The NRL rarely stands still.
Between training sessions, media appearances, and behind-the-scenes conversations, new storylines often begin to emerge before the weekend arrives.
Throughout the week, ESPN will be gathering notes, insights, and updates from around the competition ahead of State of Origin Game I and Round 12 of the NRL.
Ciraldo addresses Verrills talks
Following reports from ESPN that Bulldogs GM Phil Gould had met with Titans hooker Sam Verrills over the weekend, head coach Cameron Ciraldo has revealed the club is considering its options.
"Every player that comes off contract, there's gotta be a discussion around if they're in the best interest of your club," Ciraldo said Thursday.
"We wouldn't be doing our job or our due diligence if we weren't looking at all those options."
He also said that current hooker Bailey Hayward should still feel comfortable with his position at Canterbury, stating, "he's gonna be a Bulldog player long term."
Bulldogs boost with winger's return
Jacob Kiraz has passed his fitness tests and will feature for the Bulldogs this weekend.
Initial reports indicated he had a few more hurdles to overcome before getting the all clear, however, Ciraldo confirmed Kiraz will play on Friday night.
"He's 100% ready to go," Ciraldo said.
"He's worked really hard in rehab; our rehab and medical team have done a great job with him."
Ciraldo also had some words of confidence for Lachlan Galvin, following Gus Gould's comments on The Bye Round podcast around his future as the club's halfback.
"He's the best halfback we've got right now and he's got an opportunity to be a halfback for as long as he wants to be," he said.
Su'A opens on Dragons exit
Jaydn Su'A has lifted the lid on his bombshell decision to depart the Dragons for the Eels in 2027, admitting he was in talks around an extension earlier in the year.
"I was in talks with the club earlier this year, and obviously those broke down," he revealed.
"When your time's done, it's done. For myself, it was time to look elsewhere."
He also said there were internal talks about an immediate release to Parramatta, however, those didn't come to fruition.
"There's been conversations in house [about an early release] but I'm here for the rest of the year," he said.
When asked if he was hoping to extend with the club originally, he said he'd always been "open" to a new opportunity if it came forward.
Su'A will meanwhile feature in the centres this weekend, revealing it isn't totally uncharted territory for him.
"I've been training there the last few weeks with the Cup side, so I've got a few reps there now," Su'A shared.
"I've played a few games at centre for the club, but that was [due to] an injury in the game."
While his confidence at centre may not be sky high with minimal reps in first grade, his teammate Hamish Stewart has never felt more comfortable in his role, or his fellow forwards'.
"We're all workers," Stewart declared.
"We've got a lot of young guys willing yo work, and we're all hungry, so... we're all ready to go.
"We're young, we're fit, we're healthy."
Crichton clear, but unsure what side he'll play
NSW Blues centre Stephen Crichton has passed his medical ahead of Origin camp, after struggling with an AC joint injury over his last few games with the Bulldogs.
"Everything's done, I'm all good," Crichton said. "This is probably the best it's felt now. There's no worries there."
He revealed that he's been quite restricted during Canterbury's preparations in the past few weeks, but believes it's all behind him now.
"I couldn't do contact [training] ever since doing it," he said of his injury. "So no contact in training, so no reps in that sense.
"Last week was probably my first time in and around the boys tackling again with no needle, just pad."
Crichton admitted he'll likely needle up before Origin I "just in case."
While he has played both left and right centre for the Bulldogs in 2026, Crichton meanwhile revealed he was unsure where he would line up for the Blues.
"I don't know yet," he admitted when asked where he expects to be playing come game day.
"I've done a lot of reps. I started on the left side at the start for the Dogs and then moved back to the right."
While Crichton's place on the field remains unknown at this stage, Blues teammate Hudson Young is stoked to have earned the left edge role for NSW.
"[Laurie Daley] told me that I was starting on the left edge and something I've wanted to do for a long time," Young admitted.
"Last year I had a bit of a different role coming off the bench and playing in the middle... so playing left back row is something that I wanted to do and I've got the opportunity now, and it's one that I'm really forward to."
Victor the Inflictor
Victor Radley enters the Origin arena for the first time, and it seems he's been given free rein to let loose against the Maroons in Game I.
"I think it's the same with the Roosters," he said of his mentality heading into next Wednesday's clash.
"I don't think Robbo ever tries to hamstring me -- he wants me to be myself and my aggressive self. So nothing changes for me."
The fire brewing inside Radley seems to also be aflame in Addin Fonua-Blake, who will also be making his Blues debut.
"I don't want to get in a war with words... but I know if I was playing against [our forward pack] I'd have a bit of fear in me," AFB said of the Blues big men.
Coffee catch-up to Blues call-up
Addin Fonua-Blake has revealed that he caught up with Blues coach Laurie Daley earlier in the season to discuss Origin and his potential debut in the 2026 season, which only motivated the star prop further.
"We met up and had a coffee," he revealed.
"He [asked] me what are my desires for the year, I told him I'm trying to make the Origin team. He [asked] what it means to me, I told him it means the world."
He added that his chat with Daley at a coffee shop in the Shire pushed him to work harder to start the year, resulting in a Blues call-up just a couple of months later.
No Latrell, but clean bill of health for Blues otherwise
Laurie Daley says he expects the entire Blues squad to pass their medicals at midday on Monday, with no players carrying any significant injuries outside of a few niggles.
"My understanding of it is that they all will be good," Daley said.
"There's a few little bumps and bruises, but that'll be assessed at lunchtime,
"I'm expecting them all to be there by the end of the day."
Inside the big Blues calls
James Tedesco has won the race to reclaim his No. 1 Blues jersey, beating out Dylan Edwards to reclaim the jersey he held a mortgage on for so many years.
Laurie Daley declared that his decision to insert 'Teddy' over Edwards had little to do with the latter's form, and more to do with the Roosters skipper's dynamic play style.
"Dylan and Teddy play different football," Daley noted.

"Teddy's more dynamic [while] Dylan gets through a mountain of work.
"We just feel like the spine with Teddy, the connection he's got with Robson, [and] Moses and Cleary on either side, it just gives us a few more opportunities to create a few more points."
He also explained the reasoning behind why he overlooked Jackson Ford, Jacob Preston, and Angus Crichton, admitting he prioritised mobility when selecting his side.
"They were they were really close," he said.
"But Hudson [Young] has been arguably the best back-rower, and I think Haumole [Olakau'atu] over the last six weeks has just been demanding selection.
"We needed someone that could play on an edge, if required, and Jackson's probably the guy that just plays through the middle."
Short wingers? No problem
One concern discussed amongst fans is the lack of height between Laurie Daley's wingers -- Tolu Koula and Brian To'o.
Despite that, Daley isn't worried.
"Brian's the best winner in the game, so I don't think height's got anything to do with it," Daley declared.
"Tolu has played fullback, he's good under a high ball, so if they want to kick, they can kick.
"We've seen it before, nothing will phase our guys."
