The Panthers won't rush the NSW Rugby League to make a decision on whether Laurie Daley needs to draft Trent Merrin into camp as a replacement for his wounded back-rowers despite wanting to avert the same 11th-hour scramble which angered the Bulldogs last year.
Boyd Cordner has sought treatment from an inner Sydney energy healer - recommended by NSW legend Wayne Pearce - in a desperate bid to prove his fitness for the State of Origin decider.
The State of Origin referees will be told to more strictly police the use of blockers - a tactic which has become rampant in the NRL - after kick-chase interference marred Queensland's series-saving win in Sydney.
NSW could have its first unchanged line-up in a State of Origin series since 1996 after Laurie Daley shrugged off a number of injury concerns to name an extended squad for the decider next Wednesday.
The Dragons have implored NSW medical staff to make Tyson Frizell's long-term health a priority as the Blues hardman's fresh rib cartilage problem threatens to scuttle Laurie Daley's plans to use the same 17 for the entire series.
State of Origin attrition rates have reached alarming levels with more players missing NRL games the weekend after their exertions for NSW or Queensland than at any other time in the past decade.
Breathe, Laurie. Deep breath in, deep breath out. Open those eyes too, if you want. Your battered Blues - at least a third of them - are intact. Oh yeah, the Sharks look the real deal again this year after belting the Roosters.
He was the man who once was touted as Robbie Farah's biggest threat to retaining his NSW jumper.
James Maloney loves his racehorses, which is good because one of the nags he owns is named Mad Pirate - co-incidence much? - and has a cash grab lined up on Saturday.
Sharks coach Shane Flanagan doesn't think an abhorrent social media post which prompted Andrew Fifita to fire an angry Instagram retort will affect one of the game's most destructive forwards in a top four shootout with the Roosters.
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