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100 Articles

Game on the grow after incredible year

RUGBY League sits on the verge of an exciting period in its history. The World Cup, with all its colour and passion, illustrated the genuine appetite that exists among players and fans for international football. Tonga’s rise captured the imagination of the public here and overseas like few international events in the game’s history. Their stunning charge to defeat a tier one nation for the first time at a World Cup was dramatic and ground-breaking and a week later Fiji added further weight to the rise of the Pacific Nations when they also defeated New Zealand. Across the globe there have been numerous developments. There is the rise of the Toronto Wolfpack, plans for a franchise in New York City, advanced discussions to stage an England-New Zealand Test in Denver, Colorado and…

Game on the grow after incredible year

COOPER CRONK WHEN Cooper Cronk made the call to retire from representative football in the afterglow of the World Cup Final, it ended perhaps the greatest partnership the game has known. His decision means the ‘Big Three’ – Cronk, Billy Slater and Cameron Smith – will never again be seen in combination. It was a partnership that began even before Cronk made his NRL debut for the Storm in 2004. The trio were team-mates for Brisbane Norths in the early 2000s but it wasn’t until they came together at Melbourne that the magic formula began to brew. In 14 seasons of endeavour the trio played alongside each other 266 times at club, state and Test level and the success they enjoyed at all levels was unprecedented. All three stamped themselves champion players as individuals,…

ROLL OF HONOUR 1991-2017

1991 Players of the Year: Greg Alexander, Bradley Clyde, Allan Langer, Ewan McGrady, Mal Meninga. Team of the Year: Michael Potter (St George); Rod Wishart (Illawarra), Mal Meninga (Canberra), Andrew Ettingshausen (Cronulla), Willie Carne (Brisbane); Peter Jackson (Norths), Allan Langer (Brisbane); Craig Salvatori (Easts), Steve Walters (Canberra), Martin Bella (Manly), David Gillespie (Wests), Mark Geyer (Penrith), Bradley Clyde (Canberra). 1992 Players of the Year: Gary Freeman, Allan Langer, Glenn Lazarus, Steve Renouf, Steve Walters. Team of the Year: Michael Potter (St George); Willie Carne (Brisbane), Steve Renouf (Brisbane), Paul McGregor (Illawarra), Michael Hancock (Brisbane); Brad Fittler (Penrith), Allan Langer (Brisbane); Glenn Lazarus (Brisbane), Steve Walters (Canberra), Mark Sargent (Newcastle), John Cartwright (Penrith), Trevor Gillmeister (Brisbane), Bradley Clyde (Canberra). 1993 Players of the Year: Mark Coyne, Brad Mackay, Ricky Stuart, Kerrod Walters, Steve Walters. Team of the Year: Michael…

PREMIERS STORM TO HEAD OF THE CLASS

GIVEN the dominance of the Melbourne Storm through the 2017 premiership season, it will come as little surprise that this year’s Team of the Year is heavily flavoured by Storm players. Five Melbourne players made their way into our select team based on performances at all levels of the game through the 2017 season. All five were members of the Storm’s dominant grand final victory over the Cowboys and all five carried on their form into the end-of-season World Cup. The representation is the biggest by any Storm team in our annual 13-man line-up and is evidence that the quality within the Melbourne ranks spreads beyond the ‘Big Three’ of Billy Slater, Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith. And while on the Storm’s golden trio, it is the first time all three have…

PREMIERS STORM TO HEAD OF THE CLASS

PLAYER MARKET IN OVERDRIVE FOR 2018

THE PARRAMATTA Eels were among the most active clubs in recruitment for 2017 and their quality signings helped elevate them to the finals for the first time in almost a decade. Hard-hitting forward Nathan Brown was widely considered the buy of the season and was acclaimed for his performances with his new club by winning the Ken Thornett Medal as the Eels’ Player of the Year. Alongside him, well-respected forwards Suaia Matagi and Siosaia Vave added further grunt to an already formidable forward pack. Another to recruit astutely in 2017 were the Manly Sea Eagles. They added unheralded centre Brian Kelly and spotted value in Curtis Sironen, Shaun Lane and Akuila Uate, all of whom had lost ground at their previous clubs. Their arrival helped to elevate the Sea Eagles to the…

PLAYER MARKET IN OVERDRIVE FOR 2018

CHAD ROBINSON (1980-November 26, 2016) A hard-running second-rower for Parramatta and Sydney Roosters, Chad Robinson was a prominent figure in the NRL for nine seasons (2000-08) before playing the final year of his career with London’s Harlequins club in the English Super League. Robinson played junior football with Winston Hills and Wentworthville, represented City Under-18s and NSW at the Under-17 and Under-19 levels and represented Australian Schoolboys in 1997. He debuted for the Eels in 2000 and played 75 NRL games in two stints (2000-01 and 2005-08). He signed with the Sydney Roosters in 2002, playing 70 games in three seasons, including consecutive grand finals against Penrith and Canterbury. Robinson made his senior representative debut for City Origin in 2008. Following his retirement he struggled with depression and on November 26…

Season Draw 2018

*Note: Venues are subject to change **All times refer to local kick-off time FINALS SERIES FINALS WEEK 1 – SEPTEMBER 7-10 FIRST QUALIFYING FINAL: First v Fourth SECOND QUALIFYING FINAL: Second v Third FIRST ELIMINATION FINAL: Fifth v Eighth SECOND ELIMINATION FINAL: Sixth v Seventh The winners of the two qualifying finals progress to the Preliminary Finals. The two losing teams from the elimination finals are eliminated. SEMI-FINALS – SEPTEMBER 14-15 SEMI-FINAL 1: Loser of First Qualifying Final v Winner of First Elimination Final SEMI-FINAL 2: Loser of Second Qualifying Final v Winner of Second Elimination Final PRELIMINARY FINALS – SEPTEMBER 21-22 PRELIMINARY FINAL 1: Winner of First Qualifying Final v Winner of Semi-Final 2 PRELIMINARY FINAL 2: Winner of Second Qualifying Final v Winner of Semi-Final 1 GRAND FINAL – SEPTEMBER 30 (ANZ Stadium) Winner of Preliminary Final 1 v Winner of Preliminary Final 2…

Season Draw 2018

RETIRING PLAYERS 2017

FEW players have a say in how they exit the NRL. For most, an accumulation of injuries dictates how long they stay in the game – some manage to last well into their 30s before they’re forced to make the call, for others the decision comes far too soon. Utility player Rory Kostjasyn, a premiershipwinner with the Cowboys in 2015, was advised by doctors to quit the game after a seemingly innocuous training drill resulted in a serious injury to his throat before he had the chance to turn out for the Newcastle Knights in 2017. Kostjasyn turned 30 during the year and while most consider that a fair innings, he didn’t make his debut in the NRL until he was almost 23 and he still had plenty to offer. “Retirement was…

RETIRING PLAYERS 2017

Blues’ attacking blitz plants seed of hope

NEW SOUTH Wales prop Andrew Fifita drew comparisons with Maroons legend Arthur Beetson after his dominant performance steered the Blues to victory by a record margin at Suncorp Stadium. Fifita was part wrecking ball and part creative force as he repeatedly barged his way through the heart of the Queensland ruck. The 27-yearold played a commanding role in the victory, scoring a try, providing an assist for another and important lead-up work in a third as the Blues scored five tries to one. Fifita finished the night a unanimous choice for man of the match. There was an almost palpable sense of a changing of the guard at Suncorp as the fresh young Blues dismantled the aging Maroons with superior power, speed and aggression across the 80 minutes. The Blues’ had a…

Blues’ attacking blitz plants seed of hope

Thurston magic turns the tide for Maroons

THE magnitude of Johnathan Thurston’s match-winning kick at ANZ Stadium was not immediately apparent. The 82,259-strong crowd and more than a million watching on television were aware that Thurston was playing under the adversity of a shoulder injury, but no one realised the extent. Thurston looked in trouble early, he was slow to rise after a heavy hit from Blues forward Tyson Frizell and for the rest of the night he could barely raise an arm. When Dane Gagai scored for the Maroons with three minutes to play, Thurston stepped up to attempt a difficult conversion from the right side of the field. It never looked like missing. We only learned 24 hours later that Thurston required immediate surgery to repair his shoulder or he risked never being able to lift his…

Thurston magic turns the tide for Maroons

Familiar feeling as Blue dawn fails to rise

THIS was a game billed as the biggest State of Origin of all time. The interest, the stakes and the opportunities had reached next level. It was the chance for the Maroons to write another chapter in their glorious dynasty, the chance, finally, for Mitchell Pearce to win an Origin series. The last chance for Laurie Daley to bring home the bacon. An opportunity for Cameron Munster to cement his place as the Maroons’ next five-eighth. The build-up was compelling; an emotional tribute was paid to Johnathan Thurston, who shared the memories of an incredible Origin journey with the record Suncorp Stadium crowd and a television audience that would peak at 4.2 million. If the build-up resembled a Maroon celebration then the 80 minutes that followed was merely a continuation of the theme.…

Familiar feeling as Blue dawn fails to rise

Warriors make Sharks pay penalty

CRONULLA experienced a frustrating 80 minutes at Wigan’s DW Stadium when their dream of capping their premiership with the title of world champions disappeared in an array of penalties, errors and disputed decisions. It was the Sharks’ first visit to the United Kingdom since the ill-fated Super League World Challenge of 1997, but any suggestion that a victory would be as easy to come by for an Australian team as they were that year were soon dispelled. The Sharks arrived in Wigan without four members of their premiership-winning team – fullback Ben Barba, hooker Michael Ennis and wingers Sosaia Feki and Valentine Holmes – and they quickly discovered they were in for a testing night. Wigan had a try on the board after only four minutes through winger Joe Burgess, who completed an…

