First of all let me say thank you to the 34 footballers that put on one of the best sporting contests I have ever seen. The 100th game of State Of Origin football will long be remembered as a war of attrition. A game that was as physically taxing as any sporting contest I have…
After almost a year of hearing Queenslanders gloating, then whinging, then working themselves into a lather over Paul Gallen telling them they have two heads, it is now time for the New South Wales to belt Queensland on their own home soil. It doesn’t matter that Queensland have won 8 series in a row, they…
So you’re overseas and you want to watch the 2014 State Of Origin series? There are a number of ways you can watch State Of Origin one. I’m going to tell you the legal way, and then the not so legal way. How you watch the game is up to you. I would encourage you…
Brisbane newspaper The Courier Mail has been running a poll over recent weeks to find out who the best Queensland lineup of all time would be. It has been really interesting to see who has made the cut and who has missed out, but here are the 17 Queensland Rugby League players that Courier Mail…
Round 14 saw St Helens move up to 2nd place in the table, Castleford Tigers move up to 3rd and another battering for broken Bradford. Salford Red Devils vs Wigan Warriors This round’s Thursday night game was held at the AJ Bell Stadium, where a young Wigan side faced an experienced Salford side. A low-scoring…
In what has to be the most petty, pathetic response to losing a player they had every chance to hold onto to another club, the Wests Tigers have threatened to stop spending money developing players unless then NRL steps in and starts paying clubs money when they lose players. One half of this Wests Tigers…
The Daily Telegraph is reporting that the Brisbane Broncos are under investigation for possible salary cap irregularities after the resignation of the head of football operations Andrew Gee. The Broncos have alerted the NRL to issues regarding the recent recruitment of players. The resignation of Andrew Gee suggests that something very serious is about to…
Today the struggling Canberra Raiders have announced a massive player signing. That of the in demand and exciting James Tedesco. After a horror start to the 2014 competition, the Raiders have targeted new blood to give them the shot in the arm needed for a successful 2015 and beyond. They were also thought to have…
Melbourne Storm forward Kevin Proctor has resisted some big money offers from rivals clubs to re-sign with the Melbourne Storm on a four year deal. Proctor became one of the hottest properties in the game in recent weeks, with a number of clubs making an offer for him. The Canberra Raiders were thought to have…
Its the three year deal for $1.9 million that has broken the hearts of Wests Tigers supporters. James Tedesco simply could not refuse the money being offered by the Canberra Raiders. In an ideal world he would have re-signed with the Wests Tigers and hopefully played out his career there. Tedesco knows better than most…
News Limited is reporting that English Rugby League fullback Sam Tomkins was caught urinating in public at 5am on Sunday morning. He was given a $100 on the spot fine by Police and the New Zealand Warriors have also fined him NZ$2,000. It’s not the crime of the century, but it is unfortunate. It is…
It would be a staggering move but it is one tossed up by Sydney Morning Herald journalist Brad Walter who claims the St George/Illawarra Dragons will make a play to bring Wayne Bennett back to the Red V in 2015. Wayne Bennett was brought to the Dragons on a massive deal in 2009 and delivered…
It was always going to be hard to take over a St George/Illawarra Dragons team on a downturn after Wayne Bennett left. When Steve Price was appointed the Dragons coach in 2012 many felt that he was already a dead man walking. When Wayne Bennett left he left behind a team that needed a complete…
This weekend we saw half a round, played out between half sides, in front of half a crowd, so why shouldn’t games played during Origin be worth half the competition points? Of course this is something that will never happen however if you want a snapshot of just how mixed up Origin affected NRL games…
The Wests Tigers have given fullback James Tedesco a Monday deadline to re-sign with the club according to the Sydney Morning Herald. The Wests Tigers have offered Tedesco a four year deal but the Canberra Raiders look like favourites to snare his signature with a much bigger offer. Tedesco knows better than most players that…
