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Moses heaped praise on the in-form No.1 for his leadership and standards being a key reason behind the club's surge to a 9-1 start to the season.

Moses said he never seriously looked at leaving the blue-and-golds despite interest elsewhere.

"It's at the final stages; hopefully it's sorted really quick," Moses said.

"I've made it clear I really want to stay here and extend my time here. It's in the final stages with my management and the club so hopefully something's sorted out in the next couple of days."

Smith's endorsement of Mahoney to start ahead of fellow Sunshine Coast product Harry Grant comes as the Storm rake battles a hamstring injury that is likely to keep him from playing again before Origin I sides are selected in 11 days.

Grant's latest lay-off means he joins fellow Queenslanders Cameron Munster (foot), Kalyn Ponga (groin), Corey Allan (shoulder), David Fifita and Josh Papalii (both suspended) on the sidelines leading into the June 9 series opener.

 Graham, who has returned to Australia after finishing his playing career at St Helens last season, said conditions had rapidly improved in England with the vaccine roll-out and life was expected to be as close to normal as possible when the tournament starts on October 23.

With the Wallabies set to travel to Wales in November, along with the All Blacks and Fiji, and the semi-finals and final of the European Football Championship to be staged in London in July, Graham said it would be a missed opportunity for the code if the World Cup was postponed.

Chalmers, who was in charge of the NZRL when the Kiwis won the 2008 World Cup, has formally advised the NRL of the bid to become the 18th team ahead of a series of meetings in Wellington next week with representatives of Sky Stadium and the NZ Campus of Innovation and Sport.

The goalposts for rugby league have not shifted.

The laws have always been in place to penalise players for head contact, but the reality is discretion is no longer an acceptable approach to a problem that sports all over the world are confronting.

Rugby league is not the only code trying to strike the balance between protecting their core asset - the players - and the fabric of their sport.

Like any change, there is going to be a period of familiarisation and misunderstanding. In rugby league, there will even be the odd brain explosion.

But the off-contract 24-year-old has dismissed claims he has already been offered a 2022 deal by Brisbane.

Hynes added to his already impressive highlights reel on Sunday when he once again stepped up in star fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen's absence to help seal a 44-18 win over St George Illawarra.

He was initially slotted in at five-eighth for a Storm side missing Cameron Munster for the Dragons clash after filling in admirably over the previous three weeks for Papenhuyzen.

Former NSW No.1 Minichiello admitted he was gutted by the news that ex-Sydney Roosters teammate Cordner had been ruled out of this year's Origin series by coach Brad Fittler as the veteran backrower planned his NRL return from a head knock suffered in the 2020 interstate opener.

Sidelined since Origin I late last year due to concussion concerns, Cordner had been preparing to make his long-awaited return and run out for the Roosters by round 14 but won't be considered by Fittler for the entire Origin series starting on June 9.

They finished 15th that season - Papalii's first in the NRL.

Drawing on those hard times, the veteran prop is adamant the Raiders can salvage their 2021 campaign after five consecutive defeats.

With influential hooker Josh Hodgson set to return from a calf injury for Saturday's Magic Round clash with the Bulldogs at Suncorp Stadium, Papalli said the mood in Canberra's camp remains upbeat.

Coates put pen to paper on a two-year deal last week which will see him link up with the Storm for 2022.

Melbourne don’t often go to market for established stars but they made an exception for the Queensland representative winger.

The Broncos – Coates’ current club – the Titans and Cowboys all table offers for the Papua New Guinean international.

Bellamy was spotted speaking to Coates prior to Christmas and the clubs confirmed the deal on Sunday.

 We’ve looked into our crystal ball to predict some of the award winners, statistical leaders and club switches ahead of the new season.

BRONCOS