ABC Sport

Emerging superpowers Samoa and Tonga will field formidable teams loaded with NRL talent in the third edition of the Pacific Championships.

The boss of R360 says threats of 10-year bans for NRL players who defect to the rebel competition are predictable, as the code war escalates.

The Australian Rugby League Commission has announced a 10-year ban for any NRL player who agrees to join a football competition it does not recognise.

The NRLW judiciary adds more pain to the Sydney Roosters' grand-final loss to the Brisbane Broncos, with forward Aliyah Nasio banned for four matches.

Reece Walsh has built a compelling case for selection in the Kangaroos' starting line-up to face England, but coach Kevin Walters says he will not show favouritism towards the Maroons contingent in his squad.

Six NRL players are in the England rugby league squad for the upcoming Ashes series against Australia, but there's no room for the most consistent player of the Super League season. 

NSW State of Origin halfback Jesse Southwell's two-year deal with the Brisbane Broncos may add to the debate about the NRLW's competitiveness since it expanded to 12 teams.

Ethan Strange underlines his case for Kangaroos selection and Trai Fuller scores four tries in the Prime Minister's XIII 28-10 defeat of Papua New Guinea.

In their annual clash, the Prime Minister's XIII outclass the Orchids 50-0 in Port Moresby.

WA may traditionally be an AFL state but a club in the Pilbara has been named among the nation's best in another footy code.