Warriors make Sharks pay penalty

Wolves secure Super League double

WARRINGTON achieved an historic first in the World Club Series friendly against Brisbane when they scored their first victory against a southern hemisphere club. The Wolves dominated the first period to lead 24-6 at half-time before holding off the Broncos in the second term to win by a comfortable nine-point margin. Warrington had been one of only two club sides to defeat Frank Stanton’s 1978 Kangaroos (along with Widnes) but never had the famous Lancashire outfit managed a victory over a club team from Australia or New Zealand. Experienced five-eighth Kevin Brown, playing his first game for the Wolves after transferring from Widnes, was quick to make his presence felt with a try after lock Joe Westerman had charged down a Ben Hunt kick and rumbled 60 metres downfield. With the defence in…

Wolves secure Super League double

Young stars crow for Roosters

THE Sydney Roosters left the troubles of 2016 behind them to claim the first piece of silverware available in the new season when they walked away with the Auckland Nines trophy and prizemoney worth $370,000. The Roosters shaded Penrith in a closely fought final, but they had little-known winger Bernard Lewis to thank after he scored two crucial tries. The 19-year-old from Badu Island in the Torres Strait played in the Roosters’ Holden Cup-winning team in 2016 and ensured the Roosters qualified for the Nines final with a last-ditch try in the semi-final against Melbourne and another in the final which extended the Roosters’ lead to 10-0. Tries to Malakai Watene-Zelezniak and Nathan Cleary brought the Panthers back within two, but Darren Nicholls was unable to convert the Cleary try that would…

Young stars crow for Roosters

Thurston makes his mark in final All Stars appearance

HAVING made his decision to retire from representative football at the end of the 2017 World Cup, Johnathan Thurston was determined to make every appearance count. In his first game since announcing his plans in January, the Cowboys star was in imperious form as his Indigenous All Stars thumped the World All Stars by a 26-point margin. Thurston (pictured, inset) scored a try, had a hand in two others and kicked five goals in a performance that earned him a second Preston Campbell Medal as man of the match. Temperatures hovered near 30 degrees despite the 8pm kick-off and both sides jumped at the offer from officials to stop for drinks breaks midway through both halves. If the heat was a concern, it wasn’t evident in the Indigenous team’s early work. Their attack…

Thurston makes his mark in final All Stars appearance

Patchwork teams put on a show

A 20-10 victory by City Origin over Country assured them of permanent possession of the City-Country shield as the traditional representative fixture faded into history at Mudgee’s Glen Willow Sports Stadium. It was a day tinged with sadness as the representative clash, almost as old as the game itself and responsible for unearthing dozens of future stars, was played for the final time. After a controversial week in which NRL coaches Des Hasler, Ricky Stuart and Paul Green announced a virtual boycott of the event, leaving both line-ups dramatically weakened as a result, the spare-parts teams produced an entertaining spectacle for the crowd and a healthy free-to-air television audience. Panthers boss Phil Gould answered an SOS from City coach Brad Fittler early in the week to help him to put a team together…

Patchwork teams put on a show

Kiwis fail to build their confidence

NEW ZEALAND lost four times to Australia in 2016 and needed a strong performance to re-build confidence as much as to ease pressure on positions within the team. Their lamentable effort at GIO Stadium did neither as the Kiwis slumped to their heaviest defeat in the mid-season Test since 2013. The Kiwis showed next to no sign of improvement despite making eight changes to the team beaten in the Four Nations final at Anfield and fielding the high-class spine of Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Kieran Foran, Shaun Johnson and Issac Luke. The Kangaroos were excellent and had taken another step forward after their undefeated run through 2016. Coach Mal Meninga rewarded players who had performed in England, with only Will Chambers and Andrew Fifita earning a call-up from outside the Four Nations squad. Meninga ensured…

Kiwis fail to build their confidence

Rugby league bursts onto world stage

THE WORLD Cup of 2017 may turn out to be international rugby league’s game changer. The exposure gained through the six-week tournament across three countries and the performance of second-tier nations Tonga and Fiji has created genuine and unprecedented momentum for the international game. So long treated with contempt by critics and even dismissed as a sideshow by hardcore NRL fans, the passion of the players and the quality of their performances can no longer be ignored. Tonga, a nation of 107,000 people, arose like a giant on the international stage and almost toppled England in a heart-stopping semi-final. For the first time in World Cup competition a second-tier nation defeated one of the ‘Big Three’ of Australia, New Zealand and England when Tonga staged their unforgettable comeback against the Kiwis in their…

Rugby league bursts onto world stage

Injuries sour Roos’ opening win over old enemy

AUSTRALIA and England suffered significant injury blows as the defending World Cup champions held off a spirited challenge to kick off the 2017 event with a hard-fought win at Melbourne’s AAMI Park. Kangaroos lock Jake Trbojevic (pictured) left the field late in the game clutching his chest and scans brought the news of a pectoral muscle rupture requiring surgery and a threemonth recovery. For England’s Sam Burgess, who was forced off before half-time with a knee injury following a tackle by Matt Gillett, the diagnosis of a torn medial ligament was a far more positive outcome. The Trbojevic injury was a major setback for the rising Sea Eagles forward and denied Jake and younger sibling Tom the opportunity to join the select group of brothers to play alongside each other in a…

Injuries sour Roos’ opening win over old enemy

Kumuls put the pride of a nation on show

THERE was no holding the Kumuls when they opened their campaign against Wales before a packed International Stadium on a historic day for the game in Papua New Guinea. The first World Cup game played on PNG soil proved a rip-roaring success and the sell-out crowd erupted when captain David Mead cut through flimsy defence to open the scoring. The decibel level barely abated as the Kumuls surged to 26-0 by half-time and 50-0 by the 70-minute mark. They conceded their only points after the full-time siren when a speculative kick by Wales halfback Matt Seamark landed for winger Regan Grace to touch down out wide. The Kumuls were never extended by a Welsh combination that struggled with the oppressive conditions, unable to contain the powerful running of the home team. Papua New Guinea’s…

No sign of instability as Kiwis get off the mark

THE Kiwis cast aside the disappointment of defections and suspensions to score an emphatic win over Samoa in the opening game of Pool B at Mt Smart Stadium. Circumstances forced coach David Kidwell to make eight changes to the line-up beaten by Australia in the Anzac Test in May, but unburdened by their usual expectations, the Kiwis played some of their most enterprising football in years. There were concerns the loss of lock Jason Taumalolo to Tonga and the banishment of Jesse Bromwich and Kevin Proctor for disciplinary reasons would undermine the Kiwis’ effort, but there were no signs of weakness in a dominant 80-minute performance. Newcomers, centre Brad Takairangi and interchange players Nelson Asofa- Solomona, Isaac Liu and Danny Levi, were among the Kiwis’ best as they drove home a 10-4 half-time…

No sign of instability as Kiwis get off the mark

Flying Fijians outclass American revolution

A FIJI side oozing NRL talent ran up a record score against the USA Hawks in the opening Pool D game in Townsville. Led by former Australia representatives Jarryd Hayne (pictured, right) and Akuila Uate, the Bati displayed a ruthless intent to pile on 11 tries in a 46-point savaging of the Hawks after they led 36-6 at half-time. Fiji’s 58-point tally was a record for the island nation. Hayne was heavily involved in three early tries, while his second-half four-pointer saw him join Bob Fulton as the equal leading tryscorer in World Cup history with 13. Representing the Bati in his third World Cup, Uate scored one try and was instrumental in several others, employing his powerful sidestep and turn of pace from the centre position. The Bati suffered a setback in…

Flying Fijians outclass American revolution

Irish make their own luck in dominant win

WHILE Italy suffered an 11th-hour setback through the withdrawal of experienced fiveeighth Terry Campese with a calf injury, Ireland were expected to suffer greater discomfort in the oppressive heat and humidity of Cairns. Temperatures hovered around 30 degrees when the match kicked off at 2pm and the humidity pushed towards 70 per cent – levels that were expected to drain the Irish team’s energy. Only two members of the 17-man Irish outfit were accustomed to Australian conditions, while Italy’s squad was comprised predominantly of Australian players – and four of the team played for local Queensland Intrust Super Cup outfit the Northern Pride. But all of that counted for nothing when Ireland executed a game plan of superb control and discipline to stun the Italians in the first upset of the 2017…

Irish make their own luck in dominant win

Big men drive ‘dream team’ to crushing victory

THERE was no more dominant display on the opening weekend of the 2017 World Cup than Tonga’s 46-point victory over Scotland in the second game of the Cairns double-header. There was intense interest in the Tongan side after the decision of world-class forwards Jason Taumalolo and Andrew Fifita to turn their backs on New Zealand and Australia respectively and devote their energy to the Tongan cause. Their presence, alongside former Australia reps Michael Jennings and Daniel Tupou and a host of former New Zealand representatives including Manu Vatuvei, Sika Manu, Sam Moa and Manu Ma’u had effectively created a Tongan ‘Dream Team’. On the strength of their opening display, there appeared no limit to their ambitions. Scotland were spared Taumalolo’s brute strength when they clashed with New Zealand at the 2016 Four Nations. The…

Big men drive ‘dream team’ to crushing victory

NRL talent gives Cedars the winning edge

THE expertise of a handful of NRL players helped Lebanon to a history-making victory over France in a key Pool A match played in Canberra. While most of the Cedars’ team was drawn from second and third-tier competitions in New South Wales, the NRL experience of Robbie Farah, Tim Mannah, Mitch Moses, Michael Lichaa and Alex Twal proved decisive in Lebanon’s first victory in World Cup competition. By contrast, France’s team was comprised of a blend of Super League and English League 1 players plus a number from the French Elite 1 Championship. The combination of Lichaa, Farah and Moses in the key positions of hooker, halfback and five-eighth did not disappoint. Farah and Lichaa controlled Lebanon’s attack, while Moses emerged as man of the match in his first international outing after a…

NRL talent gives Cedars the winning edge

Graham grabs four for new-look Kangaroos

CRONULLA second-rower Wade Graham (pictured) notched four tries as Australia swept past France with ease in Canberra. Graham’s tackle-breaking ability on the left-fringe proved too much for the French as he powered his way to a hat-trick inside the opening 31 minutes. He scored his fourth late in the contest in familiar fashion, running onto a pass by makeshift halfback Cameron Munster from close range and bursting through to score. The game had developed into little more than a training gallop by this stage and further tries to Munster (his second on Test debut) and Valentine Holmes brought up Australia’s half-century. Graham became only the second Australia forward to score four tries in a Test, following the effort of Gorden Tallis against Papua New Guinea in 2000. Australia coach Mal Meninga made…

