It's been a dramatic couple of days in rugby league, especially up at the Broncos with Tevita Pangai jr. on his way out and Anthony Seibold forced to bring in the lawyers after shocking rumours emerged online.
Always something happening in rugby league.
We're here covering all the big stories of the day, and making sure you don't miss any of the other ones as well.
Here's what you may have missed from Wednesday's NRL press conferences.
MORE: Every NRL club's confirmed team list for round 14
Sonny Bill Williams to join Roosters teammates this weekend
Trent Robinson has confirmed Sonny Bill Williams will join the team this weekend after completing his hotel quarantine.
The much-discussed signing has not yet been officially confirmed by the Tricolours, though the coach put to rest any doubts the code-hopping star wouldn’t be returning to the club.
“All of that’s been done, he gets out Thursday night and he’ll be ready to join us on the weekend,” Robinson told reporters on Wednesday.
It remains to be seen what role the two-time NRL premiership winner will play at the Roosters and Robinson wasn’t giving much away.
“I’d like to keep those private, the conversations between Sonny and I about the way we’ll use him,” adding he needs to see how he’s moving and his connection with teammates to get a better idea.
The back-to-back premiership winning coach expects the Kiwi to bring plenty to the team.
“Around all the talents you see, the man’s got a fire in him, a hunger to perform and he loves playing in a team in environment,” he said.
- Tom Naghten
'It wasn't the best timing': Woods praises 'hail mary' conversion from Fifita
If you haven't seen it already, Andrew Fifita posted a pretty miraculous video of him kicking a conversion from the dead-ball line on Monday.
It's a pretty impressive kick, especially from a big front-rower. It's definitely big boy season now.
But his fellow forward Aaron Woods reckons he got a bit of help with it heading between the sticks.
He also believes it wasn't the best timing for Fifita to post the video after Shaun Johnson went 0/3 in Sunday's loss to the Eels.
“It wasn’t the best timing for it, was it?” Woods said with a smirk on his face.
“Look, he just kicked it and it was a dead-set hail mary.
"The breeze was blowing a gale and he got helped pretty big time.
'It probably wasn’t the best timing losing a game three tries to two and not kicking any goals.
"But, that’s the big man. He doesn’t care, he just loves having a good laugh.
"I think he wants to take up the kicking duties when he gets back."
We don't think SJ, who is kicking at 76% this year and has the third-most goals in the competition this year, will be handing over the tee any time soon.
- Lachlan McKirdy
Paulo and Mahoney not worried about Origin call-up
In-form Eels duo Junior Paulo and Reed Mahoney are definitely on the cusp of State of Origin football this season - but neither of them are too fazed by the constant chat.
Paulo has been arguably the form front-rower of the competition alongisde Reagan Campbell-Gillard in 2020, and must be close to earning a spot in Brad Fittler's side this year.
He told the media on Wednesday that while he isn't thinking about it too much yet, being mentioned is definitely a confidence boost.
"Not really (thinking about Origin) to be honest. The last couple of years it’s only been a mention, and so far it’s only a mention," he said.
"It will be nice if it does happen. Obviously getting a mention, you’re doing something right out there on the field. It’s not something that I’m taking into consideration when I’m going into a game.
“I feel like we’re playing some good footy as a team which is sort of helping me out individually.
"If it comes, it comes – but it’s not something I’m really focused on."
Mahoney on the other hand is locked in a three-way battle for the QLD hooker position, with Ben Hunt and Harry Grant also in the mix, and is keeping himself focused on the task at hand for the Eels.
“I’m not too worried about that at all," he said.
"I’m just focusing on playing each week consistently. The last few weeks I haven’t been at my best."
Mahoney will have a big test on Friday night when he goes up the incumbent Maroons No.9 in Hunt when Parramatta take on the Dragons.
- Liam O'Loughlin
Craig Bellamy won't be issuing forwards a kicking license for Roosters Clash
With Cam Smith and Cam Munster both unavailable for the Storm’s Thursday night match against the Roosters, Craig Bellamy needs a goal kicker.
"We were just at Captain's Run deciding who should be our goal kicker on Thursday night," Bellamy said Wednesday.
“A few of the guys put their hands up, but a couple of them overestimated their ability to kick goals.
