Round 8 of the NRL provided us with four upsets. Ian Hauser looks ahead to Round 9.
2026 NRL – RITV: Round 8 – Melbourne v South Sydney: Drought Broken on Anzac Day: for both the team and the coach
April 30, 2026 by 2 Comments
Rabbit in the Vineyard celebrates the broken 28-years drought of victories in Melbourne while giving a close look at players who have improved, and who needs to step up their game!
2026 NRL – The Prospector’s Pickaxe: The Gradual Release of Responsibility
April 30, 2026 by 3 Comments
The Prospector compares the nature of enforcement on the footy grounds in the 80s and 90s to today’s more modern way of handling things.
2026 NRL – Prop by the Sea: Round 9 – You gotta love footy!
April 30, 2026 by 3 Comments
Prop by the Sea enjoyed a little Australian pub rock as he gives his take on the state of the teams playing this week.
2026 NRL – Round 9: Women’s State of Origin Game 1 and the changing landscape of the NRL
April 29, 2026 by 1 Comment
Women’s State of Origin takes pride of place in this week’s rugby league offerings, and it will have a great ‘support cast’ with several great match-ups in the NRL as well.
2026 NRL – RITV: National Junior Athletics Championships and South Sydney v St George Illawarra Dragons
April 23, 2026 by 2 Comments
It’s been a big week for RITV with the National Junior Athletics Championships in Brisbane as well as the Rabbitohs’ clash with the Dragons. But he got a surprise at the Glen Hotel on Saturday night – a pub with no NRL!
2026 NRL – The Prospector’s Pickaxe: Tipping comps – The Good, the Sad and the Ugly
April 23, 2026 by 10 Comments
The Prospector sifts through the issues involved when you join a tipping competition. It’s a complicated situation, to say the least!
2026 NRL – Prop by the Sea: You gotta love footy!
April 23, 2026 by 9 Comments
Prop by the Sea dips into the catalogue of Cold Chisel to bring us his take on the state of play in the NRL’s Rounds 7 and 8.
2026 NRL Round 8 – A new logo for the Almanac Rugby League Crew
April 22, 2026 by 2 Comments
After introducing the new Almanac rugby league crew logo, editor Ian Hauser runs his eye over the week in rugby league – another coach sacked, more major injuries, suspensions – it’s all happening!
Almanac Radio: Believe it or not – Only in Canberra
April 21, 2026 by 2 Comments
George Smith recalls Canberra in 1986 and the difficulty achieving a FM community radio licence for the music starved listeners at the time.
2026 NRL – RITV: Round 6 – South Sydney Rabbitohs v Canberra Raiders: Game Management
April 16, 2026 by 6 Comments
When push came to shove in the Rabbitohs v Canberra match, ‘game management’ was the key factor. As Rabbit In The Vineyard explains, the Rabbitohs got it all wrong! Perhaps they should read some of coach Bennett’s books!
2026 NRL – The Prospector’s Pickaxe: “Hold my trophy while I kiss your girlfriend”
April 16, 2026 by 10 Comments
The Prospector saw the unimaginable played out at AAMI Park before moving on to offer us an educational experience, shining his miner’s lamp on variations of the saying ‘hold my beer’. And there’s room also to contemplate the question ‘When is your best team not your best team?’
2026 NRL – Prop by the Sea: You gotta love footy!
April 16, 2026 by 4 Comments
Prop by the Sea goes all Old Blue Eyes this week and claims that he has been known to do a spirited version of ‘My Way’ on the odd occasion! There’s some footy in there too.
2026 NRL – Round 7: It’s all getting very interesting!
April 15, 2026 by 1 Comment
Round 6 was another tipping disaster for Ian Hauser but the defeat of the Panthers and the results overall suggest that we might have more of a competition on our hands than looked likely just a week or so ago.
2026 NRL – RITV: Round 5 – South Sydney Rabbitohs v Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs
April 9, 2026 by 4 Comments
RITV is upbeat about South Sydney’s performances of late. Now to consolidate!
2026 NRL – The Prospector’s Pickaxe: Random Souths Guy
April 9, 2026 by 5 Comments
The Prospector dug up a good ‘un when he gave a lift to a ‘random Souths guy’ recently.
2026 NRL – Prop by the Sea: Round 6 – You gotta love footy!
April 9, 2026 by 8 Comments
Prop by the Sea updates his take on the state of the NRL competition. Like everyone else, he’s mystified by the performance of the Melbourne Storm so far.
2026 NRL – Round 6: Ups and downs, snakes and ladders.
April 8, 2026 by 4 Comments
How the fortunes of various clubs have changed in such a short period of time! Ian Hauser summarises the NRL season to date and previews Round 6.
Almanac Rugby League: The Dolphins Cry
April 2, 2026 by 4 Comments
Jamie Simmons, once a Victorian, explains the challenges of assimilating into Queensland culture, especially when he can’t hack supporting the Brisbane Broncos (which just happens to be the team of his father-in-law).
2026 NRL – The Prospector’s Pickaxe: NRL is an 80-minute game. Or is it?
April 2, 2026 by 2 Comments
The Prospector swings his pickaxe at the illusion of rugby league being an 80 minute game. It’s not, but how can we make it closer to that goal without causing too much collateral damage?
Almanac Rugby League: Time’s up, Ground Announcer
Paul Harman, like most footy fans (and sports fans in general, come to think of it), can’t stand the screeching of ground announcers and the intrusion of loud music at games. If only what happens in his imagination came true! (Alert: contains some course language.)