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It was a tough night for the Sea Eagles, losing 18-16 in the side’s final trial game but more importantly, losing prop Marty Taupau with a back injury, Dylan Walker limped off the field with an ankle problem and Haumole Olakau’atu suffered a suspected elbow injury. Ben Trbojevic played through despite initally staying down clutching his knee. Taupau, Walker and Trbojevic are all expected to play in round one.

Just under two weeks from the first match of the season, the wing-centre pairing of Jason Saab and Tolutau Koula have both shown off their extreme speed in the trial match in Gosford.

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Koula is yet to play NRL but the 19-year-old utility sports the fastest 100m athletics time in GPS history when he ran a 10.58 as a 17-year-old. It’s a time that would have fractionally missed the Australian Track & Field Championships 100m final in 2021.

And with Saab on the wing and one of the NRL’s fastest men already, the Sea Eagles will have a potent backline in 2022.

12 minutes into the clash the Raiders were attacking the Sea Eagles line, when a Jack Wighton pass was caught by Saab, who sprinted away for the try.

Raiders fullback Xavier Savage made chase but only got within 10m after Saab switched off with 25m still to run.

“Saab’s got (Savage) covered and then some,” Andrew Voss screamed on Fox League. “Is he the fastest in the competition? He’ll tell you he is and he shut it down like a dragracer well short of the quarter mile.”

Voss said he spoke to Saab and he said he was confident he could beat any other player.

Corey Parker added: “It must be a nice feeling that nobody, nobody on the field can catch you.”

Code Sports Lachlan McKirdy tweeted: “Throwing an intercept to Jason Saab and watching him run 90m in about second gear is a pretty rough way to start a pre-season game.

Fox Sports’ Cody Kaye added: “Hot damn it’s good seeing Saab pin em. Looks like he’s got like five more gears too”.

But Koula was not about to be outdone, Koula pounced on a long range chance as well, racing 70m to make the Raiders pay for a Wighton fumble.

And hilariously, Saab was running right next to him and was the first player to catch him after he scored the try.

“Lock it in Eddie: the fastest right side we’ve ever seen in rugby league,” Voss said.

Parker said: “We’ve ever seen? That’s a massive call.”

Voss continued: “This is something special Manly fans — and all league fans — that we get to see this young talent. But for Manly fans in particular. If this develops in the maroon and white, you are in for some serious entertainment.”

Chuck in the “fastest man on the planet” in Josh Addo-Carr and the man who beat him in a race to the line last year in Storm recruit Xavier Coates and we got ourselves and 100m sprint.

But while the Manly flyers starred in the first half, the Raiders hit back after going 16-6 down at the half.

Two tries saw the Raiders hit the lead 18-16.

That was when the heavens opened and the rain pelted down.

Locked at 12-all against last season’s grand finalists the South Sydney Rabbitohs, the North Queensland Cowboys forced their way over the line.

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Andre Niko scored out wide after fullback Tomas Chester spun out of a few tackles before finding Niko on the outside to beat two tackles and score.

However, he didn’t go over untouched as one of the defenders could only grab the back of his shorts, meaning he needed to beat a tackle and dive over to score with his behind hanging out for all to see.

With a decent crowd in at Cairns’ Barlow Park, it left some behind the play laughing as he showed plenty of coolness under pressure to complete the try before fixing his jocks.

“We’ve seen it all there,” Dan Ginnane said on Fox League commentary.

“Unperturbed by the wardrobe malfunction Niko gets over, Cowboys back in front.”

As Greg Alexander tried to describe the try as the cameras showed the reverse angle, he couldn’t help himself but laugh and say: “And that’s everything”.

“Nearly everything,” Ginanne said.

But as they kept showing replays Ginnane said: “Stop”, while Alexander replied: “Shorts down, scores the try”.

“That’s a bike rack if ever I’ve seen one,” Ginnane finished.

Niko, a 23-year-old former Raiders junior was released at the end of the 2020 season after a knee injury held him back.

He had 13 appearances in the Queensland Cup last year, scoring seven tries, four try assists, 12 line breaks and 34 tackle breaks, while running over 100m per game.

And although he doesn’t yet have a current contract in the NRL, his pre-season form was impressive in the trial game.

Pre-season results are rarely an accurate forecast of a team’s regular season form, but the Cowboys nevertheless claimed a 24-12 win over last year’s runners-up.

The premiership-winning NRL star had long spoken of pivoting into the 15-man game, and after leaving the Parramatta Eels at the end of the 2021 season, he signed a contract with NEC Green Rockets Tokatsu in the Japan Top League.

