It’s official, Daly Cherry-Evans has signed a four year deal to join the Gold Coast Titans from 2016. The deal runs for two years, with an extra two year option in Cherry-Evans favour on the back end of the deal. That is most likely in place with an eye on the new broadcasting deal. Should…
It’s fair to say 2014 was a decidedly mixed year for Leeds Rhinos. A sixth place finish in the Super League table was made worse by the failure to make it past the elimination finals of the play-offs, but Leeds fans were still able to look back at the year with a smile on their…
No one does self serving nonsense quite like the Rugby Football League! After yest another disastrous international season that saw England win just 1 of the 3 it chose to play in 2014, the RFL COO, a man aptly named Ralf Rimmer, has put together one of the most ridiculous press release I have ever…
Tim Sheens yesterday named the Kangaroos squad tasked with not only beating a very competitive Samoan side, but doing so by a margin that sees the side qualify for the Four Nations final. Should England beat New Zealand on Saturday afternoon, the Roos will have to beat Samoa by potentially plenty to ensure they qualify….
For those who missed it, earlier today the AFL released its 2015 fixture list, announcing the scrapping of Sunday and Monday evening games, and the introduction of more Saturday afternoon football. For years and years, clubs and fans alike, have been calling on the NRL to scrap Monday Night football in favour of a permanent…
As a fan of the Kangaroos, Saturday Night’s game was a close to a train wreck as Kangaroo performances get, yet there could not have been a better result for the Four Nations tournament, or the international game. Before we all get too carried away with the big victory to our brothers across the Tasman,…
I don’t want to hear about injuries. I don’t want to hear about how long of a season it was. I don’t want to hear about all the star players that are missing. I’m just not one for excuses. It was less than 12 months ago that the Australian team were crowned World Champions after…
Having suffered a heartbreaking defeat at the semi-final stages of last year’s World Cup, there are signs of hope for the England rugby league boys as they prepare for a huge challenge in the Four Nations. The Return of International Rugby League International rugby league received a shot in the arm last Autumn when the…
As the 2014 Rugby League Four Nations edges closer, excitement has been rapidly building following the squad announcements of all four teams. This year’s tournament – involving Australia, New Zealand, England and Samoa – will be the fourth time the event has been held, and thrilling conclusions to the Super League and NRL seasons has…
From the eye-popping virtuosity of Jonathan Davies to the stupefying mediocrity of Jon Gallagher, countless Rugby Union players have crossed the great divide to Rugby League with varying results. But how well have personalities from other sports fared when entering the blood and thunder of 13-a-side? Liam Botham – Cricket Probably the only godson of…
Another end-of-season, another round of clubs fines for breaching the salary cap. This time it was Sea Eagles, Knights, Roosters, Tiger and Tigers named as offenders. The breaches date back to the 2013 season, and the Titans aside, seem like minor offenses at worst. For instance the Tigers over spent on their Holden Cup cap,…
I can’t think of too many other sports in the entire world that sees top of the line players depart at the peak of their careers to pursue “dreams” of doing other things. Rugby League should be very proud of the fact that it produces world class athletes that can even consider switching to other…
First of all let me say that it is a very brave decision for a player on well over $1 million a year to walk away from all that money to chase any dream. Jarryd Hayne obviously has a real drive to try his hand at becoming an NFL player and if he feels that…
NRL CEO David Smith has made some interesting statements in the aftermath of news that Jarryd Hayne would be leaving the NRL to pursue his dream to play in the NRL. Smith has explained that he was in contact with Hayne’s management as late as last night and was willing to do what ever it…
Hands up if you thought at the start of 2014 that Blake Austin would be a sought after recruit and that a club’s fans would celebrate upon signing him? Anyone with their hand up needs to be called in for questioning, because you’re telling fibs. Austin began the year not only behind Braith Anasta for…
By now I’m sure you have all heard the massive news this morning that NRL superstar, and current Dally M medalist Jarryd Hayne has announced he is headed to the USA to try his hand in the NFL. Sighting the fact that he felt he had ‘done it all’ in the NRL, one of the…
The Rugby Football League have suspended Wigan forward Ben Flower for 6 months for his vicious assault on St Helens playmaker Lance Hohaia in the opening minutes of the 2014 Super League Grand Final. The majority of this 6 month suspension will be served during the off season, meaning Flower looks like he will miss,…
Ben Flower’s vicious attack on Lance Hohaia in the 2014 Super League Grand Final has raised an interesting argument. There is a lot of speculation that Police are looking into the incident. In these sorts of situations you sometimes need a complaint to be made or pursued by the victim for anything to gain momentum,…
Australia has named a brigade of fresh new faces in their 2014 Four Nations squad. Injuries have really taken their toll on the Australian team and while people have been quick to say that players have pulled out of the squad a little too easily, I think most people underestimate the brutal grind the NRL…
Ben Flowers vicious attack on Lance Hohaia in the 2014 Super League Grand Final is the most vicious, cowardly act I have ever seen on a Rugby League field in all my life. That Flower was sent off just two minutes into the biggest game of the year, without hesitation, says it all about how…
For all the good in Rugby League, the big hits, the length of the field tries, the emotion, one aspect of the game that needs urgent attention is the rule that says players signed before round 10 can simply change their mind at any time. When a player ‘signs’ with another club prior to the…
With news breaking that superstar five-eighth Johnathan Thurston has withdrawn from the upcoming Four Nations Tournament, the door was well and truly thrown open for the New Zealanders and English in terms of possibly winning the tourney. With Thurston joining the likes of Matt Scott, Paul Gallen, Billy Slater, James Tamou, Nate Myles, Brett and…
Check out this fantastic infographic that takes a look at both St Helens and Wigan as we head into the 2014 Super League Grand Final:
When the most successful club in the history of the game adds to their success, the history books all need rewritten. The South Sydney Rabbitohs triumph on Sunday evening was a proud moment for Rugby League. For the vast majority of Australian Rugby League history a club with it’s sights set on winning the title…
With news coming out of yet another unfortunately disruption of Kurtley Beale’s promising but troubled career, reports now indicate that Kurtley Beale may be headed to Rugby League in 2015. It looks as though it may be the best move for both the ARU and Kurtley himself as despite his obvious talents and ability, Beale…
When I was in high school I had a friend that supported the South Sydney Rabbitohs. It was something he didn’t mention too much though. This was when George Piggins was running the club and they looked like they did not belong anywhere near the top level of the game. After high school I remember…
Cynical. I can’t help it! When I read that Leeds Rhinos boss Gary Hetherington urged the RFL and its clubs to block Todd Carney’s move to the Catalan Dragons on the grounds that it damaged the reputation of the game, I knew right then and there that I should go through all of the players…
Do you remember when the Gold Coast Titans first entered the NRL? They were a new team with a new name, new jerseys, a new stadium, a new centre of excellence…the future looked bright! They gave their new coach a long term deal because he was going to lead this new team of players to…
There is a phenomenon that occurs among sports fans who follow a team for many years, especially a team that struggles to win games for a long time and then turns things around and becomes successful. You see, these people will follow their team through thick and thin. Through the good times and the bad….
Although the Manly/Dogs, Sharks/Dragons, Broncos/Titans rivalries, and there are plenty of others, have plenty of history and venom behind them, make absolutely no mistake about it, league’s biggest rivalry is between the Rabbitohs and the Roosters. This Friday night the latest chapter in this heated rivalry will be written as two of the NRL’s foundation…