NRL cracks down on lifting tackles:
April 16, 4.16pm: The NRL has placed every player on notice that dangerous lifting tackles will come under intense scrutiny from this weekend. Concerned that a number of suspect lifting tackles had gone undetected by the match review committee over the first six rounds of the competition, NRL Head of Football Todd Greenberg announced an immediate 'get tough' policy. "If you lift a player and put him in a dangerous position you will be charged," he warned on Wednesday. "We have been disappointed that some players have escaped charges for tackles we believe were dangerous. So we are lowering the threshold for a dangerous tackle charge – and it starts this weekend." The re-worked definition of a lifting tackle now reads: "When a player is tipped beyond the horizontal, being his head or his neck is below his hips, and he's headed towards the ground then he is in a dangerous position."
Panthers fan investigation closed
April 16, 3.43pm: Penrith has finalised its investigation into Panthers the fan who allegedly struck South Sydney enforcer Sam Burgess with a flag on Friday night. The Panthers released a statement on Wednesday afternoon declaring the matter closed but did not disclose what punishment, if any, was imposed on the fan. "The club has also spoken to several people who may have witnessed the alleged altercation, and has reviewed camera footage from the night," the statement read. The fan has unreservedly apologised for causing any harm to the NRL and the Panthers. They have also offered an apology to Sam and the South Sydney club. Appropriate action has been taken against the fan, and Panthers, Souths and the NRL are satisfied that the matter has now been resolved."
Enough already
April 16, 2:45pm: St George Illawarra winger Jason Nightingale warns the Dragons risk spiralling further down the table if they don't quickly get over the heart-breaking loss to Melbourne. The Red V camp remains upset Storm's match-winning try came after fulltime should have been called, but Nightingale is urging his team to move on from the drama. "The evidence is there and it was pretty disappointing, but that's rugby league," he said on Wednesday. "We really have to focus on the good things we did in the game, which were quite a lot. If we keep thinking about it, then it's not going to help. The short turnaround is the best thing after a gut-wrenching loss. You don't really have time to think about it as you have to move on and prepare for the next game. To be sitting three and three is not the end of the world. But to go down to four straight losses ... you are drifting to the bottom half of the table."
Chambers cops two-match ban
April 16, 12.47pm: Melbourne centre Will Chambers has accepted a two-game suspension for a grade-two shoulder charge on Josh Dugan. Chambers will miss the Easter Sunday clash against Canberra and the Anzac Day clash against the Warriors. Dragons duo Joel Thompson (grade one dangerous throw) and Mitch Rein (grade one unnecessary head/neck pressure) are available to face the Warriors on Saturday after copping early guilty pleas. South Sydney duo George Burgess and Ben Te'o will sit out Friday's clash against Canterbury after accepting early guilty pleas for tripping. Warriors prop Ben Matulino has also copped the early guilty plea for a grade two shoulder charge on James Graham and will miss two weeks.
Joel Edwards re-signs with Raiders
April 16, 11.42am: The Canberra Raiders have re-signed back-rower Joel Edwards for three more seasons. "It’s an honour to be part of such a proud club and I look forward to another three years here playing for a team who I know is on the up," the former Newcastle Knight said. "It's hard being away from family and friends but I've made a home here in Canberra and the club has become a family for me. I feel my game is improving each week and under Ricky Stuart I think I can develop it further and become a better player."
Farah to NRL: 'I told you so'
April 16, 9.34am: Wests Tigers skipper Robbie Farah has taken a swipe at the NRL after referees boss Tony Archer admitted Melbourne should not have been awarded their match winning try on Monday night. Archer has confirmed the final play the ball took place after the full-time siren. The Tigers were on the wrong end of a similar stuff up two weeks ago when Manly were awarded a try on half-time when they shouldn't have been. Farah blew up at the time but his protests fell on deaf ears. "No one listened to me did they?" he said. "Everyone thought I was having a sook. It's disappointing when you see the outcomes of games being decided by officials. The Dragons will be pretty disappointed about that last try. I guess similar to us, you have to play the whistle, and Melbourne were good enough to come up with a try. In saying that, I thought the siren went off before the play the ball and I think everyone else did too. The refs should have been blowing full-time but he didn't ... the Dragons would be pretty filthy and understandably so."
Mullen re-signs with Knights
April 16, 9.22am: Newcastle pivot Jarrod Mullen has recommitted to the Knights until the end of 2018. The deal means the 27-year-old is on track to finish his career a one-club player. Mullen returned from a hamstring injury in Saturday's 26-12 win over Canberra, underlining his importance to the Wayne Bennett-coached club. "This is the Club I started playing my NRL career with and the club I want to finish it at, so I am very pleased to re-sign," Mullen said. I really thank the club for this opportunity because I never wanted to go anywhere else. There are not many players that can play their career out at the one club. I will be 31 when I finish this contract, but hopefully I can keep going after that and finish my career here as I said."