Tawera Nikau was Melbourne’s hero in the 1999 grand final, but his life would soon be marred by an unimaginable personal tragedy. Hear the former NRL star reveal the emotional untold story of his wife’s suicide and shock amputation of his right leg.
Melbourne Storm star Jahrome Hughes has completed one of the greatest Dally M Medal comebacks in history, overcoming a huge points deduction to claim rugby league’s highest individual honour.
From projectiles thrown at referees, to blatant forward passes, DEAN RITCHIE has seen it all in grand finals. Now, 50 years after falling in love with rugby league, he ranks the 30 most dramatic moments.
All eyes were on Nathan Cleary at an open training session and fan day in front of around 2,000 Panthers’ faithful, and the halfback came through it with flying colours after suffering an injury scare in the preliminary final.
Sydney rugby league fans need to put aside suburban allegiances – and any snobbery – and unite behind Penrith. And for one key reason.
The Storm may have their ‘Big Four’ but the Sydney Roosters have a ‘Super Six’. And since 2018, when they all take the field in a finals match they are undefeated. See the full analysis.
In a heart-warming development, the Sharks have made contact with Michael Speechley, after the reclusive former star ‘disappeared off the face of the earth’.
Michael Speechley was unmissable on the field, with his strawberry blond hair and trademark grasscutting tackles. But former Sharks teammates haven’t seen him in years, and they’re worried.
Penrith can be a cruel team at times, having dealt out some seemingly irreversible emotional damage to Cronulla that makes their preliminary final task even more daunting. DEAN RITCHIE reveals the damning statistics in Bulldog’s Bite.
Former NRL player Julian O’Neill has broken a 25-year silence to reveal his shame and regret at the infamous ‘Schlossy’s shoe’ drama – and how he was gagged during the furore.
Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/journalists/dean-ritchie