Tensions grow in Shire as Bird rethinks decision to go

The Greg Bird saga will not go away. After indicating he was prepared to pick up the pieces of his career in England, the sidelined Sharks star has now told his management he "won't walk away" from his lucrative deal - but could ask for compensation to do so.

Bird looks to UK

Suspended Sharks star Greg Bird is poised to resurrect his career in England as revelations surfaced that the club's chief executive, Tony Zappia, is defending assault accusations from a female employee.

Hellish year leads Hayne to God

"This is God's way of saying you've achieved so much, here's your chance to play against the world's best players. There's got to be some reason behind it. It has to be God. It's been created because of Him and the belief the boys have in Him."

Fijian 'no-names' leave Lockyer tongue-tied

STANDING in the shade of the Sydney Football Stadium tunnel yesterday, Kangaroos captain Darren Lockyer was asked to name five of the Fijian players his side would line up against in the World Cup semi-final on Sunday night. Too easy, he reckoned.

Hayne's pain turns to gain - snub paves way for spiritual awakening

PARRAMATTA flyer Jarryd Hayne has made the telling admission that the significant personal revolution he has experienced during Fiji's dream run in this World Cup would not have materialised had he been playing for Australia.

Laffranchi's growing pains

Anthony Laffranchi's debut as a Kangaroo tonight will be a bittersweet occasion, writes Andrew Webster.

NRL plans secret vote to sidestep bully boys

Some rugby league coaches and officials are so intimidated by others that the NRL has decided to introduce an anonymous electronic voting system at its annual conference next month.

Dogs rile Sharks with push for second home in Adelaide

The Sharks have accused the Bulldogs of undermining them in the battle for the hearts and minds of AFL-obsessed Adelaide.

Noyce work if you can get it: Tiger off to Roosters

FORMER Wests Tigers boss Steve Noyce is poised to become the chief executive of the Sydney Roosters.

Roos fear Benji ambush

KANGAROOS playmakers Johnathan Thurston and Scott Prince will be putting pressure on one another throughout the World Cup, hoping to unseat the other.

Roosters are cutting to survive, says Politis

THEY are backed by the big end of town, supported by the richest men in the country, and at one stage wanted the salary cap abolished - but now the harsh reality of the economy has struck the strongest Sydney club in the NRL.

Bird flies the coop

World Cup loses more credibility by being inflexible

"We'd love to see all the best players in the tournament," Rugby League International Federation and Australian Rugby League chairman and World Cup tournament director Colin Love said.

A Rooster's reinvention

Craig Fitzgibbon is a changed man, writes Andrew Webster.

Tonga talk lawyers after ruling sidelines Moimoi and Tuiaki

THE Tongan Rugby League intends to march the international federation to court after it ruled Parramatta's Fuifui Moimoi and the Wests Tigers' Taniela Tuiaki were ineligible to represent Tonga at the World Cup.

Judiciary cools on costly Storm legal action

NRL judiciary panel members are still considering legal action against Melbourne - but if they pursue it they might have to pay any expensive costs out of their own pockets.

Judiciary trio maintain the outrage

NRL judiciary panel member Darrell Williams last night branded the Melbourne Storm's apology as "half-arsed" and insisted it would not stop him and fellow panel members Royce Ayliffe and Darren Britt from taking legal action against the beaten grand finalists.

Orford's Roos omission puzzles Manly

MANLY coach Des Hasler believes premiership-winning captain Matt Orford has achieved enough this season to be selected in the Kangaroos' squad for this year's World Cup.

Ox shines in the twilight zone

MATT ORFORD is not a big-game player. It's unlikely that he cares now because he's a premiership-winning captain.

Manly Men - a dying species

It starts on the hill at Brookvale Oval. Steve Menzies is there with big brother James and Nanna Menzies and her friends Irene and Norma.