Ward given keys to make right call

Greg Prichard VETERAN video referee Chris Ward, who made the biggest decision by an upstairs official in NRL history, has been brought back into the front line by the man who asked him to make that call in the...

Rugby league

Smith gone, outsider tagged to rule Roosters

Greg Prichard CATALANS DRAGONS coach Trent Robinson has emerged as a major contender to replace sacked Sydney Roosters coach Brian Smith.

Bellamy not up for grabs next year - Storm chief

Greg Prichard, Adrian Proszenko THE chief executive of Melbourne, Ron Gauci, said last night there was no chance that Craig Bellamy would be coaching anywhere but at the Storm next year.

Rugby League

Roosters sign Robinson as coach

Greg Prichard Sydney Roosters today appointed Trent Robinson as their coach for the next three years.

League

Taylor appointed assistant coach at Roosters

Greg Prichard Jason Taylor has been promoted from Sydney Roosters under-20s coach to new first-grade coach Trent Robinson's assistant at the club next year.

Robinson gives Taylor green light to assist in Roosters' revival

Greg Prichard JASON TAYLOR has been promoted from Sydney Roosters under-20s coach to new first-grade coach Trent Robinson's assistant next year.

Plunge on Raiders sparks rumours of a rest for Dogs

Glenn Jackson, Greg Prichard A BETTING plunge yesterday on Canberra before tonight's clash with Canterbury has sparked speculation Bulldogs coach Des Hasler plans to rest some of his stars in the run-in to the finals.

League

Smart money's on Hasler making late changes

Glenn Jackson, Greg Prichard A betting plunge yesterday on Canberra ahead of tonight's clash with Canterbury has sparked speculation that Bulldogs coach Des Hasler was planning to rest some of his stars in the run-in to the...

Wooden spoon leaves bad taste

Greg Prichard THE chances of Parramatta picking up the wooden spoon have been very good for a long time, so when it was made official after yesterday's loss to South Sydney, they didn't react by curling up into...

Long and winding road ends as result takes back seat to fab four

Greg Prichard ST GEORGE Illawarra beat Parramatta at ANZ Stadium last night, but the result didn't mean nearly as much as it normally would in a game of football.

Hindmarsh exits alive and kicking

Greg Prichard Something incredible surely had to happen when four great players retired in the one game. We had to wait until the last play of the game for it, but it was worth waiting for when Nathan Hindmarsh...

Talking points

Sticky must be praised for having courage to change a winning team

Greg Prichard Akuila Uate had to go from the NSW side. He cost the Blues with mistakes in State of Origin I and again in the second game, and they couldn't afford to stick with him for the decider. Q

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Maguire keeps quiet on premiership charge, so it's left for Bennett to praise Souths' title form

Greg Prichard South Sydney coach Michael Maguire would not admit to it if the Rabbitohs won the competition.

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.

Scrap to start at halfback is still on at Souths, says Maguire

Greg Prichard SOUTH SYDNEY coach Michael Maguire says the battle for the halfback spot to start the premiership is not over yet, despite Adam Reynolds having been named there for Saturday night's trial game...

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...

Sterling backs playmaker Mullen to realise his potential under Bennett

Greg Prichard PETER STERLING says master coach Wayne Bennett will do for Jarrod Mullen at Newcastle what he did for Jamie Soward at St George Illawarra.

Between Bennett and a hard place, but Price says he's all right

Greg Prichard THE last man to follow Wayne Bennett into a coaching job, Ivan Henjak, is nowhere to be seen in the NRL these days.