From all reports Souths are training well under new coach Johnny Lang. New recruits Sam Burgess and Dave Taylor are fitting in very well. Sutton suffered a neck injury up at Camp Rabbitoh in Coffs Harbour and has given the squad a opportunity to trial Luke Capewell at 5/8.

Ben Ross and Rhys Wesser face a agonising week as they wait for their medical clearances for 2010. The outlook for Ross is looking promising, but for Wesser, his knee injury from Rd2 2009 is not improving and he may be forced to retire. Kane Cleal was released after not recovering from his hand injury that did not allow him to play many matches in 2009.

Like everyone I am itching to get back to real football in two weeks. See you all at RTR.

On Jan 18 the clubs voted to support the RL Indepenadt Commission. This is going to be good for the game to remove News Ltd but the end of the NRL partnership ARL agreement with News Ltd was that News Ltd would hand its 50% share to the clubs. The concern here is that News Ltd is pushing a agenda for clubs to be 100% in control of the ARLC which does not go well for Junior / Bush and Rep football, based upon past situations, including a recent threat by the clubs to withhold players from the ANZAC Test.