“Rugby is something that I do want to try, I played it as a school kid … it would be good to try and switch codes and try and create a legacy in that arena,” he told Triple M in September.

However, news that Ferguson was arrested in Tokyo last week for alleged possession of cocaine has led the 31-year-old’s new club to swiftly sever ties with him before he’s played a game.

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If convicted of the charges, Ferguson could be imprisoned in Japan for up to five years.

“Blake Ferguson, a contract player belonging to NEC Green Rockets Tokatsu, was arrested on December 30 on suspicion of possessing illegal drugs,” said a statement from NEC Green Rockets Tokatsu.
“We deeply apologise for causing a great deal of concern and inconvenience to everyone involved.
“Our team fully co-operates with the police investigation and strives to understand the situation.
“Regarding Ferguson, the player contract was cancelled on January 2nd.”

In his 249-game NRL career, Ferguson played for the Canberra Raiders, Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, Sydney Roosters and Parramatta Eels.

He was a member of the Roosters’ 2018 grand final-winning side and played for Australia, NSW and the Indigenous All Stars at representative level.

When the Moreton Bay-based outfit landed Bennett as the coach, it appeared as though the big fish were going to fall into the Dolphins’ lap as every NRL star was linked to the newest team.

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And yet, just under two months later, the club has only trumpeted the signings of former Queensland under-18s representative Harrison Graham and Melbourne Storm, Queensland and Australian representative forward Felise Kaufusi.

But plenty of other stars have fallen by the wayside, including a marquee hooker as Eels star Reed Mahoney signed for the Canterbury Bulldogs and Brandon Smith seemingly pledged himself to the Sydney Roosters.

Smith has landed himself in hot water this week after his bombshell interview on YKTR’s The Ice Project.

While some people focused on the swearing as the big issue, Smith admitted that while there were upwards of six clubs in the hunt for his signature, he had already made up his mind before speaking glowingly of the Roosters.

He even admitted “I want to win a premiership in that jersey” when visiting the Roosters, who laid out the welcome mat.

While the Roosters don’t have the salary freedom of the likes of the Dolphins, Smith said the club offered so much more.

But speaking on Triple M, rugby league reporter Ben Dobbin revealed that Smith had cost the Dolphins a shot of landing one of the top hookers in the game.

“He (Smith) had given verbal guarantees that he was going to commit to the Dolphins and do a deal there,” Dobbin said.

“The Dolphins dropped off Reed Mahoney for the simple reason that they believed that they were going to Brandon Smith.”

The Storm had already moved to block Harry Grant from going north by locking him up until the end of the 2023 season.

It’s been a dire start to recruitment for the Dolphins, who are still chasing marquee and experienced players for the club’s inaugural team.

It comes hot on the heels of two more players turning the Dolphins down.

29-year-old Roosters prop Siosiua Taukeiaho turned down a reported $600,000 a year deal with the Dolphins for a trip to the south of France and Super League club Catalans Dragons.

Catalans have been wildly successful this recruitment season, landing Mitchell Pearce, prop Dylan Napa and disgraced ex-Panther Tyrone May.

Ironically, it’s believed Taukeiaho was squeezed out by the Roosters’ willingness to sign Smith.

The Dolphins also failed to attract Sharks rake Blayke Brailey according to News Corp’s Dave Riccio, as the Sharks signed him on a four-year deal.

Pearce was squeezed out of the Roosters – where he won a premiership in 2013 – when Cooper Cronk arrived from the Storm at the end of 2017.

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Roosters chairman Nick Politis extended the invitation to Pearce, who then spoke to former Catalans coach Trent Robinson about training with the Tricolours this month.

Robinson joined the Roosters in 2013 and won a premiership in his first season, with Pearce wearing the No. 7 jersey on grand final day.

“Robbo talked about how happy he was for me, and the opportunity over there,” Pearce told the Sydney Morning Herald.

“You know how deep he gets: he spoke about the language barrier, about body language. He spoke about how proud the town [Perpignan] is about their footy. To win the first comp for them would be amazing.

“And Nick has always been good to me. Even since I left, he’s spoken well of me.”

The Knights deliberated for several weeks before they granted Pearce his request to be released from the final year of his contract to join the Catalans.

“I tried to be as honest with them as I could be,” Pearce says.

“I had a one-year contract and the club said this was likely to be my last year anyway. Both parties understood what was best for them.

“It might’ve put the club in a hard situation right now, but that wasn’t my intention at all.“The hard conversations I had with [coach] Adam O’Brien made me feel like everyone understood. I was never asked, ‘Why are you doing this to us?’ Not face to face anyway. I’ve got nothing but good things to say about the Knights.”

