NRL News
Jason Ryles signs with Newcastle Knights

Speculation today that Jason Ryles has agreed to terms with the Knights for 2008 and beyond. Apparently Ryles is keeping this under wraps for the moment, for fear the press could hurt the already suffering Dragons team.

In more NRL contract news NZ Warriors half Michael Witt has agreed to new terms and the young ultility will be at the Warriors until the end of 2009. This is a nice boost for the club, which was seen strong improvement in the halves with Witt - something severely missing since Stacey Jones left the fold. Witt has had time at the Eels and Manly and hopefully has found a happy home in NZ.

Fears for the Cowboys has they lost a tough one to the Bunnies. Already without Webb and O'Donnell the Cowboys have now lost Fiumu and Graham - and quietly fear a form slump similar to last year after their comparitive explosive start. A tough few weeks ahead for the North Queenslanders.

NRL News

Bunnies hold off clumbsy Cowboys
South Sydney 10 def Cowboys 6

A determined Souths outfit tonight held off a late flurry from the Cowboys to notch their 4th win of the season, moving to 8 competition points and well entrenched in the top 8.

In a match riddled with errors, both sides really struggled to get going and the heat possibly played a major part - with conditions in Townsville even hotter than usual.

Surprisingly the usually potent Cowboys were nullified in attack, and their frustration soon resulted in side to side running - as Thurston and Smith were heavily marked by the Rabbitohs defence.

Down 6-4 at half time the Rabbits got to the lead 15 minutes into the second half, through a sharp Merritt try. A neat little grubber from Joe Williams was snatched by Merritt under pressure and ground millimetres from the dead ball line.

With possession evenly spread, it was the simple grinding style of Souths that was the smarter option. The Cowboys after scoring first, looked like they might run away with it - but their harlem globe trotters style soon turned to tears after plenty of dropped ball. In contrast, Souths tucked it under the arm and played for field position - in the conditions, defintately the way to conserve energy and frustration.

There were moments when Souths got nervous towards the end, and made some silly errors - but Jason Taylor must be given credit for tactics and interchange - as he rotated nicely and had fresh legs at the death.

The Cowboys will need to regroup quickly as they face the unbeaten Manly Sea Eagles team next week - in what should be eye candy Rugby League.

Souths will wait nervously to hear a report on Luke Stuart who was cited for kicking Matt Bowen in the head while contesting a lose ball. Penalties tonight went the way of the Cowboys 9-4.

NRL News

Rugby League discussions coming out of this weekend so far:

Manly remaining undefeated after 6 rounds. The Eagles have really come together as a unit and are defending that way consistently.

John Cartwright storming into the Video Referee's box to question a Manly try awarded after a blatent obstruction. Carty will find himself in hot water for this one - certainly a throw back to yesteryear as the former Penrith hardman went head hunting at Brookvale. I can imagine the little video referee cowering in the corner in the fetal position as big Carty yelled sweet nothings at him.

Jarryd Hayne from the Eels alledgedly shaking the goal posts during a Hazem El Masri attempt at Parramatta Stadium. Hayne was questioned about the incident after complaints - but denies involvement.

Newcastle continue to look good despite missing Andrew Johns. Interestly, the style of play and mood at Newcastle is not that of previous Brian Smith outfits. The vision of the dressing sheds from half time showed Smith roaming the room instructing the players - with all players standing and chatting between themselves. A far cry from the school teacher scenes of the past from Brian Smith sides.

South Sydney managing to hide from publicity leading into tonights Monday night blockbuster with North Queensland. The Bunnies after 3 wins and rock solid defence early - have lost their past 2 games and conceded an average of 26+ points a game in their last two outings. Taylor and his men will want to win tonight to keep the media at bay.

Penrith losing their way in 2007 after another loss. Facing Melbourne is always tough, but the Matt Elliot coached side - showed some good promise early and have gone off the rails in the past few weeks. Take away their last second win against the Broncos and the Panthers look even worse. Their must be some concern amongst Penrith faithful and they need some confidence fast.

