Earlier today, LeagueFreak.com guest writer Daniel Nichols spoke to Contender Champion and the man who will stand across the ring from former World Champion Daniel Geale on Feb 19th, Garth Wood. Below is a sample of the interview that covers the upcoming fight, Garth’s time on the Contender, Daniel Geale’s comments that made this personal, and…
For the first time in it’s history, the NRL’s most illustrious trial game, the Charity Shield will be heading south to Win Stadium in Wollongong. The reason it is not being played at ANZ Stadium or Allianz Stadium, as it has been in the past, is due to an Eminem concert at ANZ Stadium, and…
With all the excitement about the upcoming NRL Trials and 9s tournament, a huge story seems to have been over looked, the appointment of Tony Archer as the referee’s boss. Ok so it’s not a huge story and most people won’t care beyond knowing who to abuse on social media when their team hard done…
In a huge development yesterday, the Penrith Panthers announced the immediate signing of former NSW centre Jamal Idris, with Brad Tighe heading to the Gold Coast in return. Just two years ago, Idris was THE marquee signing for the Titans, as they offered him huge money and a long term contract to fight off offers…
The Auckland 9’s tournament’s credibility has taken a hit with the announcement that Rooster’s legend Brad Fittler is set to come out of retirement to play in the 2 day event. No doubt tournament organisers will be high fiving from the caviar rooms in their private jets as the announcement has rocketed the tournament into…
NRL Ceo David Smith has been in the job for almost a year now and reports during the week announced that the NRL’s bank balance has never looked better. It has been a very difficult year for everyone involved with the competition with the whole ASADA saga, as well as the usual (and unusual) off…
Daniel Nichols continues his series of season reviews. Today, the Melbourne Storm are in the firing line! Finished: 3rd Predicted: 3rd Fan Prediction: Top 3 Where It Went Right: Another year, another run deep into the finals. Doom and gloom was forecast after the salary cap penalties were forced upon the Melbourne side, however those…
In his ongoing series of season reviews Daniel Nichols today looks back on the Manly Sea Eagles season. Finished: 4th Predicted: 8th Fan Prediction: 4th Where It Went Right: When Manly lost Trent Hodkinson to the Bulldogs, fans were worried they had lost a long term partner for Keiran Foran, however as soon as Daly…
After a month long tournament, we arrive at the second of 3 games that really matter, the final. The dream rematch from the 2008 World Cup final that saw the Kiwis upset the heavily favoured home side has eventuated and people across the Tasman are gearing up to stay up to watch the top 2…
38 year old Solomon Haumono has quietly put together an impressive sporting resume. He played over 100 games at NRL level across 4 different clubs as well as playing almost 50 games in the English Super League. Haumono having also represented his state in the Super League Origin Tri Series and famously represented both Australia…
In his ongoing series of season reviews, Daniel Nichols looks back on the Cronulla Sharks season. Finished: 5th Predicted: 4th Fan Prediction: Top 4 Where It Went Right: On field, this was the Sharks best season since 2008 as they ventured into the second week of the finals. Off field the club managed to sign…
Daniel Nichols looks back on the Newcastle Knights season in his ongoing series of season reviews. Finished: 7th Predicted: 7th Fan Prediction: 5th-6th Where It Went Right: Supercoach Wayne Bennett almost did it again. A month before the finals, not even the most committed Knights fan would have told you they’d be within 80 minutes…
Daniel Nichols continues his series if season reviews. This time it is the North Queensland Cowboys turn! Finished: 8th Predicted: 5th Fan Prediction: Top 3 Where It Went Right: We all know how the season ended for the Cowboys. 7 tackle try aside, the Cowboys should never have been in a position where a refereeing…
Daniel Nichols continues his NRL clubs reviews. Today he looks back on the Gold Coast Titans season. Finished: 9th Predicted: 13th Fan Prediction: Top 8 Where It Went Wrong: If not for a horrible injury toll at the club, the Titans may have been playing finals footy in 2013. Superstar centre Jamal Idris was the…
Daniel Nichols continues his NRL season reviews. Today it is the Penrith Panthers in the spotlight. Finished: 10th Prediction: 16th Fan Prediction: 12th What Went Wrong: Before the season started the Panthers sent superstar centre Michael Jennings to the Roosters, and even paid a majority of his wage to do so. Fans were understandably angry,…
