The Rugby League Show

The set of The Rugby League Show, with Rex ‘Moose’ Mossop as the host, Mick Maher to his right and Bruce ‘Lapa’ Stewart on his left. Along with the famous ‘Controversy Corner’ segment, a feature of The Rugby League Show was the passing competition sponsored by the Commonwealth Bank. The bank’s elephant logo formed the bullseye of the target; if you managed to pass the ball successfully through the bullseye you scored 10 points and triggered the sound of an elephant trumpeting. The highest point scorer was awarded a range of gifts including a Pelaco shirt, a Meapro ham and Patra fresh orange juice.

Mossop was an Australian rugby union and rugby league player, representing Australia in both codes. He was an uncompromising forward for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles throughout the 1950s and an Australian television personality from 1964 until 1991.

Stewart was a respected Indigenous elder and mentor in the La Perouse community, Sydney, and a driving force for the La Perouse Panthers club. A flying winger, Stewart played for Eastern Suburbs Roosters in 1967 scoring 10 tries from 24 games.

Maher played in the centres and on the wing and proved to be a very capable fullback, a position he held for several seasons. He played 125 first grade games for the North Sydney Bears.

This photo is a straightforward documentation of the three individuals on set, possibly for publicity purposes, although none of them are posing for the camera. It was probably taken during the actual live broadcast of the show. This was an era in which players were less media savvy than today and you can see that in the awkwardness of their postures. The studio-made target behind them adds to the unsophisticated scene.