I’ve always said that alcohol bans at NRL clubs are completely ridiculous. Not because I think players should be able to go out every nights and get hammered, or because they are not enforceable at all, I think they are ridiculous for the simple fact that if my employer said I couldn’t drink at all…
Penrith Panthers general manager Phil Gould has refuted claims made earlier today by journalist James Hooper that Wests Tigers youngster Mitchell Moses took a tour of the Panthers facilities as he considers a possible move to the foot of the mountains. Reports Mitchell Moses is coming to Panthers & he has toured new Panthers facility…
He is the 18 years old fullback for the Sydney Roosters that everyone is giving big wraps to. Best of all, he was born and raised in New South Wales! Latrell Mitchell is already making a name for himself in the NRL. His size, footwork, and the fact that he is competing so well in…
As a Penrith Panthers supporter, I HATE hearing excuses like this. Jamie Soward has told NRL Tonight that the lack of big name players in the Penrith Panthers lineup hurts them when it comes to how referees control their games. “Out at Penrith we don’t really have a big name to go up and question…
Take a look at this great video put out by the UFC showing the top 20 knockouts from the first 20 years of the UFC. Some of these are absolute classics. There are a few I was surprised missed the cut, but its hard to argue with the list the UFC put together:
Triple M in Sydney is reporting that Wests Tigers half Mitchell Moses took a tour of the Penrith Panthers facilities as he looked to make a decision on his playing future. James Hooper reported that the Panthers are very interested in signing Moses, but his asking price is very high and the Panthers are not…
In episode 22 of the League Culture podcast the boys talk to Profession Tony Collins talking about the history of international Rugby League. There is also an interview with Canada’s Rhys Jacks and updates from all over the world! Its a big 60 minute episode and you can listen to it right here:
A new week bring a new episode of League By The Fireplace. Here is what you can expect to hear: NRL Bunkers For Everything – With the initial success of the NRL’s new initiative, we discuss pro’s and cons of the technology and Luke Patten’s visual system. We also posit how it cold be expanded…
I’m really looking forward to tonight’s match between the Penrith Panthers and Canterbury Bulldogs. After a disappointing start to the season I think we are going to see how good the Panthers really are this year in tonight’s match. They are at home, they need a big turn around if they don’t want to start…
Seven News is reporting that domestic violence charges against former Bulldogs player Hazem El Masri have been dropped ahead of a hearing on Monday. El Masri was charged with common assault, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm, in 2015 after an alleged altercation with his estranged ex wife. El Masri pleased not guilty to the…
The Parramatta Eels have found themselves in a new round of salary cap drama after revelations that the Eels board allegedly rewarded third party sponsors of their own players with free corporate hospitality. This was discussed at board level and is completely against the NRL’s salary cap rules which state that third party sponsors for…
Andrew McFadden isn’t too happy with Graham Lowe after the former Kiwi coach claimed the Warriors were suffering from a “bro culture”. McFadden said the club didn’t have any problems and claimed that Lowe was only saying as much in an effort to get himself back into the game. “He’s obviously very keen to get…
News Limited is reporting that Paul Gallen is upset at what he called “disrespectful” Sharks supporters in the wake of news that he will be on the sidelines for a month with a knee injury. Gallen said the he was hurt that Sharks supporters would question his loyalty to the club after some of them…
Fairfax Media is reporting that the St George/Illawarra Dragons have offered Benji Marshall a one year contract extension, believed to be worth around $300,000. Marshall joined the Dragons after a very brief stint playing Rugby Union in New Zealand. There has been a few rumours that he would re-join the Wests Tigers next season if…
Adam Reynolds has suffered a suspected broken jaw as South Sydney got off their season off to a great start with a dominant win 42-10 over the Sydney Roosters at the football stadium. Played in oppressive heat, the Rabbitohs looked the better team right from kickoff. They dominated possession and field position thanks to mistakes…
