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Entries from July 2008

NRL round 21 preview and tips

July 31st, 2008 by Shaun · 21 Comments

Defecting to the game that supported the Vichy government has a nice touch of irony don’t you think? As agents of those cheese eating surrender monkeys circle player-manager, rugby league marches on. And this week round 21 looms, the finals almost within reach. The question is what is more cruel to fans? Having your finals [...]

Tags: Rugby League

Au revoir Sonny and how can we stop the French exodus?

July 26th, 2008 by Shaun · 10 Comments

As Bismarck mentions Sonny Bill Williams has broken his chain, dug under the fence and off to join second division French rugby union club Toulon. And if we never see Sonny again in the NRL it won’t be Toulon for most of us.
The main reason seems to be $3 million for two years work. [...]

Tags: Rugby League

NRL Round 20 preview and tips

July 24th, 2008 by Shaun · 11 Comments

The past few days haven’t been great for rugby league. Players from the Raiders and the Bulldogs have been up to no good. If only the NSW media would turn a blind eye to player shenanigans similar to what happens south of the border (yep, that is sarcasm you detect).
But the image of league [...]

Tags: Rugby League

NRL round 19 preview and tips

July 16th, 2008 by Shaun · 13 Comments

An early version as once more I find myself in a heathen land. Which could make it any where in Australia outside the Sydney CBD at the moment but in my case it means Melbourne once again.
But sipping a Belgian beer earlier this evening (one can only drink so much VB) I over heard [...]

Tags: Rugby League

See ya Money Bags Gaz

July 15th, 2008 by Shaun · No Comments

Mark Gasiner has decided to chase the filthy luchre all the way to Stade Francais (lurv the pink). Good on him and good riddance. Money Bags Gaz has tried the “I’m gonna play rugby if you don’t give more money whinge” before but this time, he ended up playing rugby.
He will say it wasn’t [...]

Tags: Rugby League

NRL round 18 preview and tips

July 10th, 2008 by Shaun · 16 Comments

Yes blogging gets you a worldwide audience (in theory) but there is something nice seeing you name in old fashioned newspaper print. But that needs to be pushed aside to concentrate on the weekend at hand. There are no more byes left and teams are looking at September now. It will be intense. There will [...]

Tags: Rugby League

NRL Round 17 preview and tips

July 3rd, 2008 by Shaun · 32 Comments

Origin is done and dusted for 2008. As the sound of gloating washes south from the border and over the Tweed, the rest of us can get on with the serious business of the run to the finals. Just 10 rounds to go now and only 6 points between 1 and 8. Manly, The Roosters [...]

Tags: Rugby League

State of Origin III: Live Blogging

July 1st, 2008 by Shaun · 155 Comments

Yes folks. Live blogging of Origin III will be here on Wednesday night. It will start sometime between 7:30 and 8:00pm with the ceremonial bagging of Ben Ikin.
I wonder if NSW win Ikin be so depressed that he will stop commentating. And with the ceremonial bagging of Ikin live blogging of Origin is back..

Tags: Rugby League

State of Origin III: The Decider

July 1st, 2008 by Shaun · 5 Comments

And so it has come to this. New South Wales and Queensland with one win each in the 2008 State of Origin campaign. ANZ Stadium in Sydney is the host for Origin III, the decider. It is a ground for which Queensland has little love. But after blowing New South Wales off the [...]

Tags: Rugby League