News
Merritt pick works for Inglis
Laine Clark 6:10am Queensland centre Greg Inglis is happy his South Sydney teammate Nathan Merritt has finally earned NSW selection - but will still look to exploit it.
Set of Six
What were the Booze Bros. thinking?
PHIL GOULD It defies belief doesn't it? It's a real struggle for me to understand how, after everything they have experienced, these two boys decided it was a good idea to go out drinking together in public on Sunday night.
Origin
At last: Mr Nice Guy Merritt gets chance to shine at Origin
Michael Carayannis For every Blake Ferguson there are any number of Nathan Merritts involved in rugby league, which makes the South Sydney winger's NSW call-up even more timely for the code.
League
Touched Woods savours full fitness after career was in doubt
Michael Carayannis Aaron Woods just wanted to play football again. Anywhere, any time, with the bright lights of State of Origin the furthest thing from his mind. But now, as he prepares to make his NSW debut next Wednesday, the Wests Tigers prop revealed how injury almost robbed him of his career before it ever took off.
League
Ennis ready for Sonny Bill, the playmaker
Daniel Lane Canterbury skipper Michael Ennis has revealed his team is preparing for the possibility of Sydney Roosters forward Sonny Bill Williams starting at five-eighth in their match on Friday night.
George banned so Rabbits pull another Burgess out of the hat
CHRIS BARRETT South Sydney have found the ultimate like-for-like replacement for the suspended George Burgess, promoting his identical twin Thomas to make his first-grade debut against Parramatta on Sunday.
League
Hasler backs Manly to weed out fans who crossed line
Daniel Lane Canterbury coach Des Hasler condemned the Manly spectators who racially abused Frank Pritchard's wife during last Friday's controversial Bulldogs victory at Brookvale Oval as ''disappointing''.
Rugby League
Bad few are wrecking game for future: Smith
Steve Mascord Melbourne Storm and Australia captain Cameron Smith has lashed out at misbehaving players who live in a cocoon in rugby league's heartlands and don't understand how much they are hurting the game in its frontiers.
Smith slams misbehaving players for harm caused
STEVE MASCORD 12:01am Melbourne, Queensland and Australian captain Cameron Smith has lashed out at misbehaving players who live in a cocoon in league's heartlands and don't understand how much they are hurting the game in its frontiers.
Mundine, Raiders in Ferguson's corner
BRAD WALTER 11:30pm Anthony Mundine has told Blake Ferguson to give up the booze and vowed to help the troubled Origin star turn his career around after being sacked from the NSW team and suspended indefinitely by the NRL in the wake of being charged with indecent assault.
Brumbies beat Lions 14-12 in Canberra
David Barbeler 11:01pm The Brumbies have beaten the Lions 14-12 in Canberra, the first provincial Australian side to do so since 1971.
One Burgess out, another in for Souths
Melissa Woods 6:28pm Tom Burgess is the fourth and final of the burly English brothers to make his NRL debut with Souths, replacing his identical twin George, who is suspended.
Origin rookie Papalii no pushover when it comes to Gallen
PHIL LUTTON 6:33pm Queensland has played down Josh Papalii’s role as a 'Gallen stopper' in State of Origin II but the thunderous Maroons rookie says he won’t take a backward step if things heat up at Suncorp Stadium.
Halatau reveals Manly fan abuse
Ian McCullough 4:52pm Dene Halatau says he wasn't spat at by Manly fans after Cantebury's win at Brokvale last Friday, but the visiting players were subjected to verbal abuse.
Titans coach feels for Origin outcast
Ed Jackson 2:36pm Gold Coast coach John Cartwright says it's disappointing back-rower Ashley Harrison will be playing for the Titans rather than preparing for State of Origin.
League
Business is business but Soward feels robbed of farewell
Michael Carayannis 4:13pm Outgoing St George Illawarra five-eighth Jamie Soward feels robbed of having the chance to farewell the Dragons faithful but says his impending short stint move to England is the best outcome for he and his former club.
Round 15 line-ups
Talkin' Teams Origin edition, Tuesday, June 18
MICHAEL CHAMMAS 1:33pm The latest news for Origin II as clubs name their sides for round 15.
Origin selections signal generational change in Maroons
PHIL LUTTON 1:24pm Queensland coach Mal Meninga has initiated a generational change within the Maroons with veterans David Shillington and Ashley Harrison dropped for game two in Brisbane
Shillington dropped from Maroons team
CHRIS WILSON 12:57pm Canberra Raiders and Australian Kangaroos prop David Shillington has been dropped from the Queensland Origin team, two weeks after starting for the Maroons in the series opener.
Origin tempers may flare: Qld
Laine Clark and Jim Morton 4:51pm Queensland coach Mal Meninga agrees with the NRL's new hardline stance on fighting but says tempers may still flare in next week's Origin II.
Raiders to stand by Ferguson
Melissa Woods, Roje Adaimy and Ian McCullough 5:49pm Canberra say they'll stand by troubled NSW winger Blake Ferguson after he was charged with indecent assault on Monday night.
A seemingly endless story of league players behaving badly
RICHARD HINDS 5:47pm George Burgess charged with smashing a car window in Cairns at 2.45am? Let's start with the laughs because, let's face it, the tears will come.
Rabbits pull another Burgess out of the hat
CHRIS BARRETT 5:16pm The identical twin brother of George Burgess has been called up to make his NRL debut following the standing down of the South Sydney forward for smashing a car window in Cairns.
Merritt replaces Ferguson in NSW team
BRAD WALTER 10:20am South Sydney winger Nathan Merritt has been called into the NSW team to replace dumped Raiders player Blake Ferguson.
Daley confident with Merritt NSW selection
Ian McCullough 7:47pm Coach Laurie Daley says he's confident Nathan Merritt will produce his NRL form on his State of Origin debut against Queensland next week.
Sorry Burgess banned and fined by Souths
Ian McCullough 6:38pm George Burgess has been banned for two matches and fined $10,000 by South Sydney after being charged with wilful damage by police.
'I've let my team and family down': Souths star Burgess sorry over vehicle damage charge
MEGAN LEVY South Sydney Rabbitohs player George Burgess has apologised for letting ‘‘my team and my family down’’ after he was charged with smashing a car window in Cairns this week.
George Burgess stood down, fined $10,000
South Sydney prop George Burgess has been suspended for two matches and fined $10,000 by the NRL after admitting to damaging property in Cairns.
Bird warns of Origin ref pressure
Ian McCullough Greg Bird says the new rule that will see players sin binned for throwing punches during matches will heap extra pressure on State of Origin referees.
