Wikipedia

1997 World Club Championship

The 1997 World Club Championship was an expansion of the World Club Challenge concept by Super League. The rugby competition was restructured to include all 22 clubs from the Australasian Super League and the Super League championships and was known as the Visa World Club Championship due to sponsorship. As it was contested over six rounds in two hemispheres, with A$1 million prize money (GBP 640,000), the competition was prohibitively expensive to stage, with suggestions that it cost A$6 million.[1] This coupled with the poor ratings and attendances that were achieved both in Australia and Europe reportedly resulted in a loss over A$5 million, and the World Club Challenge was not staged again for a number of years. No British teams progressed further than the quarter-finals, with two Australian teams reaching the final (played at the Ericsson Stadium in Auckland, New Zealand): the dominant Brisbane Broncos club and the ill-fated Hunter Mariners.[2]

1997 World Club Championship
Trophy won by Brisbane Broncos
Duration6 June – 17 October 1997
Teams22
Matches played68
Average attendance7,989
Attendance543,258
Champions Brisbane Broncos (2nd title)
Runners-up Hunter Mariners
Top point-scorer(s) Ryan Girdler (118 points)
Top try-scorer(s) Steve Renouf (13)
← 1994
2000 →

Format

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The competition was held during the second season of the European Super League competition and the inaugural season of the Australasian Super League season. Both competitions paused their competitions for the first three rounds in June, and again for the second round of matches in July-August.

Teams in each competition were seeded into two pools to ensure that the leading teams would play each other.[3] The Australasian teams were split into a pool of six teams that contained the teams that had finished highly in the 1996 ARL season, and a pool of four teams that included the expansion Super League franchises Hunter Mariners and Adelaide Rams. The European Super League teams were split into two pools of six teams in order of the final positions of the clubs during the 1996 Super League season. Promoted club Salford Reds joined Pool B.

With only four teams in the Australasian Pool B, the six European teams had two bye weekends.

The competition saw five Australasian teams tour Europe for each set of three match weekends, with five European teams simultaneously touring Australasia.

Following the completion of the pool matches, the top three teams from both of the competitions Pool A progressed to the quarter finals, with the winner of the Australasian Pool B. The winner of the European Pool B faced the fourth-placed team from Pool A in an elimination qualifier for a place in the quarter finals.[4] The playoffs took place after the completion of the respective Super League competitions.

Credit card company Visa was announced as the competition sponsor just before the European launch of the championship at Huddersfield. The sponsorship was described as a "substantial investment to help offset the estimated £2 million operational costs."[5]

Pool stage tables

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The Australasian and European teams were each divided into two pools for the 1997 World Club Challenge. Each pool had six teams, with the exception of Australasia B, which had the two lowest placed Super League-aligned teams and the two newly formed teams: the Hunter Mariners and the Adelaide Rams. The finals series was contested between the top three teams in Australasia Pool A and Europe Pool A, and the top team from Australasia Pool B and Europe Pool B.

Australian Super League

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Pool A
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1   Brisbane Broncos 6 6 0 0 270 52 +218 12 Advance to Quarter-finals
2   Auckland Warriors 6 6 0 0 268 82 +186 12
3   Cronulla Sharks 6 6 0 0 230 54 +176 12
4   Penrith Panthers 6 6 0 0 256 120 +136 12
5   Canberra Raiders 6 5 0 1 302 108 +194 10
6   Canterbury Bulldogs 6 4 0 2 218 121 +97 8
Source: RLP
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Point difference; 3) Points scored.
Pool B
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1   Hunter Mariners 6 6 0 0 226 50 +176 12 Advance to Quarter-finals
2   North Queensland Cowboys 6 5 0 1 228 92 +136 10
3   Adelaide Rams 6 4 0 2 170 68 +102 8
4   Perth Reds 6 4 0 2 148 104 +44 8
Source: RLP
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Point difference; 3) Points scored.

