Clean sweeps are rare in State of Origin but Queensland has a good chance to record one tonight, according to Ian Hauser. He also includes his preview of the NRL’s Round 20.
NRL Round 19: Not as simple as it looks on paper
July 6, 2023 by 2 Comments
After getting one tip wrong by a mere 66 points last week, an homeward bound Ian Hauser offers his thoughts on Round 19 of the NRL season.
NRL Round 18 and State of Origin review: How quickly things change!
June 29, 2023 by 2 Comments
After observing another week of Australian rugby league from his base in London, our rugby league editor Ian Hauser thinks that all is not as it seemed just just a few weeks ago. (Perhaps it’s because he’s moved on to the very pretty village of Broadway in the Cotswolds.)
NRL Round 17 and State of Origin 2: Do or die
June 21, 2023 by 3 Comments
It’s do or die time for NSW in both the men’s and women’s 2023 State of Origin series. Ian Hauser offers a view from London.
A huge week for rugby league!
May 31, 2023 by 1 Comment
No matter whether near or far, wherever rugby league fans are, it’s a HUGE week! Ian Hauser reports in from London.
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 Book Review: ‘The Immortals of State of Origin’ by Liam Hauser
May 18, 2023 by 1 Comment
Rugby league aficionado Matt O’Hanlon reviews sports historian Liam Hauser’s latest book, ‘The Immortals of State of Origin’, in which the author selects his all-time best teams and coaches for both Queensland and New South Wales.
Almanac Rugby League – State of Origin Game 3: The Maroons win in one of the greatest Origin clashes ever!
July 14, 2022 by 1 Comment
Awesome, magnificent, intoxicating, all-consuming and every other superlative you can think of for a game of football – State of Origin 3 had it all! Ian Hauser reports on Queensland’s boilover win over New South Wales to take the Origin shield for 2022.
Almanac Rugby League – 2022 State of Origin Game 3: One absentee makes all the difference
July 13, 2022 by 1 Comment
State of Origin historian Liam Hauser previews tomorrow night’s 2022 series decider in Brisbane. He finds it hard to see how Queensland can win without one key player.
Almanac Rugby League – 2022 Women’s Ampol State of Origin: There’s a theme here!
June 25, 2022 by Leave a Comment
The NSW women’s Blues emerged deserved winners after yet another closely fought State of Origin match in Canberra. Ian Hauser tells the tale.
Almanac Rugby League – State of Origin: What are we playing for?
June 8, 2022 by 10 Comments
John Harms says that the Maroons are playing for the Queensland way of life. [This piece was first published in 2014]
Almanac Rugby League – State of Origin Game III Review: Consolation for Queensland but challenges ahead
July 15, 2021 by 1 Comment
Almanac editor Sean Mortell, holidaying in Far North Queensland, offers his thoughts on Origin III and the 2021 series as a whole.
Almanac Rugby League – State of Origin Game II: Speed kills, skills thrill!
June 27, 2021 by 2 Comments
Almanac editors Sean Mortell and Ian Hauser offer their thoughts on Game 2 of the 2021 rugby league State of Origin series. It’s a tough year for the Canetoads.
Almanac Rugby League – NRL Round 13: Mildly chaotic time for ‘the greatest game of all’
June 3, 2021 by Leave a Comment
Are things in the NRL, both on and off the field, a tad chaotic at the moment? Ian Hauser offers his thoughts and makes a few preliminary comments about next week’s first State of Origin game for 2021.
Almanac Rugby League – Cameron Smith: Nobody did it better
March 11, 2021 by 9 Comments
Cameron Smith, arguably the greatest rugby league player of all time, certainly of his own era, has finally announced his retirement. Ian Hauser pays tribute to the man with a host of records to his name, many of which are unlikely to ever be broken.
Hindsight…how does this affect how you watch a replay of a sporting fixture?
July 30, 2020 by 4 Comments
When you watch sport, are you calm, relaxed and impartial or, like the rest of us, an irrational, one-eyed, out-of-character, raving idiot? Author and former sports journalist Liam Hauser looks back over his experiences in reporting and writing about sport.
Almanac Book Review – ‘State of Origin: 40 Years’
July 28, 2020 by 2 Comments
Rugby league tragic Lindsey Cuthbertson reviews Liam Hauser’s ‘State of Origin: 40 Years’, the third and latest instalment of his definitive coverage of the jewel in the code’s crown.
Almanac Rugby League – Another perspective of Channel 9’s ‘The Greatest…’ series
April 30, 2020 by 4 Comments
Rugby League author Liam Hauser takes issue with the Channel 9 panel as he responds to their recent series of programmes on the greatest rugby league Grand Finals and the greatest players from State of Origin.
Almanac Rugby League – State of Origin: The ‘hand grenade’ episode
State of Origin I of 2020 was supposed to have been played this last week. It got Liam Hauser thinking about a significant moment that has its 20th anniversary today