Pacific League Hub

SIGNING NEWS: The Cowboys have upgraded Tyson Walker (the brother of Sam Walker) to a train-and-trial deal for the remainder of 2026.

Taylan To'a and Taj Lateo also landed train-and-trial deals, while Archie Mesritz has moved to a dev contract.

Helle QLD.
Thirsty Thursday.

The PNG Chiefs have taken a significant step towards building their inaugural roster around local talent, with three of Papua New Guinea's brightest rugby league prospects set to join the NRL's newest franchise.

Sources close to the Chiefs have told Zero Tackle that the PNG club will sign current London Broncos trio Gairo Voro, Morea Morea and Finley Glare on two-year development contracts, marking the club's first signings of homegrown PNG talent.

The trio is widely regarded among the country's leading emerging players, and their arrivals signal the Chiefs' commitment to creating a pathway for Papua New Guinean talent rather than relying solely on established NRL recruits.

Via: Zero Tackle

In a massive Tigers blow, Jarome Luai is out of this weekend’s must-win clash against the Dragons.

The Eels welcome back a high-profile recruit this weekend after a lengthy injury lay-off.

Two legends. One game. One unforgettable moment. 🤝🇵🇬

Some handshakes become memories. Others become inspiration.

Matty Johns taking time to encourage the next generation of PNG rugby league proves that greatness is measured not just by what you achieve, but by how you uplift others.

Respect. Humility. Legacy. ❤️💛🖤

Billy Slater understands that leadership isn't measured by what's written on paper, but by the impact you leave on the people around you. Some handshakes create opportunities. Others create legacies.

Sometimes one handshake can inspire a lifetime.

💬 Do you agree that trust is worth more than a signed contract?

The NRL premiership race is starting to separate into clear contenders and pretenders.

Penrith remain the benchmark, sitting comfortably on top with a dominant 12-3 record and an incredible +258 points differential, a reminder that they're still the team everyone has to beat.

The Warriors have emerged as genuine title contenders, holding second spot at 10-5, while the Dolphins, Roosters and Knights are locked on the same win-loss record, setting up a fierce battle for a coveted top-four finish.

The Sea Eagles continue to fly under the radar in sixth, but their impressive +142 differential suggests they're more dangerous than their ladder position indicates. Meanwhile, the Rabbitohs and Sharks currently occupy the final finals spots, with the Cowboys just one win behind despite having played an extra game.

At the other end of the table, it's been a season to forget for the Dragons, managing just one win from 15 matches, while the Titans, Eels and Broncos face an uphill battle to keep their finals hopes alive.

With half the season still to play, every match now carries enormous weight. One upset could reshape the entire top eight. 🔥🏉

Billy Slater has dropped a bombshell on the Maroons after revealing he won’t be signing a contract extension with Queensland and his Origin coaching future hinges on a handshake agreement.

Slater is on the cusp of guiding Queensland to a fourth series win from five years in charge of the Maroons heading into Wednesday week’s decider against the NSW Blues at Suncorp Stadium.

New Blue Jack Bostock and partner Mark Nawaqanitawase claim they can leap high enough to touch the rugby league crossbar and also slam dunk a basketball.

Both feats require a bound of 10 feet, or three metres in the air.Nawaqanitawase stands 190cm, Bostock is a rangy 195cm. They are among the tallest wingers in NSW State of Origin history.

Bostock’s height was a key reason behind his selection over Penrith’s smaller Brian To’o.

“I’m six foot four – I can touch the cross bar,” said Bostock, who returned to the NRL this year after recovering from an ACL injury. “That’s about ten feet.

“It was something my coach (Kristian Woolf) really wanted to work on - my jumping - so I wasn’t losing it after my knee injury.

“Jumping comes down to repetitions at training. We do jumping after every session at the Dolphins. It’s something our coaches want us nailing.

“We practice jumping four times a week after training as extras – 10 to 20 catches after every session. Repetition builds confidence.

“I was tall when I was really young but then everyone caught up before I was a late bloomer. I didn’t hit puberty until I was 17 so when that happened I started growing again.”

Nawaqanitawase spoke about his ability to slam dunk a basketball.

“I think a basketball rung is 10 feet,” he said. “If I am playing basketball, I don’t mind a dunk here and there.

“Stephen Crichton can dunk, Jack can dunk. The backline is pretty tall. We have a few boys who can get up pretty high.

“Jumping is a big part of our game. We have to regularly get up high. I am confident I can get up to ten feet.

“It’s one thing I love to do – catch the ball when our kickers kick for us. Hopefully I will get a few kicks from Nathan Cleary or Mitch Moses.”

Dolphins star Bostock, who hails from the NSW south coast and came through the St George Illawarra pathways, has a rich rugby league pedigree.

His dad Josh played two games for Balmain in 1997, along with stints at Wests, Wakefield Trinity and Oldham, while his sister Indie plays NRLW for Gold Coast Titans.

Indie, a centre, previously played for St George Illawarra and has represented NSW under-19s.

Queensland got the job done in Game II. Now it's time to finish the series in style