Super League

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Pool A
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1   Wigan Warriors 6 2 0 4 89 212 −123 4 Advance to Quarter-finals
2   London Broncos 6 1 0 5 136 238 −102 2
3   Bradford Bulls 6 0 0 6 82 228 −146 0
4   St Helens 6 0 0 6 96 270 −174 0 Advance to Elimination final
5   Warrington Wolves 6 0 0 6 78 256 −178 0
6   Halifax Blue Sox 6 0 0 6 56 340 −284 0
Source: RLP
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Point difference; 3) Points scored.
Pool B
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1   Paris Saint-Germain 4 1 0 3 48 90 −42 2 Advance to Elimination final
2   Leeds Rhinos 4 1 0 3 94 138 −44 2
3   Oldham Bears 4 1 0 3 52 130 −78 2
4   Salford City Reds 4 1 0 3 44 130 −86 2
5   Sheffield Eagles 4 1 0 3 54 168 −114 2
6   Castleford Tigers 4 0 0 4 52 116 −64 0
Source: RLP
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Point difference; 3) Points scored.

Results

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Round 1

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June 6–9
Home Score Away Match information
Day & Time (local) Venue Referee Attendance
  Brisbane Broncos 42 – 22   London Broncos Friday 6 June, 7:30 pm ANZ Stadium, Brisbane Bill Harrigan 18,193
  St. Helens 14 – 42   Auckland Warriors Friday 6 June, 7:30 pm Knowsley Road, St. Helens Stuart Cummings 8,911
  North Queensland Cowboys 42 – 20   Leeds Rhinos Saturday 7 June, 7:30 pm Stockland Stadium, Townsville Steve Clark 14,561
  Adelaide Rams 50 – 8   Salford Reds Sunday 8 June, 2:00 pm Adelaide Oval, Adelaide Tim Mander 11,346
  Canberra Raiders 70 – 6   Halifax Blue Sox Sunday 8 June, 2:30 pm Bruce Stadium, Canberra Brian Grant 7,780
  Paris St-Germain 12 – 28   Hunter Mariners Sunday 8 June, 3:00 pm Charlety Stadium, Paris Steve Presley 3,500
  Castleford Tigers 16 – 24   Perth Reds Sunday 8 June, 3:30 pm Wheldon Road, Castleford Robert Connolly 3,590
  Warrington Wolves 12 – 40   Cronulla Sharks Sunday 8 June, 6:35 pm Wilderspool Stadium, Warrington Russell Smith 3,378
  Canterbury Bulldogs 18 – 22   Wigan Warriors Monday 9 June, 7:30 pm Belmore Sports Ground, Sydney Graham Annesley 10,680
  Bradford Bulls 16 – 20   Penrith Panthers Monday 9 June, 7:45 pm Odsal Stadium, Bradford David Campbell 14,378
Byes:   Sheffield Eagles,   Oldham Bears
References: RLP [6]

Round 2

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June 13–16
Home Score Away Match information
Day & Time (local) Venue Referee Attendance
  Adelaide Rams 34 – 8   Leeds Rhinos Friday 13 June, 8:00 pm Adelaide Oval, Adelaide Steve Clarke 14,630
  Castleford Tigers 12 – 42   Hunter Mariners Friday 13 June, 7:30 pm Wheldon Road, Castleford Stuart Cummings 3,087
  North Queensland Cowboys 54 – 16   Oldham Bears Saturday 14 June, 7:30 pm Stockland Stadium, Townsville Graham Annesley 12,631
  Bradford Bulls 16 – 20   Auckland Warriors Saturday 14 June, 6:00 pm Odsal Stadium, Bradford Russell Smith 13,133
  Canberra Raiders 66 – 20   London Broncos Sunday 15 June, 2:30 pm Bruce Stadium, Canberra Tim Mander 6,471
  Canterbury Bulldogs 58 – 6   Halifax Blue Sox Sunday 15 June, 2:30 pm Belmore Sports Ground, Sydney Brian Grant 5,034
  Warrington Wolves 22 – 52   Penrith Panthers Sunday 15 June, 3:00 pm Wilderspool Stadium, Warrington Robert Connolly 3,850
  Sheffield Eagles 26 – 22   Perth Reds Sunday 15 June, 6:35 pm Don Valley Stadium, Sheffield John Connolly 2,065
  Brisbane Broncos 34 – 0   Wigan Warriors Monday 16 June, 7:30 pm ANZ Stadium, Brisbane Bill Harrigan 14,833
  St Helens 8 – 48   Cronulla Sharks Monday 16 June, 7:45 pm Knowsley Road, St Helens David Campbell 8,039
Byes:   Paris St-Germain,   Salford Reds
References: RLP [6]

