The Melbourne Storm have announced their 2014 Auckland 9’s squad. The team does not include any of the “big three” and relies heavily on non first grade players: William Chambers Sisa Waqa Joel Romelo Mahe Fonua Matt Duffie Young Tonumaipea Mitch Garbutt Justin O’Neill Tohu Harris Matthew Lodge Kevin Proctor Ryan Hoffman (c) Slade Griffin…
In what has to be one of the most ridiculous things a current administrator has ever said, NRL Chief Operating Officer Jim Doyle has told the Sydney Morning Herald that he would like to see Rugby League 9’s turned into a hybrid game. While speaking of the potential to expand Rugby League 9’s into a…
Rugby League trial games don’t mean a great deal in the grand scheme of things. No one should look too much into the results. Their main function is to help bring players up to match fitness and maybe work on a few combinations heading into the new season. Still, that hasn’t stopped Geoff Toovey from…
The New Zealand Warriors have re-signed halfback Shaun Johnson through to the end of the 2017 season. It is great news for the club heading into the start of a new season. I’m a big fan of Shaun Johnson. His re-signing with the Warriors is good news for Rugby League. He gives the Warriors a…
We’re almost there. The First Utility Super League is almost upon us, with the 2013 Grand-Final winners taking on the 2013 League Leaders in the first game of the Super League 2014. It could be one of the best games of the year, even though it’s only round 1, with Huddersfield Giants who will want…
Rumors abound that Sam Burgess is seeking a release from his South Sydney Rabbitohs contract to return to the UK to play Rugby Union. As a result he has been mercilessly attacked by the Rugby League community for being a ‘dog’ and ‘stabbing Souths in the back’. Essentially the (source-less) reports without quote or fact…
The Fullback position is a very important position in the modern Rugby League game, creating tries, stopping them and creating something out of nothing is just a few of the important things they have to deal with in every game. Many people argue that the Fullback position is the toughest and most important position on…
I want to start this article by giving some background on myself. I will do this so people cannot respond saying that I am one-eyed or biased or don’t know what I am talking about. I am from Wales, a Union country, and grew up playing Rugby Union. I played the game to a reasonably…
The news that Sam Burgess has told Rabbitohs management that he will be heading to England to play Rugby Union next season has taken off across all the media websites and social media. The general feeling amongst Souths fans is that he has stabbed the club in the back, and our very own League Freak…
Reports out of England suggest that South Sydney Rabbitohs forward Sam Burgess has already signed a three year deal with the English Rugby Football Union that will see him playing Rugby Union for Bath by the end of 2014. Former English Rugby League player Andrew Farrell is said to have helped negotiate the deal during…
The Sydney Morning Herald is reporting that former Cronulla Sharks player Broderick Wright has informed that embattled club that he plans to sue them for negligence, breach of contract and intentional tort. Intentional tort is a category of torts that describes a civil wrong resulting from an intentional act on the part of the tortfeasor….
