NRL

Maitua's mental health 'not too good'

AAP AN assault charge against Bulldogs NRL player Reni Maitua should be dealt with under mental health legislation, his lawyer says.

Packer's jail term stuns the Knights

Dan Koch RUSSELL Packer has become the second Newcastle Knights player to be jailed in recent years, after he was found guilty of assault.

NRL player jailed for 'cowardly' attack

STUNNED NRL player Russell Packer will appeal a two-year jail sentence for a drunken assault in Sydney.

Bennett taps Gidley as hooker

NEWCASTLE coach Wayne Bennett has confirmed that Kurt Gidley will fill the hooking role vacated by club legend Danny Buderus.

Fittler in shock Nines return

ROOSTERS legend Brad Fittler is in line to make a shock comeback to rugby league for the inaugural Auckland Nines tournament.

Sharp edge to Sharks

Margie McDonald INTERIM Cronulla head coach Peter Sharp said the NRL team intended to make its suspended coach Shane Flanagan proud while he fights to clear his name.

SBW to return to union in 2015

SONNY Bill Williams has a place at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in his sights after signing a two-year contract to play rugby in New Zealand.

At last I can sleep: Cronulla doctor

Margie McDonald FORMER Cronulla doctor Dave Givney said yesterday he was finally sleeping well at night.

Schubert's cap fits no more

ONE of the NRL's most feared figures is gone, with salary cap auditor Ian Schubert resigning yesterday.

Eels move to fill gap left by Elkin

Dan Koch PARRAMATTA insists it will continue to support performance director Trent Elkin but is believed to be well advanced in planning for life without the controversial trainer.

Sharks in piece plan to pay fine

DAN KOCH CRONULLA could be given up to five years to pay the $1 million fine it incurred over its handling of the supplements scandal.

Cronulla feels weight of NRL's wrath

Stuart Honeysett and Brent Read THE full cost of Cronulla's supplements scandal will be discussed at a board meeting on Thursday night.

$1m fine just a speed bump: Keogh

BRENT READ CRONULLA chairman Damian Keogh last night insisted there was still life left in the club despite incurring a $1 million fine from the NRL.

Five clubs sidestep sanctions

MARGIE McDONALD FIVE NRL clubs and four Cronulla staff members breathed a deep sigh of relief yesterday.

Elkin in battle to head off long ban

MARGIE McDONALD CONDITIONING coach Trent Elkin will fight to clear his name and reputation after being handed a virtual two-year ban from rugby league.

Smith holds whiphand over Demetriou

Brent Read HEY Andrew, hope you were watching. That's how it should be done.

NRL's Sharks fined $1m over doping

Brent Read NRL club Cronulla has been fined $1 million and its coach Shane Flanagan banned for a year over a 2011 doping scandal.

Flanagan, Elkin cop league bans

Brent Read CRONULLA coach Shane Flanagan and trainer Trent Elkin are the first casualties of an ongoing supplement scandal which has dogged the code.

NRL players plead not guilty to affray

AAP SOUTH Sydney NRL player Dylan Walker and Canterbury recruit Tyrone Phillips have pleaded not guilty to taking part in a violent brawl.

Dogs take Maitua's pain into equation

Margie McDonald CANTERBURY will take into consideration the attempted suicide of Reni Maitua when board members meet to decide his future with the club.

Broncos stumble in hunt for playmaker

Dan Koch THE Broncos are facing a fight with the AFL's Gold Coast Suns for the services of Karmichael Hunt.

Roosters sign England coach

ENGLAND rugby league coach Steve McNamara has signed a two-year deal with NRL premiers the Sydney Roosters.

Broncos ready for Hunt's return

Dan Koch KARMICHAEL Hunt will announce his return to the Broncos in the next two weeks in what could be his greatest challenge.

Photo of Benji the catalyst for Nines

Brent Read IT started more than two years ago with a framed poster hanging in the office of former Wests Tigers chief executive Steve Humphreys.

'The Gazelle' can't run from ASADA

Stuart Honeysett DARREN "The Gazelle" Hibbert could become the first person to be fined $5500 a day for failing to co-operate with ASADA investigators.

Hoffman tips rapid rebound for Slater

VETERAN Melbourne forward Ryan Hoffman expects his teammate Billy Slater to be ready for NRL round one after successful surgery.

Auckland Nines bust box office

Brent Read NRL chief executive Dave Smith yesterday revealed the Auckland Nines are on target to become the biggest box-office smash.

Bird tells Ferguson: you can come back

Brent Read GREG Bird wants to see Blake Ferguson back in the NRL. Before that happens, however, he wants to see Ferguson sort out his life.

Carney on spot as Smith retreats

Brent Read NRL chief executive Dave Smith made a hasty exit from an official function at Rugby League Central yesterday.

Ferguson guilty of indecent assault

Stuart Honeysett and Dan Koch THE playing future of former NRL wild child Blake Ferguson was in doubt last night after he was found guilty of squeezing a woman's vagina at a Cronulla nightspot.