CRL News
FLASBHBACK FRIDAY: CANTERBURY REF IN THE MIDDLE FOR FIRST ORIGIN DECIDER
As the rugby league world diverts its attention to next Wednesday’s State of Origin series opener in Brisbane, Flashback Friday recalls the prominent role of a Cantabrian in the first-ever decider 44 years ago. The runaway success of Origin’s one-off matches in 1980 and ’81 – largely due to Queensland’s stunning upset wins in both…
Read MoreFLASHBACK FRIDAY: ADDINGTON’S LAST PREMIERSHIP
Flashback Friday is shining the spotlight on Canterbury Rugby League’s oldest club – and its last premiership triumph. Canterbury’s oldest club, Addington was established in 1913 and had won five titles – including a famous grand final win in 1982 under the coaching of Frank Endacott – coming into the 1989 season. Their ’89 campaign…
Read MoreFlashback Friday: Warriors’ miracle win in Christchurch
As Ōtautahi Christchurch prepares for a historic showdown at One New Zealand Stadium (Te Kaha) – the Round 16 NRL clash between the One NZ Warriors and North Queensland Cowboys – Flashback Friday relives another iconic venue in the city’s last taste of top-level rugby league, which featured one of the greatest finishes in premiership…
Read MoreFLASHBACK FRIDAY: HORNBY AND HALSWELL DUEL IN FOUR STRAIGHT GRAND FINALS
As neighbouring archrivals and 2024 grand final combatants Halswell Hornets and Hornby Panthers gear up for a vital CRL Whitehead Plumbing & Gas Men’s Premiership Round 9 encounter at Halswell Domain, Flashback Friday revisits the period that created one of Canterbury Rugby League’s great club rivalries. Halswell gained premier status in 1979 and reached its…
Read MoreFLASHBACK FRIDAY: EASTERN SUBURBS INTERRUPTS PAPANUI DYNASTY
As Eastern Eagles prepare to avenge their Round 1 loss to Papanui Tigers in this weekend’s CRL Whitehead Plumbing & Gas Men’s Premiership clash, Flashback Friday recalls one of the great grand final performances from Eastern Suburbs – the only blip in eight years of overwhelming Papanui dominance. Papanui won four straight grand finals from…
Read MoreFLASHBACK FRIDAY: CANTABRIANS IN THE CHALLENGE CUP FINAL
As Wigan and Hull KR prepare to face off in this weekend’s Challenge Cup final at Wembley, Flashback Friday celebrates the history of Cantabrians featuring in British rugby league’s greatest occasion. 1929: Len Mason was selected for New Zealand from Canterbury and played three Tests on the Kiwis’ infamous 1926-27 tour of Britain, before being…
Read MoreFLASHBACK FRIDAY: HORNBY-HEAVY FRONT-ROW POWERS KIWIS TO TEST TRIUMPH
With Suncorp Stadium the centre of the rugby league universe this weekend for NRL Magic Round, Flashback Friday recalls one of the Kiwis’ greatest – and a heavily Hornby-influenced – victories at the iconic Brisbane venue. The Kiwis approached the 1987 season in a state of flux. Graham Lowe’s influential reign as national coach, which…
Read MoreFLASHBACK FRIDAY: HALSWELL SNATCH EPIC ’95 GRAND FINAL
As Halswell Hornets prepare to take on defending premiers Linwood Keas in a CRL Whitehead Plumbing & Gas Men’s Premiership blockbuster tomorrow, Flashback Friday is celebrating a truly epic grand final between the clubs – when a shorthanded Hornets side staged an extraordinary comeback to snatch a last-minute 20-19 triumph over the Keas in the…
Read MoreFLASHBACK FRIDAY: CARROLL’S ORIGIN DEBUT MATCH-WINNER
In the wake of this week’s bombshell State of Origin eligibility announcement, Flashback Friday revisits the concept’s greatest moment involving a Canterbury-born player – Tonie Carroll’s sensational debut match-winner in the opening encounter of the 1998 series. Born in Christchurch, Carroll left the Canterbury region as a youngster and represented Queensland and Australia at schoolboy…
Read MoreDEDICATION UNDERPINS REFEREE VIVAS’ RAPID NSWRL RISE
Three years ago, Porfi Vivas was a novice junior referee still getting to grips with rugby league’s rulebook. But on Sunday the 26-year-old enjoyed yet another milestone on his meteoric rise with the whistle, controlling his first match in the Harold Matthews Cup – the New South Wales Rugby League’s elite under-17s competition. Vivas received…
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