The Cronulla Sharks have named a very strong looking team for the 2014 Auckland 9’s. Many have suggested the Sharks will go all out to win the Nines and use the prize money to wipe out their find handed down by the NRL. Judging by this lineup, they will go close: Nathan Gardner Nathan Stapleton…
As much as we may choose not to believe it as fans, often the fate of our clubs can boil down to the fortunes of just one man. These people can be superstars or workhorses, forwards or backs – but their fate is linked inextricably to that of their club. So with the 2014 season…
The Canberra Raiders have announced their 2014 Auckland 9’s squad. Captained by Jarrod Croker, the side is an interesting mix of players: Jarrod Croker (c) Reece Robinson Mitch Cornish Bill Tupou Matt McIlwrick Joel Edwards Glen Buttriss Tom Learoyd-Lahrs Jarrad Kennedy Mark Nicholls Jake Foster Lagi Setu Mitch Cronin Luke Bateman Jack Ahearn Andrew Heffernan
South Sydney. No two words in Rugby League history have ever garnered such pride and passion and equal part disappointment and ridicule. Throughout formative years of Australian Rugby League the Rabbitohs were truly the pride of the league. Their 20 premiership wins far eclipsing all other comers. So impressive is that haul that after 43…
Somebody once said that it doesn’t matter who coaches the Wallabies because they’re never going to be better than the All Blacks. It’s true, of course. And the same thing can be said about the Kiwis league team. The fact that they are sounding out interest for a new head coach continues to go under…
Some great news for South Sydney today with coach Michael Magure extending his contract at the club through to the end of the 2017 season. Maguire would have been highly sought after by a number of NRL clubs. His decision to stay is great news for the Bunnies who have improved to be one of…
Manly Sea Eagles forward Richard Fa’aoso has been forced to retire at the age of 29 due to a neck injury he sustained at the conclusion of the 2013 NRL season. Fa’aoso made his first grade debut for the Penrith Panthers in 2004 and played 155 first grade games for six different NRL clubs. Fa’aoso…
The Newcastle Knights have named their 2014 Auckland 9’s squad. Captained by Jarrod Mullen, the site has a number of their first graders in the team including Willie Mason: Chanel Mata’utia Jake Mamo Dane Gagai Joseph Leilua Akuila Uate Jarrod Mullen (c) Tyrone Roberts Willie Mason Adam Clydsdale Chris Houston Beau Scott Robbie Rochow Jeremy…
Blake Ferguson’s lawyer has come out firing at the National Rugby League, blaming a “culture that’s embedded with alcohol” for his clients behaviour. Adam Houda, who represented Blake Ferguson at the sentencing hearing that saw the former Shark given a two year good behaviour bond for indecent assault, didn’t mince words outside of the court…
Blake Ferguson has been handed a two year good behaviour bond at his sentencing hearing after being found guilty of indecent assault. Ferguson was found guilty of indecently assaulting a woman in a night club last month. Now that Ferguson has avoided a jail sentence it will be interesting to see how clubs and the…
The NRL has a lot of talented wingers. Each winger has their own unique finishing and lots of them are exciting to watch. Some argue wing is one of the hardest positions, having to be one of the fastest, fittest and always have to be switched on as you never know when you will be…
News doing the rounds early this morning was that adult dating site (more specifically a website that encourages married people to have affairs) has offered the Cronulla Sharks a massive 10 year sponsorship package that will go a long way to turning the club’s finances around. The offer includes the complete payment of the 1…
The Sunday Telegraph is reporting that Sam Burgess may opt out of his contract with the South Sydney Rabbitohs in 2015 and play Rugby Union for England at the Rugby Union World Cup. The Rugby Football Union in England has been desperate to boost their playing stocks in recent years. This has seen them target…
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…
It has been a very tough time for English Rugby League in recent years. With clubs struggling to survive and question marks around the long term future of the game in England, supporters over there have been worn down over time. One bright spot has been the performance of a number of English players at…
Over the years we have all become use to hearing ridiculous statements coming out of England. Whether it be clubs trying to pull the wool over the eyes of their own supporters by pumping the tyres of old imports, English magazines giving false accolades to English players to boost circulation numbers, of even the RFL…
Leeds Rhinos have been handed the perfect pre-season boost ahead of the new Super League campaign after it was confirmed that stalwart Jamie Peacock had agreed a contract extension. The former England captain, who had previously said that 2014 would be his last year before retiring, has, at the grand old age of 36, penned…
The NRL has brought in a list of new rule changes and rule interpretations ahead of the 2014 season. While some of these rules will be good and help move the game along, other just seem like change for changes sake. The new rules that have been brought in for the 2014 NRL season are:…
Whether you love him, hate him, or are simply entranced by the chameleon qualities of his hair, you cannot deny that Phil Gould knows his stuff. Sure, he often comes across as his own biggest fan and as a commentator it’s usually not hard to tell which team he prefers. But the connections he holds…