Rugby league immortal Wally Lewis has revealed the astonishing details of how he came within a whisker of abandoning Queensland for a lucrative Sydney switch, only for a contract technicality to scupper the move that would have changed rugby league history.
The Private Jet Summons
Lewis, who built his legendary career entirely in Queensland, was at the peak of his powers when media mogul Kerry Packer decided to lure him and teammate Gene Miles south to join the Manly Sea Eagles. The approach began dramatically when the duo received a summons to Brisbane Airport, expecting to meet a club representative.
"We arrived at the old Brisbane airport and were waiting for some sort of car to pull up," Lewis recalled. "The next thing this plane pulled in... the pilot walked over and said, 'Mr Lewis and Mr Miles... if you can walk this way, please'."
When they asked where they were going, the pilot simply replied: "To Sydney." Miles immediately recognised the significance, telling Lewis: "We gotta ask for more money now."
High-Stakes Negotiations
During the flight to Sydney, the two friends began plotting their negotiation strategy. Lewis revealed they initially agreed on asking for $75,000 each, matching what top Sydney players like Ray Price and Mick Cronin were earning at Parramatta.
Their destination stunned them both. Instead of meeting club officials, they found themselves at PBL Marketing Limited face-to-face with Packer himself. "Holy shit, that's Kerry Packer!" Lewis remembered exclaiming, to which Miles responded: "We've got to ask for more money now, we'll bump it up."
The meeting included Manly legends Bob Fulton and Doug Daley before the players entered Packer's office. The media magnate didn't waste time with pleasantries, immediately telling them: "So you're the two c***s causing us all the trouble, hurry up and sign that."
The Contract That Never Was
When Packer separated the players for individual negotiations, Lewis's nerves got the better of him. Despite planning to ask for $75,000, he blurted out: "If you want me to play for Manly-Warringah Rugby League Club, give me $150,000 a season."
Packer called him "a greedy bastard" and "arrogant," but Lewis stood his ground. Meanwhile, Miles secured $130,000 after initially being offered $120,000.
The deal collapsed because Packer's team created two separate contracts - half the money coming from the football club and the other half from PBL Marketing. This allowed the Queensland Rugby League to only match the $75,000 football component rather than the full amounts.
"Permission to negotiate has just been rescinded, gentlemen," QRL boss Ron McAuliffe told them when they suggested returning to Sydney for a single contract. The technicality kept two of Queensland's greatest players where they belonged, changing the course of rugby league history.
