Damien Cook reveals Bennett's quirky trait

Brydens Lawyers NSW Blues hooker Damien Cook is thriving under Wayne Bennett at Redfern but it's a quirky trait from the new South Sydney coach that has really caught his attention. "Wayne's a pretty funny old bloke, quick-witted," Cook told. "Doesn't shake hands really, you only get one hand shake a week. "I always try and sneak another one in there but he always remembers whose hand he shakes."
Big Sports Breakfast hosts Terry Kennedy and Laurie Daley laughed in agreeance with Cook. Kennedy has experienced the same rejection himself in the past while Daley revealed his strategy was to leave his hand out until Bennett shook it. "I can play with my forwards a little more through the middle," Cook said. "He (Bennett) wants me to keep my style of play and wants to add a few things, take pressure off the halves, control in the middle a bit more and controlling the game."

History beckons for Melbourne Storm captain Cameron Smith

The Melbourne skipper currently sits on 384 NRL games so if he remains uninjured, the Storm’s Round 17 game against Cronulla at AAMI Park will be cause for celebration. Smith’s old Storm teammate Cooper Cronk will become just the fourth player to reach 350 games when he plays his first game of the 2019 season — Smith, Darren Lockyer (355) and Terry Lamb (350) are the others. The milestone also isn’t out of reach for Cronulla veteran Paul Gallen who needs 24 games for 350 games. Incredibly, when Gallen turns 38 in August he will become only the sixth player of all time to play a top grade game at 38 or older, and the first since the late 1960s. Gallen is only two games behind Andrew Ettingshausen (328 games) as the Sharks’ most-capped player.

NRL stars set for a positional change in 2019

NRL stars set for a positional change in 2019: KALYN PONGA (fullback to five-eighth), RYAN JAMES (prop to second row), JACK WIGHTON (fullback to five-eighth), GARETH WIDDOP (five-eighth to fullback), BENJI MARSHALL
(halves to centres), CONNOR WATSON (five-eighth to fullback), MATT MOYLAN (five-eighth to fullback), TEVITA PANGAI JNR (second row to lock/prop), KURT MANN (utility to hooker), JAHROME HUGHES (halfback to fullback)

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Kurt Mann’s biggest challenge in making hooker switch

Kurt Mann isn't guaranteed to start at hooker in Round 1. He's working as hard as anyone in the team.The nib Newcastle Knights recruit is in the midst of a positional change and there's plenty of work to be done in order to make it a success. At the moment I am just going to put my head down and keep working hard," Mann said. "Browny (Coach Nathan Brown) has picked out a few things that I need to work on and especially with the position change for me there are a few things that I need to work on and get better at with. "At the moment I just need to put my head down and keep working until we get into trials. In a bid to fast-track his learning, Mann has been working closely with former premiership winning hooker Rory Kostjasyn. "I have been doing a bit of work with Rory," Mann said. "He was a hooker himself and played a lot of first-grade games there, so he has been pretty helpful as well." "Probably passing off the ground," he admitted. "Naturally passing comes pretty easy to me playing in the halves as well but it is a little bit different when you have to pass off the ground. "It is a different technique and Browny being a former hooker himself is pretty critical about it too, so if there is anyone who is able to turn into it will be him." Mann will get his first chance to flex his new skills when the Knights face the Dragons on February 23 in a trial match in Kogarah.

Seibold's Broncos bench strategy a boost for Staggs

Anthony Seibold has unveiled his selection philosophy on the make-up of the Broncos' four-man bench where he is set to include one player who can cover the outside back positions due to the HIA protocol. That means Emerging Blues squad member Kotoni Staggs, who impressed in his rookie season for the Broncos last year, will be one of the favourites to claim the role, that is if he does not force his way in the starting side. Staggs is a centre who can cover most positions in the backs, as he proved for Brisbane's under 20s several seasons back, and was even used last year by the Redcliffe Dolphins in the back row. "Last year we did some stats when I was at the Rabbitohs and there were 15 out of 24 games where we had to make a change to an outside back," Seibold told

How do Melbourne Storm replace the irreplaceable?

Billy Slater now hanging up the boots, leaving Cameron Smith as the last of the 'Big Three' still at Melbourne but with some young guns on the up, do the Storm have what it takes to replace the irreplaceable? For those of us born anything much after 1950 who did not get to witness Clive Churchill live, the mercurial Slater is the best fullback we've ever witnessed – certainly over a long career. Despite turning 35 in the middle of 2018 he was near his best most of the season again, with the club falling one hurdle short of another premiership when downed by Cronk's Roosters in the decider. The logical answer for Bellamy is to leave the halves pairing of Brodie Croft and Cameron Munster intact and give Jahrome Hughes first crack at fullback, with Scott Drinkwater the back-up and Hughes able to provide cover in the halves if needed. Munster had his best season in 2018 (the grand final notwithstanding) and there will be plenty of pressure on he and Smith to do plenty of ball-playing as Croft continues his development but all four will likely need to be at their best to cover the massive gulf Slater leaves behind.

