The NRL Daily Briefing

Today is December 1, 2021 and this is your daily rugby league briefing from nrl.com. In today's update, Indigenous and Maori men's and women's players have welcomed the decision to stage the annual All Stars clash in Sydney for the first time, with the February 12 clash to double as a home coming for the game and Jillaroos prop Millie Boyle is likely to be offered the opportunity to return home and help lead a foundation Raiders team if the club secures a 2023 NRLW licence.

Tino Fa'asuamaleaui will be a Titan until 2026, Clint Gutherson is staying at the Eels until 2025, Nicho Hynes has begun training with the Sharks and the World Cup draw is out

Mitchell Pearce is leaving Newcastle for Catalans, Andrew Johns, Stacey Jones, Johnathan Thurston and Benji Marshall are returning to their former clubs and Queensland women get a new pay deal

2022 draw features home coming matches, expanded NRLW

There has been some major signings news in the NRL and NRLW competitions

Norm Provan farewelled, Fitzgibbon era begins at Sharks

Dolphins step up preparations for 2023 entry, as player signings continue

The Latests on Player Signings from the NRL

Cameron Munster is on his last chance with the Storm and will enter a rehabilitation facility with a $100,000 fine hanging over his head if he breaches a 12-month alcohol ban. The Bulldogs have the signed Souths winger Braidon Burns on a two year deal.

Nathan Cleary played through the pain of an injured shoulder and Stephen Crichton etched his name into grand final folklore as the Panthers won their third premiership with a nail-biting victory over South Sydney. Manly's Tom Trbojevic has picked up the Rugby League Players' Association Players' Champion.

Queensland's historic grand final will be played in front of a capped crowd of 39,000 due to tightening COVID-19 restrictions. Issac Luke will represent every past Rabbitohs player and the links to the club's 21 premierships, two-year fight for existence and transformation since readmission when he rings the 1908 foundation bell before the grand final.

Dylan Edwards faces a critical fitness test on a foot injury as Penrith nurse he and several teammates through Grand Final week. South Sydney's sole concern centres around halfback Adam Reynolds who trained away from teammates.

A knee injury has cost Tevita Pangai jnr a grand final berth with Penrith opting against naming the destructive forward for Sunday's clash with South Sydney. South Sydney halfback Adam Reynolds was on light duties at training as he manages a groin issue.

Sea Eagles fullback Tom Trbojevic has capped a stunning individual season to be crowned the 2021 Dally M medal winner at last night's awards in Brisbane. The Rookie of the Year award was won by Roosters teenager Sam Walker.

Penrith have received a massive boost with Nathan Cleary being cleared by the match review committee, meaning he will take his place for the Panthers in the grand final against South Sydney. The NRL's best player will be named tonight when the Dally M medal is presented.

Friday, September 24, 2021. Manly coach Des Hasler has confirmed Brad Parker and Sean Keppie will be fit to face the Rabbitohs on Friday night. Canberra's hunt for a new halfback will continue after Titans officials told the Raiders that co-captain Jamal Fogarty would not be granted an early release to move to the nation's capital.

Michael Maguire says his belief has never wavered that he can turn the Wests Tigers into a force after the board backed him to remain as coach. Penrith's injured trio Brian To'o, Viliame Kikau and Tyrone May are on track to play in the preliminary final clash against Melbourne after all trained with the team.

Michael Maguire will continue as Wests Tigers coach next season. Star winger Josh Addo-Carr returns from a hamstring injury in place of Isaac Lumelume in Melbourne's only change for their preliminary final on Saturday.

NRL head of football Graham Annesley has confirmed Penrith could face sanctions over their trainer's involvement in stopping play late in their win over Parramatta. First par of first item. NSW winger Brian To'o is expected to be available for selection for the Panthers when the the preliminary finals team are announced today.

Josh Addo-Carr has confirmed he will be right to return from his hamstring injury for Saturday's preliminary final on Saturday against the Panthers. The Panthers will monitor Viliame Kikau and Mitch Kenny in the lead-up to their clash with Melbourne after both suffered ankle injuries against the Eels.

