Articles posted on LeagueFreak.com that are written by guest writers.
Bulldogs and NSW five-eighth Josh Reynolds will return for his NRL side this weekend for the first time in seemingly months, and boy have they missed him? The Dogs, on the back of a two game losing streak, have slipped four points behind competition leaders Manly. Although the results and their current ladder position are…
The current he said, she said drama enveloping the Wests Tigers has provided much fodder for newspapers and sports talk shows as the team’s 2014 season slips away. However there is a different element of the club’s off field performance that should really get attention: the clubs remarkable player retention. First a quick anecdote. When…
Round 22 saw a surprise win for relegated Bradford, a comfortable win for Hull KR and the Leeds Rhinos showed that they’re just not the same without captain Kevin Sinfeild, which is expected I guess. Hull FC vs Castleford Tigers Hull FC went into this game with a big score-line put up against them by…
Unfortunately yesterday’s, and today’s headlines have and will be dominated by the off field problems being experienced by the Wests Tigers. In a result that flew under the radar, the Dragons defeated the struggling Tigers 28-12 to further press the Red V’s finals credentials. I now think it it safe to say that the Dragons…
The League Culture Podcast is a new podcast covering Rugby League from all around the world. They look at international representative and club results, various events that are in support of expanding the game, and they talk to the people who are looking to expand the game in new areas of the world. This weeks…
This is getting off to a great start. 3 out of 7 predictions correct and those were the obvious ones! Hull FC vs Castleford, Thursday 24th, 8pm, SKY It’s really not a good season for us Black and Whites. Thank God Bradford didn’t get their six-points deduction revoked or we could’ve been in serious trouble….
The Tigers and Dolphins fronted up at Langlands Park yesterday with two very different agendas; for the Tigers it was about reaffirming their pedigree as a top two side, while for the Dolphins, it was about keeping their season alive. Eighty minutes and 68 points later, the Tigers sit secure in second spot on the…
Less than 48 hours after Wayne Bennett announced he was returning to the Broncos from 2015 onwards, the revitalised Brisbane side have been installed as Premiership favourites next season. Bennett, who will be joined by new recruits Anthony Milford, Mitch Garbutt and probably Darius Boyd, has given punters the ultimate confidence that he can return…
Confusion well and truly reigned today across social media after two seemingly identical 40/20 kicks were treated completely differently. Early in the first half of the Roosters win over the Panthers, Jake Friend landed a beautiful 40/20 kick. His team took the quick tap that is now allowed this season, in a play that resulted…
Tapout Energy Stadium, Coorparoo Sunday 20th, kick off 2pm After nearly a month on the road the Easts Tigers finally return home to Tapout Energy Stadium on Sunday, however this will be no easy homecoming as they face a battered and bruised Redcliffe Dolphins side. For the last two months the Sunshine Coast Falcons have…
As we close in on the NRL final series, everyone is starting to lay down their predictions for the top eight. For mine, the current table makes it a copy and paste job. Sea Eagles, Panthers, Bulldogs, Souths, Roosters, Warriors, Broncos, Storm … There is your top eight. Although I expect the positioning of those…
Round 21 already? This season has flown by and it sucks that there’s not many more games left! Last weekend didn’t really bring any shock results so maybe this weekend will. Leeds vs Castleford, Thursday 17th, 8pm, SKY The first game of the weekend I reckon will be a corker. Leeds had a few of…
Norths Devils v Easts Tigers Bishop Park Sunday 13th July, 3pm Gutsy, gutsy, gutsy. That one word sums up the Tigers win over the Devils on Sunday. In an attempt to break a five game losing streak the Norths Devils bought the heavy artillery, in the form of young behemoths Jarrod Wallace and Francis Molo,…
Last night’s game between the Panthers and the Broncos was without a doubt the best Monday Night game of the season. It may even be THE game of the season. The Panthers suffered injuries to in form winger Josh Mansour as well as livewire backrower turn five-eighth Tyrone Peachey yet had just enough in the…
We’re now 20 rounds in and it is official that the London Broncos will be playing in the Championship next year, with Bradford almost certain to follow. The Broncos have prepared though, and it’s good to see. Round 20 includes a few big score-lines, and a few shock ones, too. Wakefield Wildcats vs Widnes Vikings…
The on again, off again side that is the New Zealand Warriors have finally had more on days lately than off, and it looks like it all comes down to Andrew McFadden. The Warriors have won five of their past six games, including their last three straight. Their latest victory was a scintillating 48-0 win…
The League Culture Podcast is a new podcast covering Rugby League from all around the world. They look at international representative and club results, various events that are in support of expanding the game, and they talk to the people who are looking to expand the game in new areas of the world. This weeks…
The long awaited (by hard core Raiders fans) first grade debut of Jeremy Hawkins will sadly not come this season after the NRL ruled Hawkins out on the basis of the 2nd tier salary cap. Whilst it is disappointing for Hawkins, Raiders fans should not be so quick to blame the hated 2nd tier cap…
Round 19 saw a chain of shock results, including in the Wakefield vs Leeds game, a close win for Catalan and an easy win for the Wigan Warriors. Widnes Vikings vs Castleford Tigers An experiment for both teams before the real important Challenge Cup Semi-Final in Leigh for these two sides. Castleford settled their nerves…
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…
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…
As we approach State of Origin Three, which in terms of the series doesn’t really matter, players seem to be putting their club futures at risk. Josh Morris has taken extraordinary measures to be fit for Origin Three after suffering a potentially season altering injury in the first game of the series. Luke Lewis will…
“One in five Australians are affected by mental illness each year.” My name is Zoe and like many other Australians, I suffer from a mood disorder. I’m raising money for the Black Dog Institute, which is an organisation that assists in the diagnosis of mood disorders, raises awareness through community events and performs mental health…
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…
Round 18 saw one of the biggest derbies in Rugby League take place, a tight win for Leeds and Wakefield secure another important point. Hull KR vs Huddersfield Giants The Thursday night televised game went to this clash, with Hull KR trying to fight their way back into the top 8. The highlight of 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…
The series winning NSW blues have named the side they hope can complete a historic three-nil whitewash in Brisbane next Wednesday night. Josh Morris is back after suffering an unfortunate injury in his heroic Origin One effort and will replace the injured Michael Jennings. Boyd Cordner also comes into the side after missing the first…
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…