🗞️ Blistering Form

AUSSIE SPORTS
Smith moves to 4

🏉 Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt says Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii's elevation to the Test squad is the "best runway possible" to prepare his prize recruit for the 2025 British & Irish Lions Series.

"…But I've seen enough of him play as a rugby league player in the midfield and have got really good feedback from others players about him in the schools system. The likes of Angus Bell and Josh Flook, they speak highly of him.” - Schmidt.

Joe Schmidt has called on overseas duo Will Skelton and Samu Kerevi alongside Suaalii to give the Wallabies the best chance possible.

🏏 Steven Smith has said Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne "hated" him opening the batting in the Test team, and believes it was a key driver behind his return to No. 4, but has insisted he did not request the move and would have continued to open if asked to.

Australia's chair selectors George Bailey confirmed last week that Smith would not be opening against India saying Smith "had expressed a desire to move back down from that opening position" and that captain Pat Cummins and Andrew McDonald had made the decision.

McDonald stated on ABC Radio at the weekend that he and Cummins were the key decision-makers in the move, playing down Smith's influence.

David Warner also put his hand up: "I'm always available, just got to pick up the phone," Warner told Code Sports.

Warner said he has messaged both Australia coach Andrew McDonald and chief selector George Bailey about returning to the test team to face India. 

However, he said McDonald replied saying "you retired".

🐴 Godolphin trainer James Cummings is confident his Broadsiding can take out the Cox Plate this weekend.

With the final field confirmed for the landmark event at Moonee Valley, Cummings' runner is one of the favourites to take home the winner's share in the $5 million purse.

Broadsiding has won five races from nine career starts, including the Group 1 Golden Rose earlier tin the spring, before running fourth in the recent Caulfield Guineas.

"We're not here to put socks on caterpillars," he told SEN Track.

NRL NEWS
Less Clunky

🏉 The second week of Pacific Championships action will feature two blockbuster double headers, including a rematch from last year's men's final.

Fiji and Cook Islands will square off in both the men's and women's competitions on Saturday night in Suva, before all eyes turn to Christchurch on Sunday afternoon.

Mal Meninga has named an unchanged lineup for the Kangaroos, despite conceding they were "clunky" in their first match of the tournament, as they seek revenge against the Kiwis, who have brought Shaun Johnson out of a short-lived retirement.

🚘 The driver of an Uber that collided head-on with Broncos star Ezra Mam spoke exclusively with 9News, recalling the moment he rescued his four-year-old passenger from the back seat.

He recalled the moment of the crash for the first time today.

"In a flash there was this truck that hit us. It was an almighty crash and I blacked out for a while," Van Den Camp said.

"I have heard nothing, nothing from the Brisbane Broncos," he said.

When the club was asked why no one had reached out to the Uber driver, 9News was told there would be "no comment".

Van Den Camp hopes to get back to work soon but says the car he was travelling in is a write-off.

A four-year-old girl suffered a fractured hip and has returned to the Queensland Children's Hospital for a follow-up appointment. She is said to be recovering well.

Mam allegedly tested positive to a roadside drug test following the crash and has since checked himself into rehab as police investigations continue.

AFL NEWS
All-Star Clash

The 2024 AFL Draft is now less than a month away.

A total of 23 selections shared by a dozen different clubs currently make up this year's opening round of picks, while priority-tied prospects are likely to see the number of selections balloon out following matched bids.

Richmond currently hold seven first-round selections, including the prized Pick 1, while St Kilda, Melbourne, GWS and Sydney also have multiple spots early into the draft.

Likely #1 Pick: Finn O’Sullivan - The teenager entered 2024 as arguably the leading prospect in his class before battling a series of setbacks related to hand injuries - managing just four Talent League games and a pair of appearances for Vic Country at the National Championships.

With enough runs on the board before his ailments, coupled with a handful of starring performances, there's little doubting O'Sullivan's pedigree. (as per ZeroHanger)

Sheffield Shield
Smith Simmers

🏏 An in-form Josh Inglis (101 off 141 balls) put the SA in control on day three at the WACA Ground, before a batting collapse left the Tasmanians' chances of victory in disarray.

Stumps: South Australian Men lead Queensland by 358 runs with 1 wicket remaining.

🏏 Already in to start the red-ball summer, Alex Carey (123 not out from 163 deliveries) was again the chief agitator on day three as WA (9-352) stormed to a 358-run lead over Tasmania, at Allan Border Field.

Stumps: Tasmania lead Western Australia by 80 runs with 1 wicket remaining.

🏏 Steve Smith will walk away with only three runs from two innings in what could be his only Sheffield Shield match before the Border Gavaskar Trophy as Victoria closed in on victory at the MCG.

The soon-to-be-reinstated Test No.4 was dismayed with being triggered after leaving the Boland delivery onto his front pad.

"They can talk about it all they want," said Boland. "I thought it was out. It only has to hit the stumps when you don't use your bat like that."

Stumps: New South Wales need 198 runs to win

WORLD NEWS
NBA Season Begins

🏀 The 2024-25 NBA season is officially here!

The Boston Celtics begin their quest for back-to-back titles against the New York Knicks to kick off the NBA season. After a dominant run through the playoffs, the Celtics enter this season as the favourites, but the depth of competition in the league won't make it easy for a repeat in Boston.

The Knicks' busy offseason, which included bringing in Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns, has title hopes high in New York, while the Philadelphia 76ers signed Paul George this offseason to maximise the prime of former MVP Joel Embiid. Will either contender have enough star power to dethrone the Celtics in the Eastern Conference race?

