The two Rugby League powerbrokers who helped steer the game to success – Ken Arthurson, AM, and John Quayle – have been recognised with their induction into the NRL Hall of Fame.
Arthurson was NSWRL Chairman from 1987-97 and ARL (Australian Rugby League) Chairman from 1983-87.
Quayle was appointed general manager of the NSWRL in 1983 and became the ARL’s Chief Executive until 1997.
The NSWRL managed the game at all levels from its inception in 1907 until the Super League separation in 1997, which led to the formation of the NRL (National Rugby League) in 1998.
The NSWRL still runs all the men’s and women’s pathways competitions leading up to the elite professional competitions of the NRL and NRLW.
NSWRL Chief Executive David Trodden welcomed the NRL’s decision to add Arthurson and Quayle to the distinguished list of Hall of Fame inductees.
“It is a wonderful and very fitting acknowledgement of two administrative giants of the game,” Trodden said.
“When we opened our Centre of Excellence five years ago, we named some of the rooms after very special people in the history of NSW Rugby League.
“There’s one room (lecture theatre) named after John Quayle and one (boardroom) named after Ken Arthurson. That’s because of the enormous influence they had on the game.
“They were the leaders of the game in what many would call the golden era of Rugby League, when it established itself as the code which had broad spectrum support and appeal because of the way it was managed.”
Arthurson, a former Manly Warringah Sea Eagles player, coach and administrator, was honoured in 1988 as a member of the Order of Australia (AM) in recognition of services to Rugby League.
Quayle is a True Blue playing two games for NSW in 1973 along with two Tests for Australia in 1975. He played for Eastern Suburbs and Parramatta.
He oversaw sweeping changes in the 1980s including the expansion of the NSWRL competition from 13 to 16 teams in 1988 with the admission of the Brisbane Broncos, Newcastle Knights and Gold Coast Giants and then the introduction of a salary cap in 1990.
The first two coaches to be admitted into the NRL Hall of Fame will be six-time premiership winner Wayne Bennett (Brisbane Broncos, St George Illawarra) and five-time title winner Jack Gibson (Eastern Suburbs, Parramatta).
Gibson also coached the NSW Blues in 1989-90, claiming a series victory in 1990.
The NSWRL congratulates all the 2024 inductees.
