An historic link between Australia’s first Test captain in 1908 and its current captain in 2008 was created today at the launch of the book commissioned by the Australian Rugby League and National Rugby League to record the game’s first century in Australia.

A Centenary of Rugby League, by celebrated authors and historians Ian Heads and David Middleton, was officially launched at the Sydney Football Stadium by Kangaroos captain Cameron Smith, who will lead Australia in the Bundaberg Rum Centenary Test against New Zealand at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday night.

Smith, the grand final-winning Melbourne Storm skipper, is just the seventh hooker to captain Australia in a Test match – an honour he first achieved in October last year.

Australia’s inaugural captain in the first ever Test against New Zealand – played 100 years ago to the day of this Friday’s clash – was Arthur Hennessy, whom, like Smith, played hooker.

Hennessy’s great nephew Arthur Hennessy and great grandson Kieren Hennessy attended today’s launch and brought with them Arthur Hennessy’s 1908 Test cap and the blazer presented to all surviving pioneering internationals at the game’s 50th anniversary. The blazer has been reproduced as part of the current Australian side’s Centenary uniform.

“It was incredible to see the Test cap of our first ever captain – and he was a hooker as well, so that made it even more special,” Smith said.

“The Centenary Test is a once-in-a-lifetime chance for us and this book certainly reinforces what a great history Rugby League has, from those pioneering players in 1908 to the professional game we have today.

“The stories and the photos are extraordinary and it is an honour to launch such a quality keepsake of the game’s first 100 years.”

The book launch is part of a landmark week in the game’s history that will culminate with the Australian Team of The Century forming an honour guard on the field on Friday night for the Kangaroos as they take to the field for the Bundaberg Rum Centenary Test against New Zealand at the SCG.

A Centenary of Rugby League tells the complete season-by-season story of Rugby League’s first 100 years in Australia. 

It is rich in detail, anecdote, history, scandal and triumph and illustrated by hundreds of extraordinary photographs.

The colourful and often controversial history of matches between Queensland and New South Wales are featured, from the inaugural game in 1908 to the State of Origin battles of today.

And Australia’s pivotal place in international Rugby League – most notably in epic Test matches against Great Britain, on Kangaroo tours of England and France and in World Cups, World Series and Tri-Series tournaments – is celebrated.

Australian Rugby League’s 100 greatest players of all time, announced in February, are profiled, and special sections highlight all the famous matches, controversies and incidents that have made the game’s history so memorable over the last century.

“Rugby League’s official Centenary book is the product of a lifetime’s involvement in the game for authors David Middleton and Ian Heads and is an outstanding publication that I recommend to any Rugby League fan,” said Chairman of the Centenary of Rugby League Committee, Mr Colin Love AM.

“It is a wonderfully colourful story of the evolution of a great sport, portrayed throughout more than 600 pages which include almost 1000 pictorial images, some never before seen publicly.

“The book shines new light on great matches, great footballers and on the game’s passing parade of controversies, old and new.”

A Centenary of Rugby League, 1908-2008 – The Definitive Story of the Game in Australia, by Ian Heads and David Middleton. Published by Pan Macmillan Australia Pty Ltd. RRP $75

About the authors:

IAN HEADS was chief Rugby League writer for the Daily and Sunday Telegraph from 1969-81 and managing editor of Rugby League Week from 1981-87. His books include major histories of several clubs, a range of biographies plus four treasured book projects capturing the wit and wisdom of Australian Team of the Century coach Jack Gibson.

DAVID MIDDLETON has chronicled the game’s history in his official Rugby League annuals for the past 21 years. He is recognised as Australia’s leading Rugby League historian and statistician, after working as a journalist for Rugby League Week for many years. In 2007 David co-wrote From Where The Sun Rises, the first official history of the Sydney Roosters. David has been the Nine Network’s official Rugby League statistician since 1997.