DIARY UPDATE: Week 32, 2021
DIARY OF A RETIRED RUGBY LEAGUE WRITER WEEK 32 2021 MONDAY, AUGUST 9 My former Telegraph Sports Editor, John Morton described Bobby Banks as the Wally Lewis of his time. […]
Tag Archives: brad fittler
FLASHBACK: NOVEMBER 2001
NOVEMBER 2001 It was the Rugby League Ashes campaign which almost didn’t go ahead, because of terrorism. The 2001 Australia v Great Britain and Ireland series was played over two […]
OLD TRAFFORD SALUTES THE KANGAROOS
I wish I could say there was a great sense of anticipation across the UK, as the countdown began to the 2000 Rugby League World Cup final at Old Trafford, […]
WELSH BREATHE FIRE INTO CUP
The much-maligned Welsh team restored some credibility to the 2000 Rugby League World Cup, thanks to a courageous 46-22 loss to Australia in a semi-final at Huddersfield’s McAlpine Stadium. The […]
DIARY UPDATE: Week 42, 2020
DIARY OF A RETIRED RUGBY LEAGUE WRITER WEEK 42 2020 MONDAY, OCTOBER 19 Men of League patron, Ron Atkins celebrates his 85th birthday at Broncos Leagues Club, and I feel […]
DIARY UPDATE: Week 30, 2020
DIARY OF A RETIRED RUGBY LEAGUE WRITER WEEK 30 2020 MONDAY, JULY 27 The Courier-Mail’s chief sports writer, Robert Craddock speculates on whether the Broncos will drop young forward, Andrew […]
FLASHBACK: October 1995
FLASHBACK OCTOBER 1995 ENGLAND captain, Shaun Edwards was accused of taunting Australian winger, John Hopoate with racial abuse at London’s Wembley Stadium, in the opening match of the 1995 Rugby […]
DIARY UPDATE: Week 14, 2020
DIARY OF A RETIRED RUGBY LEAGUE WRITER WEEK 14 2020 MONDAY, APRIL 6 Former Socceroo, Mark Viduka has some damning things to say about our national team, going back a […]
A CHANGE OF MIND ABOUT FREDDY
I must confess to having under-estimated Brad Fittler, when he was thrown into a leadership role during the Super League War in the 1990s. To me, he wasn’t a great […]
DIARY UPDATE: Week 29, 2019
DIARY OF A RETIRED RUGBY LEAGUE WRITER WEEK 29 2019. MONDAY, JULY 22 Rugby league cult hero, giant former Brisbane Norths’ prop, Campbell ‘Zulu’ Dews has agreed to be a […]
FLASHBACK: April 1990
APRIL 1990 The chaotic nature of rugby league on the border of New South Wales and Queensland was never more graphically illustrated than by the City v Country match played […]
FLASHBACK: April, 1995
APRIL 1995 Australian Rugby League contracted players were reportedly having second thoughts about staying with the ‘Establishment’, after England and New Zealand confirmed they would be siding with the rebel […]
DIARY UPDATE: Week 21, 2019
DIARY OF A RETIRED RUGBY LEAGUE WRITER WEEK 21 2019 MONDAY, MAY 27 Queensland State of Origin coach, Kevin Walters is emotional at the naming of the Maroons’ squad for […]
DIARY UPDATE: Week 28, 2018
DIARY OF A RETIRED RUGBY LEAGUE WRITER WEEK 28 2018 WEDNESDAY, JULY 11 Queensland salvage pride from the 2018 State of Origin rugby league series with a 18-12 win in […]
RUGBY LEAGUE VIOLENCE AT TWICKENHAM
Testicle grabbing and hand stomping. It was all part of the England v Australia World Cup rugby league match at London’s Twickenham Stadium on October 28, 2000. It was the […]
DIARY UPDATE: Week 17, 2017
DIARY OF A RETIRED RUGBY LEAGUE WRITER WEEK 17 2017 TUESDAY, APRIL 25 ANZAC Day Dawn Service at The Gap, and there is a big turn-out, for the service itself […]
COMMENT: WE SHOULD HAVE PAID THE MANAGERS
Player-managers – I didn’t have a great deal to do with them during my 32 years as a rugby league writer. I certainly didn’t rely on them as much as […]
DIARY ENTRY: Week 6, 2015
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2 Watch build-up to Super Bowl. Pop singer ruins anthem. So Australia is not the only country where that happens. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3 Walk to Keith Payne Park, […]
FLASHBACK: December 1994
MAL Meninga brought down the curtain on his amazing playing career by leading the Kangaroos to a then world record 74-0 Test win over France in the final match of […]
Steve Ricketts 