National Rugby League

Sharks player rebuked for 'offensive and derogatory' comments

In a post-match interview with Fox Sports on Sunday following the Sharks' 32-18 win over St George Illawarra, 25-year-old Rudolf said he would celebrate with "probably about 1,000 beers".

"Go to Northies, try and pull something. Anything will do," Rudolph said, referring to a Cronulla pub.

"No, honestly, it's all about recovery these days. I'll be going straight home, straight to the ice bath and staying very, very quiet."

NRL boss Andrew Abdo told Australian media on Tuesday that while Rudolf was trying to make a joke his comments were "inappropriate".

Warriors cleared to take part in restarted NRL

The Warriors will enter 14 days' isolation in Tamworth, New South Wales where they will be permitted to train, in the lead-up to the recommencement of the NRL season on 28 May.

"As a club we're both relieved and excited that our requests have now been taken care of to our satisfaction," Warriors CEO Cameron George said.

"We have never wavered in our commitment to be involved in supporting the resumption of the season. We're now ready to go and couldn't be happier about the prospect of being back on the field at the end of the month.

NRL suspends season

Desperate to play through the crisis, the league had until yesterday afternoon said they were determined to see the season through, but their hopes were dealt a severe blow on Monday night when a pandemic expert told them it was no longer possible.

The suspension will come into effect immediately before round three, with the NRL still exploring options on when and how it can resume the competition.

"This decision hasn't been taken lightly but we have a world-renowned pandemic expert and they are very concerned at the rate of this infection," chairman Peter V'landys said.

Two Sione Katoas better than one for Tonga

The oft-confused pair - one a Bulldogs-bound hooker, the other a Sharks winger - have faced off in the NRL but are yet to play together.

"This is the first time actually meeting [the other Sione] and talking to him. I've seen him around but not really chatted about our names," Cronulla's Katoa told NRL.com on Wednesday.

Factor in that Tui Katoa - the Canterbury-contracted younger brother of the Sharks flyer - has also been chosen in Tonga's squad and you've got a commentator's nightmare.

Warriors hand Bulldogs first win of season

The win ended a six game losing streak for the under fire Bulldogs coach Des Hasler.

A resilient defensive effort combined with attacking potency was the key to Canterbury's win.

The win was also the Bulldogs' sixth in seven games against the Warriors.

The Warriors had most of the possession in the first 20 minutes and dominated at times but couldn't create the attacking cut-through to claim the two points.

Warriors start season with win

A first half hat-trick from David Fusitua seemed to give the Warriors an unassailable advantage, despite his side conceding the first try at Mount Smart Stadium.

But the Knights struck back with three quick tries in the second spell turning the Warriors 20-8 half-time lead into a 22-20 defecit.

Hoffman stepped up in the 73rd minute, running onto a short ball and busting over the line when his side needed it most.

Half-back Shaun Johnson told Sky Sport to open the season with a win was "definitely a positive."

Troubled NRL star Radradra signs for Toulon

The barnstorming Parramatta winger, who yesterday found himself the subject of an arrest warrant after his non-appearance in court on domestic violence charges, will make the switch from league to union for the 2017 season

Toulon announced the signing on its website on Monday night, saying Radradra has signed a one-year contract with the option of a second year, making him the club's fifth rookie for next season.

Reports from France suggested Radradra had inked a deal days ago.

The 24 year-old is actually signed on with the Eels until the end of 2017.

Panthers ease into NRL semi-finals

 The Panthers ran in five tries to two to in what was a comprehensive win led by a man-of-the-match effort from skipper Matt Moylan.

The young, inexperienced Panthers were down 6-4 at the half-time break, but dominated the second half with the sort of freewheeling football that propelled them to a sixth-place at the end of the season, to run away with victory thanks to four second half tries.

Penrith centre Tyrone Peachey said they had a clear plan heading into the match and stuck to it.

NSW police to interview players and officials over match-fixing allegations

Police said they would work with the NSW Crime Commission and they have the full support of the NRL.

Dozens of players, officials and members of the public are expected to be interviewed.

Earlier this year, the Organised Crime Squad confirmed it was investigating allegations of match-fixing in two NRL games from last year.

Those games were a round 16 game between the Manly Sea Eagles and the South Sydney Rabbitohs, and a round 24 match between Manly and the Parramatta Eels.