Pearce has endured a tumultuous 12 months off the field after his wedding was cancelled and his relationship broke down.

“It’s drained me more than I ever thought,” Pearce said.

“It was the worst year of my life. Stuffing up your wedding, all the shame that came with that. It’s not easy. The noise around the wedding and the families was hard. Super hard. It did make me tired by the end of it. It’s a big part of why I’m leaving.”

The 32-year-old has always taken responsibility for his behaviour but he believes the NRL are becoming too heavy handed in punishing players.

“If you do the wrong thing, you have to own up to it,” he said.

“What I don’t like now, with player behaviour, is how players get morally stitched up. I don’t like that. If I’ve done the wrong thing, I expect punishment. But what I don’t like is it’s getting a bit too easy to give people up.

“The NRL is fining players when they haven’t really done anything wrong. It’s taken the fun out of the game. That stuff is suffocating. Players feel like they’re in a foam box.”

Pearce leaves for France just after Christmas to begin a two-year deal with the option for a third Catalans’ way.

Rugby league great Mark Geyer told foxsports.com.au earlier this week that Pearce leaves the NRL a much-maligned but respected figure.

“He leaves the game in a very positive way, obviously much-maligned for several off-field stuff that’s happened to him,” Geyer said.

“But this is a kid who has been playing first grade since he was 17 and to play halfback in a competition that’s as tough as the NRL, for 15 years at the highest level.

“I think he leaves it as a memory of a kid who tried his guts out every time he played.

“He seemed to be the fall guy in both club and rep footy, whether that’s harsh or not – somebody had to be and he was the guy.

“I would imagine that pass he threw to Blake Ferguson in State of Origin a couple of years ago that set up the winning try for Teddy would probably be his finest moment.”

Originally published as ‘Worst year of my life’: Pearce opens up on ‘stuffing up wedding’, pain that lead to Knights exit

The Sydney Morning Herald reported that Manly Harold Matthews five-eighth Latu Fainu has inked a deal to stay with the Sea Eagles and likely be groomed to take over the reins of the club when halfback and captain Daly Cherry-Evans retires.

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While the report didn’t mention the price, it did reveal that he would earn seven-figures over the next four years assuming he meets performance targets in his contract.

“It’s a dream come true,” Latu said. “It’s great to be able to stay here with my brothers. Hopefully we get the chance to all play in the NRL together. That would mean a lot to the family.”

As for what he wants to do with the money, Latu said: “I want to buy my mum a house. To be able to do that would be a dream come true. That’s what I want to do.”

One of eight children, Latu is the brother of Manase, Samuela and Sione, who are all in the Sea Eagles system.

Manase is currently stood down from the club awaiting trial for an alleged knife attack at a church dance and has not played since the end of the 2019 season.

Samuela, a 17-year-old forward, also extended his deal until the end of the 2024 season.

Latu’s signing comes after the likes of Parramatta, the New Zealand Warriors and the Dolphins were all interested in the youngster.

Latu was named the Harold Matthews player of the year last year and has even attracted an Adidias ambassadorship.

Fainu will follow in the long list of players to be signed up early and go on to NRL careers.

Last year, Joseph Suuali ended up at the Roosters after a tug of war between Rugby Australia, South Sydney and the Roosters.

He had to get an exemption to debut before his 18th birthday and impressed on his start in the league.

The Roosters had also paid a reported $300,000 deal to nab Sam Walker from the Broncos in 2019 and he claimed the Dally M Rookie of the Year in 2021.

But it’s believed that Fainu will beat new Dragons recruit Moses Suli’s record three-year $1.3m deal for the Wests Tigers in 2017, assuming the Sea Eagles youngster can meet his performance targets.

But remarkably, big brother, Manase believes the playmaker isn’t even the best of all the brothers.

“I back Sammy (Samuela),” he told the Herald.

“He’s a big boy; I’d back him to be the best of all of us. He grew up playing at half, he’s got all the skills in the world and he’s got the size, too.”

