World Cup
Without a doubt, Australia are the strongest rugby league nation in the world. The National Rugby League (NRL) is a class above England’s Super League – although the British sides are catching up. The influx of Australians now plying their trade in Super League has helped to develop the game over in England and Wayne…
Australia have dominated world rugby league throughout the professional era, from the World Club Challenges, through to the international stage, where they have won three of the last four World Cups since 1995. The 15th Rugby League World Cup is just around the corner, with Australia set to host the event alongside New Zealand and…
In the past I have been critical of the “Women In League” movement by the National Rugby League simply because I think it too focused on having high profile media events and morning teas and it didn’t really focus on, you know, women who actually play Rugby League and those who are involved in Rugby…
It wasn’t that long ago that Rugby League was a really ambitious sport that was willing to take itself to the world and dare them to not enjoy the game. Unfortunately that sense of adventure Rugby League once had died off during The Super League War, and it was replaced with cynicism and conservative thinking….
England host New Zealand in a test series at seasons end in what will be a bit of an afterthought for Rugby League as it struggles with the demands of club football and the need to have a relevant international scene. New Zealand will no doubt send over a bits and pieces team to take…
No one seems happy with the way international Rugby League is being run right now. The eligibility rules are completely ridiculous and need changed, the scheduling of games is terrible, one off test matches give erratic results and too many one sided contest, basically no one likes the way anything is being run. The only…
In my entire lifetime I have only ever seen the Australian Rugby League team played really poorly once. In the 2005 Tri Nations final Australia were terrible against New Zealand. They lost the game 24-0 and in that they lost their first series of any kind since 1978. In every other game and series I…
Reports suggest that Sonny Bill Williams will “boycott” the New Zealand team team if they select him in the ANZAC Test against Australia. Williams is apparently unhappy at being named in a report about the alleged abuse of prescription drugs in the New Zealand camp during the 2013 World Cup campaign. The official report found…
He was the young English bloke living is the shadow of Rugby League giants down in Melbourne. Now that Gareth Widdop has a team of his own to run at the St George/Illawarra Dragons, he is showing he might very well be a giant of the game himself. Widdop’s form has been sensational for the…
The Rugby League International Federation has announced that Australia and New Zealand will jointly host the 2017 Rugby League World Cup. They beat a bid put in from South Africa who were always at long odds to host the tournament. It will be interesting to see where the final is hosted, although you would guess…
There is no doubt that at representative level, Johnathan Thurston’s record is incredible. You can not deny his impact on Queensland’s historic State Of Origin winning run. Throw in his fantastic record at international level, that now include that elusive World Cup victory, and Thurston has done it all at rep level where the great…
English Rugby League fans rejoice, for as Steve McNamara goes, so to do your hopes and dreams! McNamara spoke to News Limited about his move to the NRL Champion Sydney Roosters as an assistant coach, saying his move to Australia is a good thing for the English game. McNamara’s highest honour as a coach is…
The following is an interview conducted with new Spanish Rugby League coach Darren Fisher that has been sent out by Espana Rugby League. Enjoy! Darren Fisher, Spanish Rugby League coach, responded to his first Rugby League questions in Spain on the Balon Oval website with Juan Maria Garcia Talona. 1. Good morning Mr Fisher, the…
Australia has completely dominated New Zealand at Old Trafford and reclaimed the Rugby League World Cup by a score line of 34-2. The Kangaroo’s were at their clinical best throughout the match. From the very first minute their brutal defense put the Kiwi’s under pressure and they didn’t let up until the final siren sounded….
And so we meet again… If you think the 2013 Rugby League World Cup final is just another game, you are very much mistaken. This game is carrying a legacy for many of the greatest players in a generation. This game will dictate whether or not history will look back on certain players and judge…
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…
First of all how good is the 2013 Rugby League World Cup? Brilliant crowds, Brilliant Coverage, Stronger competitions, Career Finales, Unearthed Superstars and most important re-igniting the passion of the fans for International Football even the unfeeling machine that runs this website has asked Dave Smith for more internationals. The Rugby League World Cup despite…
In a big blow for the New Zealand team, Frank Pritchard has been left out of the Kiwi’s World Cup final squad due to injury. Pritchard has been battling a hamstring injury for the last couple of weeks. He was absent in the Kiwi’s semi final win over England. His size, mobility and ball playing…
Billy Slater is all but assured of a return from injury in the World Cup final against New Zealand after Tim Sheens named him in the Kangaroo’s 19 man squad. Slater has been working hard to overcome a knee injury in recent weeks. His addition to the squad means that it is all but certain…
New Zealand skipper, Kieran Foran, admits he will have to be at his best if he is to outfox Manly half-back partner, Daly Cherry-Evans, in Saturday’s World Cup final against Australia. The pair recently guided the Sea Eagles to the NRL Grand Final but they will be on opposite sides in the clash at Old…
It is a replay of the 2008 World Cup final that was famously won by New Zealand. The Australian side will go into the game as favourites but with a lot of pressure knowing that for many of them, this is their last opportunity to win a World Cup. I have said for a long…
From South Africa to Wembley Stadium, England’s 2013 Rugby League World Cup buildup and results were interesting to say the least. The Rugby Football League invested a lot of time, money and effort to make sure that England got the best preparation for the 2013 World Cup. No team that has come before had a…
The Australian Kangaroo’s have beaten Fiji 64-0 to book a place in the 2013 Rugby League World Cup final. It is hard to write about such a one sided match. Australia were obviously brilliant in attack while their defense once again saw them shut an opponent out. Australia have not conceded a try since their…
The World Champion New Zealand Kiwi’s will contest their third straight Rugby League World Cup final after a thrilling 20-18 win over England at Wembley Stadium. England played well in the first half while New Zealand just didn’t look themselves. The loss of Frank Pritchard to injury was a big blow to the New Zealand…
Continuity is a very important thing in sport. The ability to settle on a lineup and make the fewest changes you can possibly get away with has seen many sporting teams over the years beat more talented rivals who chopped and changed their lineup for what ever reason. In the 2013 Rugby League World Cup…
When Sydney Daily Telegraph writer Phil Rothfield decided to list 62 reasons why the 2013 Rugby League World Cup was terrible, I defended him. I honestly believe that the sport can react too quickly to criticism. I think sometimes Rugby League needs to realise that it can do things better. That there is room for…
Australia has beaten the United States 62-0 to book a place in the World Cup semi finals. Brett Morris and Jarryd Hayne both scored 4 tries each, but the big news was that Billy Slater left the field early in the second half after aggravating a knee injury he has carried all season. Slater will…
Daly Cherry-Evans looks like has has secured the bench utility spot in Australia’s World Cup team with Robbie Farah dropped from the squad named to take on the United States this weekend. While Australia named a 20 man squad, Farah was still unable to find a place in the side. Cherry-Evans form has been sensational…
New Zealand has smashed Papua New Guinea 56-10 in Leeds. The Kiwi’s started in ominous fashion by scoring a try after just 2 minutes. They backed that up with a second try after just 6 minutes. I could go on and tell you about every try scoring play the New Zealand team had in the…
Scotland has come back from an 8-0 halftime deficit to beat the United States by a scoreline of 22-8. The first half was a real arm wrestle with the United States getting the better of things through a better completion rate. Their first two tries really put the pressure on Scotland and it caused them…