The Sydney media has wanted a grand final containing two local teams; but more specifically they desired the involvement of the South Sydney Rabbitohs.

When Sonny Bill Williams walked out on Canterbury in 2008, he was accused of destroying a team's culture.

Manly five-eighth Kieran Foran points to the closeness of the Sea Eagles group as the key to the NRL club defying the trend of the salary cap era.

NRL referees boss Daniel Anderson says the standard of officiating has been vastly improved.

Russell Packer has emerged as a prime target of the Newcastle Knights and it is becomingly increasingly likely the popular prop won't be at Mt Smart next season.

Russell Crowe famously gave the Roosters the gladiatorial thumbs down in 2009.

Coerced by skipper Paul Gallen into taking the field last weekend, Cronulla prop Andrew Fifita admits he didn't want to play in the opening weekend of the NRL finals.

Ricky Stuart has decided to return to coach the Canberra Raiders in 2014 and beyond, so what is a contract worth now?

Presuming the more likely parts of the last-ditch plan work out, the Warriors will be left hoping one of two giant upsets occurs in the final round of the NRL.

Canberra have confirmed the sacking of Blake Ferguson after the NSW Origin wing failed to front a Raiders board meeting yesterday to explain his erratic behaviour.

The two-day rugby league extravaganza will be contested by the NRL’s 16 teams as they compete for the inaugural title and a share of a record New Zealand and Australasian sport’s purse of A$2.25 million. The NRL Auckland Nines – which will be held at Eden Park on February 15/16. courtesy Duco Events.

Ratepayers will contribute up to $12 million over the next five years towards the Auckland NRL Nines tournament, which will be officially launched today.

It's taken him a whole season to prove his worth but Tony Williams finally delivered when it mattered for Canterbury as the Bulldogs drove the final nail into Penrith's NRL finals hopes with a 34-14 win at ANZ Stadium last night.

So the rollercoaster ride continues.

The Warriors will have to achieve something never done in their history - and may need to rely on other results going their way - but coach Matt Elliott remains incredibly bullish his team can make the playoffs.

Dare to dream. This was almost inexplicable - a stunning performance that defied the poor results of the past month and kept their play-off hopes alive.

Shaun Johnson's performance against the Raiders last night was reflected afterwards by his body.

Despite his foibles, fragility and moments of frustration in 2013, the man whose opinion matters most thinks Manu Vatuvei has improved and will "only get better".

It's one of the most enduring myths of the NRL, but this year it's become laughable.

The Warriors are set to play three NRL matches at Eden Park in 2014.