Graham

The Cowboys CEO Greg Tonner has resigned after the club’s disappointing 2018 season. He’s been their CEO for four years. Previously things have gone well for them and him. So big changes won’t be just in the playing dept.

Domestic violence charges against Zane Musgrove were dropped at a Sydney Court.

It's refreshing to hear him say what he's said there. Sounds like a sensible, likeable bloke, who appreciates what he's got.

St George Illawarra have re-signed Jordan Pereira for a further two seasons. The winger will now be with the Dragons until the end of the 2020 NRL Telstra Premiership season. The 25-year-old made his NRL debut in Round 19 against the North Queensland Cowboys. Pereira remained in the side until the Dragons’ semi-final elimination to South Sydney, playing a total of nine games. The New Zealand-born Pereira said it meant the world to him to re-signed with the Dragons. “Five years ago I was playing park footy. Now I have to pinch myself considering I’m playing with the likes of Jack de Belin, Tyson Frizell, Ben Hunt and Gareth Widdop. It’s definitely a blessing,” Pereira told the Dragons club website. “It’s really good news for my fiancé and I to add that stability and security to our future. Being here gives us that extra bit of happiness. We wanted to stay and the two extra pre-seasons will be so beneficial to me, particularly for my development.” “I’m very happy to be running around in first grade now and it’s definitely something I don’t want to give up. I’m very proud to be representing this club and hopefully there’s more NRL games to come.”

On the heels of Panthers getting Nathan Cleary to sign for them, there’s news that they are also chasing his dad Ivan to be their head coach.

He had such a lot of potential and natural advantages. And yet it’s come to this.

Tony Williams’ NRL career is in jeopardy after he reportedly recorded a second positive test under the game’s illicit drugs policy. Williams, off-contract at wooden-spooners Parramatta, played five Tests for Australia and three State of Origins for NSW between 2011 and 2014 and also won a premiership with Manly in 2011. The 29-year-old played just five games for the Eels this year with a knee injury after also copping a suspension for drink-driving at the start of the season. Apparently Williams won’t be kept at the club next season after he allegedly tested positive to cocaine. Likely 12 game ban if he’s found guilty.

SATURDAY Sydney Roosters v South Sydney Rabbitohs Roosters early mail: Latrell Mitchell will not play due to a suspension for a crusher tackle on Josh Dugan, with Mitchell Aubusson likely to take his place in the centres. Siosiua Taukeiaho is expected to recover from an ankle injury to take his place in the front row and is the favourite to assume the goal kicking duties in Mitchell’s absence. Dylan Napa will not play due to suspension for his tackle on Andrew McCullough. Predicted squad: 1 James Tedesco, 2 Daniel Tupou, 3 Mitchell Aubusson 4 Joseph Manu, 5 Blake Ferguson, 6 Luke Keary, 7 Cooper Cronk, 8 Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, 9 Jake Friend (c), 10 Siosiua Taukeiaho, 11 Boyd Cordner, 12 Isaac Liu, 13 Victor Radley Interchange: 14 Lindsay Collins, 15 Zane Tetevano, 16 Nat Butcher, 17 Ryan Matterson Reserves: 18 Sean O’Sullivan, 19 Matt Ikuvalu, 20 Kurt Baptiste, 21 Paul Momirovski Rabbitohs early mail: Greg Inglis will escape suspension with an early guilty plea and will be free to play against the Roosters, despite being charged for a crusher tackle. Sam Burgess is expected to play, despite the sexting investigation that hangs over his head. George Burgess will start, despite a head clash with his twin brother Tom against the Dragons. Triple field goal hero Adam Reynolds will start at No.7, despite suffering a shoulder injury against the Storm, hindering his preperation for the Dragons clash. Predicted squad: 1 Alex Johnston, 2 Campbell Graham, 3 Greg Inglis, 4 Dane Gagai, 5 Robert Jennings, 6 Cody Walker, 7 Adam Reynolds, 8 Tom Burgess, 9 Damien Cook, 10 George Burgess, 11 John Sutton, 12 Angus Crichton, 13 Sam Burgess Interchange: 14 Hymel Hunt, 15 Cameron Murray, 16 Jason Clark, 17 Dean Britt Reserves: 18 Braidon Burns, 19 Mark Nicholls, 20 Tevita Tatola, 21 Connor Tracey

