NRL
‘He’s the rudest bloke in the NRL’
DEAN Ritchie veteran has met all sorts in his 30 years in the game, but one stands out as the most “discourteous and churlish”.
Last time Mudgee to host City-Country in 2017
MUDGEE could be the host of the final City-Country game with the fixture again heading to the Glen Willow Sports complex in 2017.
Anfield What’s missing from Four Nations final?
IT’S the showpiece rugby league game of 2016 and it’s being played at one of world sport’s most iconic venues — but it has come up short.
Exits Ponga contemporaries: Young guns that got away
KALYN Ponga’s expected departure from North Queensland is a blow Cowboys fans will likely hang onto for many years. But the 18-year-old is walking a well worn path.
Undefeated Boyd backs golden run to continue
DARIUS Boyd’s unbeaten streak has stretched to 21 matches and he’s keen to add to it yet again in the Four Nations final.
Summer School Can the Sharks go back-to-back in 2017?
SUMMER SCHOOL: From Michael Ennis’ replacement to staying motivated, we take a look at the things Cronulla need to work on in the preseason.
Ye olde journo Bulldog: ‘My 30 years in rugby league’
DEAN ‘Bulldog’ Ritchie yesterday celebrated 30 years covering rugby league for News Ltd and The Daily Telegraph. He looks back on three tumultuous decades he wouldn’t change for anything.
Tributes League’s big names honour Dean Ritchie
SOME of rugby league’s biggest names - including Russell Crowe, Ray Hadley and Laurie Daley - pay tribute (and bag out) Dean Ritchie as he celebrates 30 years with News Ltd and The Daily Telegraph.
In the family Famed Penrith production line gifts new gun
JED Cartwright has already taken on his old man in rugby league’s darkest art and his celebrated cousin with backyard bouncers. Now he’s tackling a famous Penrith legacy.
Sorry Barba apologises to Cronulla teammates
BEN BARBA has apologised to his Sharks teammates over his second positive drug test which took some of the gloss off Cronulla’s historic first NRL premiership.
Back at it Complete draw for 2017 Auckland Nines
FIND out who your team will take on in the 2017 Auckland Nines with a complete draw of every pool fixture.
No sale NRL fails in bid to sell Knights
THE Knights will remain under NRL ownership after the game’s governing body failed in its bid to secure a new owner following a lengthy sale process.
Livewire Raiders lock up NRL’s best hooking duo
THE NRL’s best hooking duo can wreak havoc for a further two years following the re-signing of bench livewire Kurt Baptiste.
Four Nations Blair: NZ need to fire up
ADAM Blair says New Zealand need to show more desire and urgency if they’re to spring an upset on Australia in the Four Nations final.
Prop Cowboys won’t panic buy to replace Hannant
NORTH Queensland have ruled out any off-season panic buying despite veteran prop Ben Hannant’s retirement further draining their NRL forward depth.
- Summer School Can Panthers live up to the hype in 2017?
- Holden Cup Axing under 20s comp will save lives
- ‘Not good enough’ Irate Burgess says ref influenced by Smith
- Four Nations Roos rumble Bennett’s boys in feisty affair
- Talking points Monday Buzz: Weekend highlights, lowlights
- Auckland Nines Prince to reign again for Broncos
- NRL Coach panel passes muster for Jillaroos
- Future NRL won’t abandon Barba: Greenberg
- Four Nations ‘One of sport’s greatest shocks’
- Blog Scots pinch historic draw from sloppy Kiwis
- NSW Origin The 3 things Sterlo promised Laurie Daley
Expert Opinion
Talking points Monday Buzz: Weekend highlights, lowlights
MONDAY BUZZ: Phil Rothfield’s highlights, lowlights and talking points from another memorable weekend in sport.
Head-to-head Key battles that will decide Perth Test
AUSTRALIA collide with New Zealand in a historic Test in Perth tonight. Nick Campton breaks down the key match-ups that will go a long way to deciding the result.
Colman’s Call Up, Up, Cronulla’s fair weather fans
FOR SALE: Cronulla Sharks jersey. Only worn once. Slight vomit stain.
More NRL
Undefeated Boyd backs golden run to continue
Last time Mudgee to host City-Country in 2017
Who’s who ‘He’s the rudest bloke in the NRL’
Summer School Can the Sharks go back-to-back in 2017?
