Almanac Rugby League – NRL Round 25: Jostling for positions

The final round in the NRL will be all about jostling for finals positions with several possibilities in the offing. Ian Hauser checks it all out.

Almanac Rugby League – NRL Round24: How long can this keep going on?

Two rounds to go. Ten teams still trying to fit into eight. Ian Hauser tries to make sense of it all.

Almanac Rugby League – NRL Round 23: Hanging on by the fingernails

With the pressure still on to secure a spot in the eight, Ian Hauser hasn’t let his holidays divert him from taking a look ahead to Round 23 in the NRL.

Almanac Music: 50 Years Since Woodstock

The 50 year anniversaries continue. Last week it was the iconic Abbey Road photo, this week it’s Woodstock. Where were you and what did it mean to you? Ian Hauser shares his memories.

Almanac Rugby League – NRL Round 22: Wheat and Chaff

The NRL’s Round 22 looks like it will sort out the wheat from the chaff based on what we learned last weekend. Ian Hauser undertakes the winnowing.

Almanac Rugby League – NRL Round 21 – What did we learn?

The ex-teacher in Ian Hauser has him drawing lessons from the NRL’s Round 21. Attention, class!

Almanac Music – Famous Photo of Fab Four is Fifty!

The famous Abbey Road photograph of the Beatles is fifty years old today. Ian Hauser pays tribute and muses over various events of that time.

Almanac Rugby League – NRL Round 21: Mouthwatering Matchups

What an NRL Round in prospect with several clubs playing mini-Grand Finals to stay alive in the competition. Then, on Sunday, two clashes of the heavyweights which may well be genuine Grand Final previews. Ian Hauser explains. (And don’t forget, live NRL footy on free to air TV four times a week from now to the finals!)

Stab Punt Jim Johnson – one of the Almanac’s many characters

The Almanac has unearthed many characters over the years – octogenarian Jim Johnson is one of them. Jim is best know as the inventor of the stab punt and we’ve shared his research previously on the site. But what about the man himself? Ian Hauser tells the story of Jim’s life.

Almanac Rugby League – NRL Round 20: Getting Edgy

With a number of do-or-die matches on offer in the NRL this weekend, Ian Hauser explains why fans of several clubs will be on edge about their prospects..

Almanac Rugby League – NRL Round 19: ‘How can I be sure?’

Just when he thought that the NRL’s finalists for 2019 had been sorted out, Ian Hauser found that it wasn’t quite so cut and dried after all. He’s been thinking that a song from 1967 when he was a Year 10 schoolboy sums it all up – ‘How can I be sure?’

Almanac Rugby League – NRL Round 18: First on-field female referee after 111 years!

History will be made in the NRL tonight – for the first time in it’s 111 year history, there will be a female on-field referee! Congratulations, Belinda Sharpe! Ian Hauser also casts his eye over Round 18 and nominates his winners.

A Weekend in Sport

There was a lot to appreciate about the weekend’s multiple sports offerings. Ian Hauser provides his take on some of the amazing contests and looks for lessons from it all.

Almanac Rugby League – NRL Round 17: Action aplenty!

The odd upset, a draw, a send-off, personal milestones, and a coach sacked – there was action aplenty in the NRL’s Round 17. Here’s Ian Hauser’s take on what it all means.

Almanac Rugby League – NRL Round 17 Preview

After a better tipping effort in last weekend’s NRL Round, Ian Hauser previews Round 17 and chooses his winners for Round 17.

Almanac Rugby League – State of Origin III: Back-to-back Blues

Now that is what you call a game at State of Origin level! The NSW Blues and the Queensland Maroons put on a game worthy of ‘decider’ status with the result in doubt until the very last play of the match. We’ve got it covered.

Almanac Ballet – the Bolshoi Ballet performs ‘Spartacus’ at the Lyric Theatre, Brisbane: it was SPQR!

And now for something completely different: our rugby league man, Ian Hauser, made good on a decade-old promise to his wife and accompanied her to the ballet. And not just any ballet – this was the Bolshoi!

Almanac Rugby League – State of Origin III and the NRL Round 16

Come tomorrow night, it’s ‘Decider Time’ in this year’s State of Origin series. Ian Hauser previews the big game and reflects on the weekend’s NRL clashes.

Almanac Rugby League – NRL Round 16 Preview

With his tipping credentials in tatters after last weekend, our resident rugby league man tries yet again. How can anyone in their right mind tip NZ Warriors playing away?

Almanac Rugby League – State of Origin III: Team News

State rugby league coaches Freddy Fittler (NSW) and Kevin Walters (Queensland) have announced their squads for Origin III in Sydney next Wednesday night. They’re both playing guessing games to some extent.