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After an unpredictable season, the stage is now set for a David versus Goliath battle as the Sydney Roosters and the Newcastle Knights prepare to face off in this Sunday's NRL grand final. Will it be a fairytale finish for the Knights who collected the wooden spoon last season or will Sydney’s silvertail club prevail to claim another premiership? And at the NRL’s best and fairest award...

The NRL grand final will be held without a headline pre-game entertainment act after negotiations with Australian artist Tones and I collapsed. The NRL has said it will donate $1 million to junior rugby league in lieu of a payment to a big-time star. With Kylie Minogue set to headline the AFL grand final pre-game entertainment, is this a big fail for the NRL, which wants to establish itself as a g...

One of the big discussion points this week has been Nathan Cleary’s foot. The Penrith superstar suffered a “stress-related bone issue”, according to the club, and his fate for the finals is still very much up in the air. Another player whose future is uncertain, but for an entirely different reason, is Josh Addo-Carr. The Parramatta star allegedly tested positive to cocaine at a...

NRL finals are finally here and the pick of the round for our pundits is the New Zealand Warriors v Dolphins game. Both teams are electric to watch, and while the Dolphins might be the better team on paper, rugby league reporter Christian Nicolussi says the team suffers from a slow start to their game. The Kiwi team are playing at home and the Warriors will take full advantage. There’s...

This week, most of the NRL chat has been about Jarome Luai. The morning after the West Tigers lost to the North Queensland Cowboys, Luai was on a plane to PNG. The Tigers' marquee player met with the PNG prime minister, and opened a golf tournament, before he visited a Pepsi factory, a brand of which he's the face. The problem was, Tigers officials didn't know about the trip until videos and photo...

Broncos teammates and rival players have criticised coach Michael Maguire’s decision to deny Adam Reynolds a Suncorp Stadium farewell. Reynolds has been battling a calf-injury, but completed a vital training session on Monday. The decision to deny Reynolds a final appearance has not gone down well with supporters or teammates and has thrust the spotlight back on Maguire and his relationship...

As the NRL competition edges closer to the finals, the race to the top of the pack intensifies. The Panthers are slight premiership favourites as the Roosters and Warriors start to mount their finals campaigns. But it's the race to the bottom of the eight that is still in contention, and with only three rounds remaining in the regular season, can your team make it? And the Wests Tigers have had th...

After being touted as the only real premiership contender, the Penrith Panthers are now under pressure as captain Isaah Yeo starts rehabilitation in a bid to return for the finals. Yeo suffered a pectoral injury in their loss to the Warriors last weekend. So are the Panthers still favourites to win the premiership? Plus, after being sin-binned and publicly blasted by coach Ricky Stuart for strikin...

After much speculation, Matt King has been officially unveiled as Laurie Daley’s successor as NSW Blues coach for the next two series, with an option to activate a third if successful. So what does this mean for super-coach Ivan Cleary, who has signalled his intent to coach at a representative level, when he finishes up his time with the Panthers at the end of next season? Plus, with only a...

For the past week, the Wests Tigers have dominated NRL news because halfback Adam Doueihi stood himself down from playing last weekend after being told he would be picked as lock forward. Now, following days of speculation and accusations of unprofessionalism and preferential treatment at the club, Doueihi is set to line up as the team's halfback against the Eels on Sunday. So what actually sparke...

The dawn of a new era for the Dragons is here after interim coach Dean Young was confirmed as head coach. And with a raft of new recruits locked in for next season, will the Dragons turn their fortunes around? Meanwhile, South Sydney’s finals chances have taken a huge hit, with captain Cameron Murray suffering an ankle injury and Latrell Mitchell struggling to get back on the paddock. Plus,...

After the Wests Tigers announced Jarome Luai would be released from the final year of his contract by mutual agreement, coach Benji Marshall has broken his silence to deny rumours their personal relationship has broken down. Luai will join the Parramatta Eels next season before linking with the PNG Chiefs for their debut season in 2028. What does this mean for the Wests Tigers? Could the Luai-Mose...

In one of the biggest upsets in State of Origin history, the Blues ambushed the Maroons at Suncorp Stadium, winning the decider 30-12. In the post-match press conference, Blues coach Laurie Daley unloaded on his critics, saying some of the criticism of him and his team had crossed the line. But was the scrutiny of his selections and tactics from the opening two matches warranted? Plus, NSW halfbac...

