NRL
SportAustralian Associated PressStorm say hooker Smith must rebuild trust
Brandon Smith must try to rebuild relationships at Melbourne when he joins NRL pre-season training on Tuesday, says Storm football manager Frank Ponissi.Smith shocked the 2020 grand final champions with a series of revelations in a recent expletive-laden podcast which left his immediate future with Melbourne in doubt.
SportAustralian Associated PressStars wait on seven after BBL nightmare
Glenn Maxwell insists the worst performance in BBL history won't set the tone for the Melbourne Stars' season.A woeful Stars outfit were thumped by 152 runs by the Sydney Sixers on Sunday night, as a number of records fell on the opening night of the BBL.
SportAustralian Associated PressKelly working with Titans on vaccine
Gold Coast centre Brian Kelly insists he and the Titans are working together on his vaccination status, with unprotected Queensland players to be locked out of stadiums next year.Kelly did not confirm his vaccination status when asked by media at the Titans season launch on Friday night, but labelled his position a "personal health choice".
SportAustralian Associated PressSmith shopped around by Storm for 2022
Brandon Smith may have played his last game for Melbourne with the Storm shopping the hooker around to several NRL clubs.Smith's deal with the Sydney Roosters for 2023 is expected to be confirmed in the next week, after his public admiration for the club.
SportAustralian Associated PressTitan Fa'asuamaleaui sidelined until Xmas
Gold Coast forward Tino Fa'asuamaleaui has suffered an NRL pre-season setback, injuring his knee in a training accident which will sideline him until Christmas.The Queensland State of Origin star attended a meet-and-greet for Titans members on the Gold Coast on Friday in a brace and said he can't do any running until the team reassembles in the New Year.
SportAustralian Associated PressTigers get Koroisau in big recruitment win
Wests Tigers have landed their biggest coup of the Michael Maguire era, securing Apisai Koroisau on a two-year NRL deal.Koroisau agreed to terms with the joint-venture club on Friday, knocking back interest from the Dolphins to put pen to paper with the Tigers.
SportAustralian Associated PressLee seeks fresh start at rebuilt Broncos
Brisbane recruit Brenko Lee knows what it's like to be top of the NRL pile.He's also painfully aware of how quickly things can change.
SportAustralian Associated PressRelaxed Rabbitoh Mitchell ready for 2022
Spending the off-season working on his farm, revitalised South Sydney superstar fullback Latrell Mitchell says he feels like himself again.Mitchell endured a rocky end to the 2021 NRL season, missing the Rabbitohs' run to the grand final after he was suspended for six weeks for an ugly shot that left Sydney Rooster Joey Manu with a fractured eye socket.
SportAustralian Associated PressNew Raider Elliott focused on future
No looking back - that's the mindset of Canberra forward Adam Elliott as he begins what could well be his last chance in the NRL.Sacked by Canterbury with two years left to run on his contract after August's infamous toilet tryst with his now-girlfriend and NRLW player Millie Boyle, the 27-year-old says he's moving on after signing a one-year contract with the Raiders.
SportAustralian Associated PressFittler Medal high on Trbojevic's feats
Tom Trbojevic has put the Brad Fittler Medal close to the top of his pile of individual accolades for 2021 after capping his stunning season with another major prize.Trbojevic was named NSW's State of Origin player of the year on Friday night, while also being handed the people's choice award.
SportAustralian Associated PressTrbojevic caps 2021 with 13th league gong
Tom Trbojevic has completed his trophy cabinet for 2021 with a stunning 13th gong after being named NSW's best player in their State of Origin series win.Trbojevic was crowned as the Blues' Brad Fittler Medallist on Tuesday night, also claiming the people's choice award from NSW's 2-1 series win.
SportAustralian Associated PressBrailey locked in as long-term Sharks No.9
Blayke Brailey is set to continue as Cronulla's No.9 for the long-term after signing a four-year contract extension with the NRL club.
SportAustralian Associated PressNRL trade system not ideal: Titans CEO
Having witnessed his NRL club get dragged into Brandon Smith's contract situation, Gold Coast chief executive Steve Mitchell admits it is time the game's transfer system is reviewed.The Titans were one of several clubs to court Smith despite the Melbourne star being under contract with the Storm for next year.
