G'day sports fans,

Classic quote: “It’s a bit like losing your virginity ... it wasn’t very nice but we got the job done” — Sam Thaiday after a tough Queensland Origin win.

🇦🇺 Aussie Sport

🏉 Will we see a back-to-back premier?, or will the longest premiership drought in the league finally be broken?

Whatever the result, this year’s decider promises to be an epic showdown as the Penrith Panthers and Parramatta Eels clash at a sold-out Accor Stadium. These teams have arrived at the big dance after contrasting wins. The reigning premiers battled back from an early 12-0 deficit to run out commanding 32-12 winners over Souths.

Conversely, the Eels struck first but had to come from behind to pip the Cowboys 24-20 in Townsville thanks to an inspired Mitch Moses performance, which will likely need to be replicated if they are to beat the Panthers for the third time this season.

Nathan Brown is a shock inclusion to Parramatta’s bench, with the veteran set to play his first game since early July. Meanwhile, Taylan May has lost his race against the clock, allowing Charlie Staines to retain his place on the wing for Penrith.

📺 19:30 Sunday - Penrith Panthers v Parramatta Eels (Channel 9)

🇦🇺 Former North Melbourne mentor Brad Scott has been appointed Essendon's new coach, edging out the likes of Adem Yze and club stalwart James Hird for the role.

The Bombers' coaching selection panel, which is headlined by football boss Josh Mahoney and includes Robert Walls and Jordan Lewis, interviewed Scott on Thursday.

Hours later, Essendon formally announced the 46-year-old as their new coach.

⚽️ Australia Cup 2022 Final – Sydney United 58 FC vs Macarthur FC

Sydney United 58 Head Coach Miro Vlastelica says his side head into Saturday’s Australia Cup Final against Macarthur FC at CommBank Stadium with no fear.

Vlastelica’s side became the first NPL team to reach the final after a fairytale cup run that included iconic victories over defending A-League Champions, Western United as well as Brisbane Roar.

“We’re going to stick to the way we’ve been playing, we’re not going to change much, obviously there’s a few positions that we’re going to move players around and try counter their strengths, but we’re going to stick to our guns,” Vlastelica said.

• Date: Saturday, 1 October 2022

• Location: CommBank Stadium, Parramatta

• Kick-Off: 7:45pm AEST

• Broadcast: Network 10 and 10 Play.

⛹🏻‍♀️ The Opals will play for a medal at their home FIBA World Cup after taking care of Belgium in their quarter-final in Sydney on Thursday night.

The 86-69 victory will see Australia battle China at 7:30pm EST tomorrow (Friday) in one semi-final.

Strong gold medal favourites USA will face Canada in the other semi-final at 5pm EST.

The Opals lost 74-76 to China in extremely controversial fashion during the Tokyo Olympics group stage.

📈 The AFL has distributed more than 2.6 billion to clubs since 2012, while the NRL has distributed more than 1.6 billion to clubs in the same period.

The AFL has generated 2 billion more than the NRL in revenue since 2012. The NRL has made 30 million more in profit.

Data: AFL and ARLC Annual Reports via (SportsIndustry)

🏎 Daniel Ricciardo says his management has been in talks with a number of Formula One teams about a drive next year, but insists he is at peace with the prospect of not being on the grid in 2023.

🏉 Ben Hunt is still hopeful of getting a deal done with St George Illawarra in the next week, despite rejecting the latest offer from the NRL club.

Hunt is off contract at the end of next year and the Dragons remain desperate to get a new deal sorted before he is free to talk to rivals on November 1.

🏉 Ben Donaldson has been given first crack to push for a spot on next month’s Spring Tour, after the rising playmaker was picked in the No.10 jersey for Australia A in Tokyo.

HUGE weekend of sport ahead. 

We've got;

• NFL Multi's,

• Horse Racing mail,

• PGA Tour Golf,

• Multi-sport multi's,

• and of course this beauty for the NRL Grand Final on our Dabble Profile.