Round 3

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June 20–23
Home Score Away Match information
Day & Time (local) Venue Referee Attendance
  Adelaide Rams 42 – 14   Oldham Bears Friday 20 June, 8:00 pm Adelaide Oval, Adelaide Graham Annesley 13,852
  Sheffield Eagles 4 – 40   Hunter Mariners Friday 20 June, 7:30 pm Don Valley Stadium, Sheffield Russell Smith 2,350
  Bradford Bulls 10 – 30   Cronulla Sharks Friday 20 June, 7:30 pm Odsal Stadium, Bradford Stuart Cummings 10,756
  North Queensland Cowboys 44 – 8   Salford Reds Saturday 21 June, 7:30 pm Stockland Stadium, Townsville Brian Grant 15,508
  Paris St-Germain 24 – 0   Perth Reds Saturday 21 June, 7:00 pm Charlety Stadium, Paris David Campbell 3,500
  Brisbane Broncos 76 – 0   Halifax Blue Sox Sunday 22 June, 2:30 pm ANZ Stadium, Brisbane Tim Mander 11,358
  Canberra Raiders 56 – 22   Wigan Warriors Sunday 22 June, 2:30 pm Bruce Stadium, Canberra Steve Clark 9,098
  St Helens 30 – 50   Penrith Panthers Sunday 22 June, 6:35 pm Knowsley Road, St Helens John Connolly 6,671
  Canterbury Bulldogs 34 – 18   London Broncos Monday 23 June, 7:30 pm Belmore Sports Ground, Sydney Bill Harrigan 7,272
  Warrington Wolves 28 – 56   Auckland Warriors Monday 23 June, 7:45 pm Wilderspool Stadium, Warrington Steve Presley 4,428
Byes:   Castleford Tigers,   Leeds Rhinos
References: RLP [6]

Round 4

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July 18–21
Home Score Away Match information
Day & Time (local) Venue Referee Attendance
  Penrith Panthers 48 – 12   Warrington Wolves Friday 18 July, 7:30 pm Penrith Football Stadium, Penrith Brian Grant 5,642
  Oldham Bears 20 – 16   North Queensland Cowboys Friday 18 July, 7:30 pm Boundary Park, Oldham Robert Connolly 2,961
  Leeds Rhinos 22 – 14   Adelaide Rams Friday 18 July, 7:30 pm Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds Russell Smith 11,269
  Perth Reds 48 – 12   Sheffield Eagles Saturday 19 July, 7:30 pm WACA Ground, Perth Steve Clark 7,429
  Auckland Warriors 76 – 0   Bradford Bulls Sunday 20 July, 2:30 pm Ericsson Stadium, Auckland Bill Harrigan 12,500
  Hunter Mariners 26 – 8   Castleford Tigers Sunday 20 July, 2:30 pm Topper Stadium, Newcastle Tim Mander 3,379
  Halifax Blue Sox 22 – 40   Canterbury Bulldogs Sunday 20 July, 3:00 pm Thrum Hall, Halifax Steve Presley 3,300
  Wigan Warriors 4 – 30   Brisbane Broncos Sunday 20 July, 6:35 pm Central Park, Wigan Stuart Cummings 13,476
  Cronulla Sharks 28 – 12   St. Helens Monday 21 July, 7:30 pm Shark Park, Sydney Graham Annesley 7,721
  London Broncos 38 – 18   Canberra Raiders Monday 21 July, 7:30 pm The Stoop, London John Connolly 7,819
Byes:   Paris St-Germain,   Salford Reds
References: RLP [6]

