Five things we learnt
Michael Chammas The Dragons had a better completion rate than Melbourne in round one.
League
It's a long way to the top for new coaches on the block
Michael Chammas Rookie coaches have guided their side to the NRL finals more often than not in their first full season in the top job.
League
Eels sticking with Stuart doesn't surprise Morris
Michael Chammas Canterbury centre Josh Morris, who worked under Ricky Stuart at Origin level, insists he wasn't surprised by Parramatta's eye-opening first-round performance.
Hayne plane grounded for not-so-secret squirrel plan
Michael Chammas Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No … it's a squirrel. Just as the Parramatta fullback began to rack up the frequent flyer points, the Hayne plane is on the verge of being grounded.
League
Flanagan's still the man for Sharks
Michael Chammas He may have been stood down but suspended Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan will continue his duties as coach in an unofficial capacity.
Wasteful Panthers let Raiders off lightly
Michael Chammas The game was far from worthy of knocking the Sharks off the back page, but Penrith's rebuilding phase got off to the best possible start against the Raiders on Sunday.
League
Cleary's experiment works to perfection as happy hookers wreak havoc
Michael Chammas Panthers coach Ivan Cleary experimented with a two-pronged hooker attack on the field at the same time with great success against Canberra on Sunday.
Dugan set to give more than lip service after passing test
Michael Chammas Josh Dugan is expected to be rushed into the Canberra side for Sunday's clash with the Panthers.
Rugby League
NRL 2013: the main men
Daniel Lane and Michael Chammas With the season kicking off on Thursday, we look at each team's key player.
League
Tigers' cub set to face Snowden, Mason
Michael Chammas Rookie coach Mick Potter has taken his first leap of faith, naming 20-year-old debutant Jack Buchanan at prop for Wests Tigers' round-one clash against Newcastle.
League
Manly's young joeys benefit from expert tutelage of immortal Johns
Michael Chammas Manly five-eighth Kieran Foran believes Andrew Johns has re-instilled his confidence after an injury-riddled campaign last year.
League
Low set for new high in Canterbury's No.1 hot seat
Michael Chammas The player Des Hasler signed an hour before the June 30 deadline last year now looms as a key figure in the two-time premiership-winning coach's bid to avenge Canterbury's grand final heartache.
Griffin finds spot for Norman after throwing Prince into hot seat
Michael Chammas, Brett Keeble ANTHONY GRIFFIN dropped a selection bombshell on Friday when he named Scott Prince and Corey Norman in his run-on side for next week's round-one clash against Manly.
All in the roost: Robinson lays his philosophy out on the table
Michael Chammas IF you want a gauge of how much has changed at the Sydney Roosters under the guard of new coach Trent Robinson, pop into their Moore Park office of a morning.
The 23-second ad that made Roosters sweat it out
Brad Walter and Michael Chammas SBW OMG. That would have been the reaction if NRL salary cap auditor Ian Schubert hadn't allowed Sonny Bill Williams to play for Sydney Roosters because of an advertisement on Channel Nine promoting...
Grieving Tigers mourn tragic loss of one of the family
Michael Chammas Wests Tigers players gathered at the club's Concord headquarters on Friday afternoon to mourn the sudden death of teammate Mosese Fotuaika.
Sonny Bill free to play NRL opener
Michael Chammas The NRL has finally registered the contract of Sonny Bill Williams just hours before the deadline that would have seen him miss Thursday night's season opener against South Sydney.
Forwards re-sign to lift Rabbitohs
Michael Chammas South Sydney's promising future became a little brighter on Wednesday afternoon with forwards Luke Burgess and Chris McQueen signing new deals to remain at the club until the end of 2015.
Trial games thumbs up for referees
Michael Chammas REFEREES boss Daniel Anderson said NRL coaches were ''comfortable'' with the way the pre-season trials were officiated after the final coaches meeting before round one.
MICHAEL CHAMMAS
Small pond where even barber cashes in
Michael Chammas In Mackay, you either know Ben Barba, or you know somebody who does. Somebody who is more than willing to tell you a freakish story about something the boy wonder did when he played on the football...