Graham grabs four for new-look Kangaroos

Johnson makes history in Kiwi scoring frenzy

HALFBACK Shaun Johnson became the highest pointscorer in New Zealand Test history as the Kiwis sent Scotland crashing to a huge defeat in Christchurch. Needing 16 points to overtake the mark of former fullback Matthew Ridge, which had stood at 168 points for almost 20 years, Johnson broke the record when he backed up a break by Roger Tuivasa- Sheck to score the Kiwis’ 11th try of the lop-sided contest midway through the second half. Johnson finished the day with 22 points from a try and nine goals to move to 175. Scotland started in lively fashion and were unlucky not to open with an early try, but their defensive game quickly fell to pieces once the Kiwis began to offload the ball. It was a far cry from the previous meeting of…

Johnson makes history in Kiwi scoring frenzy

Tonga take the spoils in passionate Pacific derby

FROM the time Tonga and Samoa delivered their awe-inspiring tribal challenges in the lead-up to their showdown in Hamilton, the atmosphere inside a packed Waikato Stadium skyrocketed off the charts. The two nations produced a performance of sporting theatre that lifted the crowd to a level of excitement and anticipation rarely seen in the modern world of oversanitised, timed-for-television events. It was raw and authentic and drove audience numbers of more than 400,000 on broadcaster Channel Seven’s secondary channel. In some ways, it was hardly surprising the quality of the football didn’t live up to the pre-game hype, but in downing arch-rivals Samoa, Tonga continued their march towards the World Cup finals and set up an intriguing final pool clash with New Zealand. Boosted again by the world-class pack including Jason Taumalolo, Andrew…

Tonga take the spoils in passionate Pacific derby

England overcome valiant Lebanese effort

ENGLAND claimed the first victory of their 2017 World Cup campaign by easing past Lebanon at Allianz Stadium, but the win was marred by a biting allegation against winger Jermaine McGillvary. The Huddersfield flyer was accused by Lebanon captain Robbie Farah of biting his forearm in a tackle two minutes after halftime. Match officials were forced to act quickly to prevent the incident escalating into an all-in brawl before McGillvary was placed on report. The 29-year-old was later charged with contrary conduct and cited to appear before a specially convened tribunal. He was found not guilty within three minutes. Earlier, McGillvary extended his outstanding try-scoring run at Test level by crossing in his seventh consecutive Test. England weren’t headed after McGillvary’s try and left winger Ryan Hall stretched the lead to 10…

England overcome valiant Lebanese effort

Kumuls scrape through in error-riddled thriller

PAPUA New Guinea almost blew their big chance to advance to the Cup quarter-finals for the first time since 2000 before claiming a narrow win over Ireland in a mistake-riddled contest in Port Moresby. The Kumuls dominated play and made nine line-breaks to nil, but they squandered countless chances through risky passing and clumsy handling. They held a shaky 8-6 lead from the 26th minute but were called on to defend desperately late in the match as Ireland worked to conjure a miraculous victory. With 10 minutes to play the Kumuls’ World Cup dreams looked like evaporating when Ireland second-rower Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook pursued a grubber kick to the Kumuls’ in-goal. Needing only a friendly bounce for the go-ahead try, he was unable to drag the ball in and anxious fans at the…

Kumuls scrape through in error-riddled thriller

United Azzuri ease past Hawks

ITALY made some amends for their first-up loss to Ireland when they surged to a 46-point defeat of an outclassed United States side in the first match of a double-header in Townsville. The outcome was apparent from the opening 20 minutes as Italy ran three tries past the Hawks to lead 16-0. It was 28-0 by half-time and Italy’s biggest World Cup victory was assured when they crossed another three times in the second half. James Tedesco made a success of his switch to five-eighth following the prolonged withdrawal of veteran Terry Campese and the loss of rookie Jack Johns to injury, helping himself to two of his team’s eight tries. Canterbury-Bankstown’s Joe Tramontana turned in an impressive performance at hooker, also helping himself to two tries and enjoying plenty of freedom running…

United Azzuri ease past Hawks

Flying Fiji rack up another huge score

THE first signs of Fiji’s impending rout of Wales were evident inside six minutes in Townsville. On a routine charge, prop Eloni Vunakece made use of a neat step to stroll past opposing props Craig Kopczak and Phil Joseph to score an opening try that came far too easily. Kopczak atoned a few minutes later when he stood in a tackle near Fiji’s line and delivered a late offload for lock Martin Knowles, who scored a try to celebrate his 21st birthday. That was as good as it got for Knowles and his team-mates, who spent the rest of the night chasing runaway Fijians. Melbourne premiership-winner Suliasi Vunivalu (pictured) scored in the 14th minute to trigger a flood of Fijian four-pointers. Halfback Henry Raiwalui, prop Viliame Kikau, rookie second-rower Salesi Faingaa, centre…

Flying Fiji rack up another huge score

No love lost as Bati battle their way to finals

JARRYD Hayne was one of three players sin-binned in a fierce encounter between Fiji and Italy in Canberra before the Fijians charged to a substantial win. The first international between the two nations was willing from the outset as both competed hard for the ascendancy. Referee Robert Hicks whistled up a storm in the opening 10 minutes before Italy second-rower Jayden Walker was first to be binned for a professional foul. Not long after he returned, a wild melee broke out involving players from both sides. There was pushing and shoving but Italy hooker Joe Tramontana was seen to throw a body punch at Suliasi Vunivalu, while Hayne was in trouble for running in and escalating the situation. Hicks waved both to the sin bin and angry words were exchanged on the…

No love lost as Bati battle their way to finals

Red letter day for Tongan pride

DOWN 16-2 at half-time and missing strike weapon Michael Jennings, the task of beating New Zealand looked beyond Tonga. It appeared that the anticipation following the ‘defection’ of Jason Taumalolo, the emotion of the spine-tingling pre-game build-up and the intense atmosphere at the sold-out venue had taken their toll and the Tongans would be forced to submit to the experience and class of the Kiwis. New Zealand were superb in the opening half, executing their plans to pressure Tongan halves Tuimoala Lolohea and Ata Hingano while Nelson Asofa-Solomona appeared to have a personal mission to target Konrad Hurrell. A clever blindside play led to the opening try to Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, while Jordan Rapana finished one of the tries of the World Cup after a move that twice featured Shaun Johnson. Then came a one-two…

Red letter day for Tongan pride

Scots hold struggling Samoa

SAMOA did just enough to qualify for the quarter-finals after salvaging a draw with Scotland in their final pool match in Cairns. Disappointing in their games against New Zealand and Tonga, the Samoan team were in danger of departing without a win before rallying from a 14-6 half-time deficit to draw level midway through the second half. Knowing that a draw was enough to see them progress to the finals on points differential, they played risk-free football until the final siren and dispensed with all-out efforts to win the game. The Scots entered the clash under a cloud after conceding a half-century of points in both previous games and having three players sent home for disciplinary reasons, including captain Danny Brough. But the Bravehearts lived up to their name with their brightest…

Scots hold struggling Samoa

Roos make hard work of simple task

AUSTRALIA’S performance in their history-making clash with Lebanon fell well short of the polished display coach Mal Meninga was counting on in the lead-in to the quarter-finals. The score suggests a trouble-free 80 minutes, but the Kangaroos were frustrated by the stop-start nature of play while the Cedars proved to be spirited opponents. Adding to Australia’s discomfort was the unique experience of the ‘home’ crowd at Allianz Stadium favouring the opposition. The Cedars, drawn from the ranks of NRL clubs and second and thirdtier outfits in Sydney, brought a passionate army of supporters and, accompanied by drums and music, they made the Kangaroos feel like the outsiders. Commentator Mark Braybrook rated the support 80-20 in favour of Lebanon. Referee James Child contributed to the punctuated contest by blowing 21 penalties, while the…

Roos make hard work of simple task

Papua New Guinea on song against hapless USA

PAPUA New Guinea completed the preliminary rounds with a record-breaking spree against the USA before another capacity crowd at Port Moresby’s National Stadium. A week after their mistake-riddled performance against Ireland, the Kumuls were back to their best against the Hawks, running in 11 tries against an opposition that struggled to contend with the sapping conditions and the speed of PNG’s play. Even without the power running of Wellington and Stanton Albert, who were rested, the Kumuls tore through the Hawks’ defence at will. Burleigh prop Luke Page took it upon himself to lead the forward charge and generated the momentum for James Segeyaro to have a field day from dummy-half. Segeyaro burst through the heart of the Hawks’ ruck to set up five-eighth Lachlan Lam for the opening try and he picked…

Papua New Guinea on song against hapless USA

No luck for the Irish despite strong win

HOOKER Micky McIlorum guided Ireland to a comprehensive win over Wales in the final Group C game, but it wasn’t enough to secure the Wolfhounds a passage through to the play-offs. The Wigan number nine played a leading hand with his selective passing from dummy half contributing heavily to the six-tries-to-one win. McIlorum’s decision to take play down a narrow blindside paved the way for Ireland’s opening try to Api Pewhairangi after eight minutes. It was the prelude to another long 80 minutes for Wales, who trailed 22-0 by half-time, but to their credit they offered far greater resistance than they did against Papua New Guinea and Fiji and they defended grimly to stem the flood of points after the break. Their liveliest performer was Josh Ralph, a 20-year-old who had played Holden…

No luck for the Irish despite strong win

England still chasing 80-minute effort

ENGLAND lost some focus after surging to a 26-point lead inside half an hour at Perth’s nib Stadium but were never troubled by France as they confirmed a quarter-final clash with Papua New Guinea. England’s attack sizzled as Castleford’s Luke Gale and fullback Gareth Widdop cut the French defence to ribbons in an early onslaught. Widdop scored the first after 70 seconds when he stormed onto a Gale pass at full pace, while Gale also delivered assists for tries to James Graham and John Bateman. But at 26-0 their play became increasingly ragged and although they scored the only tries after half-time – both to Jermaine McGillvary – their secondhalf performance was less than convincing. Coach Wayne Bennett took the opportunity to make changes to his line-up for the final group game,…

