News that covers Rugby League in Australia.
It is a fact that there is a warehouse in Queensland full of boxes. In those boxes are maroon colour t-shirts. On the front of those t-shirts is a big, dirty sticker that reads “9 in a row”. I’ll be thinking of those t-shirts tonight as New South Wales runs out onto Lang Park looking…
Brad Walter at the Sydney Morning Herald is among the premier rugby league writers in Australia. In addition to his regular reporting Walter also produces a weekly opinion piece titled “Winning Starts Monday”. I’ll let you guess what day of the week it runs (surprise – it’s Tuesday). The premise of this week’s column (http://www.canberratimes.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/cutting-players-down-to-size-pays-dividends-for-blues-and-clubs-20140707-zsyp1.html)…
Perhaps I’m the only one but I find myself thoroughly unenthused about State of Origin III tonight. Now that NSW have slain the 8 in a row dragon there seems very little to get excited about. I’m convinced that I am not the only fan who feels this way as the breathless anticipation and fervor…
News Limited is reporting that a high profile NRL player will be banned for six weeks for betting on Rugby League matches. Players and officials are not permitted to bet on any Rugby League games under the terms of their NRL contracts. Other players face fined for betting on Rugby League games and there is…
Tomorrow night will see NSW attempt to record a whitewash, rather than avoid one, which has unfortunately for us long suffering NSW fans, been the flavour of the past almost decade. In this series we have seen Jarryd Hayne become an absolute legend of the game, the emergence of young Hodkinson and Reynolds as a…
He might earn hundreds of thousands of dollars to coach only three games a yeah, but it seems that Mal Meninga is unwilling to fulfill all of his commitments as Queenslands State Of Origin coach. Queensland cancelled media events Monday and then confirmed that they would send Cameron Smith to a pre game press conference…
Sometimes you just have to be the better person and admit your mistakes. You need to sit down, think about what you have done, and come to the conclusion that you need to make amends for your actions. As the Penrith Panthers find themselves atop of the NRL ladder, again, we have seen a bit…
The Sydney Morning Herald is reporting that Parramatta Eels fullback Jarryd Hayne has shown interest in trying to forge a career in the NFL. Hayne had two training sessions with an Australian University team where he played as a wide receiver on offence and a safety in defence. Hayne is a fantastic athlete and I…
The NRL has released the draw for the final rounds of the 2014 season. The draw features a number of Thursday night games (Which I hate) and more Monday night games than I expected to see late in the season. All times listed are local kickoff times: Twenty-One Friday, Aug 1 Sea Eagles vs. Broncos – Brookvale Oval 7:45pm …
The Sharks week from hell has ended on a high with the dailytelegraph announcing the club has landed a major sponsor for the rest of the season in the form of Labour Health. I’m sure NO ONE sees the irony in the Sharks attracting a company that specialised in drug and alcohol testing in the…
It seems almost unbelievable, but NRL players are not insured against permanent disability under the terms of their contracts. It is an issue that has been raised again today by the Sydney Daily Telegraph. In the article Wests Tigers hooker Robbie Farah has hinted that NRL players may consider strike in an effort to get…
The Hull Daily Mail is reporting that the Brisbane Broncos are chasing Hull KR fullback Greg Eden. Eden is currently on loan to the Salford Red Devils. While he is only 23 years old he is a lower quality Super League player and not even close to NRL level. For a while Eden carried the…
Round 17 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs vs Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles ANZ Stadium, 4/7/14 7:45pm Do not be fooled, time does not in fact heal old wounds. Friday night the Sea Eagles will venture into hostile territory when they face the Bulldogs at ANZ stadium. This modern day rivalry is still bubbling along nearly 3 years after Des…
With the last six rounds of the NRL draw set to be released at 11 am (it is now 12:40 pm and no sign of said draw) multiple media outlets have confirmed the return of Thursday Night Footy…and the fans are not happy. Channel 9, the true rulers of the game, are set to once…
New South Wales have made only a couple of changes heading into game three of the State Of Origin series. The Blues are looking to clean sweep Queensland at Suncorp Stadium. So, is this the team to get the job done? Official New South Wales State Of Origin Team For Game Three 1. Jarryd Hayne…