West Tigers are enjoying the weekend off, after finally getting a win against the Sharks they need to focus as they face some tough opposition in the coming weeks. Opponents include: Bulldogs and Storm. The Tigers face a mammoth task, but should they get some wins against some big names - it will really set them back on the right path. Evergreen winger Jason Moodie seems to be finding the going pretty tough this year and is a yard or so off the pace, look for Sheens to keep him on the bench and possibly out of the top team as time moves on.

NZ Warriors also having the week off have the enviable position of being able to keep out of the Sydney media. The Warriors are looking the goods in 2007 and have been the team closest to knocking Manly off - after an unlucky loss at Brooky. The Warriors will enjoy the extra time to get over niggly injuries and be fresh for their assault next week on the Rabbitohs in Sydney.

NRL News on Sunday

Broncos crash Joey's Party
Broncos 20 def Knights 16
Info: The class of Lockyer got the the Broncos home after a valiant effort by the Knights. The Broncos weren't stunning but did enough to eclipse the clumsy Knights. Some poor mistakes cost the Knights badly and more focus could have seen them win this one. The crowd and the occasion added to the pressure, but the Broncos looked to want it more and did just that. Tony Carroll has picked up an injury, and the forwards from Brisbane did well to cover in his absence. Test stars did well to back up and for the Knights - Gidley was again the standout in everything he did. Mad Dog also put it a big effort, which was needed after some of his recent showings.

Dogs outlast Eels in thriller
Bulldogs 21 def Eels 18
Info: Missing SBW and Ben Roberts a rusty Bulldogs did enough to overcome the Eels. The Eels really would be kicking themselves after losing this one. Have near 60% possession in the first half and only leading by 4 was always a worrying sign. The Bulldogs hung tough and a rampant Willie Mason was the spring board for the Dogs revival. Sherwin got his shot in the top grade, but looked very rusty - it was a some energetic injections by Luke Patten to get the Dogs going and some nice hustle from Trent Cutler after a shocking early start for the youngster. Finch was a standout for the Eels after some poor showings and laid on the first try and scored the other through running plays. Dogs had the nerve in the clutch and the Eels pulled the wrong plays for the time.

Manly monster Titans
Manly 20 def Titans 6
Info: Manly's rock solid defence was finally complemented by stunning attack. Brilliant Eagles. Manly finally showed their attacking power today and totally outgunned the Titans in all departments. Orford made a safe return, and the Stewart brothers were in everything for the Eagles. The Titans looked rudderless at times and simply didn't have the spark, full credit for Manly for once again winning the forward battle and putting another team to the sword. The Titans will be keen to head home for some cooked meals and will face the hurting Eels on the Coast this week.

NRL News
Cronulla Sharks at home too good
Sharks 26 def Raiders 0

The Cronulla Sharks have proved too strong at Toyota Park for the scoreless Raiders last night - as they posted a comfy 26 to 0 win.

A blazing first half effort by Sharks centre Ben Pommeroy - scoring 3 tries and proving a menace out wide, allowed the Sharks to lay a good platform.

For the Raiders, more injuries in the forwards - with big man Michael Weymann picking up an ankle injury. The Raiders certainly missed the muscle and aggression of Neville Costigan and will need to lift for their big trip to Panthers town next week.

Cronulla Sharks 26 (B Pomeroy 3, I De Gois tries; L Covell 3 conversions, penalty goal) Canberra Raiders 0

NRL News
Storm slip past Panthers
Storm 30 def Panthers 20

Melbourne have held off a late Panthers fight back to win in slippery conditions at Olympic Park tonight. The Storm were out to 24 - 8 at one stage until the 'never say die' Panthers strung some tries togther and gave the undefeated NRL comp leaders a scare.

A big game from the Melbourne forwards really helped the speed men over come the opposition. An agressive showing from Storm forwards; featuring Crossman up against his old club - really stung the Panther pack.