England still chasing 80-minute effort

Holmes nets record haul as Roos power through

VALENTINE Holmes rewrote Australian Test and World Cup history when he scored five tries in the Kangaroos’ crushing quarter-final victory over Samoa in Darwin. The 22-year-old became the first player to score five tries at Test level for Australia and the first player from any nation to score five tries in a World Cup match. Holmes didn’t miss an opportunity in a superb display of speed, skill and anticipation. He opened the scoring in the ninth minute when he plucked a ball of his bootlaces after Josh Dugan had tapped on a Cooper Cronk chip kick. He completed the rout with Australia’s last try of the night in the 74th minute after David Klemmer fielded a goal-line drop-out 45 metres from Samoa’s line and drew defenders before finding Holmes unmarked. In between, Holmes…

Holmes nets record haul as Roos power through

Valiant Cedars push Tonga to the limit

TONGA coach Kristian Woolf admitted his giantkilling team struggled to prepare mentally for the challenge of playing Lebanon after they snuck home by two points against the World Cup’s lowest-ranked team. Most expected the Cedars to be a simple mark for Tonga, a formality they would cope with easily before more important dates. But Woolf conceded emotion-charged clashes against Samoa and New Zealand had left his team flat heading into their quarter-final. “[Samoa] was such a big occasion for us, and then we got so up for a game against New Zealand [and] that was obviously a massive occasion,” Woolf said. Tonga’s performance was well down on their earlier efforts and they almost paid the ultimate price. Sparked by the experience of NRL stars Mitch Moses, Robbie Farah and Michael Lichaa, the Cedars…

Valiant Cedars push Tonga to the limit

Bati boilover creates history as Kiwis ousted

DISCIPLINE, control and a powerful spirit carried Fiji to an extraordinary victory over New Zealand in the first tryless World Cup match in almost half a century. Two penalty goals were enough for the Bati to hold off New Zealand after they executed the perfect game plan to advance to a World Cup semi-final against Australia. Remarkably, the Pacific neighbours had never met in a rugby league international but they ensured their first meeting would stick in the memory after 80 minutes of gripping tension. It became apparent early that Fiji’s plan was to trap the Kiwis deep in their own territory. Jarryd Hayne and Henry Raiwalui carried out the tactics with near-clinical precision. It wasn’t important to trap the Kiwis in their own in-goal (and risk a seven-tackle set), it was more…

Bati boilover creates history as Kiwis ousted

Error-riddled England still too good for Kumuls

ENGLAND might have won their quarterfinal against Papua New Guinea by 30 points, but there was nothing pretty about the performance after a spate of dropped balls and missed opportunities. The Kumuls offered early resistance but after being pushed along by the fanatical support of Port Moresby crowds over three successive weekends, they struggled to achieve the same momentum against a bigger and more experienced opponent. Too often the Kumuls handed attacking opportunities to England by coughing up possession close to their own line. England were hardly ruthless in punishing the Kumuls for their errors, but they were handed enough chances to win two games and eventually they turned opportunities into points. They finished with seven tries and a final score that replicated their pool win over France. Jermaine McGillvary finished with another…

Error-riddled England still too good for Kumuls

Precision plan works in Kangaroos’ favour

A WEEK after smashing records with his five-try haul against Samoa, Valentine Holmes went one better with six in Australia’s 54-6 semi-final win over Fiji at Suncorp Stadium. The Cronulla star continued his scintillating form with two tries in the first half and four in the second as the Kangaroos cruised into their seventh consecutive World Cup final. Australia’s plan to break down the Fijian game was carried out with precision as once-in-a-generation trio Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater combined with devastating effect. Holmes was the major beneficiary of their creative work, the ball finding its way into his arms with laser-like accuracy. Most of his four-pointers came through the efforts of his inside men skillfully stripping the Fijian defence of numbers before the ball spun through hands to Holmes…

Precision plan works in Kangaroos’ favour

Tonga leave their run too late

A DESPAIRING tackle by second-rower Elliott Whitehead saved England’s bacon at Mt Smart Stadium and brought a heart-breaking end to Tonga’s magnificent World Cup campaign. On a day destined to go down as one of the most extraordinary in the game’s international history, Tonga fell agonisingly short of an epic comeback victory that would have pitched them into the World Cup final for the first time. Down 20-0 with only eight minutes to play, Tonga stormed home with three tries in six minutes to reduce the deficit to two points and lift the capacity crowd of 30,003 to the edge of their seats. On a monumental final play, Tongan prop Andrew Fifita broke through the attempted tackle of England’s Kevin Brown and was headed for the match-winning try when Whitehead lunged and…

Tonga leave their run too late

Kangaroos grind out ‘old-fashioned’ international victory

THE WORLD Cup Final looked like following a familiar script. Australia took only 15 minutes to prise apart England’s defence after a period of sustained pressure and, having found a way through in such a short time, another crushing title victory looked on the cards. Only this time the Englishmen stood tall. On the game’s biggest stage, they rose to the occasion, met the Kangaroos head-on and went incredibly close to achieving their biggest win of all. Australia took no time to apply a headlock. Precision kicks by Cooper Cronk forced back-to-back goal-line drop-outs and the Kangaroos peppered the English line with a relentless series of charges. Quick play-the-balls and energy sapping effort-on-effort defence eventually told when England five-eighth Kevin Brown missed a one-on-one tackle on rampaging Australian second-rower Boyd Cordner. It was…

Kangaroos grind out ‘old-fashioned’ international victory

World Cup 2017 Teams

POOL A AUSTRALIA: Reagan Campbell-Gillard (Penrith), Will Chambers (Melbourne), Boyd Cordner (Sydney Roosters), Cooper Cronk (Melbourne), Josh Dugan (St George Illawarra), Tyson Frizell (St George Illawarra), Dane Gagai (Newcastle), Matt Gillett (Brisbane), Wade Graham (Cronulla), Valentine Holmes (Cronulla), Ben Hunt (Brisbane), Felise Kaufusi (Melbourne), David Klemmer (Canterbury), James Maloney (Cronulla), Josh Mansour (Penrith), Josh McGuire (Brisbane), Jordan McLean (Melbourne), Michael Morgan (North Queensland), Cameron Munster (Melbourne), Billy Slater (Melbourne), Cameron Smith (Melbourne – c), Jake Trbojevic (Manly), Tom Trbojevic (Manly), Aaron Woods (Wests Tigers). Coach: Mal Meninga. Top scorer: Smith, 50 points (25 goals). Most tries: Holmes, 12. Finished: World Champions (played 6, won 6). ENGLAND: John Bateman (Wigan), Kevin Brown (Warrington), Sam Burgess (South Sydney), Thomas Burgess (South Sydney), Ben Currie (Warrington), Luke Gale (Castleford), James Graham (Canterbury), Ryan Hall (Leeds),…

Boardroom battle dominates off-season

November 23 Gunning for Grant NRL club bosses storm out of a meeting at NRL Central and call for the sacking of ARLC Chairman John Grant over the failure to resolve the game’s funding crisis. The clubs claim Grant reneged on an agreement struck in late 2015 to fund the clubs at 130 per cent of the salary cap when the new television rights deal kicks in in 2018. November 24 United decision The bosses of all 16 NRL clubs pass a vote of no-confidence in ARL Chairman John Grant. November 25 Coates called in As unrest continues between the NRL clubs and the ARLC over the game’s funding, ARLC Chairman John Grant appoints Australian Olympic Committee boss John Coates to undertake an independent constitutional review. December 20 Victory at last NRL clubs claim a major victory over the ARL Commission…

Boardroom battle dominates off-season

NOVEMBER November 17 Youth revolution The ARL Commission approves plans to replace the Holden Cup in 2018 with state-based under- 20s competitions in NSW and Queensland. November 18 Wind in the Willow Mudgee’s Glen Willow Sports Complex is announced as the venue for the final City- Country clash in 2017 before the fixture is dropped from the game’s playing schedule. November 20 Scheduling conflict Concert acts including Adele and Justin Bieber force ANZ Stadium’s five NRL tenants (Canterbury, South Sydney, St George Illawarra, Parramatta and Wests Tigers) to play elsewhere during the opening two rounds of the 2017 season. Headed south The Sydney Roosters announce they will play a premiership match in Adelaide for the first time in 2017 after confirming a clash against the Melbourne Storm at Adelaide Oval in June. First of four Australia power to a 34-8 victory over New…

Tiger troubles refuse to go away

March 3 Taylor takes the spoils South Sydney fullback Greg Inglis suffers a torn ACL in his left knee as the Rabbitohs crash to a 34-18 loss to Wests Tigers. Hooker Robbie Farah plays his first game for the Rabbitohs against the club for whom he made 247 top grade appearances. March 10 Sins of Simona Wests Tigers centre Tim Simona is deregistered by the NRL and suspended indefinitely for gambling on rugby league matches, including those in which he was involved. Simona was also found to have sold items for charity and not passed on the full proceeds. March 12 The whole story Disgraced Wests Tigers centre Tim Simona opens up on his gambling habit in an interview with The Sunday Telegraph and confesses to a cocaine addiction and to stealing money intended for charity. “I’m embarrassed…

Tiger troubles refuse to go away

March 4 First fine-alists Melbourne pair Will Chambers (striking) and Cameron Munster (tripping) become the first players to be fined under the NRL’s revamped judiciary code. March 1 Dally M revamp The NRL announce changes to the Dally M Awards including a new voting panel comprised exclusively of former players. March 2 Off on the wrong foot Defending premiers Cronulla start the season with a loss when they fall 26-18 to Brisbane at Southern Cross Group Stadium. Broncos winger Jordan Kahu achieves a rare double when he scores the first try of the season for the second year running. March 3 The streak continues Melbourne extend their record as Round 1 winners by defeating Canterbury 12-6 in wet conditions at Belmore Sports Ground. It is the Storm’s 15th consecutive Round 1 victory. March 4 Unusual ending The North Queensland Cowboys scrape home 24-20 over…