Dylan Napa's future uncertain

Bulldogs recruit Dylan Napa faces possible suspension before playing a match for his new club after NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg vowed to take stronger action against players who trash the game's image. Greenberg returned to work on Monday and immediately held a conference call with captains from all 16 clubs, including the Storm's Cameron Smith, Cronulla's Paul Gallen and Roosters premiership-winning skipper Boyd Cordner, and told them: "Stop looking at headoffice. You guys need to take ownership of this situation". Later, in a lengthy interview with the Sydney Morning Herald, an "angry and frustrated" Greenberg said he had been instructed by the ARL Commission to draw a line in the sand on player behaviour. Greenberg foreshadowed life bans for players found guilty of serious offences against women, as well as declaring that inappropriate messages and videos sent on WhatsApp groups would be considered a violation of social media policy – even if it is private.

Greenberg lays down law to NRL clubs

A "frustrated, angry and embarrassed" Todd Greenberg says he has laid down the law to all 16 NRL clubs, demanding their players take responsibility after a horror off-season. The NRL CEO revealed that he'd delivered a stern directive during a phone hook-up with the game's club captains, telling them to deliver a message to their players. On his first day back at Rugby League Central after a post-season break, Greenberg took time out to attempt to halt the game's avalanche of negative press. He said there was "no doubt" rugby league's reputation had taken a battering after a summer marred by ugly headlines about player misbehaviour. "The message was simple, go back to your players, from your junior players right through to the top, and explain to them the standards that have been set, explain to them that damaging the game also damages them individually," Greenberg told the Nine Network. "If you make a bad decision as a player, you put your livelihood at risk. It's a great, great honour to work in the game, it's not a privilege."

Contenders to replace Shane Flanagan as Cronulla coach

John Morris: Morris was named interim coach when the club returned from their Christmas break.

Steve Price: One of the few options the Sharks have with NRL experience. The former Dragons coach was sacked from his role in 2014 after two and a half years in the job, although he had a tough job to follow Wayne Bennett at the club. Previously, he had spent more than a decade working with the under-20s and as an NRL assistant.

Trent Barrett: The former Sharks star and Manly coach seems a logical long-term replacement for Flanagan — although it’s worth noting that Barrett resigned from the Sea Eagles citing a lack of resources and Cronulla are in a similarly desperate situation. Sensationally sacked by Penrith a month before the finals in 2018, the former Broncos and Panthers mentor is without a gig after being accused of being “old school”.

Jim Dymock: Following Des Hasler’s dramatic exit from the Bulldogs in 2017, long-time assistant Dymock was considered among the candidates to replace him. He was said to be ‘shattered’ when he was overlooked for the job, and left the club after more than a decade to join Cronulla in 2018.

Adam O’Brien: The Roosters assistant coach spent 11 seasons with Melbourne before moving to Sydney in 2018. Highly respected and well-liked, O’Brien is an NRL coach in waiting — in the same mould as Anthony Seibold before finally getting his chance at the Rabbitohs.

Cameron Ciraldo: The Panthers assistant took over as head coach in enormously difficult circumstances this season after Anthony Griffin was sacked a month from the finals. He took it all in his stride.

Cronulla Sharks need to replace backline quartet

The biggest challenge for Cronulla leading into the 2019 Telstra Premiership season is unlikely to come down to a lone statistic, but rather how the club plans to replace departed stars Valentine Holmes, Jesse Ramien, Edrick Lee and Ricky Leutele in the backline. Holmes, Lee and Ramien were the side's biggest attacking weapons in 2018, finishing as the top three try scorers at the club. They also made an impact in several key areas with the ball in hand.
Along with Leutele, the departing quartet accumulated 52% of Cronulla's 87 tries over the 25 rounds of the Telstra Premiership. Holmes, arguably the biggest loss for the Sharks, made up a large portion of the club's overall success in attack, while also taking over the goal-kicking duties late in the season. Replacing Homles shapes as the biggest task of all. Interim coach John Morris is likely to give the role to Matt Moylan as the arrival of Shaun Johnson gives the Sharks another option in the halves.

