Nick Campton

4 weeks ago | abc.net.au | Nick Campton

When news came through last week that Tom Jenkins would be playing fullback for Penrith in their grand final rematch with Melbourne, the reaction from outside the Panthers was literal disbelief. Surely, the scuttlebutt went, it was a smokescreen and coach Ivan Cleary would switch high-profile recruit Blaize Talagi to the back.

1 month ago | abc.net.au | Nick Campton

Daly Cherry-Evans sat in front of the cameras and explained the decision which reverberated through rugby league like a shock-wave — that he would be leaving the Manly Sea Eagles. He chose his words carefully and his speech was polished as he attempted to wade through the muddy waters of a high-profile exit. He spoke about his family, about his regret that any of this was played out in the media at all and said there was no bad blood between him and the club he'd represented with such distinction.

1 month ago | abc.net.au | Nick Campton

When it comes to high-level player movements in rugby league it can be hard to see the forest for the trees, especially when a decade-long deal worth a reported $13 million is floating around. For all his talent, Dylan Brown is an unlikely candidate to land the richest contract in the history of the sport and for all their determination to put more play-making talent around Kalyn Ponga, Newcastle seem an unlikely club to hand out such a decadent deal.

1 month ago | abc.net.au | Nick Campton

For the first time in what feels like a long time, the start of a Melbourne Storm season isn't tied to a Ryan Papenhuyzen comeback — instead, it's about how high he may climb. He's shrugged off a minor knee problem to be named for the Storm in their season opener against Parramatta on Sunday and seems poised to lead Melbourne towards yet another premiership charge. It's quite the transformation.

1 month ago | abc.net.au | Nick Campton

If you're going to make it in Las Vegas you need to accept that two opposite things can be true at the same time. The desert sand can turn to gold and still slip through your fingers. Every night finishes both too early and too late. The lights of the casinos glitter and sparkle like heaven but a wrong turn off the strip into the dark alleys where desperation rules is a reminder the depths of hell are never far away. You can be whatever you want, so long as you can live with it afterwards.