Round 1 March 2, 3, 4 & 5

BRONCOS 26, SHARKS 18 SHARKS’ TITLE DEFENCE OFF TO A ROCKY START CRONULLA made a bumpy start to their premiership defence when they were rolled on home turf by a razor-sharp Brisbane Broncos outfit. The Sharks made their intentions clear from the opening whistle when three forwards bustled Broncos prop Adam Blair into the in-goal for a Brisbane goal-line drop-out, but the home side couldn’t capitalise. Instead it was the Broncos who struck first, with winger Jordan Kahu crossing from a superb pass by fullback Darius Boyd. It was the second straight year Kahu had registered the opening try of the NRL season. The Broncos established a 14-6 lead by half-time against a Sharks outfit guilty of repeated handling lapses. It looked game over when another Boyd pass cleared the way for a diving…

Round 1 March 2, 3, 4 & 5

Round 2 March 9, 10, 11 & 12

COWBOYS 21, BRONCOS 20 THURSTON THE HERO IN ANOTHER DERBY THRILLER FOR the fourth time in their past five encounters, extra-time was required to split the difference between the Cowboys and the Broncos as the Queensland powerhouses turned on another classic derby. Just as he did in the 2015 Grand Final, it was Cowboys ace Johnathan Thurston who proved the Broncos’ nemesis with a field goal deciding the game in golden point. The game lived up to expectations, but few could have imagined the toll it would take on both sides. The Cowboys were hardest hit, losing prop Matt Scott for the season with a ruptured ACL, while Lachlan Coote tore a calf muscle and Antonio Winterstein fractured his wrist. Broncos pair Jordan Kahu (corked thigh) and second-rower Matt Gillett (concussion) were also unable…

Round 2 March 9, 10, 11 & 12

Round 3 March 16, 17, 18 & 19

RAIDERS 46, TIGERS 6 ANOTHER LOSS PUTS TAYLOR IN FIRING LINE A SECOND shellacking in consecutive weeks sounded the death knell for Wests Tigers coach Jason Taylor, whose tenure was brought to a sudden end just three weeks into the new season. Just seven days after a 36-2 mauling by the Panthers, Wests Tigers were trounced 46-6 by the Raiders and it could have been worse had the Green Machine cranked into top gear. The Tigers competed strongly for half an hour, but their only scoreboard joy came via an intercept try to winger David Nofoaluma. All other efforts to register points had come to nothing and frustration quickly set in. They conceded two tries before half-time – following the pattern set the week before against the Panthers – and in the second term the…

Round 3 March 16, 17, 18 & 19

Round 4 March 23, 24, 25 & 26

DRAGONS 26, WARRIORS 12 RED V RISE CONTINUES AGAINST WARRIORS ST GEORGE Illawarra extended their dominant record over the Warriors by claiming a 14-point win at UOW Jubilee Oval. It was the Dragons’ 12th victory from their previous 13 encounters with the Warriors, who hadn’t savoured a win at Kogarah since 2003. he Dragons were largely untroubled in recording their third win from four games, with new prop Paul Vaughan and representative stars Josh Dugan and Gareth Widdop leading the way. Vaughan was especially impressive with his mid-field vigour and was rewarded early when he surged across the line for the opening try of the game. Dugan also joined the scoring with a try midway through the first half, but he was equally effective without the ball, closing down several dangerous plays with last-ditch tackles. Widdop…

Round 4 March 23, 24, 25 & 26

Yearly transfer circus starts in earnest

April 5 Request denied Wests Tigers refuse five-eighth Mitch Moses an immediate release after he signs a threeyear deal with Parramatta reportedly worth $2.2 million. April 13 Bird flies away Cronulla grand final winner Jack Bird signs a four-year, $2.85 million deal with the Brisbane Broncos. Brisbane officials complain to the NRL that the Sharks broke protocol by announcing Bird’s departure before the expiration of the cooling off period. April 20 Dog day The Daily Telegraph publishes a photograph of Wests Tigers captain Aaron Woods meeting with Canterbury players David Klemmer, Josh Jackson, Adam Elliott and Josh Reynolds, intensifying speculation that Woods was headed to Belmore in 2018. April 21 Big buys The Daily Telegraph reports that Canterbury have signed Kieran Foran and Aaron Woods while the Sydney Roosters have snared the prized signature of Wests Tigers fullback James Tedesco. The…

Yearly transfer circus starts in earnest

April 1 ‘Heighno’ 300 The battling Knights cause a giant scare for premiers Cronulla at Southern Cross Group Stadium before a last-ditch field goal to five-eighth James Maloney secures a 19-18 win. Cronulla veteran Chris Heighington becomes the 26th player to reach the milestone of 300 NRL games. April 2 Concussion issue The Sunday Telegraph reports St George Immortal Graeme Langlands has been admitted to an aged care facility, where he is treated for Alzheimer’s Disease. Neurophysiologist Dr Ray Garrick claims Langlands’ cognitive decline is linked to “a clear history of multiple concussive head injuries during his sporting career”. April 4 Time for a change Melbourne halfback Cooper Cronk makes a bombshell announcement by calling time on his career with the Storm at the end of the season and revealing plans to relocate to Sydney to be with…

Round 5 March 30, 31, April 1 & 2

STORM 28, PANTHERS 6 STORM MAKE IT COUNT IN CLASH OF CONTENDERS MELBOURNE taught the Panthers a lesson in big-game management when they won comprehensively at AAMI Park. Both teams were tipped as premiership contenders in 2017, but on the evidence after five rounds it was the Storm who looked far more likely to vie for top honours than the Panthers, who slumped to their third loss from five starts. Penrith weren’t far off the pace in a high-quality first half display. Both sides completed at a high percentage and when they left the field after 40 minutes, Melbourne held a narrow 10-6 lead. They took less than a minute after play resumed to go further in front but when the Panthers had the opportunity to respond, Moses Leota lost the ball over the…

Round 5 March 30, 31, April 1 & 2

Round 6 April 6, 7, 8 & 9

BULLDOGS 22, KNIGHTS 12 VALIANT KNIGHTS THEIR OWN WORST ENEMIES NEWCASTLE were left to rue a succession of near misses and a controversial no-try ruling after a narrow loss to the Bulldogs at McDonald Jones Stadium. Canterbury-Bankstown scored five tries to the Knights’ two and won by 10 points, but the outcome could have been vastly different had Newcastle taken their chances. Winger Nathan Ross scored a spectacular first-half try when he pursued a Trent Hodkinson kick but missed an earlier chance when he knocked on with a try begging, while rookie five-eighth Brock Lamb blew another scoring opportunity when he ignored an unmarked support player. Late in the game, with the Bulldogs clinging to an 18-12 lead, Newcastle’s Sione Mata’utia appeared to score, only to be denied by video referee Jared Maxwell after…

Round 6 April 6, 7, 8 & 9

Round 7 April 14, 15, 16 & 17

STORM 30, SEA EAGLES 26 STORM HOLD ON AFTER FIRST-HALF BARRAGE THERE was no shortage of entertainment in a scoring bonanza at Lottoland, but coaches Trent Barrett (Manly) and Craig Bellamy (Melbourne) were both wearing frowns at full-time. Barrett lamented a poor start by his team, who allowed the Storm to run in four tries in the opening 20 minutes to take a stranglehold on the game. Melbourne led 18-0, but it could have been more had Cameron Smith packed his kicking boots. Over the next hour, the Sea Eagles outscored the Storm 26-12 but ultimately the home side paid dearly for their dismal opening. Bellamy was left disappointed with his team’s defensive effort: “We’ve always built this club on having pride in our defence and I don’t think we did a great job…

Round 7 April 14, 15, 16 & 17

Round 8 April 21, 22, 23 & 25

ROOSTERS 13, DRAGONS 12 PEARCE MAKES HIS POINT IN THRILLER SYDNEY Roosters halfback Mitchell Pearce emerged the hero of a classic Anzac Day showdown with the Dragons when he scored a crucial try and nailed the match-winning field goal in golden point. Pearce’s one-pointer broke a six-year long field goal drought for the much-maligned Roosters’ playmaker and came after his second-half try handed his team the lead for the first time in the game. Named winner of the Ashton-Collier Spirit of Anzac Medal as man of the match, Pearce went a long way towards regaining the New South Wales No.7 jersey on the strength of his performance. The Dragons suffered a telling blow soon after half-time when five-eighth Gareth Widdop was forced from the field with a medial ligament injury. Widdop had controlled his…

Round 8 April 21, 22, 23 & 25

Game forced to confront drug problem

May 3 Down and out Former Newcastle half Jarrod Mullen is suspended for four years for testing positive to an anabolic steroid. The NRL and Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority said Mullen was found guilty of using the banned steroid Drostanolone. May 5 Caught red-handed Shaun Kenny-Dowall’s future with the Sydney Roosters is thrown into jeopardy after the Kiwi international is arrested at Ivy Nightclub and charged with cocaine possession. May 6 Blight on the game The game is rocked by drug scandals involving Kiwi Test captain Jesse Bromwich and second-rower Kevin Proctor and Cronulla chairman Damian Keogh. Bromwich and Proctor were named in an ACT police report after a man was charged with possession and supply of a drug of dependence. Neither was arrested. Meanwhile, Keogh was arrested when he was allegedly found with a small bag containing…

May 1 Custom City City coach Brad Fittler is forced to select lower grade players Jake Marketo (Illawarra Cutters, pictured), Pauli Pauli (Newcastle) and Hame Sele (St George Illawarra) for the final City-Country clash after a raft of leading players withdraw or are ruled unavailable by their club coaches. May 1 Gus’ green light Penrith general manager Phil Gould bucks the trend of clubs refusing to allow players to participate by permitting Nathan Cleary, Bryce Cartwright, James Tamou, Tyrone Peachey and Matt Moylan to play. Fittler’s Country counterpart Craig Fitzgibbon is also forced to name an inexperienced line-up. May 3 Fifita ready for Roos Cronulla prop Andrew Fifita says he’s ready to buy into the Kangaroos’ culture after earning a Test recall for the first time since 2013. According to The Daily Telegraph, Fifita had a discussion with…

