2016 NRL

Carter facing one match ban

Carter was charged from an incident in the 47th minute involving Eels half Corey Norman.

Fit Benji ready to Marshall the troops

Marshall has been limited to just six games in 2016 due to a hamstring strain that flared up either side of the Round 5 clash in North Queensland, but appeared unencumbered in the return clash against the Cowboys before last week's bye. 

Storm sign Josh Addo-Carr

Addo-Carr will join the club at the end of the season in a deal that will see him wear the purple jersey until the end of 2019.

The 20-year-old winger has played four NRL games for the Tigers, scoring three tries and made his NRL debut against Storm in Round 7 of this season.

"I'd like to make it clear to our members and fans that Wests Tigers made a very competitive offer to retain Joshua for the next few years and while we're disappointed we wish him well," Wests Tigers CEO Justin Pascoe said.

The one game that torments Luke Douglas

Game No.100 was a loss to the Warriors, game No.200 a rare Titans win over Brisbane but as he prepares for game No.250 on Sunday there is one game that still haunts Luke Douglas to this day.

It was game No.74 of a career now in its 11th season and was an agonising exit in finals football, a place Douglas has been unable to visit again in the seven years that have since passed.

Raiders thump injury-plagued Manly

Manly's loss was compounded by injuries to Daly Cherry-Evans (ankle) and Brenton Lawrence (pec) in the first half before losing Jamie Lyon to a leg injury shortly after the break.

Following a couple of error-riddled games in recent weeks, Canberra fullback Jack Wighton bounced back in the best way possible with a try, two assists and a pair of try-saving tackles to help his side knock off the Sea Eagles at home for the first time since 2004. 

Smith set to return as Cronk needs time

Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk both had a say in Queensland's 6-4 win over New South Wales in Origin I on Wednesday night and while Craig Bellamy is expecting his captain to take the field on Saturday, he's still unsure as to whether Cooper Cronk has recovered from an ankle injury suffered during Queensland's training camp.

"Cameron's come back and he looks like he's moving OK, so we'll see how he trains later today," Bellamy said. 

Sharks happy to be the hunted

Sitting atop the NRL Telstra Premiership ladder for the first time since Round 2, 2000, Sharks coach Shane Flanagan said while the team was aware of their table-topping status they hadn't made a great deal about it. 

An inconsistent Bulldogs outfit threatens Cronulla's eight-game winning streak, and Flanagan expects Des Hasler's squad to be on song this week.

Flanagan also confirmed New South Wales Origin trio James Maloney, Andrew Fifita and skipper Paul Gallen would all be fit to face the Bulldogs.

Cordner relishing first Origin starting spot

The Taree product has played all five of his Origins to date – three last year, the 2014 Game Three dead rubber and the losing 2013 decider – off the bench, for just one win so far.

With a clean out of sorts in the NSW forward pack this year with the likes of Beau Scott, Ryan Hoffman and Trent Merrin joining Luke Lewis and Anthony Watmough in being moved on by Blues coach Laurie Daley, Cordner finds himself named to start in his sixth interstate appearance and is relishing the opportunity.

Praise for Tigers' 80-minute effort

Playing a Broncos team who were without six players on Origin duty, the Tigers were also minus Robbie Farah, Aaron Woods and James Tedesco but dominated the vast majority of the contest before finally squeaking away with a 19-18 win courtesy of a Mitchell Moses field goal five minutes from full-time.

Having been on the ropes for most of the second half the Broncos almost landed a knockout blow when they threw some late haymakers but young Tigers halves Luke Brooks and Moses showed just enough composure to steer their side home.

Young Cowboys expect to get targeted

The challenges come two-fold for both players. Hughes will step up from the fullback position at Intrust Super Cup level to the front line at NRL level, while Hess' physical challenge shifts from playing second row in the under-20s to a front-row or lock role in top grade.

Both will line up in their second NRL games, with Hughes making his debut as an 18-year-old with Gold Coast and Hess arriving onto the scene for the Cowboys in Round 25 last year against the Warriors.