The Auckland 9’s kick of on Saturday February the 15th and with a big prize pool on offer. It has been a number of years since the NRL embraced an abbreviated version of the game so it will be interesting to see how clubs and players adapt to playing Rugby League 9’s. So, who do…
When the Canterbury Bulldogs named their squad for the 2014 Auckland 9’s the first thing I thought about was Des Hasler telling some NRL official that he doesn’t care one little bit about winning the Auckland 9’s. The Bulldogs are not the only team to not quite put their best foot forward for the Auckland…
The Sydney Roosters have announced their 2014 Auckland 9’s squad. Its a mixed squad with co-captains named. Also, Freddy has made it! Interesting… Check them out: Mitchell Pearce (Co-Captain) Jake Friend (Co-Captain) Shaun Kenny-Dowall Aidan Guerra Kane Evans Daniel Tupou Samisoni Langi Jackson Hastings Dylan Napa Isaac Liu Nene Macdonald Jonathon Rueben Paul Rokolati Rhyse…
The Penrith Panthers have announced their 2014 Auckland 9’s squad. The Panthers look like they are going all out to win the Auckland 9’s title. They have named just about the strongest team in the competition in terms of first grade talent. Check them out: Matt Moylan Wes Naiqama Josh Mansour Isaac John Kevin Naiqama…
The Parramatta Eels have announced their 2014 Auckland 9’s squad. This squad I think is a bit of a dark horse. They have a lot of players in this side well suited to Rugby League 9’s football. Might be a team to watch out for. Check them out: Willie Tonga (c) Kenny Edwards Bureta Faraimo…
The Canterbury Bulldogs have announced their 2014 Auckland 9’s squad. Its pretty much what I would have expected out of Des Hasler. They look like they will be doing the bare minimum required. The highlight of this squad for me is the addition of Eddie Muphy! Check it out: Sam Perrett Mitch Brown Chase Stanley…
The South Sydney Rabbitohs have announced their 2014 Auckland 9’s squad. Captained by Ben Te’o, and featuring Lote Tuqiri, the side isn’t too bad but they have held back a few of their stars. Check it out: Nathan Merritt Beau Champion Alex Johnston Joel Reddy Dylan Walker Luke Keary Apisai Koroisau Dave Tyrrell Irae Simone…
The Gold Coast Titans have named their 2014 Auckland 9’s squad. This is just about the best looking squad that has been named in my opinion. It includes most of their star players. They will be one of the favorites. Check out the side: William Zillman Brad Tighe David Mead Kevin Gordon Albert Kelly Greg…
The North Queensland Cowboys have announced their 2014 Auckland 9’s squad. Johnathan Thurston is not part of the squad but I still think its a pretty good looking side with a number of players that will be well suited to Rugby League 9’s football. Check it out: Lachlan Coote Zac Santo Antonio Winterstein Kane Linnett…
The Manly Sea Eagles have named their 2014 Auckland 9’s squad. Forget everything else, this is all about the triumphant return of Steve Menzies to the National Rugby League! He will play in what is a fairly decent looking squad. Take a look: Cheyse Blair Jamie Buhrer Michael Chee-Kam Daly Cherry-Evans Clinton Gutherson James Hasson…
The St George/Illawarra Dragons have named their 2014 Auckland 9’s squad. They’ve named a fair few of their star players, with Brett Morris to captain the side. Check it out: Josh Dugan Brett Morris (c) Dylan Farrell Nathan Green Jason Nightingale Adam Quinlan Sam Williams Jack de Belin Mitch Rein Tyson Frizell Leeson Ah Mau…
The Brisbane Broncos have announced their 2014 Auckland 9’s Squad. Ben Barba will make his big screen debut for the club at the Auckland 9’s while Corey Parker will captain the side. The Broncos have named a fairly strong lineup. Check it out: Ben Barba Josh Hoffman Dale Copley Alex Glenn Stewart Mills Kodi Nikorima…
When you think of Rugby League 9’s, you need to think not just of the elite players in the game, but of the players at every level of the sport who are just looking for an opportunity to shine. A Rugby League 9’s circuit would tap into the huge player base that Rugby League has…
The Melbourne Storm have announced their 2014 Auckland 9’s squad. The team does not include any of the “big three” and relies heavily on non first grade players: William Chambers Sisa Waqa Joel Romelo Mahe Fonua Matt Duffie Young Tonumaipea Mitch Garbutt Justin O’Neill Tohu Harris Matthew Lodge Kevin Proctor Ryan Hoffman (c) Slade Griffin…
In what has to be one of the most ridiculous things a current administrator has ever said, NRL Chief Operating Officer Jim Doyle has told the Sydney Morning Herald that he would like to see Rugby League 9’s turned into a hybrid game. While speaking of the potential to expand Rugby League 9’s into a…
