🗞 The Club is Over

AUSSIE SPORTS
R.I.P The Rebels

🏉 Super Rugby: Melbourne's last ever Super Rugby Pacific match ended in in a brave defeat, with the Hurricanes storming to a 47-20 victory.

“It’s a sad time, just the realisation that the club’s over,” - Former skipper Brad Wilkin told Stan Sport, with his voice wavering.

The ACT Brumbies surged into the Super Rugby Pacific semi-finals to secure a date with destiny against the high-flying Blues in Auckland, with a 32-16 victory over the Highlanders.

🥇 Ahead of Australia's Paris 2024 swimming trials, taking place in Brisbane from Monday, two-time Olympic gold medallist Ariana Titmus spoke openly about how the removal of two benign tumours from her right ovary had altered her mindset.

"My health scare ... I'm completely through that," Titmus said on Sunday.

"That was probably the best thing that could have happened to me, to be honest ... I'm only young once and I want to really make the most of this moment in my life. The chance that I have to race at the Olympic Games, not just being an Olympian but fighting for medals and gold medals, is very rare, so I just want to take every opportunity I can and enjoy the moment.

"I think when I was younger I was always just looking to the next thing, to the next thing, to the next thing, but as I'm getting older I'm trying to sink into the moment and enjoy them more."

Australian swimming fans will be on world record alert as Titmus dives in for the 400m freestyle final on Monday night, the first final of the trials.

🏀 The Sydney Kings have been given a massive boost with former NBL star Xavier Cooks inking a three-year deal to link up with veteran coach Brian Goorjian.

After a brief stint abroad, the one-season NBA player is returning to the former NBL champions in a bid to restore the club to their past glory.

NRL NEWS
Madge Out of the Running

🏉 NSW Blues coach Michael Maguire has reportedly ruled himself out of contention for the vacant Eels head coaching job.

That is according to The Daily Telegraph, who are reporting Maguire has informed Eels chief executive Jim Sarantinos that he’s focused on coaching the Blues.

“We reached out to Madge (Maguire) post Origin I regarding his interest in the head coaching job at the Eels and he shared that his sole focus is on the NSW Origin team,” Sarantinos said.

“We respect his position but our process will continue and therefore he will not be part of it moving forward.”

🗣️ 'Mistake from my end': Brandon Smith issued breach notice by Roosters after skipping mid-season review (9news)

📄 The Penrith Panthers edged out the Manly Sea Eagles 32-22, despite a stellar four-try performance by Tommy Talau. The match was high-scoring and action-packed, with Brian To'o also achieving a hat-trick for the Panthers. (Highlights)

📄 The Melbourne Storm secured a 36-28 victory over the Newcastle Knights, reclaiming the top spot. Key plays included contributions from Nick Meaney, Tyran Wishart, and a crucial offload by Nelson Asofa-Solomona. Despite strong efforts from Dylan Lucas and Enari Tuala of the Knights, the Storm's cohesive play ensured their win. (highlights)

📺 4pm Today (Fox League): The Bulldogs and Eels clash at Accor Stadium. Both teams won in Round 13. Eels seek to improve their season and secure back-to-back wins. Bulldogs hope to continue their recent success. Josh Addo-Carr's injury is a setback. Moses (Origin audition) and Gutherson's return is a boost for Eels. Talagi replaces Simonsson for the Eels.

• Parramatta has won eight of its last nine matches against Canterbury.

• William Penisini has scored a try in four of Parramatta's last five matches against Canterbury.

AFL NEWS
It’s the Swans’ to lose

📄 In a stunning turnaround, the Sydney Swans overcame an early onslaught from Geelong (scoring the first six goals) to clinch a commanding 30-point victory at the SCG, triumphing 16.16 (112) to 12.10 (82).

Emerging from their midseason break, the Swans stand out as the AFL's frontrunner for the premiership, gearing up for a top-four clash against rivals Geelong.

With a record of 10-1 (150.1%), the Swans sit three wins ahead of the competition, their only loss coming against Richmond in Round 3. They are now on track to secure their first minor premiership since 2016.

📄 Carlton defeated Essendon by 26 points 15.6 (96) to 9.16 (70), securing second spot on the ladder. Key performances included Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay. Carlton go second.

