In my entire lifetime I have only ever seen the Australian Rugby League team played really poorly once. In the 2005 Tri Nations final Australia were terrible against New Zealand. They lost the game 24-0 and in that they lost their first series of any kind since 1978. In every other game and series I…
Stephen Kearney has named his lineup ahead of New Zealand’s clash with Australia in the 2014 Trans-Tasman test match. There are a few interesting selections with Issac John secure the five-eighth role and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck named on the wing rather than at fullback: 2014 New Zealand Kiwi’s Lineup 1. Peta Hiku 2. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 3….
Earning a representative jersey of any colour should be the proudest moment of a players career. It should be acknowledgement of the fact that a player has reached a new level in their game and that their ability has been recognized by entering a rare club of talented players that get the chance to play…
It takes a big person to admit they got something wrong, and finally, after a number of years, Brian Waldron has apologized for the long term, systematic abuse of the NRL salary cap that led to the Melbourne Storm being stripped of two NRL titles. Geez, thanks Brian. You’re a real sport! It is interesting…
You know the funny part about the City vs Country contest? You can be from Newcastle, Canberra or Wollongong, and with a straight face talk about how proud you are to be a country boy. City vs Country is the most irrelevant contest in Rugby League. It is a game that no longer holds any…
Numerous news sources are reporting that former NRL player Ryan Tandy has died of an apparent drug overdose. Police have already stated the his death is not being classed as suspicious. This is very sad news. Ryan Tandy obviously had issues he was dealing with over the last few years. My thoughts are with his…
The Australian Kangaroo’s Rugby League team has been named for the 2014 Trans-Tasman test match to be held in Sydney on Friday night. The team is very similar to the one that won the 2013 Rugby League World Cup Final. Official Australian Test Team Fullback: Billy Slater (Melbourne Storm) Wing: Darius Boyd (Newcastle Knights) Centre:…
New Zealand have named six rookies in their Trans-Tasman Test squad that willl take on Australia in Sydney on Friday night. Peta Hiku, Isaac John, Ben Henry, Siliva Havili, Martin Taupau and Kenny Bromwich all join the Kiwi squad for the first time in a side that has seen a lot of change since losing…
First Utility Round 10 saw a battering for the Bulls, a surprise win for the Vikings and Leeds go to the top of the Super League table. Wigan Warriors vs Bradford Bulls If you’re a Bulls fan, you probably already know the score and will want to miss out this section. Bradford Bulls didn’t turn…
The spotlight is on the easter period…Again The Easter period, which involves playing two games in the space of a few days, is one the most grueling for Super League clubs and continues to attract criticism from coaches and players alike. Such a move may be likely as Super League will decrease to 12 teams…
News Limited is reporting that Sydney Roosters back rower Sonny Bill Williams has got married. The headline claims Williams was married in a secret wedding to his “Muslim beauty” which to me seems like a weird way to put it if you ask me. What does her religion need to be slashed across the headlines?…
News Limited journalist David Riccio has just tweeted that Andrew Fifita has signed a four year contract extension with the Cronulla Sharks. While no contract figure is mentioned you can be sure it is not anywhere near what he would have earned at the Bulldogs. This ends a ridiculous saga that saw Fifita sign a…
Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart will front a reality TV series that will see 15 young players vying for their chance at the big time. Called “The Coach”, it will air during the upcoming off season. This serious could be really interesting. Watching a show that is all about someone proving they belong in the…
Money is the reason that State Of Origin eligibility rules were slowly undermined by both states since the inception of the State Of Origin concept in the early 1980’s. people can talk about passion until they are Blue or Maroon in the face. The fact is that from day one coaches and officials looked at…
Luke Keary has had his appeal against his State Of Origin eligibility denied by the National Rugby League. Keary qualified for New South Wales under the current rules but decided he wanted to play for Queensland. He was the first big test of the current rules and it’s seems the NRL was not willing to…
