News that covers Rugby League in Australia.
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…
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…
Queensland has won a classic State Of Origin match in Sydney, wrapping up game three 12-10 and securing a record 8th straight series in a row. Queenslands defense won them this game. Despite a lopsided penalty count and a pile of tackle after tackle defending their own try line, the Queensland scrambling defense was nothing…
Having an internationally successful web site gives you certain responsibilities. One of them is to provide a service to the Rugby League community when the time arises. Mitchell Pearce has gone missing. We all miss him. His family misses him, his club misses him, his state has missed him. We just want to find where…
I feel like we have been here before… New South Wales got the 2013 State Of Origin series off to a great start with an emphatic victory in Sydney. Then, as soon as the game finished, things started going pear shaped for the Blues. Injuries and suspensions and crushed the optimism New South Wales had…
As the New South Wales Blues line up against Queensland, looking to break their seven year stranglehold on the State Of Origin series, one player has more on the line than anyone else. After getting chance after chance to prove himself at State Of Origin level, this is Mitchell Pearce’s last chance to become “That…
Kevin Rudd has pledged $500,000 of Federal Government money towards Central Queenslands NRL bid team. The money will be used to carry out a feasibility study into a new Rugby League stadium for Rockhampton. With the NRL looking to expand the competition in the next few years you will see a number of NRL bid…
The Gold Coast is looking to muscle in on Lang Parks monopoly over State Of Origin football by formulating a bid to host a State Of Origin game in 2017. The Brisbane Times is reporting that Gold Coast mayor Tom Tate wants to use a State Of Origin match as a warm up to the…
Benji Marshall is likely to play Rugby Union in 2014 after asking for a release from the Wests Tigers from the remainder of his contract. Marshall, who has been on a mid season holiday in Bali, informed the Tigers via his manager of his intentions. The Tigers are likely to grant him a release. When…
When the Penrith Panthers ventured to Parramatta Stadium to face the Eels on Saturday night, no one was accusing the game of being a blockbuster. While the Panthers are in rebuilding mode, their form over the last month or so has been pretty good. Still, this is a team that isn’t the most exciting side…
It seems the NRL’s tough stance against off field incidents is set to continue with the league putting the brakes on plans for Blake Ferguson to return to the field as soon as this weekend. The Sydney Morning Herald is reporting that the NRL will wants Blake Ferguson to complete a 4 week alcohol rehabilitation…
The Sydney Morning Herald is reporting that the Canterbury Bulldogs are keen to extend the contract of English forward James Graham, and that the Warrington Wolves are keen to lure the former England captain back to Super League. I’ve been told that if Graham was to return to Super League, it would be to his…
The Daily Telegraph is reporting that Wests Tigers officials expect Benji Marshall to re-sign with the club within the next few days. There has been a lot of mail recently that Marshall had already put pen to paper with the ARU, however that seems to be off the mark. I’ve been very strong in my…
On face value, it is hard to argue against the original intent of banning shoulder charges. The NRL came out with statistics that showed that, while shoulder charge’s made up a very small percentage of overall tackles made, the amount of concussions and injuries that come out of shoulder charges were very high. I hated…
Bulldogs playmaker Josh Reynolds has been dropped from the NSW bench for State Of Origin three. Boyd Cordner will take Reynolds place as the Blues look to add more side o the bench. Cordner has been in fantastic form for the Roosters in recent week. It’s great to see that he will get his opportunity….
It has been a long pursuit but finally the St George/Illawarra Dragons have finally captured the signature of Canberra Raiders halfback Sam Williams. Williams is part of a very good halves rotation at the Raiders. The 22 year old has only signed a one year deal with the Dragons but I’ve not doubt he will…
Paul Gallen will miss State Of Origin three after being ruled out with a foot injury he picked up in game two. Gallen has played a number of series now carrying injuries. He has been a fantastic leader for New South Wales. Going into State Of Origin three without him on the field will be…
The Parramatta Eels are chasing South Sydney Rabbitohs backup hooker Nathan Peats as the club looks to continue it’s rebuilding efforts. Peats would require an early release from his Rabbitohs contract but would be a fantastic buy for Parramatta. The Eels have been linked to Penrith Panthers hooker Kevin Kingston but according to the Sydney…
The South Sydney Rabbitohs are leading the way in Rugby League in terms of membership numbers after breaking through the 27,000 members mark. The milestone comes just a few months after the club broke through the 25,000 members barrier. It was not all that long ago that clubs discouraged people from becoming members of football…
Because a knee jerk reaction from the NRL has seen an issue (fighting) that was under control blow up to dominate discussion in the game, it has allowed crazies to come out of the woodwork and put forward ideas that do not pass the ten second test. What is the ten second test? Well if…
The Manly Sea Eagles have finalised a proposal to play at least one game in China over the next three years according to the Sydney Morning Herald. With the Sea Eagles and Canberra Raiders having major sponsors that both have ties to China, the game is seen as a great way to promote the game…
The teams have been selected. The referees have been told that both sides are cheating. Queensland drank some beer. New South Wales didn’t drink some beer. The stage has now been set for an epic conclusion to the 2013 State Of Origin series. So, what would I like to see happen in this game. You…
He was a star athlete that people would watch play any sport. He was a player that the founding fathers of Rugby League knew was a key to getting punters in through the turnstiles. We name an award after him, and over a century after his first Rugby League game his name still carries so…
When Paul Gallen put a combination on Nate Myles chin in State Of Origin one, it was a major talking point in the game. It didn’t matter what else happened in the contest, the way Gallen went after Myles was a moment every single person that watched the game wanted to talk about. The reaction…
In what has to be one of the dumbest ideas I have ever read, former test captain Brad Fittler has tossed up the idea that the NRL should look at moving the Melbourne Storm to Perth in the future. Fittler, who was trying to talk up the prospects of a having a National Rugby League…
The Queensland Rugby League have named their lineup for the third and deciding game of the 2013 State Of Origin series. As expected there have been no changes to the team that completely annihilated New South Wales in game two. The Maroons have brought Jacob Lillyman and Will Chambers into the squad though. The official…
You can’t say enough about the way Sam Burgess has carried himself during his time playing in the NRL. On top of being one of the best forwards in the game, Burgess has been great with the media and fans. The big Englishman has really gone a long way to opening the door for other…
Note: Jarryd Hayne, Paul Gallen and Josh Renynolds were replaced by James McManus, Aaron Woods and Boyd Cordner respectively. The New South Wales Rugby League has named a 20 man squad heading into State Of Origin game three. After getting smashed in the second game there have been a coupl of slight changes to the…
They either look like world beaters, or the worst side in the competition. There is no in between! The Raiders are a strange side in that they seem to always be struggling to take that next step. In the past injuries have killed the clubs chances, player behaviour hasn’t helped, and the club has become…