Set of six: Johnson the spectator

Shaun Johnson. Photo / Richard Robinson

Shaun Johnson has found watching his Warriors teammates go about their business without him an enlightening experience. He watched from the coach's box as they went down to Manly, and then enjoyed their big win over the Raiders from the comfort of his father's couch. "The Manly game was tough watching," he said. "It was good for me to actually get an insight into what they [coaches] see and how the boys are looking out on the field. When the boys were playing like they did on the weekend it was a lot easier to sit there and just enjoy it."

Sex tape yet to surface

Rumours have been swirling for a couple of months of a sex tape supposedly doing the rounds in Sydney featuring two NRL players and a woman in a toilet stall liaison. The brief clip was apparently shot via a mobile phone messaging app similar to Snapchat but has yet to surface. One of the players is believed to be a State of Origin rep and one of the game's nice guys.

Duco happy with NRL

Duco Events director and Nines organiser David Higgins has quashed suggestions the NRL tried to hog the limelight and take most of the credit for the success of this year's inaugural tournament. The perception was the NRL had prevented Higgins and co-director Dean Lonergan from speaking to the media over the two-day tournament, but Higgins is adamant that was not the case. "To be honest, it's a bit embarrassing listening to the credit being dished out so no. I think we've been congratulated for the success and so there are no hard feelings there," he said.

Taupau's falcon

Wests Tigers and Kiwis forward Martin Taupau had a moment he'd rather forget during Monday night's clash against Melbourne. With his side trailing 28-6 late in the second half, Taupau lost possession just 13 metres from the Storm line. Clearly frustrated, he then slammed the ball into the turf only for it to bounce back and hit him in the face in a self-inflicted "falcon".

Majority want Carney back

Despite having been sacked from three clubs and disgracing himself and embarrassing the game with his infamous "bubbler" photo, a staggering 78 per cent of players canvassed in League Week magazine's annual player poll believe Todd Carney should be allowed yet another chance in the NRL.

Tigers take focus off Manly

Manly coach Geoff Toovey will be enjoying reading and hearing about the troubles over at Wests Tigers, with media attention on the Sea Eagles finally dying down after almost a month of intense scrutiny. He'll have his side primed for tonight's SCG showdown with the Rabbitohs, and no doubt the likes of Jason King and Steve Matai are looking forward to resuming hostilities with the four Burgess brothers after a couple of fiery clashes between the two sides over the past two seasons.