News that covers Rugby League in Australia.
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…
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…
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…
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
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…
Manly Sea Eagles forward Richard Fa’aoso has been forced to retire at the age of 29 due to a neck injury he sustained at the conclusion of the 2013 NRL season. Fa’aoso made his first grade debut for the Penrith Panthers in 2004 and played 155 first grade games for six different NRL clubs. Fa’aoso…
The Newcastle Knights have named their 2014 Auckland 9’s squad. Captained by Jarrod Mullen, the site has a number of their first graders in the team including Willie Mason: Chanel Mata’utia Jake Mamo Dane Gagai Joseph Leilua Akuila Uate Jarrod Mullen (c) Tyrone Roberts Willie Mason Adam Clydsdale Chris Houston Beau Scott Robbie Rochow Jeremy…
Blake Ferguson’s lawyer has come out firing at the National Rugby League, blaming a “culture that’s embedded with alcohol” for his clients behaviour. Adam Houda, who represented Blake Ferguson at the sentencing hearing that saw the former Shark given a two year good behaviour bond for indecent assault, didn’t mince words outside of the court…
Blake Ferguson has been handed a two year good behaviour bond at his sentencing hearing after being found guilty of indecent assault. Ferguson was found guilty of indecently assaulting a woman in a night club last month. Now that Ferguson has avoided a jail sentence it will be interesting to see how clubs and the…
The Sunday Telegraph is reporting that Sam Burgess may opt out of his contract with the South Sydney Rabbitohs in 2015 and play Rugby Union for England at the Rugby Union World Cup. The Rugby Football Union in England has been desperate to boost their playing stocks in recent years. This has seen them target…
The NRL has brought in a list of new rule changes and rule interpretations ahead of the 2014 season. While some of these rules will be good and help move the game along, other just seem like change for changes sake. The new rules that have been brought in for the 2014 NRL season are:…
Phil Gould will remain at the Penrith Panthers through to the end of 2017 in a deal which will allow him to finish a rebuilding job he started. Gould has made a number of changes at the club with the biggest being signing coach Ivan Cleary from the New Zealand Warriors. While the Panthers have…
North Queensland Cowboys star Johnathan Thurston has flagged the idea that the NRL Grand Final should be played two weeks after the semi finals, with the NRL All Star Game played during the week off. This is a similar set up to the one the NFL uses where the Superbowl is played two weeks after…
There is no doubt that at representative level, Johnathan Thurston’s record is incredible. You can not deny his impact on Queensland’s historic State Of Origin winning run. Throw in his fantastic record at international level, that now include that elusive World Cup victory, and Thurston has done it all at rep level where the great…
Newcastle Knights forward Willie Mason has been charged with drink driving after allegedly blowing over the legal limit while on his way to training on Monday morning. Mason will face court on February the 20th. It is unfortunate timing for Mason who was one of the big names promoting the Auckland 9’s next month. Based…
South Sydney youngster Luke Keary will meet with NRL Head Of Football Todd Greenberg in an effort to break the brand new State Of Origin eligibility rules and play for Queensland. Keary, who under the new rules qualifies only to play for New South Wales, is being supported by the Queensland Rugby League. There is…
In a case of “What the hell are they thinking?”, the South Sydney Rabbitohs have signed Lote Tuqiri to a one season contract. Tuqiri has recently been playing Rugby Union in Ireland where he found himself the focus of the media for for alleged extra curricular activity. Lote Tuqiri’s last stint in the NRL was…
Andrew Webster of the Sydney Morning Herald is reporting that Penrith Panthers fullback James Roberts has broken his ankle at training this afternoon. Roberts was not only expected to feature in the Panthers Auckland 9’s side but was also a big chance of cementing the number 1 jersey in first grade this season. A broken…
Would you be shocked if I told you that Queensland was whinging once again about State Of Origin eligibility rules? This time the issue surrounds South Sydney youngster Luke Keary. Keary was born in Queensland but moved to New South Wales at a young enough age that he no longer qualifies to play for Queensland….
The Charity Shield will be played outside of Sydney for the first time in its history after organizers of the match ran into the perfect storm in terms of scheduling conflicts. With the World Club Challenge and a concert to contend with, the Charity Shield match between the South Sydney Rabbitohs and the St George/Illawarra…
Daniel Lane of the Sydney Morning Herald is reporting that Paul Gallen will make his boxing debut on the 19th of February, just weeks before the Cronulla Sharks season kickoff against the Gold Coast Titans on the 10th of March. It is a very strange decision by Gallen to take part in the bout just…
English Rugby League fans rejoice, for as Steve McNamara goes, so to do your hopes and dreams! McNamara spoke to News Limited about his move to the NRL Champion Sydney Roosters as an assistant coach, saying his move to Australia is a good thing for the English game. McNamara’s highest honour as a coach is…
When you lead a club to a Premiership, and then a couple of seasons later you are told you can leave that same club mid season because they simply don’t want you any more, that is not something anyone should take lightly. Similarly, if you are a halfback for a club that has one of…
The following is an official press release from the Newcastle Knights: The Newcastle Knights met with Russell Packer on Sunday, the first opportunity since his custodial sentence was issued last Monday. In accordance with Club Policy, Packer has been formally advised his employment has been terminated, effective immediately. “There was never any doubt we would…
Jamal Idris has received a release from the Gold Coast Titans and will join the Penrith Panthers on a three year contract. The Titans released Idris on compassionate grounds after he did not attend the clubs first training session of the year. It is being reported that Idris is homesick and wanted to return to…