Set of six: Benny and the vets

Warrior Konrad Hurrell (right) meets X Factor contestant Whenua Patuwai.

1. Passport to success

Thank goodness boffins have tightened the rules around State of Origin eligibility but it still doesn't mean England prop Sam Burgess might not one day play for Australia. Rules introduced last December mean a player must have lived in NSW or Queensland before their 13th birthday or, if born overseas, have elected to play for Australia before December 2012. Burgess indicated to Aussie media this week he's applying for Australian citizenship so he can, according to him, stay in the Lucky Country after his playing days. Others are jumping to the conclusion he might one day wear the green and gold. Perish the thought.

2. Match the bans

It was hard not to feel some sympathy for Cronulla after they missed out on Paul Gallen's services last weekend due to suspension. Gallen was banned for one match for his unprovoked attack on Nate Myles in the first State of Origin game. League should follow football's lead with player bans served in the competition they are earned. That would mean Gallen would be suspended for game two of the origin series in Brisbane. Not sure the Sharks agree with NSW coach Laurie Daley that it was "a great Origin moment". Cronulla went down 6-38 to Melbourne as Gallen watched on.

3. Private matters

Even in this era of media training, and social media training, Chad Townsend made an error in judgment on Wednesday. The 22-year-old changed his status on his Facebook page to say he was a Warriors player before the club had officially announced it, forcing them to issue a release ahead of schedule. Townsend's defence? He thought his Facebook page was private.

4. Benny and the vets

Sydney's Daily Telegraph doesn't mind stirring things up from time to time and they had fun this week when they headlined a story on Newcastle with, "Benny and the vets". Behind the jibe - "Wayne Bennett promised to build a premiership-winning outfit at the Newcastle Knights, instead he's come up with a retirement village," the paper wrote - were some interesting facts. If they secure Craig Gower (35), he would be the ninth player Bennett has used this season over the age of 30. It would also bring the average age of the squad close to 30. Compare that to the average age of premiership-winning sides over the past 10 years, which has ranged between 24 and 26.

5. X games

Plenty of people think Warriors centre Konrad Hurrell has the X-factor - especially on attack - but he got a taste of a different kind of X-factor when he bumped into X Factor contestant Whenua Patuwai. Turns out the pair are fans of each other. Hurrell sheepishly asked for a photo with Patuwai, who replied he was just about to ask for one with Hurrell. Hurrell has been practising his singing of late, given the Warriors blurt out a rendition of their victory song after each game. Not sure it would get many votes, though.

6. Homesick

Sonny Bill Williams took to Twitter this week bemoaning the fact the Roosters' game against the Warriors wasn't in Auckland so he could play in front of his "fambam". It drew one sharpwitted response pointing out he would get to do that every second week if he played for the Warriors. Small problem with that, aside from the fact it would be too far from Channel 9 HQ, is that last year Warriors owner Owen Glenn called SBW a "show pony" and questioned his loyalty.