Penrith were killed by their mistackle stats - 31 in total - simply too much arm grabbing and poor reads in defence to win the game. The penalities were in the Panthers favour for once, but this didn't help overall with other areas lacking.

An injury cloud hangs over Luke Priddis who seemed to be playing hurt after an ankle problem in the first half.

For the Storm, it was a top shelf showing from hooker Smith after backing up and halfback Cronk - both scoring tries and laying on some fine attacking movements for their team mates. Cronk showing good awareness in attack and great footspeed to exploit the tired Penrith forwards.

NRL news looks forward to the Storm v Cowboys and Storm v Manly as these games should be classic's for this year.

NRL News Team

Australia vs NZ Rugby League Test Match

Broncos connection clicks to bury the Kiwi's

The Kangaroos put the cleaners through the Kiwis last night - as they put on five tries to one to give New Zealand a 24-point lesson in the Anzac Test match.

Leading 6-0 at the break, the Kangaroos came out firing in the second period as halves combination Johnathan Thurston and Darren Lockyer engineered a lively attacking display to finish off the tiring Kiwis 30-6.

Melbourne Storm centre Matt King, playing out on the Kangaroos wing, scooped up the football after Kiwis number seven Ben Roberts spilt a high bomb from Lockyer to score seven minutes into the second half, before Brent Tate (52nd minute), and Karmichael Hunt (76) shot the Kangaroos out to an unassailable 24-6 lead.

Tate, close to best on ground, then finished off the evening with a brilliant break on the right-hand edge before putting in a cheeky in-field kick to find skipper and Broncos team-mate Lockyer at the try-line as the champion five-eighth put the finishing touches on a dominant performance from Australia.

New Zealand managed to score a consolation try when Manu Vatuvei pounced on a grubber from Simon Mannering on the left-hand edge in the 68th minute, but it was little more than academic as the Kangaroos coasted to victory.

Earlier, tireless back rower Nathan Hindmarsh burst onto a sublimely-timed short-ball from Thurston in the 19th minute to score the only try of the half, with Thurston's conversion making it 6-0.

Thurston took the ball to the line on the fifth play and passed selectively from a host of options to pick up Hindmarsh running back towards the ruck on a dangerous angle, before the Parramatta Eels big man crashed over to score close to the goal-posts.

Thurston shot at goal in the final minute of the first half after Australia were awarded a penalty for a high shot on Lockyer, but his effort drifted short and wide of the goal-posts.

The Kiwis muscled up early with a hammering tackle to flatten Broncos full-back Hunt on his first ball-carry, with Penrith back rower Tony Puletua in the thick of the action in the opening sets.

Man-of-the-match Hunt starred for the Kangaroos with a crafty all-round performance combining strength and footwork from the back with his sharp playmaking ability in combination with Lockyer threatening the New Zealand defence on numerous occasions.

Hunt's opposite, one-game Parramatta custodian Krisnan Inu, was tested heavily by Australia's kicking raids but stood up to the challenge consistently and demonstrated plenty of courage, taking a horrendous high ball from Lockyer under pressure with aplomb.

Bulldogs team-mates Willie Mason and Sonny Bill Williams were involved in a minor scuffle as tempers flared in the opening period but the incident was nothing more than a friendly exchange.

New Zealand were imposing in defence and drove the ball forward with plenty of purpose and passion, but were ultimately outclassed by Australia's superior attacking ability.

The Kiwis had numerous opportunities to hit back with dynamic five-eighth Benji Marshall an ever-present for his side, but poor handling cost them dearly close to the try-line as they were stymied time and time again by the Kangaroos.

Australia 30 (N Hindmarsh, M King, B Tate, K Hunt, D Lockyer tries; J Thurston 5 conversions)
New Zealand 6 (M Vatuvei try; B Marshall conversion)

NRL waits as Rugby Union timebomb ticks
John Chelsea

Debate rages in Rugby Union ranks this week after Stirling Mortlock goes public with frustration over Rugby Union's poaching of Rugby League players.

