State of Origin tickets are now on sale but I’m still waiting for the tickets for game in Christchurch on ANZAC Day to go on sale
1 Like
The Warriors normally play the Storm on ANZAC Day, so that’s a new change in the schedule.
Changed in 2024. Storm v Rabbitohs again this year.
3 Likes
Yes. The Warriors wanted a home game on Anzac Day then after a year have moved it to Christchurch - which will be good but they were talking about creating an event/tradition at Mt Smart.
@IanG - the soon to be obsolete Christchurch stadium is about 5 degrees colder than everywhere else, so rug up!
3 Likes
I’ll be packing the winter wollies i can assure you
NRL 2025: Peter V’landys’ plea to end player abuse, warning for Rugby Union
Includes:
ARL Commission boss Peter V’landys fears for the welfare of Latrell Mitchell and Reece Walsh and has appealed for fans to celebrate two of the NRL’s most controversial superstars this season.
In a wide-ranging interview, V’landys and Bennett – two of the code’s most powerful figures – spoke of the searing pressure on the NRL’s biggest stars ahead of a new premiership dawn in 2025.
Now V’landys is mindful of the increasing furnace of expectation for the likes of Walsh, Mitchell and Cleary in an age of social-media bullying, where technology has given fans a more dangerous platform to attack NRL stars.
McLennan, the man who poached Roosters young gun Joseph Suaalii for the Wallabies in a $5 million coup, was made aware that as many as six NRL players were keen to defect for the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
New Zealand is the NRL’s next untapped goldmine.Aside from a possible 20th NRL franchise in New Zealand’s south, V’landys believes it’s time to take State of Origin across the ditch.
Perth has been locked in as the neutral venue for this year and 2028, but the 2027 Origin calendar has yet to be finalised.
Auckland tourism bosses are keen to bring State of Origin to Eden Park in 2027 and V’landys confirmed the ARL Commission is open to talks with the New Zealand government for a watershed Queensland-NSW clash on Kiwi soil.
2 Likes
How about they develop the players they do have in their own system first?
I suspect PVL is kowtowing to the Storm (who cant really develop anyone in AFL country) and the Roosters (who dont develop anyone and just poach anyone and everyone).
Assuming Adelaide gets 2026, they’d be silly to not return to Melbourne until 2029.
Here’s an awful idea - if the NRL wants to get the best of its product into the US market, why aren’t they taking Origin to Vegas instead of two random round 1 games?
Probably weather and time zones… to get 7.30pm AEST in Vegas it would be 1.30am there.
And May-July is way too hot there, temps nudging or exceeding 40 most days.
And a Sharks Round 1 game is NOT random thank you very much!
3 Likes
Yeah, that involves acknowledging the Sharks in a positive lighr. 
The NRL held the 2025 season launch in Sydney this morning.
3 Likes
Bulldogs 90th anniversary gala last night
In 2025 , the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs celebrate 90 Years of hard work, passion, determination and an unrivalled spirit
1 Like
Storm star Christian Welch has been forced to retire, effective immediately, after copping a head knock at a pre-season camp. He missed the team’s official photo shoot last week.
UPDATE: Welch said at this morning’s press conference that he has been medically retired due to an ongoing debilitating back injury.
4 Likes
The boys set to practise on ‘little fields’ before the big one.
2 Likes
Been a big crack down on incorrect plsy the balls so far this year, though now resulting in a handover rather than a penalty. Players still not learning though. It’s a very simple task.
Surprisingly low scoring All Stars game so far at half time, at 0-0, still a good game too. Somehow reminds me that there was an English Super League game just a few days ago where the final score was 1-0. Haven’t seen that here since the Newtown Jets beat the Dragons back in 1973. Doubt this game will end up the same way, but who knows!
1 Like
Who could also forget that bizarre match between the Dragons and Eels at a very wet Kogarah Oval in 2006, when the final score read 8-1 after there had been no score for 70 minutes?
It was (to my knowledge) the first premiership match to be played under lights at the venue.
Courtesy: Classic Footy
Well it won’t. Maori coming home with a wet sail.
Saw it in person did we?
Yes, I remember it. I’m sure @yellow_sock does too, with the Saints the victors in that one!
A couple of other low scores i remember
1992 Semi Final: Saints 3 vs Knights 2
1982; Newtown vs Canterbury 0-0
I think there was an Origin game that ended at 4-2, can’t remember who won, back in the 80s?
2 Likes
I certainly remember that 8-1 match of the Dragons and Eels at Kogarah Oval.
I was at the game, in the very wet cold lousy weather, standing on the hill.
First half, all the fans were just talking about the weather. lol. Second half, the atmosphere became better. 0-0 for 70 minutes. 2-1 at the 79 minute make. Spewing that Matt Cooper scored at the end (so we can see a unique low score), but amusing at the same time, with the Parra players not knowing what had just happened.
3 Likes