Moves, Rumours,Judiciary, Injuries ...

[Graham]

St George Illawarra captain Gareth Widdop will be released from his contract at the end of the 2019 season, as he takes up an opportunity with the Warrington Wolves in the Super League.

Widdop will join the Wolves in 2020, with the Dragons releasing the 29-year-old only on the grounds he returns to St George if he does come back to the NRL.

“I’ve made a big decision in my career having decided to move back to England next year,” Widdop told the club’s website.

“It certainly hasn’t been the easiest decision but sometimes in life we have aspirations and playing in the Super League has been one of mine for a while now.

“The Dragons have played a big part in my career. I’ve been here a long time now and to get to where we have with the roster we’ve got, to leave it all behind especially being the captain will be difficult.

Edited January 16, 2019 by Graham

[Graham]

Wade Graham has signed a contract extension with the Sharks, and has now re-committed to the club until at least the end of the 2022 season.

Graham has signed a three-year extension, with the 2018 co-skipper the sole captain-in-waiting after Paul Gallen calls time on his career.

The 28-year-old has played 177 games for the Sharks, and has represented Australia on six occasions and the NSW Blues four times.

“I have tremendous belief in the club and in our playing group and I’m looking forward to the next four years and to the next chapter of my career,” Graham told the club’s website.

Graham will miss the start of the 2019 season after suffering an ACL injury during last September’s finals series, but is working hard on returning before the midway point of the season.

[Graham]

Triple Header next month at AAMI Park, Melbourne.

Women's game:

Indigenous Women’s All-Stars team: Akayla McQuire, Amber Pilley, Caitlan Johnston, Jenni-Sue Hoepper, Kandy Kennedy, Kyara Nean, Layla Fauid, Quincy Dodd, Rebecca Young, Samartha Leisha, Shakiah Tungai, Sharon McGrady, Shaylee Bent, Tahlia Hunter, Taleena Simon, Tallisha Harden, Terri-Ann Caine, Tommaya Kelly Sines. Coach: Dean Widders.

New Zealand Maori Ferns team: Acacia Claridge-Te Iwimate, Amber Kani, Botille Vette-Welsh, Harata (Charlette) Butler, Christyl Stowers, Hilda Mariu, Jonsal Tautari, Kahurangi Peters, Kararaina Wira-Kohu, Kathy Keremete, Kerehitina Matua, Krystal Rota, Rona Peters, Geneva Webber, Tazmin Gray, Te Aroha Hapuku, Tyler Birch, Zahara Temara. Coach: Rusty Matua.

There will also be a men's game and a touch-footy game.

 

[Graham]

Former Kiwi International Lewis Brown has announced his retirement from rugby league in an emotional Instagram post.

The New Zealand-born player will hang up his football boots and follow a career in the fashion industry.

Brown took to social media to reminisce on his football career, as well as to thank New Zealand Rugby League, the New Zealand Warriors, the Penrith Panthers, the Manly Sea Eagles, and his family for their support.

[Graham]

South Sydney captain Greg Inglis has announced he will retire at the end of the 2020 season, while also hanging up his representative boots at the end of the 2019 campaign.

The 32-year-old currently has 261 NRL games to his name, and could be in line to play his 300th in his final season of rugby league.

“It’s what I’ve known. I feel like I have given everything I have to the game, and it’s given me everything that I have in my life,” Inglis told rabbitohs.com.au.

“I’ve been fortunate to play with two fantastic clubs in the South Sydney Rabbitohs and the Melbourne Storm.

“If it wasn’t for the Storm I would not have had the chance to fulfil my life’s dream.

[Graham]

Sydney Roosters have confirmed recruit Ryan Hall is ahead of schedule as he continues his rehab from an ACL injury.

Halfback Cooper Cronk has also returned to full contact training following a succesful surgery on his fractured scapula.

[Graham]

Several NRL teams will play official trial fixtures in Pacific nations over the next three years, after an announcement was made by Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Friday morning.

Players and coaches of the teams involved will be in the country for a few days before each match, in a bid to not only prepare for the contest, but to participate in NRL and DFAT (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) programs to promote equality, health and wellbeing among other things.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Marise Payne spoke about the initiative, and said it’s important to strengthen the ties between both nations.

