G'day sports fans,

Classic quote: "The horse I backed was so slow, the jockey kept a diary of the trip." - Henny Youngman

In today's edition of Sport Journal:

📺 Weekend TV guide

🏉 Round One previews

🐴 All-Star Mile

🏉 NRL

Storm 26-18 Rabbitohs: Papenhuyzen stars as Storm start post-Smith era in style. Just a day after Smith announced his retirement from rugby league, Papenhuyzen and Cameron Munster showed that the title defence is in safe hands as the Storm piled on 22 points in the opening 30 minutes.

The 3 certainties in life:

• 1. Death

• 2. Taxes

• 3. Craig Bellamy getting Melbourne Storm humming year in, year out.

Round One Previews

Today: Knights (1.54) v Bulldogs (2.50): Hoy fills Ponga's shoes; Deitz handed a debut at 26 (match preview).

Enari Tuala (Newcastle Knights) has scored 1+ tries in three of his last 4 at McDonald Jones Stadium.

Broncos (3.35) v Eels (1.35): Croft handed halfback job; Opacic to start at centre. (match preview).

Maika Sivo (Parramatta Eels) has score 1+ tries in each of his last 5 against Brisbane.

Saturday: Warriors (2.05) v Titans (1.78): Aitken, AFB, Fifita and Tino unleashed (match preview).

Eliesa Katoa has scored 1+ tries in four of his five previous appearances in the starting lineup at Central Coast Stadium.

Roosters (1.50) v Sea Eagles (3.50): Keary fit; Walker shock fullback (match report).

Eight of Manly's last nine matches have gone OVER the total match points line. (43.5pts)

Panthers (1.30) v Cowboys (3.50): Momirovski secures start; Drinkwater hits No.1 (match preview)

Liam Martin has scored a try in four of Penrith's last five matches at Panthers Stadium.

Sunday: Raiders (1.30) v Wests Tigers (3.50): Bolter Kris to start; Mbye erases doubts (match preview)

Josh Papalii has scored at least one try in four of his last five appearances in the starting lineup against the Wests Tigers.

Dragons (2.15) v Sharks (1.70): Taking a flyer on Ramsey; Fifita misses 17. (match preview)

Matthew Dufty has scored at least one try in eight of his last 10 home appearances.

🐴 Racing

Vet Drama

All-Star Mile favourite Arcadia Queen is one of two horses under a fitness cloud after Racing Victoria’s vets inspected each runner in the $5 million race on Thursday.

Racing Victoria reported Arcadia Queen shifted a plate at her Bendigo base, leaving her mildly lame of her off foreleg.

Arcadia Queen is the $3.40 favourite for Saturday’s $5 million contest.

The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Shout The Bar also failed the compulsory vet check.

All-Star Mile Preview

The All-Star Mile is absolutely packed full of quality and we are set for a truly fascinating race.

Russian Camelot has been the forgotten horse heading into this contest and he represents terrific value at his current odds.

Only a few starts ago, this horse was being hyped as the second coming of Winx and his Spring Racing Carnival was not as bad as it has been made out to be.

His first-up run in the Makybe Dive Stakes over a mile was terrific and he went on to win the Underwood Stakes, beating Arcadia Queen, in a canter.

Arcadia Queen may have beaten him in the Caulfield Stakes, but he started as a dominant odds-on favourite and he beat his rival home when he finished third in the Ladbrokes Cox Plate.

A potential wet track at The Valley on Saturday plays right into his favour and it is ridiculous that there is as much between him and Arcadia Queen in the current market.

Probabeel is a bombproof mare and I don’t want to lose on this race if she gets the job done.

She could hardly have been more impressive in the Futurity Stakes and she will be right on the speed in The All-Star Mile.

The only concern for her is a wet track and connections have indicated that they will scratch her from the race if that is the case.

