The Rise of Professional Rugby League in Australia

In early 1907, Australian rugby faced a seismic shift when news broke of a professional New Zealand All Blacks team set to tour Englands northern counties, where professional rugby had thrived for over a decade. The concept of professional rugby in Australia seemed unimaginable, yet within months, this notion transformed into reality. The professional All Blacks faced a hastily assembled New South Wales team, while the legendary Dally Messenger joined the New Zealand tour. By 1908, a professional league emerged in Sydney, featuring many teams that still compete in todays NRL. This compelling selection from the Sydney Morning Herald captures the intense debates surrounding this transformation, revealing how concerns for the games integrity intertwined with class interests, colonial perspectives, and the pursuit of profit. - Summary by Phil Benson