South Queensland Crushers
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| Full name | South Queensland Crushers |
| Colours | Aztec Gold, Navy Blue & Red |
| Entered 1st grade | 1995 |
| Departed 1st grade | 1997 |
| Sport | Rugby league |
| League | NSWRL/ARL |
| 1997 | 12th of 12 |
| Premierships | Nil |
| Runners-up | Nil |
| Minor premiers | Nil |
| Wooden spoons | 2 - 1996, 1997 |
| Biggest win | 39 - 18 vs. Wests, August 31, 1997 (the club's final game) |
| Worst defeat | 4 - 58 vs. Wests, August 27, 1995 |
The South Queensland Crushers were a rugby league team who played in the NSWRL/ARL competition from 1995–1997.
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[edit] History
Although it was the decision of the Queensland Rugby League to admit the Brisbane Broncos to the NSWRL in 1988, the two organisations did not get along well. The QRL were sponsored by Castlemaine Perkins XXXX, while the Broncos' major sponsor was the short-lived Power's Brewing. There were many clashes between the QRL and the Broncos over the first five years of the Bronco's existence, resulting in Brisbane leaving Lang Park for the newer ANZ Stadium, which was the site of the 1982 Commonwealth Games.
When the Australian Rugby League began taking bids for expansion teams to begin playing in 1995, it was expected that only 2 teams would enter. The Auckland Warriors were the first club to be accepted, with the final place being fought for by South Queensland, North Queensland and Perth. The ARL later announced that all three clubs had been accepted, taking the number of teams in 1995 to 20.
[edit] The Coming of the Crushers
South Queensland were unique in that their emblem was different from their nickname. Both the Steam Train emblem and the Crushers nickname had strong reference to sugar cane production, which is a major industry of Queensland. Unlike the Maroon, Gold and Blue of the Broncos, which tied to the colours of Queensland, the Aztec Gold, Navy Blue and Red were chosen by Market researchers.
The Crushers' CEO was Darryl Van der Velde, who was involved in one of the unsuccessful bids to form Brisbane's first NSWRL team, and the coach was Bob Lindner, the former Australian Test Lock. The Crushers had strong ties with the Queensland Rugby League, and had supporters that didn't like the way the Broncos were run. Lang Park became the Crushers' homeground, and XXXX Gold, which is brewed a couple of hundred metres down the road from Lang Park, became the official sponsor, with Qantas as the sleeve sponsor.
Their first season was average, although they had a healthy average crowd of 21,000.
[edit] Super League and the Crushers
The threats from the ARL about expulsion of the Broncos from the Winfield Cup had been present from the beginning, and now that a second team was in Brisbane led the Broncos to discuss with News Limited the possibility of setting up a competition to rival the Sydney-based NSWRL. The irony in this is that the threat of the Crushers to the Broncos precipitated Super League, but the Crushers were offered a Super League license, however the Crushers chose to remain loyal to the ARL; a move that ultimately cost them the club.
In 1996 South Queensland finished dead last, and crowd support dwindled. XXXX Gold ended their sponsorship with the Crushers, their place being taken by AV Jennings. In 1997, crowds fell to just 7,000, and two "free" days, where officials opened the gates to Suncorp Stadium, could not stop the drain of support for the club. Their four wins in the Optus Cup gave the Crushers their second successive wooden spoon, and coupled with the debt of the football club, along with the Crushers Leagues Club in Grange, led the club to either merge or die. In late 1997 it appeared that the club's only possible merger partner was the Gold Coast Chargers, however the Gold Coast's best season since coming into the competition led them to believe that it didn't need the Crushers and could survive into the NRL on its own. The Crushers were closed at the end of 1997 with debts totalling $3 million, and although the Chargers were financially successful, were closed down at the end of 1998 to reduce the number of teams.
[edit] Coaches
[edit] Sponsors
[edit] Major Sponsors
- XXXX Gold (1995–96)
- AV Jennings (1997)
[edit] Sleeve Sponsor
[edit] Crushers players to be successful with other clubs
- Clinton Schifcofske (Parramatta & Canberra Raiders (NRL), Queensland Reds (Super 14))
- Mark Tookey (Parramatta & New Zealand Warriors (NRL), Harlequins RL (English Super League)), Redcliffe Dolphins (QRL)
- Scott Sattler (Penrith Panthers, Wests Tigers. Currently involved with Gold Coast Titans)
- Travis Norton (Bulldogs, Nth Qld Cowboys, Retired)
- Chris McKenna (Cronulla Sharks)
- Steele Retchless (London Broncos (English Super League))
[edit] References
- The History of Rugby League Clubs. By Ian Collis and Alan Whiticker.
- RL1908's South Queensland page
