Sunday 29 January 2012

10 Things I Love About Chuck... and why I'll miss it.

Chuck Unplugged: 
Another Great Show Ends
By W D Nicolson, January 28 2012

Let's be honest, Television can suck.

For all the channels there are available to us these days, there is very little that is actually any good.

Which means that each time a show that we become attached to finishes, saying goodbye just gets tougher and tough. Don't get me wrong, I know it is just a TV show but the very good ones have a way of establishing themselves as my TV show, so letting go after watching them regularly is no easy task.

I was too young to appreciate Seinfeld when it started but by the end in 1998 I was a big fan, and actually came to love the genius of the show even more via reruns. Admittedly, Seinfeld is one of the truly great shows of all time but as far as my favourites go, the action-drama-comedy series 'Chuck' is right up there.

I didn't see or even know about Chuck when it first aired in the US in 2007 and it wasn't until 2009 that I discovered the show via Foxtel's FOX8 channel over my lunch break. The first episode I saw wasn't even in the original season but it was entertaining and got me interested enough to seek out the pilot and give the show a go.

I haven't regretted it.

The plot of the show surrounds a computer geek working in a Buy More (a retail electronics store) by the name of Chuck Bartowski. He gets an email from a former college room-mate who just happens to be a member of the CIA that turns his brain into a safe-house for a supercomputer programme called 'The Intersect'.

Now if I may have lost you already - it is vital to stress that while the whole Government/Computer/Spy stuff is the main plot line in the show - the believability factor regarding that isn't actually that important, despite the action and storyline actually having some depth of reality.

Because it is the characters that make any good show, great.

Chuck is played by Zachary Levi - an everyman who nobody really knew before he started in the role, and his Nerd Herd existence (more on that below) is turned upside down when CIA Agent Sarah Walker played by Australian actress Yvonne Strahovski is assigned to 'handle' Chuck. Because the CIA knows he had 'The Intersect' downloaded into his brain he becomes an asset that Sarah has to make sure is protected while the government builds another one.

There's a bunch of other great characters that come in and out of the show over the next five seasons (Adam Baldwin as Casey - another government agent and Joshua Gomez as Chuck's best friend Morgan are the two standouts) but the show is based around the relationship that forms between Chuck and Sarah.

Here are just two short YouTube clips from the pilot that pretty much hit a home run chemistry wise for the two lead characters. Again - character is the strong point of the show and they found a way to make it work from the very first episode.

Chuck Meets Sarah


And Sarah Follows Up Chuck with arguably the best line ever. (Click link as YouTube disabled embedding on this video, as well as a few others below - so please click the links - they are well worth it)

I won't spoil the show for you by trying to sum up five seasons in a few paragraphs but trust me, if you can accept the plot line for the purpose it serves (heck Seinfeld was after all, a show about nothing and nearly anyone with any good judgement at all has had no dramas liking that) then you'll really like this show for the way it develops and how the characters evolve.

The two hour Chuck Series Finale aired on NBC in the United State on January 27, 2012 (so now basically) and the reason I am writing this article is because I'm actually trying to delay the end.

In fact, the moment I hit publish on this blog - I simply won't be able to avoid the end of Chuck any longer.

So let's get to the Top 10 Things I Love About Chuck... and why I'll miss it.

MY CHUCK TOP 10

10. The Buy More
Somehow the fictitious Buy More in Burbank, California made retail cool again. It operates as almost a show within the show with the cast that works there but it has become something that frees the viewer from the sometime intensity of the spy related action.

When the show's creators Chris Fedak and Josh Schwartz were brainstorming ideas for the central location in the show - somehow they turned a retail electronics store into a place where everything happens... and gave a whole new meaning to the word 'Pineapple'.

Now who wants a Buy More Coffee Mug?

9. Captain Awesome (and Mrs. Awesome)

Now Devon Woodcomb (Ryan McPartlin) and Ellie Bartowski (Sarah Lancaster aka Gift Shop Girl from Scrubs) are key supporting characters in the show but the nickname that Chuck and Morgan have for Devon is... well, AWESOME.

We all know someone who is naturally gifted and ridiculously good looking and the Chuck spin on how to incorporate that kind of person into the show is to nickname them 'Captain Awesome' and gradually unfurl the mystique surrounding the awesomeness.

Mind you, he is pretty awesome. Heck he makes tucking in your shirt seem cool.

And then there is Gift Shop Girl... forget about it.


