Updated
Around the clubs
Bradman Best to miss sudden-death Cowboys clash in blow to Knights
Newcastle have lost one of their biggest strike weapons ahead of their must-win clash in Townsville.
- by Adam Pengilly, Christian Nicolussi, Michael Chammas and Adrian Proszenko
Latest
‘No needles’: Coach Cleary says son Nathan ready for Crichton challenge
Ivan Cleary says minor-premiers Melbourne deserve the tag of premiership favourites heading into the finals.
- by Adam Pengilly and Emma Kemp
NRL concedes Sunday Bulldogs-Sea Eagles final ‘will have impact’ on player recovery
Having ducked a showdown with the AFL on Saturday night, the NRL knows there will be a flow-on effect for the second week of the finals.
- by Adam Pengilly
Everything you need to know about the NRL finals
Sydney’s east and west will collide, the 2016 grand final combatants will renew their rivalry and the Bulldogs will play finals for the first time in eight years.
- by Adam Pengilly
NRL shifts Bulldogs final to Sunday afternoon, dodging AFL Homebush clash
The NRL has avoided a head-to-head clash with its rival code by moving the Canterbury-Manly clash away from Saturday night at Olympic Park, where the Giants are playing Brisbane.
- by Adam Pengilly
Dragons star Jack Bird agrees to two-year deal with Wests Tigers
Bird informed Tigers representatives on Friday he will take up a deal worth around $400,000 a year with the joint venture club from next season.
- by Michael Chammas, Dan Walsh, Billie Eder, Christian Nicolussi, Roy Ward and Adam Pengilly
Panthers could farewell traditional home with Friday finals blockbuster
Ivan Cleary’s record breakers are favourites to kick off the finals series, pending last-round results. But they also have their eyes on how to get back to their new home as quickly as possible in 2026.
- by Adam Pengilly
Rabbitohs make audacious bid for Mitchell to play against Roosters
The Rabbitohs’ star player will now wait until round one of next year to sit out a match, but his club still believe he’s fit enough to take on the Roosters this week.
- by Adam Pengilly, Roy Ward and Christian Nicolussi
Wests Tigers owners set for crunch talks on future of chair O’Farrell
As the former NSW premier considers his future at the club, the Tigers’ majority owners are facing D-Day as political turmoil engulfs the club.
- by Adam Pengilly
Belly breathing in a group is the new NRL fad. But what is the science behind it?
The competition’s two most improved teams – the Bulldogs and Dragons – have taken to standing in a huddle and breathing during games. And they insist the one per-center is working.
- by Adam Pengilly
Penrith 34 Souths 12
Match report
After the hardest week of his life, a South Sydney Indigenous star stands tall
His teammates knew how much just being there meant to the club after the death of his mother – and it might be a valuable lesson for the Rabbitohs’ most influential star.
- by Adam Pengilly