A full Easter weekend of footy did not disappoint, with a mixture of underdog victories, come-from-behind thrillers, and technical masterclasses.
Joshua Mayne
New Zealand Warriors coach Nathan Brown has come to the support of Sydney Roosters lock Victor Radley after the 24-year-old was put on report for a high shot.
It got off to a slow start, but round 4 of the NRL eventually roared into action.
Round four of the NRL is done and dusted. Here's what we liked and disliked in every game across the weekend.
North Queensland Cowboys coach Todd Payten has taken aim at the NRL's officiating, after his side were on the wrong end of three sin-bins against the Roosters.
Liam O'Loughlin
Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson won't be making the trip to Townsville this weekend, after he tested positive for COVID-19.
Tom Naghten
Another round is in the books to start the NRL season, with some thrilling clashes across the weekend - here's what we liked and disliked from every game.
It was an all-round dominant performance from the Sydney Roosters against the Manly Sea Eagles on Friday night.
Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson was blunt when it came to assessing what went wrong in his team's round one loss against the Newcastle Knights.
Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson has admitted his side's defence has fallen off, just days out from their season opener against the Newcastle Knights.
Ed Chisholm
Three-time premiership coach Trent Robinson has signed a bumper contract extension to remain at the Sydney Roosters for a further five years.
Wests Tigers' player James Tamou is likely to miss his team's opening match of the 2022 NRL season following a dangerous tackle in a trial game against the Sydney Roosters.
Cross-code superstar Sonny Bill Williams will return to the ring this year, with a fight against Barry Hall officially confirmed for March 23.
Roosters coach Trent Robinson has taken a subtle swipe at NRL players who have pushed back against the competition's powerbrokers over a re-introduction of some COVID-19 protocols.
Melbourne Storm hooker Brandon Smith has issued a lengthy statement in response to recent criticism, after an expletive-laden interview caught headlines in the past few days.
Melbourne Storm star Brandon Smith's comments about joining the Roosters have been described as 'disappointing' and 'naive' by NRL legend Laurie Daley.
Kieran Francis
Sydney Roosters superstar Joseph Manu has re-signed for a further two years, keeping him at the club until at least the end of the 2024 NRL season.
The NRL has today announced that Sydney Roosters player James Tedesco has been issued with a breach notice for what the league has deemed was drunk and disorderly conduct, bringing the game into disrepute.
Jed Wells
Joey Manu has sensationally turned his back on a potential big-money offer from the New Zealand Warriors to remain with the Roosters.
Grand final-winning centre Paul Momirovski will return to the Sydney Roosters next year, after he was granted an early release by the Penrith Panthers.
Former NSW Origin and Kangaroos centre Michael Jennings has broken his silence, after he was suspended for three years by the NRL last week.
NRL great Brett Morris hasn't wasted any time finding his next role, with the Sydney Roosters announcing the recently-retired winger as one of their assistant coaches for 2022.
Former State of Origin star Michael Jennings' career is likely over, after he was handed a four-year ban by the NRL.
Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson has delivered his parting words to NRL bosses Andrew Abdo and Peter V'landys, following a crazy 2021 season.
The miracle run has come to an end for the Sydney Roosters, going down to a classy Manly Sea Eagles outfit on Friday night.
Talk to plenty of Ron Massey Cup players and they'll tell you that even making it through to NSW Cup is a tough task - for Ben Marschke, the rise has been even bigger.
Sydney Roosters hooker Sam Verrills has failed in his bid to earn a downgrade for his high tackle on Brian Kelly, and will miss the clash against the Manly Sea Eagles on Friday night.
Sporting News
Ash Taylor and Tyrone Peachey top a list of six departing players at the Gold Coast Titans following the club's agonising finals exit.
James Tedesco concedes the Roosters will wave their season goodbye against the Sea Eagles if the defensive efforts in the weekend's last-gasp win over the Titans are repeated.
What a start to the 2021 finals series we've just witnessed.
It's fair to say the opening week of the 2021 finals series did not disappoint.
Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson isn't giving anything away ahead of their sudden-death clash with the Gold Coast Titans, despite speculation over the makeup of his halves.
In a year of further challenges, there have been some undeniably stellar coaching performances this NRL season.
The Raiders’ season ended with a 40-16 loss to a depleted Roosters line-up in Mackay on Thursday night.
Steve Orme
A controversial eight-point try has been awarded to the Roosters after Matt Ikuvalu was collected high by Raiders fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, who has been put on report.
Phil Gould has opened up on the phone call he had with an 'emotional' Trent Robinson on Saturday morning, following a controversial clash against the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson has defended Rabbitohs superstar Latrell Mitchell, despite the ugly tackle that sidelined his own star player, Joey Manu.
Powerful Roosters supremo Nick Politis has come out swinging at the NRL over the state of rugby league, revealing he fears fans will leave the game in droves if blowout scores continue into next season.
Latrell Mitchell's season is over after he accepted a grade two reckless high tackle charge for his shot on Joseph Manu in South Sydney's win over the Roosters on Friday night.
