NRL News
NRL Grand Final - Sea Eagles Thwart Ultimate Warriors
Written by John Colledge | Sunday, 02 October 2011 22:41
Spearheaded by a five-star performance from Glenn Stewart, Manly-Warringah turned in a clinical performance to defeat the New Zealand Warriors 24-10 and take out the 2011 NRL premiership. Returning to football after a three-match suspension, Stewart drew a performance right out of the top drawer, scored one try himself and laid on two others in a standout performance that ensured the premiership trophy made its way north of the harbor bridge for the second time in four years. Honours were even for much of the first half with each set of forwards giving their rival pack a searching examination. The Warriors dodged a bullet when William Hopoate was ruled not to have scored in the twentieth minute. Seven minutes later James Maloney slotted a penalty goal for the Warriors after George Rose was penalised after an indiscretion. The Eagles hit back immediately when Brett Stewart stormed on to an inside…
Warriors v Eagles Grand Final a Promoter’s Dream
Written by John Colledge | Tuesday, 27 September 2011 16:30
Rugby League followers on both sides of the Tasman will be well served when the 2011 NRL Premiership decider kicks off at ANZ Stadium at 5pm on Sunday 2 October. This trans-Tasman contest is a true promoter’s dream, as the black hats (Manly) square off against their rivals from the Land of the Long White Cloud, with NRL premiership honours as the spoils. It seems that all in the Rugby League world, save for Sydney’s northern peninsula, are looking towards a Warriors win. In so many respects this theme is old and recurring – the feted Manly versus an underdog opponent, a scenario as familiar and comfortable to the Sea Eagles as a favourite t-shirt. Whilst Manly will start favourites, a little analysis reveals this grand final decider as a genuine even-money proposition. Anyone who witnessed the Warriors’ display of brute strength combined with flashes of match-winning brilliance as they…
The New Zealand Warriors booked a 2011 NRL grand final appointment with Manly-Warringah with a solid 20-12 win over minor premiers Melbourne in front of a 25,580 crowd at AAMI Park on Saturday night.The eight-point margin is not an accurate reflection of the difference between the two sides on the night, with the Warriors dominating their opponents for all but the first ten minutes.It was the home side that opened the scoring after five minutes when Storm backrower Sika Manu strolled through a yawning gap to score close to the posts for Cameron Smith to convert. That, however, was the only time during the match that Melbourne was to hold the lead.The New Zealanders, steadied by some solid work in the centre by Lillyman, Mannering, Rapira and Packer, levelled with a converted try to Bill Toupo after twelve minutes. Shortly afterwards, James Maloney benefited from a gem of an offload…
Manly-Warringah became the first side to qualify for the NRL grand final with a methodical 26-14 win over Brisbane in front of 31,894 at the Sydney Football Stadium on Friday night. The men from Sydney’s northern peninsula made an ideal start in the windy conditions. The Eagles received two early penalties to carry them into the opposition twenty for hooker Matt Ballin to crash over from dummy half after only four minutes. Jamie Lyon’s conversion put Manly in front 6-0. Manly raced to a 16-0 lead through tries to Will Hopoate (10th minute) and Brett Stewart (20th minute). Stewart capitalised on a wonderful delayed pass from half-back Daly Cherry-Evans to touch down in a handy position for Lyon to convert. Jharal Yow Yeh kept the Broncos in some contention when he scored a classic winger’s try close to half-time. The Queensland and Australian rep made an athletic leap to claim…
Locky out – Eagles soar to favouritism
Written by John Colledge | Wednesday, 21 September 2011 18:05
With the NRL finals entering the final stages, John Colledge provides Miller's Guide with exclusive insight into how he see's this weeks match ups as well as a review of the best bets for anyone looking for a little flutter on any of this weekends games. Who said the Sea Eagles being the favourite would be a stretch? Not Sea Eagles Cheerleader Tamar Leek, that's for certain! Locky out – Eagles soar to favouritism Friday night at the Sydney Football Stadium will see plenty of questions asked and answered as Manly-Warringah and Brisbane vie to become the first team to qualify for the 2011 NRL Grand Final. The two most obvious questions for fans to ask about the Broncos are: can they win a sudden-death finals match without inspirational skipper Daren Lockyer to usher them around the park? And did they play their grand final a fortnight early in their…
Robert Lui Assaults Girlfriend - Once Were Warrior Style
Written by Rob Huxley | Tuesday, 20 September 2011 10:32
Wests Tigers Robert Lui has been charged with assault last night by Burwood police for alleged assault on a female.Last night at 7pm Police were called to Lui's home in North Strathfield where they found a woman with swelling to her face. The woman alleged that Lui assaulted her and subsequently police arrested the 21-year old and took him to Burwood Police Station where he was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Lui was issued with bail and will be appearing in Burwood Local Court on the 7th of October. In what some would call a bad combination of Groundhog Day meets Once Were Warriors, Lui is no stranger to such charges and behaviour. Last September following similar circumstances, Elimination from the NRL Finals, Lui was charged with nine offences related to assaulting his girlfriend Taleah Rae Backo who was pregnant at the time. The Tigers are expected to…
It’s September and that means we are at the business end of the NRL season. Which captain will raise the premiership trophy aloft at ANZ Stadium on Sunday 2 October? One week ahead of the first finals series clashes we gaze into our crystal ball to rank the eight contenders. Melbourne Storm The drama of 2010 left the southerners with a point to prove. They are playing a foolproof type of rugby league. Their “big three” of Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater give the Storm an enviable blend of brilliance, steadiness and big match experience, all of which stamp them as worthy premiership favourites. Current odds: $3.25 Rating: 1 Wests Tigers Can lay legitimate claim to having the best back (Benji Marshall) and the best forward (Gareth Ellis) in NRL ranks. Their ad-lib style is a reminder that rugby league is essentially an attacking game. Can repeat…
In front of a record 52,498 fans at Suncorp Stadium Queensland have won the third and final State Of Origin clash against New South Wales. In what was one of the most talked about clashes of the 31-year State Of Origin history, Darren Lockyer has given fans one of the most memorable games of his career. Lockyer has appeared in 36 State Of Origin games over the course of his career, and last night's win, the sixth straight for QLD, will be one of the highlights of his career. While it was a night for celebration for QLD players and fans, a season ending injury to Johnathan Thurston midway through the second half put a dampener on the occasion. In his 21st consecutive game for the Maroons, Thurston sustained the injury while attempting a tackle on Watmough. Teammate Ashley Harrison rolled underneath the left leg of Thurston and early diagnosis…
