The race for the minor premiership is well and truly on after title shots Sydney Roosters and South Sydney welcomed back some big names for the penultimate clash of the NRL season.

It was a "sliding doors" moment that could have changed everything.But future Immortal Johnathan Thurston has no regrets after revealing he considered big money overseas rugby union offers before remaining loyal to NRL club North Queensland in 2010.

Parramatta chairman Max Donnelly has hit out at fresh claims the club is again cheating the NRL salary cap by providing free or discounted rental properties to its players.

Malcolm Turnbull has survived a no confidence motion after earlier surviving a leadership challenge from outgoing Home Affairs minister Peter Dutton.

At least 11 people have been killed in southern Italy when they were washed away over rocks by a raging white-water creek in a deep mountain gorge that swelled suddenly after heavy rain upstream, officials said.

By rights, North Queensland co-captain Matt Scott should be hogging the limelight at Friday night's NRL clash with Parramatta in Townsville.

Fear of war in the Middle East, a political crisis in Venezuela and a crude oil cartel agreement means Australians are paying more for petrol at the bowser, a consumer watchdog report says.

Malcolm Turnbull has claimed victory in a leadership challenge and now wants his party unified and focused on Australians instead of internal battles.

Wounded prime ministers tend not to survive.Having narrowly won a Liberal leadership ballot against Peter Dutton on Tuesday, Malcolm Turnbull appears to have three options he can take himself, and one taken for him.

Australia's business community is furious the National Energy Guarantee has been effectively dumped, along with a pledge to legislate a cut to emissions in the electricity sector.