Almanac Rugby League

The Almanac Rugby league Crew

If you’d like to publish a rugby league story on The Footy Almanac website, please contact Ian Hauser.

 

If you’d like to join the Footy Almanac’s rugby league email list to receive our regular
Thursday updates during the season and occasional updates in the off-season, contact John Harms in the first instance.

 

The Footy Almanac’s coverage of rugby league features a team of four regular columnists:

Ian Hauser provides a round by round preview/review and comments on specific players/incidents.
Matt O’Hanlon (Prop by the Sea) offers a quirky take of the week’s happenings on and off the field.
Mark Shannon (The Prospector) comments on various issues in the code, both historical and current.
Russel Hansen (Rabbit in the Vineyard) gives a specific take on South Sydney’s progress.

as well as numerous other occasional contributors.

Our collection of articles appears below. The first article was published in 2010.

 

NRL Round 5 – Rabbit in the Vineyard: On assignment in Perth!

April 10, 2025 by 1 Comment

RITV found a new venue to catch the last exciting minutes of Souths’ clash with the Sombrero.

Almanac Rugby League: The Magnificent Murri Nine

April 10, 2025 by 2 Comments

The final scoreline doesn’t always tell the full story. Patrick Skene explains a game where what seemed like a scoreboard thrashing was, in fact, a noble loss full of character. (We’re reprising this article from Patrick Skene as a follow-up to his presentation at the recent Almanac rugby league lunch in Sydney – Ed.)

NRL Round 6: Is Trump to blame for chaotic results in the NRL?

April 10, 2025 by Leave a Comment

Surely someone is to blame for the ongoing chaos in NRL results. Could it be Donald Trump, after all he seems to be an expert at the genre.

NRL Round 4 – RITV: The South Sydney dream continues

April 3, 2025 by 3 Comments

Time zones can play havoc for footy fans who have work commitments after ‘normal hours’. Rabbit in the Vineyard received the good news about South Sydney’s good start against Penrith as he drove home from coaching athletics.

NRL Round 5 – Prop by the Sea: You gotta love footy!

April 3, 2025 by 6 Comments

Prop by the Sea tipped only three winners last week – but at least he kept his clothes on! He thinks he might regain a bit of lost ground this week.

2025 NRL, Round 5: The upsets continue, tipping is a nightmare!

April 3, 2025 by Leave a Comment

After tipping two from eight last weekend, Ian Hauser thinks the only way is up. Famous last words?

Almanac Rugby League – From Big Bal to George Benson: a love letter to PNG Rugby League

April 2, 2025 by 20 Comments

The Footy Almanac reprises a decade-old offering by Patrick Skene, one of the guest speakers at last Saturday’s rugby league lunch in Sydney.
Patrick Skene enjoys a genuinely meaningful sports experience when he heads to Redcliffe for the PNG Hunters’ first match in the QRL competition. [Great story – Ed]

Almanac (Rugby League) Lunch: Juniors Kingsford, Sydney

April 2, 2025 by 2 Comments

RITV travelled over 1300kms to attend the Footy Almanac’s rugby league lunch in Sydney last weekend. Here’s his take on the day.

Almanac Lunch: Rugby League aficionados gather in Sydney

April 2, 2025 by 2 Comments

A small but enthusiastic group of rugby league aficionados gathered at the Juniors Kingsford club last Saturday to hear four first rate speakers share their passion for the code.

Almanac Rugby League: A league lamb no longer lost

April 1, 2025 by 4 Comments

Although a firm AFL follower Andrew ‘Dougie’ Fraser admits he is also a fellow NRL traveller and recalls his attraction to the game and the Canberra Raiders.