Round 9 April 27, 28, 29 & 30

EELS 26, COWBOYS 6 EELS CAPITALISE ON DEPLETED COWBOYS NORTH Queensland coach Paul Green questioned the attitude of his senior players after a welldrilled Parramatta side handed them their third defeat from six games on home soil for 2017. Despite the continued absence of big-name players Matt Scott, Johnathan Thurston, Lachlan Coote and Jake Granville, Green said there was no excuse for the defensive frailty his team displayed. The right side was especially troublesome, where Coen Hess, Michael Morgan, Justin O’Neill and Kyle Feldt struggled to contain the speed of Michael Jennings and the guile of Corey Norman, which led to two first-half tries to utility Clint Gutherson. Parramatta were well on their way to their first win in Townsville since 2010 when they led 14-0 at half-time and they pushed out to 20-0…

Round 9 April 27, 28, 29 & 30

Round 10 May 11, 12, 13 & 14

TITANS 38, STORM 36 TITANIC BOILOVER IN RECORD-BREAKING LOSS THE presence of Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater wasn’t enough for Melbourne to secure victory over the Gold Coast in a stunning upset in the opening game of a double-header at Suncorp Stadium. The Titans claimed victory after 80 minutes of dramatic momentum shifts in which the Storm scored 18 straight points, followed by 22 in a row to Gold Coast and another 18 to Melbourne. The Titans rallied late to win by eight. Even when a Storm win appeared most likely, the Titans refused to give up and young halves Ash Taylor and Kane Elgey were highly influential to the result. Taylor’s grubber kick led to a try to Tyrone Roberts that brought the Gold Coast back into the contest at 36-34,…

Round 10 May 11, 12, 13 & 14

Round 11 May 18, 19, 20 & 21

BRONCOS 36, TIGERS 0 CHAOTIC TIGERS CAUGHT IN BRONCO STAMPEDE AMID ongoing upheaval, the departure of five-eighth Mitch Moses to Parramatta and the late withdrawal of Luke Brooks to a hamstring injury, Wests Tigers didn’t stand much of a chance against a well-oiled Brisbane Broncos at Suncorp Stadium. In 80 minutes the Broncos offered little mercy as they ran in six tries and held their own line intact for the first time in 2017. Despite a slippery surface, the Broncos turned in a clinical performance, leading 24-0 at half-time and adding 12 more points in the second stanza. The only negative was a head injury to Andrew McCullough, who was knocked out cold as he attempted a tackle on Tigers’ interchange Kyle Lovett midway through the second half. Little went right for the Tigers, who…

Round 11 May 18, 19, 20 & 21

Round 12 May 26, 27 & 28

EELS 22, RABBITOHS 16 SLIPPERY EELS SURVIVE LATE RABBITOH REVIVAL PARRAMATTA returned to winning form when they held off a fastfinishing South Sydney at ANZ Stadium. The Eels appeared headed for a landslide victory at half-time, but the Bunnies launched a fightback in the second half when Angus Crichton ran 90 metres to score. Two further tries to Alex Johnston narrowed the deficit to six points, but with seconds remaining the Rabbitohs declined a conversion attempt to chance their arm on a final play. The Eels shut it down and held on to claim a much-needed win. Johnston’s first try was a longdistance effort, while his second was awarded after he appeared to knockon from an Adam Reynolds chip kick. The Eels played an up-tempo game and were rewarded with three first-half tries. A sharp…

Round 12 May 26, 27 & 28

June 1 ‘Hayne Plane’ stays The Gold Coast Titans confirm Jarryd Hayne has taken up an option to remain with the club in 2018. June 2 Selling Slater Melbourne fullback Billy Slater sends a clear message to Queensland coach Kevin Walters ahead of State of Origin II with a dazzling display against Newcastle at AAMI Park. Slater crosses for two tries and lays on two more in a 40-12 victory. June 5 Drama for Des Angry Canterbury fans vent their frustration on social media after coach Des Hasler fails to appear for an advertised meet and greet after the Bulldogs were thrashed by Penrith. The Daily Telegraph reports an online petition has been launched calling for Hasler’s sacking and Steve Mortimer’s reinstatement to the Bulldogs’ board. Wounded Eagle Manly lose blockbusting winger Jorge Taufua for the rest of the season…

Origin focus shifts to under-fire Maroons

June 12 Maroon makeover Melbourne prop Tim Glasby is lampooned by Sydney’s Daily Telegraph after he is named as one of seven changes to Queensland’s team for State of Origin II. The paper refers to him as an ‘NRL nobody’. Coach Kevin Walters dumps veterans Sam Thaiday, Nate Myles, Aidan Guerra and Jacob Lillyman, along with Corey Oates, Justin O’Neill and Anthony Milford. Meanwhile, the Blues name an unchanged line-up for the first time since 1996. June 13 Free to play Gold Coast prop Jarrod Wallace is found not guilty by the NRL judiciary of using a shoulder charge on Warriors centre Blake Ayshford, allowing him to take his place in the Maroons’ line-up for State of Origin II. June 21 King of clutch Queensland ace Johnathan Thurston defies the pain of a serious shoulder injury to land…

Origin focus shifts to under-fire Maroons

Round 13 June 2, 3 & 4

SEA EAGLES 21, RAIDERS 20 CHERRY LAYS THE GOLDEN EGG AGAIN FOR MANLY DALY Cherry-Evans turned from villain to hero to lift the Sea Eagles to their second golden point win for the season over Canberra. Guilty of conceding the penalty in the final minute of regular time that allowed Raiders captain Jarrod Croker to level the scores with a penalty goal, Cherry-Evans stepped up to slot the match-winning field goal in the third minute of golden point. The Sea Eagles’ captain created his team’s first try with a cut-out pass for Dylan Walker and he scored their last when Walker set him up with an accurate grubber kick, ensuring he finished well ahead on the ledger. The Sea Eagles played themselves into a winning position with a powerful first-half performance led by Martin Taupau,…

Round 13 June 2, 3 & 4

Round 14 June 8, 9, 10, 11 & 12

WARRIORS 34, TITANS 12 WARRIORS STRIKE AWAY GOLD ON THE COAST THE Warriors extended their remarkable dominance over the Titans and claimed their first win in Australia for 2017 at Cbus Super Stadium. Popular second-rower Ryan Hoffman celebrated his 300th NRL game in style as the Warriors made it 13 wins from their past 14 games against the Titans and their seventh consecutive win on the Gold Coast. The Titans invited former players such as Scott Prince, Preston Campbell and Luke Bailey to the game to unveil the club’s Team of the Decade, but a poor defensive effort and further injury concerns detracted from the occasion. Five-eighth Kane Elgey was replaced with a sternum injury in the 68th minute, but when Konrad Hurrell left the field with an injured ankle, the Titans were forced to…

Round 14 June 8, 9, 10, 11 & 12

Round 15 June 16, 17 & 18

SHARKS 24, TIGERS 22 PREMIERS LEAVE IT LATE AN UNDER-STRENGTH Cronulla were forced to scramble to claim a narrow victory over Wests Tigers in a scrappy encounter. The Sharks took the field without Origin reps Jack Bird, James Maloney, Valentine Holmes, Wade Graham and Andrew Fifita, while Wests Tigers pair James Tedesco and Aaron Woods were also among the spectators. An upset appeared on the cards when the Tigers took a 12-4 lead to the break and it looked more likely when Malakai Watene-Zelezniak beat Sharks halfback Chad Townsend to the corner and Tuimoala Lolohea converted with 11 minutes left. But the Sharks mustered the energy to score two late tries to escape with a win. First Kurt Capewell, who had already crossed twice, positioned Edrick Lee to score out wide before interchange Daniel Mortimer…

Round 15 June 16, 17 & 18

Round 16 June 23, 24 & 25

COWBOYS 14, PANTHERS 12 COWBOYS SHOW TRUE GRIT IN COMEBACK WIN A SPECTACULAR last-ditch win over the Panthers lifted North Queensland’s spirits just days after superstar halfback Johnathan Thurston was ruled out for the rest of the season. In what was supposed to be Thurston’s 300th NRL game, the Cowboys bombarded the Panthers’ line for long periods of the second half but struggled to find a way through. Penrith’s tackle count soared beyond the 400-mark and it appeared the visitors’ efforts would be rewarded with a 12-8 victory until the Cowboys finally found their way to the line with two minutes to play. The try came via the boot of five-eighth Michael Morgan, who had earlier engineered the Cowboys’ first try with a short ball for replacement prop Corey Jensen. Kyle Feldt timed his…

Round 16 June 23, 24 & 25

July 2 Fantastic five Winger Alex Johnston becomes the eighth player to score five tries in a game for South Sydney as the Rabbitohs shock Penrith 42-14 at ANZ Stadium. July 3 Handy alternatives Queensland selectors choose Cameron Munster and Ben Hunt to fill vacancies left by injured backs Darius Boyd and Johnathan Thurston for the series decider at Suncorp Stadium. Meanwhile, despite several injury concerns, Blues selectors name the same 17 players for the third successive game. Deserved dues The NSWRL commit to officially contract 30 of its women’s Origin pathways players. The commitment includes match payments for interstate players and a daily allowance when in representative camps. July 5 Probing deeper NSW Police expand investigations into NRL matchfixing after new claims emerge of spot fixing, money laundering and illegal salary cap payments. A source close to the investigation…

Excuses and anger as Blues blow it again

July 12 Blue pain continues Queensland overcome the absence of Johnathan Thurston, Greg Inglis, Matt Scott and Darius Boyd to storm to their 11th Origin series victory in 12 years after crushing the Blues 22-6 before a record crowd at Suncorp Stadium. Cameron Smith is named man of the match while winger Dane Gagai wins the Wally Lewis Medal as Player of the Series. The future of New South Wales coach Laurie Daley immediately becomes a hot topic for discussion. July 13 Great crowd Television ratings figures indicate State of Origin III was the most watched program of 2017 with a national peak audience of 4.178 million viewers. Joey for top job Matthew Johns leads a public push for his younger brother, Immortal Andrew Johns, to take over from Laurie Daley as New South Wales coach. Meanwhile,…