*All times AEDT and AEST

ROUND 1

Thursday, March 10

Panthers vs Sea Eagles, BlueBet Stadium, 8.05pm

Friday, March 11

Raiders vs Sharks, GIO Stadium, 6.00pm

Broncos vs Rabbitohs, Suncorp Stadium, 8.05pm

Saturday, March 12

Roosters vs Knights, Sydney Cricket Ground, 3.00pm

Warriors vs Dragons, Sunshine Coast Stadium, 5.30pm

Wests Tigers vs Storm, CommBank Stadium, 7.35pm

Sunday, March 13

Eels vs Titans, CommBank Stadium, 4:05pm

Cowboys vs Bulldogs Qld Country Bank Stadium, 6:15pm

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ROUND 2

Thursday, March 17

Storm vs Rabbitohs, AAMI Park, 8.05pm

Friday, March 18

Dragons vs. Panthers, Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, 6:00pm

Roosters vs. Sea Eagles, Central Coast Stadium, 8:05pm

Saturday, March 19

Titans vs. Warriors, Cbus Super Stadium, 3:00pm

Sharks vs. Eels, PointsBet Stadium, 5:30pm

Cowboys vs. Raiders, Qld Country Bank Stadium 7:35pm

Sunday, March 20

Knights vs. Wests Tigers, McDonald Jones Stadium, 4:05pm

Bulldogs vs. Broncos, Stadium Australia, 6:15pm

ROUND 3

Thursday, March 24

Dragons vs. Sharks, WIN Stadium, 8:05pm

Friday, March 25

Wests Tigers vs. Warriors, Campbelltown Stadium, 6:00pm

Rabbitohs vs. Roosters, Stadium Australia, 8:05pm

Saturday, March 25

Panthers vs. Knights, Carrington Park, Bathurst, 3:00pm

Storm vs. Eels, AAMI Park, 5:30pm

Raiders vs. Titans, GIO Stadium, 7:35pm

Sunday, March 27

Broncos vs. Cowboys, Suncorp Stadium, 4:05pm

Sea Eagles vs. Bulldogs, 4 Pines Park, 6:15pm

ROUND 4

Thursday, March 31

Titans vs. Wests Tigers, Cbus Super Stadium, 8.05pm

Friday, April 1

Sharks vs. Knights, PointsBet Stadium, 6:00pm

Panthers vs. Rabbitohs, BlueBet Stadium, 8:05pm

Saturday, April 2

Warriors vs. Broncos, Moreton Daily Stadium, Redcliffe 3:00pm

Sea Eagles vs. Raiders, Glen Willow Stadium, Mudgee 5:30pm

Cowboys vs. Roosters, Qld Country Bank Stadium 7:35pm

Sunday, April 3

Storm vs. Bulldogs, AAMI Park, 4:05pm

Eels vs. Dragons, CommBank Stadium, 6:15pm

ROUND 5

Thursday, April 7

Knights vs. Sea Eagles, McDonald Jones Stadium, 7:50pm

Friday, April 8

Warriors vs. Cowboys, Moreton Daily Stadium, Redcliffe, 6:00pm

Broncos vs. Roosters, Suncorp Stadium, 7:55pm

Saturday, April 9

Raiders vs. Storm, McDonalds Park, Wagga Wagga, 3:00pm

Rabbitohs vs. Dragons, Stadium Australia, 5:30pm

Titans vs. Eels, Cbus Super Stadium, 7:35pm

Sunday, April 10

Sharks vs. Wests Tigers, PointsBet Stadium, 4:05pm

Bulldogs vs. Panthers, CommBank Stadium, 6:15pm

ROUND 6

Thursday, April 14

Raiders vs. Cowboys, GIO Stadium, 7:50pm

