Segment 1: Panel- Welcome/introductions

Topics:

• Storm superstar Jahrome Hughes has ended speculation about his future, re-signing with the club until the end of 2024. Hughes, 26, had been heavily linked with a return to his home country but knocked back the New Zealand Warriors offer of $2.5m to stay in Melbourne. He will pocket $2.1 million over three years to stay in Melbourne on $700,000-a-season.
• Other Storm news:
  • Club power brokers remain adamant they will stick to their guns about Donaghy being barred from starting at Red Hill until August 1 due to a six-month non-compete clause. The reason? The Storm has been told it was Donaghy who initially contacted the Broncos about the CEO gig, not the other way around. Donaghy maintains the Broncos were the ones who initially reached out to him. The Storm are also gun shy about Donaghy having insider trader knowledge about the club’s recruitment and retention plans.
  • The matter is headed for the courts next week.
  • The bigger issue at play is the looming decision of premiership-winning coach Craig Bellamy. Bellamy and his advisor Andrew Butler are currently weighing up offers from Storm, Brisbane Broncos and the Cronulla Sharks. The smart money at present has Bellamy staying in Melbourne for another 12 months as head coach in 2022 then moving into a coaching director’s role with the club beyond that.

·       Wayne Bennett is in secret talks to become the head coach of the NRL’s prospective new 17th team, the Brisbane Jets. They want Bennett to call the shots ahead of the 2023 season – if theirs is the bid chosen to create a fourth team in Queensland. “I have reached out to Wayne … we’ve had talks,” Jets consortium figurehead Steve Johnson said

·       Knights superstar Kalyn Ponga has called for player names to be included on the back of club jerseys as they are in State of Origin each year. Yes/No?

• The Sydney Roosters are looking to lock down NSW State of Origin forward Angus Crichton on a new contract but the Blues backrower will have to take a slight hair cut to remain at the Tricolours. When powerful Roosters chairman Nick Politis convinced Crichton to switch from arch rivals South Sydney to the Moore Park outfit at the end of 2018, Crichton agreed to a deal worth around $2.2 million over three seasons. A Roosters fan as a kid growing up in country NSW, Crichton loves the culture and prestige of the club and wants to remain a Rooster. Apparently he hasn’t even bothered trying to test his value on the open market.

·       It’s the bizarre case of the Gold Coast star recruit David Fifita, a secret $10,000 payment from the Titans and a man wielding a baseball bat. Yes the Fifita case of entering the wrong room of a Clear Island Waters home over the Christmas period has become stranger by the day. There’s no question Fifita was invited to attend the Gold Coast home by a young woman – but where the issues began to arise was when he left his mobile phone in an Uber upon arrival. After entering the home, the Gold Coast forward then took a wrong turn. Instead of entering the bedroom of the young woman, he entered the bedroom of her parents. Clearly shocked at the 107kg NRL star standing in front of them, the father has allegedly grabbed a baseball bat. The police were called amid reports of trespassing before it all got sorted out and it was clear Fifita had been invited to attend the home. What position does he play?

• The family of iconic Nine commentator Ray Warrenhave pleaded for the return of his NRL Hall of Fame ring after it was stolen in a home invasion. The break-in occurred early on Saturday. Warren, his wife Cher, daughter Holly and grandson Mateo were in the house. ‘Rabs’ Warren has been a rugby league commentator with Nine for more than 30 years. Now 77, he is the revered voice of the game. He was inducted into the NRL Hall of Fame in 2019, the first broadcaster awarded the game’s ultimate honour.

Trial games last weekend:

• Roosters 26 def. Raiders 20 at Seiffert Oval, Queanbeyan and teen sensation Joseph Suaalii’s scored two-tries in his debut for the Roosters’ NSW Cup side, North Sydney.
• Harry Grant suffered a medial ligament injury to his knee and failed to finish for the Storm in their 30-10 win over the Knights
• Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 16 def. Cronulla Sharks 12
• South Sydney Rabbitohs 48 def. St George Illawarra Dragons 16 at Glen Willow Regional Sports Stadium, Mudgee in their Charity Shield match. Latrell Mitchell sounded an ominous warning to the NRL with a 40-minute clinic to sink the hapless St George Illawarra outfit. The 23-year-old fullback inked a new Rabbitohs deal during the week and he repaid the club with three try assists and a try in a first-half masterclass against the Dragons. He was joined by five-eighth Cody Walker, who scored three tries and had a try assist as the Bunnies took a 32-4 lead into half time.
• Good weekend for the Panthers with rising five-eighth Jarome Luai signing a three-year contract extension with the club. The new deal means the 24-year-old will remain at the Panthers until the end of the 2024 season and then defeating Parramatta Eels 16-6 at Panthers Stadium, Penrith. Halves duo Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai as well as hooker Apisai Koroisau were at their best as their dominated their Eels counterparts.
• Club veteran Alex Glenn was confirmed as Broncos captain ahead of his testimonial match on the weekend but didn’t go according to plan after North Queensland Cowboys 34 def. Brisbane Broncos 18 at Dolphin Stadium, Redcliffe. The signs were promising for Brisbane in the first half but then it looked all a little too familiar for last year’s wooden spooners. The Broncos led 18-6 at half time but they wouldn’t score another point for the night. The Cowboys clicked into gear and put on a second-half clinic, which will please new coach Todd Payten.