“These announcements are part of the Australian Government’s commitment to the Australia-Pacific Sports Linkages Program which will deliver $40 million in grants over five years to support the development of sport throughout the Pacific,” Payne said during the announcement.

“Sport has been a longstanding element of our engagement in the Pacific. This new program recognises the role and reach of sport as a major connection between Pacific and Australian people and communities.”

[Graham]

George Burgess has knocked back an offer from the Parramatta Eels, per NRL.com.

The English international will remain with the Bunnies until at least the end of the 2019 season despite drawing interest from the Eels on a multi-year contract.

Burgess told Parramatta on Tuesday of his desire to remain in South Sydney, despite not having a deal in place beyond this season.

The 26-year old is confident of earning a new contract under super coach Wayne Bennett after appearing in 27 games for the Rabbitohs last season.

Burgess was reportedly close to agreeing to a deal with the Eels but it ultimately fell through.

[Graham]

South Sydney skipper Greg Inglis will miss a chunk of the pre-season after a flare up of a lingering knee injury, as confirmed by coach Wayne Bennett to The Daily Telegraph.

The 32-year old is unlikely to play in any of the Rabbitohs’ trial matches, beginning with the Bunnies clash with the Panthers at Redfern Oval on February 23.

Additionally, Inglis is not expected to line up for the Indigenous All Stars in their clash against the Maori team on February 15.

The star fullback missed most of the 2017 season after undergoing a construction of the same knee that is troubling him now.

[Graham]

Melbourne youngster Scott Drinkwater has his nose in front of teammate Jahrome Hughes as the race to claim the fullback spot vacated by club legend Billy Slater heats up.

What about the speculation that Cam Munster might take that position.

Well apparently not as he hasn't been used at full back in any of the pre-season training so far.

[DavidM]

2 minutes ago, Graham said:

South Sydney skipper Greg Inglis will miss a chunk of the pre-season after a flare up of a lingering knee injury, as confirmed by coach Wayne Bennett to The Daily Telegraph.

The 32-year old is unlikely to play in any of the Rabbitohs’ trial matches, beginning with the Bunnies clash with the Panthers at Redfern Oval on February 23.

Additionally, Inglis is not expected to line up for the Indigenous All Stars in their clash against the Maori team on February 15.

The star fullback missed most of the 2017 season after undergoing a construction of the same knee that is troubling him now.

Bit worrying that . Obviously a weakness there as it’s bugged him before . We need a fit n firing Inglis in the comp

[Graham]

13 minutes ago, DavidM said:

Bit worrying that . Obviously a weakness there as it’s bugged him before . We need a fit n firing Inglis in the comp

More than a bit worrying same knee that has already kept him out for most of the previous season. It'll be a shame if it spells the beginning of the end of his career. Okay a Greg Inglis in second gear is as good as many other NRL players. Still it'd be a shame to see him struggling to produce what he knows he has been able to achieve.

[Graham]

Robbie Farah has named Jacob Liddle as the player most deserving of the starting hooker position at the Wests Tigers.

Ahead of his final season at the club, Farah is happy to hand the No.9 jersey over to Liddle to develop the emerging star as quickly as possible.

“I’d love to see nothing more than for Jacob to come through and force me out of first grade,”

[Graham]

Queensland coach Kevin Walters has declared that Storm star Cameron Munster is likely to line up at five-eighth in this year’s Origin series.

Despite Munster expressing interest to take over from Billy Slater’s role at fullback for the Maroons, Walter believes the 24-year old is more effective alongside Daly Cherry-Evans in the halves.

[Graham]

Pictures have surfaced that prove Eels recruit Blake Ferugson did not fake a foot injury to cover up an alleged drug overdose.

The Sunday Telegraph published the photos from Ferguson’s injured left foot that led to his hospitalisation in December.

The 28-year old was happy for the photos to surface following reports that he ended up in hospital due to an off-season bender that led to a drug overdose.

[Graham]

Melbourne Storm skipper Cameron Smith has called for the NRL to hand out harsher penalties to players with poor off-field behaviour.

