Surprise Maroons bolter emerges after Magic Round blitz
A Roosters star has bolted into Queensland contention after destroying the Dolphins in Magic Round, while another Maroons hopeful has been ruled out of State of Origin Game I.
Match Centre
Saint, Sinner: No alarm bells for Hasler despite code war crisis
Despite a woeful win rate, falling crowds and a code war slump to the surging Gold Coast Suns, the Titans insist veteran coach Des Hasler is safe. That and more in Saint, Sinner, Shoosh.
‘I copped it’: Criticism that drove Coates out of Brisbane
For Xavier Coates, Suncorp Stadium dredges up memories of criticism and vicious troll attacks from his time at the Broncos. Now thriving in Melbourne, the Maroons flyer opens up on his decision to escape the Brisbane spotlight.
The ‘harmless’ tackle that almost blinded an NRL star
Melbourne star Eli Katoa reveals the moment he feared being blind for life and how an innocuous tackle would leave him fearing that his NRL dream could be over.
What’s the Buzz: 500 kegs, 59,000 schooners and 3000 fans
Watch the video as Phil ‘Buzz’ Rothfield dives deep into the Caxton Hotel scrum to experience the Magic Round vibe for himself.
Tigers pounce on all time bombed Dragons try in Magic Round boilover
Benji Marshall’s Tigers have held on to claim victory in a Magic Round boilover, as the Dragons were left rueing an all-time try fumble that ultimately cost them the game.
Metcalf Magic: Warriors hold on to survive Cowboys comeback
Luke Metcalf is finally owning the Warriors’ famous No.7 jersey, with another stunning individual performance rocketing his side into the top four, after surviving a dramatic Cowboys comeback.
Bennett questions Souths’ attitude as birthday boy blows Bunnies away
Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett has slammed his players, as Knights star Fletcher Sharpe scored a hat-trick on his 21st birthday to snap a five-game losing streak.
‘Truth will come out’: Fifita breaks silence on shock axing
Titans coach Des Hasler shocked the NRL this week when he dumped $1 million superstar David Fifita – now the maligned Gold Coast forward has given his side of the story.
Revealed: The Broncos who will be sacrificed for Reynolds
With Adam Reynolds laughing off suggestions that he would take a pay cut to stay at the Broncos, Brisbane chiefs know they need to make deep cuts elsewhere – these are the names on the chopping block.
‘They have no idea’: NRL defends bunker as fans blow up
Fans and former players have gone nuclear over a bunker howler that marred the opening match of Magic round – but the NRL claims the right call was made. Watch and have your say.
Bulldogs benefit as Titans fail to play long game with playmakers
The Titans gifted young halfback and local junior Toby Sexton to the Bulldogs – and now Gold Coast players have opened up on their regrets over the move.
Teddy eyes stunning Origin recall as Roosters blow Dolphins away
Sensationally axed as NSW skipper last year, James Tedesco has ramped up his bid for an Origin recall, guiding the Roosters to a stunning Magic Round win over the Dolphins.
Expansion to mean less club footy, bigger focus on international game
Expansion will see more teams but less games played in the NRL with players kept fresh for international and Origin duty. Read the latest from ARLC chair Peter V’landys.
‘Sometimes it isn’t fun’: O’Brien pledges Knights will fight
In his most candid interview of the year, Knights coach Adam O’Brien reveals how he will fix the club’s pop-gun attack, the future of star captain Kalyn Ponga, overlooking Jackson Hastings and more.
Flanagan: Why I axed Ilias
St George Illawarra coach Shane Flanagan says playmaker Lachie Ilias will return to the top grade, but he has high hopes for his replacement Lyhkan King-Togia this weekend.
SuperCoach NRL: Six things learnt from Friday Night Footy
James Tedesco’s scintillating form commenced Magic Round in a big way, with a SuperCoach favourite also playing himself into the good books. Here are the six things learnt from Friday Night Footy.
‘It really did hurt’: Carrigan on mission to exorcise grand final demons
Pat Carrigan admits the pain of Brisbane’s shocking 2023 grand final collapse drives him, saying he and several Broncos stars won’t be satisfied until they break the club’s long premiership drought.
Women’s Origin bumper ratings smash AFL
Women’s State of Origin continues to be a television juggernaut, out-rating Thursday night’s AFL clash between Essendon and North Melbourne by almost double on free-to-air.
‘Line in sand’: Inside Hasler’s brutal Fifita roast
Gold Coast Des Hasler has drawn a ‘line in the sand’ and roasted the Titans in a brutal video session that culminated in $1 million Origin star David Fifita being sent to reserve grade.
‘Patty kicked me out’: Herbie’s brutal Broncos group chat eviction
The Dolphins have Magic Round bragging rights after the Broncos were “shafted” from prime time, but Pat Carrigan won a personal battle with Herbie Farnworth following a savage group chat eviction.
Blues star opens up on shock eye gouge allegation
NSW hooker Keeley Davis was reluctant to discuss the ugly eye gouge allegation which rocked Origin I – but she says that while she’s not certain who the culprit was she has no doubts that she felt an eye gouge.
SuperCoach NRL: Who will shine and who will suffer due to Origin
Origin selections and bye schedules combine at this time of the season to create SuperCoach traps and opportunities – we’re here to help you not just survive, but thrive over the period.
Magic Round mascot race form guide: Is it Gout Gout in disguise?
The true race that stops a nation will take place at Suncorp when the NRL’s mascots scorch the turf. Fatima Kdouh rates the contenders including Storm Man, Buck, Bluey, Rocky and Reefy. WATCH THE VIDEO
Body armour, XXXX kids: Matty Johns’ Magic Round survival guide
While the main action is at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane has so much more to offer for NRL fans at Magic Round. MATTY JOHNS details the best – and worst – experiences you just can’t miss.
Blues touch perfect 10s, Maroons bomb: Every NSW, Qld player rated
Eye-gouge allegation, accidental hair pulls, big hits and HIAs across the field – the Blues tamed the madness and the Maroons to win State of Origin I. WE RATE EVERY PLAYER
Blues domination: NSW secure record win on Queensland turf
From a hair pull to an eye gauge, the women’s State of Origin series opener was full of memorable and controversial moments. In the end though, Queensland had no answers for the rampant NSW Blues.
‘I’m coming to Brisbane toothless’: Bennett joins NRL’s no fang gang
Wayne Bennett will continue a proud rugby league tradition when he fronts up at Magic Round this week, an NRL cult hero is big in Japan and PNG unearth a Jarome Luai clone.
Reece Walsh injury update breaks Broncos and Maroons hearts
Reece Walsh has dropped an injury-report bombshell all but ruling himself out of Origin I, but the Brisbane maestro did find a silver lining to his injury woes.
‘I was pretty naive’: Averillo opens up on Bulldogs exit
Jake Averillo had every intention of being a Bulldog for life, until Wayne Bennett came calling. The Dolphins star opens up on his time at Canterbury, getting engaged and starting a new life at Redcliffe.
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