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Continue reading...NSW stun Queensland in State of Origin 2026 decider – in pictures
The Blues rose to the challenge of wrapping up the series in Maroons territory by dominating from start to finish at Suncorp Stadium
Continue reading...Queensland 12-30 NSW: Blues win State of Origin 2026 in Game 3 – as it happened
New South Wales claim the Origin shield 2-1 after Nathan Cleary stars in commanding game-three victory over Queensland
Billy Slater matches with: “It’s been a great prep”.
Tactically: “Be confident and go and get your game… Chase your game, go and get it.”
Continue reading...‘No one can take it from me’: the rugby league players with one England cap
England coach Brian McDermott has just one international cap – and so do a surprising number of brilliant players
Brian McDermott may have ended as many England careers as he has launched. The new head coach has picked a pool of 38 players who will train together in the buildup to the World Cup in October. He may have inadvertently handed a few players membership to an exclusive club. The surprising omission of Hull KR captain Elliot Minchella, the continued absence of quadruple-winning winger Tom Davies, along with the injured Wigan winger Liam Marshall and Catalans hooker Kruise Leeming suggests they will be joining the England one-cap club.
McDermott has picked 10 uncapped players, five of whom are middle forwards: Dean Hadley (Hull KR), Sam Walters (Wigan), Caleb Hamlin-Uele (Wakefield), Ben Talty (Brisbane Broncos) and Max King (Canterbury Bulldogs). All were chosen instead of Minchella and Owen Trout.
Continue reading...‘Appalled’ Wigan report racial abuse aimed at Nsemba after Magic Weekend
England player subject of racial abuse on social media
Club issue strong statement condemning incident
Wigan Warriors have reported the racial abuse aimed at Junior Nsemba after Super League’s Magic Weekend to the police with their coach, Matt Peet, calling on the sport to stamp out the treatment to which the 22-year-old was subjected.
The England international was the subject of racist comments on social media in the aftermath of Wigan’s victory over St Helens at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium on Sunday evening. The Warriors have confirmed the matter has been referred to the relevant authorities and the Rugby Football League, while also issuing a strongly worded statement.
Continue reading...Super League’s summer roadshow saves itself with Magic Weekend at Everton
After talk of shelving the concept 80,000 are set to descend on Merseyside this weekend to watch a round of fixtures inside 48 hours
Super League’s big summer roadshow returns for its 20th edition when Magic Weekend breaks both new ground in Liverpool and a whole host of records at Hill Dickinson Stadium likely bringing a sigh of relief that the concept was given a stay of execution.
Some clubs wanted Magic gone from the calendar and replaced with events such as a Nines festival or even replacing it with an on-the-road event for the Challenge Cup quarter-finals. But those critics will be silenced this weekend when more than 80,000 supporters head to Merseyside: 10,000 more than the previous best crowd for Magic a decade ago in Newcastle.
Continue reading...Qld Maroons recall high flyer Nanai as NSW Blues axe To’o for State of Origin Game 3
Coach Billy Slater brings back North Queensland’s Nanai for Game 3
To’o and Kotoni Staggs among four NSW players dropped
North Queensland second-rower Jeremiah Nanai has been recalled to the Maroons side while star winger Brian To’o and second-rower Dylan Lucas are among four players dropped by NSW for the State of Origin decider.
Aerial specialist Nanai has been superb in 11 Origin games for the Maroons and is fresh from a stunning two-try man of the match display for the Cowboys in the 26-12 win over Penrith on Saturday.
Continue reading...Newcastle Knights player Asu Kepaoa given six-week ban for using homophobic slur
Forward pleaded guilty to judiciary for comment in reserve-grade game
Former Tigers and Panthers player yet to make NRL debut for third club
Newcastle forward Asu Kepaoa has been hit with a six-match ban for using a homophonic slur in a round-of-16 NSW Cup match.
The 26-year-old fronted the NSWRL judiciary on Wednesday when he pleaded guilty to making the slur in the Knights’ reserve-grade defeat of St George Illawarra last week.
