News that covers Rugby League in Australia.
I’ve never really rated David Furner as a coach. I think when you look at the Canberra Raiders talent and depth as well as their erratic performances…something wasn’t working. Having said that, the Raiders find themselves in the finals race. In a few weeks time they could be challenging for the NRL title. I’ve written…
Andrew Webster of the Sydney Morning Herald is reporting that the Wests Tigers need a $1 million cash injection to survive. The good news is that the Western Suburbs side of the joint venture is ready to step in and provide the funding, but only in exchange for the controlling votes on the Wests Tigers…
Benji Marshall is one of my favourite Rugby League players. I’m not a Wests Tigers fan but over the years I have watched nearly every game Marshall has played. His combination of incredible footwork and skill is something you rarely see from a playmaker. Marshall has been the best player on the field in so…
The Canberra Raiders are investigating reports that Blake Ferguson was out drinking while injured according to the Sydney Morning Herald. The Raiders, like most team, have rules against players drinking while they are out injured. While Ferguson has admitted being at a pub, but denied drinking while there, you just have to wonder at what…
The Newcastle Knights have been caught red handed wetting the ball before kicking off in an effort to make it more slippery for the reviving team to catch. It is a low, cynical move, and one that isn’t even all that original. This is something that started off in Super League not that long ago…
For well over a decade now there has been talk of an exhibition match between the Australian Kangaroos Rugby League team and the Australian Rugby Unions Mustard Disgrace. The money is supposedly being put up by ANZ Stadium and a mystery broadcaster. The money on offer is supposedly huge. It is something that is brought…
Ben Barba’s move back to Queensland for family reasons is set to be a very lucrative one… The Brisbane Sunday Mail is reporting that the Brisbane Broncos are ready to table a four year deal Ben Barba that will also see the club pay compensation to the Canterbury Bulldogs for the right have the 2012…
You won’t believe this, but after watching his Manly Sea Eagles get beaten by the South Sydney Rabbitohs 22-10 in Gosford on Friday night, Geoff Toovey blew up about the referee’s! “We need to have an investigation into this!” Toovey whinged to gathered journalists who were gleefully waiting to poke the angry bear with a…
The Daily Telegraph is reporting that State Of Origin representative Blake Ferguson will ask the Canberra Raiders for a release from the remaining two years of his contract on compassionate grounds. It is believed Ferguson wants to return to Sydney so that he can be closer to his uncle, Anthony Mundine. The Raiders will no…
I’m not entirely sure what makes a grown man decide he wants to grab another man by the ball sack. I wasn’t a good enough footy player to be able to make a tackle AND have the time to reach for tackle. Even if I had been, its just not something I would personally do….
The New Zealand Herald is reporting that the NZRU has tabled a three year offer to Sonny Bill Williams and that they are quietly confident of securing his services for the 2014 season. The NZ Herald states that Williams has privately told those close to him that he is leaning towards a move away from…
Benji Marshall is one of the highest paid players in the National Rugby League. Even without the upgrade to his contract that he wanted, Marshall gets paid more to play for, and represent the Tigers, than 99% of players that play in the NRL. A component of his contract with not only the Wests Tigers,…
The Melbourne Storm have beaten the South Sydney Rabbitohs 26-8 in a game that showed the Rabbitohs have a a way to go if they really want to mix it with the contenders come finals time. While the Rabbitohs were missing John Sutton and Greg Inglis, two of their better players, there were signs throughout…
Rugby League Weeks The Mole is reporting that the St George/Illawarra Dragons are chasing the services of Huddersfield Giants forward Eorl Crabtree. Crabtree is a giant front rower who stands at 6 ft 6 in. He has played his entire career with the Huddersfield Giants where he has earned 13 test caps for England. I’m…
Cronulla Sharks fans need to prepare themselves for the worst case scenario. Right now we are seeing the ASADA investigation into the alleged use of performance enhancing drugs among NRL players gain traction. When you stand back and look at the big picture it is clear that the end game is almost here. The club…