Wally Lewis has launched an extraordinary attack on Paul Gallen and New South Wales, claiming Gallen should be embarrassed for losing 8 straight series and that New South Wales will never “get” State Of Origin football. Gallen, who is hated in Queensland, made a joke last week about the two headed supporters of Queensland. That…
News Limited is reporting that Michael Ennis will accept an invitation to check out the Canberra Raiders this week as he look for a new club in 2015. Ennis is off contract at the end of this season and it is pretty clear the Canterbury Bulldogs are looking to move in a different direction for…
Andrew Webster of the Sydney Morning Herald has an interesting followup to a story he wrote earlier this week. There is some good news to come out of it too! Ray Hadley has for the first time publicly stated that he does not want to take over from Ray Warren when Rabs finally hangs up…
First Utility Round 13 saw the Magic Weekend take place at an unbelievable venue in the Manchester City’s Etihad stadium, with a great crowd, great games and an unforgettable weekend. London Broncos vs Catalans Dragons Day 1 saw two teams who had to travel the longest to reach their destination, but I’m sure they would…
Now that Nathan Tinkler has given up control of the Newcastle Knights Wayne Bennett is effectively allowed to leave the club under the terms of the contract he signed. When Bennett joined the Knights, his contract was with Hunter Sports Group, not the Newcastle Knights themselves. The deal stated that if Tinkler left as owner…
News Limited is reporting that a phone owned by Newcastle Knights owner Nathan Tinkler was used to send abusive text messages to players, many of whom were not being paid by the club. Tinkler, who will not be owner of the Newcastle Knights for much longer, is fast becoming one of the most hated people…
Forget passion, talent wins State Of Origin games. While some selections are already leaking out for NSW I’m going to ignore them and post the team I would select. A few players are injured and some are suspended. That means that no NSW team anyone selects is going to be ideal. That being said, this…
Picture this… The broadcasting rights for the “Super Rugby” competition are currently being negotiated. The money generated by broadcasters for this competition in South Africa, Australia and New Zealand are pooled and shared between the three national bodies that control Rugby Union in those nations. Right now there is an issue in that Rugby Union…
Ah Women In League Round. The chance to put on a few free lunches, make a few token gestures, and hope that it is enough to distract the wider community in regards to the terrible attitudes some within the sport have towards women. After all, what better way to sooth the concerns of women than…
The Sydney Morning Herald is reporting that the Parramatta Eels are once again looking to sign Israel Folau, and that there is a slight possibility that Folau may switch back to Rugby League before the 2015 Rugby Union World Cup. The Eels had Folau wrapped up early last year but the NRL dragged its heels…
Coach Wayne Bennett and fullback Darius Boyd are among those at the Newcastle Knights who have not been paid thanks to Nathan Tinkler and his Hunter Sports Group. A lot of people have been critical of Boyd’s form this season, but if he isn’t being paid, I can completely understand why he would have better…
Cast your mind back to the early days of Nathan Tinkler’s interest in the Newcastle Knights. You couldn’t go a couple of days without some former Newcastle Knights player saying what an amazing opportunity it was for the club to sell the farm to Tinkler and his Hunter Sports Group. Tinkler played his purchase of…
This weekend see’s the return of the Magic weekend in Manchester, where a full round of fixtures will be place in the same stadium over 2 days. There are some appetising fixtures to look forward to and the RFL have reported impressive ticket sales with just a few days to go. Basement club London Broncos…
News Limited is reporting that the Gold Coast Titans are ready to make an official offer to former NRL player turned AFL star Karmichael Hunt. I’ve always felt as though the Titans were favorites to snare Hunt’s signature if he returns to the NRL. The Titans could slot him straight in at fullback if he…
The following is an official statement from the National Rugby League: The NRL said it would take whatever action is necessary to protect the players and staff of the Newcastle Knights whose wages had not been paid today. The NRL learned today that Newcastle Knights, controlled by Nathan Tinkler’s business group, had failed to pay…