League
Judiciary to rule on Smith’s Test fate
Brad Walter Knights lock Jeremy Smith must beat a grade-three dangerous contact charge to play for New Zealand in Friday night’s Test against Australia after being charged for a head-slam incident.
League
Complex eligibility rules weaken homegrown clash
Brad Walter The plight of Cronulla prop Andrew Fifita has helped highlight why league’s representative eligibility rules will always be problematic and how the City-Country match is losing its relevance.
League
Dogs admit courting Folau but deny deal has been done
Brad Walter Israel Folau has been in the sights of some Canterbury officials since attending last year's Back to Belmore clash against Sydney Roosters, but Bulldogs chief executive Todd Greenberg denies any deal...
League
Players face immediate stand-downs
Brad Walter The NRL faces the prospect of players being stood down on a daily or weekly basis if the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority finds sufficient evidence to charge them with using...
Changing ways: officials cut out loophole for shoulder-charge offenders
Brad Walter A loophole enabling players who cause injury in secondary contact from an illegal shoulder charge to escape being charged with the new offence is set to be closed after Monday night's match between...
Winning Starts Monday
Pearce is obvious choice for Daley
Brad Walter There can be no more compelling reason for new Blues coach Laurie Daley to stick with Mitchell Pearce at halfback than the damage he risks to two State of Origin careers by choosing Adam Reynolds for...
League
Dual World Cups a lure for SBW
Brad Walter Sonny Bill Williams will return to Test football for New Zealand in two weeks in a move that may lead to the Sydney Roosters superstar becoming the first player to win World Cups in rugby league and...
Dugan apologises for outburst after being targeted by fans
Brad Walter Troubled former NSW Origin star Josh Dugan has apologised for his behaviour on social media and claims he has been abused since posting a photo of himself and Canberra teammate Blake Ferguson...
League
Broncos end Dugan talks after star's latest tirade
Brad Walter St George Illawarra appear to be Josh Dugan's only remaining option after the Broncos terminated negotiations with the sacked Canberra star following an Instagram tirade in which he told a Raiders...
WINNING STARTS MONDAY
Experience counts in obstruction rule debate
Brad Walter NRL coaches and players complaining about the obstruction rule have only themselves to blame if they are taking advantage of the inexperience in the refereeing ranks this season.
Inu accepts five-week ban for spear tackle on Inglis
Brad Walter Canterbury centre Krisnan Inu has pleaded guilty to a grade-four dangerous throw charge and accepted a five-match ban for his ugly spear tackle on Greg Inglis.
Future stars forged in the furnace of the game's suburban grounds
Brad Walter JOSH Reynolds is being touted as a possible NSW Origin representative this season, but the Canterbury five-eighth admits only two years ago he was wondering if he would ever play NRL.
League
Buderus let-off may be last as officials tweak contact rule
Brad Walter Danny Buderus may be the last player to escape being booked for a shoulder charge that results in a head clash, with NRL officials understood to be considering changing the definition of the charge...
The statistics don't lie - SBW really can do it all, and from any position
Brad Walter Sonny Bill Williams isn't quite back to where he was before he quit the NRL in 2008, but after his stunning performance in the Roosters' 50-0 defeat of Parramatta on Monday, it appears only a matter...
SIN BIN
Even Anderson a little shirty about Thaiday row
Brad Walter Broncos captain Sam Thaiday received unexpected support over his grabbing at the shirt of referee Adam Devcich last Friday night, with NRL referees boss Daniel Anderson saying before he was even...
What the clubs have learned from American football rules
Brad Walter WHEN Bill Harrigan suggested teams be allowed one NFL-style forward pass in each set of tackles, the response was swift and furious.
Pressure goes on Cronulla as ASADA investigators come calling
Brad Walter Cronulla players are expected to begin interviews with Australian Sport Anti-Doping Authority investigators next week after meeting with legal representatives on Thursday.
League
Phone taps put Sharks under pressure
Brad Walter Credit card receipts and recorded phone conversations may be tabled as evidence when Cronulla players begin meeting Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority investigators next week.
Rugby League
Sharks must hand over evidence
Adrian Proszenko and Brad Walter Cronulla officials will be made to reveal to ASADA its reasons for sacking four staffers.
League
Dogs' $2m to tie down Reynolds
Brad Walter AFTER missing out on Test five-eighth Johnathan Thurston, the Bulldogs have moved quickly to retain the services of Josh Reynolds and are tipped to announce his retention on a $1.