"Hopefully they can work it out amongst themselves... I’m not too optimistic.”
While the returning Ryan Papenhuyzen is the likely short-term answer, it hasn’t stopped the forwards applying for a kicking license.
"Dale (Finucane) seems to think he can kick a few goals and even Christian Welch is putting up his hand but I’m pretty sure those blokes won’t be kicking," Bellamy said.
The last time the two powerhouse sides met was in round 8 when, after trading 79th minute field goals, the Storm claimed the points with a Cam Smith penalty goal from in golden point.
- Chris Danks
Bennett learns how to Zoom as Rabbitohs adjust to a fortnight without the master coach
The Rabbitohs are focused on the task of getting on with business despite not having coach Wayne Bennett on deck.
Bennett is in quarantine after breaching COVID-19 biosecurity protocols last week. In his absence, Jason Demetrious has taken over more responsibility, including sitting in the coach’s chair for last Friday’s win over the Broncos.
The change could be seen as a distraction, but Bunnies halfback Adam Reynolds says nothing much has changed.
“It’s business as usual, he got his point across of what he wants us to achieve in a Zoom meeting,” Reynolds said on Wednesday morning.
“We know we’ve got a job to do. The game plan is still set by Wayne.
“We had him on Zoom before our team meeting, it was like he was there anyway. Not much has changed, everything’s running smoothly.”
Earlier in the week, Souths players revealed Bennett had a few issues figuring out the technology, but Reynolds says it’s running smoothly now.
“I’m not too sure who’s setting it up for him,” he said.
“He’s usually pretty slow with that. He’s good with Netflix, but he’s got that now.”
- Brendan Bradford
Eels stars react to departure of Kane Evans
Parramatta Eels front-rower Kane Evans is on his way to the Warriors next year - and his teammates are certainly going to miss him.
The 28-year old has signed a two-year deal with the club, joining Dragons centre Euan Aitken as the first recruits under new coach Nathan Brown.
Fellow prop Junior Paulo told the media on Wednesday that Evans has worked hard and will be a huge asset to the NZ-based club.
“It’s obviously a great pick up for them. Our middles here at the Eels, even the guys that come off the bench are certainly starters if they go to any other club," he said.
"Kane will definitely be a good asset for the Warriors moving forward, and he has managed to pick up a deal for a further two years down there. It is a credit to him for putting some solid years here at the Eels the past two years.
"He has done the hard work and got himself back fit and playing, and he is a big part of us this year going towards the back-end as well."
Hooker Reed Mahoney also praised the Fijian international, labelling him as someone who 'lifts spirits' around the club.
“Kane throughout the group here is a really good character. He’s a funny bloke and I love his personality, he’s a good bloke to be around and he lifts the spirits around the club," he said.
"Whatever he chooses to do moving forward, he is doing what is best for him and his family and I wish him well."
- Liam O'Loughlin
Horrible conditions some of the worst Sharks players have experienced
The Sharks-Eels match on Sunday was played in some of the worst conditions we’ve seen in years at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium.
Both sides struggled to hold onto the ball but put on a pretty attacking match considering the conditions.
And players have agreed it’s certainly some of the worst conditions they’ve ever had to play in.
“Yeah, it’s pretty bad,” Aaron Woods said.
“I remember sitting on the sideline, it was freezing man, it was that cold. They said get up and get ready to go. I didn’t know what was going to get the body ready to go back on the field it was that cold.”
Jesse Ramien agreed that it was the worst weather he’s ever played in.
However, he did profit from the conditions after a Shaun Johnson kick stopped in a puddle in the in-goal for Cronulla’s first try of the afternoon.
The wet grass slows the ball just enough for Ramien to score 👌#NRLSharksEels #TelstraPremiership pic.twitter.com/icA12LX1Iw
— NRL (@NRL) August 9, 2020
“Definitely (the worst weather I’ve played in), 100%,“ Ramien said.
“It was freezing out there.
‘I thought seven tackles for sure, but it got in a puddle and it sat up for me.
“Nice little assist for him and try for me, so I was pretty happy.”
Rain is predicted again for Saturday when Cronulla return to Kogarah to take on the Gold Coast Titans.
- Lachlan McKirdy
