South Sydney star issued with summons by Queensland Police
29-year-old hooker set to appear in court on 18 September
NRL star Brandon Smith has been charged with drug supply and using inside knowledge for betting.
The South Sydney hooker was questioned by police when he arrived in Queensland ahead of their 10 August clash with Gold Coast, but released without charge.
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Continue reading...Teenager curls home goal in another strong performance for new side
He says his ambition is to ‘make the crowd go wild’ at Vicarage Road
The young Socceroos star Nestory Irankunda has scored his first goal for the Championship side Watford with a stunning free kick.
The 19-year-old winger, who starred at Adelaide United but struggled to get game time at Bayern Munich, curled home a glorious 25-yard free kick to give the Hornets the lead at Swansea in the 35th minute of their 1-1 draw on Saturday.
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Continue reading...World No 8 will face compatriot Chris O’Connell in first round
Australia’s 15-strong contingent prepare at Flushing Meadows
In-form Alex de Minaur has brushed off a minefield draw to declare himself primed to lead Australia’s 15-strong charge at the US Open in New York.
Having secured a precious top-eight seeding courtesy of his 10th career title in Washington and a last-eight run in Cincinnati, De Minaur is guaranteed to avoid a higher-ranked rival until at least the quarter-finals.
Continue reading...South Africa 277; Australia 193 | SA win by 84 runs
Josh Inglis knock can’t mask another batting failure
Australia have slumped to a seventh defeat from their last eight ODIs, suffering a 84-run loss against South Africa in Mackay that allowed the Proteas to take an unassailable 2-0 series lead.
After being crushed by 98 runs in Cairns on Tuesday night, Australia again struggled batting under lights as the recent 50-over retirements of Steve Smith and Glenn Maxwell were laid bare.
Continue reading...Winger starts as Australia bid for historic win in Cape Town
Rob Valetini and Tom Robertson also come in
Corey Toole will make his Test debut in one of three changes to the Wallabies starting side as they attempt to go back-to-back against the Springboks in South Africa for the first time since 1963.
The 25-year-old Paris Olympics sevens star will replace injured winger Dylan Pietsch for their Rugby Championship clash in Cape Town on Saturday night local time (Sunday 1.10am AEST).
Continue reading...First ODI: South Africa 296-8; Australia 198 | SA win by 98 runs
Hosts lose six wickets for 29 in Cairns collapse
A career-best haul from veteran spinner Keshav Maharaj has inspired South Africa to a crushing 98-run win over Australia in the first ODI in Cairns.
With Australia cruising at 0-60 chasing the Proteas’ 8-296, Maharaj wreaked havoc during a stunning spell as the hosts lost 6-29 in 55 balls at Cazaly’s Stadium.
Continue reading...Midfielder rejects interest from both Adelaide clubs to stay with Saints
Two-year deal secures 22-year-old’s immediate future at Moorabbin
Breakout star Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera will stay at St Kilda on a bumper two-year deal after rejecting huge interest from Adelaide and Port Adelaide. Wanganeen-Milera has become the AFL’s first player to earn $2m per season in signing through to the end of 2027, in a huge boost to the Saints.
The 22-year-old had been cagey on his future, the most hotly-anticipated contract call this year, amid his breakout season, but has ultimately turned his back on monster long-term offers from both Adelaide clubs.
Continue reading...Return for 35-year-old after three-year absence
Blow as Ben Donaldson ruled out of Johannesburg clash
Veteran James O’Connor has been called on to take on the playmaking duties as the Wallabies seek to build on the impetus of their third Test win over the Lions with a rare victory in South Africa at the start of the Rugby Championship.
But a plan for the 35-year-old O’Connor, back in the green and gold after three years, to share the No 10 role has had to be shelved after Ben Donaldson went down injured in training on Thursday.
Continue reading...Todd Greenberg sees a future with fewer Test nations
Winter Tests in Darwin and Cairns could be revived
Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg has warned some nations will go “bankrupt” if they continue to play the longest format of the game, stressing he sees a future with fewer Test nations.
Admitting he has become a “little unpopular” since taking over from Nick Hockley in March, the former Australian Cricketers’ Association boss believes “scarcity in Test cricket is our friend, not our foe”.
Continue reading...Batsman hit 12 fours and eight sixes in unbeaten 125
Hosts made 165 in vain chase of 219 in Darwin
Dewald Brevis lit up Darwin’s Marrara Oval with a blazing century to help South Africa to an imposing 53-run victory over Australia in the second Twenty20 match.
The 22-year-old Brevis scored an unbeaten 125 from 56 balls with 12 fours and eight sixes, propelling South Africa to 7-218 before Australia struggled to 165 in front of another noisy near-capacity crowd on Tuesday night.
Continue reading...Two-time Brownlow medallist to retire at end of season
‘It just feels like it’s the right time,’ says 33-year-old midfielder
Fremantle great Nat Fyfe is satisfied he has made the right decision, calling time on his glittering AFL career after a gruelling run with injury. The two-time Brownlow medallist will retire at the end of the season, ideally after helping to steer the fourth-placed Dockers deep into September.
Monday’s announcement came two days after Fyfe played just his fifth game of the season, returning from injury as Fremantle claimed a last-gasp six-point win over Port Adelaide.
Continue reading...Australia 178; South Africa 161-9 | Australia win by 17 runs
David scores 83 to lead Australia to win in Darwin
Australia have dominated South Africa’s largely unknown batting lineup to secure an unlikely victory in the first match of a three-game Twenty20 series in Darwin.
South Africa lost by 17 runs in at Marrara Oval on Sunday, bowled out for 161 after Australia were dismissed for a disappointing 178 from the final ball of an innings rescued by Tim David’s 83.
Continue reading...Littler wins his first World Series event of year
‘It’s another one I can tick off,’ says world No 1
World champion Luke Littler demonstrated his phenomenal teenage talent in Wollongong by winning the star-studded Australian Darts Masters. A year after being humbled in the final of the biggest invitation event to be played in Australia, the 18-year-old this time made no mistake, winning all three of his matches convincingly on Saturday night to lift yet another big title.
He also crushed Damon Heta’s homecoming dream as he hammered Australia’s top player, the world No 10, in the quarter-finals. After defeating Heta 6-3 in the last eight and Stephen Bunting 7-4 in the semis, Littler outplayed Belgian Mike de Decker to win the final 8-4.
Continue reading...Australian finishes sixth on general classification after tough finale
Long Joux-Plane descent proves Gigante’s undoing on stage 9
Australia’s Sarah Gigante was forced to settle for sixth place in the women’s Tour de France as Pauline Ferrand-Prevot claimed victory for the hosts. Starting the day second in the GC, Gigante (AG Insurance - Soudal Team) lost ground on the Joux-Plane descent and finally finished the stage seventh.
“It was two hours of pain, heartbreak and hope all in one,” she said at the finish.
Continue reading...Star anchors 4x200m freestyle relay team to win
Kyle Chalmers takes bronze in 100m freestyle
Mollie O’Callaghan has equalled the Australian record for world championship golds after anchoring the women to victory in the 4x200m freestyle relay in Singapore.
By securing her 11th career world title on Thursday night, the 21-year-old equalled Ian Thorpe’s Australian record.
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