Rich league series

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33775, 22 February 1975, Page 4

Rich league series

The Amco Cup televised Rugby league tournament, held for the first time only last season, has already expanded into one of the richest sporting events in Australia or New Zealand.

A total of $123,600 will be at stake, and will be distributed between club prize-money ($79,600). players and coaches awards ($31,500) and viewers contests ($12,500). Last year the total for all sections was $50,000. The number of teams to take part in the knock-out has also been increased, to 28. The four semi-finalists in the Brisbane premiership, Ipswich and Toowoomba from Queensland country i and Newcastle are the addi- j tions; it is likely that al qualifying round will precede the 1976 series because of applications for' entry from Wellington, (New Zealand) and New! Guinea. Auckland will again be New Zealand’s only representative in the coming season. With the defending champion. Western Division (New South Wales), and the Sydney (Eastern Suburbs) and Brisbane (Valleys) i championship winners.! Auckland has a bye in the! opening round. First round losers will each receive $650, secondround losers $1250, quarterfinal losers $3OOO, semi-final losers $5OOO and the

beaten finalist $lO,OOO. The cup carries with it a cheque for $20,000. Prizes available to individuals, both on and off the field, are also most attractive. In every match the player chosen as the best and fairest will be presented with a colour television set; the scorer of the “try of the series” and the viewer who lists the top tries in the correct order each receive a $7500 Alfa Romeo car; and the spectator at the ground who chooses the tries correctly' will be given a $5OOO holiday for two in the Greek Islands.

Channel 10, which telecasts the fixtures, has' brought a new $500,000 out-i side broadcast van to ensure that the coverage matches' the incentives at stake.