📖 All-Star Mile runner by runner preview by Punters.com.au

🇦🇺 AFL

One KICK, one MIRACLE: AFL's brilliant 2021 TV campaign is here — www.afl.com.au

🤕 Hayden Crozier will be missing for up to two months after surgery on his AC joint injury suffered against Melbourne. (AFL)

🖐🏼 Port Adelaide Midfielder-forward Sam Powell-Pepper has taken personal leave to deal with his broken hand and "other parts of my life". (nine)

🤔 He is the longest-tenured coach in the AFL, but 2021 could be Alastair Clarkson's last at Hawthorn if he gets an offer. (nine)

🤕 The Blues’ 2020 leading goalkicker Harry McKay and third-leading goalkicker Jack Newnes are both racing the clock to be fit for Round 1 due to rolled ankles. (Fox)

🏏 Cricket

Queensland's No.1 man returns with a vengeance: Having missed the Bulls' last two Sheffield Shield games, Michael Neser found considerable new-ball movement in an exhilarating comeback from injury. Neser recorded: 6 overs, 10 runs, 3 wickets, Queensland won by 93 runs (DLS Method). (Cricket)

Philippe pulls out of IPL as WA players quarantine: Philippe, who has been in various hubs and bubbles since his maiden Australia tour of England last August, is currently serving 14 days of home isolation mandated by the Western Australian government. (cricket)

Western Australia's 199cm rising star Cameron Green showed off his athletic ability in the outfield to take a superb catch while sprinting backwards towards the boundary rope with the ball coming over his shoulder. Unreal

🏉 Rugby

Dual-code superstar Sonny Bill Williams announces retirement

SBW announced his retirement from rugby Thursday but the New Zealander isn't giving up on sport, saying he wants to concentrate on his boxing career.

Williams, 35, a two-time Rugby World Cup winner, confirmed he would no longer play rugby league for Australia's National Rugby League outfit the Sydney Roosters.

"A massive thank you to the public and fans for all the support over years. To my many teammates, thanks for the lessons and help along the way," he tweeted.

Super Rugby

Today: Western Force v Rebels: All but one of the previous 15 Super Rugby games between the Western Force and Rebels have been decided by single-digit margin on the day, with the Melbourne side picking up 11 wins in that period (L4).

Western Force have lost all five of their home games in Super Rugby AU and scored an average of just nine points per game in that stretch.

Saturday: Brumbies v Reds: The Brumbies have won four of their last five Super Rugby games against the Reds (L1), including their most recent meeting in the 2020 Super Rugby AU final (28-23).

The Reds have started the 2021 Super Rugby AU campaign with two consecutive victories; a third straight win in this match would equal their best winning run to begin a Super Rugby season (W3 in 1999 and 2012).

Super Rugby Aotearoa: Unstoppable Crusaders take on winless Chiefs. Blues are at home to Highlanders who pulled off a shock win against the Chiefs last week.

⚽️ Football

🐐 Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo will both be missing from the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time in 16 years. Ronaldo's Juventus crashed out of the tournament on Tuesday as ten-man Porto stunned the Italian giants in extra time to seal their place in the quarter-finals.

🏡 'Homesick’ Lesiotis poised for shock Wanderers exit with Melbourne return looming. (TWG)

🤕 'Not great for Marco, not great for us' - Victory cop big Rojas injury blow. star winger Marco Rojas sidelined for six to eight weeks with a fractured fibula. (TWG)

🔁 Barcelona have offered a contract to Argentina forward Sergio Aguero, 32, who is out of contract at Manchester City at the end of the season. (Tycsports - in Spanish)

🔁 Chelsea may look to sell Germany striker Timo Werner this summer just a year after the 25-year-old's £54m move from RB Leipzig. (Football Insider)

🚶🏻 Fans of Diego Maradona have marched for ‘justice’ in Argentina amid investigations into how the football icon died and whether there was any negligence in his care.

🌎 ROW

🎾 Tennis: Roger Federer lost his second match since returning from a 14-month injury lay-off, going out to Nikoloz Basilashvili in the quarter-finals of the Qatar Open.

The 20-time Grand Slam winner was overcome by Georgia's Basilashvili 3-6 6-1 7-5 in Doha.

Federer had beaten Britain's Dan Evans on his return to action on Wednesday to reach the last eight.