Round 5

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July 25–28
Home Score Away Match information
Day & Time (local) Venue Referee Attendance
  Auckland Warriors 70 – 6   St. Helens Friday 25 July, 7:30 pm Ericsson Stadium, Auckland Steve Clark 18,354
  Oldham Bears 2 – 18   Adelaide Rams Friday 25 July, 7:30 pm Boundary Park, Oldham John Connolly 3,315
  Cronulla Sharks 44 – 0   Warrington Wolves Saturday 26 July, 7:30 pm Shark Park, Sydney Tim Mander 6,112
  Hunter Mariners 32 – 0   Paris St-Germain Sunday 27 July, 2:30 pm Topper Stadium, Newcastle Graham Annesley 2,210
  Perth Reds 24 – 14   Castleford Tigers Sunday 27 July, 2:30 pm WACA Ground, Perth Brian Grant 12,500
  Halifax Blue Sox 12 – 42   Canberra Raiders Sunday 27 July, 3:00 pm Thrum Hall, Halifax Robert Connolly 3,620
  Salford City Reds 14 – 24   North Queensland Cowboys Sunday 27 July, 3:00 pm The Willows, Salford Steve Presley 7,448
  London Broncos 16 – 34   Brisbane Broncos Sunday 27 July, 6:35 pm The Stoop, London Stuart Cummings 9,846
  Penrith Panthers 54 – 14   Bradford Bulls Monday 28 July, 7:30 pm Penrith Football Stadium, Penrith Bill Harrigan 5,336
  Wigan Warriors 31 – 24   Canterbury Bulldogs Monday 28 July, 7:45 pm Central Park, Wigan Russell Smith 10,280
Byes:   Leeds Rhinos,   Sheffield Eagles
References: RLP [6]

Round 6

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August 1–4
Home Score Away Match information
Day & Time (local) Venue Referee Attendance
  Perth Reds 18 – 8   Paris St-Germain Friday 1 August, 6:30 pm WACA Ground, Perth Tim Mander 5,690
  London Broncos 22 – 44   Canterbury Bulldogs Friday 1 August, 7:30 pm The Stoop, London John Connolly 6,923
  Cronulla Sharks 40 – 12   Bradford Bulls Saturday 2 August, 7:30 pm Shark Park, Sydney Brian Grant 8,272
  Auckland Warriors 16 – 4   Warrington Wolves Sunday 3 August, 2:30 pm Lancaster Park, Christchurch Graham Annesley 5,500
  Hunter Mariners 58 – 12   Castleford Tigers Sunday 3 August, 2:30 pm Topper Stadium, Newcastle Steve Clark 1,965
  Wigan Warriors 12 – 50   Canberra Raiders Sunday 3 August, 3:00 pm Central Park, Wigan Steve Presley 12,504
  Salford City Reds 14 – 12   Adelaide Rams Sunday 3 August, 6:35 pm The Willows, Salford Stuart Cummings 6,995
  Leeds Rhinos 14 – 48   North Queensland Cowboys Sunday 3 August, 8:00 pm Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds Russell Smith 12,224
  Penrith Panthers 32 – 26   St. Helens Monday 4 August, 7:30 pm Penrith Football Stadium, Penrith Bill Harrigan 5,303
  Halifax Blue Sox 10 – 54   Brisbane Broncos Monday 4 August, 7:45 pm Thrum Hall, Halifax Robert Connolly 3,255
Byes:   Castleford Tigers,   Oldham Bears
References: RLP [6]