SportAustralian Associated PressNRL refuse to register Milford's contract
The NRL has announced it will not register Anthony Milford's contract with South Sydney until the completion of criminal proceedings against the playmaker.Milford has been charged with three counts of assault occasioning bodily harm and one count of wilful damage involving a vehicle after being arrested in Brisbane on September 20.
SportAustralian Associated PressMatured Johnson relishes Warriors return
Warriors playmaker Shaun Johnson says his acrimonious split with the NRL club in 2018 has led to him returning to the franchise as a tougher and more mature player.Johnson was involved in a public spat with then coach Stephen Kearney and chief executive Cameron George as he was pushed out of the club.
SportAustralian Associated PressNRL see All Stars feeding Sydney hunger
Andrew Abdo is adamant eight months without rugby league in Sydney can help next season's Indigenous and Maori All Stars buck the trend of poor representative crowds in the city.The NRL confirmed on Tuesday that the All Stars game would be played in Sydney for the first time next year, on February 12 at CommBank Stadium.
SportAustralian Associated PressNRL to push for transfer changes
The NRL will push for a change to the game's transfer system after CEO Andrew Abdo admitted there were pain points in the current model.The game's unusual system has been placed back under the spotlight in the past month, with at least seven players already deciding their future elsewhere for 2023.
SportAustralian Associated PressWarriors NRL squad near fully vaxxed
Warriors coach Nathan Brown is hopeful that his entire squad will be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 come the start of the 2022 NRL season.The club, who have begun their third year away from their Auckland base, are planning on playing the start of their season in Redcliffe, before returning to New Zealand for a round 15 homecoming against Penrith.
SportAustralian Associated PressSullivan chases Dragons NRL halves role
St George Illawarra playmaker Jayden Sullivan says he has trained exclusively in the halves as he eyes the opportunity to become the club's long-term five-eighth.The 20-year-old, who signed a three-year extension last week, has been restricted to six NRL games over the past two seasons.
SportAustralian Associated PressSmith to depart Storm at end of 2022
Melbourne have announced Brandon Smith's departure at the end of the 2022 NRL season with the club's CEO saying the Storm were "deeply offended" by the hooker's controversial podcast comments.9 will remain with the Storm next season but is believed to be joining the Sydney Roosters beyond that.
SportAustralian Associated PressSaints want to see Penrith Challenge plan
St Helens coach Kristian Woolf has told Penrith to put their money where their mouth is if they are serious about hosting a resurrected World Club Challenge.Panthers chief executive Brian Fletcher indicated last week that his club, who have never been crowned world champions, were only interested in participating in the match if the reigning Super League champions flew to Australia.
SportAustralian Associated PressCanberra bid ramps up NRLW expansion talk
The prospect of further NRLW expansion is back on the cards after Canberra launched their bid to join the competition in 2023.Raiders bosses confirmed on Monday their plans to enter the competition, remaining incredibly bullish about their chances.
SportAustralian Associated PressSmith set for icy homecoming at Storm
Brandon Smith should brace for a trademark Craig Bellamy blast when he arrives back in Melbourne with Storm officials privately seething after their hooker's glowing praise of the Sydney Roosters.Smith is believed to be bound for the Roosters for the 2023 season after he announced on Sunday he had made a decision on his playing future.
SportAustralian Associated PressIn-demand Smith 'blown away' by Roosters
Melbourne NRL star Brandon Smith has had his head turned by the Sydney Roosters, admitting he looked at their famous jumper during a meeting and thought: "I want to win a premiership in that jersey".A free agent for 2023, Smith says he's made a decision on his NRL future but will meet with Storm coach Craig Bellamy before making it public.
SportAustralian Associated PressWarriors' Harris on track for NRL return
Warriors captain Tohu Harris is cautiously optimistic he can return to action midway through May as the club eyes a return to New Zealand next season.Harris' 2021 campaign ended when he suffered an ACL injury in the loss to Penrith in July.
