People often go on about league during that period but crowds were nowhere near as good as today. Although I do remember footy cards and the hype of the 90's
Pre pay tv average crowds outside match of the day in Sydney were 5k. Early 80s nswrl was a stodgy comp with average crowds and minimal tv exposure.
89 grand final when Canberra upset Balmain is when it started imo. Al of Sydney wanted Balmain to win yet it was the first time the nswrl champs were out of Sydney
then next year panthers lost to Canberra, then almost lost the following year again,
then the broncos won their first comp.
simply the best and expansion
league was bulletproof
the positivity today from the dolphins is nothing compared to 95
and remember before that we had knights broncos and Steelers coming in at regular intervals