Rich Roosters can be even better in 2019

Every year we get further away from the last time a team went back-to-back to win the premiership. It’s futile to attempt to explain why a team hasn’t defended their premiership in a consolidated competition since the Broncos in 1992-1993, because the reasons are unlimited. But with so little change in key positions, the Roosters will be lumped with the expectation in 2019. There is almost nothing to poke at in the Roosters’ line-up. They have perhaps the best players for their
position in the competition in the fullback and halves. The forward pack has lost Ryan Matterson and Dylan Napa, but ready replacements are already on the books. Plus — Angus Crichton. All signs are pointing to another huge year for the red, white and blue.Consistency in the spine. From the 2018 premiership-winning team the Roosters have lost Blake Ferguson, Dylan Napa and Ryan Matterson. They’ve been replaced with former Australia and New South Wales winger Brett Morris, English star Ryan Hall and Blues gun Angus Crichton. Not too shabby.

Shaun Johnson can lead the Sharks around the park, says Andrew Fifita

Shaun Johnson's leadership and experience can spark the Sharks in this year's NRL campaign, says Cronulla enforcer Andrew Fifita. Fifita said it would take time for Johnson to settle in at Cronulla, just as it took Matt Moylan about two months to get comfortable last year. ​The Tongan frontrower said the arrival of Johnson was a huge boost for Cronulla, even though he was "the worst roomie ever". "He's been living with my family and my kids love him," Fifita said.

"As a leader himself, he's the former captain of his team [New Zealand Warriors], he's an international half, he brings that experience to this team and with this team being so raw, we will all learn from his experience. "To lose Val [Holmes] and gain Shaun, it's a win win. We support Val with his [NFL] dream, but we get the bonus of Shaun. I'm stoked and can't wait to play with him." Don't let the mullet fool you, Fifita has emerged as one of Cronulla's key leaders during one of the most uncertain times in the club's history.Interim Cronulla coach John Morris might not be sure if he will replace Shane Flanagan on a full-time basis, but he is certain Fifita is having the right sort of impact on Cronulla's next generation.

Can Eels avoid the wooden spoon in 2019?

They’ve added some new faces to their squad in 2019, but the pressure is still going to be on Parramatta as they look to avoid back-to-back wooden spoons. Junior Paulo, Blake Ferguson and Shaun Lane are the major additions to the Eels, while the likes of Corey Norman (St George Illawarra) and Jarryd Hayne (unsigned) are the biggest exits. Norman’s departure is set to shake-up the Eels’ playmaking combination with the likes of Dylan Brown and Jaeman Salmon options to partner Mitchell Moses, who will be under a lot of pressure to perform for both the team and his own future given he’s off-contract at
the end of the season. Ferguson adds plenty of class and experience to the backline, while the club will be glad to have Clint Gutherson fit for the season opener after he missed the first five rounds last year due to an ACL injury.Up front, the returning Paulo adds plenty of power to the Eels’ forward pack which struggled for go-forward in 2018. Lane has also proven to be an attacking threat on the edge after his best ever season at Manly. Overall, it’s a pretty familiar-looking line-up for the Eels in 2019, so the heat will be on Brad Arthur — who’s also off-contract at the end of the season — to breathe some life into the team as they look to recapture the form that took them finals football in 2017.

The one condition in Gareth Widdop's exit from Dragons

The Dragons have granted Gareth Widdop a release to return home to the UK, but there’s one big condition. The St George Illawarra skipper will quit the NRL at the end of the 2019 season to return to his native England and join Super League side Warrington Wolves. “I’ve made a big decision in my career having decided to move back to England next year,” Widdop told the club’s website. “It certainly hasn’t been the easiest decision but sometimes in life we have aspirations
and playing in the Super League has been one of mine for a while now. “I’ve been away from home for a long time now and, growing up in Halifax, I always had dreams of playing in Super League.” “I’ve been here a long time now and to get to where we have with the roster we’ve got, to leave it all behind especially being the captain will be difficult,” he said. “I still have the 2019 season to come. “Warrington have given me the opportunity to come home and live out a childhood dream,” he said. “I’m really excited for that. It’s a long way off yet but it’s something I’m looking forward to.”