Ye olde journo Bulldog: ‘My 30 years in rugby league’
No sale NRL fails in bid to sell Knights
Four Nations Blair: NZ need to fire up
Back at it Complete draw for 2017 Auckland Nines
Summer School Cowboys beginning to pay the price
Title hopefuls Tamou: Premiership on everyone’s mind at Penrith
Four Nations Boyd or Trbojevic: Mal’s big replacement call
Potential Why ‘big kid’ Taumalolo frustrated Scott
Slammed Rein unloads on ‘boring’ Dragons
Summer School Will expectation get the better of Titans?
Kangaroos ‘One sad guy’ Thaiday set for surgery
Four Nations Dangerous Kiwis given second bite
Summer School Can Panthers live up to the hype in 2017?
Holden Cup Axing under 20s comp will save lives
Back at it Complete draw for 2017 Auckland Nines
FIND out who your team will take on in the 2017 Auckland Nines with a complete draw of every pool fixture.
Broncos Benji balks at Brisbane reserve grade talk
CLUBS are queuing up for Benji Marshall. Brisbane reserve grade clubs, that is but he’s backing himself to cement a spot in the Broncos’ top 17 next year.
Kangaroos ‘One sad guy’ Thaiday set for surgery
SAM Thaiday is set to have an extended stay in London, with the star Australian forward to undergo surgery to a fractured cheekbone on Tuesday.
- Prince to reign again for Broncos
- Benji’s surprising Broncos admission
- Why Wallace ditched Broncos for Titans
- Brisbane searching for the winning edge
- ‘He could bash you in a tackle’
- Milford deal key to Brisbane’s future
- Bouncing back: Who will have the biggest impact?
- Thaiday revelling in war of words
- Glenn: What Benji adds to Broncos
- Big bopper returns to Broncos
- Troubled trio turn Roosters into last chance saloon
- Who the Broncos should target
- ‘I don’t want to get treated like that again’
Back at it Complete draw for 2017 Auckland Nines
FIND out who your team will take on in the 2017 Auckland Nines with a complete draw of every pool fixture.
2017 Bouncing back: Who will have the biggest impact?
THEY had a year to forget in 2016 due to injury, form or off-field troubles but which NRL star will have the best comeback season in 2017?
Empowered Bulldogs firebrand thriving under Meninga
BULLDOGS behemoth David Klemmer is responding well to being under the guidance of Mal Meninga’s laid-back coaching style at the Four Nations.
- Dogs have plenty of homework to do
- Graham ‘shocked’ at Dogs attack on Des
- Troubled trio turn Roosters into last chance saloon
- Think you know your NRL history?
- Mortimer quits, Hasler to stay at ‘Dogs
- Mortimer ‘out of order’, Des staying put
- ‘You can’t treat him like a rookie coach’
- ‘I’ll quit Dogs if Des stays’: Mortimer
- Dogs losing DNA under Hasler: Mortimer
- NRL clubs abandon World Club Series
- Experts’ ultimate Dally M 2016 team
- No JT in Johns’ team of the year
- ‘Foran won’t be a Dragon in 2017’
Prop Cowboys won’t panic buy to replace Hannant
NORTH Queensland have ruled out any off-season panic buying despite veteran prop Ben Hannant’s retirement further draining their NRL forward depth.
Back at it Complete draw for 2017 Auckland Nines
FIND out who your team will take on in the 2017 Auckland Nines with a complete draw of every pool fixture.
Summer School Cowboys beginning to pay the price
SUMMER SCHOOL: Can North Queensland survive the splintering of their premiership team to contend for the title again?
- Why ‘big kid’ Taumalolo frustrated Scott
- JT’s final goal before signing off
- Bouncing back: Who will have the biggest impact?
- Cowboys re-sign veteran prop
- Braveheart Coote ready to battle Roos
- Troubled trio turn Roosters into last chance saloon
- Think you know your NRL history?
- Brennan, Payne in line for The Don
- NRL clubs abandon World Club Series
- Thurston boosts Cowboys for Auckland Nines
- Magic Milford moment tops the lot
- JT shock omission as Cronk caps stellar season
- Will Storm deny Hodgson again?
Back at it Complete draw for 2017 Auckland Nines
FIND out who your team will take on in the 2017 Auckland Nines with a complete draw of every pool fixture.
Summer School Dragons need to breathe fire
SUMMER SCHOOL: The road to improvement in 2017 is very simple for the Dragons. They need to start scoring some points
Together again Merrin wants to show Rein the way
TRENT Merrin says he’s confident his housemate and fellow Panther Mitch Rein can follow in his footsteps and reinvigorate his career at the foot of the mountains.
- Bouncing back: Who will have the biggest impact?