If you're not following us on Dabble, sign up now, in time for Station One's run next week... as we hope to have something special for Sport Journal readers. (Join us on Dabble)

🐴 Racing

🐴 It looks like Station One will be going in R7 on the Pakenham Synthetic on Monday. (preview in Monday's issue of SJ - Get your Dabble account ready)

🏔 Just 24 hours after it was confirmed that Bjorn Baker would have his first runner in The Everest, the trainer has doubled his hand.

Winter find Shades Of Rose was on Thursday confirmed to represent the slot held by Hong Kong-based Bon Ho, joining stablemate Overpass in the $15 million October sprint.

🐴 Icebath's Group race record:22 starts, 4 x seconds, 7 x thirds

Despite amassing $4,505,590 in prize money, is Saturday the day she gets her first Group race win?

🐴 For the third time in as many starts the barrier Gods have worked against Fireburn, drawing nine of 10 in the Group 1 $750,000 Darley Flight Stakes (1600m), and that's Jockey Brenton Avdulla's main concern, as he says she couldn't be going any better.

🏇🏻 Brae Sokolski, a part-owner of Verry Elleegant, has slammed French racing authorities for forcing his champion mare out of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp on Sunday. (racenet)

Verry Elleegant's international rating has been significantly reduced after her two recent losses in France which meant she could not command a place in the Arc field.

A seething Sokolski was so upset by the snubbing of his 11-time Group 1 winner he has cancelled his planned trip to France this weekend.

"It is an absolute travesty,'' Sokolski said.

🌍 World Sport

⚽️ Argentina forward Lionel Messi, 35, is set to leave Paris St-Germain in the summer as he will refuse any new contract offer. (Beteve, via Star)

⚽️ England striker Harry Kane, 29, remains Bayern Munich's number one transfer target, with the German giants set to test Tottenham's resolve once again. (Kicker, via Sun)

🥇 Olympic Agenda: The 2024 Summer Olympics will be held in Paris, with France looking at a total cost of at least US$8.6 billion. Los Angeles’ price for the 2028 Games is $6.88 billion.

The 2032 Games in Brisbane are expected to cost Australia $3.7 billion, mainly because Brisbane says 84% of stadium and event venues are already in place.

🏉 Growing the game: For the first time in the UK, the BBC will broadcast all 61 games from the men's, women's, and wheelchair editions of the Rugby League World Cup.

⚾️ New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge hit his 61st home run of the 2022 season Wednesday night and in doing so tied Roger Maris' American League record for most home runs in a season. Judge's historic blast came against Blue Jays lefty reliever Tim Mayza at Rogers Centre in Toronto.

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📺 Live sport 👇🏼

TODAY

⛳️ 05:30 - PGA TOUR - Sanderson Farms Championship, Round 1 (Fox Sports)

⚾️ 08:10 - MLB - Cleveland Guardians v Tampa Bay Rays (ESPN 2)

🏈 10:15 - NFL - Cincinnati Bengals v Miami Dolphins (ESPN)

🏏 14:05 - Marsh One-Day Cup - Queensland Bulls v Tasmania Tigers (Fox Cricket)

🏉 16:05 - NPC - Hawke's Bay v Tasman Mako (Stan Sport)

SATURDAY

🏏 00:30 - T20 Series - Pakistan v England (Fox Cricket)

🏉 04:45 - Premiership Rugby - Newcastle Falcons v Bristol Bears (Stan Sport)

⚽️ 05:00 - France Ligue 1 - Angers SCO v Olympique de Marseille (beIN SPORTS 1)

⛳️ 05:30 - PGA TOUR - Sanderson Farms Championship, Round 2 (Fox Sports)

🏏 09:00 - CPLT20 Final - Barbados Royals v TBC (Fox Cricket)

⚾️ 09:00 - Major League Baseball - MLB Strike Zone (ESPN)

🏉 11:05 - NPC - Southland v North Harbour (Stan Sport)

🐴 11:50 - Breeders' Plate, 1,000m (Sky 1 racing)

🏏 12:05 - Marsh One-Day Cup - Western Australia v New South Wales Blues (Fox Cricket)

🐴 12:20 - Gimcrack Stakes, 1,000m (Sky 1 Racing & 7)

🏉 13:35 - NPC - Auckland Rugby v Taranaki (Stan Sport)

