Legendary rugby league identity Ken Arthurson has delved into his illustrious career and role in the infamous Super League war.
The 93-year-old played 41 games for Manly between 1950-1952, and coached the Sea Eagles for 98 more, but his administrative work within the game is where he left a lasting mark.
Watch Face-to Face with Ken Arthurson on Monday at 7:30pm AEST on Fox League.
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As Manly’s club secretary from 1963-1983, he helped turn the Sea Eagles into a powerhouse club that won four NSWRL premierships in 16 seasons.
Arthurson’s next challenge was the Australian Rugby League, where he took over as the executive chairman.
During his 14 years in that position, he led the ARL’s resistance against the breakaway Super League, which Arthurson said “absolutely took a toll” on him.
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“My phone would be ringing at all hours of the day and all night, so I hardly slept during that Super League war,” Arthurson told Yvonne Sampson on Face-to-Face.
“I remember the worst day of it all. When it first went in front of the court, the judge originally ruled in favour of the ARL and against the Super League.
“That decision would be appealed and it then went before three new judges from South Australia, who knew absolutely nothing about rugby league and nothing about sport if I’m telling the truth.
“Those three judges overturned the original decision and ruled the other was and that was the way it was unfortunately.
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“Thankfully it’s all been ironed out and rugby league is back in control which is the important thing.”
Arthurson resigned as the chairman of the ARL at the start of 1997, the only season the Super League would be played, but not before a poaching attempt from the rival.
“I was offered quite a lot of money (to join Super League) but no, I didn’t think about taking it … It would have killed me to do that,” Arthurson said.
“It was very tempting of course, but you’d be a pretty low person to (take the offer).”
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Arthurson says he “doesn’t get out to the football much these days” but says “naturally, he loves seeing Manly win”, pointing to the Trbojevic brothers as some of his favourite players.
“I think the three Trbojevic brothers (Tom, Jake and Ben) are great players but not only are they great players, but they are good people and their parents are good people as well
“They are a great credit to themselves as well as the Manly Sea Eagles.”