• The Wests Tigers thrashed Manly 52-18 at Leichhardt Oval. It was the Tigers young guns who stepped up with recruit Daine Laurie leading the way with two tries, while Adam Doueihi, Asu Kepaoa and Tommy Talau also crossed the stripe. But it was Laurie who was arguably the most-promising sight for Tigers fans after the club recently secured the 21-year-old’s services via a player swap with Penrith.

The NRL Integrity Unit will reportedly investigate a public dispute between Broncos assistant coach John Cartwright and club legend Chris Johns at a Broncos’ coaching staff Christmas party at the Caxton Hotel in December. The Integrity Unit has requested to speak with Cartwright to determine whether he will be sanctioned for his role in the public dispute.

World Cup officials have welcomed the renewed backing of the International Rugby League board for the end of season tournament in England. The IRL board met last week and unanimously reaffirmed their commitment to doing everything possible to stage the World Cup, kicking off on October 23 at Newcastle’s St James Park and ending at Old Trafford on November 27. The British Government last week announced a four-point plan to lift the COVID-19 lockdown, with crowds up to 10,000 allowed at outdoor sporting events from May 17 and the possibility of all restrictions being eased from June 21. The Super League season will kick off on March 26, with the grand final set down for October 9.

Segment 2: Macca and panel

Topics:

1. Transfer window:

The NRL is reportedly set to introduce transfer windows as soon as next season. It comes after the governing body pushed back this season’s deadline for clubs to finalise their top-30 roster from June 30 to August 1 on Tuesday. A ‘contracting model group’ is set to meet next week to discuss what would be the biggest overhaul of player transfers in the game’s history.

It’s understood that the prospect of at least two trade windows will be discussed.

A trade window would put a stop to players signing with a rival 12 to 18 months ahead and then having that club try and bring them across earlier, forcing a broken contract.

The governing body is also said to be looking at ways to stop players from breaking their contracts to sign for more money with a rival club.

2. Central contract register:

Also on the agenda is a possible central contract register. It would prevent managers from exaggerating about interest in their client in a bid for the club they’re dealing with to increase their offer.

3. Dally M Awards:

The Dally M Awards could be set for a huge overhaul which could solve one of the biggest controversies surrounding the event with reports that the NRL is set to form an advisory panel of media experts to recommend changes to the voting system. Crucially, one of those could include the 3-2-1 judging system being replaced by a voting structure which would see each player rated out of 10.

4. Predictions: Part 1- with panel

Brief comment on each team in alphabetical order: Broncos, Canberra Raiders, Canterbury Bulldogs, Cronulla Sharks, Gold Coast, Manly, Melbourne, NZ Warriors, Newcastle, North Qld, Parramatta, Penrith, South Sydney, St George, Sydney Roosters and Wests Tigers

5. Macca’s Predictions: Part 2-

Premier:

Top 4:

Go backwards:

Best Buy

1^st Coach sacked:

Dally M winner:

Segment 3:

Sunshine Coast Gympie RL:

• Super 9’s at SC Stadium this Sat 6 March- open men’s, women’s men u/18 and master’s-around 30 teams entered, tickets on sale -COVID restrictions in place so limited numbers-get in asap-
• Gates open 8.30am – Kick Off 9am – Finals start from 4.30pm. Family fun day with Jumping Castle, Face Painting, Fun games for the little ones with Billys Buddies. Go to SCGRL web site for details.

o   Div 1 Men commence on the 13/03/2021 with Beerwah/Maroochydore, Gympie/Caboolture and Noosa Stanley River while on Sunday 14 Nambour/Kawana.

QRL:

• Mal Meninga (6 rounds) and u/16 (3 rounds) commence this weekend-Falcons v Capras in Bundaberg
• Falcons trial game- v Norths Devils at Noosa District Sports Complex on Sat.
• The first ever game in the Under 19 competition will kick off this Saturday with Mackay Cutters hosting northern rivals Townsville Blackhawks. The remaining teams in the competition will have a bye for Round 1 – with Wide Bay Bulls, Sunshine Coast Falcons, Northern Pride, Western Mustangs, Central Queensland Capras, Burleigh Bears, Souths Logan Magpies, Wynnum Manly Seagulls and Ipswich in action in Round 2.
• Qld Cup: Round 1 – Saturday 20 March: Falcons/Pride and Cutters/Dolphins
• NRL round 1 commences next Thursday night with Storm/Rabbits; Friday: Knights/Dogs and  Broncos/Eels; Sat: Warriors/Titans, Roosters/Eagles and Panthers/Cowboys;  Sun: Raiders/Tigers and Dragons/Sharks