Last Updated: December 21, 2013

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Vote: Biggest league story of 2013

IT was another controversial year but was it the action on or off the field that was rugby league's biggest story of the year?

League's most under siege in 2014

A BALL is yet to be kicked in 2014 but already pressure is mounting on a select few. We name our 13 most under-siege figures in the game.

What your NRL club wants for Xmas

CHRISTMAS is around the corner and we have obtained the wish lists of all 16 clubs and reveal just what your team really wants this Christmas.

Government pulls pin on Souths

Government pulls pin on Souths

EXCLUSIVE: South Sydney's dream to relocate to new high performance centre in Maroubra has been shattered by the Federal Government.

Sharks go for Sharp option

Sharks go for Sharp option

THE Sharks have declared their support of Shane Flanagan before naming Peter Sharp as interim head coach.

Dane Gagai's heart is in Newcastle

Dane Gagai's heart is in Ne...

HOMESICKNESS isn't a factor for former Bronco Dane Gagai, who is planning a long term NRL future at the Knights.

Panthers to take NRL games to Bathurst

Panthers to take NRL games to Bathurst

PENRITH have agreed to play one NRL home game in Bathurst for the next five years in a major boost to NSW country rugby league.

How great it was: Lidcombe Oval

How great it was: Lidcombe Oval

WE re-live some of the great suburban football ovals of yesteryear. This week it is former Western Suburbs Magpies home ground, Lidcombe Oval.

Broncos inject much needed muscle

Broncos inject much needed muscle

THE Brisbane Broncos won't be pushed around in 2014, particularly if their latest injection of muscle can make the grade.

'Keep your money-hungry hands off'

'Keep your money-hungry han...

GET your money-hungry hands off our ground - that is the widespread opinion of angry locals toward plans to bulldoze Tamworth's historic Scully Park.

2014 predictions 14for14: Cam Smith to the Broncos

14for14: Cam Smith to the Broncos

FOURTEEN predictions for the 2014 NRL season. Which ones do you think will come true or are just way off?

Intrust Penrith poach PNG's 'Civoniceva'

Penrith poach PNG's...

PENRITH have signed teenage PNG Test centre Wellington Albert, a player likened to a young Petero Civoniceva.

Healthy Historic year for NRL memberships

Historic year for NRL memberships

EARLY indicators suggest NRL clubs are headed for their healthiest membership numbers in history.

Superstar SBW going for Olympic gold

SBW going for Olympic gold

WALLABIES legend Mark Ella has no doubt Sonny Bill Williams can become an Olympic gold medallist following his return to Rugby in 2015.

Development Cash will not kill Souths' dream

Cash will not kill Souths...

RABBITOHS CEO Shane Richardson is vowing to push ahead with plans for a new $16 million High Performance Centre at Maroubra.

Sims NSW claim Origin eligibility farce

NSW claim Origin eligibility farce

IT IS only December but a New South Wales State of Origin legend is already furious, claiming a Queensland eligibility "farce".

Rugby League World Cup final

BEST action snaps from the Rugby League World Cup final at Old Trafford.

NRL Ladder Round 26

Position Club P W L PTS
1 Roosters 24 18 6 40
2 Rabbitohs 24 18 6 40
3 Storm 24 16 7 37
4 Sea Eagles 24 15 8 35
5 Sharks 24 14 10 32
6 Bulldogs 24 13 11 30
7 Knights 24 12 11 29
8 Cowboys 24 12 12 28
9 Titans 24 11 13 26
10 Panthers 24 11 13 26
11 Warriors 24 11 13 26
12 Broncos 24 10 13 25
13 Raiders 24 10 14 24
14 Dragons 24 7 17 18
15 Tigers 24 7 17 18
16 Eels 24 5 19 14

Poll

What's your opinion on the NRL sanctions handed down to the Cronulla Sharks?

Strategic win for NRL tortoise

UNLIKE AFL supremo Andrew Demetriou, there's no egg on the face of the NRL's Dave Smith.

