We are 3 months away from the start of the 2014 NRL season

Who is your early pick to win the 2014 NRL premiership & what is your Top 8


NRL Winner-Sydney Roosters

My Top 8:
1:Sydney Roosters
2:Manly Sea Eagles
3:Melbourne Strom
4:South Sydney Rabbitohs
5:Brisbane Broncos
6:New Zealand Warriors
7:Newcastle Knights
8:North Queensland Cowboys

Probably more wishful thinking than tipping, but I'll plump for the Cowboys to take it out.

1. Cowboys
2. Roosters
3. Titans
4. Rabbitohs
5. Storm
6. Manly
7. Sharks
8. Warriors

and with Ricky Stuart, Raiders for the spoon!

I agree with Canberra for the wooden spoon

Jamal Idris has quit the Gold Coast Titans & has joined Penrith Panthers

I, for one, was excited by the prospect of Idris playing on the Gold Coast. He had a half-million dollar-a-year contract, the promise of hosting a children's TV show, and the chance to re-ignite his career as the most dominant centre in the game.
So what happened? Injuries limited him to a handful of appearances last season, and all the promise seemed to evaporate. Now he is playing the 'compassionate reasons' card to get a release to go back to Sydney. Well, the Titans were only too happy to let him go and free up some cash so that they can chase players who will use the opportunity to benefit the club.

Also, Newcastle dodged a bullet with Russell Packer. Although Packer was sentenced to 2 years jail, the NRL hadn't ratified his new contract with them, so at this stage, he is not officially listed as a Newcastle player.

I'd be happy enough with Canberra for the wooden spoon .... at least it means the Tigers wouldn't have it!!

Reni Matuia has got to court in 2 days to find out his punishment

Sam Thaiday has stood down as Broncos captain, after 2 years in the position.
While I have no doubt that he may have had the 'tap on the shoulder', I'm not sure about the replacements - Corey Parker and Justin Hodges. Parker should have been appointed captain 2 years ago when they went for Thaiday, but he's now 31 years old, as is Hodges. Hodges is injury-prone, and no guarantee to see out the season.
Personally, I would have looked long and hard at Alex Glenn. He's only 25, and has a very successful record in the games that he's captained the Broncos already.

I don't get how they named Justin Hodged as captain Corey Parker i understand but Justin Hodges i don't know

I guess the saving grace is that, in Rugby League, the captain doesnt exactly do much. He's there to toss the coin, and to provide a bit of spirit into an otherwise flagging team, but the tactical stuff is done by the coaching staff (which is why Alan Langer spends more time on the field for the Broncos than most of the players!).

Lote Tuqiri has found a new home after Souths signed him to a 1 year deal

Surprised me when I heard it. Lote is rising 34, and although he's still a good player, he hasn't been on the field for more than half a season since his RU days.

Yeah, I was surprised too .. sad to see him go. He's an all round good bloke on top of a good influence on younger players (I think anyway).

NRL Trials Results for Friday,Saturday & Sunday February 7th-9th 2014

St George Illawarra Dragons 60 Illawarra/Mudgee 16
Cronulla Sharks 24 Manly Sea Eagles 12
Canberra Raiders 20 Melbourne Storm 12
Newcastle Knights 52 First Nation Goannas 12
Wests Tigers 32 Penrith Panthers 8
Parramatta Eels 60 Wests Tigers 14
North Queensland Cowboys 32 Brisbane Broncos 8
Gold Coast Titans 32 New Zealand Warriors 18
South Sydney Rabbitohs 28 Canterbury Bulldogs 20

Is anyone else sorry that Illawarra/Mudgee or First Nation Goannas didn't get a win?

A bit, but I am also delighted that Canterbury AND Manly lost.

Illawarra and Mudgee seems a strange combination, as they are not really that close to each other- maybe a 4-5 hour drive.

2 big weekends coming up for the NRL on Saturday & Sunday it's the 1st annual NRL Nines Tournament live on Fox Sports


The following Saturday it's the World Club Challenge Sydney Roosters vs Wigan from Sydney

It's Fulltime in the trial game tonight

Wigan 46 NZ Warriors 22 after NZ Warriors led 22-16 at Halftime

North Queensland Cowboys beat Brisbane Broncos 16-7 to win the Inaugural Auckland Nines tournament


This is North Queensland Cowboys first ever title since they debut in 1995

Sam Burgess has confimed that he is leaving South Sydney at the end of the 2014 season to join English Rugby side Bath

Hope their trophy cupboard doesn't resemble Cronulla's cupboard after the same amount of years (1 Amco Cup win in 1979 and nothing since!)

Saturday February 22nd 2014

Charity Shield:
South Sydney Rabbitohs 38 St George Illawarra Dragons 20

World Club Challenge:
Sydney Roosters 36 Wigan Warriors 14


NRL trial matches:
Manly Sea Eagles 28 Parramatta Eels 24
North Queensland Cowboys 28 Gold Coast Titans 12
Newcastle Knights 34 Canberra Raiders 10
Wests Tigers 28 Cronulla Sharks 22

Sunday February 23rd 2014

NRL Trials

NZ Warriors 48 Brisbane Broncos 4
Penrith Panthers 52 Newtown Jets 4
Canterbury Bulldogs 20 Melbourne Storm 10

Woo AND hoo!

NRL Round 1 Results March 6th-10th 2014

Thursday March 6th:
South Sydney Rabbitohs 28 def Sydney Roosters 8

Friday March 7th:
Brisbane Broncos 18 def Canterbury Bulldogs 12

Saturday March 8th:
Penrith Panthers 30 def Newcastle Knights 8
Melbourne Storm 23 def Manly Sea Eagles 22
North Queensland Cowboys 28 def Canberra Raiders 22

Sunday March 9th:
St George Illawarra Dragons 44 def Wests Tigers 24
Parramatta Eels 36 def New Zealand Warriors 16

Monday March 10th:
Gold Coast Titans 18 Cronulla Sharks 12