Rugby League News | Raidercast

Thu, 15th October, 2026, 18:13 AEDT
: Bizarre feud breaks out between two NRL agent from same company
A feud between rugby league agents Sam Ayoub and Nal Wijesekera has erupted, with Ayoub filing a formal complaint.
The Australian
One of rugby league's biggest feuds has broken out between two player agents ... from the same stable.
Sport Confidential can reveal one of the sport's longest-serving managers, Sam Ayoub, has made a formal complaint to the NRL against one of his own agents, Nal Wijesekera.
Ayoub runs Ultra Management and has 30 years of experience in the industry. He manages the affairs of some of the game's biggest names, including Cowboys legend Johnathan Thurston, Junior Paulo, Hudson Young, Steven Crichton, Brian To'o and Titans young gun Zane Harrison.
Wijesekera is part of Ayoub's Ultra stable and has a number of promising stars on his books, including Cowboys sensation Jaxon Purdue and Australian Schoolboys captain Liam Challenor, who inked a three-year deal with Cronulla on Tuesday.
Ayoub has lodged a formal complaint with NRL player agent accreditation boss Paul Massey raising concerns about Wijesekera's conduct. Ayoub is concerned the behaviour could bring the image of the company he has spent decades cultivating into disrepute.
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Thu, 15th October, 2026, 17:38 AEDT
RLWC teams: England star Morgan Smithies ruled out of Rugby League World Cup
Morgan Smithies is out of the tournament with a hamstring injury; Kallum Watkins will replace him.
The Australian
England have been dealt a huge blow with Perth Bounds forward Morgan Smithies ruled out of the tournament with a hamstring injury.
Smithies suffered the setback during training which will sideline him for up to two months.
That will rule him out of the tournament forcing England to call for a replacement. Smithies - who finished with Canberra this year - will be one of Perth's key signings.
Kallum Watkins is his replacement.
- Tyson Jackson and Peter Badel
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Tue, 6th October, 2026, 10:57 AEDT
Uncapped NRL trio picked in England World Cup squad
Ben Talty, Max King, and Hugo Savala are selected for England's Rugby League World Cup squad, featuring 10 NRL players.
The Canberra Times
Brisbane prop Ben Talty, Canterbury front-rower Max King and Sydney Roosters utility Hugo Savala have been named in England's Rugby League World Cup squad.
Talty and Savala both qualify through ancestry and join Huddersfield-born King in a side assembled by Brian McDermott which contains 10 NRL players.
Savala's Roosters teammate Victor Radley is included along with Newcastle winger Dominic Young and the Dolphins duo of Morgan Knowles and Herbie Farnworth.
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