Is NRL penalty an SOS to Sharks?

Is NRL penalty an SOS to Sharks?

PAUL Malone asks if a club's financial circumstances should be relevant to any punishment imposed.

Flanagan should never coach again

Flanagan should never coach again

REBECCA WILSON: Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan is a man disgraced. But NRL CEO Dave Smith should be commended.

Sanctioned Sharks will never die

Sanctioned Sharks will never die

THE Cronulla Sharks will never die. Nor will they ever move to Rockhampton, writes Sports Editor-at-Large and devoted fan Phil Rothfield.

Broncos inject much needed muscle

THE Brisbane Broncos won't be pushed around in 2014, particularly if their latest injection of muscle can make the grade.

2014 predictions 14for14: Cam Smith to the Broncos

14for14: Cam Smith to the Broncos

FOURTEEN predictions for the 2014 NRL season. Which ones do you think will come true or are just way off?

Reply Suns deny Hunt will return to NRL

Suns deny Hunt will return to NRL

UPDATED: KARMICHAEL Hunt will stay with Gold Coast after the Brisbane Broncos failed to lure him back to rugby league.

Staying Suns refuse to release Hunt

Suns refuse to release Hunt

GOLD Coast Suns are refusing to release Karmichael Hunt from his contract as the AFL club clings to the final season of his foray into Aussie Rules.

Reni spared sack, on booze ban

RENI Maitua, who is suffering despression, has avoided having his NRL contract torn up by the Canterbury Bulldogs.

Canterbury Inside Bulldogs' ugly board split

Inside Bulldogs' ugly boar...

THE split in Canterbury's board is so deep the two factions sit in different private suites at ANZ Stadium for home games.

EXCLUSIVE Mortimer trying to fix Dogs board

Mortimer trying to fix Dogs board

EXCLUSIVE: A major split has occured on the powerful Canterbury board and the man coerced into trying to fix it is club great Steve Mortimer.

Depression Maitua reveals he attempted suicide

Maitua reveals he attempted suicide

FORMER Eels star Reni Maitua has revealed a spiral into depression led him to attempt to take his life while playing for Parramatta.

Tate gutted at Cup final omission

IN AN age when most athletes mask their emotions, veteran centre Brent Tate remains a credit to the lost art of honesty.

Widdop to bring Dragons direction

ST GEORGE Illawarra prized recruit Gareth Widdop says he is hoping to bring some direction to the Dragons in 2014.

Allgood cops good behaviour bond

EELS prop Mitch Allgood was today handed a two year good behaviour bond for drink driving on Mad Monday.

Inside story Who is Trent Elkin?

Who is Trent Elkin?

TRENT Elkin was today handed the most severe individual sanction of the ASADA drugs scandal, in any code. But who is he?

Depression Maitua reveals he attempted suicide

Maitua reveals he attempted suicide

FORMER Eels star Reni Maitua has revealed a spiral into depression led him to attempt to take his life while playing for Parramatta.

Memories How great it was: Cumberland Oval

How great it was: Cumberland Oval

WE whet your appetite for the coming season by re-living some of the great suburban football ovals of yesteryear. This week it is Cumberland Oval.

Dane Gagai's heart is in Newcastle

HOMESICKNESS isn't a factor for former Bronco Dane Gagai, who is planning a long term NRL future at the Knights.

Penrith poach PNG's 'Civoniceva'

PENRITH have signed teenage PNG Test centre Wellington Albert, a player likened to a young Petero Civoniceva.

Cash will not kill Souths' dream

RABBITOHS CEO Shane Richardson is vowing to push ahead with plans for a new $16 million High Performance Centre at Maroubra.

EXCLUSIVE Government pulls pin on Souths

Government pulls pin on Souths

EXCLUSIVE: South Sydney's dream to relocate to new high performance centre in Maroubra has been shattered by the Federal Government.

Concern No injury drama for GI: Souths

No injury drama for GI: Souths

GREG Inglis is set to begin training with South Sydney in the New Year, as scheduled, after he was cleared of a serious thumb injury.

