Desperate Eels pay top dollar in scramble to boost talent pool

Daniel Lane Canterbury prop Aiden Tolman is believed to have benefited from Parramatta's inability to recruit big-name players, after the Eels splashed out with a $2 million, three-year offer.

Jack draws on rich history

Daniel Lane Big Jack Buchanan turned 21 on Wednesday but he expects his coming of age as a Wests Tigers prop to occur at 3pm on Sunday when he locks horns with the St George Illawarra pack at the SCG.

Ex-Tigers boss to join Cronulla rescue team

Daniel Lane Former Wests Tigers chief executive Steve Noyce was expected to be announced as the new general manager of football operations at the Cronulla Sharks on Wednesday.

League

Mellowed O'Donnell believes suspensions are in the past

Daniel Lane Sydney Roosters forward Luke O'Donnell said he was back in the NRL after two years in England's Super League to bolster the tri-colours with his go-forward and not add to his record as rugby league's...

League

Groat harbours no grudge despite suffering devastating hit

Daniel Lane Wests Tigers prop Matt Groat, who was the victim of one of the NRL's most devastating shoulder charges, said the decision by the code's authorities to ban it would save players from unnecessary harm.

Young stars crack in glare of the spotlight

Daniel Lane They're super-fit young men who have doors opened to them because they can tackle, pass a ball, score a try and kick better than the general population but the pressure to perform is making some...

Sheens on the radar for Warriors and Dragons

Daniel Lane Four-time premiership-winning coach Tim Sheens could be back behind a clipboard soon with the Warriors and St George Illawarra interested in signing the former Wests Tigers mentor.

Perfect match: Maloney senses great things with Pearce by his side

Daniel Lane Five-eighth James Maloney revealed the prospect of playing alongside NSW halfback Mitchell Pearce was one of the major reasons he joined the Roosters.

Lawrence: too early to rule out Tigers

Daniel Lane CHRIS LAWRENCE reckons Wests Tigers fans shouldn't be too despondent about their team's last-start trial loss to Sydney Roosters, saying it will take three months to gauge the premiership's genuine...

Heighington hell-bent on living up to former arch-rival Gallen's rich praise

Daniel Lane CRONULLA recruit Chris Heighington described Sharks skipper Paul Gallen's very public endorsement of his worth as a player as a badge of honour.

Rugby League

NRL 2013: the main men

Daniel Lane and Michael Chammas With the season kicking off on Thursday, we look at each team's key player.

League

Farah draws on sorrow as Tigers stick tight in grieving for teammate

Daniel Lane Wests Tigers skipper Robbie Farah admitted he was dredging through some painful memories from his grief-stricken 2012 as the club struggled to come to terms with the suicide of promising forward...

Shark attack

Daniel Lane, Nick Ralston Cronulla Sharks players have allegedly received under-the-table payments from a security company sponsor, opening another battle front for the club at the centre of an investigation by the Australian...

League

Cronulla staff may be reinstated after Irvine's bloodied exit

Adrian Proszenko, Daniel Lane A candidate standing for the Cronulla board elections will consider reinstating the sacked coach and staff members if he is successful in ousting the current directors.

Williams to face fitness hurdle before Rabbitohs stoush

Daniel Lane High-profile Sydney Roosters recruit Sonny Bill Williams will be put through a series of drills designed to measure his strength before he is cleared to make his debut in the season-opener against...

Maloney shines for patient Roosters

Daniel Lane JAMES MALONEY proved to the Sydney Roosters faithful in Saturday night's Foundation Cup trial against Wests Tigers that the long wait for him to wear the tri-colours was worth it.

League

'He never stopped surprising me how tough he was': Tim Mannah pays tribute to his brother Jon

Daniel Lane and Michael Chammas Rugby league lost one of its true fighters overnight after Jon Mannah lost his brave battle against cancer.

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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...

League

Gallen cools expectations

Daniel Lane CRONULLA skipper Paul Gallen said he had advised some Cronulla fans to look at how Wests Tigers and Newcastle fared last season before saddling the Sharks with unrealistic expectations.