Patrick Skene provides an in-depth essay on the Redfern All Blacks, the long-established home for Indigenous rugby league footballers in Sydney.
Almanac Rugby League: The Magnificent Murri Nine
July 16, 2020 by 2 Comments
The final scoreline doesn’t always tell the full story. Patrick Skene explains a game where what seemed like a scoreboard thrashing was, in fact, a noble loss full of character.
Almanac Rugby League – New Book Promotion: Patrick Skene’s ‘The Big O: the life and times of Olsen Filipaina’
May 26, 2020 by 2 Comments
Patrick Skene’s first book, ‘The Big O: the life and times of Olsen Filipaina’ will be released in Australia later this week. Here Patrick shares, in detail, his journey to honour a key player in the development of what has been called ‘the Pacific Revolution’.
The forgotten story of Rex Sellers, the Indian-Australian leg-spinner
January 12, 2016 by 7 Comments
“Born in Bombay and raised in Gujarat, leg-spinner Rex Sellers took an unprecedented path to become Australia’s 230th Test cricketer…” [Cracking cast including I Chappell, G Sobers, D Bradman, L Favell, B Simpson… Patrick had this published in today’s Guardian – Ed]
Almanac Soccer: Ulysses Kokkinos – Australian Soccer’s George Best (Patrick Skene in The Guardian)
December 21, 2015 by 2 Comments
Another outstanding read from Patrick Skene as part of his ‘Forgotten Stories’ series for The Guardian Australia. The story of former South Melbourne Hellas super-striker Ulysses Kokkinos is the quintessence of the highs and lows of fame.
Almanac Rugby: The Forgotten Story of Cecil Ramalli
November 12, 2015 by 2 Comments
Another fantastic read from Almanacker and writer with The Guardian; Patrick Skene. In his latest yarn, Patrick profiles the life of the first Asian Wallaby – Cecil Ramalli. A man who was hard enough to cop everything the All Blacks could throw at him, then cheated death on the dreaded Thai-Burma Railways and the atomic bombing of Nagasaki.
Almanac Rugby League – PNG Hunters are more than a football team
September 20, 2015 by Leave a Comment
The PNG Hunters are just about to play the Ipswich Jets in he Queensland Cup preliminary final. Patrick Skene explains what that means to the people of PNG. (First published in The Guardian)
Almanac Rugby League – The courageous journey of Ian Roberts (first published in The Guardian Australia).
August 19, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Your Almanac for the Train: A fantastic profile of Rugby League trailblazer Ian Roberts, the code’s first openly gay player by Patrick Skene
Almanac Rugby League – Aaron Woods: The mummy’s boy with a warrior’s spirit (first published in the The Guardian Australia)
July 8, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Friend of the Almanac Patrick Skene’s outstanding profile of Wests Tigers, NSW and Kangaroos star prop Aaron Woods in The Guardian. Even if you’re not a fan of League, this is a fantastic sporting read and well worth your time.
Almanac Boxing: Nigel Benn (first published in The Guardian)
June 13, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Regular Almanac contributor Patrick Skene on Nigel Benn and his work in Blacktown, published in the Guardian.
Almanac Rugby League: Olsen Filipaina
May 2, 2015 by 2 Comments
Patrick Skene’s story of Olsen Filipaina. [We are working with Patrick to put together a collection of his stories, forthcoming – Ed]
The North West Sydney Hurricanes – first published in The Guardian
March 18, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Patrick Skene catches up with the North West Sydney Hurricanes who not only play cricket, but will be barracking hard for the Sri Lankan cricket team as they take on South Africa tonight.
The dancing dozen – 12 wonderful fan moments from the Asian Cup
February 8, 2015 by 1 Comment
Want an antidote for politics and pessimism? Patrick Skene offers his latest Guardian piece highlighting all the brilliant Asian Cup fan moments off the pitch.
Asian Cup: On supporting Iraqi football
February 2, 2015 by 3 Comments
Patrick Skene on the highs and lows of following Iraqi football.
Asian Cup: China awake
January 22, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Patrick Skene looks at China’s path to tonight’s quarter final against Australia. What has happened in recent times in Chinese football?
Asian Cup: Uzbekistan v China preview
January 14, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Internationalist Patrick Skene previews tonight’s match.
The golden age of indigenous Australian footy in Victoria (Patrick Skene in the Guardian)
November 16, 2014 by 4 Comments
Patrick Skene has had a fantastic debut year as a feature writer both with us here at the Almanac and now he has been picked up by the Guardian. Here’s his latest.
How a Women’s Muslim Aussie Rules Team Stood Tall
October 17, 2014 by 6 Comments
Patrick Skene on The Auburn Giants – a women’s Muslim Australian Football team. [Excellent piece, and comments section worth reading as well – Ed]
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.