Excuses and anger as Blues blow it again

Round 17 June 29, 30, July 1 & 2

EELS 13, BULLDOGS 12 SMALLEST MARGIN SEPARATES RIVALS PARRAMATTA marched toward a place in the finals for the first time since 2009 when they pipped the Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium. The Eels survived a late fightback by the Bulldogs, who rallied from a 12-2 deficit to score two secondhalf tries and draw level with 10 minutes remaining. Parramatta made light work of the overtime period, benefitting from a penalty (their first since the first half of the game) before halfback Mitch Moses potted the winning field goal. The Bulldogs didn’t touch the ball during the golden point period. The game started poorly for the Bulldogs when winger Marcelo Montoya was sin-binned inside the first three minutes for taking out Moses after Will Hopoate had thrown a reckless pass close to his own line. Montoya…

Round 17 June 29, 30, July 1 & 2

Round 18 July 7, 8 & 9

ROOSTERS 14, RABBITOHS 12 RABBITOHS CAN’T ESCAPE FRIEND-ZONE SENIOR Roosters Jake Friend and Michael Gordon emerged the heroes of their Origin-depleted team’s hard-fought win over South Sydney at Allianz Stadium. The Roosters were without Origin players Mitchell Pearce, Blake Ferguson, Boyd Cordner and Dylan Napa, while classy forward Sio Siua Taukeiaho was sidelined with a hamstring strain. The Rabbitohs had no such Origin concerns and started slight favourites to build on successive wins over the Titans and Panthers. But they didn’t count on the Roosters responding to one of their worst performances of the season with one of their grittiest efforts under coach Trent Robinson – and it was Friend and Gordon who led the way. Friend was monumental, orchestrating both of his team’s tries and completing 61 tackles. He made the Rabbitohs pay at the…

Round 18 July 7, 8 & 9

Round 19 July 14, 15 & 16

PANTHERS 34, WARRIORS 22 CLEARY THE KING AS PANTHERS HUNT FINALS PRODIGIOUS halfback Nathan Cleary scored a hat-trick of tries to guide the Panthers to a victory over the Warriors, lifting them to within one win of the top eight. The match hung in the balance until the 19-year-old stepped up to score two tries in seven minutes. Cleary had a huge hand in the victory, playing a role in three tries, scoring three himself and adding five goals for a personal haul of 22 points. The Panthers overcame multiple setbacks to claim victory; losing Moylan late in the preparation with a hamstring injury and Trent Merrin after 26 minutes with a damaged knee, and also having Corey Harawira-Naera controversially sent to the sin-bin after half-time. Harawira-Naera was in the wrong place at the wrong…

Round 19 July 14, 15 & 16

Round 20 July 20, 21, 22 & 23

DRAGONS 52, SEA EAGLES 22 RED V RAMPAGE BRINGS MANLY BACK TO EARTH ST GEORGE Illawarra staged a dramatic form reversal at WIN Stadium to send third-placed Manly crashing to a 30-point defeat. The Dragons had been in freefall after winning just three of their previous 10 games and hopes of a top eight finish were fading by the week. They started as underdogs against the Sea Eagles but by halftime they led 30-0 and had Manly seemingly at their mercy. St George Illawarra’s forwards reasserted the dominance that had powered the club to the top of the table earlier in the season. Gareth Widdop capitalised superbly, finishing the day with a length-ofthe- field try from an intercept, two try assists, a 40/20 and eight goals from nine attempts. Manly staged a brief fightback after…

Round 20 July 20, 21, 22 & 23

August 1 ‘Mary’ angry St George Illawarra coach Paul McGregor is fined $10,000 for criticising match officials in the wake of the Dragons’ 23-16 loss to Newcastle. McGregor labelled Bunker officials as ‘embarrassing’ and ‘incompetent’ after the Dragons were denied two tries. August 3 Deadline for Des The Sydney Morning Herald claims that Canterbury coach Des Hasler has the final five games of the 2017 season to save his job. It is the first year since Hasler joined the Bulldogs in 2012 they had failed to reach the play-offs. August 4 Green joins in North Queensland coach Paul Green unleashes an attack on referees Ashley Klein and Alan Shortall after the Cowboys are beaten 26-8 by Melbourne in Townsville. Risking a heavy NRL fine, Green describes the refereeing performance as the worst he has ever seen. August 6 Family matters Young…

Cap debate heats up amid tension

August 16 League divided NRL clubs remain in a stalemate over a salary cap figure for 2018 with five clubs pushing for a significant increase on the proposed figure of $9.2 million and nine clubs opposing a rise. Melbourne chairman Bart Campbell warns a $9.6 million cap could send clubs to the wall. August 17 We have a cap Clubs agree to a revised salary cap figure of $9.4 million for 2018 but several issues remain unresolved between the NRL and the RLPA before the game’s new collective bargaining agreement can be ratified. August 18 Number of issues NRL CEO Todd Greenberg fails to gain the endorsement of the RLPA after an hour-long meeting with RLPA boss Ian Prendergast. According to an RLPA statement, the two parties remained “apart on many key financial and non-financial aspects of the…

Cap debate heats up amid tension

Round 21 July 27, 28, 29 & 30

RAIDERS 32, RABBITOHS 18 GREEN MACHINE KEEP FINALS HOPES ALIVE DESPITE having three players suspended, Canberra proved far too strong for South Sydney as they kept alive their hopes of playing in the finals with a comprehensive win at ANZ Stadium. Josh Papalii, Jordan Rapana and Sia Soliola were all sidelined following on-field indiscretions but they were barely missed. The Raiders clicked into gear from the outset, charging to a 20-6 lead by half-time and 32-12 before Alex Johnston scored a late fourpointer for the Rabbitohs from a Bryson Goodwin kick. With their right-side attack weakened, the Raiders turned to their under-rated left side, where captain Jarrod Croker, rookie winger Nick Cotric and fullback Jack Wighton caused constant headaches for the Rabbitohs’ defence with their pace and skill. Rabbitohs gave their fans some hope after…

Round 21 July 27, 28, 29 & 30

Round 22 August 3, 4, 5 & 6

STORM 26, COWBOYS 8 MOUNTAIN OF INJURIES TOO HARD TO CLIMB THE Cowboys’ dire injury situation deteriorated at 1300SMILES Stadium when stand-in captain Gavin Cooper and Antonio Winterstein were forced from the field early in the clash with Melbourne. Cooper injured a calf muscle after two minutes, while Winterstein left the field with a knee injury soon after. Scott Bolton played on despite a shoulder problem but was clearly inconvenienced. Despite their plight, the Cowboys continued to extend the Storm through their up-tempo approach. Melbourne led 10-8 heading towards half-time, but Michael Morgan created a chance for the home team when his 40/20 attempt beat Billy Slater into touch. The opportunity was lost when Justin O’Neill coughed up the ball and it proved an especially costly miss when Suliasi Vunivalu scored a spectacular try…

Round 22 August 3, 4, 5 & 6

Round 23 August 10, 11, 12 & 13

KNIGHTS 29, EELS 10 TRIPLE TRIUMPH TWO YEARS IN THE MAKING NEWCASTLE caused one of the biggest upsets of the season when they downed high-rolling Parramatta at ANZ Stadium to claim their first win away from home since Round 24, 2015. It was the Knights’ third consecutive victory and raised hopes the club could shed the wooden spoon with three rounds to play. For Parramatta, the loss ended a six-game winning streak and jeopardised their chances of a top four finish. The Knights had the Eels reeling when they stormed to a 12-0 lead inside the first eight minutes of play after Dane Gagai threw the final pass for tries to Ken Sio and Mitch Barnett. Parramatta found their feet and responded with two tries before half-time, but expectations they would finish on top…

Round 23 August 10, 11, 12 & 13

Round 24 August 17, 18, 19 & 20

BRONCOS 24, DRAGONS 12 DRAGONS FAIL TO FIRE NORTH OF THE BORDER ST GEORGE Illawarra were left to walk the high wire to the finals after slumping to a 12-point loss to the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium. The Brisbane clash had brought the Dragons precious little success over a long period and their run of outs continued against a Broncos outfit who were finding form at the business end of the season. Injuries proved a setback to the Dragons’ hopes before kick-off, with Nene Macdonald, Hame Sele and Taane Milne all withdrawing late in the preparation. If the Dragons were concerned with a Suncorp curse, it was apparent early when Josh Dugan lost control of an Anthony Milford kick, leading to the opening try to Alex Glenn, before Dugan then knocked on after neat work…

Round 24 August 17, 18, 19 & 20

Round 25 August 24, 25, 26 & 27

ROOSTERS 16, SHARKS 14 SHARKS SINK AS RACE FOR FINALS HEATS UP A LATE penalty goal to Michael Gordon handed the Roosters a narrow victory over the Sharks at Southern Cross Group Stadium and may have cost Cronulla a top four finish. Both teams were jockeying for the best possible finish to the regular season and tensions rose late in the contest with the Roosters nervously holding on to a six-point lead. With nine minutes to play, Roosters fiveeighth Luke Keary was sin-binned for a professional foul after grassing Cronulla’s Luke Lewis. The Sharks made Keary pay when Lewis scored and James Maloney’s conversion brought the scores level. Maloney then attempted a field goal but the ball struck an upright. As the final minute neared, Sharks captain Paul Gallen was penalised for holding on for…

Round 25 August 24, 25, 26 & 27

HEADLINES THIS MONTH Tedesco takes top gong from RLPA Smith and Slater make history Graham’s generous ‘Grub’ offer NRL supports SSM Hunters, Penrith claim state titles Moylan market rumours Smith takes out Dally M Greats get pre-season testimonial September 1 Acknowledging the greats The Daily Telegraph reports the NRL has endorsed a testimonial game for Cameron Smith and Johnathan Thurston in 2018 that will provide a legal salary cap loophole for Melbourne and North Queensland. The players stand to earn a combined $1.5 million from the trial match to be played at Suncorp Stadium. Up for grabs? Rival clubs take a sudden interest in Penrith captain Matt Moylan after reports emerge he is ‘restless’ at the foot of the mountains. Moylan attended a lengthy meeting with coach Anthony Griffin and general manager Phil Gould, who…

