“We’re unstoppable in Australian sport and the next 17 days gives us another opportunity to demonstrate that.” When David Gallop made that bold claim to gathered media last month I knew immediately that those words would come back to haunt him. When he followed them up by saying “I think the proper Cricket kind of…
News that the Penrith Panthers tried to buy the Western Sydney Wanderers came as a shock to me. I am in the unique position of being a supporter of both the Penrith Panthers and the Western Sydney Wanderers. I’ve lived in Western Sydney all of my life and grew up playing both sports. I would…
The Sydney Daily Telegraph is reporting that the Penrith Panthers made an expression of interest to a company charged with finding a buying for A League club the Western Sydney Wanderers, only for the FFA to step in and deny the the move. The move is a curious one when you consider the amount of…
It was only March 14 this year when I wrote about the Canberra Raiders sacking Josh Dugan following the infamous roof top drinking session with his partner in crime Blake Ferguson. While Ferguson copped and find, a week in reserve grade and seemed to see the episode as a turning point in his career, Dugan…
Depression – It is a word that has a different meaning to many different people. To those who suffer from it, it is a daily burden and something to manage in order to prevent further health implications. To those who are ignorant of it, it is a disease for the weak minded and those who…
Former English soccer captain David Beckham is reportedly being shopped around to A League soccer clubs for a ten game guest stint to after he has completed his Major League Soccer commitments in the United States in two weeks time. The 37 year old’s presence would be a huge boost to the A League and…
For well over a decade now the game of Rugby League in Australia has been crying out for a strategic plan. Something that the game can work towards to give fans, players and various investors in the sport something they can look forward to. Basically the game needed to build towards something, and so today…
Canberra Raiders youngster Josh Papalii has turned his back on New Zealand after being recruited by Queensland coach Mal Meninga to represent a state he once used to live in. Meninga has openly talked for a year about pressuring Papalii to turn his back on the country of his birth and that was helped along by the…
Yesterday the RFL announced that it would be ending its naming rights deal with Stobart that saw them give away one of their biggest assets for stickers on trucks. It is interesting to look at the reaction to the news and the way some people have tried to defend the deal or revise their previous…
The Rugby Football League should be on the phone right now to David Gallop and offering him the role as RFL Chairman along with a sizable contract. During David Gallops time in charge of the NRL he always pushed three major idea’s and never wavered on their importance. Gallop resisted calls to raise the salary…
In what is being described as a “mutual decision” made in conjunction with the Australian Rugby League Commission, David Gallop has decided to stand down as the CEO of the NRL only 4 months into a four year contract. I think it was time. David Gallop took over, reluctantly, as the NRL CEO in 2002…
So the NRL Referees have used Brad Fittler to get around their bosses, Bill Harrigan and Stuart Raper, to contact NRL CEO David Gallop and tell him they no longer have confidence in Harrigan and Raper. Hmmm… Firstly, what is David Gallop doing even sitting down at that meeting. Aside from the fact that Brad…
It took a long time but they finally got it done. The old ARL has been dissolved, News Limited has left the building and now the Independent Commission is finally in charge under the name of the Australian Rugby League Commission. The handover occurred yesterday at Moore Park in Sydney where the new HQ for…
Well its that time of the year again when Santa going on the worlds largest break and enter spree. We don’t mind it because he leaves presents. Now, Santa spends all year making a list. Then, he checks it twice. He want to find out who’s naughty and who is nice. Personally, I think the…
It was a fantastic week of Rugby League and one that will be remembered for some time. The Warriors vs Tigers game was fantastic. The Broncos vs Dragons game was even better! There were so many great stories as a backdrop to these games as well. It is what makes this time of the year…
David Gallop has the toughest job in sport. He is the leading figure in a sport he is not the leading figure in. He is an administrator who only took up the job as NRL CEO until the powers that be found someone who could take up the role over on a longer term basis….
The other day I sat down to watch a press conference in Brazil where the UFC were promotion their first big event in the biggest country in South America. UFC President Dana White said that it had been a long time coming, and would mark the start of regular events in Brazil, which provides some…
No doubt you have all read about the blowup this week by Phil Gould after some squiggles he wrote on a piece of paper at a recent meeting between all NRL club CEO’s and Chairman was “leaked” to the media. Gould felt like it was a personal attack on him by “someone” at the NRL…
Why do we have a salary cap? Two reasons. Firstly, in the game of Rugby League we need to stop our moronic club administrators from over spending. Pushed by ego, the need to make themselves seem like they are doing their job and therefore, being safe in their own job, administrators have no problems spending…
Darren Lockyer is upset. Darren Lockyer doesn’t like whats going on. Darren Lockyer wants things changed. Darren Lockyer is emo! The Sydney Telegraph is reporting today that Darren Lockyer Thinks The Dragons Deal For Mark Gasnier is unfair. He doesn’t like the fact that the Dragons are looking to sign Gasnier for around $50,000 for the remainder…
When I was four years old, the Cronulla Sharks were my favorite team. The reason was because I liked the Sharks logo, it was cool. In fact my first every footy jersey is a tiny little Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks jersey. When I went to primary school a year or so later, my favorite players was a…
A Christmas, don’t you just love this time of year? Its stinking hot, beach weather, thunderstorms rolls out of the west from over the Blue Mountains, you put up a Christmas tree and decorate your house. You go into debt buying presents, you send cards to people. I have to say my favorite part is…
Its a rare club that one can never, ever leave. In fact it was so rare that until recently there was only one member. Now, Nate Myles has shat his way into Rugby League folk law. It not eye gouging, its not drug taking, its not foul play ever even being a poor player. Its…
Facing the loss of three key players heading into 2008, the Brisbane Broncos have been making a lot of noise about the need to bring in salary cap concessions for players that have been at a club for over 8 years. The NRL currently allows a $100,000 concession for long serving players, but like most…
So the Warriors deliberately and systematically cheated the salary cap. They turned themselves in and were willing to cop the punishment. Somehow, the NRL decided to only take 4 premiership points away from their 2006 total. Thats like taking the free points from the bye away….a NOTHING penalty. And yet, according to some media outlets,…