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Tag Archives: NRL

Steve Ricketts (right) with Brent Saddler.

DIARY UPDATE: Week 20, 2016

Featuredby SteveRicketts 2 Comments

MONDAY, MAY 16. A minute’s silence is observed for former international centre, Rod Saddler ahead of the Titans v Roosters’ NRL match at Robina. That was my doing, I am proud […]

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Diary of a retired Rugby League Journalist, Uncategorized
George Piggins

FLASHBACK: November 1997

Featuredby SteveRicketts Leave a comment

THAT most vitriolic of Super League opponents, George Piggins, the South Sydney chairman, said he was willing to sit down with Melbourne Storm counterpart, John Ribot in the interests of […]

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Flashbacks, NRL, Uncategorized

DIARY UPDATE: Week 43, 2015

29/06/2017by SteveRicketts Leave a comment

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20 David Smith quits as National Rugby League chief executive and the rumour mill goes into overdrive, re. his replacement, with radio commentator, Ray Hadley mentioning former Queensland […]

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Diary of a retired Rugby League Journalist, Uncategorized

DAIRY UPDATE: Week 42, 2015

20/06/2017by SteveRicketts 1 Comment

MONDAY, OCTOBER 12 Bus it to Frankfurt, then Metro to Marianplatz where there is an International Girls Day march in Berger Street. At Kleinmarket a busker belts out a few […]

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Diary of a retired Rugby League Journalist, Uncategorized

DIARY UPDATE: Week 33, 2015

05/04/2017by SteveRicketts 1 Comment

MONDAY, AUGUST 10 Brisbane Broncos’ Test centre, Justin Hodges announces he will retire at season’s end. I remember saying, the first time I saw Justin at Broncos’ training, that he […]

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Diary of a retired Rugby League Journalist, Uncategorized

DIARY UPDATE: Week 30

03/03/2017by SteveRicketts Leave a comment

TUESDAY, JULY 21 Men of League Committee meeting at Broncos as the footy team trains on the fields below. I bump into ‘The King’ Wally Lewis (Channel 9), as well as […]

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Diary of a retired Rugby League Journalist, Uncategorized

FLASHBACK: February 1976

09/02/2017by SteveRicketts Leave a comment

Norths’ teenagers, Darryl Brohman, Shane Bernardin and Neville Draper were the shining lights of round 2 of the 1976 Brisbane Woolies pre-season competition. The young trio excelled in the pouring rain at Bishop Park, […]

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Flashbacks, Uncategorized
John Cleary

DIARY UPDATE: Week 26, 2015

22/12/2016by SteveRicketts Leave a comment

MONDAY, JUNE 22 To Paula Nutting Remedial Massage. She has had a number of sports roles over the years, including physio for Brisbane Brothers Rugby League when Don Gailer was […]

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Diary of a retired Rugby League Journalist

FLASHBACK: June 1995

18/12/2015by SteveRicketts Leave a comment

TEENAGER, Ben Ikin’s match clinching try three minutes from full-time in Origin III was a fitting climax to Queensland’s 1995 series win over New South Wales. Ikin’s try, from an […]

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Flashbacks, NRL, QRL / Intrust Super Cup, Uncategorized

Grand Finals

09/10/2014by SteveRicketts Leave a comment

THE 2014 NRL Grand Final is proof, if it was ever needed, that rugby league at the top level will always be the most brutal of the football codes. The […]

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NRL

High Performance Rugby League…learn more now!

