Phil Rothfield’s Top 50 NRL players for 2024 is littered with the game’s highest paid players, but four million-dollar men from the Rich 100 failed to make the cut. See the full Top 50 and have your say.
“It’s you not us’’ was the cry when Anthony Seibold was effectively shown the door in Brisbane. Maybe, ROBERT CRADDOCK writes, it was the Broncos all along.
The NRL hates us using the word crackdown, but there is no denying the cold, hard facts. PHIL ROTHFIELD reveals the sharp spike in sin-bins for high tackle offences.
South Sydney have backed Latrell Mitchell to the hilt – often at their own expense – but their patience has now worn thin. The superstar must repay their faith or head to the farm for good, writes BRENT READ.
One of the keys to Penrith’s great success has been dealing with the loss of Nathan Cleary for stints before finals. MATTY JOHNS reveals why, in 2024, the halfback’s absence is exposing hidden cracks.
The Bears might be league’s perennial, trophy-starved underdogs, but this ranks as one of the most incredible comeback stories in the history of Australian sport. And lifelong fan BEN HORNE still can’t quite believe it.
Canterbury are frustrated with Gerard Sutton, and while they won’t publicly slam the referee, some at the club are keeping a dossier of his alleged blunders during Bulldogs matches.
Golden point is for fans, broadcasters and viewers – not the exhausted players – which is why the NRL must reward teams that play in extra time, even when they lose, writes DEAN RITCHIE.
There were cheers, tears, biffs and the usual claims of bias. The Origin decider had it all. HAVE YOUR SAY
If anyone can stop the attacking geniuses of Reece Walsh and Kalyn Ponga down their favoured left side, it’s Stephen Crichton. Matty Johns analyses the key battles that will decide State of Origin game three.
There’s a fear that Queensland’s changes for Origin III have nothing to do with them and everything to do with Michael Maguire and the Blues, DAVID RICCIO writes.
The Broncos have failed to adapt their mindset while Adam Reynolds is injured and their NRL season continues to slip away. Soon, it will be too late to fix, MATTY JOHNS writes.
The master of deflection has done it again, with Wayne Bennett’s attack on NRL refereeing shifting focus off his work for both the Dolphins and Rabbitohs. Plus, why Kevin Walters was right to rest players and more highlights and lowlights from the weekend of sport.
Zac Lomax has every right to be feeling confused and have more than an element of regret over his decision to quit St George Illawarra, writes DAVID RICCIO.
The Maroons should need no extra motivation heading into the Origin decider on home turf, but if coach Billy Slater is looking for some then these are 20 instances in which his team were bullied by the Blues at the MCG.
Far from ruining a club’s hopes of playing grand final footy, State of Origin is the making of a grand final squad and David Riccio has the numbers to prove it.
The gloves are off and don’t be fooled, Michael Maguire’s “glass houses” sledge would have really irritated Queensland coach Billy Slater MATTY JOHNS has declared.
The $40m injection into Leichhardt Oval might not be enough to tempt the Wests Tigers to play more than a token two matches per season at the historic ground going forward, writes BRENT READ.
Latrell Mitchell is a superstar, a rock star, a once-in-a-generation talent. And it’s time the NSW Blues started treating him this way, MATTY JOHNS writes.
Some rugby league fans felt short-changed after Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii’s send off rendered State of Origin I a walkover. David Riccio sits down with the man with a solution.
It was a seventh-minute tackle that defined an entire game – but did NSW deserve to have a player sent off? HAVE YOUR SAY
The AFL is clearly not shy about stealing good ideas from rugby league, so when is it going to toughen up and take back Origin, writes Caleb Bond.
Rugby league fans have spoken – they do not want the NRL to implement a change to the send off rule, even if that comes at the price of a one-sided Origin contest. SEE THE RESULTS
If there was a Dally M award for the No.1 competitor in the NRL this year, a Canberra Raiders veteran would be $1.01 to claim the prize. Phil Rothfield’s highlights and lowlights.
State of Origin success has made Billy Slater the hottest coaching property in the NRL, which is why Michael Maguire should ignore any phone calls from the Eels, writes David Riccio.
