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State of Origin

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The Dolphins are red-hot currently in the NRL.

Calls for a standalone Origin period get louder each year. Here’s the counterargument

Sure, there’s a good case for putting the NRL on hold during the interstate series. But the weekend’s action provided ammo for the other side of the debate.

  • Malcolm Knox

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NSW Blues.

These 20 minutes are the Blues’ biggest problem. This is how they fix it

NSW have gone into half-time in the past three Origin games trailing Queensland by a combined score of 66-12.

  • Billie Eder
Dolphins stars Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Max Plath (centre) lead a six-man club contingent into Origin game two, while the Broncos this series have had most selected as reserves, including Ezra Mam (left) and Reece Walsh (right) this series.

How new kings of Origin usurped under-siege Broncos

In less than four seasons, the Dolphins have usurped the Broncos – and Storm for the matter – as Queensland’s Origin kingpins. So how have they done it?

  • Nick Wright
GIF Api Koroisau dummy-half runs - Wests Tigers v Dolphins.

Cameron Smith’s biggest Origin II fear? Rugby league’s greatest ‘liar’

Kangaroos, Maroons and Storm great Smith is on edge as he explains how Api Koroisau has mastered the art of dummy half play.

  • Dan Walsh
Mitchell Moses

‘I’m ready to go’: Moses allays fears over hamstring ahead of Origin II

The Blues playmaker will start Wednesday’s clash at the MCG after fully recovering from the strain that kept him out of the opener, with Ethan Strange poised to come off the bench in the second half.

  • Christian Nicolussi
Isaah Yeo with his parents Justin and Amy back in 2014.

‘It didn’t feel like a sacrifice’: How Yeo’s bush grind shaped a potential Origin-winning captain

Isaah Yeo has won premierships and represented Australia, but the Blues skipper says leading NSW to a series victory would rank among the proudest moments of his career.

  • Tom Decent
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NRL referee Ashley Klein.

Klein’s problem gambling spiralled on NRL’s watch

Rugby league’s top referee continued to gamble even as the NRL began monitoring his betting in 2019, accruing substantial losses that eventually prompted him to self-exclude.

  • Chris Barrett, Roy Masters and Adrian Proszenko
Ashley Klein.

The NRL needs to stand down Ashley Klein from Origin

Plus, the selection of Roosters winger Mark Nawaqanitawase in the NSW side following the withdrawal of Bulldogs pair Stephen Crichton and Jacob Kiraz has left his club fuming.

  • Danny Weidler
Mark Nawaqanitawase is poised to start for NSW on Wednesday.

Nawaqanitawase to make Blues debut after McLean ruled out, Bostock called into camp

The Roosters winger will replace Casey McLean in the Blues’ line-up at the MCG next week, while Dolphins centre Jack Bostock has been called into camp as outside back cover.

  • Billie Eder
The form of Wests Tigers co-captain Jarome Luai has become a talking point since he announced he had signed with the PNG Chiefs.

Is Jarome Luai’s PNG move really harming Wests Tigers? Benji Marshall has his say

The Tigers have struggled since Luai signed with the Chiefs, including a 68-0 humiliation last Sunday. Can they bounce back when the club farewells Leichhardt Oval for 18 months?

  • Christian Nicolussi and Adrian Proszenko