The Evolution of Rugby League (Documentary)

The Professionals is a new documentary investigating the evolution of rugby league, and its players, through the last four decades
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[@davidzelman]

Quality content. New fan from the US. More stuff like this really helps me appreciate the history and culture ✊🏻

[@norman-gregory]

Greetings. Welcome brother.

[@georgiasutton7797]

Welcome to the best game in the world mate.

[@MrBigbangbuzz]

David Zelman get one some AFL too . NRL and AFL is what Australia is all about

[@georgiasutton7797]

@@davet732 your funny mate. NRL is 1000 times tougher, faster and better entertainment then the slow pace of the super league. Go the MIGHTY BRONCOS!!

[@georgiasutton7797]

@@davet732 never heard of that team before.

[@kevinwaters5872]

Dennis Tutty has never been properly recognised by his fellow players. He took the prime years of his career off for the benefit of ALL other players. A true gentleman and legend.

[@user-uw4yb3oj7c]

You're a legend Dennis Tutty. If this champion isn't an immortal, then the whole thing is a bluff. Sacrificed his career to boost the image of Rugby League and probably sports in general at that time. 🙌

[@bluevfxTM]

@@mufc383 football*

[@fumie4996]

it's gentleman's sport only played by hard men. not for you and the general masses. so yeah it's a niche and always be a niche sport.

[@lanceMollenhauer-mf1xz]

Here here

[@krisztinapossiri8681]

@@mufc383so why are you here? Go watch some Bundesliga or Premier League

[@dennispicone6801]

Occasionally, the powers that be, choose to ignore obvious flaws in the system. Tutty is a legend. Always.

[@SMC01ful]

Dennis Tutty what a battler. True working-class hero. They should make a film about him.

[@The_Last_Ninja]

Dennis Tutty has my vote for the next immortal inductee. Why should immortals only be outstanding players? Why can’t immortals be outstanding contributors to the game too!

[@johnnyhabitual9183]

THIS!

[@sircuban5852]

Great stuff- from Rugby League’s biggest Texan fan!!!

[@mufc383]

Soccer is the biggest and most powerful sport on Planet Earth. Soccer has over 4 Billion fans and is massive in over 240 countries. Every nation on Earth loves Soccer. Rugby League is only big in 4 countries. Its a minority sport in England, France, Lebanon etc. Soccer will be the most popular sport in Australia by 2050 hdshb

[@bobbytreetop1701]

@@mufc383obsessed Boston Jim 😂😂😂

[@andersonbroxson2357]

soccer is 90 minutes of pretending you're hurt and rugby is 80 minutes of pretending ur not

[@sean492]

​@@mufc383There's not even 200 countries let alone over 240 ya dork

[@user-st1mp9hu1m]

NRL in AUS is the pinnacle of the sport ,in the UK and been a fan for a few years now with Penrith Panthers in AUS and St Helens in the UK my teams

[@benjaminrowley]

No Aussie rules is the pinnacle of Australia not rugby

[@BrisbaneBroncosfan67]

@@benjaminrowley1. The NRL is more popular than aerial ping-pong. 2. He’s talking about rugby league.

[@bigpapashouse769]

The Godfather of Rugby League just passed away, R.I.P Don Furner 1932-2020 💚

[@theoneandonly8085]

He's pretty old

[@VKM33]

Who??

[@norman-gregory]

Respect...without a doubt. More so with the Canberra Raiders and there history. Don't always listen to media headlines (saying godfather). Respect and condolences.

[@jonglewongle3438]

I saw him sitting in a TAB once in the 1990s, with one or more of his rugby league associates. No gambling on any degenerate scale. Killing time between official engagements. Forget why all these ARL / NRL people were in the area at the time. Some sort of promotion.

[@joldendoves2795]

The George Hotel Huddersfield is being turned into the Rugby League museum because this is where Rugby League was born. See Henry Hirst Waller (Oxford University has a lot of information) Henry Hirst Waller was a philanthropic cotton mill owner who wanted to change the rules to make Rugby more accessible to the working classes. Henry Hirst Waller chaired the meeting of 23 rugby clubs, and Rugby League was born, it was originally known as Yorkshire Rules.

[@robboxify]

Love Peter Sterling. Some of you Aussies might not realise but he had 2 short stints in the UK at my club Hull FC in the mid 80s. Played in the classic cup final 1985 up against brett kenny. I think this match footage is on here somewhere. Well worth a watch. He's just been back to Hull on a short break and did a great function and pre match appearance in the deby match v Hull KR. Seems only a few years ago but it is now 35 years since that final

[@joshrose6331]

Top bloke. I sold him meat for years as a butcher, real community man

[@waukivorycopse2402]

That cup final 85 is spectacular. I've seen in about 10 times and everytime it's thrilling.

