Tuesday 22 May 2018 12:42, UK
Jenna Brooks has the latest from the NRL - has Curtis Scott cost himself an Origin spot? Wayne Bennett accuses the game of having an anti-Brisbane bias. Plus find out who the Canberra Raiders have their eye on at Wigan.
Brisbane prop Korbin Sims has undergone surgery on a broken jaw after a head-to-head collision with Dylan Napa during the Broncos' win over the Roosters on Friday.
Napa was sin-binned for the controversial tackle, but the Roosters prop escaped sanction.
The incident has left Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett furious, saying Napa "strutted around like a victor in a prize fight".
Bennett has also accused the game of having an anti-Brisbane bias.
"Why hasn't the game made Napa accountable?" he said.
"I am not going to watch my players get broken jaws and remain silent. When you go before the judiciary, they will ask the player, 'What was your duty of care?' Where is Napa's duty of care?
"There is bias against the Broncos."
Napa was sent to the sin-bin for leading with the head in a tackle, and NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg agreed he should have been charged.
"My personal view is player safety always comes first, and if you're going to err on the side of caution, I thought it warranted a charge," said Greenberg.
Meanwhile, Napa has defended the tackle and explained why he reacted the way he did.
"I wanted to make it known that I didn't lead intentionally with the head," he said.
"I got up and saw that he dropped the ball so I was pretty excited that we got the ball back with less than six minutes to go in a game that was tied at 22-all."
Napa will be able to play in Saturday's game against the Titans, which is live on Sky Sports Arena. He will also be available for the opening game of Origin for Queensland.
Has Curtis Scott cost himself a New South Wales Origin spot?
The Melbourne centre became the first man in three years to be sent off in an NRL match after he punched and broke Manly star Dylan Walker's eye-socket, leaving him sidelined for the next six weeks.
Scott lashed out at Walker after being verbally abused by the Manly player during the Sea Eagles' 24-4 win over Melbourne.
Apisai Koroisau, who retaliated and punched Scott, was sent to the sin-bin, and fans were up in arms when Walker was also shown a yellow card for provoking Scott.
But this is where it gets interesting, the Sea Eagles duo returned to the game a minute and 41 seconds early, leaving NRL chief executive Greenberg to admit it was an official who was responsible for the time-keeping mishap and the governing body will review the sin-binning process.
"We own it. We made an error and it won't happen again. I've been pretty disappointed with some of the things I've seen and read over the weekend, that was one of them," Greenberg told Fox Sports NRL 360.
Scott, who received a grade-three striking charge, pleaded guilty and was given a two-game ban for the incident. Koroisau also made an early guilty plea and accepted a one-game suspension.
Sam Burgess has taken to social media to quash rumours he is signing with Hull FC.
There was speculation circulating on social media that the South Sydney star was heading back to Super League to join the Black and Whites, but Burgess has denied it.
Burgess tweeted: "I've heard rumours that I may be signing with Hull FC …. as much as I like Radders (Lee Radford), the Humber Bridge and Scott Taylor's banter, I can confirm it's not true."
One NRL player who is heading to the UK is Kevin Naiqama. The Wests Tigers centre will leave the club at the end of the season and join St Helens on a three-year deal.
John Bateman has been linked with a move to the NRL for a few months now, but the rumours have gathered momentum, with Canberra the favourites to sign the Wigan player.
While no deal has been confirmed, reports suggest the move will happen later this year.
Bateman's team-mate Ryan Sutton could be joining him Down Under. Sutton, who is out of contract at the end of this year, is also on Canberra's radar.
The Warriors prop has previously told me he was keeping his options open and admitted he was interested in playing in Australia.
Definitely one to watch.
