The shorter NRL season due to COVID is entering the home stretch, with just six games remaining in the regular season and plenty of times fighting for positions in the top eight.
This past weekend saw Cronulla and South Sydney extend their buffer on the sides below them, while the Storm showed their premiership credentials in a big win over the Roosters.
Sonny-Bill Williams has arrived at Roosters HQ and will be training his backside off to get ready for a return - which is definitely needed as the club struggle with injuries.
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There’s plenty going on across the NRL as we steam through towards round 15, and we’ve gathered the best of it below.
The best of Monday's news and press conferences
INJURED ROOSTERS STAR BRINGING SBW UP TO SPEED
Sonny-Bill Williams has officially arrived at the Roosters - and he has about two weeks to get himself right to play.
The 35-year old finished his 14-day hotel quarantine and can now join the NRL bubble, with a return to play set for round 17.
SBW hasn't played footy for months, and the rigours of NRL are different to what he has experienced since departing the club in 2014.
After rocking up in his Bentley over the weekend, the Kiwi sensation has got straight into work with injured forward Victor Radley.
“It was pretty cool, he turned up in his Bentley. He’s getting moving and I know he was doing a bit in quarantine. He will bring a bit of energy into the end of the year which will be really good," James Tedesco told Big Sports Breakfast.
“I’ve met him when he come into the Roosters a few years ago and had a chat, but haven’t really had a conversation with him or met him properly. We had a really good chat.
"Rads has been taking him through a few Zoom calls of our structures and our plays. He is learning all that as he goes."
- Liam O'Loughlin
OFF-CONTRACT STORM FORWARD KEEPING CARDS CLOSE TO HIS CHEST
Melbourne Storm front-rower Christian Welch is without a deal for 2021 and beyond - but right now, he's giving nothing away.
The 26-year old has found some strong form this year after battling injuries last season, and put in a massive performance against the Roosters last Thursday.
When quizzed about his future on Monday, Welch said he has yet to re-sign with the Storm but wouldn't give away whether he will be on the move next season.
“I haven’t re-signed or anything, but in talks and seeing how that progresses over the next couple of months," he said.
“I love this club. I came here as an 18-year old. It’s done so much for me on and off the field – it’s developed me as a rugby league player and as a young man. A lot of values we have on field it really applies to your life outside of it.
“I’d rather not comment, because I don’t want to be disrespectful to the people I’m having conversations with. I’m hopeful of a good outcome and see how it plays out."
Welch also confirmed that he now has a manager instead of doing his own negotiations as he previously had done.
- Liam O'Loughlin
MELBOURNE FULL OF RESPECT FOR EELS FORWARD PACK
Round 15 will see two of the competition heavyweights go up against each other when Melbourne take on Parramatta on Thursday night.
And while there is plenty of strike out wide for both sides, the big battle will be in the middle of the park.
The in-form Storm boast the likes of the Bromwich Brothers, Felise Kaufusi and Christian Welch, while the Eels have Junior Paulo, Reagan Campbell-Gillard and Nathan Brown at their disposal.
Welch told the media on Monday that they are looking forward to the tough challenge against one of the elite packs in the NRL.
“Plenty of respect for the way the Parramatta forward pack go about their business...they are a really classy side," he said.
"I think you’ve seen the way that Reagan has come in to that team and really added a lot. I have a lot of respect for both those guys.
"We’re going to have a really tough battle on Thursday night and I’m looking forward to it."
- Liam O'Loughlin
NATHAN CLEARY EXCITED TO PLAY HERO SHAUN JOHNSON
Having spent a fair portion of his childhood across the ditch, Nathan Cleary says he was a diehard Warriors supporter back in the day.
So it's always a thrill when the in-form Panthers halfback gets the chance to line-up former Warriors star Shaun Johnson.
That will be the case this Friday night when the Panthers host Cronulla at Penrith Stadium.
"I always love coming up against Shauny, obviously he’s an absolute gun," Cleary said on Monday.
"I grew up watching him and how he goes about things. I’ve always thought he’s a freak."
When dad, Ivan was coaching the Warriors, Cleary admits Johnson was even his favourite player.
"When I was at the Warriors, Shaun was, to be honest," he said.
"I loved Andrew Johns, Johnathan Thurston, but I was a pretty diehard Warriors fan growing up, so I was in awe of Shauny and getting to go to training to watch him.
"It’s always pretty cool coming up against him now.
"He knows I’m a big fan of his growing up. I found an old photo of me in an old Warriors kit and I’ve got a soft spot for them with growing up over there."
- Brendan Bradford
JAMES TAMOU NOT FOCUSSING ON CONTRACT TALKS
Panthers veteran James Tamou isn't paying any attention to talks around his future.
Tamou wants to remain at Penrith, but the club is reportedly only willing to offer him a one-year deal next season. Other sides around Sydney have expressed their interest, but Tamou isn't paying any attention.
"I've left it at the moment. I do this around contract time. I just take the back seat and let my manager sort it," he said.
"At the moment I'm just happy to be playing some footy.
"It's a weird time at the moment with COVID and the situation is different so to get some interest ... I've got some friends who are no so lucky and who are unable to get a contract, so I'm just happy to be in that position.
"I haven't spoken to anyone personally."
- Brendan Bradford
MICHAEL JENNINGS OPENS UP ON IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA AHEAD OF HIS 100TH GAME FOR PARRAMATTA
Flying centre Michael Jennings has made a name for scoring tries in whatever colours he's wearing.
Throughout his career, his try to game ratio is better than one every second game.
The verified 292-game veteran has had successful stints at Penrith and the Roosters but he admits even he has been on the end of abuse from fans on social media.
As players and coaches become more honest and open about the detrimental impact of abusive messages from fans on social media, Jennings added his voice to the cause on Monday.
But he also had a message to his fellow players, especially younger ones coming up the ranks, on how to deal with the 'nasty' messages.
"Anything that comes out on social media or any rumour that you hear, I don’t believe anything that comes on any social media," Jennings said.
"So it is disappointing that all that rubbish comes out. But that’s social media, don’t listen to it.
"It can get nasty.
"I get a lot of crap sent to me on social media and you just don’t know who’s sending all this. They’re hiding behind fake profiles.
Jennings said the majority of the negative messages he receives are about his on-field performance, but at the end of the day he stills the benefits of having a presence on there.
"[I get] plenty of rubbish about how I’m playing, stuff like that. It’s all to do with how you’re playing," Jennings said.
"I’m a person who doesn’t read into all that.
"Social media for me is more just about connecting with people and showing my side of my life which is good.
"But unfortunately, there’s a few bitter people who use it for abusing players which is pretty disappointing."
- Lachlan McKirdy
