RUPERT Murdoch's breakaway Super League has won a final and decisive court victory, defeating the last remaining legal threat to its proposed kick off in Australia next year.

The country's high court denied the Australian Rugby League (ARL), Murdoch's rival in the battle for control of the sport, leave to appeal an earlier ruling which freed the Super League to start in 1997.

The court ruling ends an 14 month legal tussle and means the 10 team Super League will run in direct competition with the 12 dams in the existing ARL premiership next season.