Big League Weekly Edition

CANBERRA hooker Josh Hodgson has welcomed the introduction of a captain’s challenge but concedes it would have been better for all involved if the decision had been made at the start of the pre-season rather than a week out from the kick-off of the 2

THE Sea Eagles have had injury concerns heading into their Round 1 blockbuster against the Storm, but fullback Tom Trbojevic isn’t one of them as he looks to make up for lost time following a frustrating 2019. The local junior chalked up big numbers

Parramatta’s era under Ricky Stuart began in rousing fashion against the Warriors, who also had a new coach on board in Matt Elliott. The 2012 wooden-spooners stormed to an 18-0 half-time lead at Parramatta Stadium and posted the last four tries of t

THE season kick-off is finally here and it brings back memories of the biggest Round 1 event in the game’s history – the 1999 opening of Sydney’s Olympic Stadium with a double-header that included Manly v Newcastle and Parramatta v St George Illawarr

DESPITE the sentiments of some pundits, there can be no question of the importance of the All Stars game and the passion it produces as some of the game’s stars get to proudly represent their culture on rugby league’s biggest stage. Josh Addo-Carr’s

BREAKING records for fun has become commonplace for Canberra skipper Jarrod Croker. He already tops the list for most points and tries for the Raiders, and at his current scoring rate he’s on track to finish his career as the most prolific scorer in

IT doesn’t take a genius to work out that the Roosters were simply the best in 2019. They were comfortably better than the rest, with fullback James Tedesco proving he was better than anyone, or at least anyone we’ve ever met. But will history repeat

CAPTAIN Kevin Proctor says the Gold Coast need to forget about the struggles of last year and develop a better attitude in 2020. Following a wooden spoon season, Proctor is desperate to see improvement within his Titans and he’s already noticed a ha

ZANE Tetevano will turn from apprentice into master when the Panthers host his former side the Roosters on Saturday. After a serious off-field indiscretion threatened to end his career, the 29-year-old was handed a lifeline by Trent Robinson in a mov

It’s time for Footyhead to navigate his way through the pitfalls and hazards of the 2020 season. The 2020 footy season has arrived, and I couldn’t be more excited. I don’t have 20/20 vision of what the year holds for everyone’s favourite players and

Maori scorers: (D Watene-Zelezniak, K Nikorima, B Smith 2, D Walker tries; K Ponga 4, A Blair goals) Indigenous scorers: (J Curran, B Ferguson, J Roberts tries; T Roberts, B Ferguson goals) ■

Panthers 35 d. Roosters 0 Knights 34 d. Warriors 0 Bulldogs 13 d. Eels 10 Dragons 27 d. Sharks 5 Titans 27 d. Raiders 10 Wests Tigers 17 d. Rabbitohs 8 Cowboys 17 d. Broncos 11 Sea Eagles 18 d. Storm 4  Knights 16 d. Panthers 4 Roosters 14 d. Warrior

DO kids still play video games? Here at Big League we think nothing compares to the old days of Mario Kart and Goldeneye on Nintendo 64. Assuming they’ve moved on to bigger and better things, let’s discuss another online juggernaut that is back in 20

Game preview: The new season kicks off with a showdown between traditional rivals the Eels and Bulldogs at Bankwest Stadium. Parramatta have been a popular pick to take out the premiership following their much-improved showing in 2019 which saw them

DATE: FRIDAY, MARCH 13 VENUE: GIO STADIUM KICK-OFF: 6PM REFEREE: CHRIS SUTTON ASSISTANT REFEREE: DAVID MUNRO TOUCH JUDGES: PHIL HENDERSON & MARK BOHAN SENIOR REVIEW OFFICIAL: ASHLEY KLEIN REVIEW OFFICIAL: BRYAN NORRIE FOX LEAGUE: 5.30PM LIVE

Game preview: Last year’s runners-up begin their quest to go one better against a Titans side reeling from a disastrous campaign that saw them claim the wooden spoon. Back-rower John Bateman is a big out for the Green Machine but they are set to unle

DATE: FRIDAY, MARCH 13 VENUE: QUEENSLAND COUNTRY BANK STADIUM KICK-OFF: 7.05PM (QLD); 8.05PM (AEDT) REFEREE: GERARD SUTTON ASSISTANT REFEREE: GAVIN BADGER TOUCH JUDGES: RICKEY McFARLANE & LIAM KENNEDY SENIOR REVIEW OFFICIAL: JARED MAXWELL REVI

Game preview: It’s the dawn of a new era in Townsville with the Cowboys hoping for a turnaround in form at their new stadium. The addition of Valentine Holmes in the No.1 jersey is another huge boost for Paul Green’s side, who have struggled to score

