The Sporting Hack

Any people who question whether the Super League should adopt the ‘Golden Point’ rule could have been influenced by events had they been at Brookvale Oval on Friday night. The humble surroundings which are the home of NRL’s Manly Sea Eagles witnessed the hosts claw back an 18 point deficit in the final thirteen minutes of the game, only to have potential victory snatched from their grasp by a former teammate. On a night when former St Helens centre Jamie Lyon kicked his way past his own personal milestone of 1000 career points, it was Canterbury’s Trent Hodkinson who had the final say after the game had been tied at 30-all. The circumstances in which the half back kicked a penalty for two points on the scoreboard, and two points more on the overall ladder, summed up the pulsating and brutal nature of the ten minute period, which has been present in NRL for eleven seasons. Did the Bulldogs deserve to win? After all, they had squandered a lead built by Ben Barba’s double...

What is it with these Aussies wanting to box? First Paul Gallen and now David Warner. Anyway, On the Attack has made it to Round ten, which feels like an achievement. We also feel like we've come up with one of the liveliest blogs in a while - do you agree? Tell us on Twitter using #TSHontheattack. Read Away! "Can I box with these gloves?" Any fears, on the part of English cricket, that Joe Root may have suffered mentally from an off-field altercation with Australian batsman David Warner were firmly put to bed yesterday at The Oval as the Yorkshireman made a determined 68 runs from 55 balls in England’s defeat to Sri Lanka in the Champions Trophy. Warner, on the other hand, is now feeling the repercussions of his actions following an attempted punch to Root’s ‘Sheffield Steel’ jaw. Joking – and wigs – aside, Warner’s actions were unprovoked and indefensible. It is the second time in a month that he has fallen foul of Cricket Australia’s disciplinary procedu...

It’s quite conceivable that an all time Premier League XI may have Gary Neville and Matt Le Tissier as candidates for starting spots.   Both were honest and hard working one-club professionals – with Manchester United and Southampton respectively – who acquired over 800 senior appearances at the elite level, and have also gone on to work for Sky Sports in punditry capacities. How they come across on the small screen may also translate to their respective autobiographies. Neville, whose analysis is cutting, bordering on ruthless, delivers a book that is regularly on the front foot.  Even as age sets in, there is little room for grey areas. Le Tissier’s recollections of a career in which he scored 161 goals for the Saints appear tinged with misty eyes and a jokey take on ‘the good old days’ where a balanced diet was a pint in each hand.  Throughout, he also maintains a firm view that he has no regrets about rebuffing chances to switch to Chelsea or ...

Rugby League at it's finest Where to start with part 9 of the newly named ‘On The Attack’ feature on The Sporting Hack? As usual we’ve tried to cherry pick the very best of the Sporting world of late and come up with a combination as snappy as a Paul Gallen flurry of punches. The time is now. Again. They say you should never go back. This is perhaps not the case if the individual did not do so well at a club and returns with a point to prove. But what is there left for Jose Mourinho to achieve with his beloved Chelsea? The ‘Special One’ never did poach the European Cup while in charge of the Blues, but the boys of Stamford Bridge did in 2012 under the stewardship of the currently unemployed Roberto Di Matteo. Is that what Mourinho has almost reduced himself to; equalling the former manager of MK Dons and West Brom? Looking at the bigger picture, as the Portuguese man surely will be, he will return to the Premier League relishing the prospect of once agai...

Super League is never afraid to be innovative; try something new, appeal to everyone everywhere. It’s a concept that has served the competition well over the years, whether it is one off charity kits worn by teams or continuation of the extra fixture at ‘Magic’ weekend. Last week’s ‘Magic’ round saw over 62,000 spectators pass through the turnstiles at Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium over the course of two days to see seven regulation league fixtures. There is a sense that the Magic weekend belongs in Manchester. It is accessible to the folk of the ‘rugby league heartland’ and keeps costs down in these economic climes when previously it has been staged further afield in Cardiff and Edinburgh. There had been speculation that the date of ‘Magic’ may change to be the season curtain raiser.  However, it has been announced today that Super League have decided that the ever growing showpiece will stick to it's mid-May dates for next year to avoid what would have fr...