The NRL is back in level 4 COVID restrictions and that means the players are jumping back on the laptops to chat to us via Zoom.
With so many players up each day, it can be hard to keep on top of a lot of the stories coming out from each club. We've got you covered.
Sporting News' writers had our ear to the ground our headphones to see what the players had to say.
We heard from a Dragons rookie with some blue ticks in his DMs. The Tigers captain after their shocking loss to the Storm. And plenty more.
So here's everything you might have missed from Tuesday's NRL press conferences.
ORIGIN STARS SLIDE INTO DRAGONS ROOKIE'S DMs AFTER DREAM DEBUT
It wasn't just the hundreds of friends and family in attendance to witness Tyrell Sloan's dazzling Dragons debut against the Raiders at WIN Stadium.
After scoring what was the match-sealing try to help the Red V get the two points, Sloan had a couple of messages in his inbox from some of the game's biggest names.
"I'm actually pretty close with Latrell, Foxx (Addo-Carr) and Jacky Wighton, they all messaged me before and after my debut," he revealed.
"Me and Foxxy have been in contact for a couple of years now, he's always been in my corner, he sent a simple message: 'congrats on your debut, good luck out there, do your thing'.
"I didn't speak to Latrell until after the game but his was the same - 'you killed it out there' - just a simple message.
"Jacky Wighton, I was versing him on that day, he said 'I'll see you on the field'. We had a scrum and Jacky Wighton said 'congratulations' during the game. I was like 'far out, this guy's actually talking to me'.
"For them to message me it's just crazy, they're superstars of the game, it's crazy to have their support."
Sloan, a proud Indigenous man, revealed how he first came across the three NSW Blues Origin stars when he was still playing in the Dragons' junior grades.
"I met Foxxy at one of the Koori Knockouts. I like to play similar to him, he plays wing and I've played a bit of wing and I try to mimic his game. It's hard to do because he's one of the best," the 19-year-old said.
"He's always stayed in touch through social media.
Sloan added: "They're important people in my life and I've spoken to them a few times over social media and stuff. When the bubble's over I'd love to catch up with them.
- Ed Chisholm
WESTS TIGERS' BRUTAL PENALTY SCHEME AFTER STORM THUMPING
It's fair to say it's been a long two weeks in the Wests Tigers camp.
After conceding 66 points against the Melbourne Storm, the Tigers players have been forced to wait an extra week to get back on the field and make up for the game.
They want to make amends not only for themselves but for the club and the fans that watched the match on the Sunshine Coast.
And they've already implemented some strategies to ensure things like that never happen again.
Five-eighth Moses Mbye suggested on Tuesday that it was an "attitude" problem within the club and as a result the leaders have stepped up.
A severe penalty scheme at training has been introduced to increase the accountability of players, something that may not have previously been there at training.
Adam Doueihi and Luke Brooks were both tight-lipped on the scheme, saying they wanted to keep it to themselves where possible.
But captain James Tamou provided more detail and suggested it was punishments for things as simple as drop balls at training.
"We wanted to make it as if it's unacceptable for a drop ball or these things like that," Tamou said.
"We want to be better each day and it starts with your standards of training.
"Standards at training are definitely changing. Melbourne, they don't just turn up every weekend at their best, this is how they train. They don't just rise to the occasion they fall to the level where they're training.
"Their training is at a high level and obviously they're the top at the moment. And that's where we want to be."
Look for an improved intensity this weekend against South Sydney otherwise even more punishment could be on the cards for Tigers players.
- Lachlan McKirdy
KNIGHTS RECRUIT WAITING ON TWO MORE PUZZLE PIECES FOLLOWING MID-SEASON SWITCH
Jake Clifford had always planned to move to the Newcastle Knights with his wife in 2022 - but the nature of his mid-season switch and recent COVID outbreaks have left things up in the air.
The 23-year-old playmaker was granted an early release from the Cowboys a few weeks ago and linked up with his new club, but unfortunately his pregnant wife was left behind.
Clifford revealed on Tuesday that his partner was meant to travel down from Townsville this weekend, but that has now been delayed.
“She was supposed to come down this weekend...I heard that Townsville might be going into a lockdown too now for a couple of days, so that’s going to all be on hold for the moment," he said.
"I don’t really want to risk her getting it with the bub and being a chance to harm her. We’re going to take it pretty precautionary and go from there.
“I’m really excited at the challenge (of being a father). It’s going to be a bit different and something I’m not used to. It’s going to be a good change and I’m really excited for it."
Clifford will take on his former club on Saturday night at McDonald Jones Stadium, and is looking forward to knocking off his former teammates.
“I’m really excited coming up against my old club. It’s going to be a challenge and they are coming off a loss, so they will be coming down here to prove a point and get the job done," he said.
"I know all of the boys there and all their plays. I’m excited at the challenge to get one over on them.
“They’ve got a new combination so that can be a whole completely different playing style. I’m not too sure how much they are going to change, but maybe different variations on some things.
"I dare say they’d be making new sequences up so that we don’t know. A lot of the teams these days are doing the same plays, it’s just how well you run them."
- Liam O'Loughlin
