World Champions New Zealand have defeated the Cook Islands 50-0 in a World Cup warm up match overnight. New Zealand looked very sharp early on and really dominated the Cook Islands, who were probably not as bad as the scoreline suggests. Issac Luke was a stand out for New Zealand who gave a glimpse of…
The Sydney Morning Herald is reporting that the South African Rugby Leagues fight to be recognised as a sport independent of Rugby Union could be over within weeks should the countries 2017 World Cup bid open the right doors to the right people. Rugby League in South Africa has been fighting a ridiculous battle recently…
The Sydney Daily Telegraph is reporting that NRL clubs are lining up to take a tilt at signing Australian Rugby Union player James O’Connor. O’Conner has become something of an outcast in Australian Rugby Union ranks in recent times with the ARU cutting its central funding to him due to off field issues and “Super…
In his continuing series of NRL club season reviews, Daniel Nichols looks at the New Zealand Warriors. Finished: 11th Predicted: 12th Fan Prediction: 5th-8th What Went Wrong: 2013 was a Jekyll and Hyde year for the New Zealand Warriors. The Warriors lost their first three games, including an embarrassing 40-10 loss to eventual wooden spooners…
The Dallas Cowboys are projected to be at least US$31 million over the 2014 NFL salary cap in what is being called an administrative train wreck by people around the league. The Cowboys would be overspending the cap by at least US$13 million than the next highest team, the New Orleans Saints. The news means…
Attitude is a big factor when it comes to performing at the highest level in Rugby League. The way a coach, player and overall team prepares for a contest can have a big influence on the result they end up getting. Going into a game with the wrong attitude can mean a team is on…
British rugby league fans are a unique bunch, mostly fickle working class they epitomise everything that has been great about the British game for the last century. Keen to air their views loudly and without recompense they trundle along weekly, watch half a game, proclaim it is shit and then leave citing their reasons as…
Italy has defeated England in their Rugby League World Cup warm up match 15-14 in what has to be one of the biggest upsets in the games history. England took a 14-12 lead into half time and held into that lead until late in the game. An Italian penalty kick levelled things up and with…
Daniel Nichols looks back at the 2013 NRL season for all 16 clubs. Today he looks backs at the Brisbane Broncos season. Finished: 12th Predicted: 10th Fan Prediction: 4th What Went Wrong: The Broncos started the year by signing experienced halfback Scott Prince in hope he would add some experience and composure to a halves…
Daniel Nichols looks back at the 2013 NRL season for all 16 clubs. Today he looks backs at the Canberra Raiders season. Finished: 13th Predicted: 9th Fan Prediction: Top 8 What Went Wrong: Canberra finished 13 in a season that promised so much. This was to be the year Terry Campese finally lived up to…
Daniel Nichols looks back at the 2013 NRL season for all 16 clubs. Today he looks backs at the St George/Illawarra Dragons season. Finished: 14th Predicted: 14th Fan Prediction: 6th What Went Wrong: What a difference 2 years can make. Under Wayne Bennett the Dragons won their first ever premiership as a joint venture and…
It wouldn’t be a World Cup if there wasn’t an English team looking to shock the world and win it all. They are improving, they are one of the teams to beat, they have prepared well and are ready to take on the world…all of that… The problem for the English Rugby League team is…
Daniel Nichols looks back at the 2013 NRL season for all 16 clubs. Today he looks backs at the Wests Tigers season. Finished: 15th Predicted: 11th Fan Prediction: Finals Where it Went Wrong: 7 wins in a season that again saw the Tigers miss the top 8, even the biggest Tigers fan would admit that…
Daniel Nichols looks back at the 2013 NRL season for all 16 clubs. In his first instalment he looks back on the Parramatta Eels. Finished: 16th Predicted: 15th Fan Prediction: 10th Where It Went Wrong: Just about everywhere for the long suffering Eels fans. Star player Jarryd Hayne was injured for long periods of the…
New Zealand’s 2008 Rugby League World Cup triumph was an incredible moment for Rugby League. I was lucky enough to be at that match and I have to say it was a pleasure to witness Rugby League history in the making. The 2008 New Zealand team cemented a place in the games history books and…
