News that covers Rugby League in Australia.
Benji Marshall is one of the highest paid players in the National Rugby League. Even without the upgrade to his contract that he wanted, Marshall gets paid more to play for, and represent the Tigers, than 99% of players that play in the NRL. A component of his contract with not only the Wests Tigers,…
The Melbourne Storm have beaten the South Sydney Rabbitohs 26-8 in a game that showed the Rabbitohs have a a way to go if they really want to mix it with the contenders come finals time. While the Rabbitohs were missing John Sutton and Greg Inglis, two of their better players, there were signs throughout…
Rugby League Weeks The Mole is reporting that the St George/Illawarra Dragons are chasing the services of Huddersfield Giants forward Eorl Crabtree. Crabtree is a giant front rower who stands at 6 ft 6 in. He has played his entire career with the Huddersfield Giants where he has earned 13 test caps for England. I’m…
Cronulla Sharks fans need to prepare themselves for the worst case scenario. Right now we are seeing the ASADA investigation into the alleged use of performance enhancing drugs among NRL players gain traction. When you stand back and look at the big picture it is clear that the end game is almost here. The club…
The Sydney Daily Telegraph is reporting that customs officials seized the phones of Cronulla Sharks captain Paul Gallen and Manly Sea Eagles forward Anthony Watmough in separate incidents in relation to the either the ASADA or ACC investigations into alleged performance enhancing drug use in sport. Officials are alleged to have downloaded information off both…
National Rugby League players want to have their cake and eat it too. Play well and you get a big, long term contract. You get financial security and the backing of a Rugby League club that spends it own money marketing you and raising your profile. If you feel like moving though, fuck em! Ditch…
Next years NRL All Star Game could be scrapped with concerns over player burnout and a crowded fixture list worrying clubs according to the Daily Telegraph. A final decision will be made at a meeting of NRL CEO’s this week with the proposed Rugby League 9’s competition in Auckland expected to take priority over the…
Paul Gallen has broken ranks and gained his own legal representation according to the Daily Telegraph. There is talk that Gallen believes he will be a major target of the ASADA investigators if only for the fact that he would be the biggest scalp for them to claim. I said from day one that players…
The game is tied and there is not much time left on the clock. Both teams work for field position and start taking shots at field goals. Welcome to the world in which Golden Point Extra Time does not exist! No one likes going home having watched a draw. I hate draws. I don’t watch…
The Newcastle Knights currently cling on to 8th spot on the NRL ladder with four other teams chasing them. One of those teams is the Brisbane Broncos who currently sit in 12th place on the ladder, 4 competition points behind the Knights. A loss tonight would see the Broncos fall 6 points behind 8th spot…
Josh Dugan will resign with the St George/Illawarra Dragons through until the end of 2017 according to the Sydney Morning Herald. This news comes on the back of a push from the Canterbury Bulldogs to sign Dugan as a replacement for Ben Barba, who is almost certain to leave the club at the end of…
The 2013 nominees for the prestigious ken Stephen medal have been announced today. The medal is awarded to players to recognize work done in the NRL’s One Community program. Every team except the South Sydney Rabbitohs are represented in the nominees list. The Rabbitohs chose not to nominate any individual player in their club. It…
The National Rugby League Integrity Unit has cleared Newcastle Knights owner Nathan Tinkler of any wrong doing in regards to a bet he placed on the Newcastle Knights in 2011. Tinkler placed the bet just a few days after assuming control of the Knights and soon after reported the best to the NRL and to…
Shaun Johnson is under contract with the New Zealand Warriors until the end of the 2014 season. That hasn’t stopped the Penrith Panthers from making the young halfback a massive offer that would make him one of the highest paid players in the game. There has been a lot of speculation about Johnson’s future at…
The Daily Telegraph is reporting that Newcastle Knights owner Nathan Tinkler is being investigated by the NRL Integrity Unit for allegedly betting on NRL fixtures. The NRL has very strict rules that prohibit players and officials from betting on Rugby League. The news comes on the back of a report on the ABC’s Four Corners…
When Rugby League gained independence and gained control over its own destiny, it was seen as a great day for the sport in Australia. The game was once again able to stand on its own two feet. It was able to set its own agenda. It was able to control its own future and it…
The power of Christ compels you! The power of Christ compels you! Ah the Canterbury Bulldogs. Another day, another drama… The Bulldogs have been forced to look for a new venue for for their August 30th clash against the Penrith Panthers after ANZ Stadium deems that an AFL game took priority over the Bulldogs match….
It is going to be very difficult for Sonny Bill Williams to avoid being suspend for a high shot on Willie Mason that occurred in the Roosters 28-12 win over the Newcastle Knights. The shot he put on Mason was high and hard. It was enough to stun Mason and it was put on report…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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 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…