- Frizell feared back injury would end career
- Hutchison deserves Dragons No.7 says Dugan
- Troubled trio turn Roosters into last chance saloon
- Think you know your NRL history?
- Dragons to benefit if Foran joins Warriors
- Benji’s apology to Dragons fans
- NRL to scrape bottom of barrel for WCS
- NRL clubs abandon World Club Series
- Why Dragons backed away from Carney, Hastings bids
- Frizell ready for second Test debut
- Dragons ready to break bank for Vaughan
- McCarthy proves league’s more than a game
Back at it Complete draw for 2017 Auckland Nines
FIND out who your team will take on in the 2017 Auckland Nines with a complete draw of every pool fixture.
Parramatta Eels sign Wicks replacement
PARRAMATTA have moved quickly to cover the loss of the retired Danny Wicks by announcing the signing of another former bad boy.
Changes Wicks retires, Eels sign Pritchard
EELS forward Danny Wicks has shocked teammates by retiring just months after signing a two-year contract extension but Parramatta have already brought in reinforcements.
- Parra primed to come back from the brink
- Sandow challenges Carney to fight night bout
- Bouncing back: Who will have the biggest impact?
- Troubled trio turn Roosters into last chance saloon
- Police sting targets Hayne manager
- Think you know your NRL history?
- It was bulls---, how am I to know?: Hayne
- Hayne backs teammate’s shock protest
- Eels boost backline stocks with Hoffman signing
- NRL clubs abandon World Club Series
- Watmough, Eels headed for $1.2m legal stoush
- No d***head policy: NRL make an example of Fifita
- Semi’s meeting with Broncos coach Bennett
No sale NRL fails in bid to sell Knights
THE Knights will remain under NRL ownership after the game’s governing body failed in its bid to secure a new owner following a lengthy sale process.
Back at it Complete draw for 2017 Auckland Nines
FIND out who your team will take on in the 2017 Auckland Nines with a complete draw of every pool fixture.
Culture Why bad boy Barba’s not on Knights’ radar
DESPITE coming off one of the worst season in the club’s history, the Newcastle Knights say they won’t be tempted by the X-factor value of sacked Sharks star Ben Barba.
- Tools down! Knights throw Starling lifeline
- Time for Knights young guns to deliver
- Starling flies to Newcastle
- How can the Knights come back?
- Bouncing back: Who will have the biggest impact?
- Knights eye more signings for 2017
- Fifita shuns Knights for Super League
- Knights punt on giant Kiwi kid
- Troubled trio turn Roosters into last chance saloon
- Think you know your NRL history?
- Buhrer shattered by Sea Eagles exit
- Knights sign Cowboys premiership winner
- NRL clubs abandon World Club Series
Back at it Complete draw for 2017 Auckland Nines
FIND out who your team will take on in the 2017 Auckland Nines with a complete draw of every pool fixture.
Title hopefuls Tamou: Premiership on everyone’s mind at Penrith
WEEK one of the Panthers’ pre-season hasn’t even finished but James Tamou is already talking a big game, saying only a premiership will bring success to Penrith in 2017.
Slammed Rein unloads on ‘boring’ Dragons
MITCH Rein has begun his career with Penrith by slamming the “boring” attack of his former club St George Illawarra.
- Penrith’s impressive retention drive continues
- Can Panthers live up to the hype in 2017?
- Penrith re-sign 15th NRL player in 2016
- Panthers net another Cartwright
- Panthers back leaves NRL for England
- Merrin wants to show Rein the way
- Gould confirms the worst for Panthers fans
- Mansour goes from ecstasy to agony
- Bouncing back: Who will have the biggest impact?
- Original Panther Peckham dies
- Troubled trio turn Roosters into last chance saloon
- Think you know your NRL history?
- NRL clubs abandon World Club Series
Back at it Complete draw for 2017 Auckland Nines
FIND out who your team will take on in the 2017 Auckland Nines with a complete draw of every pool fixture.
Throw down Sandow challenges Carney to fight night bout
CHRIS Sandow has challenged Todd Carney to step into the ring and take him on in a charity fight in Sydney next month.
Loyal Bunny Rabbitohs lock in rising star till 2020
RISING prop Zane Musgrove has been confirmed as a key part of South Sydney’s future pack after re-signing with the club until the end of 2020.
- Bouncing back: Who will have the biggest impact?
- Inglis, big men, key to Redfern revival
- Farah clocks on for first day at Rabbits
- Maguire re-signs with Souths
- How league almost lost Inglis
- I’m number one at the Rabbitohs: Inglis
- Troubled trio turn Roosters into last chance saloon
- Think you know your NRL history?
