Western Reds
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| Club Information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Western Reds Rugby League Club a.k.a. Perth Reds |
| Founded | 1992 (first season - 1995) |
| Departed | 1997 (1st Grade) |
| Former Details | |
| Ground(s) | WACA () |
| Competition | Australian Rugby League Super League Jim Beam Cup |
| Records | |
| Premierships | 0 |
| Runners-up | 0 |
| Minor premiership | 0 |
| Wooden spoons | 0 |
| Most Capped |  203 - Matthew Fuller |
| Most Points | 882 - Chris Ryan |
The Western Reds are a Perth-based rugby league team, who played in the 1995 and 1996 Australian Rugby League competitions and, as the Perth Reds, in 1997's Super League competition. The team was disbanded ahead of 1998's National Rugby League (NRL) season as part of resolving the Super League War.
It was confirmed in December 2006 that that Perth-based side will compete in the 2008 Jim Beam Cup. In February 2007 the Western Australia Rugby League announced that the team will be known as the WA Reds and will play from Members Equity Stadium. It is planned that the team will enter the NRL in 2011 - 2012.
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[edit] Before the Reds
Although touring Great Britain and French Rugby League teams had played tour matches in Perth, it was not until the late 1980s that the New South Wales Rugby League played games there. In August 1989, the NSWRL played the first game outside New South Wales or Queensland, with a crowd of 21,992 watching Canberra play Canterbury at the WACA.
Subsequent fixtures between 1990 and 1993 were equally well supported, and the League realised that a Perth team could be successful. Perth's application for the Winfield Cup was accepted on 30 November, 1992, along with the South Queensland Crushers, the North Queensland Cowboys and the Auckland Warriors. The early tip for the nickname of the Perth side was Pumas, but the Red Kangaroo, Western Australia's best-known native animal, was chosen and the team became known as the Western Reds, with the colours of Red, Black, Yellow and White.
[edit] The Debut Season
The Reds had recruited well in 1993-94, and signed Peter Mulholland as their first coach. St George fullback Michael Potter, twice winner of the Dally M, and 1992 Rookie of year Matthew Rodwell were two of the major signings.
Their first game, played at the WACA, was watched by a record 24,392, with the Reds defeating St George 28-16. When News Limited began its "blitzkrieg" in April 1995, the Reds aligned themselves with Super League along with nine other Australian Rugby League franchises. That season the Reds were the best performing of the three expansion teams introduced, winning 11 of their 22 games, including 8 at home, which drew an average crowd of around 13,000, larger than that of many Sydney teams.
The Reds even recruited local hero and decorated WAFL and West Coast Eagles (AFL) player Adrian Barich. Barich, having grown up in Canberra reverted from Australian rules football to rugby league, finishing his career with seasons with the Reds, however he never played in first grade. [2].
After declaring that the club may not have the financial resources to compete in the 1996 ARL Optus Cup, a major sponsorship with the Rupert Murdoch-owned Sunday Times gave the club some much needed money. By mid 1996 club support had dwindled to just over 6,000.
[edit] Super League
The Western Reds changed their name to the Perth Reds for the 1997 Super League season, and adopted a jersey of Red, White and Black. Although the club had made some promising signings, such as Rodney Howe and Robbie Kearns, the crushing $10 million debt that hung over the club at the end of the season led to Super League axing the Perth Reds on October 1, 1997.
[edit] The Future
Rugby league has continued to be played in Western Australia since the Reds left the top-flight competition with the Swan Brewery Cup continuing and NRL matches being staged at various times since 1998. On May 8, 1999, Melbourne Storm played Western Suburbs Magpies at Lathlain Oval in Perth, with Melbourne running out winners 62-6. In 2005, Cronulla Sharks took their home game against the New Zealand Warriors to the Members Equity Stadium in Perth, and played in front of around 13,000 spectators. Three NRL games are scheduled to be played in Perth in 2007 and 2008.
[edit] Reformation of the Reds
It has been confirmed that the Reds will be based at Members Equity Stadium and compete in the 2008 Jim Beam Cup. The club has been provided with the opportunity to progress through the competitions below the NRL with a planned promotion to the Queensland Cup in 2010 and final promotion to the NRL currently planned for 2011 - 2012.[1]
[edit] Notable players
Rodney Howe
Mark Geyer
Matt Geyer
Robbie Kearns
Julian O'Neill
Brad Mackay
Simon Robbie
Scott Wilson
[edit] Club Records
[edit] Coaches
- Peter Mulholland (1995-96)
- Dean Lance (1997)
[edit] Most First Grade Matches
- 59 - Matthew Fuller (1995-97)
[edit] Most First Grade Points
- 210 - Chris Ryan (21 tries, 63 goals)
[edit] Most First Grade Tries
- 21 - Chris Ryan
[edit] Most Points in a Season
- 136 - Chris Ryan (9 tries, 50 goals)
[edit] Most Tries in a Season
- 10 - Matthew Fuller (1995)
[edit] Most Points in a Match
- 26 - Julian O'Neill (4 tries, 5 goals. v Canterbury, 1997)
[edit] Most Tries in a Match
- 4 - Julian O'Neill (v Canterbury, 1997)
[edit] Most Goals in a Match
- 6 - Julian O'Neill (v Auckland, 1996)
- 6 - Damien Chapman (v Penrith, 1997)
[edit] Internationals
[edit] Australia (Super League)
- Rodney Howe (1997)
- Julian O'Neill (1997)
[edit] See also
[edit] Sources/References
- Archived Official Perth Reds Website
- RL1908's Western Reds Page
- The History of Rugby League Clubs. By Ian Collis and Alan Whiticker.
- Super League: The Inside Story. By Mike Colman.
- The Official NRL 2003 Season Guide
- Western Australian Rugby League
- Official WA Reds homepage
[edit] Footnotes
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