With the State of Origin series level at one-all, the Blues are still a chance to secure a rare series win at Suncorp Stadium next Wednesday night. However, the blow torch has been applied to NSW coach Laurie Daley for his selections and the performance of a side that haven’t played to their potential. So are the Blues any chance of winning in front of a hostile, sold-out crowd in Brisbane?...

With the State of Origin decider still a few weeks away, the NRL returns to regular programming this week under the watchful eye of under-fire Blues coach Laurie Daley, who will be searching for team changes in the lead-up to Origin game three. Meanwhile, speculation continues to mount around the return of Israel Folau to the game. Will we see the veteran back in the NRL? Or should he be avoided a...

In front of the largest Origin crowd in history, the Maroons have thumped the Blues at the MCG in game two of the State of Origin series. After trailing 12-8 at the break, the Maroons came out firing, launching an all-out attack to down the Blues 44-24, sending the series to a decider for game three in Brisbane. So was Queensland just too good or were the NSW team selections to blame? Today from M...

Former NRL player Kane Evans came out as gay in a raw and vulnerable interview earlier this week with James Bracey on Nine’s 100% Footy . Kane is just the second former NRL player to speak publicly of their homosexuality, following Ian Roberts in 1995. So, how will the NRL respond, and what will this mean for the wider community? Plus, with changes to both the Blues and Maroons line-ups for...

The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs have recorded six losses in their past seven matches and questions from fans are growing louder as to who should be held accountable for their inconsistency and lack of form. Should coach Cameron Ciraldo be blamed or does the fault land with halfback Lachlan Galvin and captain Stephen Crichton? And 'Fozball' has been locked in for the next three seasons at Manly w...

The NSW blues have claimed the opening match of the State of Origin series for 2026 - but only just. After 20 minutes the Blues were down 20-0 and the game seemed over, but after Maroons fullback Kalyn Ponga was sent off for a shoulder charge in the second half, the Blues pulled off one of their greatest comebacks and escapes of all time. But should Kalyn Ponga have been sent off or did he only de...

The State of Origin teams have been selected and concern about the balance of the Blues' side is mounting ahead of game one in Sydney next week. But could coach Laurie Daley’s selections be a masterstroke given the new rules and changes to the pace of the game? And why has Maroons coach Billy Slater not only opted for a new fullback, but left Reece Walsh out of the Queensland squad entirely?...

The PNG Chiefs' signing fanfare of the past few weeks has left serious questions circulating about the Perth Bears' recruitment. With the Bears set to join the NRL next year – a year before the Chiefs - can coach Mal Meninga secure a marquee player for the Bears? And with the State of Origin teams to be selected at the end of the NRL round this weekend, the biggest question for NSW selectors...

After a rockstar red carpet tour of Papua New Guinea, where he met with club and government officials alike, Jarome Luai has become the marquee signing for the PNG Chiefs, who are set to enter the NRL in 2028. Luai will continue to play for the Wests Tigers for the remainder of this season and next, but could the news of the co-captain leaving the club derail their blistering form? Meanwhile, with...

After their seventh straight loss to start the season, St George Illawarra have finally swung the axe with head coach Shane Flanagan departing the club at the start of the week. And new coach Dean Young has wasted no time leaving his imprint on the Dragons after being handed the job on an interim basis; assistant coach Michael Ennis also exiting stage right. So, can Young turn his side's fate arou...

After years of heartbreak and upset, the Wests Tigers are on a magic run, sitting alongside Penrith as joint NRL leaders. But with star fullback Jahream Bula linked to the Bulldogs - much like Lachy Galvin last season - will we see history repeat itself? And with the Storm looking like a shadow of their former selves, is the Melbourne dynasty done? This week, national sports editor Neil Breen retu...

St George Illawarra’s fifth straight defeat means it’s their worst start to a season since the club’s merger and coach Shane Flanagan admits he doesn’t have the answers yet. Can he turn things around or will we see another coach die by the sword in 2026? Flanagan isn’t the only coach under pressure this week as Ricky Stuart’s Raiders flounder at the bottom of th...