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News, Reviews & Opinion - Sean Fagan - RL1908.com

Researched and written by Ian Heads and David Middleton, A Centenary of Rugby League tells the complete, season-by-season story of rugby league's first 100 years in Australia.

Rich in detail, anecdote, history, scandal and triumph, and illustrated by hundreds of extraordinary photographs, A Centenary of Rugby League is the one book every league fan will want to own.

Never before has the game been covered in such comprehensive, year-by-year detail.

The book includes not just the story of the first 100 years of the Sydney (now NRL) premiership, but also the many great competitions that have been staged across Australia.

As well, the often controversial and always colourful history of matches between Queensland and New South Wales are featured, from the inaugural game in 1908 to the State of Origin battles of today.

And Australia's pivotal place in international rugby league – most notably in epic Test matches against Great Britain, on Kangaroo tours of England and France, and in World Cup, World Series and Tri-Series tournaments – is celebrated in word and picture.

Australian rugby league's 100 greatest players of all time – from Dally Messenger to Darren Lockyer, as chosen by the ARL especially for the centenary year – are revealed and profiled in detail in the book.

And special sections highlight all the famous matches, controversies and incidents that have made league's history so colourful over the last century.

The search for photographs and memorabilia for this book has been relentless, with countless never before seen and long lost images complementing the rich and revealing narrative.

At a massive 640 pages, it provides a never ending journey back into rugby league's past.

The authors have given the code - and all of us - a wonderful 100th birthday present!

A Centenary of Rugby League: 1908-2008
Ian Heads and David Middleton

Published by Pan Macmillan Australia ISBN 9781405038300
Available in Hardback: 640 pages;
B&w and full colour photos throughout, plus statistics section
RRP $75