Rapana faces ban over stray boot
Canberra winger Jordan Rapana has been hit with up to a two-game ban after he flung his leg out in a tackle and made contact with a Sydney Roosters player.
Canberra winger Jordan Rapana has been hit with up to a two-game ban after he flung his leg out in a tackle and made contact with a Sydney Roosters player.
How the NSW side stacks up for Origin I
How the Queensland side stacks up for Origin I
Canberra have held on to beat the Sydney Roosters in thrilling Sunday afternoon NRL action, claiming their sixth win of the season.
Latrell Mitchell will have to wait another week to return for South Sydney in the NRL after testing positive for COVID-19.
A one-two punch with Junior Paulo has helped Reagan Campbell-Gillard reignite his State of Origin career, with the combination to lead the Blues pack in Game I.
Evania Pelite, who won gold in Olympic Sevens in Rio and competed in Tokyo, is set to make her State of Origin debut after being named in the Queensland side.
Manly coach Des Hasler says lock Jake Trbojevic copped his NSW State of Origin axing on the chin, while admitting his own surprise over the Blues' decision.
Penrith have proved too strong for bottom-placed Canterbury, claiming a 30-18 win to strengthen their lead at the top of the NRL ladder.
Josh Addo-Carr hopes he can play his way back into Brad Fittler's NSW State of Origin squad after scoring twice in Canterbury's NRL loss to Penrith.
Twenty years after NSW had no players from Pasifika background in their State of Origin squad, 13 of Brad Fittler's players are eligible for Polynesian nations.
Wayne Bennett will act as an advisor to stand-in Tonga coach Dean Young in the lead-up to the Pacific Test, with regular mentor Kristian Woolf in England.
NSW have found proper stability in their spine for the first time since Ricky Stuart and Laurie Daley played together at State of Origin levek.
State of Origin call-ups have affected the Sydney Roosters and Canberra ahead of their NRL clash.
Queensland star Valentine Holmes has already shut down Kotoni Staggs this year, but admits feeling nervous about defending him during State of Origin.
Manly have flogged the Warriors 44-12 to stay in touch with the NRL top-eight as axed Origin forward Jake Trbojevic played his best game of the season.
Jake Trbojevic wanted to ensure his State of Origin disappointment did not spill into Manly's camp before rebounding for the Sea Eagles against the Warriors.
Work with retired Collingwood AFL captain Nick Maxwell has added to Queenslander Xavier Coates' aerial threat ahead of Wednesday's State of Origin opener.
NSW captain James Tedesco says the absences of star State of Origin centres Tom Trbojevic and Latrell Mitchell won't force the Blues to change their game.
Stephen Crichton's NSW State of Origin debut comes only three years after he completely won over Blues officials with his talent in his maiden underage camp.
The NRL has changed the way players will be punished for foul play in representative football, lessening the chance of bans carrying into club football.
The Canberra Raiders have been delivered a crushing blow with champion Jarrod Croker needing shoulder surgery, ruling him out for the rest of the season.
Isaah Yeo is now regarded as the NRL's best lock but the title doesn't sit well with the Penrith and NSW State of Origin star.
Tino Fa'asuamaleaui has enjoyed his reunion with former Melbourne star Cameron Smith, who he says has had a calming influence in Origin camp.
The power of NSW's back-three threatens to swing the State of Origin series-opener in the Blues' favour, making 177 more metres per game than the Queenslanders.
The Titans scored first but it was all the Cowboys after that, winning 32-6 on the Gold Coast to heap further pressure on Justin Holbrook's battling NRL side.
A pair of 21-year-olds shone on Thursday for a North Queensland team missing four State of Origin stars, in a sign the Maroons' cupboard is well stocked.
Jeremy Marshall-King has become the latest player to take up a deal with the Dolphins, with the Canterbury hooker signing a two-year deal at the Redcliffe club.
Penrith lost their Origin-affected round last year but captains Isaah Yeo and Nathan Cleary say those stepping up to NRL will be a match for Canterbury.
The NRL will allow the likes of Sam Walker, Tyrell Sloan, Reece Walsh and Xavier Savage to play in under-19s State of Origin under new rules.
Ryan Matterson's mum was told her son may never play rugby league again at age 18, but he will make his State of Origin debut for NSW off the bench in Game I.