Roosters coach Trent Robinson has confirmed Ben Marschke will replace suspended hooker Sam Verrills in the semi-final against the Sea Eagles on Friday night. Lachlan Croker has been cleared to play for Manly after overcoming a back injury.

The Roosters will need to find a replacement for Sam Verrills after he copped a two-match ban from the NRL judiciary. Impressive prop Moses Leota has signed a deal that will keep him with Penrith until the end of 2024.

The Roosters have suffered a major blow ahead of Friday night's semi-final clash against Manly with Tonga prop Siosiua Taukeiaho ruled out with injury. Penrith welcome back fullback Dylan Edwards and forwards Moses Leota and Scott Sorensen for Saturday night's semi-final against Parramatta.

Sydney Roosters hooker Sam Verrills will contest his high tackle charge at the NRL judiciary tonight. Kick-off in Melbourne's preliminary final on Saturday week has been brought forward to a more fan friendly timeslot of 4pm which also avoids a clash with the AFL grand final.

South Sydney set the cat amongst the pigeons in week one of the NRL finals with their upset win over Penrith. Mitchell Moses produced a superb individual display to propel Parramatta past a dogged Newcastle outfit 28 to 20 in their elimination final at Rockhampton.

Manly coach Des Hasler has ramped up the mind games before tonight's opening finals clash with the Storm by declaring: "Maybe Melbourne are impossible to beat." Johnathan Thurston has endorsed fellow Maroons great Billy Slater as the next Queensland coach.

History will be made when Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium hosts the NRL grand final. Newcastle are sweating on the fitness of prop David Klemmer leading into their sudden-death finals clash with Parramatta on Sunday.

Rookie Blake Taaffe has retained the number one jersey for the Rabbitohs week one finals match against Penrith on Saturday night. Newcastle star Kalyn Ponga is confident his team's struggling attack can fire under pressure in their elimination final against Parramatta in Rockhampton on Sunday.

Melbourne's Cameron Munster rates himself as a "50-50" prospect of lining up for the Storm as he and Josh Addo-Carr race the clock to be fit for Friday's finals opener against Manly. Warriors prop Matt Lodge has been hit with a breach notice proposing a $5000 fine after raising his middle finger to fans in Sunday's 44 to nil loss to the Titans.

Regional Queensland will host Week 1 of the Premiership Finals Series headlined by a double header at Queensland Country Bank Stadium and games on the Sunshine Coast and in Rockhampton. Prodigious talent Jayden Campbell has shot the Titans back into finals football for the first time in five years, delivering last rites on Cronulla's own gutsy campaign in the process.

The equation for Cronulla is simple, win and they're into the finals, but providing the correct answer requires getting the better of competition leaders Melbourne. NRL CEO Andrew Abdo said the game explored "all options" in an attempt to have the Telstra Women's Premiership played this year but its postponement has now been confirmed until early in 2022.

Roosters coach Trent Robinson says he "stands by" his post-game criticism of NRL officiating as he and the club accept $40,000 in breach notices. Departing Bulldogs centre Will Hopoate hasn't ruled out a future return to the NRL as he prepares for his final appearance in the blue and white on Sunday.

The Roosters will welcome three representative stars back for Thursday's match against Canberra. Eels coach Brad Arthur has named an almost unrecognisable team to the one which beat Melbourne last weekend for the derby clash with Penrith as he decided to rest some star players.

The Roosters have been issued a breach notice proposing fines totalling $40,000 for the alleged on-field abuse of match officials and coach Trent Robinson's controversial post-game comments. Four-game Rabbitohs rookie Blake Taafe looms as Latrell Mitchell's replacement.

: James Tedesco says former teammate Latrell Mitchell must "learn a lesson" and temper his playing style after his latest high contact with an opponent ended his and Joey Manu's seasons. With mid-season recruit Tevita Pangai junior making a huge impact, the Panthers are back in the hunt for the minor premiership after their 30 to 16 win over Wests Tigers in Redcliffe on Sunday.

