1997 in rugby league

1997 in rugby league centered on Europe's 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, England: 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 England – 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, England: 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, England 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

1. Hadfield, Dave (5 May 1997). "RUGBY LEAGUE CHALLENGE CUP FINAL: Bulls fall on Saints' dagger". The Independent. Retrieved 21 July 2012.
2. wigan.rlfans.com. "1997 Premiership Trophy Final". Wigan RL History. Cherryandwhite.co.uk. Retrieved 21 July 2012.