What The?!

By Daniel Andruczyk Once again it seems that for all the good that Rugby League does, the steps forward it makes, it then seems to take several steps back. England tied up the European Tri-Nations this weekend against France with a big 44-6 win. Izzy Folau came back to the NRL this week, leaving the AFL after being less than successful in that code. However its the referee situation in the NRL that has me scratching...

Canada Wins the RLP Development Fund and Barba the Dally M

By Daniel Andruczyk The Dally M awards were given out this week. These are the NRL’s chance to reward the best players in the competition. This year Ben Barba swept the awards with 5 individual ones including the Dally M player of the year. The awards are as Follows: Dally M Player of the Year: Ben Barba (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs) Provan-Summons Medal: Ben Barba (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs) The...

Heartlands Win Out in World Cup Draw

By Daniel Andruczyk Today the 2013 Rugby League World Cup venues have been released. In a fairly conservative move the heartlands of Rugby League in England have been chosen over a few new cities looking to promote the sport more. While all this is taking place, underhandedly the Aussies once agin show that they are bullies in the sport and are looking to undermine the sport internationally. Also in Australia there...

“You Got to be kidding Ref!”…

By Daniel Andruczyk These words could not be used to great effect by the captains of NRL teams. In what could be a big step to killing off controversial tries in the National Rugby League in Australia it is being proposed that captains get the ability to challenge the call of a referee, like in tennis. See the article here. If anyone has listened to my radio show over the last couple years, you would remember that...

Lets Calm the Hysteria.

By Daniel Andruczyk OK so you must have been on Mars the last week to have missed Russell Crowe’s announcement, or dream really, to have an expanded Rugby League World Club Challenge Tournaments played in the USA. Namely, Las Vegas was named as the likely place. But before we all start bellowing hallelujah, the saviour is here, lets take some Valium and a step back and really analyse what this would mean for...

Why are we so Negative?

By Daniel Andruczyk So i read earlier today a fairly innocuous article involving the USA Rugby Union. They are on a tour at the moment in Portugal, Scotland and Georgia to play TEST’s. Now this seems fairly uneventful but to me its interesting that these matches are called test matches. Looking at the team: Mate Moeakiola (Bobigny 93) Phil Thiel (Life University) Shawn Pittman (London Welsh) Scott Lavalla...

Yin and Yang

By Daniel Andruczyk In a week when Rugby League should be celebrating with two superb Grand Finals in Australia and England, news comes of controversy surrounding the round 24 betting scandal and teams going into administration. But aside from that there still was much Rugby League played around the world. From Australia to Serbia Domestic season continue. Australia The domestic Rugby League season came to...

Revamp of the Video Ref

By Daniel Andruczyk So I was thinking about the latest referee controversies and how things may be solved. So I have one possible idea, and am curious to see what people think and if they can find any holes in it. But first some round ups of results from around the world, where of course the Challenge Cup takes pride of place. Challenge Cup Last weekend saw the final of the Challenge Cup played between Warrington...