What Caught Our Attention Over the Weekend

– Melbourne building and Brisbane fading.
– The Tigers pulling out their worst performance of the season to take the wooden spoon for the third season in a row.
– Souths finishing a disappointing season with a loss to their Eastern Suburbs neighbours
– Raiders reminding fans what could have been with a gutsy comeback victory over the Dragons.
– The Bulldogs bubble bursting after an uncharacteristic poor performance against a free flowing Cowboys team.
– Penrith doing enough to secure victory against a spirited Titans that will see them play a last finals match at Penrith Park before it is pulled apart and rebuilt.
– The Sharks defying the critics to blitz Manly at Brookvale and show they will have something to say in the finals.
– Newcastle snuffing out the Dolphins to take eighth spot and a finals berth.
– The Wests Tigers almost pulling off a win for the first time in ages in the NRLW with goal kicking letting them down followed by competition leaders Cronulla capitulating to the Roosters
– Wigan on top of the Super League after downing fellow high flyers Hull KR while Catalans are in real danger of missing out on a finals spot after losing to Salford.

And then there were eight… Road to the #NRLFinals 🫳🏆 pic.twitter.com/rOy65D9iim

— NRL (@NRL) September 8, 2024

Odsal is 90

Odsal Stadium in Bradford celebrated its 9Oth birthday recently. The home of Championship team the Bradford Bulls once hosted a crowd of 102,569 in 1954 for a Challenge Cup replay between Warrington and Halifax. The former quarry is in dire need of renovations but the ground, which also hosts stock car races, holds a special place in the minds of many rugby league fans.

Queanbeyan Rules

The Canberra Raiders Cup Grand Final was an all Queanbeyan affair with the Queanbeyan Roos led by former Raider Sam Williams going back to back and winning 18-10 over the Queanbeyan Blues at Seiffert Oval. It was two premierships in a row for Roos captain-coach Williams. Featuring in the victorious team was 48 year old veteran Mick Dodson and his son Ryan.

International Activity

The Netherlands will host Scotland on September 14 and Ireland a week later on September 21.

Norway rugby league will take a team to Reykjavik in the last weekend in October. While this is not a sanctioned international it is believed to be the first time a game will be played in Iceland. It comes on the back of Norway under 16s and 19s teams playing Serbia in Belgrade and losing by narrow margins to the more experienced Serbs in both age groups.

France will play two lead up matches against Lebanon on October 13 and 19 before they take on Ukraine in a 2026 World Cup Qualifying match on October 22.

Ukraine, who will play a warm up match against Czechia before the big clash with France, is coached by UK born Australian resident Daniel Beardshaw. The Everything Rugby League Podcast crew chatted with Daniel late last week about domestic and international Ukraine rugby league. Look out for the podcast in the next day or so.

Under a week to go until we take on the Netherlands in Sassenheim!

This will be the first time we have visited The Netherlands since 2003 and it’s great that our hosts have decided to play the game in Sassenheim, just as we did 21 years ago.#ScotlandRugbyLeague #Bravehearts pic.twitter.com/7VRxyXhJxS

— Scotland Rugby League 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 (@scotlandrl) September 8, 2024

Pacific Women Bring in the Big Guns

Papua New Guinea and Tonga women’s sides have bolstered their coaching ranks by appointing experienced coaches. PNG Orchids have appointed Qld Origin Coach and former Jillaroo Tahnee Norris who spent time recently in-country assisting with development. Tonga, who will look to qualify for the 2026 World Cup following the Pacific Championships have appointed NRLW premiership winning coach John Strange. The Pacific nations are the sleeping giant in the women’s international game. With many players now involved with the NRLW they are expected to come to the fore leading in to 2026.

Crouching Tiger

Director of Rugby Rob Ashton and the Bedford Tigers should know by September 18 if their bid to enter the semi-professional UK League One competition has been successful. The go ahead club, which was founded in 2004, is up against Anglian Vipers and Goole Vikings in the bidding for the coveted spot. Bedford, who field men’s, women’s, wheelchair and junior teams, believe they have the key areas covered, including population, transport links, club makeup and home ground.

Defence Guru to the Bunnies

Incoming South Sydney coach Wayne Bennett has recruited experienced defence expert and all round good guy Steve Antonelli to help turn the Rabbitohs fortunes around in 2025.

Antonelli volunteered to come to training when this correspondent was coaching the Aris Eagles in Athens. Giving up his time while on holiday with his wife in Greece, he mentored the guys on tackle technique and then followed up by sending a stack of much needed gear over from Australia to Greek rugby league..

Greek Return

Pre-season training has resumed in Greece after the summer holidays. The Athens Raiders club men’s and women’s teams recently completed a 3 day camp at the seaside resort of Loutraki outside Athens.

The national women’s team is gearing up to face Ireland in a World Cup qualifying match on October 12 in Athens.