With one round remaining, there's still plenty left to be decided in the final make-up of the top eight going into finals.
Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson has been sanctioned by the NRL, while the club have also been fined after players are alleged to have abused on-field officials.
Sydney Roosters veteran Josh Morris has officially announced his NRL retirement, with the star centre to hang up the boots at the end of the 2021 season.
Fair?
His outburst could come at a cost.
Mitchell was sin-binned and placed on report for a high shot that left Roosters centre Joey Manu with a fractured cheekbone on Friday night.
Mitchell was sin-binned for a high shot that left Manu with a suspected fractured cheekbone in the Rabbitohs’ 54-12 victory over the Roosters on Friday night.
South Sydney are in discussions with Wayne Bennett about keeping him employed at the club beyond this season in a remote capacity.
Anthony Griffin all but conceded the Dragons' slim glimmer of hope for a finals berth was erased with Sunday's 36-22 loss to the Roosters.
The Roosters have locked away brothers Nat and Egan Butcher with two-year extensions.
Rugby league great Laurie Daley has scolded the Dragons following reports Jack de Belin was almost handed the captaincy this week.
Off-contract Knights utility Connor Watson has completed his return to the Sydney Roosters, signing a two-year deal with his former club.
In what was a dramatic weekend of footy action, we've picked apart each game from Round 23 and outlined the things we liked and didn't like.
Late drama has overshadowed a thrilling clash between the Sydney Roosters and Brisbane Broncos, with a late penalty gifting the Tricolours the victory.
Joey Manu can't entertain offers from rival clubs until November 1, however the Roosters gun looks set to be the subject of a fierce bidding war involving several clubs.
Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson has revealed talks with Connor Watson, with the off-contract Newcastle Knights utility nearing a decision on his NRL future.
NRL head of football Graham Annesley has hit back at Trent Robinson, after the Sydney Roosters coach questioned the consistency from match officials over the weekend.
T Naghten, Ed Ch...
T Naghten, Brend...
Trent Robinson has lamented what he believes to be inconsistent rulings towards players slowing down the ruck after Jared Waerea-Hargreaves' sin-binning proved costly to the Roosters against fellow heavyweights Penrith.
Everything you need to know about NRL games today.
Brendan Bradford
NRL legend Cooper Cronk has landed a new job, after he was appointed as an independent director for Queensland Rugby League (QRL).
Sydney Roosters superstar Joseph Manu could become the game's next million-dollar man, with a rival club set to offer him a huge deal for 2023.
The Eels slumped to their second-straight loss with a 28-0 drubbing at the hands of the Roosters in Mackay.
A host of big names were missing before the game, and by the end of the 80 minutes, the Sydney Roosters had lost two more - but it wasn't enough to stop Trent Robinson's men.
In one of the shocks from this week's team announcements, Sydney Roosters veteran Josh Morris has been dropped by Trent Robinson ahead of their clash with Newcastle.
Newcastle are plotting a plan to lock down Kalyn Ponga with a long-term contract extension and the club captaincy in hopes of putting to bed any chances of a code switch.
Tyson Frizell admits personal injuries and those throughout the team have made for a frustrating first season with Newcastle.
See below for all the match review committee charges from round 18.
T Naghten and Br...
Todd Payten applauded teen Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow's performance filling in at fullback in the Cowboys' loss to the Roosters, but admits the club faces a unique challenge in managing the Origin debutant through the rest of the season.
Bad news.
Hetherington was penalised for a high tackle on Radley in the 75th minute of the Roosters’ narrow win over the Bulldogs on Saturday night.
Dufty has been told his services are not required at the Dragons beyond the current campaign.
Roosters premiership players Daniel Tupou and Lindsay Collins have signed new long-term extensions with the club.
Lachlan McKirdy
Walker was on the receiving end of two brutal shots in the Roosters’ 46-0 loss to the Storm in Newcastle.
The Roosters have suffered back-to-back thumpings at the hands of the Panthers and Storm.
He was dubbed Melbourne's coach-in-waiting, but Jason Ryles will sign on as an assistant at the Sydney Roosters next year in a move that points to Craig Bellamy remaining as Storm head coach beyond this season.
Another day of NRL news is behind us as round 16 nears.
No crowds will be allowed at games in Greater Sydney while players from the nine Sydney clubs have returned to the bubble life they endured for the majority of the 2020 NRL season.
Ryan Papenhuyzen is unlikely to return for the Melbourne Storm for at least another month as his recovery from concussion continues.
As the competition gets put on hold for a week for rep round, it's time to take stock.
Rugby league is becoming a wildly different game - as evidenced by two games over the weekend with 80 points or more.
T Naghten, Lachl...
The Broncos announced the sackings on Friday night, 24 hours after it was confirmed star forward Tevita Pangai Junior is set to leave the club mid-season.
Nathan scored a try, had two try assists and landed seven-from-eight shots at goal in the Panthers’ big win over the Roosters.
Robinson wants answers from the NRL after Siosiua Taukeiaho was sin-binned in the first-half of the Roosters’ loss to the Panthers.
