KnightsKostjasyn ready to lead rebuildHE’S gone from one of the best teams in the league to the very worst but the chance to fulfil a childhood dream was too good to resist for Rory Kostjasyn.
Wests TigersTaylor re-signs with TigersTHE Tigers have managed to hold onto hardworking lock forward Elijah Taylor with the former New Zealand international signing a new two-year deal.
Secret NFL trials for Dally M, title winnersTWO of the NRL’s hottest young stars are heading straight from Four Nations duties to secret NFL trials in the USA.
Johnson the brand, Rooster heads to FrancePRIVATE RYAN: A Rooster leaves the NRL for France, Warriors star Shaun Johnson launches his own clothing line and Paul Gallen trains in New York.
World Cup to leave league heartland in 2025THE rugby league World Cup will head to unusual territory in 2025 following a bizarre decision that has stunned supporters.
Boyd backs golden run to continueDARIUS Boyd’s unbeaten streak has stretched to 21 matches and he’s keen to add to it yet again in the Four Nations final.
Bozo’s huge gamble on ragtag Manly backlineTRANSFER CENTRE: Replacing Manly’s champion backline is one of the biggest recruiting challenges in the NRL right now. Bob Fulton’s approach looks to be boom or bust.
Mudgee to host City-Country in 2017MUDGEE could be the host of the final City-Country game with the fixture again heading to the Glen Willow Sports complex in 2017.
Ponga contemporaries: Young guns that got awayKALYN Ponga’s expected departure from North Queensland is a blow Cowboys fans will likely hang onto for many years. But the 18-year-old is walking a well worn path.
Can the Sharks go back-to-back in 2017?SUMMER SCHOOL: From Michael Ennis’ replacement to staying motivated, we take a look at the things Cronulla need to work on in the preseason.
SharksBarba says sorry to Sharks matesBEN Barba has apologised to his former Cronulla teammates over his cocaine use that led to him leaving the NRL premiers to undertake rehabilitation overseas.
PanthersKey figure behind rise of Panthers beastWHO says an injured player can’t have an impact on a team? Waqa Blake has experienced first hand how much influence a sidelined star could have on his career.
Mastermind of brutal NRL prank sold outNRL CONFIDENTIAL: A former NRL player has found himself the victim of a dating app catfish. Meanwhile, the man who played a brutal prank on Akuila Uate has finally been outed.
PanthersFamed Penrith production line gifts new gunJED Cartwright has already taken on his old man in rugby league’s darkest art and his celebrated cousin with backyard bouncers. Now he’s tackling a famous Penrith legacy.
New elite pathway to the NRL revealedRUGBY league’s pathways to the top level are set to receive one of the biggest shake-ups in the game’s history with the Holden Cup under 20s to be scrapped.
CowboysCowboys won’t panic buy to replace HannantNORTH Queensland have ruled out any off-season panic buying despite veteran prop Ben Hannant’s retirement further draining their NRL forward depth.
‘Bags were packed’: Tamou’s Sticky situationSUMMER SLOG: James Tamou will be wearing Penrith’s licorice all-sorts jersey next year, but he could have so easily have been strutting his stuff in lime green instead.
Who your team plays in the Auckland NinesTHE Auckland Nines is just a couple of months away and the pools and full draw for the 2017 edition have just been released. Check out who your club’s been drawn with!
Behind stunning $3m rival plunge for PongaBURNING QUESTIONS: The Cowboys are resigned to losing Kalyn Ponga after a whopping rival offer was put to the youngster. Here’s what it means for both clubs and the teen superstar.
Blair: NZ need to fire upADAM Blair says New Zealand need to show more desire and urgency if they’re to spring an upset on Australia in the Four Nations final.
Raiders lock up NRL’s best hooking duoTHE NRL’s best hooking duo can wreak havoc for a further two years following the re-signing of bench livewire Kurt Baptiste.
KnightsSigning confirmed: Green concedes Ponga’s goneCOWBOYS coach Paul Green has confirmed Kalyn Ponga has signed with the Knights but North Queensland aren’t letting the young gun get it all his own way.
EelsLine in the sand for new Eels board set-upPARRAMATTA will aim to have their new board installed before a ball is kicked in 2017, and have banned any previous directors from getting a gig.
Locke: Why I fell out of love with the gameTHE most Kevin Locke can earn from playing rugby league in 2017 is around $90,000. It’s a long way from his $500,000 deal in the Super League but he couldn’t be happier.
Dragons‘Desperate Housewives’ culture to cost DragonsMITCH Rein is the latest Dragons player to pour scorn on the club after being shaken loose. And Mark Gasnier says the NRL’s “Desperate Housewives” culture could cost the club long term.
Who could fill Cowboys’ gaping holeJAMES Tamou and Ben Hannant have left the Cowboys - so do North Queensland save their cash or go hard for a new signing? Here are their recruitment options.
