The governing body will introduce a shot clock next season, but there is no word on how long teams will have to take line dropouts or to pack scrums.

The timings will be important, as scrums give free-to-air broadcasters a chance to squeeze in a quick advertisement, one of seven the Nine Network budgets for during live play.

If the shot clock is less than 35 seconds, there is unlikely to be time to cut to a commercial.

The NRL is hoping to land a broadcast deal bigger than the last one, which was $1.2 billion. But free-to-air networks may baulk at paying extra if the desire to speed up play limits the amount of their advertising revenue.

The line dropout situation is unlikely to change – Nine seldom squeezes in an advertisement for restarts – but scrums are viewed as a golden opportunity to cut away in play.

The NRL needs to be mindful of this when it experiments with shot clocks in the upcoming rounds.

Packer's Pride may grow

The mail is getting stronger that James Packer will buy out Russell Crowe to become sole owner of South Sydney.

The Rebel Rabbitohs supporters group broke the news that Packer was looking to buy into the "Pride of the League" and now the group is reporting the Oscar-winning actor is on his way out.

"Some time ago, when we broke the news that James Packer was looking to buy into Souths," Rebel Rabbitohs posted on their facebook page, "we also suggested that he would end up owning 100 [per cent] once Russell Crowe felt he could get out. Well the whisper has started now that Rusty wants to be gone and that Packer is about to own the lot."

Packer, who is dating pop diva Mariah Carey, paid about $12.5 million for Peter Holmes a Court's 37.5 per cent share of Souths last year.

Packer's change of allegiance only adds to the theatre of the great Rabbitohs-Roosters rivalry: the son of media mogul Kerry previously served on the Roosters board.

Hunted by Dragons

Feleti Mateo has attracted interest from the Dragons, both the St George Illawarra and Catalans varieties. We revealed last week that Mateo and Matt Ballin headlined a list of players, contracted or otherwise, who were deemed surplus to requirements at Manly.

The Sea Eagles are trying to clear salary cap space after splurging on Daly Cherry-Evans, Nate Myles, Lewis Brown, Api Koroisau and Darcy Lussick.

Mateo and Ballin are furious about attempts to squeeze them out, particularly as the latter signed a contract extension only three months ago.

With Trent Merrin shifting to Penrith, St George Illawarra are looking at back-row options and have identified the ball-playing forward as a player of interest.

Mateo isn't the only back-rower of interest to the Red V. Off-contract Shark Anthony Tupou is also of interest. Tupou has been named on an extended bench for Sunday's clash with Canterbury, although it is unclear if he will return in first grade this week.

Tupou has been sidelined with a broken jaw after a sickening collision with Warriors three-quarter Konrad Hurrell. There's a possibility the pair will square off next week as the Warriors are hosting Cronulla at Mt Smart Stadium.

Burgess in the middle

It is interesting that Luke Burgess is one of the dozen-plus Manly players on the chopping block.

Sea Eagles chief executive Joe Kelly went to war with coach Geoff Toovey over the signing. Toovey didn't want the Rabbitohs forward, but Kelly got his way and signed him for two years.

Now, as the club prepares to announce Toovey's sacking, they are trying to offload Burgess who has a year to run on his contract. Toovey is being blamed for a poor year, but it doesn't help when players you don't want are foisted upon you.

Thompson to wing it

Corey Thompson may be on the move after attracting interest here and overseas. The Bulldogs winger is off contract at the end of the season and has fielded interest from three NRL clubs and Super League outfits.

Thompson is one of the smallest wingers in the game, but is a reliable performer when given an opportunity in first grade.

Lulia in the clear

Keith Lulia feared his career was over after injuring his neck again in a crusher tackle earlier this month. Lulia made a remarkable comeback in the NSW Cup for Wests Tigers this year after breaking his C5 and C6 vertebrae against the Cowboys in August.

Lulia was the victim again of an alleged crusher tackle and headed to the specialists on Wednesday. Thankfully, the 28-year-old was cleared of serious injury.

The former Dragons and Knights three-quarter – who equalled the Wests Tigers club record set by Kevin McGuiness and Marika Koroibete when he scored four tries in a game against Canterbury in 2013 – is off contract at the end of the year, but is hopeful of a new deal after receiving the good news.

"When it comes your neck, it's pretty scary, especially when you've injured it before," Lulia said. "Luckily, it's not as bad as first thought and I can get back out there soon and keep playing."

Johns' uncertain future

Geoff Toovey and his coaching staff will likely be given the bullet in the next few days. So where does that leave Andrew Johns? The eighth Immortal is a consultant halves coach for Manly, but it is unclear if he will continue to have a role under Trent Barrett.

"I don't know, I haven't spoken to the powers that be," Johns said when asked if he was contracted for next year. "It's all up in the air. I love working there. I live in the area. We'll see what happens."

Titans close to a win

The Gold Coast is inching closer to signing a halfback to replace Daly Cherry-Evans. Broncos young gun Ashley Taylor is likely to sign a two-year deal.

The Titans haven't be able to take a trick since the infamous DCE backflip, but are close to securing a halves partner for Kane Elgey. The Titans want a more seasoned halfback given Elgey's inexperience, and unwanted Knight Tyrone Roberts was on their radar.

But it appears Taylor will get the nod after being given an early release from Brisbane.

Super young talent's time

Some of Super League's best youngsters will test themselves against their NRL counterparts during the pre-season. St Helens are sending their under-18s team to Australia from October 12 to November 2 to play against Parramatta, Penrith and Wests Tigers. No doubt NRL scouts will be watching the clashes and taking notes in little black books.

In the blood

Shane Mattiske, a key figure in securing the NRL's $1.2 billion broadcast deal, may have a league crossover in his next job.

The NRL's former head of strategy started at Repucom last week as joint managing director of Australia and New Zealand. Repucom provides market data to a range of sporting and entertainment clients, including the NRL.