It all started on the 10th of March with the Dragons and Tigers and will end about 8:45 Sunday night with either the Broncos or the Storm being the 2006 NRL Premiers. It has been an interesting season but the post mortem will come later. The immediate concern is who will win S...

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Even though the game had no bearing on the final eight I spent a lovely day in the sun at Leichhardt Oval yesterday drinking beer and watching the Tigers flog the Bunnies. Even with the both teams out of the finals there was that air of expectation as the crowd enjoyed the bea...

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The biggest story on the Eastern seaboard over the past few days has been about one man. Newcastle Knights half-back Andrew Johns . Even the the PM got involved . Bugger the Middle East or British terrorist plots. It is all about the footy in the end. As it should be. For thos...

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Well, after Round 23 the final 8 for the 2005 finals is all but decided. With a four point gap between 8 and 9 it will be to much for the Sharks, Panthers and Cowboys too make up. The Tigers, Panthers and Warriors have no hope. My atempt at predicting the 8 a few weeks ago has...

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Wayne Bennett hasn't the best of relationships with the press. He has applied the siege mentality approach so successful in State of Origin campaigns to create unity within the Broncos. And while that approach has had some success, with the latest Broncos premiership campaign...

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It seems hard to believe but the 2006 NRL season is already at round 20. Only 7 games to go before the finals. And what an interesting final 7 rounds it is going to be. The only side that does not have a chance (mathematically) of making the final eight is South Sydney. There...

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Yes folks! Guusball is over and back to the real thing. Melbourne hosts the third State of Origin with the series at one game a piece. Will we be marvelling the mighty magic of the Maroons? Or will be saying bravo as the Blues return to their belligerent best? The beer is cold...

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I don't mind the odd cleansing ale but it seems that the result of the annual Rugby League Week players poll revealed a culture of binge drinking . And with perfect timing Parra's Tim Smith is ejected from a hotel after an altercation with cricket star Micheal Clarke and the D...

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A bit of an experiment as I'm going to live blog the second State of Origin game. Can Queensland square the series and resurrect origin? Or while the mighty Blues achieve another series win? Settle in with a adult beverage of your choice and enjoy the ride over the fold. Pre g...

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Round 14 sees the top eight starting to firm up and makes a good time to give a mid season report card on all clubs and even go out on a limb with the likely grand finalists. If the first 14 rounds are a guide, to make such a prediction this far out is fraught with danger but...

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What a week. In terms of footy played round 12 had some great games and two golden point results. As for the players, one launched a spray at his team mates via the media, another was caught out after an on field incident was ignored by everyone else and one player ended up 'b...

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What a game! The amazing thing about State of Origin football is that so often lives up to the hype. NSW won 17-16 over QLD but with the Maroons all at sea during the first half you could have been forgiven thinking the 2nd was going to blow open and NSW romp home. The NSW for...

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Eels in Crisis Coach resigns midway through the season, players fined and demoted for disciplinary reasons and any chance for the finals are gorn not even half-way through the season. This is what life is usually like for a South's supporter but alas it is the Eels who are hav...

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Mick Cronin. An Eels and Country Legend. No, we are not related Over the fold some thoughts on the bond between a person and their football club, on the importance of tonight's City v Country game and a pointer to a good summary of the Gasnier debacle. A Supporter's Lament The...

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Andrew Johns tackles Benjie Marshall in last night's test It may not have been the result I wanted last Sunday but the Eels versus Sea Eagles was indeed the game of the season so far. There is something magic about watching league at the SCG recalling the great years of the 70...

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Eel gets crushed but team wins game Howdy Troppo Readers! Ken has kindly asked me to come on board and be Troppo's NRL columnist. Some of you may know me as a one-eyed (or even blind) Parramatta Eels fan. But have no fear. I will not allow my love of the Eels in any way to lea...

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