From Jason Taumalolo playing Origin to Des Hasler’s shock return – we go back to see which NRL experts got their pre-season predictions right in the pre-season, and who got it wrong.
If Michael Maguire is to succeed as the new Blues coach, the first thing he should do is look back at where it all went wrong for Craig Bellamy, writes PAUL CRAWLEY.
While people are quick to talk up Nathan Cleary among rugby league’s greatest ever players, the legendary Ron Coote is still waiting to be named as an Immortal, writes PAUL CRAWLEY.
Don’t let recency bias denigrate past greats – grand final star Nathan Cleary is barely in the top 10 halfbacks of the past 50 years, writes DEAN RITCHIE.
Sharks superstar Nicho Hynes was just starting his pre-season holiday on the Sunshine Coast when he was forced to bail on his Airbnb – but he had a very good reason. Bulldog’s highlights, lowlights.
The brilliant performance of NRL grand final referee Adam Gee has exposed a huge issue for the competition going forward, writes Paul Crawley.
Reece Walsh’s biggest critic was much closer to home than he would have liked as a commentator led a barrage of criticism.
Gus Gould is earning $800,000-a-year at the Bulldogs yet he’s too busy with his other work to attend matches – no wonder Belmore powerbrokers were uneasy with his Origin ambitions.
St George Illawarra – not Wests Tigers – have been installed as the favourites to finish with the wooden spoon next year. Plus Channel 9 bracing for TV ratings disaster.
Brad Fittler resisted the calls to stand down 11 weeks ago but in the end he had no choice. And neither do the NSW Blues when choosing a replacement, PHIL ROTHFIELD writes.
The blowout score lines have a huge effect on rugby league TV ratings, with both NRL preliminary finals heavily out-pointed by the two AFL fixtures. Buzz’s weekend highlights and lowlights.
The rise of the Warriors has provoked the NRL into bringing back daytime final matches. So why not a daytime grand final, asks DAVID RICCIO.
Much of the plaudits for the Roosters’ thrilling victory centred on Sam Walker’s field goal. But the true hero barely rated a mention, writes PHIL ROTHFIELD.
Utility Kyle Flanagan has played his last game for Canterbury but his NRL career is set to kick on with a familiar face.
Phil Rothfield looks back at the highs and lows, feuds and fade-outs, blunders and blow-ups after 27 rounds of the high drama that is rugby league. Check out the Monday Buzz season awards.
At what moment will Cameron Ciraldo point the finger at himself and concede the Bulldogs have gone backwards on his watch this season, writes Paul Crawley.
It is easy to understand why so many fans are disappointed that the Broncos and Storm will battle it out with two sides that are far from full strength, writes the editor.
South Sydney superstar Latrell Mitchell has been at the centre of a storm as the Rabbitohs have lurched from one crisis to the next – will it be the wake-up call he, and the club, needs?
After a remarkable month, Channel 7 has celebrated another huge night with the Women’s World Cup final drawing another massive audience.
Manly won’t be playing finals football this year and it has nothing to do with referees despite Anthony Seibold’s massive blow-up, writes PHIL ROTHFIELD.
Latrell Mitchell has won premierships, but never with South Sydney. If he wants to be Mr September for the Rabbitohs, it’s time to knuckle down, writes Brent Read.
A bid by Stu Laundy of the billion-dollar hotel empire to save Brad Fittler’s job simply must fall flat. The Blues don’t belong to a pub baron, writes PAUL CRAWLEY.
Wayne Bennett has done more than most to promote rugby league but his embarrassing post-match exchange in Perth while promoting the game in AFL territory did more harm than good. Buzz’s highlights and lowlights.
A Kangaroos jersey is like a baggy green cap with loyalty and long service respected. But you also can’t ignore the young guns coming through, writes PHIL ROTHFIELD.
As a lifelong Brisbane fan, I’m prepared to put my neck out to declare that the Broncos will be there on October 1. Veteran News Corp journalist Steve Zemek outlines why he is putting his money where his mouth is.
Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/opinion