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About Greg Prichard
About Greg Prichard
Greg Prichard has covered rugby league for 25 years. In his third year at the Herald, Greg has previously worked for the Daily Mirror, Telegraph Mirror, Sun-Herald, radio 2UE and 2GB and freelanced extensively. "I like to write features on the personalities in the game and look for interesting stories behind the scenes, as well as analyze the games themselves, study the form to try to give the fans a decent guide to their team's chances of winning on any given weekend," Prichard says. "The best thing about the game these days is that the competition has evened up and most teams have a reasonable chance of winning on any weekend, which gives every fan hope."
It's now or never for battling old rivals
You wouldn't bet your life on either side.
Price right on the money when he says it's time for Warriors to cash in
The Warriors take no comfort from the fact their opponents at
Suncorp Stadium tonight - Brisbane - have lost four games in a row
and conceded 159 points along the way. When you haven't won away
from home since round two, you've got your own demons to confront.
Origin doesn't scare me: Douglas
Cronulla prop Luke Douglas isn't getting carried away with his chances of breaking into the NSW side for State of Origin III, as he was not even selected for the City-Country game before the series began, but he is confident he would handle the step up if the selectors did call on him.
El Masri's army salutes its inspirational leader
THE talk among the kids at St Johns Eagles training yesterday afternoon was not about who they were playing this weekend or what they got up to at school a few hours earlier, it was about their hero calling it a day. The Eagles are deep in Bulldogs territory, at Punchbowl, and there is no doubt who rates as the player they love the most - Hazem El Masri.
Warriors lose pluck, Roosters avoid a plucking
WHAT were the Warriors thinking? They weren't sitting pretty in the top eight. They were three points outside of it, in 11th place. They badly needed to get on top of Gold Coast at Skilled Park and go on to win. So what did they do after having the better of the early play and then receiving a penalty near the opposition's line. They took a shot at goal. Brilliant.
One slip and Eels could be gone
Parramatta v Brisbane
Moore the merrier as Henry frets over obstacles on the road
Much of the post-match debate centred on a couple of close calls by the match officials, but North Queensland coach Neil Henry was more concerned about the distance - literally and figuratively - between his team's home and away form.
Battle-scarred 1989 brigade hail new Canetoads
THOSE Queenslanders are really rubbing it in, telling NSW the Maroons know all there is to know about passion, and that the Blues know nothing. Freely offering advice they say has served Queensland well for almost 30 years, because they are sure the Blues will be too silly to take it. Looking at us and shaking their heads.
Sin Bin
IT WON'T surprise many people, but the video referees who were involved in more controversy in Wednesday night's State of Origin were judged to have made one wrong call and another that was ruled borderline by their boss, Robert Finch. While Finch said he had not yet studied the rulings carefully, he admitted his initial view was that the decision by Bill Harrigan and Tim Mander to award a try to Jarryd Hayne late in the first half was incorrect. "I think that was a no try," Finch said after Queensland winger Israel Folau was taken out at dummy half by Luke O'Donnell. Finch said he would also have been comfortable had the officials chosen to award a try to Ashley Harrison off Willie Tonga's pass, rather than the pass being ruled a knock-on. But Finch refused to speculate whether Harrigan and Mander, who also controversially ruled a no try to Hayne in game one, were under pressure to keep their positions for Origin III."
Bellamy has blown it, Blues must coax an old master to take over
OK, IT has happened now, so what do we do about it? The first plan of attack for the NSWRL should be to ask Phil Gould to coach the Blues next year. If he knocks them back, ask him again. If he knocks them back a second time, beg him. If he still won't get involved, ask Wayne Bennett.
We won't be beaten on passion, vows Gidley
ON THE eve of a State of Origin game in which Queensland could realise a dream and NSW could experience their worst nightmare, Blues captain Kurt Gidley has promised his team's fans one thing - the Maroons won't beat them on the score of passion.
Freddy's heartbreakers strike again
COCK-A-DOODLE-DON'T! Sydney Roosters have slipped so far out of the winning groove that even when what they have to do to register a victory is staring them in the face, they still can't see it.
No Slater but Steve excited to get turn
What the Storm say: Steve Turner is pumped up about taking over at fullback from Queensland representative Billy Slater. "Any time I get the chance to play fullback I love it," he said. " And with those Origin guys out, it gives myself an opportunity to step up as a leader of the side."
Rusty Bulldogs lose young star
THE Bulldogs are praying outstanding young centre Jamal Idris will be missing only for the short term after dislocating his elbow during last night's win in the wet over Penrith at ANZ Stadium.
Late Mail
THE Bulldogs will field their strongest possible team against Penrith at ANZ Stadium tonight, with centre Josh Morris rejoining the team after spending several days as a shadow player for NSW.
Panthers wary of low-flying Sea Eagles
Penrith v Manly
Eels open door for disgraced Sharks boss
PARRAMATTA has left the door ajar for fallen Cronulla chief
executive Tony Zappia to replace Denis Fitzgerald despite the
controversial nature of his exit from the Sharks.
Hill tipped as Fitzgerald leaves with $200,000 payout
PARRAMATTA board member Ron Hilditch believes there is no need to look beyond caretaker football chief executive Andrew Hill as the replacement for Denis Fitzgerald.
Mortimer, Robson provide spark for electric Eels
THEY are the footballing odd couple, if you like. The 19-year-old five-eighth who has just been introduced to first grade and has his whole career ahead of him, and the 26-year-old halfback who has never been a regular first-grader and craves every chance he gets.
They were good, we were below our best, says Smith
NEWCASTLE coach Brian Smith knew his old team, Parramatta, would be dangerous, coming off a home loss against Cronulla that would have hurt their pride. He warned his players the Eels were more than capable of doing something on the rebound. But, in the end, it couldn't stop the loss. Parramatta had a tank full of the stuff you need to win, which was a bit more than the Knights could produce.
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