Floodboat diplomacy
Like many areas of Queensland, the Tweed Valley in northern New South Wales has been hard hit by floods, with the Tweed River Jockey Club track at Murwillumbah recording its […]
Author Archives: SteveRicketts
Junior burnout
The Queensland Rugby League has released the draws for the annual Mal Meninga (under-18) and Cyril Connell (under-16) Cups, once again raising the issue of match overload for younger players. […]
Leeds to test Storm
England’s Super League can be viewed on Euro Sport here in Australia with two live games each weekend. The matches covered in round 1 were Leeds v Hull and St […]
Sevens Nightmare
THE 110-4 scoreline in favour of Australia at the 2000 World Cup in Europe suggests the Russian Bear was a timid beast indeed. The Australia v Russia match at ‘The […]
Forgotten Indigenous Star
Without doubt, the ‘forgotten’ Indigenous All Star’ of Australian Rugby League is former Eastern Suburbs (Sydney) centre, Ron Saddler. League Historian, David Middleton has confirmed to me that Saddler was […]
FLASHBACK: February 1986
February, 1986: The Australian Rugby League gave permission for players to exempt themselves from representative football, within certain guidelines. Players had to be over 28, have given “valuable service to […]
FLASHBACK: February 1969
February, 1969: Souths appointed international forward, Elton Rasmussen captain-coach and sole selector for the Brisbane club season after his successful stint with St George in Sydney. The move was unusual […]
FLASHBACK: February 1951
February 1951: The Australian Rugby League insisted brothers, Ron and Reg Stanford were subject to an international transfer ban, even though they most recently had played rugby union. The Stanford […]
Kangaroo Tours
COVERING a Kangaroo tour of Britain for metropolitan newspapers is one thing. Leading 30 or 40 Australian supporters on such a tour is something else altogether. Meeting deadlines for a […]
The NRL’s new boss
THE Welsh are noted for their beguiling turn of phrase and lyrical intonation. New NRL chief executive, Dave Smith will need all his Welsh charm, along with his undoubted business […]
FLASHBACK: February 1938
The 1937-38 Kangaroos were officially farewelled at the Griffin Hotel, Leeds after their six month tour of Britain and France. ‘Daily Herald’ writer, Tom Reynolds was full of praise for […]
2013: NRL Season preview
THE 2013 rugby league season marks a new stage in my association with the code after 32 years as a fulltime sports journalist with Queensland Newspapers in Brisbane. Suffice to […]
Steve Ricketts 