthurson (ARL chairman) and Quayle are running the show,” Lazarus said. “That is one of the main reasons we went over to Super League. If Super League continue to pay us, I would like to try another sport.”
Lazarus said understood that some members of the public would frown on the players not accepting the umpire’s decision – in this instance Justice James Burchett. But he said News Ltd had not exhausted the legal processes.
“If they continue to fight, we must back them up,” he said. “That is what is good about a team sport like rugby league – you back each other up. I don’t have any doubts about any of the Broncos defecting.”
North Sydney coach, Peter Louis said his players were just as committed to the ARL cause as the Broncos were to Super League and rubbished reports the players would have jumped ship if the court verdict had gone to Super League.
“There were rumours to that effect but it was basically propaganda from one source,” Louis said.
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