05/08/2014by SteveRicketts Leave a comment

GOLD Coast Titans assistant coach, Neil Henry is a big fan of Brisbane sports scientist, Dr Tim Gabbett, the prime mover behind a High Performance Rugby League Seminar to be […]

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NRL, QRL / Intrust Super Cup

BROTHERS REUNION

21/08/2013by SteveRicketts Leave a comment

BROTHERS annual reunion will be held at Brothers Community Club, Grange on Saturday, Sep 7 at 5.30 p.m. and all past and present players, officials and supporters are most welcome […]

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NRL, QRL / Intrust Super Cup

No comparison

28/04/2013by SteveRicketts Leave a comment

I tried to put aside my league bias to alternate between Channel 9’s coverage of the Brookvale ‘Bash’ between Manly and Souths and Foxsports telecast of Reds – Blues Rugby match at Suncorp on Friday […]

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NRL, QRL / Intrust Super Cup

Pile Drivers

05/04/2013by SteveRicketts 1 Comment

BULLDOGS centre, Krisnan Inu had little choice but to plead guilty to a dangerous throw charge, but his lifting effort on Souths superstar, Greg Inglis would barely rate a mention on the […]

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NRL

Suburban Bliss

27/03/2013by SteveRicketts 4 Comments

LAST Saturday’s Gold Coast Titans – Manly Sea Eagles under-20s match drove me out of the comfort of my lounge room for a walk along Kedron Brook. Neither side could […]

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Flashbacks, QRL / Intrust Super Cup

Crowd Humour

27/03/2013by SteveRicketts 1 Comment

RESPECTED English Rugby League journalist, Ray Fletcher was disappointed with what he called “a lack of atmosphere” the first time he attended a Brisbane club fixture back in 1979. Because […]

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International, QRL / Intrust Super Cup

Second Tier Competitions

21/02/2013by SteveRicketts Leave a comment

  It’s anyone’s guess how the second and third tiers of rugby league in Australia will pan out in the next five or 10 years. But make no mistake. There […]

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NRL, QRL / Intrust Super Cup

2013: NRL Season preview

29/01/2013by SteveRicketts 1 Comment

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 […]

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NRL, QRL / Intrust Super Cup