The president of the Rugby League Players Association was disappointed with the number of scandals that took place during the off-season and thinks it’s time to take a stand against them.

It comes after NRL boss Todd Greenberg issued a phone call with all the team captains last week to ask for greater leadership within each club.

“Todd Greenberg came out early in the week and said that he was disappointed and embarrassed and being in the game myself for a long time I have the same feelings,” said Smith.

[Graham]

South Sydney captain Greg Inglis is reportedly set to miss the opening two rounds of the 2019 NRL season.

The report comes just days after it was revealed Inglis would sit out the Rabbitohs’ trial matches and Indigenous All Stars exhibition match against the Maori All Stars on February 15 after aggravating a knee injury.

Inglis had discomfort with the knee he had reconstructed in 2017 during recent training sessions and is now on restricted duties.

[Blotto]

21 hours ago, Graham said:

South Sydney captain Greg Inglis is reportedly set to miss the opening two rounds of the 2019 NRL season.

The report comes just days after it was revealed Inglis would sit out the Rabbitohs’ trial matches and Indigenous All Stars exhibition match against the Maori All Stars on February 15 after aggravating a knee injury.

Inglis had discomfort with the knee he had reconstructed in 2017 during recent training sessions and is now on restricted duties.

Not according to this 

https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/sport/league/souths-captain-greg-inglis-miss-opening-nrl-rounds-after-turning-up-15kg-overweight-report?variant=tb_v_1

Edited January 30, 2019 by Graham
Just to make the link work

[Graham]

Former Parramatta coach Daniel Anderson is set to be handed a route back into NRL as a recruitment specialist with Sydney Roosters. 

The Sydney Morning Herald reports his move to the 2018 premiers comes after NRL’s integrity unit was persuaded Anderson was ready to return to the game following his deregistration for his role in the salary-cap scandal that rocked the Eels in 2016.

The 54-year-old is to link up in the Roosters front office with former Manly chief executive Joe Kelly, who was himself suspended for 12 months last March for his part in a salary cap breach at the Sea Eagles.

[Graham]

6 hours ago, Blotto said:

Not according to this 

https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/sport/league/souths-captain-greg-inglis-miss-opening-nrl-rounds-after-turning-up-15kg-overweight-report?variant=tb_v_1

Interesting. Perhaps the extra weight has put pressure on his knee

[Graham]

Jack Bird is ready to play his way back into top form this year, after finally receiving clarity over his position with the Broncos.

The former NSW Origin utility will play at left centre for Brisbane in 2019, with new coach Anthony Seibold handing him the spot as soon as he arrived at Red Hill in December.

Bird has trained inside giant winger Corey Oates over the last two months, as he prepares to make his way back from an injury-riddled 2018 season.

[Graham]

[Graham]

Tom Burgess has been locked into the cardinal and myrtle on a bumper extension the same length as that of his brother Sam, re-signing with the Rabbitohs until the end of 2023.

Burgess's recommitment sees the 26-year-old commit possibly the rest of his playing career to South Sydney, as he will be 31 when he next comes off-contract.

The news of Tom's re-signing comes just a week after twin brother George knocked back an attractive offer from rivals Parramatta.

NRL.com reported that the Eels' bid to sign George for 2019 had been close to completion until it fell over at the last minute, though whether the Rabbitohs will keep both twins remains to be seen.

Since arriving at South Sydney in 2013, Burgess has made 113 appearances for the foundation club, and is now slated to form the long-term backbone of their pack alongside older brother Sam.

"Souths is all I've known and I'm really pumped to be signed up long term now," Burgess said in a club statement.

[Blotto]

Took a while for this to be refuted!

https://www.nrl.com/news/2019/01/31/cameron-smith-protege-brandon-smith-quite-upset-at-early-melbourne-storm-exit-reports/

[Graham]

8 hours ago, Blotto said:

Took a while for this to be refuted!

https://www.nrl.com/news/2019/01/31/cameron-smith-protege-brandon-smith-quite-upset-at-early-melbourne-storm-exit-reports/

His time will come, both in the medium term when Cameron hangs up his boots and in the short term covering injury within the team. Well worth the wait Brandon.

Edited January 31, 2019 by Graham