CHRIS Sandow admits he shed tears when he left South Sydney to join Parramatta at the end of last year.

THE Parramatta Eels have had their pre-season rocked by the sudden death of strength and conditioning coach Sean Burns on Friday.

PARRAMATTA will not punish Esi Tonga for his "no show" at a Queensland State of Origin camp.

ESI Tonga faces a two-year ban from Queensland State of Origin selection after going missing during a Maroons' emerging squad camp at the weekend.

PARRAMATTA'S forgotten man Justin Poore was contemplating life as a plumber this time last year as his NRL career hung in the balance.

NATHAN Hindmarsh is one of several high-profile stars not contracted beyond 2012 - and the retirement talk has started already.

EXCLUSIVE: THE asking price to lure Cooper Cronk away from Melbourne has been set at $850,000 a season by his management team.

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

JUST because they're tough, don't think your favourite NRL players are only interested in partying during the off season.

BY his own admission, Willie Tonga needed to escape Sydney for the sake of his rugby league career.

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.

PARRAMATTA have set their sights on NSW Origin enforcer Beau Scott, whose contract with St George Illawarra expires at the end of the year.

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

JARRYD Hayne wishes everyone could experience the feeling. Even if only once.

TEEN Parramatta sensation Jacob Loko has become the first player ruled out for 2012 - thanks to a freak mishap at training.

RUGBY league legend Ray Price is enjoying the sunshine on the Gold Coast and he's found a new career.

SONNY Bill Williams has told close friends of his intention to relocate to Sydney in a year, shortening the odds of an NRL comeback.

PARRAMATTA veteran Ben Smith claims the arrival of new halfback Chris Sandow could be the catalyst for a resurgent Jarryd Hayne in 2012.

STATE of Origin star Will Hopoate began helping Brisbane's lost souls yesterday after abandoning the NRL for a two-year Mormon mission.