Next year can't come too soon for also-rans
Brad Walter After farewelling Nathan Hindmarsh and Luke Burt on Sunday night, Parramatta players will have this week off and then return to training for the rest of the month under new coach Ricky Stuart.
Winning Starts Monday
Why your team missed the finals - and how they can make them in 2013
Brad Walter After farewelling Nathan Hindmarsh and Luke Burt on Sunday night, Parramatta players will have this week off and then return to training for the rest of the month under new coach Ricky Stuart.
Player power shouldn't make coaching a popularity contest
Brad Walter As the Raiders prepare for Saturday night's clash with South Sydney, Canberra officials should be grateful fate intervened to prevent them from listening to disgruntled players and sacking coach...
Winning Starts Monday
The trouble with player power
Brad Walter As the Raiders prepare for Saturday night's final clash with South Sydney, Canberra officials should be grateful that fate intervened to prevent them from listening to disgruntled players and sacking...
League
NSW may change policy on Blues coach
Brad Walter NSW is set to appoint a non-NRL coach next season, with Canterbury's Des Hasler yesterday ruling himself out and Parramatta officials not expecting Ricky Stuart to change his mind.
Challenge system before rules panel
Brad Walter AN NFL-style ''challenge system'' enabling coaches or captains to contest refereeing decisions is set to be trialled after a meeting of the game's Rules Advisory Committee today.
League
On-field challenges to trial in under-20s
Brad Walter Captains will be allowed unlimited challenges to refereeing decisions under an NFL-style system to be trialled before the end of the season - as long as those challenges are proved correct.
Rugby league
Toyota Cup trial spell for captain's challenge
Brad Walter CAPTAINS will be allowed unlimited challenges to refereeing decisions under an NFL-style system to be trialled before the end of the season – as long as those challenges are proved correct.
Parra could get pick of Origin bunch
Brad Walter NSWRL directors still consider Ricky Stuart the best candidate to coach the Blues next season and by allowing him to do the job Parramatta will improve their chances of recruiting the Origin halves...
Rugby league
Panthers want released players' pay exempt to to keep AFL war chest in black
Brad Walter PENRITH officials have asked the ARL Commission for massive salary cap relief to ensure they don't become a weak link in the battle with AFL for western Sydney.
Running for their lives from an uncertain future
Brad Walter and Brett Keeble MORE than 50 NRL stars will be playing for their futures in coming weeks as clubs finalise their rosters for next season, including some players under contract for next year and beyond.
Gould takes long view and builds up Panthers' junior ranks
Brad Walter WHEN Phil Gould declared his first priority at Penrith was to strengthen the club's junior stocks, not even recruitment and development manager Jim Jones expected that the most successful NSW coach...
League
Sharks tag Smith for release to land Lewis
Brad Walter CRONULLA international Jeremy Smith may hold the key to Luke Lewis's future, with the Sharks believed to be prepared to release him to accommodate the NSW Origin star.
Bulldogs will have to wait to bait Sonny Bill
Brad Walter Canterbury fans are likely to have to wait longer than next year's opening round to boo Sonny Bill Williams, with Sin Bin told the 26-year-old dual international's NRL return for the Sydney Roosters...
Burns spray could back case for intent
Brad Walter PENRITH'S Travis Burns was involved in a long and heated verbal exchange with Martin Kennedy just moments before the tackle on the Sydney Roosters prop that has him facing the longest suspension in...
Officials crunch the numbers as proposed changes gain momentum
Brad Walter THE number of interchanges may have to be maintained or increased if the NRL scraps penalties for ruck infringements and referees instead restart the tackle count for the attacking team.
Jennings faces charge
Brad Walter Penrith centre Michael Jennings has become the first player charged by the NRL match review committee this year after being hit with a grade one dangerous throw charge over a tackle in last Saturday...
Stewart paves way for Williams on road to Origin
Brad Walter Glenn Stewart's stunning comeback last Friday night against the Bulldogs has all but cemented a place in the NSW Origin side for suspended Manly teammate Tony Williams.
Being thrown to the Wolves puts Jennings in state of Origin flux
Brad Walter PENRITH boss Phil Gould, the most successful NSW coach in Origin history, last night refused to be drawn on whether dumped centre Michael Jennings should be picked for the Blues, saying: ''That is up...
Jennings gets origin chance despite Panther snub
Brad Walter Dumped Penrith centre vows to repay the faith of Blues coach Ricky Stuart.
