BY CURTIS WOODWARD @woodward_curtis Apparently New South Wales State of Origin coach Brad Fittler is considering a selection shock by picking Tongan World Cup hero Andrew Fifita in his Blues squad for Game I at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. If only Freddy came out and just knocked it on the head. If only Fifita hadn’t […]
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The iconic Darrell Eastlake passed away on Thursday morning after a long battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. He was 75. Rugby league and the wider community paid tribute to a once-in-a-lifetime larger than life character. We at The81stMinute would also like to pay our respects by inducting Eastlake straight into our Hall of Fame. You can […]
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Remember that booming voice calling over the top of State of Origin? It wasn’t Ray Warren – it was the great Darrell Eastlake. Eastlake helped promote Origin and can be heard on many a highlight reel. After a long fight with Alzheimer’s disease, Eastlake passed away aged 75 at a Central Coast nursing home. More […]
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BY A.J NASH AND SCOTT DILLON Wally Lewis at lock? Sonny Bill at prop? Brandy on the wing? Yeah we went there. This is our Ball-Playing XVII of the modern era. Got to fit ’em all somewhere! 1 Darren Lockyer We're wishing a very Happy Birthday to Darren Lockyer. Hope you have an awesome […]
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BY CURTIS WOODWARD @woodward_curtis Some players become ingrained in a club. Whether as captain, the superstar playmaker or because of the blood, sweat and tears they’ve spilt for the team and their fans. Sometimes, for different reasons, those players end up somewhere else. Steve Rogers Dragons An icon of the Cronulla club, Rogers played […]
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BY CURTIS WOODWARD @woodward_curtis Like sands through the hourglass, these are the rugby league contracts that didn’t quite work out. Yep, like death and taxes, it seems we can’t go a week in rugby league without a contract saga somewhere in our fair game. Check these out! Kirk Reynoldson vs. Newcastle Kirk ‘The Bushranger’ […]
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BY CURTIS WOODWARD @woodward_curtis It is a slow old Sunday and the wife tells you she is off to lunch with her friends for an hour or three. You’re all alone with nothing to do. Magically, you find yourself – feet up – on the recliner, remote in one hand, cold beer in the other. […]
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BY STAFF WRITERS They hold some of rugby league’s greatest memories but are sadly no longer around to see the light of day. No longer here to share. They are rugby league’s demolished grounds of the past. Lang Park Location: Milton, Brisbane Opened: 1914 Demolished: 2001 Tenant: Brisbane Broncos Built on a cemetery, the […]
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1. JJ GILTINAN 2. BRETT KENNY 3. GARY BELCHER 4. WALLY LEWIS 5. MICHAEL BOLT 6. SAM BACKO 7. CLIFF LYONS 8. ZIGGY NISZCZOT 9. KEVIN HARDWICK 10. GENE MILES 11. BARRY GOMERSALL 12. KERRY HEMSLEY 13. KEVIN HASTINGS 14. DARRYL BROHMAN […]
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EXCLUSIVE BY CURTIS WOODWARD @woodward_curtis The Western Suburbs Magpies will return to rugby league’s second biggest rugby league competition in 2018 when they run out in the Intrust Super Premiership as the direct feeder club to Wests Tigers. Despite whispers to the contrary, the Magpies will compete in the NSW Cup – a competition they […]
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