DATE: SATURDAY, MARCH 14 VENUE: McDONALD JONES STADIUM KICK-OFF: 3PM REFEREE: HENRY PERENARA ASSISTANT REFEREE: ZIGGY PRZEKLASA-ADAMSKI TOUCH JUDGES: KASEY BADGER & NICK MOREL SENIOR REVIEW OFFICIAL: JARED MAXWELL REVIEW OFFICIAL: BEN GALEA F

Game preview: Knights fans will be hoping new coach Adam O’Brien is the man to end their finals drought dating back to 2013. The former assistant at the Storm and Roosters comes with an outstanding CV and should do great things with an attack featuri

DATE: SATURDAY, MARCH 14 VENUE: ANZ STADIUM KICK-OFF: 5.30PM REFEREE: BEN CUMMINS ASSISTANT REFEREE: BELINDA SHARPE TOUCH JUDGES: MICHAEL WISE & LIAM NICHOLLS SENIOR REVIEW OFFICIAL: STEVE CLARK REVIEW OFFICIAL: BEN LOWE FOX LEAGUE: 5.30PM L

Game preview: Veterans Paul Gallen, John Sutton and Sam Burgess may have retired, but there is plenty to be excited about at ANZ Stadium as the Rabbitohs begin life with Latrell Mitchell at fullback. The former Rooster had some nice touches in the Ch

DATE: SATURDAY, MARCH 14 VENUE: PANTHERS STADIUM KICK-OFF: 7.35PM REFEREE: ADAM GEE ASSISTANT REFEREE: CHRIS BUTLER TOUCH JUDGES: JEFF YOUNIS & NICK BEASHEL SENIOR REVIEW OFFICIAL: STEVE CHIDDY REVIEW OFFICIAL: BRYAN NORRIE FOX LEAGUE: 7.30PM

Game preview: The two-time defending premiers begin their quest for a hat-trick of titles when they travel to the foot of the mountains to take on a Penrith side that will be looking for a vast improvement following last year’s struggles. With no Jam

DATE: SUNDAY, MARCH 15 VENUE: LOTTOLAND KICK-OFF: 4.05PM REFEREE: MATT CECCHIN ASSISTANT REFEREE: JON STONE TOUCH JUDGES: DAVID MUNRO & TIM ALOUANI-ROBY SENIOR REVIEW OFFICIAL: STEVE CHIDDY REVIEW OFFICIAL: BEN GALEA CHANNEL 9 & FOX LEAGUE: 3

Game preview: Fierce rivals do battle at Lottoland on Sunday afternoon as the Sea Eagles play host to the Storm. Manly were the surprise packets of 2019 and things should only get better under Des Hasler. Addin Fonua-Blake and Jake Trbojevic were exp

DATE: SUNDAY, MARCH 15 VENUE: WIN STADIUM KICK-OFF: 6.15PM REFEREE: ASHLEY KLEIN ASSISTANT REFEREE: PHIL HENDERSON TOUCH JUDGES: CLAYTON SHARPE & PETER GOUGH SENIOR REVIEW OFFICIAL: JARED MAXWELL REVIEW OFFICIAL: BRYAN NORRIE FOX LEAGUE: 6PM

THE Canterbury Cup is a reserve grade competition, but make no mistake, this is a league of thrills, spills, and boilovers. Look no further than last season – Newtown and Wentworthville, who only scraped into the finals in seventh and eighth place at

Game preview: Pre-season predictions have seen both teams tipped to miss out on the finals, but a strong start on Sunday could fuel an unlikely top-eight charge. The Dragons will miss hooker and captain Cameron McInnes but have added experienced head

THE 25th edition of the Queensland Cup kicks off this weekend, with 14 clubs going head-to-head once again in a battle for state supremacy. Burleigh are the reigning champions after defeating Wynnum Manly in last year’s grand final, but there will be

THE Hastings Deering Colts returns for its third season in 2020, in what is sure to be another exciting year for the Queensland under-20s competition. Sunshine Coast took out the 2019 title in a classic dark horse story. Townsville, Burleigh and Wynn

THE Jersey Flegg Cup is back again in 2020, as the next crop of NRL stars in waiting look to make their mark in the NSW under-20s. In the past 12 months, the likes of Ronaldo Mulitalo, Bradman Best, Matt Burton, Tommy Taulau and Jason Saab have all r

CAN anyone stop Wentworthville? The Magpies have won three consecutive premierships, and are aiming to make it a fourth in 2020. St Marys will be desperate to end their dynasty, after suffering back-to-back grand final defeats to the Magpies. Both si