The RLIF has finally announced all of the Venues for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup. Sydney will host the official opening ceremony followed by the big clash between Australia and New Zealand. Its fantastic to see Canberra, Parramatta, Penrith and Wollongong all hosting matches. These smaller venues will allowed fans in areas that would…
In some exciting news for the game, teenage sesnation Israel Folau has been called into the Australian Test team to replace center Justin Hodges who was ruled out today with an ankle strain. Folau will become of of the youngest players ever to play Test football and will add to an amazing, young backline that…
After a bumper year in which The Official Site Of The King Of The Internet: League Freak has made its full time move to the RLFans server, the web site has cracked the 100,000 hits mark! Its a pretty handy effort considering I was hoping to maybe hit half of that by the end of the calender…
They are undoubtably the best Rugby League team in the world, and with a brilliant season behind them where they won more games in one season than any other club in the history of the Australian game ever has, the Storm should take a nice long off season and look to become the first team…
The Australian team was named today for the one off test against New Zealand and there are a number of surprises with the side. The number of New South Wales players in the side is one area that is surprising. New South Wales were well beaten in the Origin series and yet they dominate the…
Melbourne has won the 2007 National Rugby League Grand Final with an emphatic 34-8 over the Manly Sea Eagles. In a game thats had everything, brutal defence, amazing attack, courage and stamina, the Storm deservedly won the title as the best Rugby League team in the World with a performance that will be remembered for…
Australia taked on New Zealand in a few weeks time and with the World Cup next year its time for players to cement their place in the side as well as time for selectors to look to the future. With some many great young players coming through the Australian Rugby League ranks right now, the…
Parramatta winger Eric Grothe has once again shown he is as reliable off the field as he is on it by not showing up to an Australian Rugby League team physical. Grothe didnt bother to show up, didn’t tell anyone he wasn’t showing up and has no apologised for not turning up. Thankfully Australian coach…
Over the last few years sporting World Cup competitions have started to get a dose of reality as sports fans get over the hype and promotion and look at the real content that these competitions bring. The days of wanting to see as many teams as possible take part are over as sports fans now…
The Melbourne Storm has shown what a great side they are by beating the Parramatta Eels 26-10 in front of over 33,000 at the Telstra Dome in Melbourne. In a classic first half that showcased brutal defence, brilliant attack and two sides that where just in great form, the Storm stuck to a simple but…
Papua New Guinea has come back from a 20-0 deficit at halftime to get a shocking 24 all draw against the Australian Prime Ministers XIII. The Australian representative side was fancied to come away with an easy victory and looked to be well on theuir way as they ran out to a 20-0 lead but…
A great crowd of over 32,000 has seen the Manly Sea Eagles beat the North Queensland Cowboys 28-6. Manly looked the better side for the entire game as the Cowboys just seem to be holding on for most of the match. Playing behind a beaten pack, Thurston, Bowen and Payne were just unable to get…
On the back of news that Australian selectors enquired about the Australian eligibility of Parramatta Eels forward Fui Fui Moi Moi comes word that St Helens Samoa-born forward Maurie Fa’asavalu has put his hand up to play for Great Britain. Now I could could on about the squad stacking that the ARL, NZRL and RFL…
The Penrith Panthers have denied a report in Rugby League Week that they are making a bold bit to lure Wigan standoff Trent Barrett back to the National Rugby League. Barrett is rumoured to be unhappy in England and the Panthers have been rumoured to be ready to swoop in and sign him, however the…
Jonathan Thurston has beaten a dangerous throw charge at the National Rugby League judiciary freeing him up to play this weekends semi final against the Manly Sea Eagles at the Sydney Football Stadium. Thurston had carry over points from a charge of striking from over a year ago and unless he was found no guilty…
The best player in the world, Jonathan Thurston has led the North Queensland Cowboys to a 49-12 win over the New Zealand Warriors. Playing behind a no frills pack thats just keeps turning up in every set of six, Thurston was simply at his game breaking best and tore the Warriors apart. Thurston has found…
They used to be an odity, something different from AFL that Victorians were happy to have a quick look at before going back to their domestic code. These days however the Melbourne Storm have their own growing fan base, one thats Rugby League savvy and who have embraced “their” team. It took a long time…
The Parramatta Eels will face the Melbourne Storm next week down in Melbourne after dominating by a scoreline of 25-6 against the Bulldogs in a game that didnt really reach the fever pitch expected before the game. The Bulldogs looked flat right from the kickoff and it took a great pass by Sonny Bill Williams…
The Melbourne Storm have put on an ominous display in a crushing 40-0 win over the Brisbane Broncos in Melbourne. After a week of trash talking from the Broncos the Storm come out and did their work on the field, humiliating the defending NRL Champions and ending their season. The Storm were simply amazing in…
The North Queensland Cowboys have beaten a brave Canterbury Bulldogs side 20-18 infront of a pack crowd at Dairy Farmers Stadium in Townsville. Jonathan Thurston was simply amazing in attack and defense and proved why he was the player of the year. He was involved in everything and along with Matthew Bowen carved up the…
The Manly Sea Eagles have run out 30-6 winners over the South Sydney Rabbitohs, ending Souths amazing season and putting the Sea Eagles within one game of the NRL Grand Final. Its was a tough, close game for most of the match with South’s defense holding out Manly well, but a critical call on a…
In a frantic game played infront of well over 28,000 fans in New Zealand, the Parramatta Eels have held off a late try from the New Zealand Warriors to run out 12-10 winners. In an amazing, but scoreless first half, both teams threw the ball around in the face of vicious defence. It was nothing…
Well Stacey Jones has done it again. Rugby League serial quitter has quit once more. After signing a contract extension for the Catalan Dragons to play on in 2008, Jones has waited until the worst possible time to chance his mind and leave the club up the creek next season by announcing his retirement from…
The success of the Catalan Dragons is already paying off with Barcelona Football Club taking note of the interest surrounding the clubs first appearance in the Challenge Cup Final and the media and local interest it has gathered. The Catalan region, which includes Barcelona, has been buzzing over the Dragons in recent weeks, so much so that…
St Helens have beaten the Catalan Dragons 30-8 on the games return to Wembley stadium. It was a very nervous, error filled performance by both sides in a game that lacked intensity. The Dragons stuck close through the first half but heading into the second half St Helens started to pull away from their French…
Its hard to imagine that Israel Falou is going to get even better than he currently is. He has size, speed, skill and can out leap any player in the game. He can play on the wing or in the centers and once the ball is in his hands you know something is going to…
On the back of their own non performances and in danger of picking up the clubs second wooden spoon in the last 3 years, Knights Players seem to think THEY are not the problem! With all the talk about their unique club culture, their mateship and trying to force managment into signing a player who…
Does three decades of losing make people crazy? Can you bring up a generation of sports fans that are so ill informed that they don’t realize what they are seeing is the death of their own game? After decades of being on the wrong end of beatings at International level, the British game has taken a stand and…
The players have had enough! They have had enough of seeing their best mates being told they are no longer wanted at the club. They have had enough of Brian Smiths style, his training methods and the way he is changing the very fabric of the Newcastle Knights club. You know what I say, if…
Wigans loss in the Challenge Cup Semi final has had some immediate and massive ramifications with Wigan chairman Maurice Lindsey announcing that he will be stepping down from his role at the club at seasons end. Lindsey even to this day is still the most powerful Rugby League administrator in the game and like him or not, he makes…