Geoff Parkes's Blog, page 8

NRL Prelim Finals Team Lists: Cleary charged, mixed news for Broncos, Storm hopeful on Hughes, big Shark out

Brisbane will be without Pat Carrigan and Billy Walters for their preliminary final against Penrith but should be boosted by the return of their first-choice halves duo.

Carrigan has been banned for his high shot on Canberra forward Morgan Smithies in their 29-28 win over the Raiders in the qualifying final while Walters will not play again this year after a knee injury at training.

Back-rower Brendan Piakura suffered a facial fracture against the Raiders but is hopeful of playing against ...

Oh Canada! Why the sweet flowing syrup will better prickly roses

If you didn’t know better this story sounds like something from the Disney factory. A team of semi-professionals from a nation that gives rugby little regard versus a fully professional powerhouse from the nation that invented the game.

A team that had to crowd fund their way to the competition versus a team that is playing in their home backyard. A team that has not beaten their World Cup final opponents in the last five attempts and only beaten them three times from 37 matches versus a te...

‘Butchering by the umpires’: Controversy erupts as last-second call decides ‘stolen’ WAFL grand final

WAFL grand final umpires have come under fire after an extraordinary, controversial end to the decider which left East Perth players furious.

With minor premiers and red-hot favourites South Fremantle leading by just two points with only seconds remaining, after a fierce comeback from the Royals from 21 points down midway through the last quarter, Bulldog and former St Kilda AFL player Matt Parker was penalised for a white-hot holding the ball decision in the middle of Optus Stadium, after be...

Five and a Kick: Panthers’ dream of five is alive after Cleary puts on a clinic to demolish Dogs

The Penrith Globetrotters made the Canterbury Generals look like a bunch of amateurs as the premiers showed that they are primed to overcome the weight of history in pursuit of their fifth straight title.

In what can only be described as a humiliating first half for the Bulldogs at Accor Stadium on Sunday, the Panthers raced in six tries to obliterate their western Sydney rivals.

There was no turning back for the Dogs after being down 36-8 at the break and the Panthers cruised to a 46-26 c...

NRL Prelim Finals Team Lists: Mixed news for Broncos, Storm hopeful on Hughes, Panthers trio in doubt, big Shark out

Brisbane will be without Pat Carrigan and Billy Walters for their preliminary final against Penrith but should be boosted by the return of their first-choice halves duo.

Carrigan has been banned for his high shot on Canberra forward Morgan Smithies in their 29-28 win over the Raiders in the qualifying final while Walters will not play again this year after a knee injury at training.

Back-rower Brendan Piakura suffered a facial fracture against the Raiders but is hopeful of playing against ...

Tahs sign Test hooker as Porecki replacement

Wallabies hooker Folau Fainga’a will return to Australian rugby in 2026 after signing with the NSW Waratahs and Rugby Australia through to 2028.

The 30-year-old is currently playing in France’s Top 14 with Clermont but will be back in Sydney ahead of the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season. He has 28 Test caps and last played for the Wallabies in 2023 before a stint with the Western Force and his move overseas.

Fainga’a debuted for Australia in 2018 against New Zealand and was part of the 2019...

Zorko cops hefty sanction for dangerous act on Mason Cox

Brisbane Lions veteran Dayne Zorko has been fined by the AFL after he ripped off Mason Cox’s goggles during their fiery preliminary final clash.

Zorko can accept a $3125 penalty – down from $5000 with an early guilty plea – for misconduct.

But he is free to play in the Lions’ third straight grand final, when they take on Geelong at the MCG on Saturday.

Zorko and Cox were involved in a heated confrontation during the first quarter of Brisbane’s 29-point win over Collingwood.

Zorko tr...

Bulldogs vs Panthers player ratings: Cleary clutch, Alamoti awesome, more fours than Bradman for Dogs

Can anyone stop these Penrith Panthers? That will be the task Michael Maguire and his Brisbane side face next Sunday.

To extend their title run, Penrith will need to make history, becoming the first side in the NRL era to win the premiership from outside the top four but after the commanding win over Canterbury, few would bet against Ivan Cleary’s side.

The bashed-up Bulldogs didn’t give a great account of themselves in the spring sunshine, holding on for the first 20 minutes but the dam b...

Five and a Kick: Choke on that – Sharks shed finals flakes reputation as Raiders suffer unwanted 16-year first

The Sharks have trampled over their reputation of being finals flakes while sending minor premiers Canberra straight out the back door with a 32-12 boilover.

Canberra became the first team to finish first and suffer two straight finals defeats since St George Illawarra 16 years ago and only the second since Canterbury suffered the same fate in 1993.

While they looked sluggish after their one-point extra-time loss to Brisbane the week before, Cronulla were energetic and electric to advance ...

NRL Week 2 Finals Team Lists: ‘Vomiting through the night’ – Raiders get exemption with star out, Dogs make Crichton call

Ethan Strange has been ruled out of Canberra’s NRL semi-final against Cronulla in a massive blow to the minor premiers’ hopes of avoiding a devastating straight-sets exit.

In the midst of a breakout season, the gun five-eighth took ill overnight and will be replaced in the halves by utility Simi Sasagi.

Sasagi has enjoyed a great year in his own right but has never started a first-grade game in the halves before, though has played a handful of NSW Cup games there.

Speaking to 2GB, Stran...