Our Journalists

Dean “Bulldog’” Ritchie has covered rugby league at The Daily Telegraph, and now CODE Sports as well, for 33 years. From the Super League war to NRL grand finals, State of Origin clashes and World Cups, Bulldog has written about the biggest issues in the game and broken many of the most important stories.

@BulldogRitchie

Dean Ritchie

Latest

EXCLUSIVENRL

Canberra Cathoilic Mosingor John Woods, a Raiders fan. Picture: Courtesy The Catholic Voice

Rugby league’s most holy piece of memorabilia uncovered

It’s a piece of rugby league history that has never been made public — until now. And it could prove a blessing for one of the NRL teams bound for Las Vegas.

ExclusiveNRL

Oatlands crash victim Veronique Sakr have couple for Ezra Mam to be banned for five years.

Five-year ban: Oatlands crash victim family’s Ezra Mam plea

The mother of Oatlands crash victim Veronique Sakr says the lenient sentence given to Ezra Mam “retraumatised me” on what would have been her daughter’s 16th birthday.

ExclusiveNRL

‘I’ll be holding your heart’: Top referee McCallum’s brush with death

Former first grade grand final referee Greg McCallum opens up to DEAN RITCHIE about his heart anguish revealing the day the engine that kept him alive was stopped.

NRL

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos - DECEMBER 16, 2024: Broncos star player Ezra Mam leaves Brisbane Magistrates Court after being sentenced. Picture: NewsWire / Glenn Campbell

Why Broncos star Ezra Mam’s legal fight may not be over

A leading criminal lawyer believes Ezra Mam’s legal troubles could be far from over following the Broncos star’s “extremely lenient” sentence for his involvement in a head-on car crash.

Knights

Multimillion-dollar bidding war erupts for wantaway Knights star

Two rival NRL clubs will wage a big-money battle for the signature of Leo Thompson after the in-demand prop indicated he would be leaving Newcastle at the end of 2025.

Dragons

Dragons to unleash towering teen talent in Charity Shield

He’s the 121kg phenom tipped for great things at the Dragons, with Shane Flanagan revealing the 19-year-old giant will play in the pre-season Charity Shield as he moves closer to an NRL debut.

NRL

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 11: Indigenous dancers perform during a welcome to country before the round 15 NRL match between Melbourne Storm and Cronulla Sharks at AAMI Park on June 11, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

Program overhaul: Storm clarifies Welcome to Country stance

As some rival NRL clubs applauded reports the Storm would be scaling back its Welcome to Country ceremonies, the Melbourne-based club moved to clarify its decision to review its cultural diversity plan.

NRL

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos December 12, 2024: Chair of the Australian Rugby League Commission Peter V'landys speaks to the media after Papua New Guinea, James Marape and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese held a joint Press conference in Sydney on bi-lateral security arrangements and PNG's engtry into the NRL. . Picture: NewsWire / John Appleyard

NRL braces for WWIII over expansion, TAB’s historic PNG call

The NRL will be hard pressed to juggle the desire for expansion teams to be competitive with the demands from legacy teams regarding poaching, while the TAB has revealed a record prediction for PNG’s price to win a premiership.

NRL

A PNG fan watches the Rugby League World Cup quarter finals match between Papua New Guinea and England at AAMI Park in Melbourne, Sunday, November 19, 2017. (AAP Image/Joe Castro) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

‘Win a comp within 10 years’: Why NRL title dream is a reality for PNG

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape has planted a bold premiership flag. Backed by 10 million people, the new PNG franchise has all the ingredients to become an NRL powerhouse.

NRL

Australian star Isaa Yeo has won the Golden Boot. Pic: NRL Imagery

Ironman Yeo caps off stellar season with historic Golden Boot

Isaah Yeo has capped off the greatest seasons in NRL history, winning the Golden Boot award after guiding his club, state and country to a premiership and series victories.

Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/journalists/dean-ritchie