Round 8 of the NRL provided us with four upsets. Ian Hauser looks ahead to Round 9.
2026 NRL – Rabbit in the Vineyard: Defence is the key
March 12, 2026 by 2 Comments
RITV was happy with South Sydney’s win in Round 1 but worries that leaking 30 points is not the way forward, especially against the Chooks this week.
2026 NRL – The Prospector’s Pickaxe: Expansion
March 12, 2026 by 4 Comments
The Prospector mines the ‘expansion’ question this week to see if he can find enough top level talent to make the next two NRL teams both viable and competitive. Plus, there’s a trivia question.
2026 NRL – Prop by the Sea: You gotta love footy! Round 2
March 12, 2026 by 6 Comments
Prop is all about The King this week as he reviews Round 1B and gives us his thoughts on Round 2.
2026 NRL – The hits and misses of Round 1 and a preview of Round 2
March 11, 2026 by 3 Comments
Who flashed, who flopped and what can we make of Round 1? Round 2 looks just as tricky to tip.
2026 NRL – Prop by the Sea: An apology to Gary Larson for omitting him from my ‘Blondie First 13’
March 5, 2026 by 2 Comments
Prop by the Sea is in apologetic mode after it was pointed out to him that he had not included the legendary Gary Larson in the ‘Blondie First 13’. Here’s his apology. (The look on Prop’s face in the article’s photo says it all! – Ed.)
NRL 2026 – Rabbit in the Vineyard: A concise preview of South Sydney’s 2026 NRL season
March 5, 2026 by 3 Comments
Every side has its ‘burning issues’ ahead of a new season. RITV takes a blunt look at the five major questions he poses about South Sydney ahead of the 2026 NRL season.
NRL 2026 – The Prospector’s Pickaxe: 1976 to 2026 – ‘it’s a long way to the top’.
March 5, 2026 by 2 Comments
The Prospector digs into the past to revisit the state of the code in both Queensland and NSW in 1976. Let’s just say that the game today would have been unimaginable to the folk of those days!
NRL 2026 – Prop by the Sea: You gotta love footy! Round 1B
March 5, 2026 by 8 Comments
Prop by the Sea is using an album theme this season – probably from his old vinyl collection – as he expounds his thoughts on the game. The Eagles soared last week – who will it be this time around? By the way, there’s lots about the footy too!
NRL 2026 – Vegas wrap and the rest of Round 1
March 4, 2026 by 2 Comments
With the Las Vegas extravaganza now out of the way, rugby league ‘comes home’ for the remainder of Round 1. Here’s how it’s shaping up.
Almanac Rugby League 2026 – Tip the Season’s Big Winners
February 26, 2026 by 6 Comments
A thought bubble turned into a challenge for our readers: Tip your winners of this year’s big events on the rugby league calendar. Enter via the Comments section and we’ll revisit in November to find a winner.
NRL 2026 – RITV: The pre-season humbug
February 26, 2026 by 3 Comments
RITV returns for another season’s coverage of his beloved South Sydney Rabbitohs. Already it looks like a case of ‘quizas, quizas, quizas’.
NRL 2026 – The Prospector’s Pickaxe: Hope and Harsh Realities
February 26, 2026 by 6 Comments
The Prospector joins our bunch of merry rugby league men who will bring you a wide coverage of the code this season. To get the ball rolling, he offers a brutal reality check to balance the standard guff all teams bring to the start of the year. (Welcome aboard, Prospector! – Ed.)
NRL 2026 – Prop by the Sea: You gotta love footy! – Round 1: Vegas
February 26, 2026 by 5 Comments
Prop by the Sea is back, full of surprises as usual. Who would have picked him as an aficionado of The Eagles? Read on to see the link with the opening weekend of the NRL.
NRL 2026 – Las Vegas Round 1: Now we’re playing for real!
February 25, 2026 by 3 Comments
The 2026 NRL season proper kicks off on Sunday (Australian time) in Las Vegas. It’s time to get real after the faux froth and bubble of the pre-season. Ian Hauser provides the background to Round 1.
NRL 2026 – Rabbit in the Vineyard: 2026 Charity Shield – St George-Illawarra v South Sydney
February 19, 2026 by 2 Comments
RITV returns with his first look at the 2026 NRL season. The annual Charity Shield fixture featured a player with connections to the Hansens’ days in Brisbane. And, true to form, Rabbit’s ‘Barossa Red Wine of the Week’ also returns with a beauty!
2026 NRL – Maori v Indigenous and the World Club Challenge: Serious Business!
February 19, 2026 by 2 Comments
Rugby League editor Ian Hauser is off on an early (mini) rant about the pre-season comp before he tackles the more serious matches played last weekend. Then there’s the World Club Challenge to be played early tomorrow, Australian time.
2026 NRL – And away we go!
February 12, 2026 by 7 Comments
Rugby League is back in earnest on Sunday with the annual Indigenous v Maori clashes headlining the first weekend of ‘serious’ competition. Here’s what’s ahead in 2026.
The Ashes – Third Test, Adelaide Day 3: A report from The Governor’s pew (and another century for a South Australian).
December 20, 2025 by 9 Comments
Rabbit in the Vineyard fronted up for Day 1 of the Adelaide Test and followed up with Day 3. The Queenslander found himself immersed in a very South Australian experience. And he wound up in The Governor’s pew in St Peter’s Cathedral.
Almanac Rugby League – One more thing: Key dates for 2026 – Updated!
November 14, 2025 by 1 Comment
Just before we completely sign off from the rugby league season, here are some key dates for 2026, including the full season draw for both the NRL and the NRLW.
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