In 2008, the NRL is launching a new programme to encourage players to become referees when they retire. The programme, dubbed the Cadet Programme, will be overseen by former NRL whistle-blower Steve Clark. It will consist of a three-year programme whereby the cadets (former players) will train with the current first grade refs, do school…
Anyone that had read my opinions in recent years knows I am 100% behind the Franchise system that Super League will have in place from 2009. Promotion and Relegation does not work and that can be seen in the financial position of a number of National League clubs who have gone broke trying to gain promotion. However,…
The New Zealand All Golds beat the Northern Union side 25-18 in Warrington last night. It was an interesting game to watch and certainly helped me get my footy fix for the weekend as the All Golds dominated for most ofthe match. It was only a 20 minute period in the second half where the…
The World Champion Australian Rugby League team has demolished New Zealand by a score line of 58-0. It took Australia about five minutes to kick into gear and once that happened they just looked three classes above New Zealand. The youngest backline in Australian Rugby League history was just oustanding showing power, speed, skill and…
Leeds have run out 33-6 winners over St Helens to claim the title of Super League Champions for season 2007. After a slow start in which they were completely dominated by St Helens in the early going, Leeds jumped out to an 8 point lead after a penalty and a quick try against the run of play….
Sky Sports UK has announced that it will show every game of next years World Cup including five qualifying games to be played next month. Its great news for fans in the UK as there have been rumours recently that Sky was looking to donwgrade its involvement in Rugby League. They join Channel 9 in…
There is one rule in Rugby League that you should never, ever break… SHUT UP! You never, ever give any opposition a reason to fire up by talking yourself up before a game. It always ends in tears. So when NZRL chairman Andrew Chalmers this week game about the best ammunition I have ever seen…
After having morons in Great Britain acclaim him as the best forward in the game, Stuarts Fieldens fall from grace is now complete with his axing from the Great Britain squad ahead of the Test series against New Zealand. Despite being young and never having out played any opposition from Australia or New Zealand, many…
With the announcement that Super League would be moving towards a franchise system and scrapping Promotion and Relegation, we have seen a number of lower grade teams in the UK making a big song and dance about why they deserve to be in the final Super League lineup. Among those were the Widnes Vikings. You’d…
Well its that time of the year again when the Poms get together and star showing the world how little they know about Rugby League. After a great season in which he was head and shoulders above his team mates and any other player in the Super League competition, Trent Barrett has NOT won the…
New Zealand have named a powerful side ahead of this weekends test match against New Zealand in Wellington. The Kiw’s have gone for a great mix of impact, stamina and skill and will learn a lot about the type of lineup they want heading into next years World Cup. When you consider New Zealand are…
Well its seems as though the footy gods are handing a number of deserving players Australian test jerseys they should have got in the first place! Paul Gallen has been ruled out of the Australian side to take on New Zealand next week with a shoulder injury, prompting the promotion of Storm lock Dallas Johnson…
The RLIF has finally announced all of the Venues for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup. Sydney will host the official opening ceremony followed by the big clash between Australia and New Zealand. Its fantastic to see Canberra, Parramatta, Penrith and Wollongong all hosting matches. These smaller venues will allowed fans in areas that would…
In some exciting news for the game, teenage sesnation Israel Folau has been called into the Australian Test team to replace center Justin Hodges who was ruled out today with an ankle strain. Folau will become of of the youngest players ever to play Test football and will add to an amazing, young backline that…
After a bumper year in which The Official Site Of The King Of The Internet: League Freak has made its full time move to the RLFans server, the web site has cracked the 100,000 hits mark! Its a pretty handy effort considering I was hoping to maybe hit half of that by the end of the calender…
They are undoubtably the best Rugby League team in the world, and with a brilliant season behind them where they won more games in one season than any other club in the history of the Australian game ever has, the Storm should take a nice long off season and look to become the first team…
The Australian team was named today for the one off test against New Zealand and there are a number of surprises with the side. The number of New South Wales players in the side is one area that is surprising. New South Wales were well beaten in the Origin series and yet they dominate the…
Melbourne has won the 2007 National Rugby League Grand Final with an emphatic 34-8 over the Manly Sea Eagles. In a game thats had everything, brutal defence, amazing attack, courage and stamina, the Storm deservedly won the title as the best Rugby League team in the World with a performance that will be remembered for…
Australia taked on New Zealand in a few weeks time and with the World Cup next year its time for players to cement their place in the side as well as time for selectors to look to the future. With some many great young players coming through the Australian Rugby League ranks right now, the…
Parramatta winger Eric Grothe has once again shown he is as reliable off the field as he is on it by not showing up to an Australian Rugby League team physical. Grothe didnt bother to show up, didn’t tell anyone he wasn’t showing up and has no apologised for not turning up. Thankfully Australian coach…
Over the last few years sporting World Cup competitions have started to get a dose of reality as sports fans get over the hype and promotion and look at the real content that these competitions bring. The days of wanting to see as many teams as possible take part are over as sports fans now…
The Melbourne Storm has shown what a great side they are by beating the Parramatta Eels 26-10 in front of over 33,000 at the Telstra Dome in Melbourne. In a classic first half that showcased brutal defence, brilliant attack and two sides that where just in great form, the Storm stuck to a simple but…
Papua New Guinea has come back from a 20-0 deficit at halftime to get a shocking 24 all draw against the Australian Prime Ministers XIII. The Australian representative side was fancied to come away with an easy victory and looked to be well on theuir way as they ran out to a 20-0 lead but…
A great crowd of over 32,000 has seen the Manly Sea Eagles beat the North Queensland Cowboys 28-6. Manly looked the better side for the entire game as the Cowboys just seem to be holding on for most of the match. Playing behind a beaten pack, Thurston, Bowen and Payne were just unable to get…
On the back of news that Australian selectors enquired about the Australian eligibility of Parramatta Eels forward Fui Fui Moi Moi comes word that St Helens Samoa-born forward Maurie Fa’asavalu has put his hand up to play for Great Britain. Now I could could on about the squad stacking that the ARL, NZRL and RFL…
The Penrith Panthers have denied a report in Rugby League Week that they are making a bold bit to lure Wigan standoff Trent Barrett back to the National Rugby League. Barrett is rumoured to be unhappy in England and the Panthers have been rumoured to be ready to swoop in and sign him, however the…
Jonathan Thurston has beaten a dangerous throw charge at the National Rugby League judiciary freeing him up to play this weekends semi final against the Manly Sea Eagles at the Sydney Football Stadium. Thurston had carry over points from a charge of striking from over a year ago and unless he was found no guilty…
The best player in the world, Jonathan Thurston has led the North Queensland Cowboys to a 49-12 win over the New Zealand Warriors. Playing behind a no frills pack thats just keeps turning up in every set of six, Thurston was simply at his game breaking best and tore the Warriors apart. Thurston has found…
They used to be an odity, something different from AFL that Victorians were happy to have a quick look at before going back to their domestic code. These days however the Melbourne Storm have their own growing fan base, one thats Rugby League savvy and who have embraced “their” team. It took a long time…
The Parramatta Eels will face the Melbourne Storm next week down in Melbourne after dominating by a scoreline of 25-6 against the Bulldogs in a game that didnt really reach the fever pitch expected before the game. The Bulldogs looked flat right from the kickoff and it took a great pass by Sonny Bill Williams…