8. Action Sequences
Chuck dabbles in a number of few TV genres per episode but it has made considerable effort to bring realism (as much as TV allows) to its action sequences. It's obvious that all the main characters involved in 'spy-related' activity do as much of the stunt work as they can and the fighting is very well choreographed so that the actual actor sells the fight.

Because everyone gets a crack at throwing some fists of fury, it is important that it doesn't detract from the show and more importantly, not define it. Something that a show about spies could have struggled with. Chuck avoids this and the action scenes rock as a result.

Plus any time you can work in a genuine Cat Fight is a good time right?

7. Ensemble Cast

All the great shows need chemistry amongst their cast and the Chuck crew look like they have genuine fun making the show - because the finished product works so well.

As important as it is for the creators to hit the mark casting the key characters (and this wouldn't be a blog about the greatness of Chuck if they didn't), getting the whole ensemble right is almost as important.

There are a few recurring characters that play their part, such as General Diane Beckman played by Bonita Friedericy, and they fly in and out of the show seamlessly.

And that goes for all the guest actors (more about them below), as well as the lesser known ones in as minor role as a Buy Moron.

Note: Well I made it through 4 of the Top 10 before I gave in and watched the Finale... thus the Top 6 may be full of extra emotion that comes from just watching the end of one of my favourite shows.


6. Get Me A Pocket Protector
I mean really, who doesn't want to be part of the Nerd Herd?

I'd trade my car and job for a Nerd Herder and a outfit sporting a pocket protector any day of the week... especially if all my co-workers were so talented.


5. Guest Star Home Runs
There have been too many good ones to pay proper tribute to them all but here are snapshots of a few favourites over the five seasons. 

One of Chuck's big hooks is the way it honours pop culture icons and they hit home runs a-go-go with guest casting.
  • Timothy Dalton as Alexei Volkoff for 6 episodes
James Bond in the building. Enough said.
PS. His interview about the role is worth a look.
  • Tony Hale as Emmett Milbarge for 13 episodes
The younger brother from Arrested Development does a memorable guest stint as Buy More management.
  • John Larroquette as Roan Montgomery for 2 episodes
Clever actor who clearly had a blast playing an elderly James Bond type charmer on the show.
  • Brandon Routh as Daniel Shaw for 12 episodes
Superman (albeit a poorly rebooted movie version) was a character I didn't think I'd like, but Routh did a fine job layering his at first rigid character. This one's for the ladies.
  • Kristin Kreuk as Hannah for 4 episodes
The girl from the Superman TV series Smallville. The only genuine competition to Sarah across the five seasons as Chuck's love interest and who looked better in the Nerd Herd uni.
  • Chevy Chase as Ted Roark for 3 episodes
Comic genius from the 1980s was the bad guy for a few episodes and just added enough subtlety to his character to make him a quality bad guy.
  • Armand Assante as Premier Alejandro Goya for 2 episodes
South American dictator... or entertainer masquerading as a South American dictator. Either way - it worked.
  • Rachel Bilson as Lou Palone for 2 episodes
The lovely actress from the OC was the sandwich girl and Sarah's first competition for Chuck's affection. Plus she made a mean sandwich.

In fact, there's a lot of great guest stars but one more deserves a mention - even as a lesser known actor - and that is Rob Riggle who was incredibly entertaining as Agent Jim Rye in Episode 8 of Season 4.

Others of note: Linda Hamilton and Scott Bakula as Chuck's parents (Sarah Connor from Terminator and the guy from Quantam Leap) and so many pop-culture one-off guest spots that I won't spoil it for you - just watch the show.

4. JEFFSTER
Buy More residents Big Mike, Jeff and Lester were the kind of support acts that the show needed in its establishing stage. Funny, fresh and slightly off - the duo of Jeff and Lester went from the Nerd Herd to stardom with Jeffster - their band.

And when Big Mike got involved as manager, the sky was the limit. Or at least the rain was.

As the series progressed it was harder to make them fit the show as often but their appearances were always highlights. 

Case in point - Jeffster performs 'Push It' in the Sacred Heart Wing from Scrubs.

3. De-constructing Casey
John Casey played by Adam Baldwin starts off as a cold blooded NSA killer... I won't even write any more on the subject other than to say - the way his initial character de-constructs because of the people around him is a truly impressive piece of writing.

The way Baldwin slowly gives in to the new Casey, is a credit to his acting.

Plus he grunts.