News Limited is reporting that former Cricketer Nathan Bracken quit his post as a Parramatta Eels ambassador and threatened to sue the club after his sister-in-law was unable to proceed past the first round of auditions for the Parramatta Eels cheer-leading squad. Bracken has denied these allegations on his Facebook page: Before everyone jumps up…
Corey Norman did not play in the second half of Parramatta’s 17-4 loss to the Brisbane Broncos last night. Nearing the end of the first half last night Norman landed awkwardly in a tackle and slammed his face into the ground. During the second half of last nights match Norman was shown in the dressing…
There was not much entertainment on show in the NRL season opener between the Eels and the Broncos. The Broncos methodically ground away at the Eels to come away with a 17-4 win against an Eels team that was desperately missing the influence of a halfback. The game made headlines for what happened in the…
Well the 2016 season is nearly here and I thought this might be the right time to talk about what you can look forward to here on LeagueFreak.com. You can look forward to more articles over the course of the Rugby League season than I put out in 2015. I don’t plan on just pushing…
Mitchell Pearce has been suspended for 8 matches and finned $125,000 for his behaviour on Australia Day which has been the subject of so many headlines. The fine is the largest in Australian Rugby League history, and which $50,000 of that fine is suspended, I still think it is way over the top. I think…
Fairfax Media is reporting that 70 doctors and health experts are calling for a ban on tackling in school “Rugby” games. The Association for Physical Education noted that tackling is where most injuries occur. “The majority of all injuries occur during contact or collision, such as the tackle and the scrum,” they said in their…
The Houston Rockets have come to an agreement to buy out guard Ty Lawson, ending his short lived and disappointing time at the club. The Rockets traded for the troubled Lawson heading into the 2015-16 season and looked to be getting him at a bargain basement price. However, Lawsons style of play did not fit…
ARLC Chairman John Grant has blocked any hopes John Hopoate has of coaching the Manly Sea Eagles SG Ball team any time soon. Hopoate’s legal team has threatened to take the matter to court arguing that it is the NSWRL that has juristiction over the SG Ball competition and not the NRL. They asked the…
Channel 9 is reporting that the NRL is furious at the Sydney Roosters for the way they have handled Mitchell Pearce since his return to Australia from rehab. Pearce has participated in a number of media interviews since his return and to be fair to Pearce, he seems to have been very open and honest…
The 2016 NRL season is here! I want to know who my readers think will be NRL Premiers by the end of the season. You can select your own team if you like or you can select a different club. It is totally up to you! So…VOTE: FYI, if you selected a team other than…
There are few teams in the National Rugby League that suffer from the weight of expectation that the Parramatta Eels carry every single season. While the Eels have come close on a couple of occasions, they have never been able to recapture the glory days of the 1980’s that saw the club become one of…
NRL Womens Adviser Catharine Lumby believes that Mitchell Pearce’s behaviour is unacceptable that and he should not be allowed to play in the NRL ever again. Now before everyone loses their minds it must be stated that Catharine Lumby is allowed to hold this opinion. We are all allowed to hold different opinions on what…
Sydney Roosters player Shaun Kenny-Dowall has been found not guilty of charges that included assault, damaging property, stalking and using a carriage service to offend. The charges were brought against Kenny-Dowall in July 2015 after allegations were leveled against him by his ex partner. Magistrate Gregory Grogin found Kenny-Dowall not guilty on all charges. This…
There is nothing better than turning up to an NRL game only to find yourself being preached at because you are in the middle of another theme round. Theme rounds are a pain and rarely have anything to do with Rugby League itself. So why doesn’t the NRL have theme rounds that actually celebrate parts…
This week on League By The Fireplace the boys make some bold predictions heading into the 2016 NRL season with the use of a time machine and what ever substance you can get rehab from in Thailand. To listen to the podcast simply CLICK HERE I’ll be featuring League By The Fireplace’s podcasts on the…