National Museum of Australia - 100 years of the game

100 years of the game

Rugby league in Australia started as a rebel football competition established in defiance of the New South Wales Rugby Union. With its mix of hardness and athleticism, it has grown to become one of the most popular of Australian sports, a skilful fast-moving game that has the passionate support of its fans.

Here, relive some of the key moments and memorabilia, with photographs which bear testament to the great teams and personalities of the past.

Many of these photographs are also on show in the League of Legends travelling photographic exhibition.

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Photo of fans waiting outside the Sydney Cricket Ground before the 1972 grand final between Manly and Eastern Suburbs.

Photo: Newspix/News Limited.

Fans wait outside the Sydney Cricket Ground before the 1972 grand final between Manly and Eastern Suburbs. In the days before reserved seating, fans lined up overnight to secure a good position once the gates opened.

1972: Manly celebrates

Photo of Manly coach Ron Willey and bare-chested captain Fred Jones surrounded by fans and team members on their victory lap after the 1972 grand final.

Photo: Newspix/News Limited.

Coach Ron Willey and bare-chested captain Fred Jones lead Manly on their victory lap after claiming their first premiership in 1972. After five grand final losses and a 25-year wait, the Sea Eagles fans and players were ecstatic at their win.

1973: Eagles and Sharks

Photo of 1973 grand final between Manly and Cronulla

Photo: Newspix/News Limited.

In one of the many disturbances during the vicious 1973 grand final between Manly and Cronulla, Sharks' captain-coach Tommy Bishop goes high in a tackle while rival Englishmen Cliff Watson (Cronulla) and Mal Reilly (Manly) linger expectantly. Manly, inspired by two tries by Bob Fulton, won the match 10-7.

1974: Fairytale ending

Photo of Western Division's coach John King being carried off the field after their win over Penrith in the Amco Cup final.

Courtesy Paul Dowling, Captain Western Division.

Coach John King is carried off the field after Western Division's 6–2 win over Penrith in the inaugural Amco Cup final. Their unexpected win in this midweek knockout competition captured the public's imagination when the country team triumphed over the more glamorous Sydney clubs.

1975: Red, white and blue

Courtesy Melba Studios.

Rated one of the best club sides of all time, the 1975 Eastern Suburbs side bristled with class and experience all over the paddock. The team was good enough to recover from the absence of injured players Russell Fairfax and Mark Harris to win the grand final 38-0 against St George.

1975: Big Artie

Photo of Arthur 'Artie' Beetson running out onto the field before a game.

Photo: Ern McQuillan. National Library of Australia, nla.pic-vn3562098.

Arthur 'Artie' Beetson holds the honour of being the first Indigenous captain of an Australian representative side in any sport. Beetson played for Balmain, Eastern Suburbs and Parramatta in the 1970s, and captained the inaugural Queensland State of Origin team in 1980. He coached Eastern Suburbs and Cronulla, and is currently a Queensland selector.

100 years of the game

100 years of the game

Image Gallery Page Navigation

1972: Grand final fever

1972: Manly celebrates

1973: Eagles and Sharks

1974: Fairytale ending

1975: Red, white and blue

1975: Big Artie