- Inglis asked Bellamy about returning to Storm
- NRL clubs abandon World Club Series
- I almost joined Bunnies in ‘16: Farah
- Bunny-for-life Inglis prepares for bundle of joy
- Experts’ ultimate Dally M 2016 team
Livewire Raiders lock up NRL’s best hooking duo
THE NRL’s best hooking duo can wreak havoc for a further two years following the re-signing of bench livewire Kurt Baptiste.
Back at it Complete draw for 2017 Auckland Nines
FIND out who your team will take on in the 2017 Auckland Nines with a complete draw of every pool fixture.
Throw down Sandow challenges Carney to fight night bout
CHRIS Sandow has challenged Todd Carney to step into the ring and take him on in a charity fight in Sydney next month.
- Bouncing back: Who will have the biggest impact?
- Troubled trio turn Roosters into last chance saloon
- Think you know your NRL history?
- NRL clubs abandon World Club Series
- Kangaroos bolter set to start v Kiwis
- Dragons ready to break bank for Vaughan
- 13 years on: Night Storm shot to wrestling fame
- Croker steals show with three gongs
- JT shock omission as Cronk caps stellar season
- Ricky’s rebirth continues with top coach award
- Raiders in doubt for Kangaroos debuts
- Will Storm deny Hodgson again?
- Smith gets away with it again
Back at it Complete draw for 2017 Auckland Nines
FIND out who your team will take on in the 2017 Auckland Nines with a complete draw of every pool fixture.
Staying Roosters retain Waerea-Hargreaves until 2020
THE Roosters have signed Jared Waerea-Hargreaves to a three-year contract extension that will keep him at the club until the end of 2020.
Rivals Why Keary defected to rivals Roosters
LUKE Keary has revealed the reason he decided to sign with the Roosters, including the chance to link with Mitchell Pearce in the halves.
- Sandow challenges Carney to fight night bout
- Bouncing back: Who will have the biggest impact?
- Roosters need a rebuild after season to forget
- Roosters assistant joins Warriors NRL staff
- NRL bans Roosters recruitment guru
- Pearce’s frank admission about Roosters slide
- Troubled trio turn Roosters into last chance saloon
- Think you know your NRL history?
- NRL clubs abandon World Club Series
- Roosters tie down Taukeiaho long term
- Moa heads back to Super League
- Half-time spray that sparked grand final comeback
- How Sydney’s west prepared Panthers for glory
Back at it Complete draw for 2017 Auckland Nines
FIND out who your team will take on in the 2017 Auckland Nines with a complete draw of every pool fixture.
Heroic story Hero of war inspiring Manly Sea Eagles
MANLY stars and coach Trent Barrett have met with and been inspired by double amputee Damien Thomlinson’s heroic tale of survival as the club throws its weight behind the Poppy Appeal.
Transfer Sea Eagles sign Wests Tigers’ royalty
MANLY have signed the son of a Wests Tigers legend in an audacious move to build on their dramatic roster shake-up for 2017.
- Sea Eagles snap up Sironen
- Manly preparing for another rebuild
- Former Warrior offered NRL lifeline
- Bouncing back: Who will have the biggest impact?
- Taupau names the player to revive Manly
- Trbojevic is a man of his words
- Troubled trio turn Roosters into last chance saloon
- Think you know your NRL history?
- Buhrer shattered by Sea Eagles exit
- Trbojevic jumps Kangaroos queue
- NRL clubs abandon World Club Series
- Experts’ ultimate Dally M 2016 team
- No JT in Johns’ team of the year
Summer School Can the Sharks go back-to-back in 2017?
SUMMER SCHOOL: From Michael Ennis’ replacement to staying motivated, we take a look at the things Cronulla need to work on in the preseason.
Sorry Barba apologises to Cronulla teammates
BEN BARBA has apologised to his Sharks teammates over his second positive drug test which took some of the gloss off Cronulla’s historic first NRL premiership.
Back at it Complete draw for 2017 Auckland Nines
FIND out who your team will take on in the 2017 Auckland Nines with a complete draw of every pool fixture.
- NRL won’t abandon Barba: Greenberg
- Play of the Week: Jillaroo Ruan Sims
- Why bad boy Barba’s not on Knights’ radar
- Barba the only offender, say Sharks
- Sharks sign Mortimer, retain Heighno
- ‘They have thrown him under a bus’
- ‘They have thrown him under a bus’
- Bouncing back: Who will have the biggest impact?
