News that covers Rugby League in Australia.
Over the weekend, much like every weekend, fans of a variety of clubs took to social media to bag the referees, the NRL, television stations and announce that there is a conspiracy against their club. Don’t get me wrong, I am guilty of bagging referees, the NRL and Channel 9 on more than one occasion,…
When the Gold Coast Titans joined the NRL as the competitions 16th club the good will was overwhelming. Even looking past and embarrassing name change from Dolphins to Titans early in the piece, the people of the Gold Coast seemed pretty happy to have a Rugby League team to support again. During their first few…
News Limited is reporting that the Parramatta Eels started formal contract talks with Jarryd Hayne in an effort to re-sign the star fullback to a long term deal. Hayne isn’t off contract until the end of 2015 but rival clubs can start negotiating with him on November 1st under NRL rules. That the Eels have…
Having loaded the Newcastle Knights with an ageing roster that needs completely rebuilt, and then undermining current Broncos coach Anthony Griffin to get the job he wanted, now Wayne Bennett is not doing any favours for the coach he replaced at the Newcastle Knights. When Nathan Tinkler took over the Knights ownership Rick Stone was…
From the moment that the Canberra Raiders committed so much money over so many years to a Ricky Stuart revolution, this moment was coming. As the Canberra Raiders capitulated at home to the New Zealand Warriors in front of job over 7,000 fans on Sunday afternoon you hot the feeling that the green machine was…
For well over a decade the National Rugby League ran on a strict budget. It was a competition that was under funded due to a terrible broadcasting deal that was put together while the game was negotiating from a position of weakness. In 2014 things are very different. The National Rugby League is a competition…
Coming into the 2014 NRL season my feeling was that the Penrith Panthers would be a decent regular season team, but when it came to playing finals football they just wouldn’t have an extra gear. Penrith have had a lot of things go their way in 2014. With a nice draw and no need to…
Bulldogs and NSW five-eighth Josh Reynolds will return for his NRL side this weekend for the first time in seemingly months, and boy have they missed him? The Dogs, on the back of a two game losing streak, have slipped four points behind competition leaders Manly. Although the results and their current ladder position are…
It’s over. After many years that have seen many people within the game of Rugby League doing everything they could to try and help Todd Carney maintain a very high paying career as a professional athlete, it is finally time for Rugby League to wish Todd Carney all the best and leave him be. To…
The current he said, she said drama enveloping the Wests Tigers has provided much fodder for newspapers and sports talk shows as the team’s 2014 season slips away. However there is a different element of the club’s off field performance that should really get attention: the clubs remarkable player retention. First a quick anecdote. When…
Channel 9 reporter Danny Weidler has thrown Wests Tigers CEO Grant Mayer under a bus in a repot filed this evening, claiming Mayer needed to explain why a video on the Wests Tigers web site had been edited to remove praise that Robbie Farah had given to under pressure coach Michael Potter. The inference is…
Unfortunately yesterday’s, and today’s headlines have and will be dominated by the off field problems being experienced by the Wests Tigers. In a result that flew under the radar, the Dragons defeated the struggling Tigers 28-12 to further press the Red V’s finals credentials. I now think it it safe to say that the Dragons…
Well, that escalated quickly! Yesterday on Triple M radio Gorden Tallis told listeners that Robbie Farah personally told him that Michael Potter can’t coach. That set off a shit storm that ironically probably saved Potter from being sacked on Sunday night. This is what Gorden Tallis said: “Robbie Farah told me to my face,” Tallis…
The following is an official press release from the Wests Tigers: Following intense speculation regarding the future of Mick Potter as Head Coach of Wests Tigers, the Club’s Board has met tonight and decided that contract negotiations will be put on hold until the side’ 2014 campaign comes to an end. The meeting was originally…
When you start asking a bunch of 18-35 year old footballers how you should run your club…you’re in trouble! Football club boards are a funny thing in 2014. The NRL is trying to push for football club boards to be far more professional than they are now. They are even looking to have a say…
News Limited is reporting that the Wests Tigers have have decided to sack Mick Potter. He will either be sacked this week or the club will wait until the end of the season. As is always the case at the Wests Tigers, player power and a flakey board is once again said to be the…
For those of you that don’t know already, I am a very jaded, very cynical, damaged Penrith Panthers supporter. Now that is out of the way, lets get on to the business at hand. The Daily Telegraph is reporting that the Penrith Panthers are considering signing current prisoner Russell Packer in 2015. Russell Packer played…
News Limited is reporting that Ben Hunt is willing more than willing to test his value on the player market rather than locking himself into a long term deal with the Brisbane Broncos ahead of time. Hunt could sign a long term deal to stay at the Brisbane Broncos any time he wishes, but if…
ISC has released a very cool promotional video to promote their release of a range of NRL jerseys decked out in Marvel Super Hero themes. Take a look: If your team didn’t get a superheroes jersey you should check out THIS ARTICLE on the superheroes that should represent other clubs.
