Daley to give key Blues an early nod

Daniel Lane NSW coach Laurie Daley will phone a select few Blues in the next couple of weeks - a good four months before game one of the State of Origin series - to tell them that, barring injury or an...

Peachey backs new Blues coach to give indigenous talent a fair go

Daniel Lane Former Cronulla and South Sydney fullback David Peachey said he hoped Laurie Daley's appointment as coach of the NSW State of Origin team would open the door for more indigenous players to wear the...

Rugby League

Stuart opts out as Blues mentor

DANIEL LANE RICKY STUART has decided to walk away from the NSW State of Origin coaching job after the ongoing bunfight over whether he should continue in the role.

Tiger Woods to tee off for Blues

Daniel Lane WESTS Tigers prop Aaron Woods is all but certain to make his State of Origin debut in game two against Queensland while much-maligned bench forward Jamie Buhrer might escape the selection axe.

Bird tips 'freak' Hayne to ignite and help Blues turn the tables

Daniel Lane NSW forward Greg Bird says the ''compacted'' nature of a State of Origin series makes it easier for players such as besieged Parramatta star Jarryd Hayne to go out and ''explode''.

Fittler talks up audition value of City-Country clash

Daniel Lane Rather than stiff-arm critics who have called upon rugby league's hierarchy to cease the annual City-Country Origin match, City coach Brad Fittler is encouraging more robust debate about the...

League

I could learn a thing or two from Reynolds, admits Pearce

Daniel Lane Sydney Roosters halfback Mitchell Pearce conceded that not only was his reign as the NSW Blues' No.7 under threat from South Sydney's Adam Reynolds but he also envied aspects of his rival's game.

Up and Adam; what rookie curse?

Daniel Lane It's not surprising based on the way Souths halfback Adam Reynolds plays the game, like a cocky, tattooed terrier, that he's taken the so-called curse of the ''second-year syndrome'' and booted it...

Sutton is brains behind Souths' brawn, but he remains open on future

Daniel Lane South Sydney forward Ben Te'o inadvertently talked up the market value of John Sutton when he hailed the Rabbitohs' five-eighth as the ''brains'' of the premiership contenders.

Roosters v Rabbitohs

Five things we learnt

Daniel Lane NSW State of Origin coach Laurie Daley might need to reconsider his declaration that Roosters' Mitchell Pearce was the man most likely to play halfback for the Blues.

Meninga's Origin tip for rival

Daniel Lane MAL MENINGA bled too much alongside Laurie Daley during their time in the lime green jumper of Canberra during the 1980s and '90s to allow a triviality such as fanatical state pride to stop him from...

League

Mannah hungry for more

Daniel Lane PARRAMATTA prop Tim Mannah won't bother to ask new Eels coach Ricky Stuart why he wasn't used during the Blues' State of Origin campaign last year because in his heart he knows the reasons.

Last Word

Fuss over SBW is jealousy, says Politis

Andrew Wu and Daniel Lane SYDNEY ROOSTERS head honcho Nick Politis has made an impassioned defence of his prized recruit Sonny Bill Williams by declaring the All Black, rugby league international and Kiwi heavyweight boxer...

Boot camp to follow merry Christmas, Mr Lawrence

Daniel Lane WESTS TIGERS centre Chris Lawrence had targeted next year as his season of atonement following a disappointing 2012.

Horror draw doesn't give Cronulla nightmares

Daniel Lane CRONULLA skipper Paul Gallen dismissed the suggestion his team's run to the finals was a nightmare and said the Sharks must treat today's match against the Warriors as a warm-up for the pressure of...

Stuart tells Eels board to plug destabilising media leaks

Daniel Lane New Parramatta coach Ricky Stuart has directed two blunt messages to his club, telling board members their habit of leaking sensitive information to the media hurt the players and needed to cease...

Annesley gives try the red light

Adrian Proszenko, Daniel Lane THE State of Origin refereeing controversy has reached Parliament House. The NSW Minister for Sport, Graham Annesley, a former grand final referee, has called for the controversial rule that cost the...

Dogs keen to snap up Jennings mid-season

Daniel Lane AFTER snaring mid-season recruit Krisnan Inu from the Warriors' reserve-grade team, Canterbury hope to add NSW centre Michael Jennings to their roster before the June 30 deadline.

League

Uate is here to stay: Stuart

Daniel Lane, Adrian Proszenko NSW coach Ricky Stuart is standing by Akuila Uate for the State of Origin series decider despite criticism levelled at the Blues winger by commentators and the public for appearing vulnerable under...

Eagles duo in Origin frame

Adrian Proszenko, Daniel Lane NSW forward Tony Williams is set to make an early return for Manly today and teammate Glenn Stewart is also making a last-ditch bid to beat his knee injury in time for the State of Origin series...