NORTH Queensland Cowboys prop Carl Webb is set to miss Friday night's NRL blockbuster against Brisbane. Webb is still struggling with a small calf tear.

NEWCASTLE coach Rick Stone won't play star hooker Isaac De Gois against the Bulldogs in their round one clash at ANZ Stadium on Saturday night.

SYDNEY will be rugby league's celebration central for the week leading up to the Grand Final this year thanks to a plan hatched by the NRL and the State Government.

HEY there footy fans. The season kicks off tomorrow night and I am just a bundle of nerves. I have to admit that my head is all over the shop.

HIS skin is thicker than the crocodiles in Townsville's waterways, so Cowboys coach Neil Henry reckons Suncorp Stadium holds no fears for Willie Mason.

LOTE Tuqiri stepped off a 24-hour flight from London, went through customs and walked straight into the open arms of Sydney, the Wests Tigers and rugby league.

SHARKS enforcer Paul Gallen has told how a chat with club legend Andrew Ettingshausen helped convince him to sign a deal that will keep him at Cronulla for life.

HOOKER Michael Ennis will have first crack at the Bulldogs' goalkicking duties against the Knights with Bryson Goodwin struggling to recover from a toe injury.

TITANS fullback Preston Campbell says Shannon Walker will have his best season, despite the speedster starting 2010 with Queensland Cup club Tweed Seagulls.

SEAN Baker filled the role of super-sub for Broadbeach before answering an SOS to join the Australian squad's training camp in Cairns.

BOOKIES have taken a set against Brendan Fevola to be the AFL season's top goalkicker and have extended his price to match last year's 89 goals.

IRONWOMAN Hayley Bateup makes no secret of her passionate Gold Coast ties and stays loyal in naming her NRL SuperCoach dream team.

FOUR Helensvale players remain in contention for Commonwealth Games selection with the announcement yesterday of Australia's shadow squad.

DON'T miss your chance to share in nearly $60,000 in prizemoney with The Courier-Mail's NRL SuperCoach and NRL Tipping game.

GREG Bird will toughen up the Titans but will also be handy at golf charity days. We're told he won nearest-the-pin at a golf day last week.

KALLANGUR golfer Basil Clift will have every weekend golfer turning green with envy after scoring his fifth hole-in-one.

WIDE Bay club Bargara has scored a bowls coup with the rescheduling of the Trans-Tasman Series for there on May 13-14.

HOLD on to your Howdy Doody hat, tickets for the March 12 Suncorp Stadium blockbuster between the Broncos and Cowboys are on sale.

Three Queensland women will line up in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open women's singles at Shepparton today.

OUR spies at the Currumbin Surf Club report All Stars player Sam Thaiday showed his origins with a fine performance of a traditional dance last week.