[@jamesblanshard9468]

I love the NRL but the game began in 1895 in Huddersfield a great Australian once said ,"those that drink from the Well but always remember those who built the Well ".I'm paraphrasing the great Harry Bath .....🏉

[@sallymay24]

Congrats to all the players who sacrificed so much to get where they are now ....you are all amazing

[@caribstu]

Robbie hit the nail on the head with how the media behave today

[@pitaberaciri8366]

Great to see so much honesty and players standing up for their rights and what they believed in sacrificed so much for what the players enjoy today well done Mr Tutt well done

[@tirahuks1]

Dennis Tutty... Legend!

[@jackbrady9738]

now this is CONTENT

[@KellosV]

Great doc. Should keep trying to post quality content on here nrl

[@jackbrady9738]

agree

[@martingoodef811]

Dennis Tutty , absolute legend and should be recognized for what he started. League players still being ripped off, not paid enough. Compare what other professional sportsman are earning in alpha sports? Shareholders, elite, still stealing from the skills of the working man. Look also at Womens League, absolute tragedy, not being paid enough and needing a full time employment. Also wish to note the sacrifices Tony Butterfield made to continue the fight for players.

[@adamknight5089]

Although I'm more into Union, I think the reason League is so much more popular is the passion of some of the people that changed the game and made it fairer and better. I still get amazed at how passionate people are about the game, where watching a normal round 5 match can generate so much hype and such big crowds and exciting football.

[@canijustplease]

Kira Lee for sure. I like both but union just feels like it’s a corporate affair, there isn’t the same amount of pride and passion for your club. In Australia at least.

[@adamknight5089]

@@canijustplease Very true, in Australia it's like that, I am envious of NRL patronage, people also buy lots of merch, shirts, cups etc. I rarely see ppl donning anything related to NSW Waratahs for example

[@canijustplease]

Kira Lee the Waratahs are my team and I have never owned any merchandise of theirs but I the enthusiasm that I have supporting the parramatta eels gives me a great feeling and I have owned many different varieties of their jerseys and flags. Choose a team and jump onboard. It’s good fun.

[@adamknight5089]

@@canijustplease I actually have Tigers glasses, coin holders, socks and jumper :) I talk to work colleagues about our teams, i just watch NRL a lot less than Union and don't follow religiously... but this kind of tribalism is def why League is the clear winner in Aus

[@James-hm3jk]

Kira Lee Sorry but...union is way more popular???? Maybe it’s different in the Southern Hemisphere but up here you’re a weirdo if you play league, it’s unheard of

[@MrBigbangbuzz]

I’m an AFL fan , but this is good doco .. nice work NRL and the team who made it

[@oscargreenwood5460]

Rugby league was born in England in 1895

[@aboriginalbrotha9947]

In Huddersfield, West Yorkshire in the George Hotel.

[@suzannelinane6377]

I was just about to say that

[@ronanrogers4127]

They did say following in the footsteps of northern England. No one is denying the origin of the game.

[@paulieplayspoorly]

"Rugby League was born, *in Australia*, in 1908...".

[@harryhopworthy9600]

@@paulieplayspoorly AUSTRALIAN Rugby League was born in 1908. ENGLISH Rugby League was born in 1895. The game became more like Rugby League, and less like Rugby Union, when a team went from 15-a-side to 13-a-side, in 1906. In addition, the Play-The-Ball, was introduced. HH. Sidmouth, Devon.

[@JoTheSnoop]

My Pop worked from 1950s to 1970s as a garbage collector for the South Sydney Council. A few Souths players were working with him on weekdays at different stages of his working life.

[@jonplayle6954]

It's good to know the history behind the great game

[@clillis8792]

I learnt a lot more about Dennis Tutty. Im glad this little doco was made

[@lukestrong5779]

Honestly it’s a tragedy that I was born in Australia specifically Cronulla in sydney and have lived here my whole 22 years and followed footy (albeit loosely at times) since I’ve been old enough to remember and had not only never heard the story of Dennis tutty but didn’t know who he was before this he’s an absolute legend

[@markgoodwin1404]

Greatest Team Sport on the planet for me! What the players put there body's through is unnatural .

