Rugby League News | Raidercast

Mon, 8th June, 2026, 19:40 AEST
NSW Blues confirm team for State of Origin Game 2, 2026
NSW Blues coach Laurie Daley named a 21-player squad for Game 2, with Saifiti and Burton missing out.
Zero Tackle
NSW Blues head coach Laurie Daley has confirmed his squad for the second game of the 2026 State of Origin series, with Jacob Saifiti and Matt Burton missing out from the Game 1 side.
Daley took the step to not name a starting 17, but instead, named 21 players in alphabetical order for Game 2 of the series.
That comes with Mitchell Moses, under an injury cloud and not having played since before Game 1, under a major injury cloud. Both Ethan Strange, who started Game 1 in his place at five-eighth, and Isaiya Katoa, have been added to the squad.
Katoa effectively comes into the squad for Matt Burton, who was a late addition for Game 1 after Moses was withdrawn, with the Bulldogs utility playing a handful of minutes off the bench.
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Sat, 6th June, 2026, 23:40 AEST
Star winger's super Blues audition helps Roosters to dominant clean sheet over struggling Raiders
The Roosters won 26-0 against the Raiders, with Sam Walker excelling and Mark Nawaqanitawase impressing with a hat-trick.
Fox League
The Roosters' season is back on track, recording a clean sheet in a 26-0 win over the Raiders in Canberra.
Sam Walker was outstanding before he heads into Origin camp again while returning winger Mark Nawaqanitawase put his hand up for Blues selection with a hat-trick.
"Sam Walker was the best player on the field tonight," Greg Alexander said on Fox League.
Alexander said he was impressed with Nawaqanitawase's performance but doesn't see how he leapfrogs incumbent Blues wingers Tolu Koula and Brian To'o.
Canberra playmaker Ethan Strange didn't do much to lock down a starting spot for NSW in Game II, but he was far from the only Raider who failed to make an impact.
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Sat, 6th June, 2026, 20:40 AEST
NRL Round 14: Dolphins win 40-14 over North Queensland Cowboys
The Dolphins defeated the Cowboys 40-14, with late tries sealing the game despite a spirited comeback attempt from Texas.
The Australian
The Dolphins withstood a thrilling comeback attempt to beat the Cowboys 40-14 in a Queensland Day blockbuster in Townsville.
A sublime Jake Clifford 40/20 inspired a second-half surge but 20 minutes of pressure only amounted to one try and the Dolphins put the game beyond reach once momentum swung back in their favour.
Three tries in the final 15 minutes, including a barnstorming effort from Tully Tigers junior Tom Flegler, created a lopsided scoreboard which didn't accurately reflect the tight contest.
Wingers Selwyn Cobbo and Jamayne Isaako carved up the Cowboys edges, combining for three tries to make it five wins in a row for the Dolphins.
North Queensland's defence was markedly better than the round 13 horror show in Canberra but questions remain about the squad's resilience.
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Fri, 5th June, 2026, 19:14 AEST
Brisbane chairman launches passionate defence of under-fire coach Michael Maguire
Brisbane chairman Karl Morris defends coach Michael Maguire amidst the Broncos' struggles, aiming to salvage their title defense.
The Australian
Brisbane chairman Karl Morris has launched a passionate defence of Michael Maguire and backed the premiership coach to salvage the Broncos' teetering title defence.
Morris rubbished concerns Maguire could be losing the dressing room as the Brisbane fight to keep their back-to-back title hopes alive in Saturday night's derby against the Titans at Suncorp Stadium.
Languishing in 11th, the Broncos (5-7) are reeling from four straight losses, including last Sunday's 30-26 disaster against the Dragons, which represented Brisbane's worst performance under Maguire's watch.
Such was Maguire's concern, he stormed out of the coach's box and made his way down to the sideline, emulating Canberra's Ricky Stuart as he barked orders at his troops in a futile bid to inspire a comeback win.
Maguire later went nuclear on the squad in the sheds, with veteran playmaker Ben Hunt revealing the two-time premiership coach delivered an all-time spray as he digested the pain of the Dragons snapping a 15-match losing streak.
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Thu, 4th June, 2026, 14:02 AEST
Mal Meninga hits back at Gus Gould over tampering allegations, defends Bears from criticism
Mal Meninga responds to anti-tampering allegations, willing to accept punishment if found in breach regarding comments on contracted players.
The Australian
Mal Meninga has hit back at Phil Gould's Bulldogs amid allegations of anti-tampering as the NRL integrity unit launches an investigation into the Perth Bears coach.
Breaking his silence on explosive anti-tampering allegations, Meninga says he will happily accept any punishment if an NRL probe finds he has breached rules relating to comments about contracted players.
But the Bears coach has responded to criticism over his commitment to the NRL's 18th franchise in Perth, including queries as to why he is coaching Perth while living in Canberra.
The NRL fielded a complaint last week after Meninga made comments about his interest in signing Bulldogs duo Jacob Preston and Matt Burton and Penrith champion Nathan Cleary.
Under the 'Phil Gould' rule, implemented this season, coaches and officials are banned from commenting on the prospect of signing rival players if they are still contracted to their existing clubs.
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NSW Blues confirm team for State of Origin Game 2, 2026

Star winger's super Blues audition helps Roosters to dominant clean sheet over struggling Raiders

NRL Round 14: Dolphins win 40-14 over North Queensland Cowboys

Brisbane chairman launches passionate defence of under-fire coach Michael Maguire

Mal Meninga hits back at Gus Gould over tampering allegations, defends Bears from criticism

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