If you were gathering evidence that the Blues could be the real deal in 2021, their 31-16 season-opening victory over the Hurricanes would make a strong start to the prosecution’s case. A conviction may still be ways away, but by toppling the hosts in Wellington, and doing so with a dominant set-piece performance, savvy discipline and strong defence, there are […]

Joseph Suaalii, rugby league’s most-hyped teenager, needed just 16 minutes to make his mark in the Canterbury Cup trial where the young star’s debut against men was the main event. Impossible to miss in his headgear, white boots, socks pulled down around his ankles and the North Sydney No.3 on his back, Suaalii threw a dummy and barged over for […]

By Adrian Proszenko Joseph Suaalii has brought in the big guns. It’s time to talk turkey with the Roosters after finally being granted a release from arch rivals South Sydney. Months of wrangling have come down to this and a lone Roosters representative is tasked with securing the signature. On the other side of the table sits a 17-year-old student […]

Super League has confirmed the full fixture list for the regular season, along with plans for fans to start returning to stadiums from the end of May. Details for the first two rounds, both of which see all six matches being shown live on Sky Sports, had already been announced, as had the matches for both days of Magic Weekend […]

Crusaders 26Highlanders 13 New season, same Crusaders does not quite tell the full story. The defending champions were far from their polished best in the first match of Super Rugby Aotearoa 2.0 against the Highlanders in Dunedin – and still got the job done with relative ease despite conceding two yellow cards. The second-half attack was particularly scrappy from the […]

Jarome Luai was never going to leave his “brothers” as his fresh $2.1m three-year extension ensures the Panthers premiership window remains jammed wide open for a few years yet. In the same week Stephen Crichton put pen to paper, along with the recent re-signings of Isaah Yeo, Stephen Leniu and Charlie Staines, Penrith finally pegged down Luai until the end […]

The hits keep coming for Newcastle star Mitchell Pearce with reports the former NSW State of Origin star will swallow a $250,000 pay cut to stay with the Knights. The halfback’s wedding with fiance Kristin Scott was called off just days out from the event on December 29 after alleged flirty text messages from Pearce to a young female club […]

Melbourne’s first hit out of the season revealed their surprise goal kicking forward could be All-Australian ruckman Max Gawn. Gawn dominated the game from the ruck but also rotating forward, alternating with Luke Jackson, to boot two goals. He missed another two shots he should have converted. Gawn has often slotted in behind the ball as a classic ruck kick […]

South Sydney supercoach Wayne Bennett might be softening in his old age. How else do you explain the fact the 71-year-old has stayed quiet and allowed one of his young-gun back-rowers to grow a mullet the past six months? South Sydney’s Keaon Koloamatangi and the mullet that had previously caused dramas with his coach Wayne Bennett.Credit:NRL Photos Even Arrow admitted […]

Facebook has banned the sharing or viewing of our news articles on its platform. For independent journalism straight from the source, download our app and sign up to our newsletters. Jack Grant was 17 when Orange CYMS asked his father, former Wallaby James Grant, whether he could play reserve grade rugby league against grown men. After some initial hesitation, Grant, the […]