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 – Uncle Max: the coaches’ coach

July 9, 2020 by 2 Comments

Glen Humphries from the ‘Illawarra Mercury’ shares the story of his Uncle Max, a man who coached various teams for over four decades but never at the very top level. He was too smart to do that!

Almanac Rugby League: 40 Years of State of Origin

July 8, 2020 by 5 Comments

It’s 40 years ago today that rugby league’s first State of Origin match was played in Brisbane. Almanacker and Origin historian Liam Hauser takes us back to how it all came about.

Almanac Rugby League – A classic, a calamity and a controversy: Another week in rugby league

July 7, 2020 by 1 Comment

There is plenty to talk about after Round 8 of the NRL season. The Almanac’s rugby league editor gives his take on it all.

Almanac Rugby League: A forward explains rugby league

July 7, 2020 by 1 Comment

There are factions within rugby league. They’re called ‘forwards’ and ‘backs’. Here’s how it all evolved.

Almanac Rugby League – NRL Round 8: Coping with injuries – it’s all about depth

July 2, 2020 by Leave a Comment

With a growing injury list across several clubs, there’s plenty of interest in how they cope as we come up to Round 8 of the NRL season. Rugby league editor Ian Hauser gives his thoughts.

Almanac Rugby League – NSW Country Rugby League……Then and Now

July 2, 2020 by 7 Comments

Michael Croke from central western NSW is a teacher and former broadcaster with a long memory of country football. He recounts the good old days in Dubbo in the 60s and 70s.

Advice to innocents Down South regarding the terminology of footer

June 25, 2020 by 25 Comments

John Harms prefers accuracy in the language which describes football codes and offers a basic explanation for those Southerners who are struggling.

Almanac Rugby League – NRL Round 7: Fans short-changed by same old, same old

June 25, 2020 by 1 Comment

Before previewing the NRL’s Round 7, Ian Hauser asks just where do fans fit into the overall organism that is modern, top tier sport.

Almanac Rugby League: Like father, like son, like grandson

June 25, 2020 by 3 Comments

Dan Keary inherited his father’s passion for the mighty Eastern Suburbs Roosters and supported them through thick and thin. His task has been to honour that legacy by passing it on to his children. [A rollicking yet poignant family story – Ed.]

Almanac Rugby League – NRL Round 6: What did we learn?

June 23, 2020 by 3 Comments

Rugby league editor Ian Hauser evaluates what the wash-up from Round 6 might mean to the way the remainder of the season unfolds.