The ARU has been grabbing headlines and telling anyone who cared how happy they were about snaring more Rugby League wingers. From the big raid years ago of Wendell Sailor, Lote Tiqiri and Matt Rogers - to recent raids on backs such as Timana Tahu and Clinton Schifcovske.

It seems NRL officials have made the right move by not entering into bidding wars for the wingers.

"Enough is enough," Mortlock told a business luncheon on the eve of the Brumbies' Super 14 derby with the Western Force .

"It's pretty frustrating for a lot of the guys this year.

"There's a few guys in our team who are coming off contract and being told that they're not worth as much as they were worth last time they signed and then, in the same sentence, the ARU are looking at signing up league wingers.

"It just doesn't make sense." Mortlock said.

Rugby Union players certainly have the right to be angry, as they see pay cuts and reduced opportunities within their ranks - while the top end of town chases mainly high profile wingers from NRL Rugby League.

We really are only talking and wing positions and outside backs - surely the ARU has enough talent in these departments. The poaching does give the ARU valuable headlines which they don't regularly get and does inject a household player name into stale ARU sides, but after the initial hit - the side effects must be quite concerning.

With Stirling Mortlock going public this week over ARU player anger, he is only saying what many ARU players have been feeling privately for some time. Reducing wages for the mid-tier players will only build frustration and see potential star players walk away from Union at some stage.

David Gallop and his team at the NRL are to be congratulated on their handling of the poaching. The NRL refused to buy into any bidding wars, and apart from a few clubs trying to pull togher a war chest - the NRL executives must have sensed the ARU would eventually be bitten by the snarings. The NRL also must have felt comfortable in the fact that they have such a talent pool at junior levels - that a new star is injecting into the fray.

When Lote decided not to return to League or when Timana decided to jump ship - the NRL simply unearths someone like Israel Folau, Chase Stanley or Krisnan Inu - who after only one game of NRL was able to earn a place in the star studded Kiwi Test side.

Tick..... Tick...... Tick.....Tick......Tick.....

NRL Predictions for Round 6

Melbourne Storm vs Penrith Panthers:
The Storm have only been average in the first few rounds, but their average is a class above the rest. I have a feeling they will fire on all cylinders in this game and put the blow torch on Penrith. Penrith will need to improve discipline to ensure they don't lose by a truck load. After Burt cut the Panthers to pieces last week, expect Billy Slater to do more of the same. Melbourne comfortably.

Cronulla Sharks vs Canberra Raiders:
Both these teams are so much better at home, this time Cronulla get the home ground - and have shown improvement each week. Canberra on the other hand have been inconsistent and face some injury concerns. The Sharks will be too strong at home.

Manly Sea Eagles vs Gold Coast Titans:
Brookvale is the home of this anticipated clash - with the flamboyant Titans facing the gutsy and brick wall like Manly team. I think this might go the Titans way, as it's very hard to defend against the likes of Presto and Prince - and Manly might get hurt with the second phase play. Titans in a close one.

Parramatta Eels vs Bulldogs:

Typically a fierce clash between these old foes. The Eels have found some rhythm and will be right in this one with a shot, but I feel the Bulldogs will be hurting with the Manly loss and will be ready to come out of their shell firing after the SBW saga and Willie reporter annoyance. Bulldogs should be too strong in the forwards here, even though the game is at Parra Stadium. Bulldogs.

Newcastle Knights vs Brisbane Broncos:

Knights at home and in the game to salute Joey - will be too strong for the tired Broncos - who lose too many stars to the Australia test team. The Knights should be too good here, and tough competition for spots sees Macdougall on the extended bench - the Knights to win.

North Queensland Cowboys vs South Sydney Rabbitts:

Souths now trying to stop the rot after two losses, have a tough journey up north to Cowboyville. The Cowboys will also be keen to avenge the away loss to the Warriors and I think will have too much at home for the Bunnies. The forwards from Nth Queensland will win this battle with the Kiwi contingent from Souths backing up from the test. Souths missing Kidwell. Cowboys to win.