Continue reading...Leeds move clear at top of Super League as Sivo treble stuns Warrington
Warrington 6-34 Leeds
Rhinos run in six tries in statement win
Leeds Rhinos delivered a resounding statement over their Super League title credentials with a scintillating victory against Warrington to move two points clear of the Wolves at the top.
This was a meeting of Super League’s best defence versus its best attack, with the winners knowing they would go clear of the opposition after both started Thursday evening joint-top. However, it proved to be a complete mismatch as Leeds dismantled Sam Burgess’s side to inflict a first home defeat on Warrington in devastating fashion.
Continue reading...NSW Blues 24-44 Queensland Maroons: State of Origin Game 2 – as it happened
The 2026 series is locked at one all after Queensland defeat NSW thanks to a stunning second-half onslaught
Tonight’s referee is Ashley Klein, but there have been calls the NRL should have found a replacement. Klein took centre stage in Origin I for his decision to send off Kalyn Ponga, and he has since been the subject of media stories due to his historic gambling activities. His performance will be scrutinised like no whistleblower before.
Laurie Daley is delighted to have Payne Haas back in his XIII: “the best front row in the game”, according to the NSW coach, and he’s relieved to be able to call upon the game management and kicking prowess of Mitchell Moses.
Continue reading...Arise, Sir Kevin: Sinfield knighted in king’s birthday honours list
Rugby league great given accolade for MND fundraising
Has raised more than £11m in memory of Rob Burrow
Kevin Sinfield has promised to continue his quest to support those living with motor neurone disease after being awarded a knighthood in the king’s birthday honours list.
The 45-year-old rugby league great has been recognised for his incredible fundraising efforts and becomes the second former player from the sport to be knighted, after Billy Boston’s elevation this time last year.
Continue reading...Sports quiz of the week: World Cup, Knicks, T20, Giro and Serena Williams
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Continue reading...Kane Evans: former NRL player finally ‘free’ after coming out as gay
Evans becomes first men’s player to come out since Ian Roberts in 1995
Former Roosters and Eels player had struggled with suicidal thoughts
Former prop forward Kane Evans says a weight has lifted from his shoulders after he became only the second male NRL player to come out as gay. In an emotional interview with Channel Nine’s 100% Footy, the 131-time NRL player said he had struggled with addiction, suicidal thoughts and experienced homelessness as he grappled with his sexuality.
“I had three goals in life,” Evans said. “And it was to play NRL, to buy my parents a house, and then I wanted to top myself, because I was living in denial from a young age. I know that I’m gay. But I went down every other avenue to sort of build up these walls. To be someone, to escape who I am.”
Continue reading...Challenge Cup finals show England should trust youth at World Cups
Wigan turned to young players to win their two finals on Saturday. England’s coaches should take the same approach
The new England coach, Brian McDermott, has a job on his hands. The man he replaced, Shaun Wane, must have watched the Challenge Cup final on Saturday from the padded seats at Wembley and thought he had dodged a bullet. The prospect of facing the NRL’s finest in the stifling heat of New South Wales at the World Cup later this year was a daunting thought even before we saw England players struggle at Wembley in 30-degree heat.
Just before the interval, Junior Nsemba must have set a stadium record for how long it takes to walk 20 yards and get back onside. He was clearly saving himself for an epic second-half performance. Clever lad. Nsemba was not so clever when he joined Sam Walters in dumping Bill Leyland on his head seconds before the hooter. He is fortunate to escape a ban given that Walters, who was shown red, has been handed a seven-match suspension.
Continue reading...Coaching great John Kear dies day after covering Challenge Cup final for BBC
Led two sides to Challenge Cup glory in long career
‘He was a true rugby league man through and through’
John Kear, the rugby league broadcaster and former Challenge Cup-winning coach, has died at the age of 71. The Rugby Football League announced that Kear died on Sunday on his return from covering Wigan’s Challenge Cup victory at Wembley for the BBC.
Kear led nine clubs in a coaching career lasting more than 700 matches, masterminding the shock Challenge Cup win for Sheffield Eagles in 1998 and then steering Hull FC to Challenge Cup glory in 2005.
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