Friday, April 15

Rabbitohs vs. Bulldogs, Stadium Australia, 4:00pm

Panthers vs. Broncos, BlueBet Stadium, 7:55pm

Saturday, April 16

Sea Eagles vs. Titans, 4 Pines Park 5:30pm

Storm vs. Sharks, AAMI Park, 7:35pm

Sunday, April 17

Roosters vs. Warriors, Sydney Cricket Ground, 2:00pm

Dragons vs. Knights, WIN Stadium, 4:05pm

Monday, April 18

Eels vs. Wests Tigers, CommBank Stadium, 4:00pm

ROUND 7

Thursday, April 21

Sharks vs. Sea Eagles, PointsBet Stadium, 7:50pm

Friday, April 22

Broncos vs. Bulldogs, Suncorp Stadium, 7:55pm

Saturday, April 23

Cowboys vs. Titans, Qld Country Bank Stadium, 5:30pm

Wests Tigers vs. Rabbitohs, CommBank Stadium, 7:35pm

Sunday, April 24

Knights vs. Eels, McDonald Jones Stadium, 2:00pm

Panthers vs. Raiders, BlueBet Stadium, 4:05pm

Monday, April 25

Dragons vs. Roosters, Sydney Cricket Ground, 4:00pm

Storm vs. Warriors, AAMI Park, 7:00pm

ROUND 8

Thursday, Apr 28

Broncos vs. Sharks, Suncorp Stadium, 7:50pm

Friday, Apr 29

Titans vs. Panthers, Cbus Super Stadium, 6:00pm

Rabbitohs vs. Sea Eagles, Central Coast Stadium, 7:55pm

Saturday, Apr 30

Warriors vs. Raiders, Moreton Daily Stadium, Redcliffe, 3:00pm

Bulldogs vs. Roosters, Stadium Australia, 5:30pm

Eels vs. Cowboys TIO Stadium, Darwin, 7:05pm

Sunday, May 1

Knights vs. Storm, McDonald Jones Stadium, 2:00pm

Dragons vs. Wests Tigers, WIN Stadium, 4:05pm

ROUND 9

Thursday, May 5

Rabbitohs vs. Broncos Stadium Australia, 7:50pm

Friday, May 6

Raiders vs. Bulldogs GIO Stadium, 6:00pm

Panthers vs. Eels BlueBet Stadium, 7:55pm

Saturday, May 7

Sea Eagles vs. Wests Tigers, 4 Pines Park, 3:00pm

Roosters vs. Titans, BB Print Stadium, Mackay, 5:30pm

Cowboys vs. Knights Qld Country Bank Stadium, 7:35pm

Sunday, May 8

Storm vs. Dragons, AAMI Park, 2:00pm

Sharks vs. Warriors PointsBet Stadium, 4:05pm

ROUND 10

Friday, May 13

Bulldogs vs. Knights, Suncorp Stadium, 6:00pm

Sea Eagles vs. Broncos, Suncorp Stadium, 8:05pm

Saturday, May 14

Warriors vs. Rabbitohs, Suncorp Stadium, 3:00pm

Titans vs. Dragons, Suncorp Stadium, 5:30pm

Storm vs. Panthers, Suncorp Stadium,7:45pm

Sunday, May 15

Sharks vs. Raiders, Suncorp Stadium, 1:50pm

Roosters vs. Eels, Suncorp Stadium, 4:05pm

Wests Tigers vs. Cowboys, Suncorp Stadium, 6:25pm

ROUND 11

Thursday, May 19

Knights v Broncos, McDonald Jones Stadium, 7.50pm

Friday, May 20

Wests Tigers v Bulldogs, Leichhardt Oval, 6.00pm

Eels vs. Sea Eagles, CommBank Stadium, 7:55pm

Saturday, May 21

Dragons vs. Warriors, Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, 3:00pm

