Tough call: Former NSW Origin coach Laurie Daley. Credit:AAP Rest assured, the Maroons gave the XXXX just as big a nudge during their camps. Daley has made mistakes while at the helm, most notably in selections. He has put his trust in the wrong players, some of whom have taken advantage of him. However, he is a good man and a Blues legend, so it has been disappointing that a "boozy Blues" narrative has been used by some as a justification for moving him on. Upon reaching their decision, the NSWRL should have afforded Loz the opportunity to announce he was walking away on his terms, if that was his wish. It is likely Daley won't be the only casualty from another failed campaign. We've been told that Blake Ferguson and Josh Dugan, already heavily criticised for spending a day at the Lennox Point Hotel in the lead-up to the decider, breached a no-smoking policy in their hotel room on a separate occasion.

Whoever replaces Daley will need to tread a fine line to get the best out of players at future camps. UK club circles Maguire Michael Maguire may have coached South Sydney for the last time after fielding a massive offer to join Warrington. Maguire remains contracted to the Rabbitohs, but is under pressure to retain his job after missing the finals for the past two seasons. Souths will be forever indebted to "Madge" for a breakthrough premiership win three years ago, but there is a feeling a change is needed at Redfern. Happier days: Michael Maguire celebrates the Rabbitohs' breakthrough premiership. Credit:Brendan Esposito

Maguire is highly regarded in England after a stint with Wigan that netted the Warriors a premiership. The Wolves are coached by Tony Smith but there's a feeling Maguire is the man to take the club to the next level. Souths hope the return of Greg Inglis from injury and the addition of Dane Gagai will result in a resurgence, although it's increasingly likely Maguire won't be around to coach them. Maguire isn't expected to survive the off-season.

Fiji want half Hayne Jarryd Hayne could be thrown into the halves this off-season in an attempt to get him back to his best. Hayne has made himself available for Fiji at the Rugby League World Cup and Bati coach Mick Potter is tossing up between playing him at fullback or five-eighth. Hayne has only started at pivot a handful of times throughout his NRL career and has been used predominantly in the centres at representative level. However, the controversial Titan could be wearing the No.6 jersey during the season-ending internationals, assuming he isn't selected for Australia.

"He would add most value for us at fullback or six, I'd imagine," Potter said. "He'll get his hands on the ball the most there and that's what he likes. "He's got good vision, he can kick the ball and he's got a good running game. We'll make it pretty simple, there won't be any trick plays or anything. That's the way he likes it, he likes to play what he sees in front of him and we'll allow him to play his natural game." Cronk contingency Penrith will have plenty of cash to throw at Cooper Cronk if Matt Moylan is released from the final four years of his contract.

Moylan appears unsettled at the foot of the mountains and the Panthers would consider granting him a release if he gets an offer elsewhere. Rival clubs are watching the situation with interest. The Panthers are well served at fullback and five-eighth with young guns Dylan Edwards and Tyrone May respectively, but Cronk will definitely be a player of interest if he decided to play on next year. Wests Tigers and Newcastle could have space in their salary cap to fit Moylan in, and Cronulla could also if James Maloney departs. Bulldogs by a nose? Canterbury must produce at least nine points against St George Illawarra on Sunday or suffer the ignominy of being single-handedly outscored by Hazem El Masri.

We floated in June the prospect of the current squad posting fewer points than the goalkicking winger's record haul of 342 points for the 2004 season and it has been a ding-dong battle ever since. There have been times when it looked certain "El Magic" would take the honours, although the Bulldogs are a real chance after racking up big scores in the past fortnight against the Sea Eagles and Titans. Canterbury's tally is 334, the worst attack in the competition. Stand by for a photo finish. Newtown's Shark trouble Newtown have been in discussions with Melbourne about the prospect of becoming one of their feeder teams amid fears the foundation club is about to be dumped by Cronulla. As we revealed last month, the Sharks-Jets relationship is on shaky ground and there is no guarantee it will be renewed once their contract expires at the end of the current season. The premiers have been in talks with Cabramatta about a potential second-tier arrangement, ironically one of the clubs the Bluebags supply players to. Aware they may be on the outer, the Jets are exploring their options and could join Queensland teams the Easts Tigers and Sunshine Coast Falcons as Storm feeder clubs. That deal is far from done and there are still hopes Newtown and Cronulla can salvage their relationship, potentially resulting in a one-year deal.

Why you're not winning the tipping comp Here is proof, if any was required, that tipping a winner is getting harder. The TAB provided statistics on the percentage of games where the market outsider has won. This season, the figure is 33 per cent, up four percentage points on the previous year. It is still short of the record for upsets, which stands at 38 per cent during the 2015 season, but provides an indication of why you've done your dough or are falling behind in your tipping comp. Canberra and Penrith are the teams that have most often lost as favourites, going down on seven occasions when they were they were the bookmaker's fancy.

Souths eye Young blood South Sydney have expressed interest in luring Young Tonumaipea from Melbourne. The departure of Bryson Goodwin and Aaron Gray will open up back line spots and the Bunnies are keen for Tonumaipea to fill one of them. The Storm utility is contracted for next year and has an option for further season in his favour. It remains to be seen whether Souths will come up with an offer worth considering. Tigers make quiet exit Moving on: James Tedesco and Aaron Woods. Credit:NRL

Wests Tigers wanted to farewell Aaron Woods and James Tedesco with a special presentation at their final game for the club on Sunday, but the pair declined the offer. Woods and Tedesco will play their last game in the black, white and gold at Leichhardt Oval before leaving for Canterbury and the Roosters respectively. The Blues duo didn't want any fanfare to mark the occasion, preferring to keep a low profile in their final moments at the joint-venture outfit. Ditto Steve Matai at Manly. The Sea Eagles went ahead with a tribute to him and Brett Stewart at Lottoland on Saturday night despite the fact Matai didn't attend. Tweet memories: Steve Morris celebrates his selection. Credit:Fairfax Media

From the vault Steve Morris, the father of Bulldogs twins Josh and Brett, celebrates his 21st birthday with news he has just been selected to make his Kangaroos debut. "Slippery" Morris raises a toast to himself at Dapto Leagues Club, home of the Dapto Canaries. Yep, league's a funny old game Activist Danny Lim made headlines when he won an appeal against a $500 fine for offensive behaviour for brandishing a sign targeting former PM Tony Abbott with what appeared to be the c-word. Here we present another example of Lim's best work.

The headline you don't want to read "Where's Duges? Dragons fullback goes AWOL again" Josh Dugan, metaphorically and literally, missed the bus last weekend. Duges owes it to himself and his teammates to arrive early, remember his Opal card and produce an absolute blinder against the Bulldogs to ensure the Red V qualifies for the finals.