2. Chuck and Sarah
Yes it is a 'Will they? Won't they?' Love Story but like any good one, it is well told and more importantly, brilliantly acted by Levi and Strahovski.

From the first time Sarah lays eyes on Chuck you see a spark, and from then on - both characters play out the script in a believable manner. Spy life aside.

In fact that's what makes it work within the Chuck reality - they grow closer more through their interaction than their situations, so when they do (or they don't) - you can believe it.

Not that you should get a look at some of their best moments (before you've actually watched the show) but for those of you who have... enjoy The Best of Chuck and Sarah.

1. Care Factor
A show about a spy with government secrets in his brain?

As I've pointed out previously, that's not why I watch the show.
I watch it for the characters.

And the way the writers develop and the cast carry out that heartbeat of the show makes you actually care about a television show.

Even though, it is a television show.

In my experience watching TV - that's rare.

Scrubs had it and Ed had it. And no, not even Seinfeld (arguably the best TV show ever made) ever really had it.

But Chuck has... or should I say had it.

If you've seen any of the interviews with the cast from the show talking about Chuck - you get the impression the cast cared a little bit as well. And in my view that makes the show rewatchable, because you simply do not get any indication that the cast is 'mailing it in' when making the show.

And sadly I can think of a whole bunch of shows that fail on that last count.


Which leads me to my final paragraph on the now watched, Chuck Series Finale...

The Last Word... on Chuck.

Well I just finished Chuck... or should I say, Chuck just finished.

The journey may be over for me, but for your sake, I hope it has just begun.

Watch Chuck. Thank me later.

Thursday 26 January 2012

NRL 2012 Season Preview and Predictions

NRL SEASON PREVIEW 2012
By W D Nicolson, January 25, 2012

A brand new NRL Season dawns on March 1 in Newcastle and unless you've been endlessly entertained by watching Darren Lockyer's hilarious (but somehow right) missed conversion in his last play in Rugby League on an endless loop on YouTube - you are bursting for some Rugby League right about now.

So here's some Rugby League to get you through the end of January and ready for the trials that are just around the corner.

In 2012, the author will be posting content for some more official sites as well as on http://www.wdnicolson.com but as an Australia Day treat you get a quick look at our 2012 NRL Forecasts for all 16 Teams. NOT The Footy Show may also be back for one episode cameo with a Live Season Preview of our own in early February.

If you want the whole preview you'll need to pick yourself up a copy of the 2012 Rugby League Almanac for just $10.00 - where every team is analysed in depth and our Predicted Ladder and Premiership pick is published.

Get The 2012 Rugby League Almanac Now!

So while you go grab a copy, here is the short sharp and boldly premature 2012 Prediction for each NRL Club. If you want our Final Ladder - see the Almanac.
2011 Record: 18 Wins 6 Losses = 3rd Spot
Reached Preliminary Finals
2012 FORECAST… and boldly premature prediction.
How big a loss is Darren Lockyer? The difference between playing Finals Football and golfing in September. Just.
CLUB: DEPTH CHART | 2012 RUN DOWN | TEAM SYNOPSIS

Thursday 19 January 2012

NRL 2012 - NRL All Stars v Indigenous All Stars Teams Named

ALL STARS NAMED FOR 2012
By W D Nicolson, January 19, 2012

The wait is nearly over Rugby League fans.

In just over two weeks the NRL All Stars will look to go back to back in the 2012 All Stars Game held at Skilled Park on the Gold Coast against the Indigenous All Stars.

This year the game will be played for the Arthur Beetson Trophy on February 4, and currently both teams have registered a win in the event, the Indigenous All Stars won 16-12 in 2010 and the NRL All Stars cruised to a 28-12 victory last year.
Johnathan Thurston has been a feature of the All Stars Game in both 2010 and 2011.
Although the game still has two years to run on its current deal with Skilled Park, www.wdnicolson.com has already explored the options available to the NRL in the future should the game be played elsewhere. Where would you take the game next?

Tuesday 10 January 2012

NRL 2012 - Sonny Bill Williams back in the NRL? #Winning

SONNY BILL WINNING?
By W D Nicolson, January 10, 2012

New Year's Eve 2011 may go down as the day that the Sydney Roosters put themselves back within reach of the NRL's elite, as reports surfaced that they had signed superstar code crosser Sonny Bill Williams.

The five year deal was reportedly set to start in 2013 and would make Williams one of the most highly paid players in the NRL. Something he already was when he walked out on the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in 2008 after barely one season of another five year deal he signed during 2007 to look after himself.