🐴 13:35 - Hill Stakes, 2,000m (Sky 1 Racing & 7)

🐴 13:50 - Edward Manifold Stakes, 1,600m (Sky 1 Racing & 7, and racing.com)

🐴 14:25 - Rose Of Kingston Stakes, 1,400m (Sky 1 Racing & 7, and racing.com)

🐴 14:45 - Flight Stakes, 1,600m (Sky 1 Racing & 7)

🐴 15:05 - Danehill Stakes, 1,100m (Sky 1 Racing & 7, and racing.com)

🐴 15:25 - Premiere Stakes, 1,200m (Sky 1 Racing & 7)

🐴 15:45 - The Bart Cummings, 2,510m (Sky 1 Racing & 7, and racing.com)

🏉 16:05 - NPC - Otago v Canterbury Rugby (Stan Sport)

🐴 16:05 - Epsom Handicap, 1,600m (Sky 1 Racing & 7)

🐴 16:25 - Turnbull Stakes, 2,000m (Sky 1 Racing & 7)

🐴 16:45 - The Metropolitan, 2,400m (Sky 1 Racing & 7)

🐴 17:05 - Gilgai Stakes, 1,200m (Sky 1 Racing & 7two)

🏀 18:00 - NBL - South East Melbourne Phoenix v Tasmania JackJumpers (ESPN)

⚽️ 19:45 - Australia Cup Final - Sydney United 58 v Macarthur FC Bulls (Channel 10)

⚽️ 20:00 - NBL - Illawarra Hawks v Sydney Kings (ESPN)

⚽️ 21:30 - Premier League - Arsenal v Tottenham (Optus Sport 1)

⚽️ 21:30 - Scottish Premiership - Heart of Midlothian v Rangers (beIN SPORTS 2)

⚽️ 23:00 - Italian Serie A - Napoli v Torino (beIN SPORTS 3)

⚽️ 00:00 - Premier League - (Optus Sport)

• Crystal Palace v Chelsea

• Liverpool v Brighton & Hove Albion

• Southampton v Everton

• Bournemouth v Brentford

🏉 00:00 - Premiership Rugby - (Stan Sport)

• Gloucester Rugby v Worcester Warriors

• London Irish v Bath Rugby

• Sale Sharks v Exeter Chiefs

• Saracens v Leicester Tigers

SUNDAY

⚽️ 03:00 - Italian Serie A - Inter Milan v Roma (beIN SPORTS 3)

⚽️ 03:30 - Premier League - West Ham United v Wolverhampton Wanderers (Optus Sport 1)

⚽️ 03:30 - German Bundesliga - Werder Bremen v Borussia Monchengladbach (beIN SPORTS 2)

⚽️ 05:45 - Italian Serie A - Empoli v Milan (beIN SPORTS 3)

⚽️ 06:00 - Spanish La Liga - RCD Mallorca v Barcelona (Optus Sport 3)

⚽️ 06:00 - France Ligue 1 - Paris Saint-Germain v OGC Nice (beIN SPORTS 2)

⛳️ 06:00 - PGA TOUR - Sanderson Farms Championship, Round 3 (Fox Sports)

🏉 12:05 - NPC - Counties Manukau v Wellington Rugby (Stan Sport)

🏉 12:05 - NPC - Northland v Manawatu (Stan Sport)

🏉 13:20 - NRL State Championship Grand Final - Norths Devils v Penrith Panthers NSW Cup (Channel 9, Fox League)

🏀 14:00 - NBL - Melbourne United v New Zealand Breakers (10 Peach, ESPN)

🏈 14:35 - NPC - Waikato v Bay of Plenty (Stan Sport)

🏀 16:00 - NBL - Perth Wildcats v Brisbane Bullets (10 Peach, ESPN)

🏉 19:30 - NRL Grand Final - Penrith Panthers v Parramatta Eels (Channel 9)

⚽️ 21:30 - Italian Serie A - Lazio v Spezia Calcio (beIN SPORTS 2)

⚽️ 22:00 - France Ligue 1 - FC Lorient v Lille OSC (beIN SPORTS 1)

🏎 23:00 - Formula 1 Singapore Race, Round 18 (Fox Sports)