Rugby League Forever

BREAKING: Xavier Coates has suffered a setback in his attempt to return, after rupturing his Achilles at training today.

“I was running and it just popped,” Coates said, via AAP.

“I was only running at about 50 per cent and it just went.”

Coates was attempting to come back from an Achilles injury he suffered in pre-season.

The club said, “Coates will miss the remainder of the season and have surgery next week before beginning his rehabilitation.”

Wishing Xavier all the best in recovery 🙏

Perths Bears coach Mal Meninga addressed the investigation the NRL integrity is conducting amid anti-tampering allegations, after his comments about the Bears’ interest in signing Jacob Preston, Matt Burton and Nathan Cleary 🗣️

“…If I’ve done the wrong thing, I’ll put my hand up,” Mal said.

“I haven’t spoken to any player or approached anyone (who is contracted).”

Meninga went on to highlight the hypocrisy of the whole situation.

“…You’ve seen all the commentary from certain people saying we haven’t tried to sign marquees. Then someone asks if we’d be interested in some marquee players and of course we would be.

“I get criticised if I say something and criticised if I don’t. People complain we’re not engaging in the market, then criticise us for saying something.

“Everyone plays somewhere, mate. That’s the bottom line.

“I don’t know where the line is with talking about players. I don’t know where I stand. …”

Rabbitohs star Latrell Mitchell could be in line for one of the RICHEST contracts in NRL HISTORY 🤑

His next deal could be as high as $1.4 MILLION per season, with Brent Read predicting the Bunnies will try and get a fresh deal done before he hits the open market on November 1, per Fox Sports.

This would be more than Dylan Brown, Mitchell Moses, Nathan Cleary and Tom Trbojevic are currently earning this season.

Latrell has played in 16 matches in 2023, 11 matches in 2024 and 11 in 2025.

Is Trell Mit worth $1.4 mill a season? 🤔

KIERAN FORAN CHICKEN 🍗

KFC Manly Vale heard that 4 Pines were renaming Brookie Oval to Foz Pines Park to celebrate Foran’s head coaching appointment and wanted to go one better 👀

FOZBALL is TAKING OVER the Northern Beaches 🔥

Jake Averillo is set to sign with the Wests Tigers on a four-year deal at $2.75M 💰

Averillo is tipped to be Jarome Luai's halves replacement when he departs for PNG.

(via Zero Tackle)

Valentine Holmes has committed to the Cook Islands for the 2026 Rugby League World Cup 🇨🇰

Holmes has Cook Islander heritage on his mother's side and will join other NRL players such as KL Iro, Marata Niukore, Brendan Piakura and Davvy Moale.

“I've been very fortunate enough and lucky to wear the Aussie jersey 21 times and I played in a couple of World Cups, Four Nations, and ANZAC Tests," Holmes said.

“Now I want to give back to my mum's side and to my culture's side.

“She's obviously over the moon, and she's one of 12 (children) so they're all very happy to see me hopefully play at the end of the year. Touch wood I can make it there.

“We'll see what happens facing some quality teams too.”

(via Joel Gould)

Reece Walsh has broken his silence on his Game I omission with some pretty honest chat 🗣️

“It was disappointing,” Walsh said.

“Obviously as a young Queenslander all you want to do is grow up and play for Queensland. To not be named and get that call, I was disappointed.

“But I know the standards it takes to play for Queensland and I’m a realist and I’m honest with myself and I probably haven’t been living up to those standards that it takes to wear that Queensland jersey so I feel like that’s what makes it so great.

“Once you put that jersey on, you know what it takes to get back there.

“I understand that I haven’t been upholding those standards. It’s about putting the hard work here at training and relaying that back on the field.”

A brutal sledge from a Tigers players was caught on the referees mic after Lachie Galvin’s plea to challenge a knock on from Stephen Crichton was ignored 🫣

“Lachie, he doesn’t trust ya!”

Paul Crawley says it plays into the narrative that there’s beef between Galvin and Critta.

“…At how many teams does the skipper not back a captain’s challenge from his chief playmaker?” he said.

“Can you imagine Api doing it to even Jock Madden? Teddy doing it to Sam Walker? I don’t care which club, it doesn’t happen.

“It was obvious here that something was going on. Lachie was adamant when he got up that the ball had been stripped by Kai Pearce-Paul. Crichton had an ample time... he was there debating it long enough.”

Jacob Kiraz has slammed the ‘disgusting’ social media behaviour from fans aimed at Lachie Galvin 🗣️

“…I see fans, whether it’s from other teams, what they say to him first-hand—to be fair, I don’t like it,” Kiraz said.

“Let alone any of my teammates, but especially a 20-year-old halfback who, to be honest, has been one of our best this year.

“I hear it as well, and I just think it’s disgusting.

“Some of the things that people were saying about my teammate, my halfback, I don’t like. Like I said, I always back him.”

Kiraz went on to explain how the bullying from online trolls is completely uncalled for.

“I just think if you’re not going to say it to his face, then say nothing,” Kiraz said.

“If you don’t have the courage to say it to his face, don’t go online and message people or message our page with threats and all that stuff. We don’t need that stuff, especially for a 20-year-old.

“Luckily, it doesn’t phase him at all... that’s why it probably hurts me more. I feel so sorry for him.”

Respect to Kiraz for calling it out 👏