Wish-list What your NRL club wants for Xmas

What your NRL club wants for Xmas

CHRISTMAS is around the corner and we have obtained the wish lists of all 16 clubs and reveal just what your team really wants this Christmas.

Sharks gig a gamble for Kimmorley

WILL Cronulla opt for a novice coach to replace the suspended Shane Flanagan? And is Brett Kimmorley a gambler?

SBW going for Olympic gold

WALLABIES legend Mark Ella has no doubt Sonny Bill Williams can become an Olympic gold medallist following his return to Rugby in 2015.

PM Abbott on Sea Eagles' side

EXCLUSIVE: Manly is no stranger to politics, but even the club's boardroom could learn a thing from their likely new No. 1 season ticket holder.

Sharks go for Sharp option

THE Sharks have declared their support of Shane Flanagan before naming Peter Sharp as interim head coach.

Altitude has Will primed for Origin

WHILE surrounded with AFL players in Colorado, Will Chambers may have found the secret to realising his Origin dream.

Tigers ready for life after Benji

WESTS Tigers NRL fans need not despair, skipper Robbie Farah is confident there's life after Benji Marshall.

SuperCoach study guide: Titans

THE Gold Coast Titans loom as an essential NRL SuperCoach team, with their bye schedule arguably the best in the comp.

ASADA Titans coach worried for ex-Sharks

Titans coach worried for ex-Sharks

JOHN Cartwright admits the Titans are concerned about the ongoing ASADA investigation hanging over the heads of Luke Douglas and Albert Kelly.

Mojo Sezer finds mojo on PNG trip

Sezer finds mojo on PNG trip

TITAN'S playmaker Aidan Sezer found his mojo in the least likely place - in Papua New Guinea, on tour with the Prime Minister's XIII.

Competition Takairangi centre of battle at Titans

Takairangi centre of battle at Titans

TITAN Brad Takairangi has welcomed competition in the centres saying he became "too relaxed" with the lack of depth in 2013.

Warriors to face Wigan in trial

NEW Zealand recruit Sam Tomkins will make his Warriors debut against Wigan when they meet in a pre-season trial in February.

Lowdown SuperCoach study guide: Warriors

SuperCoach study guide: Warriors

FEATURING some of the most talented players in the comp and with a never-ending supply of youngsters, the Warriors always offer plenty for SuperCoach.

Deal Mini fights on as new Warrior enters

Mini fights on as new Warrior enters

VETERAN Rooster Anthony Minichiello and boom UK recruit Sam Tomkins face very different challenges in the 2014 season.

Wish-list What your NRL club wants for Xmas

What your NRL club wants for Xmas

CHRISTMAS is around the corner and we have obtained the wish lists of all 16 clubs and reveal just what your team really wants this Christmas.

A star in her own right

A star in her own right

JESSICA Johnson is a mum, a business woman, a karate champion and the wife of Ashes hero Mitchell Johnson. But don't go calling her a WAG.

BlackBerry posts $5b quarterly loss

Earns BlackBerry

BLACKBERRY is reporting a massive $US4.4 billion ($5 billion) loss in the third quarter and 56 per cent drop in revenue.

Jolly a Saint after all

Jolly a Saint after all

DARREN Jolly might have just missed out on St Kilda's playing list, but he will still be a Saint after signing as ruck coach.

Baby girl for Rove and Tasma

Baby girl for Rove and Tasma

WA comedian Rove McManus and his wife Tasma Walton are celebrating an early Christmas gift - the arrival of their first child.

AFL

Bombers hunt for new footy boss

Bombers hunt for new footy boss

ESSENDON will search for a new football boss after Danny Corocoran told the club he will not return after his AFL ban ends in February.

Ho ho NO: An ode to the creepiest Santas ever

Ho ho NO: An ode to the creepiest Santas ever

IT'S tough being Santa. You'd think it was all cookies and reindeers; instead it's screaming babies, crazy parents and goddamn beard-itch. But they're partly to blame.