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Two Tribes
It’s the most important year in rugby league history – but it’s one the game wants you to forget. In 1997 rugby had its Second Great Schism, the advent of pay television in Australia enabling a dissatisfied faction within a booming Australian Rugby League to break away and form their own competition. When it was over, clubs disappeared, families were shattered and friendships ruined. Out of the ashes emerged the NRL, the biggest club competition of either code in the world. What was the Super League War about? Who won? What did we learn from it? Steve Mascord traces 15 months of recriminations, bitterness, passion and high farce with more than 100 interviews with all the leading lights from the year of Two Tribes.
544 pages, Paperback
Published October 4, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 31, 2022
This is a very enjoyable and well researched book. The author does a great job of taking a step and letting quotes from primary sources form the narrative. Whilst the subject is a little esoteric, the book is well worth a read for any rugby league fan as it helps explain some aspects of why the game is the way it is today.
I’m a self-confessed rugby league tragic however most books I read these days are on macro-economics or science. Whilst not directly crossing paths, Two Tribes does have a heavy focus on corporate governance and what could perhaps be oversimplified down to the egos of two Australian billionaires (although Kerry Packers monetary exposure is usually overplayed as it was Optus who were putting the money down for the ARL).
This book is a must read for any rugby league enthusiast.
I’m a self-confessed rugby league tragic however most books I read these days are on macro-economics or science. Whilst not directly crossing paths, Two Tribes does have a heavy focus on corporate governance and what could perhaps be oversimplified down to the egos of two Australian billionaires (although Kerry Packers monetary exposure is usually overplayed as it was Optus who were putting the money down for the ARL).
This book is a must read for any rugby league enthusiast.
January 17, 2023
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. A fantastic read about the worst days of rugby league in Australia: the 1997 Super League War that saw two competitions, lots of emnity, some frankly insane ideas and missed opportunities, and gave the AFL, chiefly in Sydney, a chance to get a better foothold in the Harbour City.
Steve Mascord seems to have done hundreds of hours of interviews, getting revelations and thoughts from most of the major players both in Australia/New Zealand and across in Europe, too, where Super League still exists. Mascord was always one of my favourite journalists, a must-read in the SMH. Seeing some of his work recreated for 'Two Tribes' was a real throwback. Really fascinating stuff, even if it was sad to recall those destructive days.
Steve Mascord seems to have done hundreds of hours of interviews, getting revelations and thoughts from most of the major players both in Australia/New Zealand and across in Europe, too, where Super League still exists. Mascord was always one of my favourite journalists, a must-read in the SMH. Seeing some of his work recreated for 'Two Tribes' was a real throwback. Really fascinating stuff, even if it was sad to recall those destructive days.
December 25, 2021
This one is an essential addition to the volumes of Rugby League history.
A balanced chronology of events leading up to, during and post 1997, looking at both the positives and negatives from one of Australian rugby league's most turbulent times. Gives a voice to so many within and affected by the division in the code.
Only minor distraction is what I find in a lot of self-published books - quite a few typos ! But such a compelling read, they're easy to move past.
A balanced chronology of events leading up to, during and post 1997, looking at both the positives and negatives from one of Australian rugby league's most turbulent times. Gives a voice to so many within and affected by the division in the code.
Only minor distraction is what I find in a lot of self-published books - quite a few typos ! But such a compelling read, they're easy to move past.
April 8, 2023
This interesting book looks back at 1997, the year before the commencement of the NRL. A great read for fans of the game who remember the year the rugby league competition was split into two in Australia.
There are loads of interviews with people involved at the time, players and officials. I loved reading their different perspectives of what happened, in their own words.
The final chapter is an interview with Paul Harragon, The Chief, captain of the Newcastle Knights. He talks about his role in bringing information from both the ARL and SuperLeague to his team mates.
At the same time as he was doing this, at the end of 1997, the Knights played the Manly Sea Eagles in the Grand Final of the ARL "branch" of the rugby league competition. Being a Manly fan, this was difficult for me to revisit, because the Knights won this game in an incredible fashion.
But after reading this chapter, where The Chief's passion is obvious, I actually came away thinking that the Knights win was probably the best outcome for rugby league.
There are loads of interviews with people involved at the time, players and officials. I loved reading their different perspectives of what happened, in their own words.
The final chapter is an interview with Paul Harragon, The Chief, captain of the Newcastle Knights. He talks about his role in bringing information from both the ARL and SuperLeague to his team mates.
At the same time as he was doing this, at the end of 1997, the Knights played the Manly Sea Eagles in the Grand Final of the ARL "branch" of the rugby league competition. Being a Manly fan, this was difficult for me to revisit, because the Knights won this game in an incredible fashion.
But after reading this chapter, where The Chief's passion is obvious, I actually came away thinking that the Knights win was probably the best outcome for rugby league.
May 2, 2025
A terrific read. The depth of research is to be applauded. I was 12 when the war broke out and RL was my world. I didn’t really understand what it was about at the time. After reading the book I know what it was about, but the why is a little more complex!
I did find it a little difficult to follow at times (ie who said what) and thought the structure of the storytelling could have been slightly different, but maybe I’m being picky??
A great read about the topic and RL history!
I did find it a little difficult to follow at times (ie who said what) and thought the structure of the storytelling could have been slightly different, but maybe I’m being picky??
A great read about the topic and RL history!
February 17, 2022
I helped crowdfund the book so I may be a bit biased. The story of the Superleague war and the painful birth of the NRL. Titbits for everyone. Hundreds of interviews interspersed with the football. Most poignant was the Hunter Mariners v. Paris St Germain game in the farcical World Club Challenge - spoiler both teams were wound up within a year.
April 30, 2022
Really enjoyed reading. I’m very fascinated by the super league war, I was 7 years old at the time and it occurred just as I was falling in love with the game.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews