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Overview of the events of 1997 in sports
1997 in rugby league centered on the
Super League II and Australasia's split season (between the competing
Australian Rugby League and
Super League organisations).
- March 1 at
Townsville, Queensland –
Adelaide Rams play their first match, a 16-24 loss to the
North Queensland Cowboys at
Dairy Farmers Stadium before 17,738.
- March 2 at
Newcastle, Australia –
Hunter Mariners play their first match: a 16-20 loss to the
Canterbury Bulldogs at
Topper Stadium before 6,579. The new club only lasts until the end of the season when it is closed.
- April 25 at
Sydney, Australia –
Super League's
inaugural ANZAC Test match is won by
Australia 34-22 against
New Zealand at the
Sydney Football Stadium before 23,829.
- May 3 -
London,
United Kingdom: In the
1997 Challenge Cup Final
St. Helens defeat
Bradford Bulls 32-22 at
Wembley Stadium before a crowd of 78,022.
[1] St. Helens' stand off half
Tommy Martyn is awarded the
Lance Todd Trophy as man-of-the-match.
- May 19 at
Brisbane, Australia –
Super League Tri-series tournament culminates with
New South Wales' 23-22 win against
Queensland in the final at
ANZ Stadium before 35,570. This match is notable for being the longest ever played, at 104 minutes.
- June 11 at
Melbourne, Australia – The
1997 State of Origin series is wrapped up by
New South Wales in game two of the three-match series against
Queensland at the
Melbourne Cricket Ground before 25,105.
- August 31 at
Brisbane, Australia –
South Queensland Crushers play their final game before folding: a 39-18 win over the
Western Suburbs Magpies at
Lang Park before 11,588.
- August 31 in
United Kingdom –
Super League II's final match is played and
Bradford Bulls, who finished on top of the table, are crowned champions.
- September 20 at
Brisbane, Australia – the
Australasian 1997 Super League season culminates in the
Brisbane Broncos' 26-8 win over the
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in the grand final at
ANZ Stadium before 58,912.
- The 1997
Rothmans Medal for player of the
ARL Premiership was awarded to
Sydney City Roosters captain and five-eighth,
Brad Fittler.
- September 28 at
Sydney, Australia – the
1997 ARL season culminates in the
Newcastle Knights' 22-16 win over the
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the grand final at the
Sydney Football Stadium before 42,482. Newcastle
fullback
Robbie O'Davis is awarded the
Clive Churchill Medal.
- September 28 -
Manchester,
United Kingdom: In the
1997 Super League
Premiership Final
Wigan Warriors defeat
St. Helens 33-20 at
Old Trafford before a crowd of 33,389. The
Harry Sunderland Trophy is awarded to Wigan's loose forward
Andrew Farrell.
[2]
- October 17 at
Auckland, New Zealand –
1997 World Club Championship tournament culminates in the
Brisbane Broncos' 36-12 win over the
Hunter Mariners at
Mount Smart Stadium before 12,000. This was the Mariners' final match before folding at the close of the season.
- November 16 in
Leeds, United Kingdom The
Super League Test series is won by
Australia who defeat
Great Britain 20 - 37 in the third and deciding match at
Elland Road before a crowd of 39,337.
- December 19 -
Sydney,
Australia: representatives of clubs affiliated with the
Australian Rugby League gathered at the
Sydney Football Stadium to decide whether to accept
News Limited's offer of a settlement with the breakaway '
Super League' - eventually voting in favour by 36 votes to 4. As a result, in the following months the
National Rugby League, jointly owned by the ARL and News Limited, was formed.
References