NRL
SportAustralian Associated PressRoosters search for fifth-string hooker
The Sydney Roosters' are facing a hooking crisis, with coach Trent Robinson admitting the very real prospect of having to roll out a fifth-string dummy-half against Melbourne is almost laughable.9 spot took another hit in Saturday's win over Cronulla, with third-stringer Freddy Lussick suffering a suspected broken arm.
SportAustralian Associated PressSharks' big-team battle not mental: Morris
John Morris insists Cronulla have not lost the confidence to beat the big teams despite the Sharks' late capitulation to the Sydney Roosters.Cronulla's record against top-eight sides is well publicised, having not claimed a big scalp since August 2019 even while making last year's finals.
SportAustralian Associated PressBellamy considers slow build-up for Grant
Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy will consider employing Harry Grant as a supersub in the short term as he weighs up the benefits of slowly ramping up his minutes following his return from injury.Grant made his anticipated season debut with the Storm in Saturday's romp over Canterbury, successfully returning from a knee injury suffering during the pre-season.
SportAustralian Associated PressPonga finds silver lining in tough return
Kalyn Ponga could see the silver lining, despite a rampaging David Fifita casting a grey cloud over the Newcastle star's NRL return from injury.Ponga looked dangerous with ball in hand in his first game of 2021 but Fifita's try-scoring hat-trick ensured a miserable comeback from off-season shoulder surgery for the Knights No.
SportAustralian Associated PressWalker makes mark in Roosters comeback win
Teenage halfback Sam Walker put on a performance for the ages as he justified the hype and led the Sydney Roosters to a sensational 26-18 comeback win over Cronulla.After the Roosters trailed 18-4 with just 19 minutes to play, Walker produced a seven-minute spell where he set up two tries and scored another to leave the Sharks stunned.
SportAustralian Associated PressBulldogs end 265-minute wait for NRL point
Canterbury might have avoided having the worst pointscoring drought in NRL history, but they could not dodge slumping to their fifth straight defeat to open the season.A Luke Thompson try in the 22nd minute of Saturday's clash against Melbourne finally ended a painful 265-minute wait for Bulldogs fans to have something to cheer about in what has been a harrowing start to the year.
SportAustralian Associated PressFifita-inspired Titans beat Knights in NRL
Big-money signing David Fifita is proving to be worth every cent after inspiring Gold Coast's 42-16 NRL thumping of Newcastle on Saturday.Signed on a multi-million dollar, three-year off-season deal, Fifita again provided plenty of bang-for-buck, bullying a depleted Knights at Cbus Super Stadium to notch his first try-scoring hat-trick.
SportAustralian Associated PressTigers told to embrace Raudonikis spirit
Michael Maguire has told Wests Tigers players to embrace the Tommy Raudonikis spirit as the club prepares to honour the Magpies' great.Leichhardt Oval is already sold out for Sunday's clash with North Queensland, with about 10,000 fans to attend with the famous hill still subject to COVID-19 restrictions.
SportAustralian Associated PressEels prop sees Griffin effect on Dragons
Reagan Campbell-Gillard knows better than anyone how fierce Anthony Griffin is in driving a defensive structure into an NRL team.In three seasons under Griffin at Penrith, the now Parramatta prop learned the mettle of the coach who is turning around the Dragons defence after just four NRL games.
SportAustralian Associated PressWhiz kid Walsh exits Brisbane for Warriors
(Adds final two pars on Te'o)Reece Walsh will join the Warriors early with the teenage fullback given the chance to spend the NRL season training under Roger Tuivasa-Sheck.The heir apparent to Tuivasa-Sheck's No.
SportAustralian Associated PressConcussion rules Matterson out for Eels
Parramatta will push back Ryan Matterson's return from a concussion after ruling him out of Sunday's clash with St George Illawarra.Matterson was left dazed after a hit from Melbourne's Felise Kaufusi in round two and has not played since the incident.
SportAustralian Associated PressLuai ready to partner Cleary in Origin
Jarome Luai says he feels ready for State of Origin after Nathan Cleary became the latest man to endorse his halves partner's NSW credentials.Luai has arguably been the form player of the opening five rounds of the competition, setting up nine tries in the Panthers' undefeated start.
SportAustralian Associated PressCanberra wait on Hodgson, Nicoll-Klokstad
Canberra face a nervous wait on co-captain Josh Hodgson's fitness ahead of next Saturday's blockbuster against Parramatta.Hodgson was injured late in the Raiders' 30-10 defeat to Penrith on Friday night, and did not return.
