Can the Dragons handle the pressure and snare an NRL Grand Final victory? Or will the Roosters come out on top? Here are Ant Haistead’s predictions.
NRL
Ant’s Analysis: NRL predictions finals week two
What a cracking start to the finals in 2010. The Sea Eagles got the boot they deserved, while the Warriors’ season probably ended a little prematurely, but that’s how we role in the McIntyre System, writes Ant Halstead.
AFL crowd numbers stack up globally
The best-attended domestic sports league in the world is the National Football League. The AFL, with teams in just six or seven cities, was not that far behind, writes Ed Wyatt of Back Page Lead
The St. George Dragons’ curse of Canberra
The Dragons just cannot beat the Raiders, writes Nick Tedeschi, and as they have not won in Canberra since 2000 the question must be asked: are they cursed?
Silence is golden in reporting News’ incompetence over Storm
It is clear that the Melbourne Storm salary cap rort was allowed to continue by News Ltd and its senior management because of inadequate governance.
Political snippets: Richard Farmer’s chunky bits: mischief in the offing for Greens Brown
Bob should be mischievous. Reading in today’s Financial Review how the BHP lobbyist Geoff Walsh, a former Bob Hawke adviser and ALP federal secretary, played such an intriguing role in the removal of Kevin Rudd should be enough to get Greens leader Bob Brown into a mischievous mood when it comes to making his election […]
Storm scandal blows out 83%
The Deloitte report into the Melbourne Storm salary cap scandal should mark the beginning of a new era. The rorting was extraordinary, an audit reveals, but they’ve already been punished, says Nick Tedeschi.
Ant’s Analysis: NRL Predictions Round 16
It’s no coincidence we have our first female PM during the ‘Women in League Round’. If she can play full forward for the Western Bulldogs, surely she can play prop for the Cowboys, says Ant Halstead.
Why NSW needs to start again after Origin II
The term humiliation does not adequately describe the total annihilation of Wednesday evening. And NSW needs to get the broom out…
Good blokes or not, let’s call sporting racists what they really are
I’m tired of reading about “good blokes” sports stars saying racist comments, says Ed Wyatt. Any form of racial slur is completely and utterly out of bounds.
The real price of Karmichael and Israel
It is going to cost the AFL more than the $7 million they will pay for Karmichael Hunt and Israel Folau over the next three years, writes Nick Tedeschi.
Ant’s Analysis: NRL predictions Round 12
The Maroons are a far better side than the Blues, and deserve to be staring down an unprecedented fifth straight series title, writes Ant Halstead, in his predictions for this weekend.
Ant’s Analysis: NRL Predictions Round 11
Once again, the Queenslanders have been predictable in their selections, while the NSW selectors have inconsistently applied faith in the incumbents and faith in NRL form, writes Ant Halstead, as he gives his tips for the weekend.
The fragile state of footy — what if Brian Waldron was right?
NRL management is smacking a hornets nest with a very big stick — and there are a lot more hornets in there than they think, writes Steve Mascord.
Ant’s Analysis: NRL Predictions Round 10
Suggesting a player strike is a horrendous idea, says Ant Halstead, as he offers up his tips for the weekend ahead in NRL. Will Melbourne Storm kill the Canberra Raiders home game advantage?
Ant’s NRL analysis: Round 8
Anyone else had enough of the Storm’s salary cap breach story? Even the tea cup, salary cap and meteorological puns are getting tired. Back to the footy, says Ant Halstead.
Tips and rumours: Tips and rumours: Hollywood NRL club red-faced over green
Which ‘Hollywood’ Sydney NRL club is getting nervous about the salary cap scandal? And why are Queensland Uni students being forced to moonlight at TAFE?
The News at the heart of the storm
Altruism is not a high priority for News Limited. They are in the business of making money. This makes News Limited’s continued involvement in the Melbourne Storm particularly interesting, writes Nick Tedeschi.
NRL, News Ltd facing a nightmare of conflicts of interest
Given News Limited’s stake in both the NRL and the Melbourne Storm, how can the NRL board can ever make an independent decision about the team? asks Michael Visontay.
Farmer: Storm scandal means it’s back to brown paper bags
There were clearly more than a few people with a little inside knowledge last week about the Melbourne’s Storm’s salary cap problems.
Did the NRL scoop the media?
The Melbourne Storm salary cap scandal is already one of the biggest stories in Australian sporting history — but the news was broken by the NRL, not the media. Did Australia’s sports media drop the ball?
Melbourne shit Storm
Melbourne Storm have betrayed their players, their fans, their sponsors, the other teams, the NRL, and everyone else in the phone book. The penalties are NOT harsh enough, says Ant Halstead.
Melbourne Storm salary cap scandal: have your say
In breaking news, the Melbourne Storm, the NRL’s 2007 and 2009 premiers, have been caught for salary cap breaches and stripped of their two premierships. Is that fair?
Why NRL referee boss Robert Finch must go
Fans, coaches and players of NRL have lost faith in the referees and the system of officiating. Straight to the sin bin for referees boss Robert Finch, due to all damage he has done to rugby league, argues Nick Tedeschi.
Ant’s NRL analysis: Round 6
Ant Halstead gives his picks for the weekend’s NRL games, after last week’s “controversial” big game. Will the Titans win again and can the Storm get over the referee’s decision?