Race to fill gaping hole in Melbourne’s line-up

Melbourne head into the 2019 season with a relatively stable roster, but someone’s got huge shoes to fill. Of the 17 players that ran out in last year’s grand final, the Storm will be missing Billy Slater (retired) and Tim Glasby (Newcastle). The club has plenty of talent to fill Glasby’s spot, but it’s who fills Slater’s No.1 jumper that will draw the most attention. Jahrome Hughes, 24, has a golden opportunity to make the role his own after featuring there in five games
last season — he played another six at halfback. Cameron Munster says he’s open to moving back to fullback, but it remains to be seen if coach Craig Bellamy would do that given it could leave two relatively inexperienced playmakers to run the show. As for the forwards, Sam Kasiano will be desperate to make his mark after an injury-plagued 2018 and could be the man to replace Glasby in the 17. But the former Kiwi international will have the likes of Albert Vete, Patrick Kaufusi and Tui Kamikamica breathing down his neck. Regardless of the changes, the Storm should be a title contender once again if their new fullback fires, but any side with the newly re-signed and evergreen, Cameron Smith, will be a threat.

Melbourne Storm’s best 17 for 2019 NRL season

Melbourne head into the 2019 season with a relatively stable roster, but someone’s got huge shoes to fill. Of the 17 players that ran out in last year’s grand final, the Storm will be missing Billy Slater (retired) and Tim Glasby (Newcastle).The club has plenty of talent to fill Glasby’s spot, but it’s who fills Slater’s No.1 jumper that will draw the most attention.
1.Jahrome Hughes, 2.Suliasi Vunivalu, 3.Will Chambers, 4.Curtis Scott, 5.Josh Addo-Carr, 6.Cameron Munster, 7.Brodie Croft, 8.Jesse Bromwich, 9.Cameron Smith, 10.Nelson Asofa-Solomona, 11.Felise Kaufusi, 12.Joe Stimson, 13.Dale Finucane, 14.Brandon Smith, 15.Kenny Bromwich, 16.Christian Welch, 17. Sam Kasiano.

Inglis to retire from NRL at end of 2020

The last of Queensland's golden generation is set to walk off into the sunset with Greg Inglis announcing he will retire from the NRL at the end of 2020 and 2019 will be his final year of representative football. The South Sydney skipper on Friday put an end date on his illustrious career that has included 261 NRL games, three premierships, five grand finals,
39 Tests for Australia and 32 Origins for Queensland. Inglis began his career with the Storm but was forced out at the end of 2010 following the club's salary cap scandal. A move to the Rabbitohs, and a shift to fullback, solidified his legacy after he played a leading part in their drought-breaking premiership in 2014. He flagged the possibility of moving into coaching post-retirement and said he was committed to capitalising on the club's premiership window under new coach Wayne Bennett over the next two seasons.

Cooper Cronk is set to become 4th NRL Player to reach 350 appearance

Sydney Roosters halfback Cooper Cronk is set to become just the fourth player to reach 350 NRL games in the opening round of the 2019 season against the Rabbitohs. Cronk is tied with Manly great Steve Menzies on 349 games and will join Terry Lamb, Darren Lockyer and Smith in the top four.

The 35-year-old could finish the year, and possibly his career, ranked second behind Smith overall with Lockyer's 355-game record also within reach. Cronulla skipper Paul Gallen requires 24 games to reach the 350-game milestone. Gallen managed 22 games in 2018 but will need a healthy clean sheet in a bid to pass Menzies as the longest-serving running forward.

Seibold reveals how he will use Pangai jnr

Anthony Seibold will resist the temptation to use Broncos powerhouse Tevita Pangai jnr as an edge back-rower this year, instead continuing to deploy him as a middle forward. "I coached the Junior Kangaroos side where I played Tevita on the edge but I have got four edge back-rowers there," Seibold told NRL.com
"Tevita is a middle [forward] in my eyes. It is about getting our best 17 out on the park and for me, Tevita is a middle player. "Tevita, along with Joe Ofahengaue and Matt Lodge, are probably at the front of the queue at the moment, but underpinning that we have got Payne Haas, Pat Carrigan and Tommy Flegler coming through and some great experience in Shaun Fensom and Sam Tagataese there

No Johnson, no worries; teen sensation ready to step up

Since 2011, the Warriors have revolved around their mercurial half Shaun Johnson. He has been their best attacking weapon and chief shot-caller. Now he’s gone. Stephen Kearney now needs to make a decision as to who will replace him. The club also released his heir apparents Mason Lino and Ata Hingano, making the predicament that much more unnerving. It’s understood the coach has ruled out shifting one of his more experienced players to five-eighth like skipper Roger Tuivasa-Sheck,
Peta Hiku or Tohu Harris. And he’s confirmed he isn’t in the market for a recruit, instead narrowing his focus on three young candidates — Adam Keighran, Chanel Harris-Tavita and Hayze Perham. Harris-Tavita — who gained widespread attention last year for setting up a try for the Junior Kiwis with a scorpion kick — looks to have his nose in front of Keighran, the Panthers’ point-scoring machine from last year’s NSW Cup side.