Set of six: Rabs releases memoir

Rugby League Commentator Ray Warren. Photo / Getty Images

Legendary Channel Nine league commentator Ray Warren launched his book The Voice at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Wednesday. Hundreds of sports and media personalities - including Billy Birmingham of The 12th Man fame - gathered to celebrate the occasion. Fans of Rabs can pick up his book, co-written by Andrew Webster, from the usual stockists.

Warriors rise for cause

Sunday's match against Manly at Mt Smart Stadium gives Warriors fans the chance to get involved and support the #RiseForAlex fundraiser to assist former Newcastle Knights forward Alex McKinnon in his recovery from a spinal injury. RiseForAlex wristbands will be on sale for just $2, while all funds raised will be shared 50/50 with the New Zealand Spinal Trust.

Townsend's link

Warriors five-eighth Chad Townsend played plenty of junior football with and against Alex McKinnon. The pair opposed each other at NYC level, playing for Cronulla and St George-Illawarra respectively, while they were also teammates for the Junior Kangaroos' one-off test against the Junior Kiwis in Newcastle in 2011. "I was lucky enough to play with Alex growing up through the lower grades and he is such a wonderful guy and a wonderful player and so talented," he said. "I'm just glad that the NRL and the whole rugby league community have got on board to really help him out."

Kim Jong-Il - trendsetter

Still on Townsend, his impressive top-heavy hairdo prompted some admiring comments from a Warriors staffer midweek, but the 23-year-old was keen to avoid comparisons with Rabbitohs five-eighth John Sutton. When asked if he was working on something similar to Sutton's extreme under-cut he replied: "Kim Jong-Il? No way, mate."

October double-header

The Junior Kiwis will lock horns with the Junior Kangaroos in a one-off test, as part of a double-header clash at Mt Smart Stadium on October 18. The grand final of the Pirtek Premiership - which starts on August 23 - will be played beforehand, giving local fans plenty to cheer about in between the NRL grand final on October 5 and the start of the Four Nations on October 25.

Cross-code harmony

Two South Island provincial league bodies will stage upcoming games in conjunction with their rugby counterparts at traditional union grounds. Tomorrow's Dunedin Metropolitan Club Rugby final will be played at Forsyth Barr Stadium at 2.30pm, and will be followed at 7.30pm by the grand final of the Otago Rugby League Competition. On September 13, Invercargill's Rugby Park will host the Southland Stags' ITM Cup clash against Northland at 4.35pm, to be followed by the league match between the Southland Rams and Tasman Titans in the South Island Premier Competition.