100 years of rugby league

From humble beginnings the game of rugby league has grown to become an iconic part of the everyday life in Australia. A 100 years of Rugby League is a salute to those who pioneered the game. To the ones who, through generations, have passed the game on a little stronger, and to those who will take it further in the future. From the foundations of rugby league in 1908 to the showpeice of 2009 rugby league has endoured 100 years of turmoil, passion, brutality, legends, and triumphs. the game has evolved from amaturism to a professional showcase of talent,skill,strength, and pride that the players put on show today. with the foundation of the NSWRL in 1908 the game of rugby league has strengthened throughout it's first 100 years. with help of Dally Messenger and his convert to league from union wich helped league lift off. over the next few years we see the dominence of the golden south sydeny team in the competition to the dominence of the great st goerge team of the 1950's and 60's wich would see them win 11 straight premierships.

In 1980 rugby league saw the arrival of State of Origin, Mate against Mate. with the first game going to the queensland side wich consisted of Meninga, "choppy" Close, Lewis, Reddy and Lang. Next there was the super league war of 1997 wich saw two media moguls murdock and packer fight it out for control of rugby league revenue. the war collapsed in 1997 when the NRL was formed in 1998 to unify the league code. in the 20th century rugby league we see alot of rules introduced to bring the game out of park footy into professionalism and the birth of elite ahletes. Also the game see's a big player exodus from NRL to the English Super League as they go on the hunt for a bigger pay packet.

thrught the history of rugby league we have seen alot of changes over years. They might of been seen at the time to be nesecarily for the good of the game, but over time has changed the game into what it is now, a spectical of rugby league art.