Set of Six: Bulldogs go Fishing

Glen Fisiiahi doesn't plan to run with the Bulldogs, say the Warriors. Photo / Brett Phibbs

The Warriors have laughed off reports the Bulldogs are chasing Glen Fisiiahi. The Doggies' desperate search to find a replacement for the departed Ben Barba has turned into a saga with a host of players linked to the club. Warriors recruitment manager Dean Bell said Fisiiahi, who is under contract until the end of 2015, was not for sale. "They were after Pita Hiku a couple of days ago and probably someone else tomorrow. Someone either made it up or the Bulldogs have a hitlist and they want to unsettle someone. He's very much part of our plans."

Going global

Auckland Rugby League is hoping to line up games against international sides. Its calendar for 2014 is so far empty with no games scheduled against other provincial sides. "We are now working on establishing relationships with developing nations who performed well at last year's Rugby League World Cup," new chief executive John Ackland said. "Auckland has a record against touring teams which is better than any other region in the world. We see regular games against Canterbury, Wellington, the New Zealand Maori and overseas teams as an essential requirement for rebuilding the Auckland Rugby League tradition."

Future not Cleary

David Kidwell is expected to be unveiled as one of two new assistant coaches to work alongside Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney. It had been hoped Ivan Cleary would continue with the Kiwis after working with the team at last year's World Cup but he's ruled himself out because of his job as Panthers coach. Kidwell, who this year is Wests Tigers assistant after three years with Melbourne, missed out on the top Kiwis job but was open to the idea of being an assistant.

Record breaker

Melbourne skipper Cameron Smith has broken many records throughout his illustrious career and could end up establishing a new mark for the most first-grade games. Smith signed a new four-year deal with the Melbourne Storm this week and this weekend will become the most capped Storm player in history when he plays his 263rd game, surpassing the mark set by Matt Geyer. If he stays fit for the rest of his career - the 30-year-old has been durable so far - he could break former Brisbane Broncos star Darren Lockyer's all-time record of 355 first-grade games.

Crowding around

The Auckland cricket side are in line to play in front of their biggest crowd of the season tomorrow, even though they have lost their past two Ford Trophy games. In a curious mix of scheduling, the Aces are due to take on Canterbury on Eden Park's Outer Oval and the game won't finish before the Warriors tackle the Dragons on the main field at 5pm. It must be a wrench for the voice of Auckland cricket and the Warriors, Allen McLaughlin.

Simply Obsessed

In the best traditions of Tina Turner's 1990 Winfield Cup promo, Simply the Best, Fox Sports has put out its own version, Simply Obsessed, to the same soundtrack. The ditty, sung by Jimmy Barnes' daughter Mahalia Barnes, features a number of league personalities and opens with, "You call him, you need him, your car's on fire. He said he's at work but you know he's a liar. He's watching league, he's watching Fox Sports on TV ... Simply obsessed." Former Parramatta Eels and international league player Nathan Hindmarsh showed a few cracks in his playing career and is seen abusing a TV remote. Check it out on tinyurl.com/Foxad.