October 2008

Cup Full of History

As the Kangaroos celebrate their centenary year, the team talks about hopping into the history books of Rugby League World Cup

WORDS HUGH BALDWIN

Cameron Smith, Israel Folau and Billy Slater are gunning
for the games which kick off on 26 October
Photo: Robin Lowe

Kurt Gidley escapes the
clutches of a New Zealand Kiwi
Photo: Getty ImagesPlaying in this year’s Rugby League World Cup will be as much about prestige as it will be about passion and talent, according to Ricky Stuart, coach of Australia’s national rugby league team, the Kangaroos.

It will be a special event for that select group of elite rugby league players who will wear the country’s colours in such a momentous year.

As a former elite player himself, who represented both New South Wales and Australia with distinction, Stuart recognises as well as anyone the significance of the occasion and he intends to share that message with his Kangaroos. “It’s a special year,” Stuart says. “What I like – and I think it’s ever since I retired (as a player) – is the special moments.”

“At that time of the moment, you don’t realise how nice a feeling it actually is, but once you retire and you sit back and you see a couple of those moments you’ve had some involvement in, you do get a nice fuzzy feeling. I often say that to players – when you’re involved in a moment make sure you have some presence and some ownership of that moment. That’s really what the World Cup is about this year.”

Anthony Tupou of the Kangaroos
steamrolls a path past a Kiwi
Photo: Getty Images/Jonathan Wood The format of this year’s Rugby League World Cup (RLWC) sees 10 teams split into three groups for a round-robin phase, before two knockout semi-finals settle which two countries will fight out the tournament final on 22 November in Brisbane.

The seeded teams, Australia, New Zealand, England and Papua New Guinea, will play in group one and the other countries will have to prove their worth if they are to qualify for the knockout stage. But as these countries test their physical mettle on the field, through October and November, the minds of many off the field will be recalling 100 years of rugby league times past.

This history of rugby league in Australia is as much captured in anecdotes, stories and myths as it is by statistics, results and trophies. A book called A Centenary of Rugby League, released this year by rugby league historians Ian Heads and David Middleton, perhaps reflects this most appropriately.

Even the story behind the beginnings of rugby league in Australia has a mythical quality to it: a secret meeting in a smoky Sydney pub in 1907 between Henry Hoyle, James (J.J.) Giltinan and mysterious third character, believed to be legendary Test cricketer Victor Trumper.

Kangaroos captain Darren Lockyer
and Johnathan Thurston stand united
to take on whatever comes their way
Photo: Newspix/Porteous GreggThe three met to decide to break away from the rugby union establishment and form the then New South Wales Rugby League. The coup took shape in the ensuing days as they signed rugby union’s marquee player, Dally Messenger, over to the new game.

One hundred years on and those names are immortalised as part of the game’s vernacular. Since then a century of men and their deeds in valour and in victory have emerged from the shadows of 1908, the game’s foundation year. These are reflected in any number of images and stories: the muddy embrace of Norm Provan and Arthur Summons; the “little masterClive Churchill kicking a field goal from under a swarm of Poms; Noel Kelly wreaking havoc; the “KingWally Lewis throwing a long pass; and Andrew “Joey” Johns having a game at his mercy.

Coach Ricky Stuart is on the look
out for player complacency
Photo: Newspix/Porteous Gregg These names all add up to the pride, privilege and prestige that Stuart hopes his Australian players will feel when they take the field for the RLWC 2008. “It’s not just about ability,Stuart says. “It’s the pride you show in the jumper.

A person with pride and respect for the jumper will always be a better player for the team than the player with just pure ability. Because it’s not just what happens on the footy field.

So when history looks back on the 2008 RLWC, which names will be the ones that make their mark? The likes of hooker Cameron Smith with his old-school rugby league style, or five-eighth Darren Lockyer with his match-winning ways, or halfback Johnathan Thurston with his sleight of hand, or even the dashing Billy Slater, would be at short odds to be among those etched into legend.

“If I got the chance to pull on the green and gold in the World Cup that would certainly be an achievement for me,Slater says. “You don’t need much motivation to play for your country, but to play for your country in the centenary year is more motivation than you could ever ask for./p>

Brent Tate tries to escape the
attention of a Kiwi
Photo: Getty Images/
Cameron SpencerSmith, who has already begun to carve out his own wedge of rugby league history at both club and representative level, agrees. “Every time you get to pull on the Australian jersey it’s an honour. But to be a player in the World Cup, especially when it’s back in Australia, is exciting,” Smith says. “The World Cup’s an enjoyable time for everyone, not only the players, but the fans as well.”

The mark of a great player, according to Stuart, is one who seeks out the ball and has the will to bend destiny their way. “The best players on the team determine [the outcome] because they want the ball,” Stuart says. “Your Lockyers and Thurstons have shown over time that they want the ball in their hands at the most important stage of the game.”

For Lockyer, Kangaroos captain since 2003, “It’s a huge honour to captain Australia at any time, but to run out as skipper in the Centenary Year is something you don’t even dream of. That it could be at a unique event like a World Cup just makes it even more important.”

Darren Lockyer is hopeful he’ll be
collecting another trophy in 2008
for his mascot mate
Photo: Getty Images/
Cameron SpencerAs a tournament, the RLWC has had a potted history, having been held at irregular intervals since its inception in 1954, troubled by financial issues, muddled motivations and geographic barriers. Stuart believes, however, that the 2008 RLWC – its 13th incarnation – will be a landmark event for years to come.

“I’d like to think that in eight years’ time our World Cup will have grown and matured even more,” Stuart says. “We need to see our up-and-coming nations, Samoa, Tonga and the like, improve. We need to make sure we’re growing and developing those countries to keep strengthening our game at the World Cup level.”

Australia, as rugby league’s most dominant country, has overwhelmingly high expectations riding on it going into the RLWC, but Stuart will be fighting hard to keep the Kangaroos focused. “Complacency is going to be Australia’s biggest hurdle,” Stuart says. “It spreads quickly through a group of people and once it’s in your camp, it’s contagious.”

Australia celebrates after winning
the Centennial Test match between
the New Zealand Kiwis and the
Australian Kangaroos, October 2007
Photo: Newspix/Brett Cost“New Zealand and England have shown they can beat us on their day, so I’ve got to make sure that in this World Cup, their day doesn’t happen.”

When the day of the RLWC final arrives – fittingly played in Queensland, rugby league’s true-believer heartland – 100 years of rugby league history will be focused on that one moment. Stuart will be hoping for a “special moment” to share with his players and Australia.

Merchandise You Gotta Catch

Kangaroos Striped Beanie – AU$25
Kangaroos Rib Knit Beanie – AU$25
Kangaroos Striped Scarf – AU$25
ARL Kangaroos Jacquard Scarf – AU$25
Kangaroos Players Cap – AU$24.95
ARL Kangaroos 3D Embroidered Cap 2008 – AU$24.95
ARL Kangaroos Commemorative 1928 Jersey – AU$149
Kangaroos Authentic Jersey Mens – AU$149
Kangaroos Authentic Jersey Ladies – AU$125
Kangaroos Jersey Kids – AU$125
Australian Heritage Polo – AU$69.95
A Centenary of Rugby League – by Ian Heads and David Middleton. Available as hardcover for $49.99.
Merchandise available from www.nrlshop.com.au, Rebel Sport, Australian Way, What’s Your Team, Peter Wynn’s Score, Mick Simmons, Jerseys for Work & Play, Rugby Fever, Amart All Sports and all good sporting retailers. A Centenary of Rugby League is available from all good book stores. All prices stated are the recommended retail price.