SportAustralian Associated PressSea Eagles regain Turbo but lose two more
Just when they get Tom Trbojevich back Manly are set to lose Dylan Walker and Jack Gosiewski for long periods.The Sea Eagles finally ignited their NRL campaign on Friday night, claiming their first win of the season with a last-second 13-12 heart-stopper against the Warriors courtesy of a Daly-Cherry Evans field goal.
SportAustralian Associated PressLuai puts on a show in Penrith win
Jarome Luai put on a show for Penrith's maiden premiership heroes as he helped seal the club's best start to an NRL season with a 30-10 win over Canberra.Arguably the form player of the opening month, Luai was again the star on Friday night with his ninth try-assist of the campaign and a try of his own.
SportAustralian Associated PressRoosters' Walker warned of ups and downs
Sam Walker's NRL career began brightly in a win on debut but Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson has warned the young halfback it will take a season of ups and downs to truly acclimatise.Walker will again pilot the Roosters against Cronulla alongside the inexperienced Drew Hutchison at the SCG on Saturday night, the Sharks fresh off an eight-try romp over North Queensland.
SportAustralian Associated PressBellamy challenges Storm against Bulldogs
Craig Bellamy has challenged his Melbourne side to deliver away from home as they prepare for their NRL clash with winless Canterbury on Saturday afternoon in Sydney.The Storm aren't expected to be troubled by the Bulldogs, who are trying to avoid becoming the first team in history to be held scoreless for four straight games.
SportAustralian Associated PressTitans coach urges Taylor to stick to job
He's unlikely to have the leadership of Jamal Fogarty next to him but Ash Taylor isn't being asked to take on extra responsibility for Gold Coast against Newcastle on Saturday.Titans coach Justin Holbrook said co-captain Fogarty is almost certain to miss the NRL clash with the Knights at CBUS Super Stadium due to the corked thigh he suffered in last week's loss to Canberra.
SportAustralian Associated PressCowboys star Morgan forced into retirement
It's far from how Michael Morgan wanted to bow out but the North Queensland co-captain says premature retirement from the NRL was out of his control.Morgan confirmed his immediate exit on Friday after the 29-year-old was finally convinced by doctors his chronic shoulder issue was a career-ending one.
SportAustralian Associated PressReynolds claims fitting field-goal history
Fifty-one years ago a South Sydney star forced the game to do away with the two-point field goal, so it was fitting that Adam Reynolds kicked the first one of the new era.Reynolds on Thursday night nailed a 43-metre drop goal in Souths' 35-6 win over Brisbane, becoming the first man to score a long-range double-pointer this year.
SportAustralian Associated PressBrisbane "appealing" option for Reynolds
Adam Reynolds has labelled Brisbane an "appealing" option for next year as the premiership-winning halfback starts his search for life after South Sydney.Reynolds sent another reminder of his long-term value in Thursday night's 35-6 win over Brisbane, playing a role in four tries to go with his two-point field goal.
SportAustralian Associated PressCherry-Evans field goal ends Manly drought
A last-second field goal from skipper Daly Cherry-Evans has given Manly a dramatic 13-12 victory over the Warriors and delivered their first win of the NRL season.The Sea Eagles were staring at a crushing fifth straight defeat to start the year when Sean O'Sullivan claimed a go-ahead try for the Warriors early in the second half in Gosford on friday night.
SportAustralian Associated PressPanthers to bridge 30-year generation gap
Not one player in Penrith's current squad was born when the club won their first NRL premiership in 1991, but the lessons of a grand-final loss will still be relevant to the young team.The undefeated Panthers are the youngest team in the competition with not a single player over 30 in their side - the first since Melbourne Storm of 2010.
SportAustralian Associated PressReynolds kicks history in South Sydney win
Adam Reynolds made history with the first two-point field goal on the NRL-era as he piled more pressure on South Sydney to find a way to keep him in their 35-6 win over Brisbane.Reynolds was told again this week he wouldn't receive more than a guaranteed one-year deal from the Rabbitohs, further pushing him to leave his junior club.
SportAustralian Associated PressFriend retires from NRL on medical advice
After weeks of deliberation, Sydney Roosters co-captain Jake Friend has announced his immediate retirement from the NRL due to concussion concerns.The 31-year-old three-time premiership winner said he made the decision after extensive medical advice following a third concussion in less than six months.