The new contract is allegedly worth double the base salary he was on at the Bulldogs, yet given the 26 year old has made plenty of coin the past four years playing Rugby in the south of France and for the All Blacks leading into and through the 2011 Rugby World Cup - the decision may not be financially motivated like his defection away from League appeared to be in 2008.

In fact, given what Williams has achieved during his hiatus away from Rugby League, it appears to be as much about the question Williams is likely asking himself.

Can Sonny Bill Williams dominate Rugby League once more?

Get The 2012 Rugby League Almanac Now!
Like him or not, should Sonny Bill return with the Roosters in 2013, everything's turning out great for him.
The Roosters are certainly banking on him changing codes again for the challenge as much as the coin, because to potentially add the game's best forward to their squad in 2013, they are overlooking the presence of a lot of good players on their backrow depth chart.

Skipper and five-eighth Braith Anasta will move to the backrow (or to England) either this season or next with the arrival of Daniel Mortimer for 2012 and James Maloney in 2013, alongside the now healthy second rower Mitchell Aubusson, who was one of the breakout players in the game two years ago. They look set to take two of the three starting backrow spots for the foreseeable future. The club also unearthed a talented youngster in Boyd Cordner at the back end of 2011, and with the likes of Lama Tasi, Aiden Guerra, Frank-Paul Nu'uausala, Anthony Cherrington and Tom Symonds already on the books - the backrow is loaded before Williams even arrives.

But IF Williams arrives, he is a game changer for the Roosters and their standing in the NRL.

Although the Roosters made the 2010 Grand Final through a combination of skill, hard work and luck, they were never really considered a unit that had all the tools to maintain their position as an elite team for the next few years. And while their 11th place finish in 2011 wasn't a catastrophic fall, it was still a significant drop out of the top echelon of teams. And it signified that the next few years might be a real learning curve for a team that has begun a youth movement and cut loose a number of key pieces from the 2010 Grand Final team.

But if you add Williams to the remaining core group under Head Coach Brian Smith, the Roosters could be very good in a short space of time.

Because simply put, Sonny Bill Williams is THAT good.

He may have only played 73 NRL games from 2004-2008 but his combination of size, skill, speed and power made him an almost irresistible force on the Rugby League field. And it appeared only injury could contain his potential during his time in the code.

Daily Telegraph Graphic from 2008
Significantly, his hiatus from the game has actually benefited him long term. Instead of pounding his body week in week out from 2009-2011 in the NRL, he has actually been able to look after his body with his stints with Toulon and then with the Crusaders in the Super Rugby competition, which did not require the same week in week out intensity of the NRL. He will play for the Chiefs in the 2012 Super Rugby competition and probably the All Blacks in the international arena but a full season will still only see him play an equivalent NRL season - but within a less condensed schedule.

So while there are a number of fans who will never forgive Williams for walking out on the Bulldogs (and the code), it has actually been a great benefit to him individually to not be able to return to the NRL until his Canterbury contract expires at the end of 2012.

He will be 27 when (or if) his contract with the Sydney Roosters begins in 2013 and he will have only around 160-170 top class games of football under his belt and has spaced those games over nine seasons in two codes.

Which means that Sonny Bill Williams should be fresh during his prime years as a Rugby League player - which is a terrifying thought if you are an opposition player, and a something to very much look forward to if you are a fan. Another plus for Williams is that he will once again become a face of Rugby League, either through the media or endorsement deals, as the past will be forgotten based on the promise of the present.

And all that adds up to one conclusion, which regardless what you think of him means...

Sonny Bill is #WINNING.

Will you welcome Sonny Bill Williams back to the NRL with open arms or boo the life out of him? 


Comment below.

2012 Rugby League Almanac Available Now.
While you're here on the site - please consider grabbing a copy of the 2012 Rugby League Almanac - a 49 page season guide for just $10.00 that will give you the most in depth analysis of the 2012 NRL Season on the market. This is just pure Rugby League - you won't be disappointed. Read more below for what else is inside the downloadable document.

Thursday 5 January 2012

NRL 2012 - Where Should Future NRL All Stars Games Be Held?

WHERE ELSE SHOULD THE NRL ALL STARS GAME BE HELD?
By W D Nicolson, January 5, 2012

On February 4, the third annual NRL All Stars match will be held at Skilled Park on the Gold Coast, this time the Indigenous All Stars will take on the NRL All Stars for a trophy named in honour of the late great Arthur Beetson, which means that the venue for the match has remained the same for all three contests since 2010.