[@fentonfactory9243]

Can you do a doco on the development of the game eg. Speed, size, strategy, international presence

[@alicebenson8512]

Incredible video. Australia, you got yourself a new US fan. Go Cowboys!

[@Odd1x]

Absolute quality! Love Rugby and Rugby League

[@difdaf436]

Man I think all players should be made to watch this doco. These blokes all played purely for the love! I get times have changed, but so many players seem to want their cake and eat it to these days.

[@o2thagthings57]

Fascinating inside to the struggle of the modern Rugby League player. Great seeing the battles behind the action on the field, need more content like this NRL! keep up the good work, love to see more player bios/life stories

[@ramesh8504]

“We had a better time and we did have a better time.”

[@theconversation.]

2022 = Tackle Touch Footy!

[@nickhanlon9331]

Good doco. AFL had a similar history up until the draft was introduced and we have never had a civil war. The AFL eventually swallowed up its predecessor the VFA in 1994 because for many years the Victorian government banned Sunday footy except for the VFA which was rescinded in 1985. Once that Sunday ban was removed then it opened up more time slots for live telecast games as did the introduction of night footy.

[@Odd1x]

Thanks Dennis Tutty!

[@norman-gregory]

Greetings. To the NRL and the officialdom... Please find a way to put forward an event/collective effort...to SHOW some Rugby League brotherhood towards Dennis Tutty. Please don't leave this too late...make this a "night of remembrance"...for example a "bi-annual celebration", never ever forgetting the past great men of this tough game. Make these MEN feel honoured, and STILL feel a part of the game. Just because these men have grey hair or very little hair... don't discard them. This game of today, is ONLY because of the courage of past tough men...please NRL... Remember them? Have a great day. Looking forward to a tremendous 2020 season. Thank you tough men of rugby league.

[@robcousins231]

Much respect to Dennis Tutty, brave man.

[@petertaylor9042]

Advert for the RLPA. Whilst I have nothing against this, tell it for what it is. It isnt about rugby league per se. Switched off with 20 to go when Pendergast started his diatribe.

[@justindecombes3752]

Yeah I stupidly expected some footy .

[@ajw9533]

League has the best fights of any sport, including boxing.

[@joldendoves2795]

The George Hotel Huddersfield is being turned into the Rugby League museum because this is where Rugby League was born. See Henry Hirst Waller (Oxford University has a lot of information) Henry Hirst Waller was a philanthropic cotton mill owner who wanted to change the rules to make Rugby more accessible to the working classes. Henry Hirst Waller chaired the meeting of 23 rugby clubs, and Rugby League was born, it was originally known as Yorkshire Rules.

[@joldendoves2795]

The George Hotel Huddersfield is being turned into the Rugby League museum because this is where Rugby League was born. See Henry Hirst Waller (Oxford University has a lot of information) Henry Hirst Waller was a philanthropic cotton mill owner who wanted to change the rules to make Rugby more accessible to the working classes. Henry Hirst Waller chaired the meeting of 23 rugby clubs, and Rugby League was born, it was originally known as Yorkshire Rules.

[@liamjamieson8842]

This is really well done. I was worried that it would take a super league apologist stance but I'm glad to say tat it does not

[@Skip-sy2th]

Why the friggin background music?

[@Red-Revolution708]

The game came from England in 29 August 1895 and then the game moved to the British colonies .

[@martingoodef811]

This was a brilliant presentation

[@teupolaveitala8160]

wow whatta wonderful sports documentary histories they made.... the professionals nrl documentary evolution rugby league stories.... 😃😃😉😎

[@lukas_carlos]

Top bloke Mr. Tutty

[@AO-dg8pf]

Great stuff, lots of blasts from the past.

[@Mudmowerdiesel]

Awesome channel thank you

[@lukestrong5779]

Massive fan of butts son Isaac but I’m to young to remember or even know about Tony’s career after watching this I’ve got so so much more respect for him as member of a union myself butts and tutty are absolute hero’s if you have a job (maybe not as much the residential side of construction for example but still) then you need to be in a union

[@markaddison5333]

Baskerville s all golds from nz took the game to Australia 1907 picked up messenger and others went to England poor buggef died on way back home so glad he did I love this game

[@jimmaloney1121]

I would have thought that this documentary would have paid more attention to the Super League War. The NRL only came about because of the Super League War. Also, it's important to remember that Super League came out at the same time Kerry Packer was trying to start World Rugby Corporation in Union, which led to professionalism and Super Rugby.

[@terrifryday3641]

I'm glad it didn't

[@petertancred3507]

I firmly believe that after a century of the game being played that players will never be compensated for the physical price they will pay later in life....