The Cronulla Sharks released their 2014 membership packages yesterday, and have stated they are looking to increase on their 10,000 members from 2013. Despite the ASADA cloud hanging over the club, and reports in mainstream news suggesting the club may have to relocate in the future, the club is in a good spot. They finished…
In his continuing series of NRL club season reviews, Daniel Nichols looks at the New Zealand Warriors. Finished: 11th Predicted: 12th Fan Prediction: 5th-8th What Went Wrong: 2013 was a Jekyll and Hyde year for the New Zealand Warriors. The Warriors lost their first three games, including an embarrassing 40-10 loss to eventual wooden spooners…
Daniel Nichols looks back at the 2013 NRL season for all 16 clubs. Today he looks backs at the Brisbane Broncos season. Finished: 12th Predicted: 10th Fan Prediction: 4th What Went Wrong: The Broncos started the year by signing experienced halfback Scott Prince in hope he would add some experience and composure to a halves…
Daniel Nichols looks back at the 2013 NRL season for all 16 clubs. Today he looks backs at the Canberra Raiders season. Finished: 13th Predicted: 9th Fan Prediction: Top 8 What Went Wrong: Canberra finished 13 in a season that promised so much. This was to be the year Terry Campese finally lived up to…
Daniel Nichols looks back at the 2013 NRL season for all 16 clubs. Today he looks backs at the St George/Illawarra Dragons season. Finished: 14th Predicted: 14th Fan Prediction: 6th What Went Wrong: What a difference 2 years can make. Under Wayne Bennett the Dragons won their first ever premiership as a joint venture and…
Daniel Nichols looks back at the 2013 NRL season for all 16 clubs. Today he looks backs at the Wests Tigers season. Finished: 15th Predicted: 11th Fan Prediction: Finals Where it Went Wrong: 7 wins in a season that again saw the Tigers miss the top 8, even the biggest Tigers fan would admit that…
Daniel Nichols looks back at the 2013 NRL season for all 16 clubs. In his first instalment he looks back on the Parramatta Eels. Finished: 16th Predicted: 15th Fan Prediction: 10th Where It Went Wrong: Just about everywhere for the long suffering Eels fans. Star player Jarryd Hayne was injured for long periods of the…
Grand final day is now only 2 sleeps away and the betting agencies and fans alike have the Roosters are solid favourites over the Manly Sea Eagles. Twitter seems to be fairly split, and even neutrals have decided which way they will lend their support on Sunday evening. My wife is a Manly fan (I…
With the 2 best sides in the competition ready to do battle for the NRL Premiership on Sunday evening, looking at both sides, 2 things stand out; the quality of each side’s halves and their outside backs. I’d go so far as to say the two sides possess the best outside backs in the entire…
With the Dally M awards set to take place tomorrow, it’s time to take a look at the players I believe make up the team of the year this season. Officially there’s only one player award per position, and for the record the player listed first is the person I believe will win the positional…
With the Manly Sea Eagles beating the Bunnies earlier tonight (or yesterday depending on when this hits the website) it came to my attention that South Sydney fans cannot sell their overpriced, unwanted Grand Final tickets due to the NRL’s RIDICULOUS buyback policy. For those who haven’t heard, the “buy back” policy is for those…
You simply could not have scripted it any better, 2 fierce rivals battling it out in front of a massive crowd for the minor premiership. That is exactly the scene this past Friday night as a crowd of 59,708 witnessed the South Sydney Rabbitohs take on the Sydney Roosters. The pre match build up was…
With the unprecedented success of Sydney teams, 4 finals will be played in the city over next weekend. Due to the fact the AFL have booked ANZ Stadium for the Saturday Night for the Swans home final, the NRL have been ‘forced’ to allocate 2 games to Allianz Stadium on Saturday Night – a finals…
With the ridiculous St Kilda dwarf stunt dominating sports reports and jokes going round on how the NRL can top the stunt, no doubt talk will soon turn to why we should ban Mad Monday. I’m not going to get into that argument as personally I believe Mad Monday is here to stay, but I…
Growing up watching footy with my dad and brothers, one fixture each week stood out, the long lost Saturday afternoon game. I remember sitting watching the old non flat screen television (yes they once existed) in the back room watching Channel 2 as the Wests Magpies took on the Illawarra Steelers. Good times. I am…