by LEAGUE SUPER NIGHTLEAD
By Brad Walter of AAP
SYDNEY, March 18 AAP - Hopes for an end to the 12-month Super
League war flickered faintly tonight with the Australian Rugby
League and rebel players' and coaches' representatives agreeing to
hold a third meeting tomorrow afternoon.
However, the future of News Limited created clubs Adelaide and
Hunter remained a major stumbling block, with a meeting of the
ARL's 12-loyal clubs tomorrow morning almost certain to reject a
proposal for the Rams and Mariners to be included in an expanded
22-team competition.
But both parties were showing slight signs of optimism tonight
after a two hour evening meeting -- their second in another
dramatic day of the year-long saga.
The latest turn of events followed the shock announcement by
Super League players and coaches this morning of a 15-point
compromise plan, with the issue of Adelaide and Hunter the one most
likely to be unnaceptable to the ARL.
A Super League source today said the inclusion of the Rams and
Mariners in the 1996 premiership and a proposal for Super
League-contracted under-17 and under-19 teams to play in the
equivalent ARL age competetions were the only two points not
negotiable.
But ARL sources suggested nine of the 15 points were
unacceptable in their present form, including the one relating to
the two new Super League franchises.
Others believed to be unsatisfactory from the ARL's point of
view were:
* Super League referees to be invited to officiate;
* Test series between Australia and New Zealand to be played
with only non-Super League players eligible;
* Super League players unavailable for ARL State of Origin
series;
* New three-way NSW-Queensland-NZ competition to be played with
only Super League-contracted players available;
* Super League players and coaches to be free to play in any
Test or international club matches not involving the ARL, pending
outcome of court proceedings;
* Players in dispute with clubs as a result of Super League
issue to be permitted to play for club of their choice in 1996;
* Super League teams to wear Nike jerseys with own numbering
system;
* Foxtel to be allowed to broadcast some games.
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18-03 2153
Juiceman
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