The Penrith Panthers have announced that hooker James Segeyaro has extended the length of his contract and will remain at the club through until at least the end of the 2016 season. James Segeyaro had a fantastic season at the Panthers in 2013 after moving to the club from the North Queensland Cowboys. While he…
The 2013 Rugby League World Cup will see 14 teams battle it out for the right to claim the title of World Champions. With New Zealand the current World Cup holders and Australia looking to claim back the title, we should be in for an interesting tournament. To kick off coverage of the 2013 Rugby…
Sonny Bill Williams is staying in Rugby League for the 2014 season after committing to a one year contract extension that he will take up in February next year after a boxing match in January. Williams was expected to walk away from Rugby League again and head back to Rugby Union. His commitment to the…
Betfred has come on board as a sponsor of the web site and they will be offering UK fans fantastic odds on Super League game for the rest of the season. To take advantage of Betfred’s £50 free bet by simply clicking here and joining their service! Betfred are also are running a £10 no…
Grand final day is now only 2 sleeps away and the betting agencies and fans alike have the Roosters are solid favourites over the Manly Sea Eagles. Twitter seems to be fairly split, and even neutrals have decided which way they will lend their support on Sunday evening. My wife is a Manly fan (I…
Channel 9 CEO and Sydney Roosters supporter David Gyngell has told the Sydney Daily Telegraph that it is imperative that the NRL retains Sonny Bill Williams in the face of the AFL’s move Buddy Franklin to Sydney to play with AFL team the Sydney Swans. Gyngell mentioned the boost to crowds and television ratings that…
The 2013 Rugby League World Cup kicks off in a few weeks time and it should be a fantastic tournament that brings people together from many different parts of the world. It should be a moment in which Rugby League celebrates the real work that has been put in to get Rugby League established in…
Grand Finals are won by great halfbacks. At this stage I don’t think anyone would accuse Mitchell Pearce of being a great halfback. Even in what has been an incredible season by the Sydney Roosters you haven’t seen too many people raving about the form of Mitchell Pearce. The Sydney Roosters main playmaker is James…
Centrebet has join the web site as a sponsor and as a result they will be providing odds for NRL matches and representative games for LeagueFreak.com readers. Well here we are at the big one! The Grand Final is a hard one to call but there are some great odds on offer. Check them out!…
With the 2 best sides in the competition ready to do battle for the NRL Premiership on Sunday evening, looking at both sides, 2 things stand out; the quality of each side’s halves and their outside backs. I’d go so far as to say the two sides possess the best outside backs in the entire…
This season has seen some very strange decisions when it comes to handing out man of the match awards. I see a lot of people on Twitter who bet on man of the match awards blowing up over players that have dominated the game being overlooked for others who are bigger names. It happens all…
After a another dramatic weekend in the play-offs, the countdown is now on ahead of next Saturday’s NRL Grand Final between the Sydney Roosters and the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles at the Olympic Stadium. Both semi-finals were true spectacles, with the Sea Eagles beating Souths, while the Roosters overcame Newcastle to set-up one of the most…
Cooper Cronk is the 2013 Dally M Player Of The Year after a very consistent season for the Melbourne Storm. The awards started off fairly slowly but things picked up once Russell Crowe stepped up to the microphone and started to had a bit to the show. Cameron Smith and Greg Inglis won a heap…
The Rugby Football League has announced the English World Cup squad. The repercussions of the naming of this squad are already being felt across the world. Fear has gripped the souls of the other nations competing in the 2013 Rugby League World Cup, many wondering if they should even bother turning up when it seems…
Danny Brough has been named the 2013 Man Of Steel. Brough had an outstanding season for the Huddersfield Giants and was easily the standout player in Super League this season. The award winners on the night were: Top metre maker: Jamie Peacock Top try-scorer: Josh Charnley Hit man: Danny Houghton Rhino Top Gun: Kevin Sinfield…