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Bananas can be expensive, but one sending an NRL footballer broke? Chris Smith knows what the feeling is like.

Those who know Origin say Anthony Milford will be tested like never before next Wednesday night. But the gifted playmaker need only trust his instincts to continue his meteoric rise through the game.

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Nathan Peats has long been Mr Expendable. He left South Sydney because he couldn't find an opening with Issac Luke at the club, and was the only high profile player squeezed out of Parramatta because of the club's salary cap problems.

​Jake Trbojevic has been anointed the third member of NSW's bash brothers after Aaron Woods and David Klemmer took the Manly tackling machine under their wings ahead of his State of Origin debut.

Australia will play Fiji and Papua New Guinea in an unconventional exhibition match in Suva as their lead-in to this year's rugby league World Cup.

The respective coaches may disagree, but Bulldogs players have leapt to the defence of the existing State of Origin format which will drain seven representative stars from their clash against the high-flying Sharks.

Canberra Raiders utility set to return to English Super League immediately.

Hazem El Masri has reunited with his first wife Arwa and the pair are again a married couple.

It's the NRL's most exciting edge pairing up against the duo that want the mantle.

"I hope she's proud of me". That's the text message Boyd Cordner sent to the woman he describes as his "Sydney mum" after finding out he was captain of the NSW Blues earlier this week.

Tuimoala Lolohea has officially left the Warriors and informed Wests Tigers that he will sign with them.

Mark Donaldson might be the smallest man on the team, but he is there because the footballers, hearing his stories, look up to him as to a giant.

​Canterbury coach Des Hasler admits he is shocked by Raelene Castle's decision to stand down from her post as chief executive of the NRL club at the end of the year.

When Nathan Peats thinks about tough, his mind doesn't wander to the 80-minute test of attrition that awaits him during Wednesday's State of Origin series opener, but rather his mum.

When Raelene Castle first began as Canterbury chief executive, everyone wanted to know whether it would be her or Des Hasler running the club. Four years later, it is evident neither of them is the Top Dog at Belmore.

A 12-match NRL ban will still hang over Ben Barba should he ever return to Australia if St Helens pursue - and succeed - in having his illicit drugs suspension overthrown so he can start his English Super League career immediately.

NSW could unleash Tyson Frizell on Queensland debutant Anthony Milford as they look set to shake-up their forward pack ahead of the opening game of the series.

The Raiders will play a depleted Roosters side on Sunday without their State of Origin stars.