Former Warriors fullback Omar Slaimankhel could be in line for an NRL return with the Sydney Roosters as a replacement for the departing Roger Tuivasa-Sheck. After making five NRL appearances in 2012, Slaimankhel has spent the past two seasons playing rugby in Japan but was sighted at Roosters HQ last week.
Matulino keeps Dally M lead
Going into round 6 of the NRL competition, two front-rowers are at the top of the Dally M rankings. Warriors prop Ben Matulino and Wests Tigers' Aaron Woods hold seven votes each. The big boppers are one point above a cluster of outside backs and halves, including Chris Sandow, James Maloney, Johnathan Thurston, Brett Morris and Ben Hunt. Mitchell Pearce, Blake Austin and Greg Inglis round out the top 10 with five votes each.
Chase cops seven-week ban
Salford halfback Rangi Chase has been given a seven-match ban for a cannonball-style tackle that left Huddersfield's Brett Ferres facing up to four months on the sidelines with an ankle injury. The former NRL player and Super League Man of Steel, who changed his allegiance from New Zealand to England in 2011, contested the grade E dangerous throw charge, but was found guilty by the RFL judiciary panel.
Vatuvei hit puts Slater out
Storm fullback Billy Slater took to Twitter midweek to tell fans about the shoulder injury that will sideline him for at least the next week. The Queensland and Kangaroos gun wrote: "Unfortunately I'm going to miss some footy due to injuring my shoulder after landing awkwardly on the weekend."
No disrespect intended, Billy, but falling awkwardly tends to happen when you're on the receiving end of a Manu Vatuvei bell-ringer.
