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 Soccer: You’ll never walk alone, even in Japan!

John Campbell just can’t get his head around ‘the world game’ even though he has been to some of the great home grounds of England and Japan. He explains why.

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

Patrick Skene first took an interest in PNG rugby league when Bal Numapo arrived at the Bulldogs. Patrick’s appreciation went to another level when he attended the PNG Hunters’ first match in the Queensland Cup in 2014 at Redcliffe’s Dolphin Oval.

Almanac Rugby League Obituary – Vale Arthur Summons

The rugby league world is mourning the death of Arthur Summons, the former Kangaroos captain, who has died aged 84. Liam Hauser provided this career summary and reflects on meeting the great man just a few years ago.

Remembering Jack Mundey

John Harms remembers Jack Mundey.

Almanac Rugby League – Looking for an anniversary to mark in 2020?

Almanac debutant Tim Burke takes us back to the 1970 British rugby league Lions Tour of Australia and New Zealand to commemorate a special 50th anniversary. (Welcome aboard, Tim!)

Almanac Rugby League: Excerpts from a rugby league lover’s diary – The Early Years

Imagine an Adrian Mole-type character thinking back over the childhood competitiveness of two brothers supporting rival teams. Actually, Paul Connolly has already done it for you!

Almanac Rugby League – The 1965 Grand Final: St George Dragons v South Sydney Rabbitohs

John Campbell remembers the day his Dad took him and his little brother Lonno to the 1965 Sydney rugby league Grand Final. Caught up in the massive crowd, John and Lonno didn’t see much that day but their experiences, real and imagined, left a huge impression.

Almanac Rugby League – ‘Brookie’ and the 70s

Adam Muyt is catholic in his footy code tastes but Brookvale Oval on Sydney’s northern beaches really tugs at his heart strings. He takes us back over the years to explain why.

Almanac Rugby League – Another perspective of Channel 9’s ‘The Greatest…’ series

Rugby League author Liam Hauser takes issue with the Channel 9 panel as he responds to their recent series of programmes on the greatest rugby league Grand Finals and the greatest players from State of Origin.

Almanac Rugby League – NRL 2010: The Saints come marching in (at last!)

In the absence of real footy, we all need something to celebrate. Newcomer Jason Buffier recalls the 2010 NRL premiership win by the St George Illawarra Dragons. Fans of all codes will relate to this. [Welcome aboard, JNB!]