[@lanceMollenhauer-mf1xz]

All league players owe it to Dennis Tutty

[@JoeKavana]

Great stuff, thanks.

[@cianoaichir2725]

Union is for the upper class and now that elitism is coming back to haunt them, league is the working man's game and let's be honest,most athlete's come from the working class so how Union couldn't forsee the slow decline in support is typical of their snobbish outlook on life.And let's be honest, union is boring with a bunch of overweight slobs who couldn't last 10minutes in a league game.

[@stevenmcalister826]

Not really seeing this decline in union in favour of league you’re talking about.

[@cianoaichir2725]

@@stevenmcalister826 in Australia? besides the last few games where the Ozzie teams gave a decent account of themselves it was pretty embarrassing

[@warmonger8799]

Awesome , Simply the Best

[@tap.7767]

Up Parra ✊🏽

[@thepimpernel6971]

I was a kid when this happened I remember Denis's sacrifice well he gave a up a lot.

[@alexandermacdonald499]

Y'all should start doing reruns of games.

[@rajivmurkejee7498]

Don't want to be a killjoy but think rugby league has never been Australia's number one football code as claimed.

[@robertkern1408]

Should have been labelled The Evolution of Rugby League (Player's salaries and gripes). C'mon guys, you're representing the game, less click-bait please.

[@jleger5700]

I love league!!

[@TheRadFactor]

0:39 "At the play level, very little has changed since the sort began almost 60 years ago". Not sure such a statement is referring to, especially the "60 years ago" part.

[@nightimermx8934]

that was up there with "rugby league started in australia" haha

[@Tom-lm2tc]

Pretty sure ron coote played 6 years at the roosters too 🤔🤔🤔

[@Tom-lm2tc]

That may true dude, bit irrelevant to what i was saying though :)

[@simonfurman8007]

oi this probably isnt the place to ask but what happened to the 4 nations? do they not do it anymore?

[@samuelspoons3553]

Good program and one think I would like to know if the professional league was played on a Saturday what time would the junior and local league played ?

[@Godisnotjesus1967]

League was NOT born in Aus.

[@jasonaus3551]

Do they have any focus on the QRL or is it just a Sydney centric narrative?

[@adsnbits5403]

The NSW competition was the major competition in Australia.

[@jasonaus3551]

@@adsnbits5403 mate its called the Evolution of Rugby League not of NSWRL. Since the NRL made this documentary I would expect a more balanced history, starting with where it's started and spend some time in England then Australia starting with a quick history of QLD and NSWRL but hey the NRL is basically a glorified NSWRL

[@adsnbits5403]

@@jasonaus3551 it really is about the evolution of the rights of rugby league players at the highest level of the game in Australia and the best players in Australia played in the NSWRL competition. You obviously want a history of rugby league.

[@mivuyonkabi5780]

So rugby league was born in northern England and raised in Australia

[@johnpeel8005]

"The Nation's most popular football game!" Really. Even then there was a sport called Australian Rules that commanded huge crowds!

[@mdwquiz]

Most popular code in the 60s. He didn't then go on to say this mantle was taken by another code soon after.

[@mariorighetti7334]

Australian rules football isn't even the shadow of the game it used to be to the point that it has become unwatchable and frustrating to follow

[@BrisbaneBroncosfan67]

Bit late, but can you check the tv ratings compared to the nrl. If you add together tv viewers and tickets sold, the nrl still wins by a huge margin.

[@carladsett7240]

Simple answer, bring back the biff

[@carpetsnake83]

Dennis tutty is a hero I never new his story A true blue fair dinkum dinky di Aussie battla

[@thehound510]

Rugby league was invented in Huddersfield, England. Not in Australia.

[@AlTexican]

State of Origin documentary please!!??

[@aaronraines3375]

Yes This would be good also I'm mostly watching super15 union But nrl is also almost the best Docos

[@markaddison5333]

Glad he got a team together not died jeez

[@Pantherking916]

When teams were teams in and of themselves, none of this bollox St George Illawarra and Wests Tigers garbage and wore real jerseys not fancy daygo t-shirts and committment to the club meant something

[@joememphis1571]

South Sydney 1925-32 winning six premierships in eight years. 1950-55 winning five premierships in six years and four premierships in five years between 1967-1971. St. George winning eleven consecutive premierships 1956-66. Manly winning four times in the 1970s (1972, 1973, 1976, 1978) Parramatta and Canterbury winning four times apiece in the 1980s. Canberra winning three times in six years between 1989-1994. Brisbane winning six premierships in 15 years (1992,1993,1997,1998,2000 and 2006) Sydney Roosters playing in eight Grand Finals from 2000-2019 winning four premierships (2002, 2013, 2018, 2019).