Cowboys vs. Storm Qld Country Bank Stadium, 5:30pm

Roosters vs. Panthers Sydney Cricket Ground, 7:35pm

Sunday, May 22

Rabbitohs vs. Raiders Apex Oval, Dubbo, 2:00pm

Titans vs. Sharks Cbus Super Stadium, 4:05pm

ROUND 12

Thursday, May 26

Storm vs Sea Eagles, AAMI Park, 8.05pm

Friday, May 27

Panthers vs Cowboys, BlueBet Stadium, 6.00pm

Broncos v Titans, Suncorp Stadium, 7.55pm

Saturday, May 28

Warriors v Knights, Moreton Daily Stadium, 3.00pm

Rabbitohs vs Wests Tigers, Stadium Australia, 5.30pm

Sharks v Roosters, PointsBet Stadium, 7.35pm

Sunday, May 29

Bulldogs vs Dragons, Belmore Sports Ground, 2.00pm

Raiders vs Eels, GIO Stadium, 4.05pm

ROUND 13

Thursday, Jun 2

Titans v Cowboys, Cbus Super Stadium, 7.50pm

Friday, Jun 3

Panthers vs Bulldogs, BlueBet Stadium, 7.55pm

Saturday, Jun 4

Sea Eagles vs Warriors, 4 Pines Park, 7.35pm

Sunday, Jun 5

Raiders vs Roosters, GIO Stadium, 4.05pm

Byes: Broncos, Dragons, Eels, Knights, Rabbitohs, Sharks, Storm, Wests Tigers

ROUND 14

Friday, Jun 10

Cowboys vs Dragons, Qld Country Bank Stadium, 7.55pm

Saturday, Jun 11

Titans vs Rabbitohs, Cbus Super Stadium, 3.00pm

Roosters vs Storm, Sydney Cricket Ground*, 5.30pm

Broncos vs Raiders, Suncorp Stadium, 7.35pm

Sunday, Jun 12

Wests Tigers vs Sea Eagles, Campbelltown Stadium, 2.00pm

Knights vs Panthers, McDonald Jones Stadium, 4.05pm

Warriors vs Sharks, Moreton Daily Stadium, 6.15pm

Monday, Jun 13

Bulldogs vs Eels, Stadium Australia, 4.00pm

ROUND 15

Thursday, Jun 16

Dragons vs Rabbitohs, WIN Stadium, 7.50pm

Friday Jun 17

Sea Eagles vs Cowboys, 4 Pines Park, 6.00pm

Storm vs Broncos, AAMI Park, 7.55pm

Saturday, Jun 18

Sharks vs Titans, C. ex Coffs International Stadium, 3.00pm

Warriors vs Panthers, Mt Smart Stadium**, 5.30pm

Eels vs Roosters, CommBank Stadium, 7.35pm

Sunday, Jun 19

Raiders vs Knights, GIO Stadium, 2.00pm

Bulldogs vs Wests Tigers, CommBank Stadium, 4.05pm

ROUND 16

Thursday, Jun 30

Sea Eagles vs Storm, 4 Pines Park, 7.50pm

Friday, Jul 1

Knights vs Titans, McDonald Jones Stadium, 6.00pm

Panthers vs Roosters, BlueBet Stadium, 7.55pm

Saturday, Jul 2

Bulldogs vs Sharks, CommBank Stadium, 3.00pm

Cowboys vs Broncos, Qld Country Bank Stadium, 5.30pm

Rabbitohs vs Eels, Stadium Australia, 7.35pm

Sunday, Jul 3

Warriors vs Wests Tigers, Mt Smart Stadium**, 2.00pm

Dragons vs Raiders, WIN Stadium, 4.05pm

ROUND 17

Thursday, Jul 7

Sharks vs Storm, PointsBet Stadium, 7.50pm

Friday, Jul 8

Knights vs Rabbitohs, McDonald Jones Stadium, 7.55pm

Saturday, Jul 9

Wests Tigers vs Eels, Leichhardt Oval, 7.35pm

Sunday, Jul 10

Broncos vs Dragons, Suncorp Stadium, 4.05pm

Byes: Bulldogs, Cowboys, Panthers, Raiders, Roosters, Sea Eagles, Titans, Warriors

ROUND 18

Friday, Jul 15

Cowboys vs Sharks, Qld Country Bank Stadium, 6.00pm

Eels vs Warriors, CommBank Stadium, 7.55pm

Saturday, Jul 16

Roosters vs Dragons, Sydney Cricket Ground*, 3.00pm

Sea Eagles vs Knights, 4 Pines Park, 5.30pm

Titans vs Broncos, Cbus Super Stadium, 7.35pm

Sunday, Jul 17

Wests Tigers vs Panthers, CommBank Stadium, 2.00pm

Storm vs Raiders, AAMI Park, 4.05pm

Bulldogs vs Rabbitohs, Stadium Australia, 6.15pm

ROUND 19

Thursday, Jul 21

Eels vs Broncos, CommBank Stadium, 7.50pm

Friday, Jul 22

Dragons vs Sea Eagles, Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, 6.00pm

