NRL

Warriors dig deep to clinch bounce back NRL win

Coming off a 70-10 thumping to the Melbourne Storm, the New Zealand side came-from-behind to clinch a 21-20 golden point win over the Canberra Raiders in Redcliffe on Saturday night.

Facing a 20-12 halftime deficit, the Warriors fought back in the second spell, with a late converted try and then a penalty forcing the match into extra-time.

There it was returned playmaker Shaun Johnson who was the hero, kicking the match-winning field goal to give his side their fourth win of the season.

Warriors swept away by the Storm

The annual Anzac day match was shaping up to be a tight encounter at half-time with the Storm leading 16-10, before running in 10 second half tries to rip the Warriors apart.

Melbourne wing Xavier Coates scored four tries in the romp, securing the Storm their biggest win over the Warriors, as well as the most points they have scored at home.

The second half was well and truly one way traffic, with the Storm enjoying 81 percent of possession as they piled on points.

Vunivalu shuts down rumours: 'I'm not sure if my manager's not telling me anything'

The star winger spent nearly a year on the sidelines, requiring two rounds of hamstring surgery, but was part of Queensland’s four-point win over Melbourne in their Super Rugby Pacific clash at AAMI Park on Friday night.

Managing 50 minutes, Vunivalu showed off his skills in the first half with a deft backhanded flick pass to send Reds teammate Hunter Paisami down the sideline.

After being restricted to just seven games in two seasons, Vunivalu was happy just to get some injury-free minutes on the ground where he enjoyed so much success with the Storm.

Warriors keep the spine the same

Interchange prop Aaron Pene (shoulder) and back rower Bayley Sironen (Covid) have come straight back into the line-up after missing last Saturday's 20-6 win over Brisbane.

Their returns are offset by utility forward Jazz Tevaga being suspended for two matches on a dangerous contact charge and interchange forward Ben Murdoch-Masila sidelined with an leg injury he picked up just 18 minutes into his return last week.

Warriors' homecoming pushed back

After being based in Australia for the past two years, the game against the Penrith Panthers on Saturday 18 June was meant to be the Warriors' first game at home in 1023 days.

However, chief executive Cameron George says the government's border restrictions make it too hard to play.

George says it is "impossible" for NRL teams to isolate for seven days after arriving in New Zealand.

"Penrith, for example, plays the previous Sunday so it can't even do the seven days before our game."

NRL continues partnership with KARI Foundation

As part of the continuation of the partnership, KARI Foundation will be the major partner of both men’s and women’s Indigenous teams at the upcoming Harvey Norman NRL All Stars, at CommBank Stadium on February 12.

The partnership with KARI Foundation provides funding to the women’s Indigenous pathway programs which will enhance the professionalism and skill set of the Indigenous women’s team in the lead up to All Stars.

“The importance of KARI Foundation to All Stars cannot be understated,” NRL Executive General Manager - Partnerships Jaymes Boland-Rudder said.

NRL players banned from pubs, clubs, movies under new Covid measures

The escalating Covid-19 threat across Australia has prompted the NRL to impose a series of hardline restrictions on its players, even though there’s still two months until season kick-off.

Part of the measures include a return to the bubble-like protocols which ensured the 2020 and 2021 seasons were completed, with sources familiar with the situation saying all players had been told not to enter pubs, bars, nightclubs, bowling alleys and cinemas until further notice.

No jab, no play for NRL player John Asiata

Asiata signed with the Bulldogs for the 2022 season after a stint with the Brisbane Broncos, but was handed a termination notice last month with the club requiring all players to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

The NRL does not have a mandate in place for players to be fully vaccinated unlike the AFL, but Canterbury have been firm on their stance as an organisation.

"The Bulldogs and John Asiata have agreed to part ways by mutual consent," the club said in a statement.

"Asiata, signed with the club this season, but had yet to train with the squad.

Rugby League World Cup back on track as NZ, Australia commit to 2022

Just 100 days after pulling out of this year's event with little notice, Australian and New Zealand officials were among those to sign participation agreements for 2022.

A new schedule was released on Friday night, with the tournament starting a week earlier to avoid a clash with the FIFA World Cup but with the same order of games.

The Kiwis kick off their campaign against Lebanon in Warrington on October 16 followed by matches against Jamaica (October 22) and Ireland (October 28).

Sixteen-year-old sensation Latu Fainu signs record-breaking NRL contract

Just months after celebrating his 16th birthday, Fainu has inked a mammoth four-year deal with Manly. If he hits the performance targets in his contract extension, the teen pivot will earn a seven-figure amount during that period.

Moses Suli made history as the game’s highest-paid teen when he signed a three-year, $1.3 million contract extension in 2017 with Wests Tigers at the age of 18. The Sun-Herald can reveal Fainu will outstrip that figure if he triggers a series of bonus benchmarks once the deal kicks in next season.