Sharks player Josh Dugan has been hit with a $50,000 fine as part of a breach notice for failing to comply with the NRL's biosecurity protocols. Brisbane are keen to re-sign star Payne Haas on a long-term deal but are yet to formally table an offer to the NSW Origin representative.

Sea Eagles superstar Tom Trbojevic has been this season's most valuable player despite featuring in only 13 NRL games, according to NRL dot com readers. The last time Wayne Bennett guided a team to a premiership he devised a "practice semis run" with the Dragons in 2010 and the master coach may be employing the same tactics with the Rabbitohs.

The Roosters' top-four hopes and backline stocks have taken another hit with Dale Copley and Adam Keighran sidelined for Friday night's clash against South Sydney. Titans coach Justin Holbrook has run out of patience with off-contract playmaker Ash Taylor dropped and David Fifita benched ahead of the side's crucial clash against Newcastle.

Canberra's board of directors have terminated the contract of centre Curtis Scott after his involvement in a nightclub incident. In a blow for the Rabbitohs, veteran winger Josh Mansour is expected to miss the remainder of the season with a knee injury.

A five-star performance from James Tedesco returned the Roosters to the top four and all-but ended the Dragons' hopes of playing finals footy in 2021. Scans have confirmed Sharks winger Ronaldo Mulitalo suffered a broken jaw during Cronulla's romp over Wests Tigers.

Panthers coach Ivan Cleary will unleash late-season recruit Tevita Pangai Junior against the Rabbitohs on Friday night. Alex Glenn will bow out as one of Brisbane's greatest stalwarts at the end of 2021, calling time on his 13-year, one-club, 282-game career.

Mitch Moses has rubbished suggestions of unrest in Parramatta's camp as they attempt to save their faltering season leading into the finals. The Titans trying to stop competition leaders Storm from winning a record 19th straight game appears a forlorn task but don't underestimate the power of wanting to play finals football again after five years in the wilderness.

Knights utility Connor Watson will leave the club at the end of 2021 after knocking back a three-year extension. The Dragons have secured the services of former Maroons utility Moses Mbye after he was granted a release from the final year of his Wests Tigers contract.

Sharks prop Andrew Fifita has been admitted to intensive care and sedated due to the throat injury he suffered in Sunday's loss to Newcastle. Ryan Matterson and Victor Radley won't play again until the finals after both entered early guilty pleas to judiciary charges on Monday.

Parramatta's Ryan Matterson is facing a minimum three-week suspension for the high shot on Brad Parker that saw the Eels back-rower sent off on Saturday night. A fractured cheekbone that once cost Tom Trbojevic an Australian Test jersey has apparently saved him from suffering a similar injury as Manly gear up for a finals assault.

Panthers star Nathan Cleary is "a good chance" to return from shoulder surgery in tonight's duel with the Dragons. Emerging forward Keenan Palasia has extended his stay with the Brisbane Broncos for another season.

Despite three wins from their past four games, the Raiders will really find out where they stand with the NRL finals a month away when they face the Storm tonight. A relieved Kane Evans apologised to his team-mates for leaving the Warriors short while serving two stints in the sin bin during last weekend's 18-16 defeat of Cronulla.

Sharks coach Josh Hannay has dumped under-fire centre Will Chambers. The NRL has released the schedule for Round 22 including double headers at Suncorp Stadium and in Redcliffe as well as the return of rugby league to the Sunshine Coast.

George Burgess will make his NRL comeback with the Dragons next season on a two-year deal. Roosters back-rower Angus Crichton will miss the next three weeks after entering an early guilty plea to a crusher tackle charge.

: A flash of brilliance from Titans back-rower Beau Fermor highlighted a 36 to 14 win over the Cowboys that moved the Gold Coast a week closer to finals football. Roosters back-rower Angus Crichton may not play again before the finals as he is among seven players facing suspensions.

Parramatta coach Brad Arthur has urged his pack to make a statement early against the Rabbitohs and give returning playmaker Mitchell Moses a chance to fix their attacking woes. Panthers five-eighth Jarome Luai is optimistic his halves partner Nathan Cleary will make his return from a shoulder injury this Saturday.