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The Rugby League Digest

The Super League War - Chapter 22 - The Best Of The Rest

Season 1, Ep. 31

In 1995, international football was in as precarious a position as the game itself, in this episode we analyse the impact of the Super League war on the Rugby League World Cup, a largely ignored Supreme Court decision, international slanging matches, Arthurson vs Lindsay, truces, team mutinies, wasted opportunities to grow the game, the Huddersfield show, Diana Ross, the rise of the minnows, Matthew Ridge's amazing book, the coronation of Brad Fittler and much, much more!

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