NRL Coaches

Should NRL teams KISS or RISK?
Adam Sutcliffe and Peter Roy

The margin between wining and losing NRL Rugby League games these days is extremely thin. Coaches know all to well - that an incorrect play the ball, a marginally forward dummy half pass or a penalty swings the momentum and throws out many game plans intended from the outset of the game.

KISS Method - Keep it simple stupid. No disrespect intended to NRL players here, this is a well known business mentality and can be applied to modern day NRL. The idea of simple, error free football - such as one out plays, only kicking on tackle 5 or limiting long or extended passing movements reduces the chance of errors.

Ok, so this style isn't going to get you 30+ points in a game - but what it does mean, that through more possession and hopefully with a good kicking game; a team should have better field position and will reduce the other teams chances of scoring, through lack of ball.

Apply this theory to say the Roosters. If the Chooks were facing Melbourne, their chances of winning on current form are next to none. If the Roosters employ a KISS style of game, so they hit it up from dummy half and employ one out hit-ups and secure the ball on every attacking play. And then if they are lucky enough to receive some dropped ball, penalties or poor kicks from Melbourne - they have such a better chance of winning.

Its not for all teams and it's certainly hard to prevent all players from giving away penalties, or dropping the ball or pushing the miracle pass - but it makes sense and the simple equation means less chance of errors and thus more possession.

An example of this method was employed by the Parramatta Eels in Round 3 against the Tigers. The Eels coming off two losses and struggling for confidence, played a very simple style of Rugby League. Every tackle, another forward would hit it up, then a dummy half run, another hit up and then a kick on play 5. Sure, it's dour, grinding football - but it allowed Parramatta to retain possession and build confidence after 2 heavy losses in Round 1 and 2. On the flip side, you had the Tigers - throwing flick passess, throwing long passes that got intercepted and chipping and chancing their arm on various tackles within the set. Parramatta on this night scored tries from a Wests dropped ball and an intercept - they did the basics and were in a position to capitalize on the errors from Wests Tigers.

Result - on this occasion the simple style won out. Parramatta then increased their tempo and style in Round 4 against Canberra and upped it again in Round 5 resulting in some nice length of the field plays against Penrith; as they moved away from the basic KISS style of play.

RISK Method - this style of football was pioneered by Penrith in 2003 and perfected by the Tigers team of 2005. Put simply, throwing plenty of passes and keeping the ball alive at all costs and hoping to outscore the competitor no matter how many points conceded.

While very exciting to watch - exactly as the name says its 'risky' - the failure of fancy or long passes can sometimes mean an intercept and instantly conceding points. While there are certain times to employ this style, such as when playing a team with tightly compressed defence, where it makes sense to swing it wide and roll the dice. It makes even more sense to employ this style; when a team is high on confidence.

So here you have a high level explanation of the two contrasting styles, but this is only the tip of the iceberg. Today's coaching teams and strategists get even more granular with their planning.

In the KISS style of play, the coach must ensure the team employing the tactic is careful not to concede penalties and hence roll away from the tackled player safely, their marker defence must be directly square and testing the referee on the 10m is a big no-no. To keep this up for 80m takes intense fitness and high bench rotation.

For the RISK method the opposite is true, tacklers will test the referee early and see how long they can pin the attacker down or trim a few meteres in defence as Steve Clark looks the other way.

This leads to the referee factor. The tactical analysis and planning in todays NRL is so wide ranging that coaches know which referees they can push the boundaries with and which referees that are much more strict and will punish quickly for infringements.

This is why Bill Harrigan was such a decorated referee, because coaches never knew what they were going to get - some days you got 'Entertainment Bill' who let games flow and ensured the crowd saw free flowing football; but on other days you got 'Policeman Bill' who would come down hard on anything illegal and have the sin-bin full of naughty boys.

We see games won by every week now by a field goal, or lost by a conceded penalty or even lost by an incorrect video decision? Who would have thought with the aid of a video - it could still go wrong?

As you go crazy over your tips each week, one things for sure: The Roosters really should - KISS - KEEP IT SIMPLE STUPID.