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.

 

Almanac Rugby League: Vale Olsen Filipaina, trailblazer

February 10, 2022 by Leave a Comment

The sadness in the rugby league community continues with the news today of the death of Kiwi legend Olsen Filipaina. The Footy Almanac pays tribute to a universally admired and respected player who was a trailblazer for Polynesian footballers seeking to play in the bigger leagues of New Zealand and Australia.

Almanac Rugby League: The 2022 All Stars clashes

February 10, 2022 by Leave a Comment

The 2022 rugby league season kicks off on Saturday evening with the annual Maori v Indigenous All Stars matches. Ian Hauser provides all the details you need to know.

Almanac Rugby League: Vale Johnny ‘Chook’ Raper

February 10, 2022 by 3 Comments

Johnny Raper, chosen as one of the original Immortals of rugby league, has passed away at the age of 82 after a long illness. Ian Hauser pays tribute to a player who revolutionised the position of lock forward.

Almanac Rugby League: Vale Johnny Gleeson, Kangaroo No. 391

December 27, 2021 by Leave a Comment

Rugby League in Queensland (and Australia) is mourning the passing of Johnny Gleeson, a true champion of the 1950s and 60s.

Buckley v Tutty: Fifty years on from the most important case in the history of Australian Sport

December 13, 2021 by 6 Comments

Today is a day to remember (and perhaps thank if you are a professional athlete) Dennis Tutty, a now long retired Balmain Tigers player who in 1971 took on the sporting establishment and won in the High Court.

Almanac Rugby League: Wearing the Tiger stripes again after 22 years

November 16, 2021 by 5 Comments

When he recently purchased a retro jumper, Craig Dodson found his childhood love of the Balmain Tigers come flooding back.

Almanac Rugby League: 2022, here we come!

November 11, 2021 by Leave a Comment

The NRL has released the draws for the 2021 season for the NRLW and the 2022 season for the NRL. Get your diaries out and mark in the details!

Almanac Film Review: ‘Brothers Close and Far’, a film/documentary by Anthony O’Brien

November 11, 2021 by 4 Comments

Anthony O’Brien’s film/documentary ‘Brothers Close and Far’ had its premiere screening in Brisbane on Saturday. The Footy Almanac community was well represented at the screening and we have gathered three reviews for your pleasure.

Almanac Rugby League – On Being a Dolphin: A Chat with Petero Civoniceva

October 28, 2021 by 1 Comment

With the recent announcement that the Redcliffe-based Dolphins will join the NRL as the 17th franchise in the 2023 season, we thought it timely to re-visit Sasha Lennon’s conversation with rugby league legend Petero Civoniceva, a Redcliffe boy, and highlight his thoughts on what it means to be a Dolphin.

Almanac Rugby League: A Premiership Uncelebrated

October 28, 2021 by 2 Comments

Wayne Ball is a lifelong Penrith supporter. He is on top of the world,with the Panthers premiership, but has not been able to celebrate it with his fellow supporters. But he wants the world to know. Here he chronicles the various celebrations of premierships past. [Classic anecdotes of youth, and reflections on maturity. – JTH]