In the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder will try to build off of a memorable 2023-24 campaign, during which they became the youngest No. 1 seed in NBA history. And OKC didn't stand pat, adding key pieces in Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein to bolster one of the deepest rosters in the league.

The Minnesota Timberwolves, who face the Los Angeles Lakers on opening night, also are among teams with eyes on the Larry O'Brien trophy after Anthony Edwards took a giant leap last season. And despite the talent at the top of the conference, the Lakers, Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks and Denver Nuggets could all make noise in the crowded West race.

Will it be Oklahoma City-Boston in the Finals?

NBA Championship - Top of the Market:

• Boston Celtics $3.0

• Oklahoma City Thunder $6.0

• New York Knicks $7.0

• Philadelphia 76ers $9.0

🥇 Badminton and hockey are among the sports that have missed out on the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

A stripped-back programme of 10 sports, includes athletics and swimming as mandatory as well as the likes of track cycling, boxing and gymnastics.

The Games will take place across four venues between 23 July and 2 August 2026.

Glasgow stepped in to host after the Australian state of Victoria pulled out because of rising costs.

A total of 3,000 athletes from up to 74 Commonwealth nations and territories are expected to compete at the 2026 Games.

The event will also feature "fully integrated para-competitions” across six of the selected sports.

⛳️ TGL, the technology-driven golf competition headlined by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, will debut on 7 January.

The virtual contest had been slated for a January 2024 launch but was delayed after a power outage caused the collapse of the air-supported dome roof at the SoFi Center in Florida.

Fifteen-time major winner Woods is scheduled to compete on 14 January with his Jupiter Links Golf Club team.

The opening contest of the 15-match season sees New York Golf Club - comprised of Xander Schauffele, Matt Fitzpatrick, Rickie Fowler and Cameron Young - face The Bay Golf Club side of Ludvig Aberg, Wyndham Clark, Min Woo Lee and Shane Lowry.

🍻 Finally, a winter sport I can get involved with…

🎾 Off-court coaching will be allowed in tennis from January 2025, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) has announced.

The decision was made at the governing body's annual general meeting and follows recent trials on the men's ATP and women's WTA tours.

The ITF says the move will make tennis "fairer and, potentially, more entertaining".

The new changes mean:

• Coaches can issue advice either verbally or via hand signals at any time except during the playing of a point.

• Coaching must be "brief and discreet", except during breaks in play.

• In team events only, where a team captain sits on court, the team captain may also give coaching advice.

• Players can access approved "player analysis technology" at times when coaching is permitted.

🏀 Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon agreed to a four-year, US$133 million contract extension.

The deal, which includes a player option in 2028-29 and a trade kicker, comes via the forward opting in on his $23 million salary for 2025-26 then adding three additional years at his maximum salary, including bonuses.

🎾 Former Manchester United striker Diego Forlan will make his professional tennis debut in an ATP doubles event in his native Uruguay next month.

The 45-year-old, who retired from football in 2019, will play alongside Argentine Federico Coria in the Uruguay Open in Montevideo.

Forlan joined Manchester United in 2002 and made 98 appearances for the club before joining La Liga side Villarreal.

In Spain, Forlan won the European Golden Shoe - awarded to the top scorer in Europe - on two occasions.

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TODAY 

06:00 - UEFA Champions League - Arsenal v Shakhtar Donetsk - Stan Sport App

06:00 - UEFA Champions League - Paris Saint-Germain v PSV Eindhoven - Stan Sport App

06:00 - UEFA Champions League - Juventus v VfB Stuttgart - Stan Sport App

06:00 - UEFA Champions League - Aston Villa v Bologna - Stan Sport App

06:00 - UEFA Champions League - Real Madrid v Borussia Dortmund - Stan Sport App

10:30 - NBA - Boston Celtics v New York Knicks - ESPN

10:30 - Sheffield Shield - Victoria Men v NSW Men - Fox Cricket

11:00 - Sheffield Shield - Queensland Bulls v South Australia Men - Kayo Sports

13:00 - NBA - Los Angeles Lakers v Minnesota Timberwolves - ESPN

13:30 - Sheffield Shield - Western Australia Men v Tasmania Tigers Men - Kayo Sports

14:00 - NHL - Vegas Golden Knights v Los Angeles Kings - ESPN 2

17:30 - Netball Constellation Cup - New Zealand v Australia - Fox Sports

THURSDAY

03:45 - UEFA Champions League - Atalanta v Celtic - Stan Sport App

03:45 - UEFA Champions League - Stade Brestois 29 v Bayer Leverkusen - Stan Sport App

06:00 - UEFA Champions League - RB Leipzig v Liverpool - Stan Sport App

06:00 - UEFA Champions League - Barcelona v Bayern Munich - Stan Sport App

06:00 - UEFA Champions League - Atletico Madrid v Lille OSC - Stan Sport App

06:00 - UEFA Champions League - Benfica v Feyenoord - Stan Sport App

10:30 - NHL - Washington Capitals v Philadelphia Flyers - ESPN 2

10:30 - NBA - Philadelphia 76ers v Milwaukee Bucks - ESPN

13:00 - NBA - Los Angeles Clippers v Phoenix Suns - ESPN

14:00 - PGA TOUR - ZOZO Championship, Round 1 - Fox Sports

15:00 - Test Match - India v New Zealand - Fox Cricket

17:30 - NBL - New Zealand Breakers v South East Melbourne Phoenix - ESPN

19:30 - NBL - Illawarra Hawks v Melbourne United - ESPN