When I looked up the television schedule for tonight’s “ANZAC Test” I
asked myself this simple question – just how far has the televising of
rugby league advanced in 40 plus years? The first televised league test I watched was the Second Test between
Australia and Great Britain at Lang Park on Saturday (afternoon) 30
June 1962. As I recall it, the match was shown LIVE, yes live, on ABC
television. It was in black and white, as was everything else, but at
least it was ad free, and LIVE. And it was one of the best games
of football I have ever seen, so much so that, 43 years on, I can still
recall many details of the game.

Now let’s move on 43 years. After a seven-year break, Lang Park will
tonight again stage a Test Match – this time between the Kangaroos and
the Kiwis. The stadium bares no resemblance to the Lang Park of
1962, but therer will another, even greater difference. After 43
years, we have gone from a LIVE telecast to a DELAYED telecast – one
that will, yes, be in colour, and, yes, chocked full of ads!

Read Jeff Wall’s full story here.