CowboysCowboys beginning to pay the priceSUMMER SCHOOL: Can North Queensland survive the splintering of their premiership team to contend for the title again?
PanthersPenrith’s audacious $3m gamble that isn’tEIGHTEEN months ago, James Tamou was in agony and scouring the internet for a back-up career. But now he says there’s no risk for Penrith signing him long-term on big money.
Kiwis to fire up early against KangaroosTHEY might have been in ordinary form in recent weeks but New Zealand coach David Kidwell still believes his struggling team can upset Australia.
Cowboys’Bone on bone’ forces Cowboys vet to retireA CHRONIC knee injury has ended the career of Cowboys workhorse Ben Hannant effective immediately just two weeks after signing an extension.
Tamou: Premiership on everyone’s mind at PenrithWEEK one of the Panthers’ pre-season hasn’t even finished but James Tamou is already talking a big game, saying only a premiership will bring success to Penrith in 2017.
Bird frenzy, Chooks lifeline, Lewis in limboMARKET WATCH: Eight clubs chase Origin star, Penrith’s next target, Roosters sign former Tiger, Titan moves north, Luke Lewis contract complications and a big-money back shopped.
Cowboys’ biggest rival for superstar PongaTHE Cowboys have a big fight on their hands to keep the most in-demand teenager in Australian sport. We can now reveal their biggest rival for Kalyn Ponga’s signature.
DragonsRein: Mary’s ‘limitations’ stunted my gamePAUL McGregor will go into the 2017 season under huge pressure and Mitch Rein has given an insight into frustrations at the Dragons, describing the “limitations” the coach has introduced.
PanthersRein unloads on ‘boring’ DragonsMITCH Rein has begun his career with Penrith by slamming the “boring” attack of his former club St George Illawarra.
Carney declares his intention for 2017 seasonFORMER bad boy Todd Carney has opened up on his rugby league future, revealing his hopes for 2017 and beyond as a court battle with the Sharks puts him in limbo.
TitansRoberts won’t make call easy for HenryTHE Titans will be spoilt for choice in the halves for 2017 and Neil Henry has already indicated how he intends to fit the puzzle pieces together. Tyrone Roberts has other ideas.
TitansWill expectation get the better of Titans?SUMMER SCHOOL: How do the Titans get the best out of Jarryd Hayne? And will they overcome the pressure of expectation? We look at what the club needs to focus on in the preseason.
Benji balks at Brisbane reserve grade talkCLUBS are queuing up for Benji Marshall. Brisbane reserve grade clubs, that is but he’s backing himself to cement a spot in the Broncos’ top 17 next year.
Wests TigersBlocker: Tigers facing mission impossibleTHE Wests Tigers face arguably the biggest salary cap challenge of 2017 as they attempt to retain four big stars. It’s a task that Steve Roach says is beyond the club.
Contract details that have Scott on edgeCOWBOYS co-captain Matt Scott wants his new NRL deal signed off on before season 2017 kicks off but admits he may be forced to leave if a deal can’t be struck.
Sticky’s warning for bad boy recruitDAVE Taylor’s chance to fight for a contract at the Raiders is one of the off-season’s most intriguing stories. And coach Ricky Stuart has a frank warning for the big forward.
Penrith’s impressive retention drive continuesPENRITH have re-signed yet another of their brightest young stars with Waqa Blake joining the likes of Matt Moylan and Bryce Cartwright in extending his deal.
Sandow’s NRL wish, Shark eyes movePRIVATE RYAN: A Rabbit suffers a pre-season setback, Chris Sandow’s biggest wish, Dave Taylor in the gym, a Sharks forward leaving and a Rooster on the move?
Hard training Marshall vows to help MilfBENJI Marshall insists he can help Brisbane playmaker Anthony Milford recapture his best form after the veteran half impressed at his first training session
Joey: Kiwi ‘attitude stinks’, Johnson slammedIT was Scotland’s day in the sun and the stuff of New Zealand’s nightmares. Immortal Andrew Johns says the Kiwis only have themselves to blame and has torn them a new one.
Johns’ son signs with Newcastle KnightsMATTHEW Johns won Newcastle’s unforgettable first premiership alongside Immortal brother Andrew. Now, Matty’s son Jack has signed a deal with the Knights.
Johns: The only way Manly can make 2017 finalsMATTHEW Johns has rubbed his crystal ball and made some early predictions about the 2017 season, pinpointing a crucial factor that will make or break Manly’s season.
PanthersPenrith re-sign 15th NRL player in 2016PENRITH’S unprecedented spending spree has continued with the club re-signing their 15th player this season to a long-term deal.
The crazy Boyd stat Bennett must crushDARIUS Boyd’s Kangaroos career has been impeccable, bringing about an unbelievable statistic. Coaching against his prodigy for the first time, Wayne Bennett has no option but to crush it.