When Phil Gould took over the running of the Penrith Panthers Rugby League club he set about the task of rebuilding the club from the ground up. After nearly a decade of poor management the Panthers were a basket case at every single level. Gould looked to bring in a new coach and training staff,…
English born Melbourne Storm five-eighth Gareth Widdop has signed a four year deal to join the St George/Illawarra Dragons from 2014. The deal is said to be for around $500,000 per season. This is the first big name signing the Dragons have made in years. It is also a very brave move by Widdop who…
For over a decade Rugby League in Australia found itself living on a tight budget. The aftermath of the Super League War actually saw salaries shrink considerably. This was followed up by under funding after the game signed off on poor broadcasting deals, and it created a situation in which teams were spending the least amount of…
St George/Illawarra Dragons half Jamie Soward has signed a four year contract with the Penrith Panthers started from 2014. I think this is a very good signing for the Panthers. Soward has a fantastic kicking game. He will bring a cool head and Premiership winning experience to the Panthers halves. It has become clear in…
Former New South Wales and Canberra Raiders fullback Josh Dugan will be playing for St Helens, possibly as soon as next weekend, after contract talks with the Brisbane Broncos broke down on Sunday. Dugan, who was recently sacked by the Canberra Raiders, became embroiled in an argument with Raiders fans on social media on Saturday…
The Penrith Panthers have released Michael Jennings from his contract in a move that has allowed the New South Wales State Of Origin center to sign for the Sydney Roosters on a four year deal. This is a great move for Jennings and the Sydney Roosters. During his entire career at the Panthers Jennings played…
The Salford City Reds are currently fighting financial problems after a number of people, including former players, had to fight the club to get money they were owed. In this environment, youngster Joel Moon decided to leave the club and play for the much more financially sound Leeds Rhinos. One that back for this Salford…
I have just sat down and watch the press conference in Sydney in which the Sydney Roosters announced that they had signed Sonny Bill Williams to a one year deal. The contract has yet to be forwarded to the National Rugby League and there is some concern about the way it come about, with no…
Note: This deal fell through after the NRL salary cap auditor could not give the Eels a ruling on Folau’s true value under the cap. After waiting a while, Folau chose to sign with the Australian Rugby Union. Israel Folau has quit the AFL and will return to Rugby League. Brent Read of The Australian…
Scott Prince will be playing for the Brisbane Broncos next season after securing a release from the Gold Coast Titans. Prince’s contract is for two years and its is an interesting signing by the Broncos because they have Peter Wallace and Corey Norman who play in the halves for them last season. I’ve said a…
A player moves from one club to another during the middle of the NRL season and predictably, the media runs around telling everyone that the sky is falling. The same old reactionary bullshit we have come to expect over the years. Then they wonder why they are all getting sacked! I personally have no problems…
I always find it very interesting when someone within Rugby League tosses up an idea that is used in another sport, when it is clear they have no idea how that idea is applied in that sport, let alone how it would be applied to Rugby League. The latest idea is the draft, and internal…
Wests Tigers forward Gareth Ellis has been granted an early release from his contract enabling him to return home to England at the end of the 2012 NRL season. Ellis is one of only a few English players who looked to come to Australia and test himself in the worlds toughest rugby competition. He has…
Mid way through the 2011 NRL season Chris Sandow signed a massive contract to play for the Parramatta Eels that come under fire by a lot of people who said he simply wasn’t worth it. At the time I wrote an article saying Chris Sandow IS Worth It. On the weekend Brad Fittler was quoted…
Just days after the announcement that James Maloney would not be re-signing with the New Zealand Warriors at the completing of his contract in 2012 comes word that the halfback has signed a three year deal with the Sydney Roosters from 2013. Maloney is a good buy for the Roosters and will partner Mitchell Pearce…
Imagine being a St George/Illawarra player over the last few seasons. You are trying your guts out but its plainly obvious that you don’t have what it takes to win a Premiership. Hell, for nearly a decade the club has been there or there abouts, and they always fall short. So much so that the…
When Petero Civoniceva come to the end of his last contract with the Brisbane Broncos, he was the best prop in the game. He expected to be paid, and the club had always preached loyalty and told him that pay day was coming. It never happened. Petero didn’t want to leave the Broncos, but in…
He had only just arrived back in Australia after being delayed by “Visa Problems” but it didn’t take long for Brian Carney to throw in the towel and retire from Rugby League all together. Carney cited a loss of passion for his sudden retirement and to his credit he said he didn’t want to just…
I’ve written many times before about the shambles that is the Newcastle Knights, club whom it seems only exists for the enjoyment of the playing roster. We’ve seen in the past player revolts because certain players have not been retained. Its amazing to think that only a few years ago the playing roster went berserk…
On the list of the most frustrating footballers I’ve ever seen, Frank Pritchard has got to rank right up there among the very best. For most of the season the fire just doesn’t seem to be there. He is one step slower, he doesn’t have the impact, and quite honestly, he looks like he is…
In 2010 the Rugby League media in Australia has gone bat shit crazy. Between the formation of the Independent Commission, the Melbourne Storm Salary Cap saga, players demanding higher wages and Greg Inglis deciding he wants to live in Brisbane, the media has basically had a nervous breakdown in this part of the world. You…
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…
You’re probably wondering why I have yet to write anything about the news that Mark Gasnier is looking to get out of French Rugby Union and now wants to come back and play in the NRL with the St George/Illawarra Dragons. Its basically because I don’t care either way. Gasnier left the Dragons mid contract…
You see, fans, coaches, club officials and the media can talk as much crap as they like about a player. At the end of the day, as long as he can still play football, he will always come out a winner. As the season draws closer and coaches change their mindset from preparation that will…
This move has been on the cards for a long time but finally, Matt Orford, who is off contract in 2010, well play in the UK for the Bradford Bulls. The Manly Sea Eagles still have a few players off contract for 2010 that they have yet to sign, Orford being the most expensive of…
The Melbourne Storm have agree’d to release workhorse lock Dallas Johnson freeing him up for a lucrative move to the Catalan Dragons in Super League. Johnson has played well at club, State and Test level over his entire career and won his second NRL Title in 2009 with the Melbourne Storm. Johnson is only 26…
The West Tigers have continued to turnover their playing roster by signing former New Zealand Test prop and former Sydney Rooster Jason Cayless. The Tigers forward pack has been one of their major problems in recent years, it has provided little impact against the NRL’s big guns, so Cayless will be a welcome addition to…
Last night Brisbane Broncos suffered the worst loss in the clubs history, a 56-0 thrashing by the Canberra Raiders down in the national capital. You’d had to see it to really understand how terrible the loss was. Canberra led 16-0 at half time and looked to be beating the Broncos quite comfortably. The Raiders have…
The Brisbane Broncos registered Tonie Carroll on Monday with the NRL and have named him on an extended five man bench for this weekend match against the New Zealand Warriors. No, I’m serious! The Broncos are on a bad losing streak and are out of the top 8 after a few months of terrible football,…
There is a bidding war right now going on for the services of St George/Illawarra prop Juston Poore with a few clubs throwing around ridiculous amounts of money for his services. The best part is that Poore is rumored to be leaning towards taking a massive offer from the Sharks, who have no money, but…