Rugby League

Penrith have sacked coach Anthony Griffin just four weeks out from the NRL finals, despite the club being in the NRL premiership hunt.

Sonny Bill Williams has left the door open to making a return to rugby league, declaring off-field opportunities will guide his next career move.

Adam Blair concedes he's playing too close to the edge and has vowed to shed a dirty player tag by toning down his tackle technique.

Experienced forwards Adam Blair, Issac Luke and Tohu Harris have returned to boost the Warriors for Saturday's NRL game against St George Illawarra in Wollongong.

Warriors coach Stephen Kearney has joined the chorus of voices criticising referees, believing they are being "poorly led" by NRL officials.

Melbourne Storm have clambered to the top of the NRL standings after another arm-wrestle win, holding out the Warriors 12-6 in Auckland.

It will border on a travesty if the Warriors don't challenge for an NRL premiership in Simon Mannering's final season of rugby league.

Warriors stalwart Simon Mannering will end his 14-year career with the NRL club at the end of this season.

Former Kiwis captain Mark Graham has been named as one of six inductees into the NRL Hall of Fame, the first New Zealander to be included.

For the first time in five years the New Zealand Warriors have defeated Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium, keeping their top four hopes alive with a 26-6 NRL victory on Sunday.

Canberra have blasted the NRL's decision to overrule the Raiders' penalty for fullback Jack Wighton, who's pleaded guilty to five assault charges from a night out.

The Kiwis will be part of a new Oceania Cup and an altered Four Nations under an NRL proposal to overhaul the international rugby league calendar over the next four years.

In a farewell for Billy Slater and a welcoming for Daly Cherry-Evans, NSW players are out to spoil both when they attempt a State of Origin series clean sweep.

The Warriors have beaten out St George Illawarra to confirm the signing of Dragons prop Leeson Ah Mau on a three-year deal from the start of next season.

New Zealand Rugby League says it is shocked and appalled by the pre-match performance of God Defend New Zealand over the weekend. Audio

New South Wales have claimed just their second State of Origin series victory in 13 years with an 18-14 win over Queensland in game two on Sunday in Sydney.

New Zealand's Raymond Faitala-Mariner may have played all but five minutes of his test debut with a broken hand.

Andrew Fifita says he and Tonga are ready for a shot at the Kangaroos, declaring it would be a certain crowd puller for international rugby league.

Opinion - The Denver game between the Kiwis and England this weekend will be crucial for broadening the game's appeal in the country that will host the 2025 World Cup, writes Jamie Wall.

Michael Maguire will take an extra day to name his New Zealand rugby league side to face England in Denver as the new Kiwis coach mulls his best centre combination.