Broncos saddled for slicker Cowboys

Greg Prichard BRISBANE coach Anthony Griffin has warned his players to expect the real North Queensland at Suncorp Stadium tonight after an inexplicably poor first-round performance from the Cowboys.

Try-scoring Cooper the leader of the packs

Greg Prichard Take a look at the important bits and pieces from the NRL finals action so far.

Will Sea Eagles fans dare to travel?

Greg Prichard Any chance of Manly fans turning up in numbers for their team's semi-final against North Queensland at Allianz Stadium on Friday? The Sea Eagles need their support.

Fittler says Thurston will be in fine fettle for years to come

Greg Prichard BRAD Fittler, as good a judge of a five-eighth as there is, says Johnathan Thurston is changing the way five-eighths play and is an even better player in that position than he was as a halfback.

Toovey backs Taufua to shine as rising rookie faces big-game test

Greg Prichard MANLY coach Geoff Toovey has praised rookie Jorge Taufua's role in plugging a problem position as the Sea Eagles try to clinch a top-four spot in the finals by beating Gold Coast at Skilled Park...

League

Bowen is favoured as No.1 pick for fullback

Adrian Proszenko, Greg Prichard Matt Bowen is poised to receive a shock recall to the Origin arena for the deciding game at Suncorp Stadium.

Rugby League

Bowen firming as favourite to replace Slater

Adrian Proszenko and Greg Prichard MATT BOWEN is poised to receive a shock recall to the Origin arena for the deciding game at Suncorp Stadium.

Bowen in box seat as Mal shies away from shifting Inglis to fullback

Greg Prichard QUEENSLAND coach Mal Meninga has admitted his concern that moving Greg Inglis from centre to fullback would weaken one of his team's strongest areas - and at the same time declared his delight with...

Rugby league

Falling stars: Origin exertions still taking toll on top players

Greg Prichard MELBOURNE coach Craig Bellamy has warned the effect of State of Origin on star players isn't going to suddenly disappear just because the series is over.

Pick a club, talk about cash later, Lewis told

Greg Prichard and Sam Hall THE manager of Luke Lewis has instructed the NSW and Australian forward to decide which clubs he would be interested in playing for as the process to find the representative star a new home speeds up.

League

Ryan Tandy found guilty

Greg Prichard Ryan Tandy will have to wait until next month to find out if he has avoided a custodial jail sentence after being found guilty of knowingly giving false or misleading evidence to a NSW Crime...

Coach pushing for Carney-Gardner to combine as next dynamic duo

Greg Prichard CRONULLA coach Shane Flanagan has the lofty ambition of trying to turn Todd Carney and Nathan Gardner into his team's version of Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater at Melbourne and Johnathan Thurston and...

League

Lui assault case adjourned

Greg Prichard The assault case against former Wests Tigers and now North Queensland rugby league star Robert Lui has been adjourned until March 21.

This is what trials are for: Kearney says Eels centre spot is wide open

Greg Prichard ESI TONGA could find himself playing alongside his representative star brother, Willie, in the premiership opener if he can come up with a big game for Parramatta against Penrith in Friday's trial at...

Souths left to count the cost as Burgess joins rehab ward

Greg Prichard THE Charity Shield game might have ripped a hole in South Sydney's forward pack, after prop Luke Burgess was forced out injured for three months, but Rabbitohs coach Michael Maguire says trial...

Murray in firing line over bet scandal

Greg Prichard Young footballer Brad Murray has made the stunning transition from being the star witness for police in the NRL betting scandal to finding himself in the firing line over his own alleged involvement.

Pair charged as betting case takes fresh twist

Greg Prichard YOUNG footballer Brad Murray has made the stunning transition from being the star witness for police in the NRL betting scandal to finding himself in the firing line over his own alleged involvement.

Commission ready to fix problem of delayed pay

Greg Prichard AUSTRALIAN Rugby League Commission chairman John Grant says he will ''fix'' the situation in which players who represented Australia in last year's end-of-season Four Nations tournament are still...

Murray's future on hold

Greg Prichard BRAD MURRAY will learn next week whether he will be permitted to play in the Newcastle competition - or anywhere in NSW - after being charged in relation to the NRL betting scandal.