Despite Essendon's efforts, including a double by Nic Martin, Carlton maintained their lead throughout the game.

🗣️ “The better call in that situation is no call”: AFL umpire boss Steve McBurney admits Suns call was a mistake (9News)

📸 What’s going on here?

*spoiler: The answer is just the angle from photographer Paul Kane with fellow North player Toby Pink the owner of the extra hand making is a three-way hug. (news.com.au)

📺 3:30pm Today - (Fox Footy, 7mate) Collingwood and Melbourne, with similar records in 2024, face off in the King’s Birthday fixture at the MCG. Both teams have 28 premiership points, but their recent form differs. Collingwood's unbeaten run ended with a loss to the Bulldogs, while Melbourne suffered a big defeat to Fremantle.

Collingwood won their last meeting in the Qualifying Final last season.

• Nine of Collingwood's last 10 June matches at the MCG have gone UNDER the total match points line. (162.5pts)

• Bayley Fritsch has kicked 2+ goals in 12 of his last 14 appearances at the MCG.

WORLD NEWS 
The Prince of Clay

🎾 Carlos Alcaraz won the French Open title many thought he was destined to claim by edging a scrappy five-set final against Alexander Zverev.

Third seed Alcaraz won 6-3 2-6 5-7 6-1 6-2 on the Roland Garros clay.

The Spaniard was below the level of confidence and consistency which enabled him to win his first two major finals - at the US Open in 2022 and last year's Wimbledon.

But the 21-year-old came through to become the youngest man to win Grand Slam titles on all three surfaces.

🏎️ Red Bull’s Max Verstappen won a gripping wet-dry Canadian Grand Prix that developed into a five-car battle for the lead over the final 10 laps.

Verstappen expertly managed a restart after a safety-car period with 11 laps to go to bolt into a decisive lead while McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri fought with the Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell behind him.

Verstappen pulled out nearly two seconds in one lap and controlled the race to the end from there.

🏏 T20 World Cup: Uganda equalled the record for the lowest total at a men's T20 World Cup after they were skittled out for just 39 in a 134-run loss to West Indies in Guyana.

Jasprit Bumrah took 3-14 as India battled to a gritty six-run victory over Pakistan in a T20 World Cup thriller in New York. While Scotland chased down 151 in 1.1 overs v Oman.

⛳️ World number seven Jon Rahm withdrew after just six holes of the second round of LIV Golf Houston on Saturday with an infection in his left foot. It is unclear how the injury will affect Rahm, who won the US Open in 2021, with this year's tournament beginning this week.

🚴🏻 Primoz Roglic had to dig deep during a dramatic finish to the Criterium du Dauphine to hang on and win his second title in three years by eight seconds.

🏉 Bevan French gave a half-back performance the late Rob Burrow would have been proud of as Wigan Warriors beat Warrington Wolves 18-8 at Wembley to win the Challenge Cup. The kick-off moved to 3:07pm in honour of Burrow's number seven shirt.

⛹🏻‍♀️ Caitlin Clark won't be headed to the Paris Olympics, according to ESPN.

Clark, now a rookie with the Indiana Fever, has drawn millions of new fans to women's basketball in her college career and now in her young WNBA career. With opponents even filling larger stadiums when she is in town.

EPL RUMOURS
United Go Shopping 

✍🏼 Manchester United expect to complete a deal for Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite, 21, before 30 June after he was cut from England's Euro 2024 squad (Liverpool Echo)

The Red Devils are set to make a second bid for Benfica midfielder Joao Neves, 19, having failed with an opening (AU$100m) offer.

🏟️ Roma owner Dan Friedkin has emerged as one of a number of parties interested in a takeover of Premier League club Everton.

Michael Dell, chief executive of Dell Technologies, and Kenneth King of investment firm A Cap are also in the mix.

Crystal Palace co-owner John Textor expressed an interest in buying Everton last month and is looking to sell his 45% stake in the Eagles.

✍🏼 Juventus could offer USA midfielder Weston McKennie, 25, in a swap deal with Aston Villa for 26-year-old Brazilian midfielder Douglas Luiz. Arsenal are also keen on Luiz.

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