The Sydney Daily Telegraph is reporting that customs officials seized the phones of Cronulla Sharks captain Paul Gallen and Manly Sea Eagles forward Anthony Watmough in separate incidents in relation to the either the ASADA or ACC investigations into alleged performance enhancing drug use in sport. Officials are alleged to have downloaded information off both…
National Rugby League players want to have their cake and eat it too. Play well and you get a big, long term contract. You get financial security and the backing of a Rugby League club that spends it own money marketing you and raising your profile. If you feel like moving though, fuck em! Ditch…
Next years NRL All Star Game could be scrapped with concerns over player burnout and a crowded fixture list worrying clubs according to the Daily Telegraph. A final decision will be made at a meeting of NRL CEO’s this week with the proposed Rugby League 9’s competition in Auckland expected to take priority over the…
Paul Gallen has broken ranks and gained his own legal representation according to the Daily Telegraph. There is talk that Gallen believes he will be a major target of the ASADA investigators if only for the fact that he would be the biggest scalp for them to claim. I said from day one that players…
The game is tied and there is not much time left on the clock. Both teams work for field position and start taking shots at field goals. Welcome to the world in which Golden Point Extra Time does not exist! No one likes going home having watched a draw. I hate draws. I don’t watch…
The Newcastle Knights currently cling on to 8th spot on the NRL ladder with four other teams chasing them. One of those teams is the Brisbane Broncos who currently sit in 12th place on the ladder, 4 competition points behind the Knights. A loss tonight would see the Broncos fall 6 points behind 8th spot…
Josh Dugan will resign with the St George/Illawarra Dragons through until the end of 2017 according to the Sydney Morning Herald. This news comes on the back of a push from the Canterbury Bulldogs to sign Dugan as a replacement for Ben Barba, who is almost certain to leave the club at the end of…
The 2013 nominees for the prestigious ken Stephen medal have been announced today. The medal is awarded to players to recognize work done in the NRL’s One Community program. Every team except the South Sydney Rabbitohs are represented in the nominees list. The Rabbitohs chose not to nominate any individual player in their club. It…
The National Rugby League Integrity Unit has cleared Newcastle Knights owner Nathan Tinkler of any wrong doing in regards to a bet he placed on the Newcastle Knights in 2011. Tinkler placed the bet just a few days after assuming control of the Knights and soon after reported the best to the NRL and to…
Shaun Johnson is under contract with the New Zealand Warriors until the end of the 2014 season. That hasn’t stopped the Penrith Panthers from making the young halfback a massive offer that would make him one of the highest paid players in the game. There has been a lot of speculation about Johnson’s future at…
The Daily Telegraph is reporting that Newcastle Knights owner Nathan Tinkler is being investigated by the NRL Integrity Unit for allegedly betting on NRL fixtures. The NRL has very strict rules that prohibit players and officials from betting on Rugby League. The news comes on the back of a report on the ABC’s Four Corners…
When Rugby League gained independence and gained control over its own destiny, it was seen as a great day for the sport in Australia. The game was once again able to stand on its own two feet. It was able to set its own agenda. It was able to control its own future and it…
The power of Christ compels you! The power of Christ compels you! Ah the Canterbury Bulldogs. Another day, another drama… The Bulldogs have been forced to look for a new venue for for their August 30th clash against the Penrith Panthers after ANZ Stadium deems that an AFL game took priority over the Bulldogs match….
It is going to be very difficult for Sonny Bill Williams to avoid being suspend for a high shot on Willie Mason that occurred in the Roosters 28-12 win over the Newcastle Knights. The shot he put on Mason was high and hard. It was enough to stun Mason and it was put on report…
After the New Zealand Warriors impressive 30-22 win over the defending premiers the Melbourne Storm, I think it is time to ask if the Warriors are a true threat to take out the Grand Final this year. After an abysmal start to the season which saw the club take a record breaking beating from the…