Click baiting…its something even the big media companies love doing! There is a classic example of it today in an article by News Limited today titled The truth about sport’s ultimate mercenary Sonny Bill Williams: nobody cares what you do, Sonny. The basic premise is that Sonny Bill Williams is allegedly going to boycott the…
Reports suggest that Sonny Bill Williams will “boycott” the New Zealand team team if they select him in the ANZAC Test against Australia. Williams is apparently unhappy at being named in a report about the alleged abuse of prescription drugs in the New Zealand camp during the 2013 World Cup campaign. The official report found…
News Limited is reporting that the Cronulla Sharks are favourites to snare the signatures of Benji Marshall and current Canterbury Bulldogs hooker Michael Ennis. News that the Sharks are willing to offer Marshall a three year deal is a bit of a shock. Marshall’s form towards the end of last year was terrible and there…
Manly Sea Eagles back rower Glenn Stewart will leave the club at the end of the season and join up with the South Sydney Rabbitohs in 2015 on a two year deal. Stewart was not even offered a contract by the Sea Eagles and that is something that has angered some within the club. I…
The Brisbane Broncos have re-signed a couple of their veteran players, handing Corey Parker and Justin Hodges two year contract extensions. Parker’s re-signing is a no brainer but I have to say I’m a little surprised that Hodges was re-signed. Over the last few years Hodges has battled a number of injury problems that have…
It only took a few months of Rugby Union for Benji Marshall to decide to return to Rugby League. Marshall was signed on a fairly decent contract to sign with the Auckland Blues, so to walk out on that deal says a lot about how miserable he has been in Rugby Union. While many will…
Greg Bird could find himself in hot water after being accused of grabbing Penrith Panthers forward Sika Manu by the testicles in the second half of the Panthers 14-12 victory over the Titans on Monday Night. The incident, which occurred late in the second half, saw Manu lash out at Bird and subsequently draw a…
Lote Tuqiri has told Fairfax media that it is vital for the ARU to hold on to Israel Folau/ This comes as Folau put on yet another dominant display in coming back from injury, and just days after media speculation that Folau was looking to return to the National Rugby League. Tuqiri makes a very…
Round 9 saw all derbies take place, with St Helens’ 100% winning streak come to an end, Hull KR with a last minute winner against Hull FC and Bradford remain bottom of the table. Hull KR vs Hull FC- Hull KR got the last minute win at the KC Lightstream Stadium with a Craig Hall,…
The Sydney Morning Herald is reporting that Benji Marshall and the Auckland Blues will agree to part ways and that Marshall has instructed his manager to find him an NRL team to play for as early as this season. Marshall has had an unhappy time since switching to Rugby Union this year and its pretty…
As a Penrith Panthers fan I have mixed emotions around the announcement that Tim Grant has requested and been granted a release to play for the South Sydney Rabbitohs from 2015 onwards. Grant has been an outstanding clubman, a local junior, a fan favourite and a decent bloke. My understanding from various people within the…
The Federazione Italiana rugby Football League (FIRFL) is growing visibly and has now officially announced another bead to their international stature: the Federleague, in fact, has signed an agreement with the “Kenya Rugby League Federation” for the creation of an “Rugby Academy”, which will be launched in the Watamu area, the location where the Italian…
Over the last few weeks video referee’s have been under intense scrutiny for some of the unbelievably bad decisions they have made. This has led to calls from some people to have all decisions made at NRL headquarters by a centralized video referee that would hand down decisions during games. In some ways it sounds…
News Limited journalist Josh Massoud is reporting on Twitter that Manly Sea Eagles fullback Brett Stewart has been arrested after failing a RBT test. If this is true it is the last thing the Stewart brothers need. With Glen Stewart on his way out at the club and Brett rumoured to be following his brother,…
You have to feel sorry for the North Queensland Cowboys. Their 26-21 loss to the Manly Sea Eagles in Gosford last night should not have occurred. I have defended on field officials and I still stand by that. They have a tough job to do and are asked to make decisions instantly. Sometimes they will…