NRL Round 26 and NRLW Round 6: And then there were ten

Three teams are battling it out for the last spot in the NRL finals. Ian Hauser offers his thoughts on how it might pan out.

Almanac Rugby League: International rugby league gets a shot in the arm!

International rugby league received its biggest boost in decades yesterday with the announcement of a new Pacific Championships to be played in 2023 and 2024.

NRL Round 25 and NRLW Round 5: Eight into four won’t go!

12 teams in contention; 8 finals places; three rounds to play. That’s a recipe for exciting footy in the NRL. And the NRLW ladder is looking congested too. Ian Hauser talks us through this weekend’s rugby league.

NRL Round 24 and NRLW Round 4: Penrith and daylight in the NRL but it’s through a glass darkly in the NRLW

  Artwork courtesy of John Campbell   It’s hard to imagine that, based on recent form, anyone can stop the Panthers from a threepeat of premierships. They just seem to be able to cover any and all challenges thrown their way. Bellamy’s comments after his Storm were almost easily defused last weekend are pertinent simply [Read more]

NRL Round 23 and NRLW Round 3: Some crazy stuff going on!

The NRLW didn’t take long to provide a fascinating season in line with that in the NRL. Ian Hauser looks at the winners and losers as he tries to find good picks for this weekend.

NRL Round 22 and NRLW Round 2: The Fast and the Furious

Both the NRL and the NRLW looked like footy’s version of The Fast and the Furious last weekend. Our rugby league writer Ian Hauser is struggling to keep pace with it all!

Almanac Life: Hangin’ on the telephone

Why is it that the music you’re forced to listen to while ‘on hold’ on the telephone is so invariably awful? But there’s an exception to every rule, as Ian Hauser discovered recently.

NRL Round 21 and NRLW Round 1: A short road to the finals

The run into the NRL finals and the start of the 2023 NRLW season means a feast of footy in the next 12 weeks! Ian Hauser tries to find his winners.

State of Origin Game 3: A game of two halves

It was a game of two halves with NSW coming out on top in both attack and defence to defeat Queensland 24-10. Ian Hauser reviews Game 3 of State of Origin.

NRL Round 20 and State of Origin Game 3: Clean sweeps are rare

Clean sweeps are rare in State of Origin but Queensland has a good chance to record one tonight, according to Ian Hauser. He also includes his preview of the NRL’s Round 20.

NRL Round 19: Not as simple as it looks on paper

After getting one tip wrong by a mere 66 points last week, an homeward bound Ian Hauser offers his thoughts on Round 19 of the NRL season.

NRL Round 18 and State of Origin review: How quickly things change!

After observing another week of Australian rugby league from his base in London, our rugby league editor Ian Hauser thinks that all is not as it seemed just just a few weeks ago. (Perhaps it’s because he’s moved on to the very pretty village of Broadway in the Cotswolds.)

NRL Round 17 and State of Origin 2: Do or die

It’s do or die time for NSW in both the men’s and women’s 2023 State of Origin series. Ian Hauser offers a view from London.

NRL Round 16: Revelling in the uncertainty

The uncertainty of the NRL season was on display again last weekend. Throw in the disruption of the State of Origin period and it makes life very interesting. Ian Hauser offers the view from London.

Almanac Book Review: ‘Bush to Buckingham Palace: Crazy adventures of fun-loving cricketer’ by Rick Darling

Rick Darling’s anecdotal recall of his life in first class cricket, ‘Bush to Buckingham Palace’, makes for enjoyable reading, says our reviewer Ian Hauser.

NRL Round 15: Midseason grind with big rewards or mild disasters on offer

After last week’s bonanza of footy, it’s back to NRLland and Round 15 this week. Ian Hauser reports in from Lisbon.

A huge week for rugby league!

No matter whether near or far, wherever rugby league fans are, it’s a HUGE week! Ian Hauser reports in from London.

NRL Round 13: Crazy!

Far away in Old London Town, Ian Hauser can’t help but wonder what the hell is going on in the NRL after a crazy Round 12. Plus we get a look at the line-ups for Game 1 of State of Origen.

NRL Round 12: Questions from afar

The NRL continues to intrigue our rugby league editor even though he’s somewhere between Paris and London.

NRL Round 11: The Dolphins are Magic!

The Dolphins continued their almost magical entry to the NRL when they took a bite out of the highly fancied Sharks.