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…
The reason you’re sitting there reading this article is because you didn’t make it as a professional sportsman. The reason I’m sitting here writing this article is because I too could never make it as a sportsman. Not that my Dad had high hopes for me as a youngster after he saw my raw motor…
So we have just had a weekend of rugby league. I’m not sure about all of you but I have been hanging out for some footy for many weeks (or months…) The NRL decided in its infinite wisdom to have a pre-season competition to whet the appetites of fans counting down to round one of…
South Sydney Rabbitohs owner Russell Crowe has opened up about the departure of forward Sam Burgess to Rugby Union, claiming that Burgess would have stayed in Rugby League had he been able to play for New South Wales in the State Of Origin series. That is all well and good, but Sam Burgess isn’t from…
If a Rugby Union web site offered me three times as much money to write about Rugby Union, I’d ditch you lot faster than Sam Burgess decided to ditch the South Sydney Rabbitohs! Sure I’d probably develop narcolepsy, I’d have to come up with some stupid back story about a fancy school I didn’t actually…
In his first outing as an NRL player Sam Tomkins performance at the Auckland 9’s would have to be described as mixed. There is a lot of interest in how Sam Tomkins goes in his transition from Super League with Wigan to the National Rugby League with the New Zealand Warriors. Some people want to…
The North Queensland Cowboys have won the 2014 Auckland 9’s with a 16-7 win over the Brisbane Broncos in the all Queensland final. The Cowboys were great throughout the Auckland 9’s tournament with Gavin Cooper, Kane Linnett and Michael Morgan all playing great football over both days. Paul Green starts his first grade coaching career…
The 2014 Auckland 9’s have been run and won, with the TEAM NAME taking out the title in emphatic fashion. Here is a look at the full list of results from day two of the 2014 Auckland 9’s: Game 17. Sharks 30 Titans 14 – 12pm Game 18. Knights 25 Tigers 0 – 12.25pm Game…
Daniel Nichols takes a look at the first day of the 2014 Auckland 9’s. Team Of The Day: New Zealand Warriors The pre tournament favourites more than lived up to the hype in their two performances today. They carved up the hapless Raiders in the first game and were much better than the 25-14 score…
Here is a look at all the results from day one of the 2014 Auckland 9’s Game 1. Sharks 15 Knights 12 – 12.35pm (local time) Game 2. Tigers 7 Titans 22 – 1pm Game 3. Roosters 11 Eels 18 – 1.25pm Game 4. Broncos 20 Bulldogs 4 – 1.50pm Game 5. Warriors 25 Raiders…
Day one of the Auckland 9’s is now in the books. It was a great day of football and Rugby League 9’s showed us that it can provide a great event for the game to showcase itself in. So what are some of the key points we can take out of today? 1. The Day…
Daniel Pettigrew previews the 2014 Auckland 9’s. He looks at the draw each team faces, some of the key players and generally talks about what we might see this weekend. Check it out:
The Auckland 9’s kick of on Saturday February the 15th and with a big prize pool on offer. It has been a number of years since the NRL embraced an abbreviated version of the game so it will be interesting to see how clubs and players adapt to playing Rugby League 9’s. So, who do…
When the Canterbury Bulldogs named their squad for the 2014 Auckland 9’s the first thing I thought about was Des Hasler telling some NRL official that he doesn’t care one little bit about winning the Auckland 9’s. The Bulldogs are not the only team to not quite put their best foot forward for the Auckland…
The Sydney Roosters have announced their 2014 Auckland 9’s squad. Its a mixed squad with co-captains named. Also, Freddy has made it! Interesting… Check them out: Mitchell Pearce (Co-Captain) Jake Friend (Co-Captain) Shaun Kenny-Dowall Aidan Guerra Kane Evans Daniel Tupou Samisoni Langi Jackson Hastings Dylan Napa Isaac Liu Nene Macdonald Jonathon Rueben Paul Rokolati Rhyse…
The Penrith Panthers have announced their 2014 Auckland 9’s squad. The Panthers look like they are going all out to win the Auckland 9’s title. They have named just about the strongest team in the competition in terms of first grade talent. Check them out: Matt Moylan Wes Naiqama Josh Mansour Isaac John Kevin Naiqama…
The Parramatta Eels have announced their 2014 Auckland 9’s squad. This squad I think is a bit of a dark horse. They have a lot of players in this side well suited to Rugby League 9’s football. Might be a team to watch out for. Check them out: Willie Tonga (c) Kenny Edwards Bureta Faraimo…
The Canterbury Bulldogs have announced their 2014 Auckland 9’s squad. Its pretty much what I would have expected out of Des Hasler. They look like they will be doing the bare minimum required. The highlight of this squad for me is the addition of Eddie Muphy! Check it out: Sam Perrett Mitch Brown Chase Stanley…
The South Sydney Rabbitohs have announced their 2014 Auckland 9’s squad. Captained by Ben Te’o, and featuring Lote Tuqiri, the side isn’t too bad but they have held back a few of their stars. Check it out: Nathan Merritt Beau Champion Alex Johnston Joel Reddy Dylan Walker Luke Keary Apisai Koroisau Dave Tyrrell Irae Simone…
The Gold Coast Titans have named their 2014 Auckland 9’s squad. This is just about the best looking squad that has been named in my opinion. It includes most of their star players. They will be one of the favorites. Check out the side: William Zillman Brad Tighe David Mead Kevin Gordon Albert Kelly Greg…
The North Queensland Cowboys have announced their 2014 Auckland 9’s squad. Johnathan Thurston is not part of the squad but I still think its a pretty good looking side with a number of players that will be well suited to Rugby League 9’s football. Check it out: Lachlan Coote Zac Santo Antonio Winterstein Kane Linnett…
The Manly Sea Eagles have named their 2014 Auckland 9’s squad. Forget everything else, this is all about the triumphant return of Steve Menzies to the National Rugby League! He will play in what is a fairly decent looking squad. Take a look: Cheyse Blair Jamie Buhrer Michael Chee-Kam Daly Cherry-Evans Clinton Gutherson James Hasson…
The St George/Illawarra Dragons have named their 2014 Auckland 9’s squad. They’ve named a fair few of their star players, with Brett Morris to captain the side. Check it out: Josh Dugan Brett Morris (c) Dylan Farrell Nathan Green Jason Nightingale Adam Quinlan Sam Williams Jack de Belin Mitch Rein Tyson Frizell Leeson Ah Mau…
The Brisbane Broncos have announced their 2014 Auckland 9’s Squad. Ben Barba will make his big screen debut for the club at the Auckland 9’s while Corey Parker will captain the side. The Broncos have named a fairly strong lineup. Check it out: Ben Barba Josh Hoffman Dale Copley Alex Glenn Stewart Mills Kodi Nikorima…
When you think of Rugby League 9’s, you need to think not just of the elite players in the game, but of the players at every level of the sport who are just looking for an opportunity to shine. A Rugby League 9’s circuit would tap into the huge player base that Rugby League has…
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…