Hirings, firings and fury from coaches

September 5 Madge nudged South Sydney’s board decide to end the tenure of coach Michael Maguire after six years with the club that included the Rabbitohs’ drought-breaking 2014 premiership. Owner Russell Crowe praises Maguire unreservedly: “Michael has given South Sydney six dedicated years, he brought us a premiership, brought us out of the 43-year wilderness,” he said. September 7 Quick change Former Canberra Raiders forward Anthony Seibold is appointed South Sydney coach. Seibold served an apprenticeship under Maguire and assisted Queensland coach Kevin Walters with the Maroons’ Origin team in 2016 and 2017. September 9 Barrett lets loose Penrith turn the tables in the first elimination final and send Manly crashing from the play-offs with a 22-10 victory at Allianz Stadium. Beaten Sea Eagles coach Trent Barrett is scathing of Bunker officials, who awarded two contentious tries to…

Hirings, firings and fury from coaches

Round 26 August 31, September 1, 2 & 3

SEA EAGLES 28, PANTHERS 12 S SEA EAGLES SOAR INTO FINALS RETURN MANLY confirmed their place in the finals for the first time since 2014 with a dominant win over Penrith. But while the Panthers were also safe in the eight their credentials were questioned after a lacklustre performance. The Sea Eagles needed a win to seal a top eight finish, while the Panthers were safe with any result beyond a loss by 37 or more points – a prospect that looked possible when Manly raced to a 28-0 lead after 53 minutes. The Sea Eagles went into the game with a plan to target the Panthers’ right-side defence and with young star Brian Kelly enjoying the best night of his short NRL career, they carried it out to perfection. Kelly scored the opening try…

Round 26 August 31, September 1, 2 & 3

Mitchell the man as Chooks survive

A BARNSTORMING try to winger Latrell Mitchell propelled the Roosters to within one game of the grand final after the Broncos went close to snatching victory in a gripping opening to the finals series. The Roosters led for most of the contest but were in danger of succumbing late in the game when Brisbane scored twice in three minutes to transform an 18-10 deficit into a 22-18 lead. Brisbane hooker Ben Hunt swung the momentum 11 minutes from full-time when he kicked for the in-goal from close range and won the race to the ball to narrow the Roosters’ lead to 18-16. A calamitous error by Blake Ferguson handed the Broncos the lead for the first time and threatened to cost the Roosters the game. Benji Marshall shaped to kick to the right…

Mitchell the man as Chooks survive

Record day almost spoiled by Eels

A CLEVER play by Parramatta forward Kenny Edwards set the scene for a major upset at AAMI Park but the Storm recovered for a two-point victory and passage through to a preliminary final for the third-straight year. It was a red-letter day for the Storm, with their captain Cameron Smith breaking the all-time premiership appearance record, but it nearly failed to go to plan. In their first finals appearance since 2009, Parramatta were aggressive and brave, rattled the Storm with their tactics and nearly carried off a shock win. Despite dominating early possession, the Storm led only 4-0 midway through the first half when they were penalised deep in their own territory. Edwards, on the field for only a few minutes after replacing Tepai Moeroa (HIA), showed excellent game awareness to quickly tap…

Record day almost spoiled by Eels

Controversy mars strong Panthers win

BALL-PLAYER Bryce Cartwright left his troubles behind him to play a decisive role in Penrith’s win over Manly in a dramatic and controversial elimination final at Allianz Stadium. Plagued by leg injuries and personal issues during the season, Cartwright finally emerged to issue a reminder of his talent. Cartwright scored two tries and set up another for centre Tyrone Peachey as the Panthers reversed the result of their Round 26 clash with Manly to keep their season alive. Peachey’s try was disputed fiercely by the Sea Eagles and the firestorm of controversy from the decision, and a Manly try which was denied, raged for days. Sea Eagles coach Trent Barrett was strident in his criticism of the game’s Bunker processes and was later fined for his comments. The Peachey try came with tensions…

Controversy mars strong Panthers win

Nervous footy eliminates premiers

GUTSY North Queensland scrapped their way to victory in extra-time at Allianz Stadium to end Cronulla’s dream of back-toback premiership titles. It was another against-the-odds effort by the Cowboys, who didn’t assume the lead until Michael Morgan kicked the decisive field goal in the fifth minute of the first overtime period. The Sharks, with a full-strength playing roster, were expected to perform last rites on the Cowboys’ season after North Queensland had fallen into the top eight, almost by default. Their hopes of playing in the finals series looked over on the last Sunday of the regular season when St George Illawarra led Canterbury at ANZ Stadium but the Cowboys were handed a reprieve when the Dragons folded in the final 15 minutes. The Cowboys had won only one of their final six…

Nervous footy eliminates premiers

Grinding effort secures progress

THE Broncos defied a growing casualty list to hold off the Panthers at Suncorp Stadium and set up a preliminary final with the Storm in Melbourne. Already missing fullback Darius Boyd and forwards Andrew McCullough, Korbin Sims and Tevita Pangai Jnr, the Broncos lost three more players to concussion during the game but were still good enough to score two tries to one in a dour 80-minute exhibition. Of the three, Corey Oates was the most doubtful to play in the preliminary final after he was the victim of a sickening collision with team-mate Anthony Milford midway through the opening half. Oates had already made his mark on the game, sprinting 60 metres to score the opening try in the seventh minute, but his night was over when he attempted to run…

Grinding effort secures progress

Morgan steps up in golden victory

A FIVE-STAR display by halfback Michael Morgan breathed life into North Queensland’s finals campaign after a resounding comeback win over Parramatta at ANZ Stadium. The Cowboys’ hopes of figuring in the play-offs looked shot to pieces a fortnight earlier, but after a second sudden death victory the Townsville club was now only one win away from another grand final appearance. The Cowboys could count themselves unlucky to go to halftime behind 10-6 after producing a first-half completion rate of 100 per cent. The Eels scored two tries, both long distance efforts against the run of play, which could have broken the spirit of a less experienced opponent. Semi Radradra left Eels fans with a lasting memory before his move to French rugby outfit Toulon with a magnificent 100- metre try after he fielded…

Morgan steps up in golden victory

Purple wall proves inpenetrable

THE Melbourne Storm overcame a sloppy first-half performance to book their passage through to the grand final for the second year running after a 30-point shut-out of the Broncos. Both sides bombed scoring chances in a frantic first half before the Storm regained control to send the Broncos crashing from the premiership race. Yet again it was Cameron Smith, Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk – playing his final game for the Storm at AAMI Park – who guided Melbourne’s fortunes with important roles in the victory. After putting their feet up while the Broncos slugged out a tough semi-final against Penrith, the Storm looked rusty early, bombed scoring chances and lacked their customary clinical precision. Suliasi Vunivalu spoiled an early chance for points when he dropped a straightforward pass from centre Will Chambers, while…

Purple wall proves inpenetrable

Underdogs claim another big scalp

THE Cowboys ensured their giant-killing run would continue all the way to the premiership decider after sweeping aside the Sydney Roosters in a high-quality preliminary final. Wearing the underdogs tag yet again, the Cowboys led narrowly at half-time but were forced to come from behind twice during the second half to win the game. Halfback Michael Morgan continued his remarkable late-season form to provide the inspiration for the win with several plays that underlined his status as the form player in the competition. Morgan put the Roosters on notice in the opening minutes when he landed a 40/20 kick and he forced another repeat set when his kick to the in-goal led to a Roosters goal-line drop-out late in the opening half. But he saved his most brilliant work for the second half,…

Underdogs claim another big scalp

Fairytale finish for Melbourne rugby league legends

MELBOURNE Storm trio Cameron Smith, Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk ended their 14-year partnership in commanding style at ANZ Stadium when they spearheaded their team’s comprehensive grand final victory over North Queensland. The Storm’s Big Three were intrinsic figures – always plotting, supporting, creating and inspiring and helping to confirm the team’s status as one of the most dominant of the modern era. Cronk’s decision to move to Sydney in 2018 meant this grand final represented a parting of the ways, an end to one of the most extraordinary partnerships the game has known. And with the result assured and full-time drawing near, the trio turned on a special encore performance, combining with the precision they had developed into a trademark to set up the final try. Smith: a wide ball from dummy-half…

Fairytale finish for Melbourne rugby league legends

Pacific passion sets World Cup alight

October 4 Switching sides Jason Taumalolo turns his back on New Zealand to pledge his allegiance to Tonga for the World Cup. “The World Cup provides developing nations like Tonga an opportunity to play on the big stage and I would like to help them,” Taumalolo said. His move is followed by other Kiwieligible players Tuimoala Lolohea, Solomone Kata, Konrad Hurrell, Manu Vatuvei, Manu Ma’u and David Fusitu’a. October 5 Fifita’s family matters Andrew Fifita withdraws from Australia’s World Cup squad to join Tonga, telling Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga that the decision was driven by his family’s heritage. Meanwhile, former New Zealand coach Graham Lowe calls for every player that defected to Tonga to be banned from ever wearing the Kiwi jersey again. October 28 Pride of a nation A capacity crowd at Port Moresby’s International Stadium cheer…

HEADLINES THIS MONTH Storm cruise to grand final glory Country focus in 2018 World Cup double for Australia Cronk in, Pearce out at Roosters Hayne plane takes off again Valentine’s try-scoring rampage Freddy ready for Blues Accolades continue for Smith OCTOBER October 1 Simply the best The Melbourne Storm lay claim to being one of the best club sides of the modern era after a 34-6 grand final victory over North Queensland. Billy Slater becomes only the second player to win the Clive Churchill Medal twice. October 3 New faces for Roos Mal Meninga names seven newcomers in Australia’s World Cup squad including Tom Trbojevic, Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Wade Graham, Dane Gagai, Jordan McLean, Cameron Munster and Felise Kaufusi. Sam Thaiday, James Tedesco and Josh Papalii are notable omissions. October 4 Change of scenery St George Illawarra announce they will cease…

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