Over the last few weeks I’ve been shocked by the way some Brisbane Broncos supporters and sections of the Brisbane media have talked about the days when players all wanted to play for the Brisbane Broncos. You would think that the Broncos were the team everyone had to play for. That players were climbing over…
The front office is a war zone, players are looking to leave the club, injuries have not been kind, and yet here we are heading looking towards the finals and the Manly Sea Eagles sit atop of the NRL ladder. By all rights the Sea Eagles should be having a terrible season. A club going…
The following is an official press release by the National Rugby League: The NRL and the 16 clubs have unanimously confirmed their commitment to developing a new player insurance scheme which will significantly increase payments for career-ending injuries. NRL players will be eligible for payouts of up to $1 million if they suffer career-ending injuries…
Both Faifax and News Limited are carrying interesting stories regarding the NRL’s insurance plan for players who suffer catastrophic, career ending injuries. Brad Walter of the Sydney Morning Herald writes that the RLPA is considering signing off on coverage that would cost the game $1 million per year but that would not cover players whose…
The Manly Sea Eagles have made an official press release via the clubs web site in an effort to smother news that a number of players want an early release from their contracts. The official press release reads: The Manly Warringah Sea Eagles board has thrown its support behind the Head Coach and the Club’s…
Seven News is reporting that Canterbury Bulldogs coach Des Hasler has no interest in signing Manly Sea Eagles fullback Brett Stewart. Stewart is one of a number of Manly players who have asked for an early release from their contract due to unrest at the club. The Bulldogs have been looking for a top class…
The Tigers and Dolphins fronted up at Langlands Park yesterday with two very different agendas; for the Tigers it was about reaffirming their pedigree as a top two side, while for the Dolphins, it was about keeping their season alive. Eighty minutes and 68 points later, the Tigers sit secure in second spot on the…
The Cronulla Sharks have announced they they will not be looking to bring in a new coach for the rest of 2014 season. That means that James Shepherd will continue his role as the Sharks interim coach until the return of Shane Flanagan once his ban from the game is over. The Sharks tried to…
State Of Origin football is heading back to the MCG in 2015 for the first time in 18 years. The State Of Origin series in now the biggest annual sporting event in Australia and you have a chance to cheer on your favourite state in what is sure to be one of the biggest crowds…
Less than 48 hours after Wayne Bennett announced he was returning to the Broncos from 2015 onwards, the revitalised Brisbane side have been installed as Premiership favourites next season. Bennett, who will be joined by new recruits Anthony Milford, Mitch Garbutt and probably Darius Boyd, has given punters the ultimate confidence that he can return…
The Newcastle Knights have released the following statement on the clubs official web site: Newcastle Knights fullback Darius Boyd has been admitted to a mental health clinic in order to seek treatment for depression. “We are ensuring Darius gets the best possible care and treatment at this time,” CEO Matt Gidley said on Wednesday. “Depression…