NEW Warriors hooker Nathan Friend will face his former team after being named in a 25-strong squad to face the Gold Coast in Saturday's trial.

PAUL Gallen was the most popular pick, while Wayne Bennett sprung two surprises with his coach's pick in naming the NRL All Stars side. Team

REIGNING premiers Manly face the possibility of being torn apart at the end of this year.

TERRY Campese's hopes of resurrecting his NSW Origin career received a huge boost yesterday when he was named in the emerging Blues squad.

NRL fans could be robbed of the sight of Manu Vatuvei terrorising opponents in next month's All Stars clash thanks to the voting process.

PHIL ROTHFIELD delivers his fearless predictions on what to expect in the 2012 NRL season.

RUGBY league great Andrew Johns says he's staggered by the potential of young players coming through at the Warriors NRL club.

THE AFL may not be perfect but it's 460 days better than the system in place in the NRL, highlighted by the James Maloney saga.

WARRIOR James Maloney has signed with the Sydney Roosters for 2013 - a whopping 460 days before he pulls on a tricolours jumper.

THE Sydney Roosters have beaten off six other clubs to sign red-hot Warriors playmaker James Maloney on a three-year-deal.

WARRIORS star Brett Seymour's two-year stay in New Zealand has ended in ignominy after a drink-driving conviction.

THERE is hope the NRL commission could be in place before Christmas after the clubs agreed a much-reduced financial package.

SOUTH Sydney have embarked on a full-blown charm offensive to attract grand final playmaker James Maloney back across the Tasman.

AT long last, rugby league's march towards independence is almost over after the 16 NRL clubs agreed to sign club licences with the new ARL Commission.

IN his first press conference as Penrith coach, Ivan Cleary has revealed junior talent will be key to his plans at the NRL club.

PREMIERS Manly will kick-start their title defence with a grand final re-match against New Zealand next season.

IMAGINE how good Shaun Johnson is going to be now.

RUGBY league's civil war reached boiling point last night with NRL clubs plotting a boycott of peace talks with News Limited and the ARL.

VETERAN utility Shaun Berrigan has signed with NRL club Canberra on a two-year deal that will likely see him end his career in the nation's capital.

CLUBS are preparing to dig in over their demand for the NRL to take out an $8 million bank loan so their funding can be increased next season.