Just when you thought it was safe to go back into the international waters, the idiots running this game destroy any hope or enthusiasm you might have had. Today the RFL announced the details for the Four Nations competition to be held at the end of the year between World Champions New Zealand, Australia, France…
I know, I know…..I apologize! We all know it should be me, but because far to busy and important to take up the role, I thought I should force my opinions onto the like of you, ya know, kind of like what I’ve been doing for the last 11 years. I’ve said for a long…
Australia were outstanding in their first game against anyone since their mid season thrashing of New Zealand. Their combination looked good, the forwards played well, the backs were oustanding and Lockyer and Thurston were clicking already. England meanwhile have had a number of games over the same period of time including a thrashing of Wales…
Its amazing to think that after so many years of waiting, the 2008 Rugby League World Cup is now behind us. After setbacks, questions about whether it would even be run, countless doubters and a cynical supporters base wondering if they would get it right, you have to give the organizers credit for pulling together…
It was very strange seeing New Zealand doing a victory lap with what I consider to be OUR World Cup, and while it was great for the game to see it happen make no mistake, I wanted Australia to win the big one. Having said that, I think the reaction by some within the Australian…
Strap in folks, this is gonna be a long one! In an amazing game that was a fitting end to the centenary celebrations in Australia, New Zealand has beaten Australia 34-20 to claim the Rugby League World Cup! I was lucky enough to be at the game and it was very surreal to see New…
Well its here, the Rugby League World Cup Final and the chance for one nation to claim it is the undisputed World Champions. Australia have held that mantle for three decades, and while New Zealand managed to win the 2005 Tri Nations Final, this is the only game you can win and claim to be…
Australia beat Papua New Guinea 46-6 up in Townsville tonight in a game that marked the end of the Test career of PNG legend Stanley Gene. PNG fought hard all game and did themselves proud. They managed to keep the Kangaroo’s close then England did just last week. Its amazing, after watching every game in…
Australia have secured the top spot in Group A with a crushing 52-4 win over England. As usual England come out playing physically and they were helped along when Australia played terribly for about ten minutes. However from that point on it was all one way traffic and to be honest, England were lucky a…
After watching the New Zealand Maori Haka being challenge by the Aboriginal war dance and seeing both proud teams look like they may come to blows before the game started, you could help but be pumped up ahead of the Australia vs New Zealand match. Unfortunantly I didn’t get to see the Aboriginal Dream Time…
I can’t believe it, the World Cup is about to kick off!!! I’ll be doing previews of every game during the World Cup and here are the first three games to watch over the weekend. Obviously all the attention will be on Australia vs New Zealand but the way the competition is set up, every…
When the Super Group was announced there were many different reactions. Some said PNG was hard done by, and its hard to disagree. England immeditaly felt confident, Australia said the group would be there while New Zealand was too busying falling to pieces to care. The Super Grouping works really well for the Rugby League…
Sometimes its a moral dilemma being an Australian. Before the World Cup I said that I didn’t want Karmichael Hunt, Darius Boyd or Sam Thaiday anywhere near the Australian World Cup Side. This was based on the fact that they had legal problems hanging over their heads and they liked engaging in sexual activities in…
Well the World Cup kickoff is getting closer and it seems very strange to me. I remember when they announced the tournament would be held in 2008, I thought it was way to far away. Now, I hardly have enough time to book all my flights! I’ve talked about some of the negatives in regards…
To win the Rugby League World Cup, you have to beat Australia, and with the squad Australia has announced, thats going to be a big ask. The Manly Sea Eagles got six of their players selected in the squad and thankfully, Karmichael Hunt and Sam Thaiday have been left out of the side after their…
I know, I know, its a day late, but Australia did beat Fiji 52-0 to advance to the World Cup Final on Sunday night. Fiji did their best but Australia is just way to good. It looked early on though that the scoreline could have pushed 80-100 but the Fijians managed to hold out Australia…
Australia has named a preliminary 46 man World Cup squad and its interesting to see some of the names in the list. For the most part the side consists of proven performers at representative level with one or two players thrown in to cover for any injuries that may occur between now and the start…
Well the World Cup Countdown has begun and if you are following some of the squad selections at the moment you will find that some players are being named in more than one squad. Because this kind of muddies the waters, the RLIF (See ARL via an fancy letterhead) decided to clear things up. The…
In a recent article in The Guardian Online Rugby League reporter Andy Wilson wrote an article about England World Cup chances titled No reason to fear Folau and co. The article was typical of a lot of press thats coming out of the UK at the moment. With England having just beaten a French team thats was mostly…
Australia has beaten New Zealand 28-12 at the Sydney Cricket Ground in a good, entertaining match. Australia looked like they were going to run away with the game after scoring 22 points in the first 22 minutes, but a turn of possession saw the scoring halted as the Kiwi’s floated in and out of the…
Billy Slaters amazing form has been rewarded despite a major push by some media types for Manly Fullback Brett Stewart to retain his place as the Australian fullback. Slater joins back rower Paul Gallen and prop Carl Webb who are also making their debut in a great looking Australian lineup that is probably a bit…
He is the captain of the England Rugby League team and yet he talks like a 10 year old high on red cordial…..with a speech impediment. Thats what made Jamie Peacocks rallying call to English Rugby League so funny. Peacock told The Sun “Sometimes in this country we are too quick to put ourselves down,…
Well the mid season Test Match is coming up and there is a lot of talk about who should, and shouldn’t make the side. Australia has so many form players to choose from with only prop being a bit of a problem because of injuries to Luke Bailey and Brett White being suspended. The Kiwi’s…
Samoa have scored a 38-16 win over Lebanon to secure the tenth and final place in the 2008 Rugby League World Cup. Lebanon tried hard all game and for a while in the second half looked like they were on the comeback trail, but the Samoan side just had way to much fire power. The…
The World Champion Australian Rugby League team has demolished New Zealand by a score line of 58-0. It took Australia about five minutes to kick into gear and once that happened they just looked three classes above New Zealand. The youngest backline in Australian Rugby League history was just oustanding showing power, speed, skill and…
There is one rule in Rugby League that you should never, ever break… SHUT UP! You never, ever give any opposition a reason to fire up by talking yourself up before a game. It always ends in tears. So when NZRL chairman Andrew Chalmers this week game about the best ammunition I have ever seen…
Well its seems as though the footy gods are handing a number of deserving players Australian test jerseys they should have got in the first place! Paul Gallen has been ruled out of the Australian side to take on New Zealand next week with a shoulder injury, prompting the promotion of Storm lock Dallas Johnson…
In some exciting news for the game, teenage sesnation Israel Folau has been called into the Australian Test team to replace center Justin Hodges who was ruled out today with an ankle strain. Folau will become of of the youngest players ever to play Test football and will add to an amazing, young backline that…
The Australian team was named today for the one off test against New Zealand and there are a number of surprises with the side. The number of New South Wales players in the side is one area that is surprising. New South Wales were well beaten in the Origin series and yet they dominate the…
Australia taked on New Zealand in a few weeks time and with the World Cup next year its time for players to cement their place in the side as well as time for selectors to look to the future. With some many great young players coming through the Australian Rugby League ranks right now, the…