Smith gaffe takes gloss off launch
Glenn Jackson HE WAS largely forgiven for not knowing who the Australian captain was, but NRL chief executive Dave Smith will have to put up with more jibes after calling Ben Barba ''Benji'' at Wednesday night's...
Rugby League
Fallen hero may miss rest of season
Glenn Jackson BULLDOGS superstar Ben Barba's indefinite suspension may last for the rest of the season - unless he can convince counsellors and his club that he is ready to return to the NRL.
Glenn Jackson
Rapid spiral from stardom to the depths of despair
Glenn Jackson Ben Barba's "multitude of problems" came to a dramatic head when he told a Bulldogs trainer on Saturday night during the trial against Canberra in Goulburn that he did not want to play.
NRL star suspended to face his 'issues'
Glenn Jackson THE curse of the face of the NRL continues. But Ben Barba's sudden spiral from the player anointed to launch the new season on Wednesday night to being suspended indefinitely by the Bulldogs, due to...
'Ben Barba is ill and he needs help': Bulldogs poster boy may be out of game for six months
Glenn Jackson The NRL’s 2012 player of the year Ben Barba won’t play in the Bulldogs opening round clash against North Queensland and his long term future is uncertain after being stood down over behavioural...
League
Sellout anticipated when SBW runs on with the Roosters
Glenn Jackson HE HAS been cast as a mercenary and a villain by many, but there cannot be any doubting his pulling power.
Glenn Jackson
Clubs restack from backs to their packs
Glenn Jackson PREMIERSHIP teams are bred not bought, or so the saying went the last time Sydney Roosters went on such a spree.
Coaches walk same path to opposite sides
Glenn Jackson THEY lived a few blocks from each other, attended the same school, advanced to head coaching at the same club based in Perpignan, France, and will lead NRL clubs for the first time in round one.
Favoured Souths under pressure to deliver on fans' great expectations
Glenn Jackson In this set of six, Glenn Jackson looks at Friday night's Charity Shield showdown between the Rabbitohs and Dragons.
Bon Jovi bows out of NRL's new house
Glenn Jackson THE NRL is no longer Bon Jovi's house. In keeping with the ''bold new era'' changes in the code, NRL officials have ended their advertising association with the rock giants.
Holden rev up to sponsor Origin
Glenn Jackson THE NRL's pockets continue to be lined; the latest significant announcement being that Holden is set to sign on as sponsor of the code's jewel in the crown, the State of Origin series.
League
Game-changing deal that was brokered in a phone box
Glenn Jackson A PHONE box outside a campsite near Nowra. If ever there was a place you would not have expected some serious negotiations to be had, on the next NRL major sponsor and digital media rights, this...
Video easy: better calls to come as refs get more clout
Glenn Jackson REFEREES boss Daniel Anderson believes the dilution of the video officials' powers will not only lead to better decision-making over tries but also better referees.
League
Revised structure key to Tigers' prosperity, says Trodden
Glenn Jackson OUTGOING Wests Tigers chairman David Trodden believes the sooner the joint-venture club is no longer referred to as just that - a joint-venture club - the more the club can prosper.
League
Watch out: Russians are coming to Manly
Glenn Jackson WHEN the enthusiastic media release lobbed at 4.50pm on Monday, it appeared straight out of the Garry Hocking book.
League
Gallen injury not serious, says Sharks coach
Glenn Jackson Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan has no issues with skipper Paul Gallen's involvement in a charity boxing event and maintained he expected the Test and Origin forward to be back when the squad resumes...
League
Gallen's ring debut a bout to regret
Glenn Jackson IT IS not quite Cronulla's worst fears realised, but the wash-up from Paul Gallen's charity boxing bout will leave the Sharks feeling their own charity might have been misguided.
League
Roosters fly south to bond and burn
Glenn Jackson FEW NRL teams enjoy travelling to Canberra in the middle of winter. Yet well into summer, Sydney Roosters believe a trip to the capital will turn around their fortunes.
League
Tinkler woes are trouble for Bennett
Glenn Jackson WAYNE BENNETT'S future at Newcastle would be placed in jeopardy should Nathan Tinkler lose control of the Knights.
Rugby league
Christmas comes early as agreement nears on CBA
Glenn Jackson JUST before 7pm on Thursday, four NRL players stepped out of the headquarters of the NRL to state that they believed they had a deal. A salary cap of about $5.
