Jack Bird doesn't know when his body will give up on him, but he knows it's a possibility. His childhood battle with rheumatoid arthritis has been well documented, which is why he knows he needs to make the most out of his career before it is taken away from him.

The game's highest profile players have warned they don't want to be "warring with the NRL" over collective bargaining agreement differences during the State of Origin series as Sharks veteran James Maloney reinforced strike action was a long way off.

The debate over whether Josh Dugan is a fullback or a centre will be determined by Cronulla after the representative star signed a four-year, $3 million deal with the premiers from next season.

Andrew Fifita has lobbed the first verbal volley in the State of Origin war of words warning a beaten-up Queensland - "this is our year."

He may be in representative retirement, but Paul Gallen reckons his form would still warrant inclusion in the State of Origin opener as he jokingly said he plans to holiday in Queensland during the representative period.

An Andrew Fifita-inspired Sharks woke from a first-half slumber to end a baffling run of home defeats, reeling in a 14-point deficit to down a Johnathan Thurston-less Cowboys

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Sharks coach Shane Flanagan will continue lobbying the NRL to relieve the State of Origin burden on the premiers, with clubs such as the Warriors, Knights and Tigers to enjoy the luxury of playing one fewer game than Cronulla without their stars during the representative period.

Cronulla captain Paul Gallen says Josh Dugan would be a perfect replacement for Broncos-bound Jack Bird at the Sharks.

Cronulla prop Matt Prior will miss Thursday night's NRL clash with North Queensland after entering an early guilty plea for a shoulder charge.

Cronulla will consider banning Mad Monday as officials takes steps to minimise the risk of further drugs dramas at the club.

St George Illawarra slumped to a third straight defeat, but they lost few fans after a gutsy effort against arch-rivals Cronulla in an epic local derby.

Cronulla have all but ruled out making a play to bring premiership-winning fullback Ben Barba back to the Shire.

Cronulla have reportedly joined the hunt for off-contract St George Illawarra star Josh Dugan as uncertainty about the Test and NSW representative's future rolls on.

Ben Barba might be on his way back to the NRL this season after being told he is surplus to requirements at French rugby club Toulon next season.

The Sharks' major sponsor - who has fronted the premiers' jersey for barely two months - has flagged the possibility of renegotiating its deal with the club as the fallout from the NRL's weekend drugs scandal escalates.

Cronulla and the Sydney Roosters have reportedly lost more than $1 million in sponsorship over the NRL's cocaine scandal.

Chairman of the Cronulla Sharks rugby league club Damian Keogh says he does not have a drug problem following his arrest for possession of an illegal substance.

Ask Kangaroos coach and rugby league legend Mal Meninga about Andrew Fifita, and it's quite clear he is a changed man.