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IMAGE GALLERY

Doug Muir in action for Brisbane club, Valleys
Doug Muir in action for Brisbane club, Valleys
Wayne Lindenberg in action for Easts
Wayne Lindenberg in action for Easts
Peter Gallagher in action for Queensland against New South Wales at the SCG.
Peter Gallagher in action for Queensland against New South Wales at the SCG.
Dean Pay in action for Canterbury-Bankstown. Pay scored a try in the 1994 Ashes decider.
Dean Pay in action for Canterbury-Bankstown. Pay scored a try in the 1994 Ashes decider.
FRL
Shane Bernardin trains with Redcliffe, the club he joined after leaving Norths
Shane Bernardin trains with Redcliffe, the club he joined after leaving Norths
Jon and Lola Ricketts on their wedding day, May 12, 1951, outside St Carthages Cathedral, Lismore.
Jon and Lola Ricketts on their wedding day, May 12, 1951, outside St Carthages Cathedral, Lismore.
DAD
Allan Ayres (second from left in the back row) could have been anything in rugby league. He is pictured here with the 1971 Tweed/Gold Coast premiership winning South Murwillumbah side. The captain-coach was Claude McDermott (third from right in the front row).
Allan Ayres (second from left in the back row) could have been anything in rugby league. He is pictured here with the 1971 Tweed/Gold Coast premiership winning South Murwillumbah side. The captain-coach was Claude McDermott (third from right in the front row).
Jack Reardon (right) with former QRL boss, Ron McAuliffe (centre) and noted Brisbane journalist, Paul Sweeney
Jack Reardon (right) with former QRL boss, Ron McAuliffe (centre) and noted Brisbane journalist, Paul Sweeney
Andrew Ettingshausen
Andrew Ettingshausen
Alex Murphy holds the Challenge Cup aloft after leading Leigh to victory over Leeds at Wembley
Alex Murphy holds the Challenge Cup aloft after leading Leigh to victory over Leeds at Wembley
Adrian Lam on the attack for Brisbane Wests with Ipswich Jets lock, Jeremy Schloss applying the pressure in defence.
Adrian Lam on the attack for Brisbane Wests with Ipswich Jets lock, Jeremy Schloss applying the pressure in defence.
Murwillumbah Brothers' captain-coach, Milton Whybrow (second from left), watches the progress of teammate, Jack Nardi in the play-off for fifth spot in the 1974 Group 18-Gold Coast finals series at Murwillumbah Oval. Prop, Paul 'Porky' Weaver is on Whybrow's left. Surfers Paradise captain-coach, John Chisholm (left knee strapped) sizes up Nardi. The Pirates won, but Tweed Heads Seagulls would go on to beat Mullumbimby in the grand final.
Murwillumbah Brothers’ captain-coach, Milton Whybrow (second from left), watches the progress of teammate, Jack Nardi in the play-off for fifth spot in the 1974 Group 18-Gold Coast finals series at Murwillumbah Oval. Prop, Paul ‘Porky’ Weaver is on Whybrow’s left. Surfers Paradise captain-coach, John Chisholm (left knee strapped) sizes up Nardi. The Pirates won, but Tweed Heads Seagulls would go on to beat Mullumbimby in the grand final.
Lee Crooks in action for Great Britain against Australia
Lee Crooks in action for Great Britain against Australia
French captain, Puig Aubert (right) shakes hands with British counterpart, Scotsman, Dave Valentine, ahead of their World Cup clash in Toulouse. Watching on is English referee, Charlie Appleton from Warrington
French captain, Puig Aubert (right) shakes hands with British counterpart, Scotsman, Dave Valentine, ahead of their World Cup clash in Toulouse. Watching on is English referee, Charlie Appleton from Warrington
'Sister Dorrie' and Tex Morton. Born Dorothy May Ricketts, 'Sister' Dorrie was my great Aunty.
‘Sister Dorrie’ and Tex Morton. Born Dorothy May Ricketts, ‘Sister’ Dorrie was my great Aunty.
Greg Conescu in a pensive mood
Greg Conescu in a pensive mood
Wigan superstar, Ellery Hanley
Wigan superstar, Ellery Hanley
Valleys coach, Henry Holloway
Valleys coach, Henry Holloway
'Smokin' Joe Kilroy and Brett Le Man at Brothers' training.
‘Smokin’ Joe Kilroy and Brett Le Man at Brothers’ training.
Rodger Kuhn in action for Easts at Lang Park
Rodger Kuhn in action for Easts at Lang Park
Ben Ikin (left) with former Broncos' Test prop, Shane Webcke at a Men of League function.
Ben Ikin (left) with former Broncos’ Test prop, Shane Webcke at a Men of League function.
David Waite (right) when he was Great Britain coach. His assistant at that time, Brian Noble, is the other man in the photo.
David Waite (right) when he was Great Britain coach. His assistant at that time, Brian Noble, is the other man in the photo.
Duncan Thompson
Duncan Thompson
ARL boss, Ken Arthurson
ARL boss, Ken Arthurson
France rugby league forward, Jean Pambrun in action for Catalans XIII
France rugby league forward, Jean Pambrun in action for Catalans XIII
French manager, Antoine Blain receives the symbolic gift of a Kangaroo from Queensland Rugby League president, Vic Jensen during the historic 1951 tour
