Western Reds

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Western Reds
Full name Western Reds
Colours Red, White, Yellow and Black
Entered 1st grade 1995
Departed 1st grade 1997
Sport Rugby league
League NSWRL/ARL, Super League
1997 8th of 10
Premierships Nil
Runners-up Nil
Minor premiers Nil
Wooden spoons Nil
Biggest win 34 - 6 vs. Canterbury, March 23, 1997
Worst defeat 0 - 42 vs. Canterbury, April 9, 1995

The Western Reds were a Perth-based rugby league team, who played in the 1995 and 1996 Australian Rugby League competition, and, as the Perth Reds, in the 1997 Super League.

Contents

[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 NSWRL 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 joined Super League along with nine other Australian Rugby League franchises. The Reds won 11 of their 22 games in 1995, including 8 at home, with an average crowd of 13,000, which was bigger than that of many Sydney teams.

The Reds even recruited local hero and decorated WAFL and West Coast Eagles (AFL) premiership 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. [1].

After declaring that the club may not have the financial resources to compete in the 1996 ARL Optus Cup, a major sponsorship with the Ruper 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 led to it being axed at the end of 1997 and not playing in the NRL.

[edit] The future

On May 8, 1999, Melbourne played Western Suburbs at Lathlain Oval in Perth, with Melbourne running out winners 62-6. In 2005, Cronulla took their home game against the New Zealand Warriors to the Members Equity Stadium in Perth, and played in front of around 13,000. The plan still remains with regard to the re-establishment of an NRL team in Perth by around 2010.[citation needed] Three NRL games are scheduled to be played in Perth in 2007 and in 2008, there will be at least one Rugby League World Cup match staged in the city.[citation needed] It has been confirmed that a Perth side will compete in the 2008 NSWRL Jim Beam Cup, with a view to competing in the NRL in 2011-2012. It is unlikely that the Red's mascot will be revived, however.

[edit] Notable players

Australia

[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] Biggest Win

  • 34-6 (v Canterbury, 1997)

[edit] Biggest Loss

  • 42-0 (v Sydney Bulldogs, 1995)

[edit] Internationals

  • Rodney Howe
  • Julian O'Neill

(both represented Australia in Super League in 1997)

[edit] Sources/References

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