Comeback trail: Former Canberra Raider Sandor Earl. Credit:Jeffrey Chan The Dragons have a track record of helping errant players turn their lives around, most notably in the work they did with Russell Packer off the field. They also helped Josh Dugan reach his potential after a string of misdemeanours threatened his career. Earl has been working with strength and conditioning coach Christian Woodford in a bid to build up the fitness required to make it back into the NRL. The 27-year-old has been documenting his journey along the way while working as a personal trainer. In a recent interview with Fairfax Media, Earl said he was keen to be remembered for more than just his drugs dramas. "We are nearly four years in, all the facts are out there," Earl said.

"The public had their perception based on some pretty crazy media articles during the first six months. But now people have got the facts and the perception has changed. "I don't want people to feel sorry for me, but at the end of the day, Iwas hard done by. I think everyone gets that. People around me want to see me get back into doing what I enjoy doing and have a crack. Once I start playing, everything else can be put into the past. Then I can go out on my own terms, that's a big motivator." Earl will need to convince the NRL that he is a fit and proper person for registration before he is given the green light to return. Josh McGuire on the phone during Friday's match. Credit:Fox Sports NOTHING TO SEE HERE?

Josh McGuire will become the first test case of the NRL's new integrity measures after the Brisbane forward used a mobile phone in the dressing rooms during Friday's loss to Melbourne. As this frame grab clearly shows, McGuire is pictured on a mobile at Suncorp Stadium. McGuire had been concussed earlier in the game and it is understood he was trying to contact loved ones with an update on his health. In an attempt to avoid any perception of match fixing, the NRL announced a raft of new protocols at the start of the season concerning game-day mobile phone use. The measures, aimed at shutting down potential communication between players and gamblers, prohibit phone use in restricted areas, including dressing rooms and tunnels from half an hour before kick-off to the completion of the match. Players must surrender their phones to a club official before play or personally turn them off to be stowed away in a bag or locker. Only a select number of authorised club staffers, such as the chief medical officer, are permitted to use mobiles in dressing rooms. Players are forbidden from directly updating family members in the event of an injury unless done so via a nominated club official's phone. In McGuire's case, the Broncos claim he did just that to speak to a family member. The NRL will investigate the matter but will likely accept Brisbane's explanation. There's no suggestion whatsoever that McGuire's phone use was in any way betting related. "The rules were set up to enable players to use the phone of an authorised official to call their loved ones," an NRL spokesperson said. "Clearly they need to be able to tell their wives and partners they are OK."

The governing body has the power to fine or suspend players, but McGuire is likely to be cleared to take his place in the State of Origin decider. McGuire copped a heavy concussion in Friday's clash. The Kangaroos forward was dazed after his head contacted the hip of Storm counterpart Jesse Bromwich in the eighth minute of play. He was taken from the field and did not return due to the severity of the head knock. McGuire was so staggered immediately after the hit that he tried to push past Allan Langer as the trainer dragged him to the sidelines for a head-injury assessment. BACK TO THE TABLE The NRL and the Rugby League Players' Association are heading back to the negotiating table on Tuesday, raising hopes their pay dispute won't result in an ugly cricket-style war. The parties bunkered down for talks on Thursday and Friday, emerging cautiously optimistic that a collective bargaining agreement can be struck before the season ends. Given there is no salary cap in place for next year, let's hope they are able to thrash out a deal to give players, clubs and fans certainty about the future. CHEERS, AT LAST

Parramatta will soon be serving their own beers on tap after their leagues club announced plans to open a brewery as part of the redevelopment of the precinct. Long-suffering fans haven't had many successes to toast in recent years, but there are high hopes that will change as they prepare for a new stadium and associated infrastructure. We can reveal that the yet-to-be named craft beers will be flowing from Jack's Brewery, named after the late, great Eels premiership-winning coach Jack Gibson. In another nod to yesteryear, the new leagues club auditorium, which will house an eight-lane ten-pin bowling centre, will be called Kicks. That was the name of the legendary former nightclub on the premises. GREATEST GAME OF ALL? Which is the greatest rugby league moment of the past 15 years? South Sydney's readmission to the competition? NSW finally winning a State of Origin series in 2014? Johnathan Thurston all but securing Immortality when his golden-point field goal earned the Cowboys their maiden premiership?

The Men of League foundation is celebrating its 15th year by showcasing the highlights from the greatest game of all through the eyes of co-founder Ron Coote. The Roosters and Rabbitohs legend has chosen an annual personal highlight from the past 15seasons, with the public vote to determine the greatest. The most popular "Through the Eyes of Ron Coote" moment will be announced at the Men of League's gala dinner at the Hyatt Regency on July 26. Coote's moments are: 2002: South Sydney's return to the competition; 2003: Introduction of golden point;

2004: Hazem El Masri breaking the individual point-scoring record for a season; 2005: Wests Tigers become first joint-venture premiers; 2006: Storm and Broncos feature in first interstate premiership decider; 2007: Gold Coast returns to the competition; 2008: Rugby league celebrates centenary;

2009: Jillaroos snap Kiwi Ferns' winning streak; 2010: Inaugural All Stars match; 2011: Darren Lockyer's final Origin series; 2012: Launch of the Australian Rugby League Commission; 2013: Most successful RLWC of all time;

2014: NSW win the State of Origin series; 2015: All-Queensland grand final; 2016: Cronulla win maiden title. Head to the Men of League website to cast your vote. That's Hollywood: Parramatta fan Mary Lach argues the toss with Greg Hartley. Credit:Fairfax Media

FROM THE VAULT How often have you wanted to jump the fence and give the referee a piece of your mind? Parramatta fan Mary Lach did just that, giving Greg Hartley a piece of her mind at Leichhardt Oval in 1980. THE HEADLINE YOU DON'T WANT TO READ "Laurie Daley quits after another Origin series defeat" He's one of rugby league's good guys, so it would be a shame if his Blues couldn't pull off a series win and give Loz the chance to continue on as coach.

Comeback: "Gorgeous" George Rose. Credit:Renee McKay Loading YEP, LEAGUE'S A FUNNY OLD GAME Wendell Sailor, Steve Menzies, Mark Riddell, Nathan Blacklock, John Hopoate and George Rose (pictured) are among the big names in Gosford for Tuesday's inaugural Legends of League tournament. Some of those guys haven't played for more than a decade. Hamstrings will be pinging.