Even before the first game was played in 2010, Gold Coast Titans CEO and part of the NRL All Stars game concept brains-trust Michael Searle admitted that the venue may not hold exclusive rights to the contest for long.

"The success of the event may have outgrown our stadium which is disappointing, but you have to look at the broader view," Searle told AAP in February 2010.

Now with the game established as a viable official season opener and a ratings winner on Channel 9, there is scope to seek out new locations for the All Stars Game once the current agreement to play at Skilled Park ends after the 2013 fixture.

While the Gold Coast is just about perfect in terms of mixing climate with leisure for the teams in the week leading up to the game and with the capacity of Skilled Park a solid 27,000, there is no doubt that other cities in Australia and New Zealand could successfully host one-off games in the future.

And that future begins in 2014.

Newcastle's redeveloped AusGrid Stadium looms as the clear favourite to host the 2014 All Stars Game due to its excellent stadium facility, surrounding beaches and the city's passion for the game of Rugby League. The impact a host of star players in the region for a week doing clinics and the like would be gigantic for the game in the city - one that has a football ground around every corner.

In fact given the success of the 2011 October Test when Australia played New Zealand in front of 32,890 fans, AusGrid and Newcastle have put their hands up in a big way for the 2014 fixture.

But where else is viable post-2013 to host the NRL All Stars Game?

Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
The Home of Rugby League according to any Queenslander (and in a lot of ways they are not wrong) holds over 50,000 fans and will no doubt host an All Stars Game in the future but its proximity to the Gold Coast probably puts a game there in the 2016-20 range.

Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville
The tropical heat could be a negative but the game is played at night and really there isn't much of a difference in temp in Brisbane or Townsville at night anyway (that statement is not based on any research whatsoever) which means that the city will get an All Stars game sooner rather than later. Given Johnathan Thurston will turn 30 in 2013, Dairy Farmers Stadium may be the ideal choice for the first or second game played away from the Gold Coast, in order to give the star halfback a chance to play the game in front of his home fans.
Could North Queensland's Johnathan Thurston play an All-Stars game at home before he retires?
WIN Stadium, Wollongong
Has undergone a big redevelopment of its own (albeit not a completely successful one as the new grandstand remains a question mark due to wind damage) and is a sensational place to watch football literally on the beach-front. If a game is going to be played near Sydney in the near future - Wollongong will get the nod (but probably after Newcastle).

Eden Park, Auckland
Will have likely hosted three season opening games for the Warriors by the time the 2014 game becomes available and the stadium is an impressive sight after being redeveloped for the 2011 Rugby World Cup. If the game gets moved away from Australia (albeit unlikely in the short term due to the actual concept) then Eden Park is the outstanding choice and the New Zealand public would embrace it fully.

AAMI Park, Melbourne
Fantastic venue but the negative factor is the questionable support that the game may receive in February. That's not to say there are not passionate Rugby League fans in Melbourne but the attraction of an All Stars Game v a State of Origin game is quite different in a non-Rugby League market like Melbourne. On the flip side, an influx of star players could have a lasting impact on the junior development of the game in Victoria. Long term chance.

Canberra Stadium, Canberra
While many may think that Canberra should not be in the equation for this game - they obviously fail to realise how important the game of Rugby League is to the surrounding regional area. And given the in-roads that AFL is making in the region, the arrival of an NRL All Stars game would be a huge boost to a region that has spent the last 15 or so years waiting for Rugby League to become the big ticket in town again in the wake of the Raiders falling out of the elite bracket of teams in the game.

Any Sydney Venue - likely the Sydney Football Stadium or ANZ Stadium
The SFS was long the perfect venue for the now ignored Sevens tournament and is a great ground to watch Rugby League from. The biggest downside is the fact Sydney is the centre of Rugby League as it is during the season and the game may not hold the same standing had it been played elsewhere. But the upside is the SFS could pull 40,000 with the right marketing and if it was played at ANZ - it could crack 50,000.

WACA Ground, Perth or Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
The game needs to keep the frontiers of Rugby League in mind if it ever wants to take the game back to the West and the All Stars game could be the kick-start any new (or relocating) franchise needs around 2017-2020. But if the game has no plans to place a team West (we've been a fan of a team based in Perth and Adelaide coming into the competition in the future with 8 games in Perth and 4 games in Adelaide home split the ideal structure) then the chances of an All Stars game being played at either venue are slim.

