NRL
SportAustralian Associated PressBroncos whip Tigers for best season start since 1998
Brisbane have torched Wests Tigers 46-12 to give the Kevin Walters-coached high-flyers their best start to an NRL season since 1998.The unbeaten Broncos have won five games in a row to start the year, just as the club's premiership-winning side did 25 years ago.
SportAustralian Associated PressDragons breathe fire to give Dolphins NRL reality check
St George Illawarra have delivered a pressure-relieving win for under-fire coach Anthony Griffin, ending a nightmare fortnight with a 38-12 victory over the Dolphins.With Griffin fighting for his future and coming off back-to-back beatings from Brisbane and Cronulla, the Dragons put in their most complete performance of the season at WIN Stadium on Saturday night.
SportAustralian Associated PressSea Eagles and Knights play out 12-try NRL draw
Manly and Newcastle have played out a 32-32 draw in a helter-skelter NRL game that saw five lead changes and two periods of golden point that couldn't separate the teams.Jackson Hastings' 50-metre drop goal attempt at the end of the second golden point half agonisingly drifted just right of the posts as players fell to the ground following 90 minutes of end-to-end action.
SportAustralian Associated PressBennett weighs in on Suaalii, calls for trade window
Wayne Bennett has reinforced his call for the NRL to introduce a single trading window in the wake of mooted changes to when off-contract players can negotiate and sign with other clubs.The Dolphins coach has also questioned the "fanfare" surrounding the decision of Sydney Roosters star Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii to sign with Rugby Australia from 2025 and backed the Roosters' handling of the situation.
SportAustralian Associated PressWarriors coach eyes crucial juncture after record start
Andrew Webster believes his Warriors will discover where they stand in round five after already claiming the most successful start to a coaching tenure in the club's history.The Warriors can take their fourth win in five games to open the season on Sunday against Cronulla; a feat the club has only produced twice before - in 2018 and 2003.
SportAustralian Associated PressPayten bloods Price for Bulldogs as Kikau ruled out
The price is right for North Queensland as they prepare for a round five away showdown against Canterbury with the Bulldogs set to be without star Viliame Kikau due to concussion.Cowboys coach Todd Payten will hand 21-year-old son of a gun Riley Price an NRL debut off the bench on Sunday against the club his father Steve played 222 games for, and won a premiership with in 1995.
SportAustralian Associated Press'Mentally weak' Raiders desperately search for answers
Canberra hooker Zac Woolford has lashed his side's woeful display in a 53-12 humbling at the hands of Penrith, suggesting his Raiders hadn't played at an NRL standard.Woolford agreed with his captain Elliott Whitehead's assessment that the performance was embarrassing and questioned the mental fortitude of the Raiders, who were in the game at halftime before leaking seven tries in a shocking second half.
SportAustralian Associated PressRabbitohs want to see early-game magic from Mitchell
South Sydney coach Jason Demetriou concedes Latrell Mitchell could inject himself into games earlier but he has refused to blame the Rabbitohs' attack for a tight loss to Melbourne.Mitchell was virtually unsighted in the first half at Accor Stadium on Friday, running for 34 metres from his four carries, but he clicked into gear as the game wore on.
SportAustralian Associated PressStorm's slow start no surprise, says coach Bellamy
Coach Craig Bellamy says he always knew he would need to be patient with his new-look, inexperienced Melbourne side, which he believes is the least-experienced of his tenure.Externally, alarm bells began to ring when the Storm dropped two of their first four games, conceding 64 points in a pair of losses to teams that missed finals last year.
SportAustralian Associated Press'Good karma': Salmon guts out try in Canberra return
Jaeman Salmon became an NRL household name in his trip to Canberra last year - but he has certainly got the last laugh on his return.The Penrith utility was back at the GIO Stadium on Friday for the first time since Canberra coach Ricky Stuart labelled him a "weak-gutted dog", a slur that earned the mentor a suspension and a $25,000 fine.
SportAustralian Associated PressStorm finding their feet with 18-10 win over Souths
Melbourne's early season slumber appears to be coming to an end, the Storm serving up a finals-like defensive display to help down South Sydney 18-10 at Accor Stadium.Blasted by their coach for a lack of care factor to start the season, the Storm risked dropping to a 2-3 record with a loss on Friday night, which would've marked their equal-worst start to a season under Craig Bellamy.
SportAustralian Associated PressPenrith down sorry Canberra in NRL thrashing
Canberra coach Ricky Stuart has apologised to Raiders fans after his side was belted in an "unacceptable" 53-12 whitewash against Penrith on Friday night.His Raiders were in the game down just 13-6 at halftime but were obliterated in the second, copping seven tries as the Panthers flexed their premiership muscle and left the Raiders in turmoil at 1-4 for the season.