Rugby League trial games don’t mean a great deal in the grand scheme of things. No one should look too much into the results. Their main function is to help bring players up to match fitness and maybe work on a few combinations heading into the new season. Still, that hasn’t stopped Geoff Toovey from…
The New Zealand Warriors have re-signed halfback Shaun Johnson through to the end of the 2017 season. It is great news for the club heading into the start of a new season. I’m a big fan of Shaun Johnson. His re-signing with the Warriors is good news for Rugby League. He gives the Warriors a…
We’re almost there. The First Utility Super League is almost upon us, with the 2013 Grand-Final winners taking on the 2013 League Leaders in the first game of the Super League 2014. It could be one of the best games of the year, even though it’s only round 1, with Huddersfield Giants who will want…
Rumors abound that Sam Burgess is seeking a release from his South Sydney Rabbitohs contract to return to the UK to play Rugby Union. As a result he has been mercilessly attacked by the Rugby League community for being a ‘dog’ and ‘stabbing Souths in the back’. Essentially the (source-less) reports without quote or fact…
The Fullback position is a very important position in the modern Rugby League game, creating tries, stopping them and creating something out of nothing is just a few of the important things they have to deal with in every game. Many people argue that the Fullback position is the toughest and most important position on…
I want to start this article by giving some background on myself. I will do this so people cannot respond saying that I am one-eyed or biased or don’t know what I am talking about. I am from Wales, a Union country, and grew up playing Rugby Union. I played the game to a reasonably…
The news that Sam Burgess has told Rabbitohs management that he will be heading to England to play Rugby Union next season has taken off across all the media websites and social media. The general feeling amongst Souths fans is that he has stabbed the club in the back, and our very own League Freak…
Reports out of England suggest that South Sydney Rabbitohs forward Sam Burgess has already signed a three year deal with the English Rugby Football Union that will see him playing Rugby Union for Bath by the end of 2014. Former English Rugby League player Andrew Farrell is said to have helped negotiate the deal during…
The Sydney Morning Herald is reporting that former Cronulla Sharks player Broderick Wright has informed that embattled club that he plans to sue them for negligence, breach of contract and intentional tort. Intentional tort is a category of torts that describes a civil wrong resulting from an intentional act on the part of the tortfeasor….
The Cronulla Sharks have named a very strong looking team for the 2014 Auckland 9’s. Many have suggested the Sharks will go all out to win the Nines and use the prize money to wipe out their find handed down by the NRL. Judging by this lineup, they will go close: Nathan Gardner Nathan Stapleton…
As much as we may choose not to believe it as fans, often the fate of our clubs can boil down to the fortunes of just one man. These people can be superstars or workhorses, forwards or backs – but their fate is linked inextricably to that of their club. So with the 2014 season…
The Canberra Raiders have announced their 2014 Auckland 9’s squad. Captained by Jarrod Croker, the side is an interesting mix of players: Jarrod Croker (c) Reece Robinson Mitch Cornish Bill Tupou Matt McIlwrick Joel Edwards Glen Buttriss Tom Learoyd-Lahrs Jarrad Kennedy Mark Nicholls Jake Foster Lagi Setu Mitch Cronin Luke Bateman Jack Ahearn Andrew Heffernan
South Sydney. No two words in Rugby League history have ever garnered such pride and passion and equal part disappointment and ridicule. Throughout formative years of Australian Rugby League the Rabbitohs were truly the pride of the league. Their 20 premiership wins far eclipsing all other comers. So impressive is that haul that after 43…
Somebody once said that it doesn’t matter who coaches the Wallabies because they’re never going to be better than the All Blacks. It’s true, of course. And the same thing can be said about the Kiwis league team. The fact that they are sounding out interest for a new head coach continues to go under…
Some great news for South Sydney today with coach Michael Magure extending his contract at the club through to the end of the 2017 season. Maguire would have been highly sought after by a number of NRL clubs. His decision to stay is great news for the Bunnies who have improved to be one of…