The Professionals - Full Documentary

The Rugby League Players’ Association (RLPA) has released its new documentary titled The Professionals.
Bringing a close to the 40th anniversary celebrations of the RLPA, the 60-minute production explores how the professional environment for elite rugby league players has changed rapidly over the past four decades.
While the RLPA was formed in 1979 by a group of leading players including Arthur Beetson, The Professionals takes a broader look at the key moments that have impacted the collective and what the game was like both before and after the introduction of the Association.
The Professionals provides viewers with an in-depth look some of the key topics from each era including the Dennis Tutty case, the Draft challenge, Super League, collective bargaining negotiations and players eventually becoming partners in the game.
The documentary also gives a firsthand account of what life was like for players at the elite level during this period - reflecting on some of the challenges associated with the transition from part-time to full-time training.
Among the variety of past and present rugby league figures to share their stories are Dennis Tutty, Ron Coote, Wayne Pearce, Peter Sterling, Roy Masters, Tony Butterfield, Robbie Farah and Tom Trbojevic.
RLPA Chief Executive, Ian Prendergast, said the documentary encapsulates how the game has evolved over the past four decades through the eyes of the players.
“At the start of the year we set out to ensure we properly captured and celebrated our history to mark the 40th anniversary of the Association,” Mr Prendergast said.
“The Professionals documentary takes a broader look outside of just the Association to investigate the evolution of the professional game over the past four decades through the eyes of players.
“We are extremely proud of the finished product and we hope that it will provide a unique perspective for viewers.
“While the game itself has changed quite dramatically since the 1970s, so has the expectations and the environment for players competing at the elite level.
“On behalf of the RLPA, I would like to thank everyone who had a role in bringing this concept to life and NRL.com for their support.”
The documentary has been produced by Form Productions, who in conjunction with the RLPA, conducted close to 20 interviews for the project over the past six months.

[@lanceMollenhauer-mf1xz]

All professional sport people (across the globe) owe it to Dennis Tutty.

[@bartcolen]

Love knowing the history of the game!
Hope that at least some of the young guys playing today are aware of the legacy of champions like Denis Tutty.

[@gregwhalan9606]

Without Dennis Tutty the professionalisms we see today probably would not have happened.
In my opinion as a former official of the game there should be an annual Dennis Tutty award. The players can select the criteria of how it is awarded on an annual basis .
Dennis Tuttys courage in the face of adversity should be ever immortalised.

[@mickfelczynski8696]

Thanks great doco about the sport. We need more like this about the history of the game.

[@Nile15rush_fj]

Thank you for uploading this. I am a big fan of old school footy love the skill and the toughness of the era. Thank you Denis Tutty, Tony Butterfield and all the players and staff who had to sacrifice so much just to be a part of this great game. From a millenial sharkies fan

[@brettwilkinson9529]

Well done Denis Tutty. We had a similar man in NZ Rugby Union by the name of Andy Haden , back in the 1980's who was outspoken and changed the thought process of the amateur game. Use to be in continuous trouble with the Rugby Board for his challenging views. Achieved a lot in changing the mind set of those old pricks at the top. Even got the players wive's and partners to join in at the after match functions . The NZ Rugby Union was simply prehistoric and low IQ during those times.

[@lanceMollenhauer-mf1xz]

​@JG-bw6luRugby league, a lion's game, not played by sheep.

[@garyquelch888]

And I hope one day all professional footballers put a testimony on for him to thank Tutty for what he done

[@lukewilliams-olliver1348]

great doco thanks!

[@norinickrrostron9001]

Jeez at 40.27 when Paul Green talks about the dark side of social media...😞

[@51beak39]

Andrew Johns sent me here.

[@Leaguefan01]

Great doco but the constant music was annoying.

[@geoffaldwinckle1096]

Nations number one football code? That is utterly untrue, either in playing numbers or in attendance. That statement is bunk.

[@Leaguefan01]

In the early to mid 90s the winfield cup blew up, so at the time it probably was.

[@geoffaldwinckle1096]

@@Leaguefan01 not in terms of playing numbers or attendance. It only ranked ahead of the then VFL in terms of television audiences

[@simongolby195]

Too right… Aussie Rules has more players in more states and bigger crowds every round

[@lakeside8069]

Bradly Clydes photo Craig Polla Mounters name

[@garyquelch888]

Since super league I haven’t been interested in this game I follow GWS in Aussie rules