2010 NRL Pre-Season Games & NSC Almanac Announcement.

NSC's 2010 NRL Premiership Preview is being converted into a comprehensive PDF Guide available before the NRL Season Kicks-Off.
The NSC Rugby League Players Almanac will be back after a few seasons hiatus (three were published for the 2005, 2006 & 2007 seasons) and you'll be able to purchase the new edition via this website.

The trials begin February 7 and the NRL All-Stars v Indigenous All-Stars game is played February 13 at Skilled Park should be a entertaining exhibition game featuring the talent we will be treated to throughout 2010.

Here is the schedule for the 2010 Pre-Season:
Sun, Feb 7 - Rabbitohs v Sea Eagles @ Redfern Oval.
Fri, Feb 12 - Cowboys v Tigers @ Mackay.
Sat, Feb 13 - Warriors v Roosters @ Rotorua; Broncos v Storm @ Rockhampton.
Sun, Feb 14 - Dragons v Eels @ Perth.
Sat Feb 20 - Panthers v Eels @ CUA Stadium; Dragons v Bulldogs @ WIN Stadium; Raiders v Broncos @ Ballymore; Cowboys v Warriors @ Cairns; Roosters v Tigers @ SFS; Rabbitohs v Titans @ Coffs Harbour.
Sat, Feb 27 - Panthers v Knights @ Port Macquarie; Rabbitohs v Dragons @ ANZ Stadium, Cowboys v Titans @ Darwin; Warriors v Sea Eagles @ North Harbour Stadium; Bulldogs v Raiders @ Dubbo; Broncos v Dolphins @ Redcliffe; Tigers v Sharks & Roosters v Eels @ Bluetongue Stadium.
Sun, Feb 28 - Rhinos v Storm @ Elland Road - World Club Challenge.

We'll update the progress of the Almanac on this page in the coming weeks.

Remember to follow us on http://twitter.com/NRLTweet - the best source of relevant Rugby League information on Twitter.

Enjoy the pre-season!

Hungry Shahid? Afridi takes ball tampering to a new level.

Pakistan stand-in skipper Shahid Afridi has been banned for two Twenty20 Internationals after being found guilty of chewing on the cricket ball during last night's One Day International in Perth against Australia.

After his suspension was announced, Afridi apologised for the incident.

"I am ashamed. I did it in the heat of the moment as the match was a close one, but I should not have done that, it's a serious offence,'' Afridi said.

"I apologise to all and everyone involved in the match and to the fans around the world. This will never happen again.''

While Afridi's punishment is apparently 'the maximum' for the offence, the question becomes not so much whether Afridi will do it again but - has he done it before?

Either way before the next match Afridi plays for Pakistan, team management should take him to an all you can eat buffet to make sure he doesn't get the munchies late in the game.

How wdnicolson.blogspot.com reacted just moments after the incident:

The game isn't even over yet but stand-in Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has sensationally chewed on a cricket ball during the One Day International between Australia and Pakistan at the WACA (January 31, 2009).

This article is as live as it gets. There were just six overs to go in the Australian innings (chasing 213 to win), when Afridi took a bite out of the ball - with the intent (allegedly) to get it to reverse swing quicker in the final overs.

When a photo is available I'll upload it but take it as read - Afridi has a case to answer.

You cannot pretend (allegedly) to breathe on the ball for five seconds when it is CLEAR (allegedly) you're chowing down on the leather... the 3rd umpire saw it on the telecast, alerted the umpires and the ball was immediately changed.

Afridi is in all sorts judging by the vision and the fact the umpires removed the ball from the field of play quickly - so the teeth marks should still be there to analyse.

In a word... gobsmackable.

And to add something to the mix... an over later some idiotic drunk ran onto the field and tried to crash tackle Pakistani opening batsman Khalid Latif. He'll spend the night in jail and never see the green grass of an international cricket field again... the perpetrator that is, not Latif.

Crazy night at the WACA and Australia still need 28 runs from 23 balls to win the game and take out the series 5-0... but that won't be the big news out of this game I assure you.

Post-Script... Australia's Ryan Harris 'won' the game with 3 balls left. He hit the ball straight to mid-off and was easily caught with 1 run to win... but it was a full toss above his waist and ruled a no-ball. Which is 1 run and an Australian victory... WOW what a final hour!

So what is wrong with this picture? Australia Day 2010

Absolutely nothing.

When a nufty like Ray Martin comes out and says "I object to having the British flag in the corner of our flag. We have well and truly reached the point where we should have our own flag. I think we have to grow up and move on to the next stage."

I'm confident that the Australian Flag will fly in its current form for a long, long time.

Seriously - when you look at our flag are you really disgusted by its immaturity?

It is a strong symbol of Australia and despite what you may think about Great Britain (past or present) - the fact remains without our place in the Commonwealth in World War II in particular - the Japanese advance may have met with far less opposition in the early 1940s.

Australia 'grew up' in World War I and stood up to be counted in World War II, Mr. Martin, and our flag should reminds us each time we see it - of our history and the sacrifices our countrymen and women have made to give us this place to live.

Like the whole republic debate this stinks of the change for change's sake dictum... and how'd that turn out for the Germans in 1933?

That's an extreme comparison sure, but ask yourself one very important question right now, here on Australia Day 2010 - is Australia going that badly that changing our FLAG will improve our quality of life?

Hardly and one thing Australians should NEVER complain about is our quality of life.

We are blessed beyond our wildest dreams.

I was speaking to a friend who just returned from Africa and he conveyed the disbelief about how lucky we are to have been born into this country... when so many more are born into a position that they most likely can never break free of.

So Mr Ray Martin - get your hair hat out of the microwave, fasten the velcro and go enjoy Australia Day with your friends and family. And if you could - just take a moment to look at our flag and give thanks to all those who came before you and sacrificed so much to give the rest of us even more.