After the New Zealand Warriors impressive 30-22 win over the defending premiers the Melbourne Storm, I think it is time to ask if the Warriors are a true threat to take out the Grand Final this year. After an abysmal start to the season which saw the club take a record breaking beating from the…
Why Expand? Expansion gives the NRL an opportunity to create a truly National Competition to expand into new markets and compete for the hearts, minds and dollars of AFL, Union and Soccer fans and future players. Allowing the entry of another 2 NRL teams will allow the NRL and Clubs to gain more revenue from…
The Parramatta Eels installed hidden cameras I’m the dressing rooms earlier this season according to the Sydney Daily Telegraph. The cameras are alleged to have been installed by the club and without the knowledge of Parramatta Stadium management itself. When stadium management become aware of the cameras they ordered them to be removed immediately. This…
Nothing says Grand Final day like a washed up Latino pop singer… You know when people talk about a line being crossed? Well, the National Rugby League just crossed that fucking line… The benefit of the doubt is gone. After banning the shoulder charge, generally going out of their way to complete the pussification of…
The Bulldogs are set to get a preview of life without Ben Barba with a grade one high ankle sprain set to rule the 2012 Dally M Medal winner out for up to five weeks. Barba injured his ankle scoring a try in the Bulldogs 40-12 demolition of the Parramatta Eels on Friday night. While…
With the likelihood that the Bulldogs will lose Ben Barba, the Bulldogs are reportedly trying to get Josh Dugan on their books for 2014. The Sydney Daily Telegraph is reporting that the Bulldogs have shown interest in recruiting Dugan despite the fullback being in negotiations with the St George/Illawarra Dragons to extend his stay at…
It is one of the greatest rivalries in Rugby League. Tonight we will see the latest chapter written in the rivalry between the Parramatta Eels and the Canterbury Bulldogs. Both teams have a long history of not liking each other, most of it stemming back to the 1980’s when they faced off in some classic…
You’ve got to wonder about Rugby League administrators sometimes…. Rugby League International Federation secretary Andrew Hill has suggest that in an effort to provide the best World Cup possible, the RLIF would be willing to allow the likes of Sonny Bill Williams and Benji Marshall to play in the World Cup even if that meant…
The Sydney Morning Herald is reporting that Israel Folau will re-sign with the ARU for a further two season. The deal is apparently just waiting for a few loose ends to be tied up by the ARU and the deal with be announced shortly. Folau was linked heavily to the Bulldogs over the last few…
Let me start this piece off by using some language that the flat cappers of northern England to relate to, like gob-smacking rib tickling… Now that we have that awkward moment out of the way I need to address the ridiculous statement put out by RFL Chairman Brian Barwick in which he stood up for…
There is no questioning the investment and support the Canterbury Bulldogs have put into Ben Barba. The 2012 Dally M player of the year has been treated very well by the Bulldogs. After months of speculation that Ben Barba could leave the club and head back to Queensland to follow his partner, who wants to…
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. We are heading into the business end of the season now and that should see the top teams getting back into top form. Here are the current head-to-head…
A week has passed since another heartbreaking origin series defeat. The dust has settled, and everyone has come to grip with the embarrassing reality that Queensland have stretched their streak to 8. In the emotional heat immediately succeeding game 3, many were quick to blame NSW no. 7 Mitchell Pearce for the 12-10 defeat. At…
Cronulla Sharks captain Paul Gallen has refuted claims made in The Daily Telegraph that Sharks players had negotiated a plea deal with ASADA that would see players only receive a 6 month ban. In a radio interview Gallen said that players were offered a 6 month ban if they agreed to tell the truth and…
Rugby League is more than just a game. You’ve heard that one before, right? But it is. For every story you read about some footy player doing something regrettable on a roof or in a bathroom mirror, there are so many more stories of another player shining light into someone’s life. Putting smiles on the…
With the Brisbane Broncos being urged by every man and his dog to chase Cameron Smith, and Smith looking to lock up what he expects to be the last big deal of his career, the consensus is that Smith will become one of the highest paid players in the game when he signs off on…
Rugby Leagues greatest bromance is set to be rekindled as the NRL looks set to green light Blake Ferguson’s return to the playing field. Ferguson has been suspended for the last month after he was charged by police with indecent assault. The incident occurred while Ferguson and Dugan were out drinking just hours after being…
The Daily Telegraph has revealed that 8 Cronulla Sharks players were in negotiations with ASADA to cut a deal that would see them banned for just 6 months if they admitted to being part of a performance enhancing drug regime that was allegedly put in place by the club itself. Players are reported to have…
What I am about to say is obvious: The top 4 teams are by far and away in the best position to win the title this season, in fact they are the ONLY teams that are able to win the title this season. It’s hardly an Earth shattering prediction but the winner of the 2013…
The autopsies have wrapped up. Wally Lewis has induced some sedatives. We’ve allowed enough time for a Mal Meninga piece about rodents and grime. That means the emotional dust has officially settled on State of Origin 2013 and it’s time for the sensible wash-up from the straight-thinking public. Canvassing y’all intelligent realists, I’m hearing the…
Brisbane Brincos legend Darren Lockyer has urged the Brisbane Broncos to do everything they can to get Cameron Smith to the club. Lockyer’s call comes as the Brisbane Broncos struggle this season and look to be in danger of missing the finals series. The Melbourne Storm recently started to negotiate with Smith to keep him…
The 2010 State Of Origin series was the first sporting even in Australia to be shown in 3D. In the lead up, the series the different retailers pushed 3D televisions heavily on the public. They created a buzz. If you didn’t have a 3D television, you’d be missing out. You didn’t want to be the…
The Australian Sports Anti Doping Authority is alleged to have worked out a deal with the AFL to minimise the impact of the current investigation into the systematic doping of players at the Essendon AFL club according to the Sydney Daily Telegraph. This revelation brings into question the integrity of what is supposed to be…
The idea of each club being able to sign one player outside of the salary cap sounds like a great idea. Anything to keep the best players in the world sounds fantastic. I’m the first to say that the NRL needs to do something to make sure our elite players remain in Rugby League….but the…
Mitchell Pearce has played more games at halfback for New South Wales than any other player in State Of Origin history. He has never been in a series winning side. Many people would suggest it’s unfair to state those two facts. Let’s face it, there are a number of players in the New South Wales…
England coach Steve McNamara has warned that NRL based English players have a lot or work to do if they want to be part of the English World Cup squad. McNamara has just returned from an all expenses paid junket to travel around Australia to supposedly watch English players play. He said that the form…
They are without doubt the two biggest superstars to play for the Wests Tigers since their inception. Together they guided the clubs to a Premiership in 2005. The hopes of the Tigers always rest on their shoulders. Even through rumours that the two didn’t get on from time to time, they have remained the two…
We are horrified! How embarrassing for Rugby League! What a disgrace! Let’s go and interview his family and friends! You have to love the Australian media sometimes. They love nothing more than to hoist their false outrage banners and go on crusades righting perceived wrongs. When some fmoron run onto the field last night, I…
Benji Marshall had a handshake agreement with the Wests Tigers to get a contract upgrade, and extension that would see him finish his career as a one club man. When the Wests Tigers went back on their word, Benj Marshall has a big decision to make. He could take less money than originally intended, and…
The 2013 Rugby League State Of Origin series is now over. Game three saw Queensland win their 8th straight State Of Origin series and now we can all look back and rate the players. My State Of Origin player ratings are harsh. I don’t really care if you like them or not. I don’t want…