Players man the phones to persuade those wavering that they're worth following, writes Michael Brown

For a player that was once held in about the same esteem as boutique beers and Pol Pot in the eyes of league fans, there has been a barrage of favourable publicity to trumpet the return of Sonny Bill Williams.

Sky TV negotiators were this morning still in talks for rights with the NRL body - on the eve of the 2013 league season kickoff.

Dumping Benji Marshall as captain was a decision that Stephen Kearney thought he would never have to make.

It's rugby league time this week, as three of the four football codes will be in action. Michael Burgess looks at 10 things he'd like to see from the NRL in 2013.

The Kiwis expect to see two of the most exciting league players reunited in black and white for this year's World Cup and both will have plenty to prove for different reasons.

Sick of losing some of their best young talent, Canberra Raiders chief executive Don Furner has vowed to keep battling to the end to retain emerging enforcer Josh Papalii.

Canterbury league five-eighth Josh Reynolds says he's shocked by the news of good friend Ben Barba's problems and had no idea he was concealing off-field troubles.

Bulldogs fullback and 2012 Dally M Medal winner Ben Barba has been suspended indefinitely by the club.

The Warriors are set to be without star halfback Shaun Johnson for the start of the NRL campaign after the Kiwi international hyper-extended his elbow in Saturday night's trial win over Brisbane.

A composed performance from halfback Chris Sandow and a quiet but classy return from fullback Jarryd Hayne against Penrith have Parramatta's hierarchy confident ahead of their NRL opener.