Melbourne Storm champion Billy Slater will take a major step in his highly anticipated comeback when he begins full contact work on his reconstructed shoulder next week.

Young Tonumaipea is out to regain the starting wing role he held early in 2016.

Melbourne feel they're well-placed to cover the loss of Marika Koroibete to rugby union ahead the 2017 NRL season.

Melbourne halfback Cooper Cronk has been named this year's Rugby League Golden Boot winner for the world's best player.

The NRL season is months away but Billy Slater is already making his play to return to the field for Melbourne Storm.

Oscar Wilde, the 19th century foppish English playwright made two visits to the US city, rejecting its art and architecture with a snort, dismissively declaring: "Must we go to Chicago to be educated?"

The 2017 AFL season does not start until Thursday March 23 with an MCG match between Carlton and Richmond, yet the Storm's first home game on a weekend is a round  five Saturday match against the Panthers on April 1.

Melbourne Storm's fixture for the 2017 NRL season.

Kevin Proctor has been released from the Storm to move home to Gold Coast Titans.

England rugby coach Eddie Jones has turned to Australian rugby league to brush up his team's defence and he expects it will make a big difference.

Michael Cheika will set about blooding new talent - and plenty of it - as the rugby world reacts to the Wallabies coach's latest rant.

Johnathan Thurston and Cooper Cronk believe Perth is ripe for NRL expansion.

Melbourne Storm have put their NRL premiership hopes ahead of representing the NRL at the World Club Series in Britain next year.

Former Raiders winger Sandor Earl has his sights set on two NRL clubs for a possible return.

One of the country's leading authorities on brain injuries has warned the NRL missed an opportunity to show how serious it is about tackling concussion when Melbourne lock Dale Finucane's removal from the field was delayed late in the grand final.

Melbourne Storm enjoyed plenty of success in 2016, despite their grand final loss, with contributions from the second tier of players the major step forward.

The man who made the initial contact on Andrew Fifita during his match-winning try was less than a minute earlier supposed to leave the field for a concussion test. And now the NRL is likely to probe the Melbourne Storm.

"Be willing to be uncomfortable. Be comfortable being uncomfortable. It may get tough, but it's a small price to pay for living a dream."

If Billy Slater's playing future was decided by his heart then he would be playing on in 2017.