[@notmaireelneim]

Where's that Manchester United soccer supporter in these comments?

[@mehmeh5471]

Does anyone watch league anymore, i gave up on it after 95.

[@XDB888]

excellent

[@davewray9909]

Over half of this film concentrates on the recent corporatisation of the game over the last 25 years. Hardly a comprehensive documentary of the evolution of Australian rugby league. Vey sad. Long live Dennis Tutty!

[@Rosszac]

Barney Dalton # 43 Easts

[@LeedsZeppelin]

First line - "Rugby League was born in Australia in 1908...." Well, no point in watching further. They clearly don't know what they are talking about. 🤷‍♂️

[@namwens1]

Why is the NRL publishing this story regarding the RLPA, when it was the NRL who was the body not advancing the interests of the players?

[@manad6477]

Is cameron smith the current president of the rlpa?

[@chopperdown9114]

no because he is the boss of the refs

[@jonglewongle3438]

They knew the difference between a win and a loss even back in the very early 1970s and pre-1970s. A match loss was no good to you, financially. And - your side is 10th and out of the running and you're playing a top 3 side, and a win is gonna be a good pay day for you. Several hundred dollars difference between win and loss per player per given match regardless of the team's future in that year's competition. Do you even realise how scratchy were the fiscal numbers back then ? A $ 15.00 quarterly electricity bill was a blow out fiasco. $ 400.00 might have been sufficient deposit on a prime block of land or even a weatherboard. Any retailer selling Cadbury Whips for anything more than .7c was a rip-off merchant.

[@aaronraines3375]

No way Nzru

[@gregorybathurst7171]

Dreaded Lidcombe oval imagine as a player rockn on down there to play the magpies , hit the sheds and all you can hear Coming out from wests is them bashing each other to warm up .j

[@tigermantigers2970]

Rugby league has never been bigger then aussie rules

[@geoffaldwinckle1096]

Nations number 1 football code in the 60s ? ... No. On what basis, and what evidence.

[@waynedrummond6583]

Rugby league was actually started in the town of Huddersfield, Yorkshire, England. NOT NSW Australia. Gert your facts right....

[@Alex-jx2zp]

❤RL❤

[@steventotsrusselldj.]

Rugby league was born in northern England in 1895 unless I’m badly mistaken.

[@MyUrbanExplorationOnline]

As a born and bred South Aussie, I am under the impression also. Having said that, I have a feeling that the 1908 date is in the context of Australian Rugby League, not League world wide. I can be wrong though.

[@tonyfranklin8306]

This is specifically about Australian RL and does state that the date is for Australia following in the footsteps of the English Northern Union, there's no confusion as to what's being said.

[@bivitonny6166]

BEST GAME

[@jholmzjholmz6592]

This is a great professional game played by an enormous number of lawyers, doctors, teachers, scientists, accountants, engineers, journalists, mathematicians and nurses living in the whole wide world of NSW, Queensland, Manukau and Northern England. it will soon be played at the Commonwealth and the Olympic Games.

[@onlythebestnrl8804]

Nice

[@aaronraines3375]

Super 15s That's why we love rugby

[@aaronraines3375]

@Warren552011 Sorry mate Also sad to hear about Don Furner I actually was a 🦈 fan living at Cronulla

[@aaronraines3375]

@Warren552011 yes great for the sport of NRL Let's hope another old 🐕 wins a premiership

[@aaronraines3375]

@Warren552011 I arrived 78 Cronulla Kurt & Dane Sorenson Old Stevie boy Rodgers But it was Newtown jets fckn hitman Tommy R That was a nightmare

[@aaronraines3375]

@Warren552011 yes bru

[@aaronraines3375]

Enemy at sport Great friends on land

[@markaddison8826]

Baskerville took his all gold team made up of union players to Sydney on way to England where they picked up dally and co .baskerville is the father of league down here

[@glenncooper1060]

More like the devolution of rugby league, when you look at the tripe served up these days.

[@tellemtheyredreaming3324]

Game has lost its soul and has been fkn ruined by money and greedy corporate cnuts! 🤬

[@peterjongsma3221]

Rugby League split from Union so the players could get paid. How'd that work out for ya?

[@maxdecimus13]

Well they get paid, and the body they split from was forced to pay its players too.