With the release of Fast and Furious 9 starring Vin Diesel and John Cena, Sporting News are going to look across the NRL for who epitomises the same values as the crew from the movie.
So tough.
Chris Danks
Fifita will reportedly receive an NRL breach notice this week, casting doubt over his eligibility for the Maroons in Origin II.
NRL legend Brett Morris has announced his official retirement, following an ACL injury earlier this year while playing for the Sydney Roosters.
NRL round 12: What we liked and disliked
E Chisholm, Lach...
C Danks, Lachlan...
T Naghten and La...
Ricky Stuart maintains there are no issues between he and Josh Hodgson in the wake of comments the veteran Raiders hooker made about George Williams being released by the club.
Can Turbo catch Cleary?
There were lessons across the board to be learned from round 11.
"You're killing the game"
The Broncos bagged their third victory over the season with a 34-16 upset win over the Roosters at the SCG.
Tevita Pangai Junior and Jamayne Isaako will remain at the Broncos next season, despite the duo's reported meeting with Tigers officials this week.
Teenage sensation Joseph Suaalii will make his NRL debut this weekend, after the club confirmed he would play against the Brisbane Broncos.
Could Kevin Walters be on the brink of assembling the star-studded spine that can take the Broncos back to glory?
Tedesco was knocked out by a high shot in Round 7 and was on the receiving end of high tackles in each of the Roosters previous two matches.
"They've gotta be careful"
"Nothing could be further from the truth"
Is it Cleary's to lose?
E Chisholm and B...
"I make no apologies"
The Roosters boss admits the NRL’s crackdown isn’t perfect but has called for calm.
The Cowboys finished on the wrong end of a 30-16 scoreline against the Roosters on Saturday night.
It had the potential to put players and fans offside just one game into his Townsville tenure, but Todd Payten's brutal singling out of Jason Taumalolo at the start of the year was pivotal, the Cowboys captain believes.
Teen sensation Sam Walker has re-signed with the Sydney Roosters on a two-year deal, keeping him at the club until at least the end of the 2023 season.
Robinson has reportedly copped a suspended fine from the NRL for his post-match comments following the Roosters’ loss to the Eels.
It's back!
David Fifita is facing two weeks on the sidelines, while Parramatta will be without Marata Niukore and Dylan Brown they were cited from Friday's win over the Roosters.
TJ Perenara has decided against a code switch to rugby league and the Sydney Roosters, instead opting to return to the Hurricanes until the end of 2023.
Injury carnage has rocked some of the NRL's biggest clubs, with the Rabbitohs and Roosters set to lose some big names.
Brown was placed on report over a tackle that saw Hutchison hospitalised with suspected broken ribs and a punctured lung.
Hutchison was taken to hospital after he was kneed in the back attempting to score a try late in the first-half.
The Sydney Roosters squad and staff are due to undergo COVID-19 testing ahead of Friday's clash with heavyweights Parramatta.
All the charges from round eight.
Walker had a club-record five try assists in the Roosters’ 38-4 demolition of the Knights in Newcastle.
The Roosters are sweating on knee injuries to Brett Morris and Lindsay Collins suffered late in Saturday’s 38-4 victory over the Knights.
"That was the biggest hit I put on all day."
NRL Head of Football Graham Annesley admits Dragons winger Jordan Pereira should've been sent off for his Anzac Day hit on James Tedesco.
Panthers forward James Fisher-Harris is rapidly rising, as is David Fifita.
Trent Robinson has declared the NRL's on-field punishments for foul play still require work after Dragons winger Jordan Pereira avoided a send-off for a high tackle that ended James Tedesco's Anzac Day.
Dragons coach Anthony Griffin concedes Sunday's heavy Anzac Day loss to the Roosters was the first time he's seen his side play as individuals rather than a collective.
Angus Crichton has welcomed the possible addition of TJ Perenara to the Roosters amid reports of the club making a shock play for the All Blacks veteran.
"He's been unbelievable for us"
Storm star Brandon Smith claims TJ Perenara's bid to crack into the NRL is genuine, revealing the All Blacks halfback has been messaging him for several months about the switch.
If anyone is able to judge the merits of moving between rugby league and rugby union, Sonny-Bill Williams is that man.
Melbourne Storm's win over the Sydney Roosters on Friday night may come at a cost, with the NRL set to investigate a string of HIA incidents in the clash.
Grant attracted rave reviews after a sublime 46-minute effort off the bench in the Storm’s 20-4 victory over the Roosters.
The Roosters finished on the wrong end of a 20-4 scoreline in Friday’s blockbuster clash against the Storm.
The injury-ravaged Sydney Roosters are reportedly set to find another unique way to solve their injury crisis, after they confirmed their interest in All Blacks star TJ Perenara.
Crichton has signed a one-year contract extension with the Roosters that will see him stay at the club until the end of the 2022 NRL season.
Trent Robinson has endorsed Craig Fitzgibbon's appointment as Cronulla coach and hosed down suggestions the brutal fashion he was brought in to replace John Morris could tarnish the start to his tenure.
