The St George Illawarra Dragons became the NRL’s first joint venture club after it merged with the Illawarra Steelers and the St George Dragons. Although the history surrounding the two mergers breathes Premiership success, the Dragons are yet to win an NRL title as a joint venture despite being favoured to beat the Melbourne Storm in the 1999 NRL decider which still aches the Illawarra faithful today.
At the start of the year I made a resolution not to blast referees this season. My resolution was made partly through a feeling that it was a tough job and having some no name blogger tapping away in fury did little to reach a productive solution of improved refereeing and two.
If the improvements that [...] Read article
The NRL has made some shocking decisions over the last 10 years, but introducing golden point extra time wasn’t one of them.
Two referees, some would say the video referee, the new obstruction rule and wasting time thinking about corner posts at all, were all bad decisions.
Golden point time, though, goes in the box marked with [...] Read article
Just as the NRL finals picture was beginning to take shape, four of the top five sides lost at the weekend, leaving the playoff race as open as it’s ever been.
South Sydney and Manly won on Sunday and the Gold Coast on Friday to dismiss fears they were on the slide, while the top three [...] Read article
Attending the Souths Vs Saints game on Friday night, I had expected that there would be a quite big crowd, with the Dragons being number one and the Bunnies going into the weekend pushing for the top four.
However, I was very disappointed at the crowd of 22,000, given the facts mentioned and the highly=publicised [...] Read article
If the past few years has taught the rugby league community anything, it is that the next generation of administrators are in it for the fans.
Todd Greenberg was still settling into his role at the Bulldogs when Sonny Bill left the club and the game, which has outraged the rugby league public even still to [...] Read article
Kogarah Jubilee Oval’s prodigal son returned to top level rugby league last night, as Mark Gasnier made a solid if unspectacular return in the Red V in the Dragons’ 12-8 loss to Penrith.
The NRL’s own website could barely hide its excitement in the lead up, declaring, “Gaz is back! Yep, after 661 days in the [...] Read article
NSW halfback Mitchell Pearce has likened the challenge of dethroning the all-conquering Queensland State of Origin side to the task facing NRL sides against ruthless ladder-leaders St George Illawarra.
While the Maroons have more to show for their recent domination than the trophy-starved Dragons, Sydney Roosters playmaker Pearce said there were clear similarities in the approach [...] Read article
St George Illawarra prodigal son Mark Gasnier will definitely make his NRL return against Penrith on Monday night, though there is still some doubt as to whether he will start the game or come off the bench.
Dragons coach Wayne Bennett intimated that Gasnier would not be in the run-on side as he looked to ease [...] Read article
Back from a work related hiatus (translation: Work controls my life).
Broncos v Tigers. Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane. Friday 7.35pm
Whilst usually spending much of his time treating his players to wisdom and general rugby league martyr-like insight, Tigers coach Tim Sheens has decided to get a little selfish, and has treated himself to a new sports car. [...] Read article
Those of you who are regular readers of my Roar columns will know that I am pretty much rusted-on when it comes to rugby, so it will be as much a surprise to you to find that I spent last Friday night watching St George at Kogarah Oval, as it was to me to find [...] Read article
St George Illawarra coach Wayne Bennett declared the return of Mark Gasnier to be a victory for the NRL and says he’s confident the former Test and Origin star will recapture his brilliant best despite 18 months in French rugby.
After losing him in 2008 when third-party deals fell through, the Dragons on Monday announced Gasnier [...] Read article
The standard cliché for each NRL season is that is the most competitive and evenly-contested yet, with the competition open to all comers. Carrying momentum into the back end of the regular season and finals series is crucial.
Never was this more apparent than in 2009, with the favoured St George-Illawarra Dragons fortunes evaporating in [...] Read article
The Sydney Roosters have proved four playmakers are better than one, bursting Parramatta’s bubble in a red-hot 48-12 thrashing of the Eels at Parramatta Stadium.
Halves Todd Carney and Mitchell Pearce, lock Braith Anasta and fullback Anthony Minichiello – who bagged two tries – ran riot as the Roosters scored eight tries to two and notched [...]
Wests Tigers survived a bombing barrage to consolidate fourth spot on the NRL ladder with a hard-earned 24-22 win over Cronulla at Leichhardt Oval on Saturday night.
Second rower Liam Fulton bagged a double as the Tigers outscored the Sharks five tries to four in a patchy performance against a spirited Cronulla side.
The Tigers sparkled only [...]
This years Four-Nations promises to be the best held in the Southern Hemisphere. Well, let’s put it out there and say ever.
With the double header and the new Eden Park, Papua New Guinea on the international scene to show their stuff against the best – also reminding the NRL that they are around for admission [...]
South Sydney’s finals charge copped a debilitating double blow with star import Sam Burgess put on report as Canterbury registered a stunning 32-12 upset NRL win at ANZ Stadium on Friday night.
As Bulldogs fullback Luke Patten scored his 100th try in the top grade to cap a mixed night, the Rabbitohs left themselves with plenty [...]
Penrith winger Michael Gordon delivered the inspiration his team has been seeking to get their NRL campaign back on track on Friday night.
Locked 16-all with North Queensland at a damp CUA Stadium, Gordon scored a sensational 55-metre solo effort to snap the Panthers’ losing streak and seal a dramatic 24-16 win.
The Panthers were made to [...]
At the start of the year I made a resolution not to blast referees this season. My resolution was made partly through a feeling that it was a tough job and having some no name blogger tapping away in fury did little to reach a productive solution of improved refereeing and two.
If the improvements that [...]
I’ve just seen the replay again of Matai’s supposed ‘high hit’ on Robbie Farah last Sunday, and need to vent. I was at the game right in front of the incident. Farah was rolling around on the ground pretending to be concussed in a performance that the Italian football team would have been proud of.
The [...]
NRL preview panel for round 21 matches (all times AEST).
Friday
Canterbury Bulldogs v South Sydney Rabbitohs at ANZ Stadium, 7.35pm
Head to head: Bulldogs 72, Rabbitohs 63, drawn 4
Last clash: Rabbitohs 38-16 at ANZ Stadium (rd 4, 2010)
TAB Sportsbet: Bulldogs $2.30, Rabbitohs $1.60
FootyTab: Bulldogs +2.5
Souths appear to be back after a rough match of mostly narrow losses [...]
Rugby league legend Benny Elias has been appointed to the board of A-League club Perth Glory.
Elias played 234 games for Balmain, 22 State of Origin games for New South Wales and 14 internationals for Australia and in 2005 was named one of the 25 greatest ever NSW players.
“Benny Elias brings a winning culture and attitude [...]
Parramatta believe they’ll be the more desperate side, the Sydney Roosters says it’s their “biggest test yet” – either way, it promises to be one of the NRL games of the year.
The league’s two form sides will clash in what is expected to be a sell-out at Parramatta Stadium and has been unusually scheduled as [...]
