Daniel Anderson seems the right man for the Parramatta coaching position, despite spending the last four years in the English Super League managing St Helens. But coaching in England really isn’t the biggest credential for Anderson when it comes to handling one of the most enigmatic teams in the NRL.

For sale: Rugby league player with huge potential. Papua New Guinea coach Adrian Lam has done everything short of advertising in the Trading Post and on eBay to try to secure young Kumul centre prospect Anton Kui a professional offer to help develop his career.

The Kangaroos have continued on their uninterrupted journey to the World Cup final at Suncorp Stadium on November 22. But if we were to crown the efforts of those truly deserving, Papua New Guinea stands alone.

Australian coach Ricky Stuart says he expects England to try to bash the Kangaroos out of Sunday’s World Cup clash - with former Sydney Roosters firebrand Adrian Morley leading the fight for the Lions.

England skipper Jamie Peacock hasn’t even set foot in Townsville for his side’s opening World Cup match, and already he’s had enough of the hot weather.

Manly premiership-winner Michael Robertson would love to go to Scotland one day. In the meantime, he’s happy to represent the country at the Rugby League World Cup.

Hep Cahill hails from Napier in the Hawkes Bay region on the North Island’s East Coast. People from Napier and the Hawkes Bay area have a special reputation for toughness in New Zealand: the region was the scene of some of the most savage fighting in the Land Wars of the 1860s.

France and history go together well. They seem made for each other and this is why the French are one of the most culturally significant nations in the world - even in Rugby League.

Kangaroos veteran Craig Fitzgibbon has warned it won’t be all smooth sailing for hot favourites Australia when the Rugby League World Cup begins in two weeks time.

Exasperated Tongan coach Jim Dymock has branded the Rugby League World Cup’s rules a “joke” after two more NRL stars were rubbed out of his side a day after it lost Anthony Tupou to Australia.

Samoa will enter this year’s rugby league World Cup as the lowest ranked nation in the tournament. But with the player roster at its disposal, John Akland’s team are in a prime position to give league’s ranking system a kick up the ass.

As we all know by now, smoking kills. But it was the lack of cigarette sponsors in Tonga that nearly destroyed rugby league in the island nation following the disastrous 2000 World Cup in Britain.

The murky nature of rugby league’s international eligibility rules were exposed again today with Australian rejects Anthony Tupou and Jarryd Hayne both handed World Cup lifelines.

It’s worse than losing a State of Origin series because of the mateship at Melbourne, says Storm prop Brett White.

Departing Melbourne backrower Michael Crocker finally admitted what the rest of the rugby league world was already thinking - the Storm juggernaut has underachieved. “Yeah probably, but it’s not something you’re going to dwell on,” Crocker said.

The heat is firmly on referee Tony Archer with neither Melbourne nor Manly ready to change their penalty-attracting styles in Sunday’s NRL grand final at ANZ Stadium.

Melbourne enforcer Michael Crocker departs the Storm after Sunday’s NRL grand final believing the club has made him a better person as well as a better rugby league player.

Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy has taken aim at the NRL salary cap as he prepares to lose his 11th player from the Storm’s era of three straight grand finals.

Premiership-winning halfback Craig Wing believes the battle between rival No.7s Cooper Cronk and Matt Orford will decide Sunday’s NRL grand final.

Manly, Parramatta and South Sydney appear to be the winners and Newcastle the biggest losers after the NRL released the draw for the 2009 season today.