There were serious actual reasons behind the scenes. The ARL had told the clubs that they were going to reduce numbers in Sydney based on criteria. The clubs were then busily trying to entice international sponsors as well as establish themselves as THE Sydney club. It seems ridiculous now, but in 93, based on the Criteria that ARL were looking at using, the Roosters were in serious trouble.
You do realise that you could define any criteria and it could exclude club X
Or rewrite and it would exclude club Y
News Ltd at the time made sure one criteria item was about having money in the bank. This was just after thise clubs got up to $9 mil to join SL
While criteria like junior development was ignored, so clubs like Easts would not get culled. But by doing that we could have seen Penrith culled if Souths Juniors sponsorship was accepted or Wests-Balmain merger did not go ahead
While criteria like crowds in the middle of a period where Sydney RL public were not attending in droves due to Super greed was included
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