Phil Rothfield of the Daily Telegraph is reporting that Australian test coach Tim Sheens was offered the interim Cronulla Sharks coaching role last night, only to turn it down. It is not a huge surprise that the Sharks turned to Tim Sheens. He is a very experienced coach who has seen just about every situation…
Queensland has announced its team for the third game of the 2014 State Of Origin series. There have been a few changes due to injuries but surprisingly the side isn’t all that different from the team that last game two and the series. Queensland Official State Of Origin Team For Game Three 1. Billy Slater…
Peter Sharp has quit his role as interim coach of the Cronulla Sharks effective immediately. At this stage no replacement has been named. Sharp stated that he did not want to take over the role when Shane Flanagan was suspended for 12 months due to the ASADA investigation. As it turns out he did not…
Canterbury Bulldogs utility Reni Maitua has been placed on an 18 month good behaviour bond after being found guilty of intimidating a taxi driver in November 2013. Maitua’s defense was that he had been going through a tough time in his life with personal issue’s and injury that could have put an end to his…
Todd Carney once again finds his Rugby League career in tatters after yet another off field incident. The Cronulla Sharks decision to sack him, and the timing of his sacking (just one day before the June 30 deadline that allowed players to switch teams), makes it hard to see where Carney goes from here. I…
Todd Carney has been sacked by the Cronulla Sharks after a picture of his was circulated on social media last night that showed him urinating into his own mouth. Carney, who has had a number of chances over the course of his career, will be hard pressed to get his football career back on track…
Fairfax is reporting that players from the Manly Sea Eagles and Gold Coast Titans are under investigation by the NRL Integrity Unit for placing bets on Rugby League matches. The NRL released a statement yesterday refuting claims that they were investigating a wide spread betting problem within the game. While the bets in question are…
News Limited is reporting that the Brisbane Broncos have targeted New South Wales State Of Origin forward Trent Merrin as a perfect replacement for Corey Parker as the club looks towards it’s longer term future. Merrin is not off contract until the end of the 2015 season. That means rival NRL clubs can not even…
Sydney Roosters lower grade center Tautau Moga will move to the North Queensland Cowboys before the June 30 deadline in an effort to help the Cowboys get through a crippling injury crisis. Players are allowed to transfer between NRL clubs before June 30 and Moga has been on the lookout for a first grade opportunity…
Wests Tigers fullback James Tedecso has fractured his kneecap during the first tackle of the Wests Tigers clash with the Canberra Raiders. Wests Tigers officials have said the kneecap was fractured and separated and that he will require surgery. The recovery time was estimated to be between 10-12 weeks. Tedesco was injured in a collision…
The following in an official press release from the National Rugby League: The NRL says it has found no evidence of widespread abuse of betting rules in initial investigations into possible breaches of the NRL’s Code of Conduct. Chief Operating Officer Jim Doyle said on Saturday that the Integrity Unit had audited the betting records…
The NRL Integrity Unit is investigating a number of players for allegedly betting on Rugby League games. NRL players, coaches and officials are not allowed to bet on Rugby League games under any circumstances. Even if they bet on games they are not involved in. It is something that is written into their contracts. The…
Blake Ferguson has had his appeal against an indecent assault conviction denied. Significantly however Judge Michael Finnane decided that Ferguson’s bond would be reduced to 12 months and that no conviction would be recorded. Blake Ferguson is currently on the payroll of the Sydney Roosters were he is employed in an “off field” role. Expect…
League Freakosaurus. That is what David Smith and the new NRL regime would have you call me. I’m a dinosaur from a bygone era that wants to watch a tough game of football that occasional see’s two dudes start throwing punches. It is no good for the game. It makes it hard to market the…
There is currently a very troubling story circulating in the rugby league rumour mill that the Canberra Raiders are interested in signing Robert Lui. As a Raiders fan I honestly can’t think of a player in the NRL that I am less interested in bringing to the club. Not just because he’s a mediocre player…