1997 ARL season

Uncommon card · No. 129709

The 1997 Australian Rugby League season was the 90th season of professional rugby league football in Australia, and the third season run by the Australian Rugby League. While several clubs had left the League to compete in the 1997 Super League season, twelve ARL-loyal teams – eight from across Sydney, two from greater New South Wales and two from Queensland (Gold Coast and South Queensland) – competed for the Optus Cup Trophy. The top seven teams then played a series of knock-out finals which culminated in a September grand final played in Sydney between the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles and the Newcastle Knights. Newcastle won its first ever premiership, staging a comeback from 8–16 behind to defeat Manly 22–16.

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