Storm poised to end Las Vegas interest

The four teams headed to Las Vegas to open the NRL season next year are all but confirmed with the Storm unlikely to submit a formal application.

Having long been touted as a likely contender for rugby league’s historic foray into the United States this year, Melbourne has backed out of applying for a spot in 2025.

It will leave the Panthers, Warriors, Sharks and Raiders near certainties to be the four men’s teams featuring at Allegiant Stadium for the season kick-off.

According to sources not authorised to speak publicly about the issue because of confidential talks, the Storm were not comfortable travelling to Las Vegas next year and made the decision this week they would be highly unlikely to further pursue the opportunity.

It means Craig Bellamy will seek to keep his club’s remarkable record – they have won 22 straight season-opening matches – alive in Australia next season after the master coach agreed to lead Melbourne for another year.

The NRL has considered pitting three-time defending premiers Penrith against the Warriors in one of next year’s Las Vegas matches, a potential promoter’s dream given it would be James Fisher-Harris’ first game against his old club.

The Melbourne Storm are unlikely to pursue a spot in Las Vegas next year.Credit: Getty Images

The Sea Eagles, Roosters, Rabbitohs and Broncos were the first four teams to play competition games outside of Australia and New Zealand, but Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V’landys has spoken of his desire to rotate through all 17 clubs for the Las Vegas extravaganza.

The NRL has a five-year deal to begin its season in Sin City at Allegiant Stadium, the home of this year’s Super Bowl.

An 18-year-old likened to Crichton re-signs with Penrith

Penrith is planning for life after Sunia Turuva – and possibly Taylan May – by re-signing brothers Jesse and Casey McLean until the end of 2028.

The local juniors will be the left centre-wing combination for the NSW under-19s State of Origin team on Thursday night – and the premiers would love to see them feature on the same edge moving forward.

Done deals: Casey and Jesse McLean have re-signed with Penrith until the end of 2028Credit: NRL Photos/Gregg Porteous

Jesse, 19, has already played two games for the Panthers, while 18-year-old Casey, whom Jarome Luai likened to three-time premiership-winning centre Stephen Crichton this week, is expected to feature in the NRL before the end of the regular season.

Penrith announced the double signing on Thursday.

“He’s got the same build as ‘Critta’ [Crichton], the same style, and he’s got X-factor,” Luai said about Casey.

“It’s amazing they have that brotherly connection.”

Stephen Crichton during last year’s grand final win.Credit: Getty

Casey was only 17 when he joined the full-time squad over the summer. He told this masthead he was relieved to have his future sorted, and the one goal was to not only play NRL, but to do so alongside Jesse. Jesse was already signed until the end of 2026, while Casey was on a development deal.

“The deal means the world to us, especially growing up in the Penrith system playing for the Blacktown Bears – to be able to represent where we come from is a dream come true,” said Casey, before the Blues’ captain’s run.

“I can play wing or centre. It’s up to (coach) Ivan [Cleary] when I debut. I don’t want to get inside my head too much.

“I still find it a surreal experience I’m training with guys like James Fisher-Harris and Nathan Cleary, guys I used to watch and imagine what it would be like to talk to.”

Jesse McLean in action against St George Illawarra this year.Credit: Getty Images

Casey and Jesse boarded at Newington College the last few years of schooling, and Casey singled out the school for teaching him discipline and professionalism. Although a handy outside centre with the First XV, Casey had no appetite to play rugby.

Their father, Willie McLean, played a handful of games for North Sydney in the late 1990s.

Turuva will join the Wests Tigers at the end of the year, while May fronted the club’s board last week after being issued a show cause notice relating to a string of off-field incidents.

Luai joins the Tigers on a five-year, $6 million mega deal at the end of the season, Fisher-Harris will also depart to the Warriors, but Penrith have signed Tigers’ forward Isaiah Papali’i, AJ Keapoa – another Tiger – and now the McLean brothers.

NSW pathways manager Matt Parish said it was not a matter of if Casey debuted this year for Penrith but when.

“I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t play first grade before the end of the year,” Parish said.

“He’s up to it. Both boys remind me of ‘Critta’ and Brian To’o with the way they carry themselves and bring energy to training and game day.”

Dragons up recruitment push with Cook coming, Bird staying

Damien Cook will finish his career where it began, at St George Illawarra.

Cook has been released from the final year of his South Sydney contract, allowing him to take up a two-year deal with the Dragons from 2025. The former NSW hooker will see out the year at the Rabbitohs before making the switch.

Damien Cook has signed a two-year deal with the Dragons from next season.Credit: Getty

The 32-year-old began his NRL career in the Red V, making two first grade appearances before shifting to the Bulldogs and then South Sydney.

Jack Bird, meanwhile, will remain a Dragon for at least another season after taking up the option in his contract for 2025.

There was a mutual option in Bird’s current deal for next season, which needed to be triggered before June 30. The former Blues representative opted to activate it before the deadline to give himself and the club certainty over his future.

Staying put: Jack Bird.Credit: Janie Barrett, SMH

St George Illawarra coach Shane Flanagan has opted to use Bird – who is equally comfortable in the back row – as a centre this season.

The 29-year-old is currently sidelined with a knee injury, but could be available for selection for the round 17 clash against the Dolphins.

Eels star faces huge ban for horror Collins tackle

Parramatta’s Kelma Tuilagi is facing a huge ban after narrowly avoiding being sent off for a dangerous throw on the Roosters’ Lindsay Collins on Saturday night.

The NRL match review committee has come down hard on the Eels second-rower, who was slapped with a four-match ban for the tackle in the opening minutes of the Roosters’ win at CommBank Stadium.

He will miss five matches if he unsuccessfully fights the grade three dangerous throw charge at the judiciary.

Tuilagi was sent to the sin bin for the offence and the Roosters quickly made a 12-man Parramatta pay as Trent Robinson’s side climbed to fifth with victory.

Tuilagi’s ban will be a blow to the Eels’ chances of surging up the ladder under interim coach Trent Barrett as they skate perilously close to the wooden spoon spot after the Tigers’ upset win over the Titans on Saturday.

Parramatta’s Kelma Tuilagi.Credit: Getty Images

There was better news for the Roosters with Jared Waerea-Hargreaves avoiding a suspension for a high shot on Shaun Lane, which was the second sin-binning of the night.

Waerea-Hargreaves will pay a $3000 fine for a grade one careless high tackle charge, while teammate Naufahu Whyte will cop a $1000 fine for a dangerous contact charge on Ryan Matterson.

Warriors winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak has been offered a one-match suspension for an off-the-ball high tackle on Melbourne’s Grant Anderson after being issued a grade two careless high tackle.

He will miss two matches if he fights the charge and lose at the judiciary.

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