Craig Fitzgibbon has threatened to break Braden Hamlin-Uele’s arm more than once. The 115kg Kiwi international always checks, just to make sure his coach is joking. “On a day off Fitzy will get me to come in and he’s given me a couple of jiu-jitsu lessons,” Hamlin-Uele tells the Herald. “He’s threatened to snap my arm and choke me out […]

State of Origin coaches Brad Fittler and Billy Slater have walked away from their new roles as Kangaroos selectors for the World Cup – just weeks after the Australian Rugby League Commission named them in the position. Just three months out from Australia’s World Cup defence, the NSW Rugby League and Queensland Rugby League have told the NRL the Origin […]

Amid fears his decorated AFL career may be over, St Kilda veteran Paddy Ryder has declared his intention to play on next season. The 34-year-old is sidelined by a calf injury and whether or not he returns this season will likely depend on the 10th-placed Saints playing finals. Paddy Ryder is keen to play on at the Saints.Credit:Getty Images But […]

The AFL’s head-high free kick warning has divided coaches, with some praising the move as proactive and others criticising the league for caving to public demand. Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin backed the AFL’s stance on high tackles, saying their decision to issue a reminder was a “fantastic” move that would help improve the game overall. But Western Bulldogs coach Luke […]

Players who duck into tackles to attract free kicks must be “protected against themselves”, according to an experienced former AFL club doctor, amid concerns over how umpires are policing the practice. The AFL warned players last year that umpires would call play on or holding the ball if players forced high contact in tackles by dropping their knees or waists […]

On Wednesday night, the St George District Rugby League Football Club will announce its Team of the Century, and you suspect inductees must be either a god or an Immortal to make the cut, such is the Red V’s storied history. One name that won’t appear on the team sheet, though, is the man responsible for most it: club secretary […]

Despite a dismal start to the season, Essendon have now beaten three top-eight contenders in the past month and continued their revival with an 48-point win over Gold Coast on Sunday at Marvel Stadium. It was a must-win game for the Suns to keep their finals hopes alive and the loss leaves them four points behind Richmond, the Western Bulldogs […]

If footy cards still came with a stick of chewing gum, a dusting of white sugary powder, and great exaggerated poses from players scooping up a ball one-handed or baulking a non-existent opponent, then Mark Blicavs’ card would be appended with the position ‘utility’. Utility was the seemingly ubiquitous position that was given to players who didn’t have a position. […]

Melbourne Storm’s premiership hopes are in danger with star fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen expected to miss the rest of the season after going down with a knee injury in his club’s 20-16 loss to Canberra Raiders at AAMI Park on Sunday. Papenhuyzen suspected a fractured right knee cap, an injury which follows a right PCL injury earlier this season. He went […]