Australian rugby league coach Tim Sheens has labelled the Kiwis favourites heading into the Four Nations.

Kiwis halfback Shaun Johnson says his side face a tough start to their Four Nations campaign after the bulk of their squad spent the past six weeks out of action.

Gold Coast have been fined A$300,000 ($330,000) and hit with a suspended penalty of four competition points over a salary cap breach in regard to former playmaker Scott Prince.

Despite having lived in Brisbane for almost a decade, Junior Kiwis fullback Kodi Nikorima was never tempted to declare his allegiance to Queensland and the green and gold of Australia.

Prop Ben Flower has received death threats after punching a defenceless Lance Hohaia in Sunday's Super League grand final between St Helens and Wigan.

Kiwis backline utility Gerard Beale says the team can't take too much joy out of Jarryd Hayne's withdrawal from the Kangaroos' Four Nations squad.

Parramatta Eels star Jarryd Hayne is quitting the NRL to switch to American football, playing for the NFL in the United States.

David Skipwith opinion: It's not easy to admit but I actually have some sympathy for Ben Flower in the wake of his sucker-punch on Lance Hohaia.

Lance Hohaia has accepted a one-match ban for his forearm strike which sparked the punches from Ben Flower during a brutal opening to the Super League grand final.

Incidents like Ben Flower's brutal assault on Lance Hohaia are rare in the modern game of rugby league, but not so long ago they were commonplace.

Chad Townsend will be the first-choice Warriors five-eighth next season, after the Auckland club fended off recent approaches from NRL rivals for his services.

Diary note: October 12, 2034. Let's see if Sam Burgess is such a big hero then. Let's see how his brain's doing 20 years from now.

While the nation made its decision last month, the Warriors brains trust have plenty to ponder in the next few months.

Last weekend's grand final lived up to all expectations in terms of drama, brutality, tension, excitement and emotion. The television commentators also created a legend out of Sam Burgess.

We named a strong and exciting Kiwis squad this week for the upcoming Four Nations but, naturally, the big talking point was the withdrawal of some big names through "burnout".

Recalled Kiwis international Lewis Brown has learned to embrace his status as a utility player and believes he has found his league identity with NRL club side Penrith.

English league's newest Man of Steel Daryl Clark wants to join the exodus to Australia's NRL but Warrington fans can breathe easy.

Wellington would be the Warriors' second home if the capital's council succeeds in a bid to lure the league franchise south.