Author: Australian Associated Press

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Dragons heap more misery on Rabbitohs to regain NRL Charity Shield

  • St George Illawarra defeat South Sydney 46-26 in Mudgee
  • Sione Finau helped from field after starring with four tries

St George Illawarra have claimed a 46-26 Charity Shield victory to leave South Sydney coach Wayne Bennett with more questions than answers as he attempts to save the Rabbitohs’ NRL season before it has begun.

After a week in which Cameron Murray was ruled out for the rest of the year and Latrell Mitchell was sidelined for the first six weeks of the season, Jamie Humphreys emerged as a beacon of light for the Rabbitohs on Saturday.

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NRL announces $62.3m surplus as rugby league stakes ‘indisputable’ claim to be No 1 sport

  • Record revenue, crowds and viewing figures announced at AGM
  • Game ‘never been stronger’ financially, says Peter V’landys

The NRL has lauded the 2024 season as the most lucrative and successful in rugby league’s 117-year history in Australia.

Boasting record revenue, crowds and viewing figures, the NRL says rugby league is now the most popular sport in Australia and the Pacific.

Attendances – total: $4.79m - up 3.8%

TV viewership – total: $200.5m - up 8.6%

Participation – total: $1.03m - up 20.6%

Asset value – total: $322.4m - up 24%

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A-Leagues boss Nick Garcia departs in shock mid-season leadership shake-up

  • Stephen Conroy tightens grip on Australian Professional Leagues
  • APL hopes to stabilise domestic competitions take another hit

A-Leagues commissioner Nick Garcia has departed his role in a shock mid-season leadership change at Australian football’s struggling domestic competitions.

Garcia’s departure was confirmed on Thursday, with Australian Professional Leagues chairman Stephen Conroy announced as executive chairman.

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Matt Kuhnemann awaits fate on bowling action after undergoing ICC testing

  • ICC experts run rule of Australia spinner in Brisbane
  • 28-year-old reported during Sri Lanka Test series

Matt Kuhnemann is expected to learn his fate by the end of next week, after being put through intensive tests on his bowling action in Brisbane over the weekend. Just a week after being reported during Australia’s 2-0 Test series win in Sri Lanka, Kuhnemann has now completed tests on his suspect action.

The 28-year-old was put through his paces during a session that lasted more than one hour in Brisbane, asked to bowl at a similar speed and with similar revolutions to what he did in Galle.

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AFL State of Origin games could return in 2026, Andrew Dillon says

  • Andrew Dillon buoyed by success of Indigenous All Stars game
  • Representative fixtures forecast to become regular feature

AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon has flagged the possible return of state of origin amid a “groundswell” of support for the concept, as the league weighs up the future of representative football.

Buoyed by the success of last weekend’s Indigenous All Stars exhibition, Dillon on Wednesday forecast representative fixtures becoming a regular feature on the AFL calendar for years to come.

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Macarthur captain Valere Germain quits A-League over poor refereeing standards

  • Striker expected to swap Australia for Japan after terminating contract
  • Frenchman was facing FA hearing over alleged lewd gesture to official

Macarthur’s bid for an A-League Men finals berth has been dealt a hammer blow, with captain Valere Germain citing Australian refereeing standards as reason to terminate his contract.

Bulls officials confirmed to AAP that Germain’s request has been granted, with the 34-year-old forward expected to take up a contract offer in Japan.

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Māori edge to hard-fought men’s All Stars triumph over Indigenous team

  • Lowest-scoring game since inception of men’s matches
  • Indigenous team pip Māori in women’s All Stars thriller

The Māori claimed an attritional and gutsy 10-6 men’s All Stars rugby league win over the Indigenous team.

In the lowest-scoring game since the inception of the All Stars match in 2010, tries from Jacob Laban and Jesse Arthars cancelled out Shaquai Mitchell’s four-pointer. Arthars was the winner of the Preston Campbell medal as the best player of Saturday’s game at Commbank Stadium.

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Indigenous All Stars crush Fremantle in AFL pre-season showdown

  • All Stars run out 108-65 winners against the Dockers
  • Record crowd in Perth to witness one-sided clash

Bobby Hill kicked four goals and Jy Simpkin ran rampant in the midfield as the Indigenous All Stars put on a spectacle in a 43-point win over Fremantle at Optus Stadium.

Hill starred with his four majors from 12 disposals in Saturday’s twilight match, while Jason Horne-Francis was equally impressive with three goals from 17 touches as the All Stars ran out 16.12 (108) to 9.11 (65) winners. Simpkin won the Polly Farmer medal as best afield after his 30-disposal, 10-clearance, one-goal effort.

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Sri Lanka thrash Australia by 174 runs to complete first one-day series whitewash

  • Tourists crumble again after being set 282 in Colombo
  • Steve Smith top scored with 29 in dismal reply

Sri Lanka have completed their first whitewash of Australia in a one-day series with a record-breaking 174-run victory at Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

Set a challenging 282 to win, Australia were bowled out for just 107 in 24.2 overs on Friday to give Sri Lanka a 2-0 series sweep in a dreadful warm-up for the Champions Trophy beginning in Pakistan next week.

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Second-string Australia humbled as Sri Lanka win first ODI by 49 runs

  • Blistering 127 by captain Charith Asalanka sets up win
  • Tourists fold against spin of Maheesh Theekshana

Sri Lanka have embarrassed a second string Australian side with a 49-run victory after an imposing century from captain Charith Asalanka in the opening ODI match in Colombo.

The hosts lost their first five wickets for 55 on Wednesday before Asalanka unleashed to score 127 in 126 balls with 14 fours and five sixes, taking Sri Lanka to 214.

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Australia crush Sri Lanka in second Test to complete rare series sweep

Australia have capped off a brilliant summer with a nine-wicket defeat of Sri Lanka that confirms their first clean sweep of a subcontinent Test series in almost 20 years.

Chasing just 75 runs in sunny Galle on Sunday, Australia (75-1) secured victory in the second Test and two-match series when Marnus Labuschagne (26 not out) hit the winning run to square leg just before lunch on day four.

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Australia close on series triumph after swatting aside Sri Lanka resistance

Australia need only two wickets and a bit of gusto from the top order to defeat Sri Lanka and claim their first series whitewash on the subcontinent in nearly 20 years.

Sri Lanka went to stumps on day three of the second Test only 54 runs ahead of Australia in their second innings, with Kusal Mendis (48 not out) their last recognised batter. Australia could seal the win in the morning session on Sunday, but won’t want the run chase getting out of hand given the tricks the Galle pitch played early on day three.

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Smith and Carey plunder unbeaten tons as Australia take charge of second Test

  • Sri Lankan hopes snuffed out by partnership of 239
  • Tourists are 73 runs ahead with pitch wearing fast

Unbeaten centuries for Steve Smith and Alex Carey have put Australia on course for a series whitewash of Sri Lanka after the second day of the second Test in Galle.

On a dusty wicket tipped to soon become very tricky for the batsmen, Smith (120 not out from 239 balls) and Carey (139 not out from 156) forged a potentially match-winning 239-run stand that ripped momentum back in Australia’s favour.

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Jillaroos coach Brad Donald resigns ahead of historic rugby league Test in Las Vegas

  • Jess Skinner to take charge for international against England
  • Olivia Kernick and Keeley Davis return to Australia squad

Brad Donald has resigned as Jillaroos coach, with his replacement making an immediate statement ahead of the upcoming Test against England in Las Vegas.

AAP reported last month that Donald’s job was under threat as the NRL finalised an investigation into a disparaging comment allegedly made in front of players.

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