Special Interest Archives | Ladbrokes Blog

Caretaker Coaches Getting The Fulltime Gig

Manly and St George Illawarra swung the axe on under-pressure coaches Anthony Seibold and Shane Flanagan, respectively, earlier this season – pitching Kieran Foran and Dean Young into the caretaker hotseat. Against the odds, Foran and Young have both turned the ailing clubs’ fortunes around to varying degrees to secure permanent head coach roles. Most mid-season sackings result in recruiting the next cabs off the coaching rank for the following season, so we’re pinpointing every interim mentor to have been promoted to the fulltime gig. Ray Stehr Manly’s inauspicious 0-5 start to their inaugural 1947 campaign saw the club make…

Most Memorable Stradbroke Handicap Wins

11 Jun • Craig Sheppard

Queensland’s premier race, the Stradbroke Handicap, boasts a proud and storied legacy. Since its inaugural running in 1890, it has delivered countless unforgettable moments and thrilling finishes. As anticipation builds for the 2026 edition, set to take place this Saturday at Eagle Farm, we’re taking a moment to reflect on some of the standout victories in recent years that have captured the imagination of racing fans across the nation. 1984 & 1986 – Daybreak Lover When talking memorable Stradbroke Handicap moments, it would be amiss to not to start with the extraordinary Daybreak Lover. The son of Namnan won the…

Most Memorable Queensland Oaks Wins

4 Jun • Craig Sheppard

Since its inaugural running in 1951, the Group 1 Queensland Oaks has delivered countless unforgettable moments. Over the decades, this prestigious race has not only thrilled fans but also revealed some of the sport’s brightest stars. A standout example is the legendary Winx, who announced her arrival on the big stage with a stunning win in 2015. As we gear up for the 2026 edition this Saturday at Eagle Farm, we’re taking a look back at some of the most captivating victories that have left a lasting mark on Queensland racing history. 2019 – Winning Ways Winning Ways victory in…

Top 10 Broncos-Cowboys NRL Classics

9 Apr • James Caughlin

When it is on, there is no better rivalry in the modern NRL competition. Brisbane and North Queensland, the Sunshine State’s two oldest teams, have treated fans to some of the most memorable contests in the league’s history, with plenty of those coming from the mid-2010’s when both were chasing Premiership honours. If you think that is hyperbole, take a look at some of the epic games these two sides have played in and then try to pick a top 10. That’s exactly what we did, and it was a tough exercise trimming the list down and then putting them…

Top Masters Moments of the Millennium

8 Apr • James Caughlin

When you hear Jim Nantz say “A tradition unlike any other…” you know that it is time for The Masters. Golf’s premiere event and the first major of the season takes place this weekend and we are in for four memorable rounds. There have been many iconic moments on the Augusta National Course and we are going through the archives to pick the best of the best since the year 2000. 9: 2021 – Matsuyama Makes History Returning to its traditional April time slot following the rescheduling of the 2020 Masters tournament, Japanese golfer Hideki Mastuyama made history at Augusta.…

Rugby League's Rapid Coaching Transitions

7 Apr • Will Evans

Kieran Foran was the big story of Round 5, guiding embattled Manly to a stunning 52-18 victory over the Dolphins in his first match as interim coach – less than seven months after his final NRL appearance as a player. Whether the Sea Eagles role is temporary or not, ‘Foz’ has already been earmarked as a head coach-in-waiting. Here, we take a look at players who have made the quickest transition from hanging up the boots to picking up the clipboard at the elite level. The list overlooks players who finished their playing days as captain-coach, such as Clive Churchill, Ken Kearney,…

Highest Scores in Sheffield Shield History

26 Mar • Liam Fogarty

There is no larger middle finger in sport than a batting side piling on an unnecessary amount of runs and refusing to declare. For a batting side it is almost the perfect sledge and to be on the receiving end of the batting barrage, it often makes you reconsider why you ever started playing the sport in the first place. Over the years the Sheffield Shield has had some jaw dropping scorecards, did teams run up the score because they couldn’t stand the other sides? Was it because there were only six domestic games per team back in the early…

Top 10 Golden Slipper Winners

19 Mar • Craig Sheppard

The world’s richest two-year-old race, the $5 million Golden Slipper, will be run this Saturday at Rosehill Gardens. If you haven’t been feeling nostalgic and reminiscing about past editions of the race this week then frankly, are you really a racing fan? It’s been a hot topic in the Ladbrokes office over the last few days, so we’ve taken a trip down memory lane with our Top 10 Golden Slipper winners. 10. Todman (1957) There is only one way to start any Golden Slipper list and that’s where it all began in 1957 with Todman. The son of Star Kingdom…

Rugby League's Surprise Minor Premiers

17 Mar • Will Evans

The opening fortnight of the 2026 NRL premiership has given every indication that we’re in for another wild regular season ride, with shock bolters and surprise sliders galore. The competition’s history is littered with teams who seemingly had little prospect of finishing anywhere near top of the table before a ball was kicked, yet spurned reputations to carry off the minor premiership – as recently as last season. Western Suburbs Magpies (1961) During its iconic run of 11 straight grand final wins from 1956-66, St George failed to collect the minor premiership just once – in 1961, when Western Suburbs edged the Red V on for-and-against. Recruiting Australian internationals Noel Kelly and Don Parish, the ‘Millionaires’ ended an eight-match losing…

Hendo's Hoodoos - Saturday's Best Omen Bets

27 Feb • Lucy Henderson

Looking for Saturday’s best hoodoo racing bets? Ladbrokes have you covered with our insider weekly omen tips! Welcome back punters to the second edition of Hendo’s Hoodoo Bets – our weekly deep dive into the statistically superstitious world of “omen betting.” Ladbrokes’ own “Value Whisperer”, Lucy Henderson, is a gun for tipping roughies in her Hendo’s Hopefuls and now she’s here for your best weekly hoodoo bets on Saturday. This week punters are perfectly positioned to capitalise on a massive crossover weekend of sports and racing as we prepare for the NRL season launch in Las Vegas! The 2026 NRL…