Knights vs Roosters, McDonald Jones Stadium, 7.55pm

Saturday, Jul 23

Raiders vs Warriors, GIO Stadium, 3.00pm

Panthers vs Sharks, BlueBet Stadium, 5.30pm

Rabbitohs vs Storm, Stadium Australia, 7.35pm

Sunday, Jul 24

Bulldogs vs Titans, 2.00pm

Cowboys vs Wests Tigers, Qld Country Bank Stadium, 4.05pm

ROUND 20

Thursday, Jul 28

Sea Eagles vs Roosters, 4 Pines Park, 7.50pm

Friday, Jul 29

Warriors vs Storm, Mt Smart Stadium**, 6.00pm

Eels vs Panthers, CommBank Stadium, 7.55pm

Saturday, Jul 30

Titans vs Raiders, Cbus Super Stadium, 3.00pm

Sharks vs Rabbitohs, PointsBet Stadium, 5.30pm

Broncos vs Wests Tigers, Suncorp Stadium, 7.35pm

Sunday, Jul 31

Knights vs Bulldogs, McDonald Jones Stadium, 2.00pm

Dragons vs Cowboys, Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, 4.05pm

ROUND 21

Thursday, Aug 4

Roosters vs Broncos, Sydney Cricket Ground*, 7.50pm

Friday Aug, 5

Storm vs Titans, AAMI Park, 6.00pm

Sea Eagles vs Eels, 4 Pines Park, 7.55pm

Saturday, Aug 6

Rabbitohs vs Warriors, Sunshine Coast Stadium, 3.00pm

Raiders vs Panthers, GIO Stadium, 5.30pm

Sharks vs Dragons, PointsBet Stadium, 7.35pm

Sunday, Aug 7

Bulldogs, vs Cowboys, Salter Oval, Bundaberg, 2.00pm

Wests Tigers vs Knights, Campbelltown Stadium, 4.05pm

ROUND 22

Thursday, Aug 11

Panthers vs. Storm, BlueBet Stadium, 7:50pm

Friday, Aug 12

Warriors vs. Bulldogs, Mt Smart Stadium**, 6:00pm

Eels vs. Rabbitohs, CommBank Stadium, 7:55pm

Saturday, Aug 13

Roosters vs. Cowboys, Sydney Cricket Ground*, 3:00pm

Wests Tigers vs. Sharks, Scully Park, Tamworth 5:30pm

Broncos vs. Knights, Suncorp Stadium, 7:35pm

Sunday, Aug 14

Raiders vs. Dragons, GIO Stadium, 2:00pm

Titans vs. Sea Eagles, Cbus Super Stadium, =4:05pm

ROUND 23

Thursday, Aug 18

Rabbitohs vs. Panthers, Stadium Australia,7:50pm

Friday, Aug 19

Cowboys vs. Warriors, Qld Country Bank Stadium, 6:00pm

Broncos vs. Storm, Suncorp Stadium, 7:55pm

Saturday, Aug 20

Eels vs. Bulldogs, CommBank Stadium, 3:00pm

Sea Eagles vs. Sharks, 4 Pines Park, 5:30pm

Roosters vs. Wests Tigers, Sydney Cricket Ground*, 7:35pm

Sunday, Aug 21

Dragons vs. Titans, WIN Stadium, (Fox) 2:00pm

Knights vs. Raiders, McDonald Jones Stadium, 4:05pm

ROUND 24

Thursday, Aug 25

Broncos vs. Eels, Suncorp Stadium, 7:50pm

Friday, Aug 26

Panthers vs. Warriors, BlueBet Stadium, 6:00pm

Storm vs. Roosters, AAMI Park, 7:55pm

Saturday, Aug 27

Raiders vs. Sea Eagles, GIO Stadium, 3:00pm

Sharks vs. Bulldogs, PointsBet Stadium, 5:30pm

Rabbitohs vs. Cowboys, Stadium Australia, 7:35pm

Sunday, Aug 28

Wests Tigers vs. Dragons, CommBank Stadium, 2:00pm

Titans vs. Knights, Cbus Super Stadium, 4:05pm

ROUND 25

Thursday, Sep 1

Eels vs. Storm, CommBank Stadium, 7:50pm

Friday, Sep 2

Bulldogs vs. Sea Eagles, Stadium Australia, 6:00pm

Roosters vs. Rabbitohs, TBC, 7:55pm

Saturday, Sep 3

Warriors vs. Titans, Mt Smart Stadium**, 3:00pm

Dragons vs. Broncos, Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, 5:30pm

Cowboys vs. Panthers, Qld Country Bank Stadium, 7:35pm

Sunday, Sep 4

Knights vs. Sharks, McDonald Jones Stadium, 2:00pm

Wests Tigers vs. Raiders, Leichhardt Oval, 4:05pm

* subject to availability

** subject to government restrictions and biosecurity advice

Originally published as NRL 2022 fixture round-by-round: Who does your club play and when?

Newcastle legend Johns will return to the club next year as part of the coaching staff and is keen to work with Brooks.

Johns has been at the Eels in recent years and he noticeably improved the game of halfback Mitchell Moses – who made his Blues debut this year.

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Johns believes he can do with the same with Brooks who has been linked to Newcastle since Mitchell Pearce requested a release last month.

Pearce wants to finish his career in the south of France, with Super League club Catalans tabling a lucrative three-year offer.

Brooks is contracted at the Tigers until the end of 2023 but the Knights are keen to sign the playmaker immediately.

“I saw Pearcey in Newcastle walking around in a beret, eating a croissant and walking a poodle,” Johns joked to the SMH.

“Look, if I work with Mitchell, I think I know how to help there. I’ve worked with him at the Roosters and NSW. He knows how the game is played and I’ve been one of his strongest supporters.

“Now, if he’s not there and Brooks is there, that’d be really exciting. It’s a challenge I like. He looks like he needs a change, and getting out of Sydney would be good for him.

“I think he can really add a lot to the club. He can play great. He needs to find that consistency.

