Bullmania (read copy of cougarmania) did not kill the cougars, it was the rather large knife in the back wielded by the RFL and backed vociferously by certain clubs who had much to gain by cougars downfall. I seem to remember Caisley deriding cougarmania then going for a straight copy.

Cougars had gone full time, just signed Powel, and had sponsors falling over themselves to get involved. The rejection by super league and hence the lack of TV coverage killed us in an instant. It may have taken another two years to die but superleague was the smoking gun.

An absolute disgrace that had it happened in football would have raised a national outcry.

I'll stop now, it's just opening old, very sore wounds.