SEVERAL NRL clubs reward hard work by handing out contracts and a lower grader switches codes.

Newcastle and another club have their eye on Greg Bird and the bizarre request from a coach.

Plus we take a look at the best performers from the lower grades as Private Ryan takes you behind the scenes of the greatest game of all.

NRL LIFELINES

Round 20

Melbourne have handed former Roosters 20s half Ryley Jacks a deal for 2017.

Jacks joined the Storm for pre-season training in the off-season after linking with their feeder side Sunshine Coast.

One of the stars of the Queensland Cup, the 24-year-old has impressed Craig Bellamy and his coaching staff enough to secure an NRL contract.

A Canadian representative, Jacks has been part of the Roosters’ and Gold Coast’s system but hasn’t been able to break into the NRL.

With Blake Green off to Manly next year, Jacks will train in the pre-season for an opportunity to partner Cooper Cronk.

He will also be in the mix to replace Cronk come State of Origin time next year.

Ryley Jacks in action for Sunshine Coast. Source: Supplied

Canterbury have signed gun Townsville backrower Rhyse Martin from the Queensland Cup.

Martin has signed a two-year-deal with the Bulldogs as Des Hasler looks to replace departing edge forward Tony Williams with a cost effective alternative.

Roosters fans will be familiar with Martin who played with their NYC side and Newtown before moving to the Blackhawks.

Meanwhile, Manly are wasting little time bolstering their squad for next season.

The club have offered former NYC team of the year fullback Omar Slaimankhel a train and trail deal for the 2016-17 pre-season.

A former Warrior and Rooster, the 24-year-old has not been offered a new deal by the Tricolours and the Sea Eagles have swooped.

Wyong Roos player Omar Slaimankhel in action. Source: News Corp Australia

With Jamie Lyon retired, Steve Matai and Brett Stewart’s futures clouded, the Sea Eagles are thin on outside backs.

Slaimankhel made his NRL debut for the Warriors in 2012.

Finally, the Broncos are considering handing Cowboys winger Tautau Moga a lifeline.

The 22-year-old made his NRL debut with the Roosters as a teenager before he moved to North Queensland.

A Samoan international with 30 odd first grade games to his name, the Broncos are looking for depth in their backline following the retirement of Jack Reed.



Michael Morgan joins Ben Ikin, Ben Glover and Nathan Ryan to chat about the biggest challenge the Cowboys have faced in attempting historic back-to-back premierships.

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MY GAME DAY ROUTINE — IN THE WORDS OF NRL360 HOST BEN IKIN

A day planning for NRL360, what does it look like? I fly down from Queensland on the morning of the first show.

Through the finals that’s been a Monday but through the season it’s a Tuesday.

I’ve generally done a lot of planning on the day before I fly into Sydney so I can hit the ground running because I lose a bit of time in the air on that first day.

By the time I get to Fox Sports, I literally walk straight into a production meeting which is where we map out all the big issues.

NRL360 hosts Paul Kent and Ben Ikin. Source: News Corp Australia

We frame up the show and figure out how we are going to talk about some of the stories which may or may not have been in the news cycle for a while.

I go to my desk and jump into a program called ‘iNews’.

Between the producers and myself, we knock together the flow of the show from the newspaper articles we are going to use, what vision and comments from coaches and players and where they fit. Paul Kent usually arrives somewhere amongst all that.

As he’s writing his article (for tomorrows paper), I’m turning to my right because he sits in the cubical next to me. I’m getting a feel, leaning on and calling on his news sense to figure out the best talking points and how we can frame up questions to best unpick the issues we are going to talk about.

NRL360 host Ben Ikin. Source: FOX SPORTS

We come back together in the late afternoon and have one final glance at the rundown. We come downstairs in the evening and have dinner together. The guests normally arrive; the journos, players, legends and coaches. While we eat, we talk about what we’re going to discuss during the show. I get out early. It’s a bit of a running joke that I like to sit in a dark room by myself. I go out to the studio about half an hour before we go onto air. I double check all my scripts and make any last minute adjustments to the rundown. Kenty comes in about five minutes before we go on air and once the red light goes on, the next hour is NRL360.

KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR ...

Intrust Super Cup QLD: Joe Stimson. The 21-year-old has enjoyed his best season yet. The Sunshine Coast backrower is contracted with Melbourne and will be pushing for a place in the NRL side next season.

Intrust Super Premiership NSW: Josh McCrone. The Dragons utility has spent the season running around with Illawarra. The 29-year-old has played almost 150 NRL games and played hooker for the Cutters on the weekend but looks just at home in the halves.

Holden Cup: Cronulla prop Tepatasi Fuiava. The 20-year-old giant made 20 runs for 222 metres in a losing side on Saturday. The Sharks were beaten by the Roosters 28-18. Off-contract, Fuiava is 200cm tall and tips the scales at 123kgs.

BIRD IS THE WORD

Private Ryan has been told Manly have discussed making a play for Greg Bird.

Newcastle have made no bones of their desire to bring the lock to the club where he played his junior football but they appear to have some competition.

Greg Bird on the charge. Source: News Corp Australia

Bird is under contract with the Gold Coast for next season but the Knights have ramped up their bid to lure the veteran from the Titans to the Hunter.

But if Bird wants an early release and the club is willing to grant him one, Newcastle will have to fight for him.

We understand the conversation at the Sea Eagles is very early in the piece but this club has a habit of getting the players they want.

It can’t hurt that his good mate Nate Myles is also at the club.

HUSH, HUSH I

Which coach told one of his star players that he needs to spend more time socialising with the club’s more popular players.

The comment was made during his end-of-season review with this player preferring to hang out with the more low profile players in the team.

HUSH, HUSH II

Which NRL officials had to be paged by their airline as the plane they were booked on had boarded and they were nowhere to be seen?

Fortunately for the NRL and the duo, they made the flight.

But why were they so late?

Turns out they were kicking back in the food court and lost track of time.

CODE SWITCH

Tupou Sopoaga of the Rams breaks the Rays defence. Source: Getty Images

Penrith backrower Tupou Sopoaga has been released to take up an opportunity in rugby.

Tupou, 24, was languishing in the Panthers’ NSW Cup side following the arrival of Anthony Griffin to the club.

He’s playing for the Western Sydney Rams in the National Rugby Championship in the hope of winning a Super Rugby contract for 2017.

He hopes to follow in the footsteps of his older brother Lima, who plays for the All Blacks and helped guide the Highlanders to their first Super Rugby title last season.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“That’s the way ‘Moosey’ (McGuire) plays. He trains the way he plays, so he does get a bit fiery out there and people react differently and that was the situation, but they’re all good now.”

- Matt Gillett on Josh McGuire’s training scuffle with Salesi Funaki last week.

THE SOCIAL SCENE

There was no question about who owned the social media world this week.

Sam Perrett, you win. Hands down.

Perrett dressed up as The Rock for Canterbury’s Mad Monday and the great one liked what he saw.

Killed it uce! Even got my ink down. 👊🏾💯 https://t.co/ywJgN3zPom — Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) September 12, 2016

This writer is on Twitter @Nath_Ryan

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