“I could help him with when to pass, when to run, when to kick but, also, I think the players around him need to understand his strengths and how to get the best out of him. I think it would be exciting to work with Luke.”

Originally published as Andrew Johns makes promise to Tigers halfback Luke Brooks if he joins the Knights

The league’s TV rights have been on a rollercoaster since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, but the game is reportedly about to land on steady ground with a free-to-air rights deal worth up to $600 million set to be announced this month, according to The Daily Telegraph.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported Monday Nine was prepared to offer a deal worth up to $115 million per-year on a deal which runs for five years, from 2023-2027.

The Australian reported the NRL wants a deal worth up to $120 million per-year. The report claims Nine is being forced to pay top dollar because interest from rival networks Seven and Ten have pushed the price up.

The deal coincides with the introduction of the NRL’s 17th team — The Dolphins — entering the competition in 2023.

There is reportedly a sticking point in the final negotiations with the NRL and Nine haggling over the return of a midweek footy show.

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The Daily Telegraph reported Monday the NRL wants the league to add a midweek show on top of the 100% Footy show screened on Monday nights.

The return of a midweek footy show comes after years of watching the NRL’s Footy Show die a slow death following the departure of veteran host Paul Vautin.

Fox League has enjoyed strong interest in its own magazine shows, including NRL 360 and the hugely popular programs hosted by Matthew Johns.

The Daily Telegraph’s David Riccio told SEN’s Mornings with Vossy on Monday, the NRL expects Nine to increase its coverage on the free to air network beyond its live match coverage.

“That is what the NRL want Nine to do. They want Nine to do more with their coverage outside of just the live element of game coverage,” Riccio said.

“So expect to see more from that point of view from Nine’s coverage.”

Riccio said NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo is negotiating new additions to Nine’s weekly rugby league coverage.

“In his ideal world, he wants rugby league on the television seven days a week,” he said.

“If Nine are going to invest in the NRL at up to $600 million, they have to go beyond the live element each weekend. You can bet your bottom dollar that other programs are being discussed.”

A new agreement with Nine would follow last year’s announcement of a long-term rights agreement with Foxtel to continue its coverage through to the end of the 2027 season in a deal spruiked as a billion-dollar boost to the game during its Covid-19 cost-cutting crisis.

The combined deals represent the NRL’s richest ever TV rights agreement.

Nine’s negotiations come after the league and the network went to war last year over suggestions the NRL had misused its funds as Nine threatened to walk away from the game.

Now the situation is almost back to where it was before the start of the pandemic.

The new agreement with Nine and Foxtel will reportedly continue to divide the weekly schedule across three live games for Channel 9 per week and all eight games live on Foxtel’s Fox League.

The Australian reported Seven and Ten even discussed the possibility of sharing the rights. But Seven’s decision to walk away this month means Nine and the NRL only have to work out the final details before an announcement is made.

The deal is worth significantly less than the amount the AFL will continue to receive through its agreement with free to air broadcaster Seven and Foxtel’s Fox Footy, with the league announcing last year it will receive $946 million over the 2023 and 2024 seasons.

A photo posted on Instagram showing Indi Cleary cuddled up alongside the Penrith utility player is causing speculation to run rampant on social media.

Indi Cleary, the younger sister of Panthers superstar Nathan Cleary, shared an Instagram post of their photo together.

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Cleary refers to May in one post as “my king”.

May responded by posting “my queen” while sharing the photo.

The Daily Telegraph reports a Panthers official has claimed the pair are good friends and are not dating.

May came under fire this week following the team’s NRL Grand Final victory over South Sydney for posting a photo which showed him at court being supported by Ivan Cleary.

In November 2019 May pleaded guilty to four counts of intentionally recording an intimate image without consent. In January 2020, the magistrate slammed his “reprehensible” conduct as he was handed a three-year good behaviour bond and ordered to perform 300 hours of community service.

May responded to the backlash by deleting the post earlier this week.

There were suggestions by some social media users May’s post made reference to his sex tape scandal.

The caption included lyrics from the song Fair Trade by Canadian rapper Drake.

“And the dirt that they threw on my name/turned to soil and I grew up out it/time for y’all to figure out what y’all gon’ do about it,” the caption read.

The post was up for a number of days but was no longer visible on May’s profile on Wednesday, suggesting it had been deleted.

May was heavily criticised for his Instagram post as Panthers players partied in Queensland, celebrating their premiership triumph.

Radio host Neil Breen and Fox League commentator Andrew Voss were among those to criticise May’s behaviour.