The Roar

3 days ago | theroar.com.au | Hamish Bidwell

I was a victim of clickbait once again, in recent days. Rieko Ioane had apparently sent the rugby world into ‘shock’. Yes, in a ‘stunning’ development, it turns out the All Blacks centre is taking up his contracted sabbatical. I wasn’t to know that at the time. No, like the lemming I sometimes am, I rushed to click on a headline that said Ioane was off to Ireland.

5 days ago | theroar.com.au | Paul Suttor

Penrith snapped their five-game losing streak with a thumping win over the Roosters but the jury is still out on whether the premiers are well and truly back. They recorded their first win on Australian soil since last year’s grand final to trounce a depleted Roosters side 40-12 to break their slump of five straight losses since beating Cronulla to kick off the season in Las Vegas.

1 week ago | theroar.com.au | Paul Suttor

St George Illawarra are emerging as one of the surprise packets for the NRL playoffs after upsetting Manly at Brookvale on Thursday night. Young winger Tyrell Sloan starred for the Dragons in their 20-18 upset over an error-prone Sea Eagles side and despite being considered favourites for the wooden spoon in the pre-season, Shane Flanagan’s troops are punching well above their weight.

1 week ago | theroar.com.au | James Kane |Christy Doran |Ben Pobjie

Easts def Hunter 15-12The Wildfires nearly pulled off the boilover, opening with a monster 50-22 from flyhalf Connor Winchester, thanks in part to some radioactive ball-watching from fullback Chris Bell at the back. But Easts weathered the early storm. Momentum swung when Hunter’s no. 13, Sitiveni Vahai — a certified handful all game — pinched a turnover and went 80 metres downfield. Could’ve gone either way, but sometimes the footy gods just let it ride.

1 week ago | theroar.com.au | Tim Miller

It’s the mid-year holiday season, and we know what that means… footy on nearly every day of the week!With Easter this weekend and then next week Anzac Round, nine of the next 11 days feature at least one AFL match. What a time to ignore your friends and family and park yourself on the couch or head along to a game or five and scream yourself hoarse.