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Steve Mascord has covered rugby league in 15 countries and worked for most media organisations that regularly feature the sport, on both sides of the globe. He started off as an 18-year-old cadet at Australian Associated Press, transferring to the Sydney Morning Herald just in time to go on the last full Kangaroos Tour in 1994. He spent three years at Sydney's Daily Telegraph from 2006 before going freelance at the conclusion of the 2008 World Cup. Steve is the author of the book Touchstones, host of the White Line Fever podcast, partner in international rugby league merchandise start-up Mascord Brownz and proprietor of rugbyleaguehub.com and hotmetalonline.com. He is married to Sarah and spends most of his time in London.
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“I said to them that if they were keeping a particular player, it was either him or me. They said ‘we invested in him…
Is this first grand final in Brisbane, or the second? Is Wayne Bennett shooting for his eighth premiership or his seventh? On Monday, my…
So the Wests Tigers are holding onto Michael Maguire. I’m pleased with that. Coaches are convenient scapegoats and on most of the occasions they…
I don’t know about you but I’m pleased to see the rugby league grand final going back to Brisbane after 24 years. I can…
IF these days it’s all about engagement – I’ve been reading today about the 'outrage economy' – then without a doubt my most successful…
After losing a sudden-death finals series match to Cronulla on a seventh tackle try in 2013, North Queensland coach Neil Henry and captain Johnathan…
As the NRL considers three applications to be the 17th team, I’ve been given cause to contemplate the ‘rise of the club’ in our…
In the wake of reports Jack de Belin was in line to be St George Illawarra’s captain this week, it’s fair to say there…
As I near the end of the writing of my book Two Tribes, about the divided 1997 season, my tiny keyhole view into the…
Transfer gossip - the blood that carries the oxygen to the heart of modern professional sports coverage - bores me to to tears. I…
You’re expecting a rant, I know. When the news broke that Australia and New Zealand had withdrawn from the World Cup, Rugby Football League…
THE rugby league we are left with when Covid is finished with us won’t be the same as the one we had in February…
The last time I was in bed and could hear people celebrating a sporting victory in the street, it was September 24, 1993. That…
The idea that ‘rugby league is dying’ has been rightly ridiculed in recent days as a baseless trope - and yet watching Melbourne excoriate…
It's traditional of this column to start each year with a state of the league address and since this will be the final piece…
Doing an interview the other day, I kind of stumbled across a question that strikes at the heart of what we like about our…
Let's talk about scrutiny in professional sports. Generally speaking, players, coaches and administrators would rather live without it. Fans like scrutiny as long as…
Should Catalans Dragons have signed Israel Folau? Should they have been allowed to sign Israel Folau? This is the water cooler discussion on both…
“Living in England,” the Screaming Jets assured us back in 1992, “I don’t have to act like I’m having fun”. Strangely, the most English…
Is it just me, or are the NRL Nines and All Stars games sneaking up on us quickly and - more worryingly - rather…
I don’t like the stuff most people like Jamie. Never have.
It gets some fans frothing, but NRL transfer speculation bores me to tears
Hey all. I’m not interacting with people on Twitter until my book is off to the printers because it was taking up most of my day. But I’m here. And I’d like you to see this amazing LinkedIn post by Robert Burgin, who started rugby league in a host of South American countries. It’s very powerful https://www.linkedin.com/posts/robert-burgin-7a109141_nrl-rugbyleague-activity-6826985279161819136-F2Ng
It gets some fans frothing, but NRL transfer speculation bores me to tears
I agree actually. I prefer Sabbath with Ronnie. \m/
It gets some fans frothing, but NRL transfer speculation bores me to tears
I knew Tony Harnell to Skid Row would never work out.
It gets some fans frothing, but NRL transfer speculation bores me to tears
Watch a Super League game. Jon Wells’ analysis at half- and full-time is fantastic. All the staff the Australian (and NZ when the Warriors are home) stations have at games and they don’t attempt this sort of content.
It gets some fans frothing, but NRL transfer speculation bores me to tears
It’s perfect for the social media age. Suddenly you need content all day. It’s not one big hit in the morning. Teams Tuesday always excited me but no-one else. But when the media moved into real time, it suddenly became a big deal.
It gets some fans frothing, but NRL transfer speculation bores me to tears
Thanks for reading and commenting
International Rugby League's glorious and defiant future without NRL stars starts now
I also agree with this. I don’t think we’ll be bothering with such comparisons for much longer, don’t worry.
International Rugby League's glorious and defiant future without NRL stars starts now
I agree completely. Thanks for taking the time to read and comment.
International Rugby League's glorious and defiant future without NRL stars starts now
The difference is the international game proceeding with a competition despite the opposition of the NRL. It’s not the clubs and the NRL’s attitude to the international game that has changed, it’s the attitude they’re getting back.
Ten things about rugby league changed forever by the pandemic
You might have watched more than me but surely there is some aspect of the deterrent working. I don’t see sin bins but I don’t see a lot of high shots either.
Ten things about rugby league changed forever by the pandemic
Their TV money has been just about halved and they have two years to get their act together or there will be no TV money. Yet I see no interest in changing governance, putting a new property on top of Super League or getting away from the power of a handful of owners. I call that no helping yourself.
Ten things about rugby league changed forever by the pandemic
It’s a bunch of officials kicked out mate. A board. They didn’t need the board to compete last year and they won’t need the board this year either. There’ll just be a new board.
State of the not-union 2020
By implication, yes. Simply by being extremely religious, one assumes Folau doesn’t agree with homosexuality. But he said it – repeatedly, despite warnings. I haven’t said I wish ill upon religious people or that I don’t like them. You might assume it. That’s one big difference. Secondly, you chose to be religious. You don’t chose to be gay. Criticising someone over a choice is surely less odious than criticising them over something they can’t change.
Israel Folau and the governing bodies who are powerless to govern
There are only people on retainers, none on staff.
Israel Folau and the governing bodies who are powerless to govern
Folau has not even threatened to sue, as far as I know. Surely if they hold the view expressed in their statements, they could have at least tried to follow what they themselves professed to believe as right … until he DID threaten to sue.
Israel Folau and the governing bodies who are powerless to govern
I said nothing about religious people – just religion.
Israel Folau and the governing bodies who are powerless to govern
Perhaps lazy but how is it hypocritical? Are you suggesting I’m secretly religious?
Israel Folau and the governing bodies who are powerless to govern
Wrong time of the year though. Super League season runs parallel to the NRL.
Can non-NRL rugby league be sold more effectively to Australians?
To say I write a column every week because I am payed to does not equal making things up, by the way.
Days of NRL raids on England's stars could be numbered
I’m glad you liked it. I wasn’t being sarcastic, just reporting the banal truth!
Days of NRL raids on England's stars could be numbered
You’re close. I am paid to do a piece a week for The Roar. This is quite simply the best I could do this week. Every week is just the most interesting thing I can think up. There is no overarching strategy except putting in a monthly invoice.
Days of NRL raids on England's stars could be numbered
I was shooting for the fire eater and the lion tamer, actually.
The National Rugby League chairman thinks five hours on a plane is too much
It would be where it is now – pre-season, two weekends instead of one.
Should eligibility for the World Club Championship be based on nationality?
The first sentence is the nicest thing you could say to me. Of course I’m strange!
How hard is it for us to go cold turkey on our favourite sport?