Playoffs

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Bracket

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Elimination qualifier Quarter-finals Semi finals Final
  Brisbane Broncos 66
  St. Helens 42   St. Helens 12
  Paris St-Germain 4   Brisbane Broncos 22
  Auckland Warriors 16
  Auckland Warriors 62
  Bradford Bulls 14
  Brisbane Broncos 36
  Hunter Mariners 12
  Wigan Warriors 18
  Hunter Mariners 22
  Cronulla Sharks 18
  Hunter Mariners 22
  London Broncos 16
  Cronulla Sharks 40

Elimination qualifier

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Wednesday, 13 August St. Helens   42 – 4   Paris St-Germain Knowsley Road, St. Helens
7:45 pm
Attendance: 3,641
Referee: Russell Smith

Quarter-finals

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Friday, 3 October Auckland Warriors   62 – 14   Bradford Bulls Ericsson Stadium, Auckland

Attendance: 12,063
Referee: Bill Harrigan
Friday, 3 October Wigan Warriors   18 – 22   Hunter Mariners Central Park, Wigan

Attendance: 9,553
Referee: Russell Smith
Saturday, 4 October Brisbane Broncos   66 – 12   St. Helens ANZ Stadium, Brisbane

Attendance: 6,438
Referee: Steve Clark
Saturday, 4 October London Broncos   16 – 40   Cronulla Sharks The Stoop, London

Attendance: 6,239
Referee: Stuart Cummings

Semi-finals

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Friday, 10 October Brisbane Broncos   22 – 16   Auckland Warriors ANZ Stadium, Brisbane
19:30 AEST (UTC+10)
 Tries:
Walker   (2)
Tallis  
Walters  
Goals:
Walker   (3)
 1st: 10–10
2nd: 12–6
Report
Tries:
Oudenryn   (2)
Endacott  
Goals:
Ridge   (2)
Attendance: 9,686
Referee: Graham Annesley
Saturday, 11 October Cronulla Sharks   18 – 22   Hunter Mariners Shark Park, Sydney
19:30 AEST (UTC+10)
 Tries:
Ettingshausen  
Richardson  
Rogers  
Goals:
Rogers   (3)
 1st: 12–12
2nd: 6–10
Report
Tries:
Kimmorley   (2)
Doherty  
Zisti  
Goals:
K Iro   (2)
Swain   (1)
Attendance: 5,214
Referee: Bill Harrigan

Final

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1997 (1997) World Club Championship final  ()
 
Mount Smart Stadium hosted the match
Brisbane Broncos Hunter Mariners
(SL  ) (SL  )
36 12
12 Total
BRI   2610 36
HUN   48 12
Date18 October 1997
StadiumMount Smart Stadium
LocationAuckland, New Zealand
RefereeGraham Annesley  
Attendance10,300
Broadcast partners
Broadcasters
Commentators
← 1994
2000 →

In their only year of existence, this would be the only final that the Hunter Mariners would appear in.

Three tries in 12 minutes from Brisbane Broncos centre Darren Smith put the Broncos in a strong position in the first half to lead 26–0 inside 30 minutes, with the Hunter Mariners only score a try to Nick Zisti just before the break.[7]

After the interval, the Mariners came close to scoring, but were denied twice by the video referee.[7] John Carlaw and Zisti would score tries to reduce the margin to 14 points,[8][9] but two late tries to the Broncos through Wendell Sailor and Steve Renouf gave the Brisbane side a dominant victory.[7]

The Broncos collected A$1 million for winning the competition, with the Mariners collecting A$500,000 which the club split 50-50 with the players.[10]

