Across the ditch the headlines have been grabbed today by the announcement of new rules which will be used in an upcoming game between the NRL All Stars and the Indigenous All Stars next year. It's just what the sport needs to get a bit of excitement injected back into it, after the turmoil of this past season where the biggest players in the game were all fingered at some time or another for misconduct. [see what I did there?]

The NRL has always been pretty good at changing up its rules, and it doesn't take the same amount of time, or 'trial periods' as are used in rugby union [see 'ELVs, The']. The new rules which will come in, for this match only before they are reviewed and dismissed as a gimmick or brought in in future are;

­­­On-again off-again rugby league player Wendell Sailor has announced that he will retire from the game he gave up to play rugby, which he was forced to stop playing because he was doing drugs.

Since completing his ban for testing positive to cocaine, Sailor became a model player, saving his money for when he retired so he could really go on a binge. At this time Sailor has not announced any plans for a new income stream to fund his drug habit, though many similar athletes find media work both an easy source of income and an easier source of Class-A items.

Something I discussed in the last podcast was the issue of sport analysis.
When a team is playing, how do the viewers come to their conclusions regarding a player's performance? Does it help you if you've played in their position and know what they should be doing? Can you make enough detail about a player's performance by the tv broadcast alone? Does the media opinion of these players impact on your own?

I'm interested in all answers! Post a comment below.

An Australian correspondent has sent us this exclusive footage of several Rugby League players who are about to have their lives rocked in a new group-sex scandal.

It's too graphic to just have on the front page, so hit the jump.

The Australian is today reporting that Australian players at the Rugby League World Cup were given a $1000 voucher by Victoria Bitter to be used in bottle shops, with no time limit.

This in a competition which throughout its history has suffered from booze scandal after booze scandal. Who the fuck thought this was a good idea? More importantly, why does the administration STILL think it is?

Choice editing here:

ARL chief executive Geoff Carr rejected suggestions the league had been irresponsible in allowing players to have the vouchers from sponsor, Victoria Bitter.

"There's no limit on the time. There's been no dramas and I reckon a lot of them still haven't used it."

Hey Geoff, if your son was given a loaded gun for his birthday, would you say there was no drama because he hadn't used it?

Meanwhile, you can party at Benji's house tonight, and don't forget to check out the NRL site to see the Warriors on top [Well they will be, remember that the Bulldogs have lost 2 points].

Holy Fucking Shit!

34-20 The Kiwis beat the Kangaroos in the Rugby League World Cup final! Doesn't Wayne Bennett (far left) look happy. And those striped polo shirts are something else.

And check out this awesome haka (in a poor­­ quality video)

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And here are some highlights:

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I need you (to play for us). You complete me (backline). I can give you what Steve can’t (loadsa money). With those few words, silver fox Tana Umaga, coach of first division rugby club Toulon, completely stole the heart of league star Sonny Bill Williams.

"I first noticed him on TV back in 1996. I was just a kid, and he seemed so strong and powerful. I knew then that our fates were forever intertwined" said a blushing SBW from his new home in the south of France. "I mean his flowing (dread)locks initially caught my eye, but it was his mana that claimed my heart and soul."

But all joking aside, this is an interesting issue. SBW has just taken up a 2 year contract with the newly crowned second division champions and hopes to carry Toulon to the top of the first division, and build a strong relationship with his coach, former All Black Tana Umaga.

I believe SBW is still unproven as a rugby league player and really is a complete unknown as a union player. There is no doubting his physical attributes, he is an outstanding athlete and physical specimen (clearly what appealed to Tana Umaga, looking for a healthy young stud to add to his stable :p).

But I am yet to be convinced that he is the absolute megastar that all of this press has warranted. He won the NRL title with the bulldogs in only his second season and played a prominent part, but a megastar? He has been injured more often than he has played over the last few years, and has been relatively muted in any internationals he did play for the Kiwis (incidentally it appears his Kiwis representative career is well and truly over. It doesn’t look like he’ll ever be allowed back into Australia, as he is now pretty much considered a criminal. Which is also kind of ironic.).

Which brings me to the question of SBW ever representing NZ in rugby. He’s got a lot of work to do. This isn’t Australia where league converts appear to be fast tracked into the  Wallabra (Ryan Cross (pass), Lote Tuquiri (A+), Timana Tahu (undecided), Matt Rogers (Fail), Wendell Sailor (epic Fail)).

Firstly, until (if ever) they change the rules, he is going to need to play in NZ and in Super Rugby, which could be a little difficult if the criminal element don’t let him in to play their rugby teams.

Secondly, he’s got plenty of stiff competition from the likes of Conrad Smith, Richard Kahui and Tim Bateman.

And thirdly, his behaviour, however some might say was justified by the actions of the bulldogs, his agents etc, suggests he still has some maturing to do.

From the odd highlight real I have seen of SBW I have been impressed. He is an impressive athlete and when fit and healthy, will make any team better. For me, the jury is still out on his megastardom status, but under the guidance of Umaga, he is at least headed in the right direction.

The Dropkicks discuss the pre-World Cup warm up matches undertaken in the Northern Hemisphere over the last week; Round 4 of the Air NZ Cup; the All Blacks WAGs ban; some Premiership Football, Major League Baseball and NFL; and watch a bevy of models across the road...

­ Download Episode 2007/28.

More analysis of the Air NZ Cup (NZ's provincial rugby competition); Australia's late-night pre-World Cup training; French rugby coach Laporte insinuates All Blacks and English are on drugs; Jake Brown's 30ft skateboard fall; Alex Rodriguez gets to 500 baseball homers in record time; Swede Stefan ... something ... wins the 100m freestyle in sub-48 seconds; ex All Black Ofisa Tonu'u sorts out someone suffering from air-rage; NRL player Sonny Bill Williams loses his BMW; EA Sports annoy gamers by only releasing Rugby 2007 on PS2/PC; another NRL player - Brad Morrin - gets a citing for biting; and rugby player Rico Gear abandons Tasman...

Download Episode 2007/26.

The Dropkicks get into the swing of the 2007 Air NZ Cup; the Tour de France (aka Tour de Farce); Good deeds done by Curtis Martin; Iraq's win in the Asian Cup; bad 'fan' behaviour in the NRL (league) and NFL (american football); NFL player impersonations; and NRL players other than Willie Mason that the Dropkicks hate.

Download Episode 2007/25.