THIS is an extremely hard column to write but I’m going to use it as a tribute to one of the best blokes I’ve ever met or known. Early Sunday morning on the 20th of July I woke to a call from my mate Coxy that our best friend, our brother, Toby Hughes had passed […]

AS round 19 looms in the National Rugby League (I know! What? Round 19 already, wow!) I’ve given myself a little assignment. I’ve gone onto NRL.com and clicked on the ladder predictor. I’m keen to see where every team will end up once the season proper ends in round 27. Given that, let’s look at […]

Panthers purring! OK, I know it’s only just after the halfway mark of the season but man, you’ve just gotta tip your cap to the 4-time premiers.  Just when you may have had second thoughts about Penrith’s 2025 season, they go and win a game like they did last weekend, against all the odds, to […]

IN what has seemed like an eon of expectation, the new Perth Bears franchise has finally got their man to lead them into the NRL in 2027. And that man is one of the most decorated men in our game, Mal Meninga! They don’t come more well-known than the former bullocking centre for Canberra, QLD, […]

AT the end of 2006, Penrith Golf Pro Jonathan Green, and his great mate local solicitor Mark Mulock were having a long lunch, when the discussion popped up on exactly what could they do to raise money for local charities that really needed funds.  “I reckon I could run to Katoomba” Greeny stated. “What if […]

IT has been one hell of a week in rugby league land. Besides all the on-field wizardry from teams coming back from insurmountable odds, another comeback for the ages also took place.  The Perth Bears were announced as the 18th team in the NRL! In what has seemed like an age to get this franchise […]

WITH the NRL competition about to enter the 9th round (Magic round) I thought I’d take a look at the season thus far and give my thoughts on some of the pertinent happenings of the 8 rounds already played.  It’s anyone’s comp! After 8 rounds of footy you’ve gotta say that this year has been […]

What a grand final! What a win! What unbridled emotion!  The Penrith Panthers 3PEAT is done. Split Enz once sang about how “History never repeats”.  They were right until the current Penny Panthers had anything to do with it! They have done what no other team in 40 years has been able to do, win […]

Back to back to back premiers in the NRL don’t come around all that often.  In fact there’s a reason it hasn’t been done since 81,82,83 when the Parramatta Eels last did it, because its so bloody hard to accomplish!  Especially in today’s game with a strict and stringent emphasis on the salary cap.  The […]

Mark down round 26 of this season’s NRL as “Carnage Round!”  I can’t remember a more destructive round of rugby league, seeing up to a dozen of the game’s elite all coming down with worrying injuries so near to semi final action.  While Bronco star duo Adam Reynolds and Pat Carrigan suffered injuries just prior […]