The Footy Almanac is proud to promote books published by our members. We include a list of some of the most recent titles. Click on the image for reviews and purchase details. Books always make a terrific gift.
Almanac Rugby League – RITV: Kangaroo Tour Memories – The 1982 Invincibles
October 16, 2025 by 5 Comments
In the lead-up to the 2025 rugby league Ashes Tour, RITV casts his mind back to 1982 and ‘The Invincible’ Tour by the team ‘that changed rugby league forever’.
Almanac Rugby League (History) – Henry (Harold) Frank Bichel
September 25, 2025 by 2 Comments
Ian Hauser remembers his Uncle Harold Bichel who played his one and only game for the Australian Kangaroos exactly ninety years ago today.
Almanac Rugby League – The 26th Annual Tom Brock Lecture: Stories of PNG Rugby League
September 4, 2025 by 1 Comment
Patrick Skene had his first rugby league story published on The Footy Almanac in 2014. This week he presented the 26th Annual Tom Brock Lecture in Sydney, speaking about the history of rugby league in Papua New Guinea and their entry into the NRL in 2028.
Almanac Rugby League: A league lamb no longer lost
April 1, 2025 by 4 Comments
Although a firm AFL follower Andrew ‘Dougie’ Fraser admits he is also a fellow NRL traveller and recalls his attraction to the game and the Canberra Raiders.
Almanac Rugby League (Book Review) – ‘The Power and the Passion: Rugby League in the 1980s’
November 7, 2024 by 4 Comments
Russel Hansen revisits rugby league in the 1980s via his review of ‘The Power and the Passion: Rugby League in the 1980s’ by Alan Whiticker and Ian Collis.
Almanac Rugby League (Publications): Bob Bax and Roy Francis
November 7, 2024 by 2 Comments
Dr Greg Mallory is, among other things, a rugby league historian and an academic. He brings to our attention two new publications for diehard fans of ‘the greatest game of all’.
Almanac Rugby League: The vexed question of expansion
August 29, 2024 by 2 Comments
Our rugby league editor Ian Hauser outlines some of the proposals for the 18th, 19th and 20th licences in an expanded NRL.
Almanac Rugby League: Henson Park
July 4, 2024 by 5 Comments
John Campbell takes us back to the glory days of Newtown playing at Henson Park and shows us that sport is much more than sport. Yet another of his distinctive artworks adorns this piece. [Beautiful piece – JTH]
Almanac Rugby League – You’ve just got to love footy
May 16, 2024 by 2 Comments
After tantalising us with tales of food, footy and travel earlier today, we reprise Matt O’Hanlon’s essay on the virtues of a balanced life.
We originally introduced his piece this way: Matt O’Hanlon takes us on a rollicking ride through his family’s love affair with rugby league. Put on your seatbelt!
(A lot of water has flowed under the bridge since that original offering. Here’s to many wonderful memories! – Ed.)
Almanac Rugby League: Valé Terry Hill
April 26, 2024 by 2 Comments
The Footy Almanac pays tribute to Terry Hill, an exciting, talented, in-your-face player and one of the real characters of the game.
NRL Week 1 Finals: The Road to the Finals – Part One
September 7, 2023 by 2 Comments
Matthew O’Hanlon has put together his thoughts for the lead up to Week 1 of the NRL Finals.
Almanac Rugby League – Book Release: ‘Rugby League in New Zealand: a people’s history
August 23, 2023 by Leave a Comment
Glen Dwyer from the Newtown Jets brings to our attention a new book about rugby league win New Zealand, ‘Rugby League in New Zealand: a people’s history’ by Ryan Bodman.
Almanac (New) Books: ‘The Immortals of State of Origin’ by Liam Hauser
May 31, 2023 by 4 Comments
Journalist and sports historian Liam Hauser has a new book on the shelves, ‘The Immortals of State of Origin’. We invited Liam to share the background of the new release.
Almanac Rugby League – Vale John Sattler: One of South Sydney’s greatest
March 22, 2023 by 5 Comments
Rugby league icon John Sattler was immortalised in an image from the 1970 Grand Final. Russel Hansen pays a moving tribute to the South Sydney legend who passed away yesterday.
Almanac Rugby League: My love affair with the Bunnies
September 1, 2022 by 3 Comments
John Campbell goes back to another era he regards as Australia’s ‘daggy period’ when Bob Menzies, conservatism and the St George Dragons ruled the roost. But change was a’coming.
Almanac Footy: The AFL’s ‘missionary’ work
July 1, 2022 by 9 Comments
Punxsutawney Pete discusses and succinctly presents his viewpoints on many of the issues surrounding the expansion of the AFL into non AFL areas through the creation of new teams and vast amounts of money spent promoting Aussie rules.
Almanac Rugby League: The life and death of the NSWRL’s City v Country match
May 26, 2022 by Leave a Comment
City v Country was an iconic feature of the NSWRL representative calendar for decades. Here’s a look back over the history of the annual clash which provided the start of a career pathway for many players, courtesy of the ABC’s Nick Campton.
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