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In 1996, rugby league turned its back on 101 years of history to enter a momentous new Super League era. The new competition moved the action from winter to summer and kicked off with the meeting of Paris St Germain and Sheffield Eagles in front of 17,873 supporters at the Stade Sébastien Charléty.Freddie Banquet scored the first ever Super League try and Paris clinched a landmark victory thanks to a brace from Arnaud Cervello. Gary Hetherington was in charge of the Eagles on that famous night. Now chief executive of Leeds Rhinos, he admits there was some uncertainty about the direction the sport was taking in 1996 but the creation of Super League has provided provided more stability and structure. Players pose with the Super League trophy ahead of the inaugural 1996 season He told Sky Sports News HQ: It was an exciting time for the sport but it was also a really uncertain time. The Paris-Sheffield Eagles game set this competition alight. Nearly 18,000 people turned up, a wildly enthusiastic French crowd, and against the odds the Paris team won.Super League was a new competition, the sport had moved to the summer, the players had become full-time and there was more money in the game.But in many ways the sport was treading into the unknown. It was the first time ever that video referees had been employed and big screen decision were made.It was an innovative time for the sport and those 20 years have passed very quickly. There has been a lot of advances in the sport and we have now got a lot of stability and structure, and a platform to move forward. Gary Hetherington The improvement in facilities and standard of play have been the biggest changes over the past 20 years, says Hetherington.When we look back the original 12 clubs in Super League included teams like Workington and their stadium at Derwent Park. Halifax were at Thrum Hall, Oldham at the Watersheddings, Sheffield Eagles at Don Valley Stadium.All these stadiums are gone, as has the Central Park stadium Wigan played at and St Helens Knowsley Road, so there has been a complete transformation in the stadiums our supporters see games played in.That has probably been the most positive move forward but the move to summer has undoubtedly been a success, from the whole standard of play to players becoming full-time. Leeds Rhinos were victorious in Super Leagues 20th season The sport now enjoys more spectators and viewers on TV. There has been a big transformation both in the way the game is played and how it is seen by spectators, and all of those changes have been for the good.Of course, 20 years ago people were dreaming about Super League being played in Madrid and Barcelona and a whole range of European cities. That has never materialised and the Paris club only lasted two years, but they have been replaced by Catalans Dragons, who are one of the strongest clubs in the competition. It still has the French flavour about it.The creation of Super League 20 years ago brought a lot of uncertainty to the game. Established clubs like Widnes, Hull and Hull KR werent part of the competition but they are now.The traditional clubs very much make up the Super League and the Championship is a very vibrant competition, as well as the community game below that.There has been a lot of advances in the sport and we have now got a lot of stability and structure, and a platform to move forward. Watch 20 Years of Super League on Sky Sports 1 HD on Tuesday at 10.15pm Also See: Rugby League on Sky Fixtures and results Follow @SkySportsRL Pundits Anthony Rendon Jersey Large . -- The Bishops Gaiters are showing they belong among the countrys top varsity football teams. Custom Nationals Jerseys . Ouellette, from Montreal, already has three Olympic gold medals since joining the team in 1999. http://www.customnationalsjersey.com/custom-anthony-rendon-jersey-large-75u.html . -- Bobby Ryan helped the U. Nationals Jerseys China . Catch all the action on TSN2 at 11pm et/8pm pt. The nine-time Big 12 champion Jayhawks are positioning themselves for another title, as they have run out to a flawless 6-0 mark in conference play thus far. Authentic Custom Nationals Jersey .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. Im a 15-year-old girl who likes reality TV.Let the stereotypes fly. I take selfies. I have a short attention span. And my phone is never far away.That was all true this past August as my family settled around the table. American Ninja Warrior was on the TV in the background, but I had dinner in front of me, conversation left and right, and social media at my fingertips.And then Jessie Graff appeared on the television screen.Phone down. Food down.Other than the Seattle Seahawks, sports dont usually stop me in my tracks. I will always root for the red, white and blue, but I didnt pay much attention when the U.S. womens soccer team won the World Cup last year. I adored the Final Five in Rio, but the Olympic Games came and went.But every time I see her taking on another ninja course, Graff gives me goose bumps.She has inspired me since her very first run on American Ninja Warrior. Like fellow female competitors Kacy Catanzaro and Meagan Martin, Graff has competed side by side with men on prime-time TV, opening doors and minds about what female athletes can accomplish. And Graff has shown she can do things that no woman has done before.Thats what happened Aug. 30. All in less than 2 minutes, 20 seconds.It was the opening night of the American Ninja Warrior national finals in Las Vegas, and as Graff stepped up for her turn at the course, the crowd chanted like she was a rock star -- and my entire family was on the edge of our seats.The Propeller Bar and Giant Log Grip barely slowed her down, Graff plowing through the obstacles like Marshawn Lynch going Beast Mode on the rest of the NFL.The Jumping Spider was up next, an obstacle very few women have gotten through. Even before Graff launched herself into the narrow gap, my family was captivated. We yelled at the TV to cheer her on, my 17-year-old brother and stepdad as loud and as excited as me and my mom.Part of the reason I like Graff so much is because shes smooth with her runs. Even the smallest mistake on any given obstacle can derail a competitor. Graff almost made it look easy.ddddddddddddAt that point, I knew that she could complete the stage. But the Warped Wall -- my favorite obstacle -- awaited, and no woman had ever gotten past it on Stage 1.As Graff closed the fingers of her right hand over the rim at the top of the wall, I knew we were witnessing history in the making. As she flew through the air on the Flying Squirrel, she looked every bit the superheroes she often dresses up as.And by the time she climbed up the cargo net, I was on my feet, too, screaming as Graff cracked a smile. She stepped onto the platform and proudly and emphatically pushed the buzzer -- with over 12 seconds to spare -- to become the first woman to complete Stage 1. She placed fourth overall, ahead of many other top ninjas.We were in awe for the rest of the night. The only thing that would have made it better was if NBC had put Graffs run on a permanent loop.Ive since read that Graff hopes her achievements help others realize theyre stronger than they think and capable of achieving more than they ever imagined.Not only is she helping pave the way for more and more women to be ninja warriors, Graff empowers everyone -- young girls, men, women -- to work out more, to find fitness fun or maybe even channel your inner superhero. And someday I want to try out for American Ninja Warrior.Thats the power of Jessie Graff.Some people buy into the stereotype that women cant be strong athletes, but she has proven thats not true.Women can be athletes. Women can be whatever they want. Even superheroes.More on Jessie Graff? Graff becomes first woman to complete Stage 1 Story ?? Graff and her unfinished business Story ?? Graff has historic night on American Ninja Warrior Story ?? Life of a Ninja Warrior Video ?The IMPACT25 is espnWs annual list of the 25 athletes and influencers who have made the greatest difference for women in sports. Explore the 2016 list and more content at espnW.com/IMPACT25. ' ' '