Almanac (Australian and rugby league) Footy – “You call this ‘finals fever’?”: An NRL + AFL Travelogue

Joe Sexton displayed his footy catholicism by taking in both NRL and AFL finals in Melbourne. As a Carlton supporter he was emotionally uninvested in either match, standing back to make a whimsical evaluation of what transpired around him.

Almanac Rugby League: Iosia Soliola, a legend on and off the field!

‘Iosia Soliola is one of the most well-regarded rugby league players I have ever encountered personally or heard of. He was (and is) an absolute champion of a fellow with the Sydney Roosters, Newtown Jets, St Helens and the Canberra Raiders.’ Here’s why!

Almanac Rugby League: New ladder leader in the NRL

The Penrith Panthers moved to the top of the NRL ladder after the Parramatta Eels and Sydney Roosters suffered shock defeats. Liam Hauser takes a look at Round 10 of the competition in a year where the good are quite good and the less said about the bad, the better.

Almanac Rugby League – Tigers fans have ’89: The 1989 NRL Grand Final

The gods of football aligned their stars in 1989 to produce two memorable Grand Finals in the NRL and the AFL. Guy Ragan, a Tigers man through and through, reflects on that game and what might have been. (A great account of a great game. – Ed.)

Almanac Rugby League – Season 2020 germinates but also experiences a loss

The 2020 rugby league season is slowly gaining momentum. Correspondent Ian Hauser looks back at three significant events from the last few days.

Almanac Rugby League – 2019 NRL Grand Final: Sydney Roosters v Canberra Raiders – there’s nothing like a bit of controversy!

The 2019 NRL Grand Final may well go down as one of the more controversial grand finals in quite some time. Ian Hauser watched the Sydney Roosters take on the Canberra Raiders.

Almanac Rugby League – 1989 Grand Final: Dreams and Nightmares

The year 1989 didn’t just feature an epic AFL Grand Final. The NRL also staged a classic for the ages, between Balmain and Canberra. Tim Johnson thinks this game deserves more attention than it has subsequently received. And with Canberra back in this year’s Grand Final, there just may be a pertinent lesson or two.

Almanac Rugby League – 2019 NRL and NRLW Grand Finals: Roosters to crow and Dragons to breathe fire

Rugby League takes centre stage this weekend with the NRL and NRLW Grand Finals to be played on Sunday. Our rugby league man, Ian Hauser, gives his preview.

Almanac Rugby League – NRL Round 18: First on-field female referee after 111 years!

History will be made in the NRL tonight – for the first time in it’s 111 year history, there will be a female on-field referee! Congratulations, Belinda Sharpe! Ian Hauser also casts his eye over Round 18 and nominates his winners.

Almanac Rugby League – NRL Round 17 Preview

After a better tipping effort in last weekend’s NRL Round, Ian Hauser previews Round 17 and chooses his winners for Round 17.

Almanac Rugby League – NRL Round 15: There is movement on the ladder

Aficionado maybe, tipster not! Ian Hauser runs his eye over the weekend’s NRL results to try to glean what it all means and finds some support for his ‘moving month’ theory.

Almanac Rugby League – NRL Round 15: Is it moving time on the ladder?

Our rugby league man, Ian Hauser, thinks we’ve reached ‘moving month’ in the NRL with lots at stake this weekend for teams at all levels on the ladder. He tells us why.

Almanac Rugby League – NRL Round 19: Cronulla v Canberra – Fine margins, shared moments

Paul Macadam returns to these pages after a long break as his Cronulla remains in the NRL finals race [and a memorable opening couplet – Ed]

Almanac Rugby League – Five Metre Gap: NRL Round 24, 2017

Melbourne Storm secured the minor premiership two rounds still to go whilst the Raiders defeat to Penrith means they are all but out of finals contention unless the Dragons and Manly both lose their remaining two games.

Almanac Rugby League – Five Metre Gap: NRL Round 23, 2017

Round 23 in the NRL saw the Storm beat the Roosters (third) to extend their lead at the top of the ladder to six points whilst the Broncos (second) beat the Sharks (fourth.)

Almanac Rugby League – Five Metre Gap: NRL Round 22, 2017

Round 22 of the NRL saw Melbourne edge four points clear at the top after the Roosters failed to win whilst a big win for the Broncos has them third on points difference with Cronulla and Parramatta also on 30 points.

Almanac Rugby League – Five Metre Gap: NRL Round 17, 2017

Three teams are level on points behind leaders Melbourne Storm, after NRL Round 17. Hamish Neal brings his weekly wrap.

Almanac Rugby League: Five Metre Gap – NRL Round 16, 2017

Round 16 is done and dusted in the NRL and Hamish Neal has all the latest news and results.

Almanac Rugby League – Five Metre Gap: NRL Round 14, 2017

Hamish Neal with the weekend’s NRL news; with a reminder that “what you do with the ball” is more crucial than “how much you have it.”

Almanac Rugby League – Five Metre Gap: NRL Round 13, 2017

Hamish Neal has the NRL Round 13 action covered as Storm locked in top spot and the Eels moved into the top 8. State of Origin watch too with players who could slot into the Maroons team for game two.