NRL
SportAustralian Associated PressRaiders' Croker reinjures shoulder at home
Canberra NRL legend Jarrod Croker has suffered a cruel injury blow, dislocating his shoulder at home less than three weeks after hurting the same one against Canterbury.Croker was named at centre for the Raiders' clash with Parramatta but will now miss Sunday's contest and instead head for scans to determine the extent of his injury.
SportAustralian Associated PressSouths adamant Reynolds exit not the issue
South Sydney star Damien Cook has hit out at the NRL club's critics, claiming it is an easy cop out and simply wrong to blame the Rabbitohs' inconsistent start on Adam Reynolds' exit.Cook on Wednesday launched a strong defence of young half Lachlan Ilias, with the Rabbitohs battling to stay in the top eight.
SportAustralian Associated PressStorm lose Grant for Manly NRL clash
Melbourne have been forced into another switch to their injury-ravaged spine for Thursday night's NRL match against Manly with Harry Grant ruled out.The young hooker looked troubled as he left the captain's run on Wednesday and was later ruled out with an adductor injury.
SportAustralian Associated PressHasler says he didn't cross line on refs
Des Hasler insists he did not cross a line in criticism of NRL officials, claiming he doesn't even remember the post-match comments that could land him and Manly in hot water.The fallout from the Sea Eagles' loss to Parramatta continued on Wednesday, with Hasler conceding there was now no hope of Tom Trbojevic returning this season from shoulder surgery.
SportAustralian Associated PressDolphins sign Aitken for debut NRL season
The Dolphins are continuing to build an impressive forward pack for their debut NRL campaign, adding Warriors second-rower Euan Aitken.Aitken, 26, had already announced he would not head back to Auckland for the 2023 season and he won't have to move far at all, remaining in the same Redcliffe base the Warriors have played out of through the COVID period.
SportAustralian Associated PressCowboys keep blinkers on for Penrith clash
Preparing for an epic battle against Penrith, North Queensland are keeping the blinkers on rather than worrying about what the premiers may throw at them.The Cowboys head to BlueBet Stadium on Friday night riding high after six successive wins to move to third on the ladder, while the front-running Panthers have back-to-back NRL premierships firmly in sight.
SportAustralian Associated PressBulldog Addo-Carr banks on Fittler's faith
Canterbury's Josh Addo-Carr hopes his previous displays at State of Origin level with NSW have done enough to earn a recall when Brad Fittler announces his Blues squad this weekend.Ahead of the NRL's Indigenous round, Addo-Carr was in high spirits after missing last week's loss to the Wests Tigers with flu, the club's first game since interim coach Mick Potter replaced Trent Barrett.
SportAustralian Associated PressNRLW edging closer to faster expansion
The NRL is edging closer towards going straight to 10 women's teams next year as it prepares to make a call on an accelerated expansion of the female game.The ARL Commission will meet on Wednesday and while the size of next year's NRLW competition is not expected to feature prominently in discussions, a final decision is looming for the body.
SportAustralian Associated PressMurray's Origin push ramps up for Souths
Cameron Murray's push for a NSW State of Origin jersey is back on track after he was named as a chance to play for South Sydney against Wests Tigers.Injured a fortnight ago, Murray was expected to miss the opening match of Origin after requiring shoulder surgery that was expected to rule him out for four weeks.
SportAustralian Associated PressForan's 250th can inspire hurt Trbojevic
Kieran Foran wants his own long injury battles to serve as proof Tom Trbojevic can forge out a long and successful career at Manly after shoulder surgery.Foran will play in his 250th NRL match on Thursday night against Melbourne, after a career that at times looked set to be ended early by constant injury woes.
SportAustralian Associated PressBird's Dragons NRL deal finally done
Jack Bird's contract saga is finally over with the St George Illawarra star signing a new two-year deal to stay with the NRL club.Bird finally put pen to paper on the new contract on Monday afternoon, keeping him at the club until the end of 2024.
SportAustralian Associated PressNRL unhappy on Souths head-knock comments
The NRL have rebuked claims Taane Milne was incorrectly ruled out of South Sydney's loss to Canberra after a head knock, telling coaches they are not qualified to question the league's independent doctors.Milne was deemed to have copped a category-one head knock in the Rabbitohs' loss to Canberra, and immediately ruled out of the match after showing concussion symptoms on-field.
