Queensland great Trevor Gillmeister insists brutal Brisbane hitman Brendan Piakura is ready for State of Origin football due to the physicality and class he displays in all areas. Piakura, a former Queensland under-16 and under-18 representative, returned from a month’s absence with an ankle injury to torment Wests Tigers in attack and defence in the … Read more
Storm giant Nelson Asofa-Solomona has opened up on a turbulent few weeks when he was dropped to reserve grade, with rumours swirling that he could be released from the final three years of his contract. The 28-year-old Kiwis star is one of the most feared players in rugby league, but he only made his season … Read more
Anthony Seibold is confident Josh Schuster can reset and grab another opportunity in the NRL, as Manly hope to go a long way to sorting the enigmatic second-rower’s future in the next fortnight. A day after telling the player he could talk to rival clubs about moving elsewhere, the Sea Eagles on Thursday granted Schuster … Read more
Benji Marshall has thrown his support behind out-of-favour Manly backrower Josh Schuster, insisting the most impressive debutant he’d ever seen can still be a star in the NRL. The Tigers are not interested in signing Schuster, with burgeoning talent in their halves and no need for ball-playing backrowers. But Tigers coach Marshall has taken a … Read more
Trent Robinson has insisted Michael Jennings’ return to the NRL “is not disrespectful to women”, adamant it is the Sydney Roosters’ responsibility to help the centre rebuild his life. Jennings’ 300th game will go uncelebrated by the NRL in Newcastle on Thursday night, after head office opted not to recognise the 35-year-old given his past … Read more
Balmain legend Keith Barnes has been remembered as “one of the greatest fullbacks the game has seen” after he passed away aged 89. Barnes played 194 matches for Balmain from 1955-68, featured in three grand finals and captained Australia during a decorated career which saw him earn the nickname ‘Golden Boots’ for his incredible accuracy … Read more
Wayne Bennett says the loss of Gold Coast prop Tino Fa’asuamaleaui to a season-ending knee injury is a blow for Queensland but he’s backed Dolphins firebrand Thomas Flegler to lift and help fill the void. Fa’asuamaleaui and Dolphins lock Tom Gilbert, both with anterior cruciate ligament injuries, won’t play for the Maroons this year in … Read more
Roosters coach Trent Robinson is hopeful Lindsay Collins could be back from a low-grade hamstring strain as early as next week, but the news isn’t as good for a couple of his teammates, with Sandon Smith and the luckless Billy Smith facing extended stints out of the game. It’s not all bad news, with halfback … Read more
Besieged South Sydney coach Jason Demetriou has dropped two more players as he looks to spark his winless side against Canterbury on Good Friday. New recruit Sean Keppie and utility Siliva Havili have become the latest players to pay the price for Souths’ torrid start to the year after Lachlan Ilias was cut before Friday’s … Read more
The NRL have threatened Melbourne halfback Jahrome Hughes with a two-match ban for shoving referee Chris Butler while trying to stop a try. In a bizarre postscript to Melbourne’s thrilling 30-26 win over the Warriors on Saturday night, Hughes was on Sunday hit with a grade-two contrary conduct charge. The charge relates to an incident … Read more
