Newcastle Knights great Steve Simpson has endorsed Rick Stone as being up to the job of taking over from super coach Wayne Bennett.

Increased squad sizes and longer rest periods between matches are two changes organisers of the NRL Auckland Nines hope will ease player workload.

The second NRL Auckland Nines tournament will be held on Saturday January 31 and Sunday February 1 next year, organisers have confirmed.

Warriors coach Andrew McFadden has lauded his team's ability to put the loss of star halfback Shaun Johnson behind them.

An expansive South Sydney made light work of a poor Newcastle at Barlow Park in Cairns yesterday to cement second on the NRL ladder.

Newcastle great Andrew Johns has been approached by the Knights to take up a coaching role at the NRL club next season following the departure of Wayne Bennett.

The Warriors have blitzed a Canberra Raiders side who were dressed like the Incredible Hulk, but played more like his skittish and mild mannered alter-ego David Banner.

The NRL Nines will go ahead in Auckland next year, and is set to be staged at Eden Park after all.

Robbie Farah shouldn't feel victimised over Gorden Tallis' claim of what Farah told him about Wests Tigers coach Mick Potter.

Watching Hurrell over the past month or so, the penny seems to have finally dropped.

The Little General is earning his coaching stripes and has aspirations to coach at NRL level.

Penrith's fortunes swung both ways on Friday night when they scored a 22-16 win over luckless Canterbury in a physical affair at ANZ Stadium.

Manly moved a step closer to their first minor premiership since 1997, and a vital top spot, with a 16-4 win over Brisbane at Brookvale Oval on Friday night.

Gorden Tallis has opened a can of worms I find hard to digest. By revealing Robbie Farah told him Wests Tigers mentor Mick Potter "can't coach", he has overstepped the line and it will have an enormous impact on so many people.

Star Warriors halfback Shaun Johnson has been felled by a nagging groin injury, leaving the team devoid of their chief playmaker and organiser as they enter the business end of the season.

Warriors halfback Shaun Johnson and back-rower Feleti Mateo have been named in coach Andrew McFadden's side to play the Canberra Raiders on Sunday.

St George Illawarra NRL star Trent Merrin says the joint venture should move swiftly to sign caretaker coach Paul McGregor.

The Warriors are determined to learn from Sunday's disappointing 22-12 loss to Manly.