rugby league

'We can't afford to pay them': Tonga's league stars playing for pride, family

"All our players come in and basically play for free," said Tonga coach Kristian Woolf.

"We're not in a position where we can pay them … that [they play] shows how much it means to our guys."

It's a harsh reality for a majority of the teams preparing for this weekend's Pacific Test Double Header at Parramatta's Pirtek Stadium.

Tonga v Samoa preview - rugby league

Last year's match on the Gold Coast – watched by 12,336 diehard fans – and the 2013 version in Penrith produced atmospheres that could rival some of the biggest spectacles on the planet.

Fiji edging closer to a place in the NSW Cup rugby league competition

The trio - David Trodden, Barrie-Jon Mather and Bob Millward - also held meetings with government officials, members of the consortium backing the Fiji bid, and the bid team itself.

Former NRL great Petero Civoniceva is leading the bid team, and he said while the bidding process had been a long one, he believed the NSW delegation liked what they saw.

Rugby League World Cup to expand to 16 teams

The decision means that the tournament will equal the record number of teams, with 16 nations having competed at the 2000 World Cup, which was staged in the United Kingdom, France and Ireland.

In 2008, the event featured 10 teams, and the most recent tournament, held in England and Wales during 2013, saw 14 nations participate.

Australia, who are the reigning champions, are due to co-host the 2017 World Cup with New Zealand and Papua New Guinea, where 14 teams will again be present.

Sydney Roosters trying to lure Sonny Bill Williams back - report

The Daily Telegraph reports the National Rugby League club has met with Williams' agent Khoder Nasser in the past week and will attempt to lure the headline grabbing All Black midfielder back to Bondi Junction with a lifetime contract.

Roosters boss Nick Politis wants Williams wearing a tri-colours jersey as soon as this year — and he's prepared to offer him a multi-million-dollar lifetime contract to make it happen.

Rabbitohs star Sam Burgess marries Phoebe Hooke in star-studded wedding

Dressed in a bespoke suit designed by Giorgio Armani, Burgess was joined at the alter by his groomsmen - footballer brothers Luke, Thomas and George, and close friend Chris Feather.

The bride, wearing an Alex Perry gown, was led down the aisle by her bridesmaids - sisters Jemima and Harriett, best friend Phoebe White and sister-in-law Yolanda Hodgson, also dressed in Perry.

Proposed changes might see birth of a Pacific team

The proposal has a New Zealand side along with a Pacific Nation team in the southern conference, while at least one match a week would be broadcast live on the Nine Network.

A new second-tier competition to be introduced in 2018 would include the merger of several Sydney clubs and the inclusion of numerous regional entities.

The proposed Platinum League would involve a southern (NSW) and northern (QLD) conference, with the two winners to meet on NRL grand final day.

Australian Tonga joins Chase at ambitious Centurions

Tonga, who scored eight tries in a dozen games for the Kangaroos, arrives after a season with Catalans Dragons in Super League.

The former Queensland State of Origin star, 32, is the latest big-name recruit for a club that finished top of the Championship last season but then missed out on promotion after failing miserably in the Super 8s.

Ex-England stand-off Rangi Chase, Samoa captain Harrison Hansen and former Hull KR second-row Corey Paterson have all joined from Salford Red Devils in readiness for 2016 along with another international player Reni Maitua.

Sika Manu: Hull FC's 'Polynesian brothers' will help bring out my best

It's about respect and gaining that respect can be a tough process for new recruits of any club, not least when you've never played against those players before.

Thurston wins Golden Boot again

The 32-year-old, who led the Cowboys to a first NRL grand final triumph and won the Dally M medal for a record fourth time in 2015, beat off competition from New Zealand international Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Leeds' England fullback Zak Hardaker.