John Quayle: The man who revolutionised Rugby League | Straight Talk Podcast

As someone who has been a rugby league fan since the '60s, it's fair to say that the NRL could be in its best state yet.

Much of the strength we see in the game today is owed to the work of my latest Straight Talk guest, John Quayle.

John served as the General Manager and CEO of the NSWRL and ARL from 1983-1966. Under his leadership, the game underwent significant changes, including the iconic Tina Turner campaign, the Super League War, and the sport's expansion throughout Australia.

In this week's Straight Talk pod, John and I reminisced about the early days of rugby league, his role in professionalising the NRL, how he persuaded Tina Turner to sing in an NRL advertisement, his involvement in the Super League War, negotiation tales with Kerry Packer, and much more.

Timestamps:
00:00 Promo
01:00 Sydney Roosters Life Membership and Footy Career
08:19 Rugby League Administration and NRL in the 1960s
14:14 Reforming Australian Rugby League & Financial Challenges
22:03 Origins of the Super League War and TV Rights
40:44 The story behind the Iconic Tina Turner Campaign
50:20 John's Visionary Approach & Risk-Taking
58:55 The Impact of John's Father, Jack Gibson & Nick Politis on His Career
1:06:31 John's Views on NRL's Expansion into the U.S.