• 43 mins ago

NSW won't pursue a meeting with referees boss Tony Archer before State of Origin II with Blues players conceding Cameron Smith - hailed as "the smartest player in the game" - is well within his right to use gamesmanship to try to influence the result.

• 54 mins ago

Wendell Sailor wants the Canberra Raiders to rediscover their killer instinct and send a message to the NRL.

• 55 mins ago

NSW's State of Origin adviser Peter Sterling says Laurie Daley is the right man to lead the state into a golden era "win, lose or draw" this year despite speculation the Blues boss is considering walking away at the end of the series.

Nobody doubts Darius Boyd's quality as a footballer but his move to left centre shows how high the stakes are for the Maroons as Kevin Walters tries to engineer an upset at ANZ Stadium.

Humbled by the NSW pack in game one, Josh Papalii wants to get one back for the Queensland forwards in game two. This time, he's got some welcome company.

Alex McKinnon has revealed he wants to meet with Melbourne's Jordan McLean after forgiving him for the tackle that left him wheelchair-bound.

A wiser Luke Brooks is on the verge of playing his first game for the Tigers in the post-Mitchell Moses era, but took time to defend his housemate who has endured a rocky honeymoon at Parramatta.

Former NSW Blues enforcer Steve Roach warns the Canberra Raiders against them going into their shells and urges them to continue their flamboyant style.

When the RLPA lodged a 65-page document with the NRL, ahead of the current collective bargaining agreement negotiations, two demands – a free subscription to Foxtel at the players' union's Homebush headquarters and hosting and hospitality rights at every NRL game – sent club executives into a rage.

Josh Dugan has pledged to jump straight back to his feet – rather than take the cautious approach and stay on the ground – should he cop another whack to his mended cheekbone to avoid the NRL's "frustrating" head knock protocols in Origin II.

The NRL will throw open its books to club powerbrokers on Thursday as they descend on Rugby League Central for assurances they will receive the funding they require to remain viable.

Canberra Raiders centre Brent Naden has accepted a one-game ban for the biting incident that came out of the Mounties' NSW Cup clash against Penrith on Saturday.

The rookie back-rower will be kept away from the media during camp, while Walters will finalise his backline on Thursday to end speculation about the destination of former fullback Darius Boyd.

Melbourne Storm forward Jesse Bromwich has backed veteran prop Nate Myles to find his best form under coach Craig Bellamy.

A sideline seat at State of Origin I and a judiciary reprieve for the second clash will make Jarrod Wallace as hungry as ever for Queensland success next Wednesday night.

NRL referee Jared Maxwell's bunker banishment has extended at least another week after being dumped to under-20s for last week's video referee blunder.

Jarryd Hayne, having just embarked on an unlikely State of Origin comeback of his own, has plenty of respect for the one long-time rival Billy Slater is undertaking.

James Tedesco has admitted he grew up wanting to be just like the man he will mark-up against on Wednesday night, basing his game around Billy Slater.