Bizarre Knights call new coach must undo to save team

Justin Holbrook's appointment as Knights coach this week may save the halfback career of new recruit Sandon Smith.

In a curious move, the Knights signed Smith a couple of weeks ago and promptly let it be known he would be moved to hooker - before they had a coach.

But Holbrook is known to be a fan of Smith, having worked with him at the Roosters for the past couple of years, and believes he has plenty to offer at halfback.

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Given the Knights' major problems in the halves in recent seasons, a Smith-Dylan Brown combination would give the team a fresh look for 2026.

The club has released Jackson Hastings, Jack Cogger and Jake Arthur - three players who played halfback in this season's doomed campaign - and there is no heir apparent.

Holbrook is keeping his options open, but given the way Smith played in several of the Roosters wins this season he seems the best option at No.7.

Warriors fume over bizarre NSW Cup sight

The Warriors are fuming that the Dragons were allowed to play talented centre/winger Mathew Feagai in the NSW Cup semi-finals last week.

Feagai played eight NRL games during the season and just three in the Cup. His profile isn't even on the Dragons' NSW Cup official team page.

But the NSW Rugby League somehow allowed him to play despite a rule that players must appear in at least eight games to be eligible - and he scored the Dragons' first two tries.

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Wide World of Sports contacted the NSWRL for an explanation - and was given this convoluted reason for Feagai being allowed to play.

"Under the NSWRL Operations Manual, clubs may make application for exemption requests relating to player eligibility in the finals.

"The purpose of this is to consider a player's eligibility in the context of games which the player may have been forced to miss for various reasons, including injury and other medical reasons.

"These are reviewed on a case-by-case basis with many variables considered along with supporting documentation."

'Genius' moment could save star's NRL career

A moment of pure genius from Cody Ramsey last weekend is set to save the forgotten Dragon's career.

Last week, Wide World of Sports revealed that Ramsey - who nearly died from ulcerative colitis in 2022 before coming back to footy this season in the NSW Cup in one of the most heartwarming stories of 2025 - is set to be cut by the Dragons.

Ramsey is without a club but a sensational solo try in the final minutes of the NSW Cup semi-final against the Warriors that has gone viral on social media may have changed all that.

Two Sydney clubs - believed to be the Eels and the Roosters - are suddenly showing interest in the fullback/winger.

"It was an amazing try - he must have beaten six players," Ramsey's manager Gavin Orr told Wide World of Sports.

"Cody is a great kid and such a good story.

"He just refused to give up where other blokes would have tossed in the towel.

"He was out for nearly three years but this season has topped the running metres and line break assists in the NSW Cup."

Souths forward facing uncertain future

Mystery surrounds the future of rising Rabbitohs forward Thomas Fletcher.

The club announced 10 players it was moving on for next season last week, leaving the 21-year-old from Dubbo as the only member of the top-30 squad unsigned for next season.

A couple of other clubs have their eye on the promising youngster, who made four appearances for the injury-ravaged Rabbitohs.

Souths are believed to be keen to retain him - but negotiations are slow.

Watch this space for developments.