- Flanagan goes from pauper to prince
- Fifita must ’behave like an adult’
- Troubled trio turn Roosters into last chance saloon
- T-Rex can re-find his desire in the shire
- Think you know your NRL history?
Back at it Complete draw for 2017 Auckland Nines
FIND out who your team will take on in the 2017 Auckland Nines with a complete draw of every pool fixture.
Summer School Slater returns as Storm replace key losses
SUMMER SCHOOL: With major player losses including Proctor, Koroibete and Green, the Melbourne Storm have key gaps in their roster to fill as they strive to go one step further in 2017.
2017 Bouncing back: Who will have the biggest impact?
THEY had a year to forget in 2016 due to injury, form or off-field troubles but which NRL star will have the best comeback season in 2017?
- Titans finally land prized signing Proctor
- Troubled trio turn Roosters into last chance saloon
- Think you know your NRL history?
- No end in sight for the enduring Smith
- Inglis asked Bellamy about returning to Storm
- NRL clubs abandon World Club Series
- Bromwich wins Storm Player of the Year
- Storm blows over World Club Series
- Ennis gets last laugh over Smith
- ‘Just someone, make a tackle’
- Cronk: I thought we had it
- Grand Final weekend...you had one job!
- Bellamy defends Welch penalty
Back at it Complete draw for 2017 Auckland Nines
FIND out who your team will take on in the 2017 Auckland Nines with a complete draw of every pool fixture.
Summer school The time is now for rising Tigers
SUMMER SCHOOL: The Tigers can no longer use their youth as an excuse for 2017 as they try to end their semi-final drought.
Transfer Sea Eagles sign Wests Tigers’ royalty
MANLY have signed the son of a Wests Tigers legend in an audacious move to build on their dramatic roster shake-up for 2017.
- Sea Eagles snap up Sironen
- How Idris finally found inner peace
- ‘Tigers welfare and wellbeing second to none’
- Bouncing back: Who will have the biggest impact?
- ‘I heard voices, then all hell broke loose’
- Troubled trio turn Roosters into last chance saloon
- Think you know your NRL history?
- NRL clubs abandon World Club Series
- I almost joined Bunnies in ‘16: Farah
- O’Neill resigns as Tigers football manager
- JT shock omission as Cronk caps stellar season
- ‘I can’t guarantee what I’m going to say’
- Experts’ ultimate Dally M 2016 team
Back at it Complete draw for 2017 Auckland Nines
FIND out who your team will take on in the 2017 Auckland Nines with a complete draw of every pool fixture.
Titans Roberts won’t make call easy for Henry
THE Titans will be spoilt for choice in the halves for 2017 and Neil Henry has already indicated how he intends to fit the puzzle pieces together. Tyrone Roberts has other ideas.
Summer School Will expectation get the better of Titans?
SUMMER SCHOOL: How do the Titans get the best out of Jarryd Hayne? And will they overcome the pressure of expectation? We look at what the club needs to focus on in the preseason.
- Why Wallace ditched Broncos for Titans
- Hayne’s extraordinary claim about Kane Elgey
- Hayne in cyber-safety porn blunder
- Henry: James isn’t going anywhere
- Roberts set for new role in 2017
- Bouncing back: Who will have the biggest impact?
- Titans finally land prized signing Proctor
- Hayne flick-passes daddy poser
- Troubled trio turn Roosters into last chance saloon
- Think you know your NRL history?
- It was bulls---, how am I to know?: Hayne
- Hayne backs teammate’s shock protest
- Bird to take up five-year French deal
Back at it Complete draw for 2017 Auckland Nines
FIND out who your team will take on in the 2017 Auckland Nines with a complete draw of every pool fixture.
Summer School Can we believe in the Warriors?
SUMMER SCHOOL: ONCE again, the Warriors have all the talent in the world. Is this the season when they finally put it together?
Comeback Return nears as Foran focuses on shoulder
KIERAN Foran won’t be available for the Auckland Nines, but — pending NRL approval — the Warriors are confident he’ll be ready for when the season kicks off in March.
- Bouncing back: Who will have the biggest impact?
- Roosters assistant joins Warriors NRL staff
- Troubled trio turn Roosters into last chance saloon
- Think you know your NRL history?
- Dragons to benefit if Foran joins Warriors
- Johnson: NRL would be wrong to reject Foran
- NRL clubs abandon World Club Series
- How Kearney will make Warriors stronger
- Foran hits out at ‘prying’ media
- Foran still working on issues: Doyle
- Experts’ ultimate Dally M 2016 team
- Official: Foran signs with Warriors
- No JT in Johns’ team of the year