French manager, Antoine Blain receives the symbolic gift of a Kangaroo from Queensland Rugby League president, Vic Jensen during the historic 1951 tour
Brad Backer in action for Easts
Brad Backer in action for Easts
Wally Lewis, pictured here during his stint with English club, Wakefield, played in five Brisbane grand finals, winning three.
Wally Lewis, pictured here during his stint with English club, Wakefield, played in five Brisbane grand finals, winning three.
Don Lancashire and his wife, Carol at their Mount Warren home in Queensland
Don Lancashire and his wife, Carol at their Mount Warren home in Queensland
Ross Strudwick sells raffle tickets at the Kirra Beach Hotel in the 1980s
Ross Strudwick sells raffle tickets at the Kirra Beach Hotel in the 1980s
Scene from a Brisbane v Toowoomba Bulimba Cup match at the Gabba in the 1950s, with Brisbane on the attack. Photo from the Melit family collection.
Scene from a Brisbane v Toowoomba Bulimba Cup match at the Gabba in the 1950s, with Brisbane on the attack. Photo from the Melit family collection.
Kiwi Test hooker, Duane Mann in action for New Zealand Residents versus Australian Residents at Lang Park in 1994, watched by rival hooker, Shane Christensen.
Kiwi Test hooker, Duane Mann in action for New Zealand Residents versus Australian Residents at Lang Park in 1994, watched by rival hooker, Shane Christensen.
Canberra Raiders' winger, John Ferguson
Canberra Raiders’ winger, John Ferguson
Claude Mantoulan on the attack in a Test against Great Britain
Claude Mantoulan on the attack in a Test against Great Britain
Darren Smith in action for his first club, Brisbane Easts
Darren Smith in action for his first club, Brisbane Easts
Ken Day in his Manly-Warringah gear
Ken Day in his Manly-Warringah gear
Reg Gasnier
Reg Gasnier
Frank Stanton as coach of the New South Wales State of Origin side in 1984. Legendary trainer, Alf Richards is on his right and prop, Peter Tunks on his left.
Frank Stanton as coach of the New South Wales State of Origin side in 1984. Legendary trainer, Alf Richards is on his right and prop, Peter Tunks on his left.
They love their league in the pretty French town of Limoux.
They love their league in the pretty French town of Limoux.
Noel Cleal in action for NSW
Noel Cleal in action for NSW
Manly skipper, Fred Jones celebrates the Sea Eagles' 1972 grand final win over the Roosters. Allan Thompson is behind him and Terry Randall on the right.
Manly skipper, Fred Jones celebrates the Sea Eagles’ 1972 grand final win over the Roosters. Allan Thompson is behind him and Terry Randall on the right.
The late, great Harold 'Mick' Crocker.
The late, great Harold ‘Mick’ Crocker.
Kevin and Mary Donnelly in 1975
Kevin and Mary Donnelly in 1975
Clive Churchill (centre back) in the official Easts team photo from 1965. In the centre at the front is skipper, Ben Wall.
Clive Churchill (centre back) in the official Easts team photo from 1965. In the centre at the front is skipper, Ben Wall.
Tall winger, Darren Plowman. He was one of the Crushers' best in their first top grade hit-out against Manly at Emerald
Tall winger, Darren Plowman. He was one of the Crushers’ best in their first top grade hit-out against Manly at Emerald
Captain, Gary Freeman tries to rally Kiwi teammates after Australia score a try in the series deciding Third Test at Lang Park, Brisbane in 1991. Australia won 40-12
Captain, Gary Freeman tries to rally Kiwi teammates after Australia score a try in the series deciding Third Test at Lang Park, Brisbane in 1991. Australia won 40-12
Western Division coach, Johnny King holds the Amco Cup aloft after the country boys' 6-2 win over Penrith in the final of the knock-out competition's inaugural season in 1974. To King's right is cult hero, 'TV Ted' Ellery.
Western Division coach, Johnny King holds the Amco Cup aloft after the country boys’ 6-2 win over Penrith in the final of the knock-out competition’s inaugural season in 1974. To King’s right is cult hero, ‘TV Ted’ Ellery.
Eric Harris (centre) with Leeds' teammates, Welshman, Con Murphy (left) and John Kelly before a match in the 1938-39 English season
Eric Harris (centre) with Leeds’ teammates, Welshman, Con Murphy (left) and John Kelly before a match in the 1938-39 English season
Don Fox scores for Featherstone with referee, Eric Clay on the spot to award the try. Australian defenders are nowhere to be seen.
Don Fox scores for Featherstone with referee, Eric Clay on the spot to award the try. Australian defenders are nowhere to be seen.
Peter Leis in action for Redcliffe
Peter Leis in action for Redcliffe
Gene Miles in action for the Broncos. He started his senior career with Souths in Townsville.
Gene Miles in action for the Broncos. He started his senior career with Souths in Townsville.
Referee, Stan Scamp issues a caution to Easts, Greg Holben, one of many the fiery five eighth received in his career
Referee, Stan Scamp issues a caution to Easts, Greg Holben, one of many the fiery five eighth received in his career
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