Latest from International Rugby League

NRL: Friend buzzing over club's return to form

Veteran hooker Nathan Friend says the Warriors' purple patch of form is helping him to enjoy his football more than ever since joining the club in 2012.

League: NSW coach wary of backlash from under-fire Thurston

Under-fire Queensland Origin league five-eighth Johnathan Thurston has found an unlikely ally in New South Wales coach Laurie Daley.

'I'm too old for that stuff'

St George Illawarra halfback Benji Marshall says he has cut the razzle dazzle from his game and is no longer trying to play like a young man.

NRL: Once was Warrior, now at Penrith

After leaving the Warriors at the end of last season, workaholic back-rower Elijah Taylor has settled in comfortably at Penrith and has no regrets about leaving New Zealand for a new challenge.

NRL: Return to speak volumes

If the Warriors feel like they are getting an extra lift from the crowd today, it might be because their fans are almost twice as close as they have been in previous home games this season.

League: Hayne likely to get rest

New South Wales fans will breathe a sigh of relief at hearing Parramatta coach Brad Arthur is set to rest State of Origin superstar Jarryd Hayne.

League: Tate feared McKinnon-like outcome

Queensland winger Brent Tate feared he would suffer a similarly devastating injury to Alex McKinnon after being the victim of a dangerous tackle.

League: Halfback vows to beat knee injury

The sight of Daly Cherry-Evans on crutches yesterday would have been enough to make Queensland selectors contemplate reaching for the panic button.

League: Untried halves gamble worth taking - Daley

NSW coach Laurie Daley accepts throwing rookie halves combination Trent Hodkinson and Josh Reynolds into the State of Origin cauldron next week is a selection gamble.

NRL: Field goal gives Bulldogs win by one point - again

Richie Barnett: Selectors seeking committed players

The naming of the Kiwis side for the upcoming Anzac test looms as one of the most important in recent times.

NRL: Blocker's blasts rev up Tigers' pack

Steve "Blocker" Roach brings himself close to tears with his pep talks, but his mere presence has some at the Wests Tigers scared into submission.

Set of six: Cuddles club

Last week it was Eric Watson and Sir Owen Glenn in a stoush ... this week Jayson Bukuya and Chad Townsend.

NRL: Raider shrugs off concussion risk

Canberra forward Joel Edwards says the Paxton mine tragedy puts his back-to-back bouts of concussion into perspective.

NRL: Concerns over Glenn

The Warriors' major sponsors have negotiated escape clauses should Sir Owen Glenn became a majority shareholder at the club, it emerged last night.

NRL: Souths victory soured

South Sydney officials have lodged a complaint to Penrith after Sam Burgess was struck in the face by a spectator as he left the field after the Rabbitohs' 18-2 win over the Panthers on Friday.

NRL: Scurrah puts all on line

The Warriors provided certainty on a number of fronts yesterday, with the announcement of 10 players re-signing with the club and chief executive Wayne Scurrah saying he will walk if they don’t make the play-offs.

Cheap tricks and self doubt

Things are getting so bad at the Warriors that the crowd numbers and Nathan Friend's tackle counts are threatening to meet in the middle.