NRL

The Sydney Morning Herald is reporting St George Illawarra have applied to the NRL to sign Israel Folau on a two-year deal.

ARLC chairman Peter V'landys has previously indicated the door was all but shut on Folau to return to the sport after the controversy surrounding his religious beliefs during his time in rugby union.

However the NRL has recently indicated to the Dragons that it will consider the application and will not make a decision until they have reviewed the proposal and spoken to the relevant parties said the Herald.

As the NRL Integrity Unit confirmed they were investigating video footage of a Friday night fight involving a player, Segeyaro and Norman’s company, YKTR Sports, posted a statement on social media explaining their involvement in the fight, and their version of events.

Segeyaro, who played for four NRL clubs but is serving a provisional suspension for an anti-doping violation, claimed the fight was sparked when one of a group of men called him the ‘n-word’, and that the pair wanted to fight back against racism.

Marshall turns 36 next month and has been holding out hope for one final year in the NRL after being cut loose by the Wests Tigers.

The popular playmaker spent time with Bennett with the New Zealand test team and then again with the Broncos in 2017.

While a deal is yet to be officially struck, there have been positive talks between Marshall and Souths.

A number of high-profile stars including Josh Addo-Carr, Jack Wighton and Brian To'o have made public gestures or have been photographed with rap groups with the images then often posted on social media without their knowledge.

When Addo-Carr made a symbol during a post-match interview last year, a social media account for "drill" rapper Hooligan Hefs re-posted it with the caption "LETS FKN TROT !! congrats brother".

Addo-Carr denied he was making gang signs, saying it held a deeper meaning to him.

Allan trained with his new club on Monday after South Sydney granted him permission to explore his options elsewhere given Latrell Mitchell blocked his path to the Rabbitohs' No.1 jumper.

A breakout 2020 campaign that ended with a Maroons debut at fullback debut saw Allan's value and standing rise accordingly, with Bulldogs coach Trent Barrett chuffed at adding another quality recruit to his ongoing rebuild.

Maraki Aumua, 16, leaves on Monday for Townsville where he will join the North Queensland Cowboys and head straight into pre-season training with the NRL squad.

The talented goal-kicking five-eighth was spotted at a touch tournament and signed to a six-year deal last year.

He has just finished year 11 at Palmerston North Boys’ High School, where he was in the first XV rugby team, but he will go to Kirwin State High School, a top Australian school for league, to finish his schooling.

Announced in the role on Wednesday, Maxwell said there were "not many other sports worldwide" where officials are under the same scrutiny as the NRL.

The NRL has failed to come to an agreement with its referees after scrapping the two-referee system.

"It's a challenging sport," he said. "As previous people have been in these shoes they ... try and create an environment that is not about the officials and get the balance between the continuity of the sport and the compliance levels."

After a challenging 2020 season in which Canberra fell a game short of a return to the grand final, the depth at the club has been boosted by the performances of several younger players in an impressive second half of the year.

Croker even includes his own spot as one that will have to be won back.

The likes of Matt Timoko and Harley Smith-Shields are doing the hard yards at training to stake their claim for Croker's centre position in the opening rounds of 2021 while the 30-year-old continues his recovery from off-season shoulder surgery.

The NRL runners-up will return to pre-season training on December 14 but much of the focus throughout the side's break has centred around their young off-contract stars, including Stephen Crichton and Jarome Luai.

Fletcher maintains the Panthers, aside from losing skipper James Tamou, should be in a position to challenge for the title again in 2021 after falling short in October.

Eight of the 20-strong squad were involved in last weekend's NZRL women's grand final, while six players have been selected from the Farah Palmer Cup rugby union competition, including Manusina international Nina Foaese.

Masuisui Pauaraisa will lead Fetu Samoa against New Zealand for the second year running while Aieshaleigh Smalley has swapped black for blue, having been a part of the New Zealand team that outclassed Samoa 46-8 last June.