SportAustralian Associated PressHeaven gets perfect prop in rugby league's John Sattler
Scott Sattler has paid tribute to his father John, claiming God just added to his perfect forward pack with the death of the rugby league legend.John Sattler was farewelled on Friday at a packed funeral service on the Gold Coast, attended by the likes of Wally Lewis, Ken Arthurson and South Sydney officials.
SportAustralian Associated PressSoward backs Dragons NRLW roster amid big-name exodus
Jamie Soward has launched an impassioned defence of St George Illawarra's NRLW roster, insisting his team is on the verge of a bright era despite losing all six of their Australian representatives to rivals.Grand finalists in the first of two competitions last year, the Dragons are set for a roster overhaul after several big-name players decided to move elsewhere for the expanded 10-team competition in 2023.
SportAustralian Associated PressWalters reveals secrets behind Broncos' fast start
Brisbane coach Kevin Walters says every player in his squad has accepted responsibility for improving the side's defensive clout as he gave an insight into the reasons for the team's strong start to the year.The undefeated Broncos host cellar-dwellers Wests Tigers on Saturday night at Suncorp Stadium, with Walters insisting there is no complacency among the players.
SportAustralian Associated PressHastings, Gamble fine with life in halves limbo
Jackson Hastings has declared Newcastle must continue to find a way to win without Kalyn Ponga, putting faith in his new halves partnership with Tyson Gamble.Hastings and Gamble will pair up for a fourth-straight match when they take on Manly in Mudgee, as Ponga continues to recover from his latest concussion.
SportAustralian Associated PressWe'd pay more than $1million for Wighton: Bennett
Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett says the club will pay more than $1million for Canberra playmaker Jack Wighton if they think he is the right fit.Wighton has informed the Raiders that he will test the market for the 2024 NRL season and beyond despite having an option that he can take up for next year if he so desires.
SportAustralian Associated PressGriffin adamant Dragons aren't distracted by his future
Anthony Griffin insists the pressure mounting on him is not a distraction for St George Illawarra's players, or an extra weight on his own shoulders, with his job as an NRL coach on the line.The Dragons took another hit on Friday with five-eighth Jayden Sullivan ruled out of Saturday's clash with the Dolphins with a minor shoulder injury.
SportYahoo Sport AustraliaJoseph Suaalii's dazzling display after $1.6 million move to rugby union
All eyes were on Joseph Suaalii after his recent signing for rugby union and the young talent delivered. Find out more here.
SportYahoo Sport AustraliaJames Tedesco at centre of send-off debate as NRL fans blast 'pathetic' call
NRL fans and commentators have questioned why Bailey Simonsson wasn't sent off rather than sin-binned. Read more here.
SportAustralian Associated PressSuaalii still shining in the glare of his rugby switch
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii has again proved the pressure of the spotlight and overwhelming scrutiny is no concern, showing signs of what he can do as an NRL fullback before switching to the same role in rugby.The walking headline of the past week, Suaalii did his talking on the field on Thursday night as he had a hand in three Sydney Roosters tries in their 28-20 win over Parramatta.
SportAustralian Associated PressRobinson calls for clarity on punishment for high shots
Trent Robinson says the NRL must make a call on how it treats high shots that cause concussion after Bailey Simonsson avoided being sent off for his hit on James Tedesco.Simonsson was on Friday charged with a grade-three careless high tackle after flattening Tedesco in the first half of the Eels' 28-20 loss to the Sydney Roosters on Thursday night.
SportAustralian Associated PressSuaalii key in Roosters win after Tedesco concussion
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii has shown glimpses of what he can still achieve in rugby league, piloting Sydney Roosters to a 28-20 win over Parramatta while playing fullback for a concussed James Tedesco.Tedesco was ruled out of the match in the first half following a high hit from Bailey Simonsson, and Suaalii rose to the challenge to be among the Roosters' best.
SportAustralian Associated PressSharks keep outside backs intact, re-sign Sione Katoa
Cronulla have managed to keep their quartet of outside backs intact, with Sione Katoa becoming the last of the group to re-sign on a new three-year extension.Katoa put pen to paper on Thursday, with his new deal to keep him at the Sharks until the end of 2026.
SportYahoo Sport AustraliaPhantom Siren reveals why he went off early during Dragons fiasco
The Phantom Siren caught Andrew Voss' attention during the Dragons' brutal loss to the Sharks. Find out more here.