FRIDAY Storm v Sharks: Storm early mail: Will Chambers will make his return from suspension, with Cheyse Blair the man likely to make way. Nelson Asofa-Solomona is expected to overcome an ankle injury to take his place against the Sharks. Brodie Croft is expected to get the No.7 jersey after starring against the Rabbitohs, but could face a late challenge from Jahrome Hughes because he is a bigger body in the defensive line against a strong Sharks pack. Ryan Hoffman could come into the side in place of Brandon Smith to provide another big body. Predicted squad: 1 Billy Slater, 2 Suliasi Vunivalu, 3 Will Chambers, 4 Curtis Scott, 5 Josh Addo-Carr, 6 Cameron Munster, 7 Brodie Croft, 8 Jesse Bromwich, 9 Cameron Smith, 10 Tim Glasby, 11 Felise Kaufusi, 12 Joe Stimson, 13 Dale Finucane Interchange: 14 Ryan Hoffman, 15 Christian Welch, 16 Tui Kamikamica, 17 Kenny Bromwich Reserves: 18. Brandon Smith 19. Jahrome Hughes 20. Sam Kasiano 21. Cheyse Blair Sharks early mail: Paul Gallen was cleared of a fracture or tear to his rotator cuff, but is still only an outside chance to play on Friday. “Gal’s probably 60-40 and that’s probably not in our favour at the moment, but it’s early days,” Flanagan said.. “We’ll see how he recovers during the week. He’ll do everything we can to get there on Friday and we’ll just have to keep our fingers crossed on that one.” Luke Lewis is expected to overcome a corked calf to take his place against the Storm. Josh Dugan is rated a 50/50 chance to recover from a shoulder injury, with Jesse Ramien and Ricky leutele expected to again start in the centres if Dugan is ruled out. Predicted squad: 1 Val Holmes, 2 Sosaia Feki, 3 Jesse Ramien, 4 Ricky Leutele, 5 Edrick Lee, 6 Matt Moylan, 7 Chad Townsend, 8 Andrew Fifita, 9 Jayden Brailey, 10 Matt Prior, 11 Luke Lewis, 12 Scott Sorensen, 13 Paul Gallen Interchange: 14 Kurt Capewell, 15 James Segeyaro, 16 Aaron Woods, 17 Jayson Bukuya, Reserves: 18 Josh Dugan, 19 Ava Seumanufagai, 20 Joseph Paulo, 21 Kyle Flanagan

The preliminary finals have arrived with the Storm to clash with the Sharks on Friday night and the Roosters host the Rabbitohs on Saturday night. The Sharks will be hoping skipper Paul Gallen can overcome a rotator cuff injury in time for the Storm clash. For the Storm Will Chambers is set to return from suspension to face the Sharks. The Rabbitohs will be boosted by skipper Greg Inglis avoiding a suspension, despite a crusher tackle charge. The Roosters will likely hand Latrell Mitchell’s centre assignment to the ever-reliable Mitchell Aubusson, while he serves his suspension.

Latest Souths and the Sam/Rabbits Investigation:

Nathan Cleary will remain a Penrith Panther long-term, with the 20-year-old agreeing to terms on a new contract that will run through until the end of the 2023 season. According to NRL.com, the Panthers will upgrade the final year of his current deal, before adding on another four years, which will make him the highest paid player at the foot of the mountains. Cleary is expected to sign the deal within the next 48 hours. The young star was rumoured to have been considering a move to the Tigers to play under his father Ivan, although Cleary decided against waiting until November 1, when he would have been on the market and the Tigers would have been able to offer him a contract.

Lack of judgement, lack of common sense, too much alcohol and the laddish culture?