IT took a phone call from Wayne Bennett to persuade Brent Tate that he had the mental strength to make yet another comeback from knee surgery.

STAR North Queensland signing Robert Lui has suffered a potentially serious knee injury at training this morning.

NORTH Queensland hooker Aaron Payne has been called into the NRL All Stars squad as a replacement for the injured Cameron Smith.

PAUL Gallen was the most popular pick, while Wayne Bennett sprung two surprises with his coach's pick in naming the NRL All Stars side. Team

REIGNING premiers Manly face the possibility of being torn apart at the end of this year.

TERRY Campese's hopes of resurrecting his NSW Origin career received a huge boost yesterday when he was named in the emerging Blues squad.

THE NRL is on the back foot after an embarrassing "double booking" with Super Rugby that could badly affect the North Queensland Cowboys.

JOHNATHAN Thurston rates captaining the NRL Indigenous All Stars as big an honour as playing for Australia and Origin for Queensland.

THE toughest decision Terry Matterson had about returning to Australia to coach was pulling his son Charlie out of Man United's development squad.

PLAYER agent Sam Ayoub has had his match-fixing case adjourned until next year.

COWBOYS rookie of the year nominee Tariq Sims is ready to tackle second-year syndrome into touch.

THERE is hope the NRL commission could be in place before Christmas after the clubs agreed a much-reduced financial package.

SO the pieces fall into place perfectly. The Cowboys sign Robert Lui, the Wests Tigers get to keep Tim Moltzen, and the Dragons are left to suck eggs.

NORTH Queensland have signed troubled Wests Tigers star Robert Lui on a two-year deal.

PREMIERS Manly will kick-start their title defence with a grand final re-match against New Zealand next season.

GIVE it to Cooper Cronk now. There is no one better to fill out the Queensland No.7 jumper.

YOUNG Broncos prop David Hala faces at least six weeks on the sidelines after an Australia Day training mishap.

BACK in the familiar surrounds of Townsville, Robert Lui feels he can not only turn around his playing career, but also his life.

EXTRAORDINARY details surrounding the betting plunge in the Ryan Tandy match fixing scandal have come to light in court today. 

THE good news, for the disappointed and disillusioned, is the NRL will be able to do what the courts couldn't. Ryan Tandy may well be banned for life.

PHIL ROTHFIELD delivers his fearless predictions on what to expect in the 2012 NRL season.

THE world's best halfback, Johnathan Thurston, may have played his final game in the number seven jumper.

DISGRACED NRL forward Ryan Tandy is facing up to two years in jail as rugby league's match-fixing scandal drags on into its third year.

PLAYER agent Sam Ayoub has had his match-fixing case adjourned until next year.

COWBOYS rookie of the year nominee Tariq Sims is ready to tackle second-year syndrome into touch.

HE'S the big man from the tiny town who's gone all the way to the very top of the rugby league world.

AT long last, rugby league's march towards independence is almost over after the 16 NRL clubs agreed to sign club licences with the new ARL Commission.

SO the pieces fall into place perfectly. The Cowboys sign Robert Lui, the Wests Tigers get to keep Tim Moltzen, and the Dragons are left to suck eggs.

PREMIERS Manly will kick-start their title defence with a grand final re-match against New Zealand next season.

THIS is the stunning footage that shows why Johnathan Thurston is a freak.