Not long into our relationship, my girlfriend asked what I would choose if I had to decide between music and sport. Not wanting to even consider a world without either, I had no answer for her at the time. Later however, when in a more contemplative state of mind, I decided that it had to [Read more]
Almanac Rugby League – St George Illawarra Dragons vs Sydney Roosters
May 4, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Almanac Rugby League – The Longest Month
May 1, 2012 by Leave a Comment
For Panthers fans everywhere, April has been a long and heartless month. In the leadup to tonight’s match against Newcastle, Penrith are still yet to score a point on the Rugby League field in the month of April. Not a try or goal; not even a solitary field goal to show for their efforts. A [Read more]
Almanac Rugby League – Rosemary and Football
April 24, 2012 by 5 Comments
At the door to my (outside) study, there is a healthy rosemary bush. It usually reminds me of happy times: roast dinners, especially, which the kids look forward to. “Can you get me some rosemary please?” I ask Theo, the oldest, as I start clattering trays from the oven. And thus begins the process of [Read more]
Almanac Rugby League – Another Kind of Heaven
April 19, 2012 by 1 Comment
The highest individual honour in Northern Territory Rugby League is the Frank Johnson Medal and is awarded to the Best and Fairest player in the Darwin Rugby League. Frank Johnson was a tireless servant of the game. Originally playing seniors for the Port Kembla Blacks in the Illawarra at the age of 16 he quickly [Read more]
Almanac Rugby League – Getting to the heart of the matter with the Seconds
April 18, 2012 by 2 Comments
Longevity and loyalty. Priceless virtues, they are the cornerstone of bush footy. And if you really want to see the type of bloke that lives and breathes country rugby league, the character that epitomizes the game’s ethos, just get to the ground early and check out the reserve graders – the ‘reggies’ – go round. [Read more]
Almanac Rugby League – Rabbitoh in the vineyard
April 12, 2012 by Leave a Comment
RABBITOH IN THE VINEYARD – PART 1 NRL RND 5: SOUTH SYDNEY v WESTS TIGERS As one of the thousands of long suffering South Sydney members, I am well accustomed to false dawns, and a general uneasiness whenever the Bunnies go into any match as favourites – whether with the TAB, and / or [Read more]
Almanac Rugby League – Capitulation
April 10, 2012 by 2 Comments
By way of a demonstration, I have decided to write tonight’s match report showing a degree of commitment, enthusiasm and attenchun to detale equivalent to that displayed by Penrith. The End. Manly 30 (Buhrer, Williams 2, Matai, Watmough tries, Lyons 5/7 goals, Cherry-Evans 0/1 field goals) def Penrith 0. Venue: Brookvale Oval Referees:Gerard Sutton, Henry [Read more]
Almanac Rugby League – NRL Round 5, 2012: Brisbane vs St George Illawarra
March 31, 2012 by 3 Comments
Thank god for Andrew Voss. That’s not a statement I ever thought I would find myself typing, but after a month of ruined Friday nights courtesy of Ray Hadley’s execrable commentary, hearing the dulcet tones of Vossy, everyone’s 17th favourite sports caller, came as a welcome relief. If, as has been suggested, Hadley is viewed [Read more]
Almanac Rugby League – Panthers Ace Eels
March 25, 2012 by 2 Comments
On the night before Penrith’s clash with Parramatta, I played my weekly tennis match with my friend Michael, a fellow Footy Almanac scribe and devoted Parramatta fan. At the time, I wondered if our match would foreshadow the result of the Parramatta v Penrith clash. The first set was won comfortably by me, which I [Read more]
Almanac Rugby League – NZ Warriors v Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs
March 21, 2012 by Leave a Comment
by Basil Naimet Going to NZ to play the Warriors is always…well… a worry! The boys is blue and white had nothing to worry about though. They had the match under control from the opening whistle. Good tries by Barba, Turner and Wright got the Dogs barking. Not even a resounding onslaught from the Warriors [Read more]
Almanac Rugby League – It’s a party and I’ll cry if I want to
March 19, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Given we had volunteered to host my brother-in-law’s birthday party on Sunday afternoon, I wasn’t sure that I was going to be able to watch the Panthers play their round three game against the Rabbitohs. In desperation I setup the recorder in advance, but after a couple of beers, Ray asked if I wanted to [Read more]
Almanac Rugby League – A Parramatta Nightmare
March 19, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Match ReportNorth Queensland Cowboys v Parramatta Eels Saturday, 17th March, 7.30pm Right from the kickoff you should know that I am an Eels’ supporter who is still wallowing in the wonder years of the 1980s. In fact, if I could choose my Groundhog Year it would unquestionably be 1986 when the ‘decade-dominating’ Eels won both [Read more]
Almanac Rugby League – Chosen Ones
March 17, 2012 by 2 Comments
Jack Straw is a recluse but not completely. The house he bought on Jubilee Avenue in the early fifties sits dilapidated but now he rarely leaves the comfort of it. He walks down to his beloved oval, Jubilee Oval five or six times a year to watch the “mighties” go round, as he calls them. [Read more]
Almanac Rugby League – NRL Round 2, 2012: Manly v Tigers
March 13, 2012 by Leave a Comment
There is a saying of the Buddha that “Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned”. It’s true. Ever since the Round 21, 2011 clash between Manly and Wests Tigers I have been unable to use my [Read more]
Almanac Rugby league – NRL Round 2, 2012: Gold Coast v Canberra
March 13, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Building a side with locals juniors by Chris Parkinson It’s not always easy being a Raiders fan; it seems like a lifetime ago that the Green Machine was at the peak of their powers. Canberra was a different place back then, buses were painted in the team colours and school tuck shops served up lime [Read more]
Almanac Rugby League – Reunion Rugby League
March 12, 2012 by 2 Comments
By Pete Abela The last time I went to the footy with Robbo was on the 2nd of July, 1989. The match on that occasion was between South Sydney (who would go on to be minor premiers) and Penrith (who finished second that year, but bombed out of the semis). In those days, the Panthers [Read more]
Almanac Rugby League – March: the month of shared hope
March 5, 2012 by Leave a Comment
March is a legitimate contender for my favourite month of the year. In no other month does the concept of hope resonate more strongly. Hope that my tipping competition exploits and ongoing duels with bookmakers will prove victorious over the winter months. Hope that via another skill-based medium, that of fantasy football in its multiple [Read more]
Almanac Rugby League – A Year of Lowered Expectations
March 1, 2012 by 2 Comments
October 3, 2010 is a night that will stay with me for the duration. When Nathan Fien dived over the line with ten minutes to play in the NRL Grand Final, giving the St George Illawarra Dragons an unassailable 24 point lead, I was able to sit back in my seat for the remainder of [Read more]
Almanac Rugby League – Nine? Nein
February 27, 2012 by 1 Comment
Rugby league’s broadcast right are up for grabs next year and it may be the case that Channel Nine’s 22-year hold on free-to-air league will come to an end. Now, what’s the word I’m searching for here? Schadenfreude? Close, but that’s not quite it. Um, let’s see. Ah yes, I’ve got it. Yippee! As a [Read more]
Almanac Rugby League – NRL Punter’s Guide
February 24, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Nick Tedeschi has produced an e-book for NRL punters. Click on the image for details.
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