Teams

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Brisbane Broncos
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Hunter Mariners
FB 1 Darren Lockyer
RW 18 Michael De Vere
RC 13 Darren Smith
LC 4 Steve Renouf
LW 5 Wendell Sailor
FE 6 Kevin Walters
HB 7 Allan Langer (c)
PR 21 Shane Webcke
HK 9 John Plath
PR 23 Andrew Gee
SR 11 Gorden Tallis
SR 10 Brad Thorn
LK 12 Peter Ryan
Substitutions:
IC 14 Ben Walker
IC 2 Michael Hancock
IC 15 Tonie Carroll
IC 33 Phillip Lee
Coach:
  Wayne Bennett
FB 1 Robbie Ross
RW 3 Nick Zisti
LC 6 Brad Godden
RC 4 Kevin Iro
LW 5 John Carlaw
FE 21 Scott Hill
HB 20 Brett Kimmorley
PR 31 Anthony Brann
HK 9 Robbie McCormack (c)
PR 14 Troy Stone
SR 16 Darrien Doherty
SR 12 Paul Marquet
LK 55 Tyran Smith
Substitutions:
IC 2 Keith Beauchamp
IC 10 Tim Maddison
IC 11 Tony Iro
IC 18 Richard Swain
Coach:
  Graham Murray

Match details

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1997 World Club Challenge Final
Friday, 17 October
19:30 NZST (UTC+12)
Brisbane Broncos   36 – 12   Hunter Mariners
Tries: 7
D Smith   18', 24', 28'
Walters   4'
Plath   12'
Sailor   74'
Renouf   79'
Goals: 4
De Vere   5', 13', 29' (3/5)
Walker   75' (1/2)
 1st: 26–4
2nd: 10–8
[11]
 Tries: 3
Zisti   35', 64'
Carlaw   53'
Goals: 0
K Iro (0/2)
Swain (0/1)
Ericsson Stadium, Auckland
Attendance: 10,300
Referee: Graham Annesley  

Aftermath

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The dominance of the Australasian sides in the competition led to the Rugby Football League appointing Joe Lydon to head a commission to provide an explanation.[12] The general conclusion was that the Australian sides were no more skillful than the European teams, the main difference as it had been in international football since the late 1970s, was fitness, something that they were working on by the time of the season ending Super League Test series between the Super League Australians and the Great Britain Lions in England in November.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Mascord, Steve (17 October 1997). "Gold Coast hunts the Mariners". The Sydney Morning Herald. Sydney, New South Wales: John Fairfax Publications Pty Limited. p. 45.
  2. ^ Hadfield, Dave (16 October 1997). "The short but amazing life of Hunter Mariners". The Independent. independent.co.uk. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
  3. ^ Wilson, Andy (1 June 1997). "Ambitious project means global dawning". The Observer. London, United Kingdom. p. 52.
  4. ^ Fitzpatrick, Paul (6 June 1997). "Show time in the world acid test". The Guardian. London, United Kingdom. p. B7.
  5. ^ "Visa invests in world club championship". The Times. London, United Kingdom. 5 June 1997. p. 47.
  6. ^ a b c d e f "World Club Championship - Fixtures". Sunday Mirror. London, United Kingdom. 1 June 1997. p. 69.
  7. ^ a b c "Rugby League: World Club C'ship: Broncos on top of the world Brisbane Broncos 36 Hunter Mariners 12". The Guardian. London, United Kingdom. 18 October 1997. p. 10:1.
  8. ^ Mascord, Steve (18 October 1997). "In-limbo Mariners fall gamely to Broncos". Sydney Morning Herald. Sydney, New South Wales: John Fairfax Publications Pty Limited. p. 64.
  9. ^ Hadfield, Dave (18 October 1997). "Rugby League: World Club Championship Final - Broncos' early burst leaves Mariners marooned". The Independent. London, United Kingdom. p. 23.
  10. ^ Drzyzga, Ben (18 October 1997). "Broncos burst Mariners' bubble". Newcastle Herald. Newcastle, New South Wales: Newcastle Newspapers Pty Limited. p. 22.
  11. ^ 1997 WCC Final - Brisbane vs Hunter
  12. ^ Robinson, John (1997). Super League Official Annual 1998. World International. p. 42. ISBN 0-7498-3389-0.
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