NRL run home: The 10 biggest stories still to play out across the competition between now and November

These are the 10 biggest stories that will grip the NRL between now and November, including a massive warning for NRL’s looming expansion teams.

RLPA general manager Clint Newton. Picture: Getty Images

What are the 10 biggest stories to watch out for across the rest of the NRL season?

When the Knights will make a call on Adam O’Brien, why the Warriors are a movie, how Souths can prove they’re the real deal and why the NRL should never make clubs merge again.

David Riccio reveals all in this week’s Locker Room.

1 CHOOK LOTTO

The Roosters were tipped by many to make the grand final. Ahead of Saturday night’s clash with the Storm, the Roosters were averaging 16 points scored this season, the lowest since their wooden spoon season of 2009 (15.9). There is heat on the recruitment of Brandon Smith at $800,000 a season, which will intensify if the Chooks don’t get moving. The other big story? The future of halfback Sam Walker, who hasn’t played first grade - firstly due to form and now injury - since round seven.

2 PAIN HAAS

The uncertain future of the Test, NSW and Broncos prop forward is suddenly the biggest contract story in the NRL. Haas has made it clear this will drag on until November 1. That’s seriously concerning if you’re a Bronco. How Haas and the Broncos manage the minute-by-minute coverage that will tail the 23-year-old for the next three months could be the difference between winning and losing the premiership.

All eyes are on Payne Haas’ next move. Picture: Getty Images

3 ARE SOUTHS THE REAL DEAL?

Souths play the Broncos next week and it’s time for the Bunnies to silence the whispers that they don’t have the consistency to win the competition. Outside the top four and with recent losses to the Dragons, Cowboys and Bulldogs, the Rabbitohs need to rediscover the ruthless football that saw them beat the Panthers, Broncos and Storm earlier this year. Their run home is appealing with four of their last six matches - with another bye in there as well - against teams outside the top eight.

4 RLPA FAN ROBBERY

The return from overseas of ARL Commission chair Peter V’landys this weekend could be the catalyst for an end to the cold war between the players union and the governing body. The decision by the leaders of the RLPA to throw their toys out of the cot and adopt a media blackout of fans and the same TV broadcasters who pay their wages, is embarrassing. V’landys will have no choice but to put an end to the saga.

5 KNIGHT MOVES

Newcastle CEO Phil Gardiner has to show some leadership by publicly declaring a firm position on where he stands in regards to the future of Newcastle coach Adam O’Brien. Every win by the Knights is seemingly another week O’Brien stays in the job. Yet every loss is met with speculation about his future. O’Brien deserves better. Particularly given Gardiner’s long history of making changes, all of which have failed to deliver the desired result.

Will Adam O’Brien survive at the Knights? Picture: NRL Imagery

6 WOODEN MESS

On Thursday night, the NRL’s only two joint-venture’s spar for the dreaded wooden spoon when the Dragons (16th) host the Tigers (17th) in Wollongong. If ever there was a reason for the NRL to never go down the path of merging clubs ever again, this is it. The Wests Tigers are hoping to avoid back-to-back wooden spoons while St George-Illawarra have never collected the dreaded utensil. You need to go back to 1938 for St George and 1989 with Illawarra to find the last time red and white fans have suffered like this.

The Dragons and Tigers are fighting for the wooden spoon.

7 BEN HUNT RELEASE

In the eyes of many, the Dragons final two months of the season will also be the final days of Ben Hunt in the Red V. His release request has been rejected - for now. It’s guaranteed to flare-up again at the end of the season. With young half Jayden Sullivan (hamstring) gone for the next six weeks, just how Hunt leads the side and carries himself over the remainder of this season will prove telling in how he’s treated by fans and management.

8 TITANIC STRUGGLE

The ability for Gold Coast Titans duo Tino Fa’asuamaleui and David Fifita to negotiate with rival clubs is a firestorm incoming coach Des Hasler will be eager to put out. The premiership-winning mentor has spoken with both players about his vision for the club. The tip is they’ll both stay on the Coast. However, the Bulldogs, Raiders and Dragons are all planning to forward contract offers for either Fa’asuamaleui or Fifita.

What will Ben Hunt do when the season ends? Picture: NRL Imagery

9 FREDDY FITS

The NSWRL will let the dust settle on a disappointing State of Origin series loss to Queensland before making a call on if Brad Fittler remains in charge. The call is likely to be made around October. Without a clear replacement and with Fittler eager to continue in the role, the smart money is on Freddy earning another 12-month contract for the 2024 series.

10 SLICE OF HEAVEN

The club that effectively lived out of a caravan for two seasons during the NRL’s covid-impacted years are on a collision course with the finals - and their highest finish on the NRL ladder since 2011. It’s a movie. With a rookie coach, sold-out home crowds and a veteran halfback in Shaun Johnson turning back the clock, the rise of the Warriors is so significant it will bring a second team in New Zealand right back into the discussion for NRL expansion.

Originally published as NRL run home: The 10 biggest stories still to play out across the competition between now and November