SportYahoo Sport Australia'Wants an Origin gig': Startling claims about NRL referee moment
The NRL great weighed-in on the controversial drama. Find out what happened here.
SportAustralian Associated PressBroncos young gun backed for Maroons
Brisbane teenager Selwyn Cobbo has been backed by NRL teammate Kotoni Staggs to handle the State of Origin stage as the 19-year-old's case to be a Queensland bolter builds momentum.Maroons coach Billy Slater will name his team on Monday for the June 8 series opener in Sydney, with Cobbo firmly in the discussion after his electric start to the 2022 season.
SportAustralian Associated PressVersatility an Origin asset for Matterson
Ryan Matterson's versatility could be decisive in the State of Origin selection race with the in-form Parramatta lock certain he is ready to end a three-year wait for his first NSW jersey.Matterson is firming as a chance to claim the Blues' No.
SportAustralian Associated PressCowboys lose Feldt, Taumalolo to injuries
North Queensland will be without injured stars Kyle Feldt and Jason Taumalolo for Friday's blockbuster clash against NRL champions Penrith.The pair were both first-half casualties of the Cowboys' 36-6 thrashing of Melbourne on Saturday night.
SportAustralian Associated PressWarriors' Harris-Tavita to take NRL hiatus
Warriors playmaker Chanel Harris-Tavita never expected to make this decision, but at the age of 23 he has chosen to take a hiatus from the NRL."I want to take a break from rugby league," he told AAP.
SportAustralian Associated PressSmith embarrassed by Storm's recent form
Brandon Smith has described Melbourne's recent form as "embarrassing" after North Queensland handed them their biggest loss during his time at the NRL club and their worst in nine years.The Storm crashed to a 36-6 defeat in Townsville - their second straight drubbing after being steamrolled by 26 points against premiers Penrith.
SportAustralian Associated PressBronco Staggs eager for Origin chance
Having been so close to a State of Origin debut before suffering a season-ending knee injury in 2020, Kotoni Staggs can't help but be excited to know he's firmly in the frame for a New South Wales call-up this weekend.The Brisbane centre has been in devastating form for the resurgent Broncos over the first 11 weeks of the NRL season, scoring three tries and forming an exciting partnership with young winger Selwyn Cobbo as Kevin Walters' team have surged into top four contention with a 7-4 record
SportYahoo Sport AustraliaMatt Dufty caught in ugly post-match clash with former teammate
The spicy moment between former teammates came after the Tigers inflicted more misery on the Bulldogs.
SportAustralian Associated PressTigers free up NRL spot, release Mikaele
Wests Tigers have freed up a spot on their NRL roster amid speculation linking them to Canterbury's Jack Hetherington, with prop Thomas Mikaele released to join English Super League club Warrington.Mikaele, 24, made 66 appearances for the Tigers after debuting in 2019, with six of those coming in 2022.
SportAustralian Associated PressHynes shines as Sharks beat Titans in NRL
With Nicho Hynes back running the show from halfback, Cronulla have returned to the NRL winners' list by defeating Gold Coast 25-18 at a rainy CBUS Super Stadium.After an underwhelming move to fullback last weekend, Hynes returned to the No.
SportAustralian Associated PressFlu-hit Raiders roll on, belting Rabbitohs
Canberra have lifted to celebrate champion Josh Papali'i's 250th NRL game by battling through a flu outbreak to roll South Sydney for a third straight win.Five of the Raiders' starting 17 were among those training away from the main group this week with the flu, while Ryan Sutton and Matt Frawley were late outs battling the illness.
SportAustralian Associated PressCrichton staying cool on Origin prospects
NSW hopeful Stephen Crichton feels for Tom Trbojevic despite the Manly star's season-ending shoulder surgery further enhancing his chances of making a State of Origin debut.The 21-year-old Penrith centre was already in the selection mix with Latrell Mitchell out with a hamstring injury but with Trbojevic joining him on the sidelines there are now two vacancies in the NSW backline for Game I in Sydney on June 8.
SportAustralian Associated PressWaerea-Hargreaves avoids ban over ref rant
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves has escaped suspension for his foul-mouthed blow-up, with Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson claiming frustration at referee Gerard Sutton was justified.Robinson argued his star prop was a target for officials, and it was only his expletive delivery that let him down on Saturday.