Note: Even if the game leaves the Gold Coast in 2014, the game is still likely to be played there (or in Brisbane) every few years thereafter.

Future Schedule for the NRL All Stars Game?
2012 - Gold Coast
2013 - Gold Coast
2014 - Newcastle
2015 - Townsville
2016 - Wollongong
2017 - Gold Coast
2018 - Canberra
2019 - Auckland
2020 - Perth
2021 - Brisbane

Wherever the game is played it needs to retain an element of freshness to survive and moving the game to a new market every year post-2013 should satisfy that requirement.

But no matter where it ends up being played, the original brains-trust deserves to be given a pat on the back for adopting a successful concept from overseas and making the NRL see that value of it - on and off the field. Tickets are still available for the 2012 clash on February 4, so click the picture link below and get along to the game if you can or simply vote for your favourite NRL All Stars.

Where do you think future NRL All Stars Games should be played and why? 


Comment below.

2012 Rugby League Almanac Available Now.
While you're here on the site - please consider grabbing a copy of the 2012 Rugby League Almanac - a 49 page season guide for just $10.00 that will give you the most in depth analysis of the 2012 NRL Season on the market. This is just pure Rugby League - you won't be disappointed. Read more below for what else is inside the downloadable document.

Wednesday 4 January 2012

It's Official: Cameron Smith Is The NRL's Best Player Entering 2012

CAMERON SMITH IS NUMBER ONE FOR 2012
By W D Nicolson, January 4, 2012
To coincide with the release of the brand new 2012 NSC Rugby League Almanac (available to purchase for just $10 here) www.wdnicolson.com can reveal that Melbourne Storm hooker Cameron Smith has been crowned the #1 Player in the Game entering the 2012 NRL Season.

While picking a definitive 'Best Player' in the game is tough at any point in time, the Christmas-New Year's Period is traditionally the least active time of the year for Rugby League and thus injury and player movement news is at a bare minimum. This means that coming up with our exhaustive NRL Top 200 List was as fair a process as possible and every player began their campaign to be the #1 player on the same footing.
In 2012, Australian, Queensland and Melbourne star Cameron Smith is the man we chose as the Best Player in Rugby League.
The ranking criteria was simple.

Entering the 2012 NRL Season - which player would we pick 1st Overall in a Draft of all available players under contract in the NRL if we were trying to construct a team to win the 2012 Premiership?

So while potential is a factor, the ability to contribute this year is a bigger one. Some players have been injured during the off-season already (Parramatta's Jacob Loko will not play in 2012 due to a knee injury and Simon Dwyer of the Wests Tigers will miss the entire season with a shoulder problem as well) and were not considered, and the same applies to Will Hopoate who has declared he will take up to two years on Mormon Mission and will not return to the NRL for 2012.

We acknowledge that our rankings will stir up debate but that’s the point. What fun is there in compiling a list of the Top 200 players in the NRL without opinion coming into the equation?

Below is Smith's scouting report and a breakdown of the representation each NRL team has in the NRL Top 200 in 2012.


So Cameron Smith is our choice as the Number One player in the game entering 2012, but who is Number Two, Number Three, or even Number Two Hundred? And what are their Scouting Reports?

To find out where your favourite player or indeed where your choice as the top player in the game was ranked - grab a copy of the Rugby League Almanac today.

For just $10.00 AUD the 49 Page Rugby League Guide will give you the most in depth analysis of the 2012 NRL Season on the market.

Released Friday December 23, 2011.

The 2012 NSC Rugby League Almanac is just $10.00 (AUD) and is a veritable NRLPalooza.

The 4th Edition includes:
  • 49 Printable A4 Pages of NRL Information - either in full A4 or Booklet Form.
  • The long anticipated NRL Top 200 - Who would we pick 1st to win the comp in 2012?
  • The NSC Honour Roll gets 15 new inductees as we recognise the Best in Rugby League since 1989.
  • 2012 Season Preview - Team Synopsis, Expanded Team Depth Charts, Power Rankings, Top 5 Players, Top 3 Rookies, Best Lineup, Transaction Grading, Season Draw and Bold Prediction: Contender or Pretender?
  • 2011 Club Review - incorporating full 2011 NRL Tweet Player of the Year Votes, Full Results and Awards.
  • Best Photos of 2011 - the Screen Shots you shouldn't forget in a hurry.
  • And what's in store from www.wdnicolson.comThe NRL Tweet and maybe NOT The Footy Show in 2012.

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