News
Commission control picks up poor signals from state bodies
OFFICIALS from the NSW, Queensland and Country Rugby leagues are to meet after the State of Origin series to discuss the direction of the code, with potentially massive implications for plans to hand control to an independent commission.
Sailor and Bennett at odds over throwing five-eighth into cauldron
PERHAPS unsurprisingly, Wayne Bennett refused to talk him up as an Origin prospect. Perhaps surprisingly, Jamie Soward refused to talk himself up. Over to you Dell.
Different pressure for young Roosters
LAST Sunday afternoon young Roosters Mitchell Pearce, Jake Friend and Sandor Earl were a nervous mess, fearful of what a 3am nightclub fight in The Rocks would mean for their careers.
Stadium stoush could kill off cash-strapped Knights
NEWCASTLE'S fate is in the hands of retired High Court judge Michael McHugh.
Storm wary of Knights mind games for clash
Melbourne back-rower Ryan Hoffman reckons there might be a bit of a smokescreen over the Newcastle team that takes on the Storm in the NRL round-17 clash at Olympic Park tonight.
Italian connection comes under scrutiny
Despite having a multimillion-dollar property empire, the Parramatta Leagues Club chairman, Roy Spagnolo, has had an extraordinary run of bad luck, with a string of his property development companies failing, leaving debts including more than $1 million to the Tax Office.
NRL probes under-the-table payments to Parramatta players
THE National Rugby League is poised to investigate property deals involving Parramatta Eels players that may have occurred at the club during the time Tony Zappia was football manager.
It's now or never for battling old rivals
You wouldn't bet your life on either side.
Sportsmen behaving badly are likely a product of their environment
Footballers getting into trouble may not be entirely to blame, writes Andrew Stevenson.
Price right on the money when he says it's time for Warriors to cash in
The Warriors take no comfort from the fact their opponents at
Suncorp Stadium tonight - Brisbane - have lost four games in a row
and conceded 159 points along the way. When you haven't won away
from home since round two, you've got your own demons to confront.
Carroll 'will hit top gear'
NRL's oldest player reckons playing rugby league is "like riding a bike" and expects Tonie Carroll to hit top gear for the Broncos.
Why scoring 2318 points isn't El Masri's proudest achievement
After announcing his retirement this week, Hazem El Masri was asked
to nominate what he considers to be the best of his 851 goals and
154 tries.
It's Ben, not Benji, seizing half chance
Dragons skipper Ben Hornby is flourishing at halfback, writes
Andrew Stevenson.
Hunt out for Warriors clash
Late Mail: Brisbane - and possibly Queensland - have suffered a significant blow ahead of tonight's important clash against the Warriors, with Karmichael Hunt ruled out with an ankle injury.
He's no Lockyer, but Soward's not far off
For Wayne Bennett, one of the hardest things about leaving the
Broncos was knowing that he would be unlikely to coach Darren
Lockyer again, but at least at the Dragons he had a ready-made
replacement in Jamie Soward.
How bout that: Haz set to pull on gloves
Sin Bin: Hazem El Masri is set to become the latest league star to step into the boxing ring, with the game's greatest pointscorer considering a proposal to take part in a charity fight at the end of the season.
Family ties drove Millward's decision
Reuniting with his three children was the driving force behind
Canberra Raiders assistant coach Ian Millward signing a three-year
deal with English first division club Leigh Centurions.
Fitzy to finish with a flourish
WHILE Craig Fitzgibbon admits the Roosters finals hopes are "washed
up", he is determined to show he isn't.
Hunt out of Warriors clash
Brisbane will be without fullback Karmichael Hunt for Friday
night's NRL showdown with the Warriors at Suncorp Stadium.
Queensland have Fa'aoso on radar for Origin debut
QUEENSLAND selectors are considering Knights battering ram Richie
Fa'aoso as an option to replace injured props Petero Civoniceva and
Ben Hannant for the third State of Origin game at Suncorp Stadium
on July 15.
No tries for Darius but drought not a problem
Dragons flyer Darius Boyd isn't the least bit concerned by his NRL
try-scoring drought.
Get Lote back now: Lockyer
Australian captain says he'd be happy to see Lote Tuqiri make a
cameo in the NRL for the remainder of the season.
Police investigate Zappia 'bikie bash attempt'
Police are investigating an alleged attempt to solicit a bikie to
bash former Cronulla Sharks NRL club boss Tony Zappia.
A tale of two halves positions - six appeals to Benji
Benji Marshall believes the Wests Tigers should chase a top-class
halfback to partner him for next season and beyond - and while
somewhat relieved and "relaxed" his stint in the key playmaking
position has been shelved, he is yet to give up hope of becoming a
long-term No.7.
Sharks tear up Seymour's contract
Another day, another alcohol-related sanction. But that was not
yesterday's most remarkable aspect of deja vu. On the very day new
Sharks chairman Damian Irvine - on his first day in the role -
likened the club to a "demolition job", Brett Seymour showed why.