Basilashvili saved a match point before going on to beat the Swiss 39-year-old.

Federer, in competitive action for the first time since January 2020 after two knee surgeries, said playing two matches in two days was "a good stepping stone" in his recovery.

"I've come from so far away that I am actually happy I was able to play back-to-back three-set matches against top players," he said.

"That's an important step forward for me. I'm not at 100% yet.

"I still need another five or six weeks in fitness.

🏎 F1: Ferrari have unveiled the car they hope will revive their fortunes after their worst season in 40 years in 2020.

Bodywork and aerodynamic changes are largely free, but development of the mechanical and structural parts of the car such as suspension and chassis have been limited to two 'tokens'.

Ferrari have applied these at the back of the car, in search of greater rear grip, the lack of which was another weakness in last season.

⛳️ Rory McIlroy says his friend and fellow professional Tiger Woods is "feeling better" and is hopeful to be transferred to his home in Florida in the "next week or so." McIlroy then proceeded to shoot a first round (+6), at the Players Championship, to show this really is his year to win the Masters 🤔

📺 Live sport

TODAY

⚽️ 07:00 - UEFA Europa League R16:

• Roma v Shakhtar Donetsk (Optus Sport 3)

• Olympiacos FC v Arsenal (Optus Sport 1)

• Tottenham v GNK Dinamo Zagreb (Optus Sport 2)

• Granada v Molde FK (Optus Sport 4)

🏀 07:00 - EuroLeague - Real Madrid Basketball v Barcelona Basketball (Fox Sports More)

🎾 08:00 - WTA Abierto Zapopan, Quarter-Finals, Day 4 (BeIN Sports 1)

🏏 10:00 - Marsh One-Day Cup - South Australia Redbacks v Tasmania Tigers (Fox Cricket)

🏀 11:30 - NBA - Brooklyn Nets v Boston Celtics (ESPN 1)

⛵️ 14:00 - America's Cup Match, Races 3 & 4 (Fox Sports)

🏀 14:00 - NBA - Los Angeles Clippers v Golden State Warriors (ESPN 1)

🏏14:30 - Women's ODI Series - India v South Africa (Fox Sports More)

🏀 17:00 - NBL - Perth Wildcats v New Zealand Breakers (ESPN 1 or SBS on Demand)

🏉 18:00 - NRL - Newcastle Knights v Canterbury Bulldogs (Fox League)

⚽️ 18:05 - W-League - Perth Glory Women v Canberra United Women (Kayo Sports)

🏏18:45 - Women's ODI Series - India v South Africa (Fox Cricket)

⚽️ 19:05 - A-League - Melbourne City v Macarthur FC Bulls (Fox Sports)

⛳️ 19:30 - European Tour, Qatar Masters, Round 2 (Fox Sports)

🏀 19:30 - NBL - Cairns Taipans v South East Melbourne Phoenix (ESPN 1)

🇦🇺 19:40 - AFLW - Gold Coast Suns Women v Richmond Tigers Women (Fox Footy)

🏉 20:05 - NRL - Brisbane Broncos v Parramatta Eels (Fox League)

🏉 20:45 - Super Rugby AU - Western Force v Rebels (Stan Sport)

⚽️ 21:05 - W-League - Brisbane Roar Women v Adelaide United Women (Kayo Sports)

SATURDAY

⚽️ 06:45 - English Championship - Blackburn Rovers v Brentford (BeIN Sports 1)

⚽️ 06:45 - Italian Serie A - Atalanta v Spezia Calcio (BeIN Sports 3)

🏉 06:45 - Premiership Rugby - Bristol Bears v Wasps (Fox Sports)

⚽️ 07:00 - Premier League - Newcastle United v Aston Villa (Optus Sport)

⚽️ 07:00 - Spanish La Liga - Levante v Valencia (BeIN Sports 2)

🏀 07:00 - EuroLeague - Valencia Basketball v Fenerbahce Basketball (Fox Sports More)

🎾 12:00 - WTA Abierto Zapopan, Semi-Final 1, Day 5 (BeIN Sports 1)

🏀 12:00 - NBA - Memphis Grizzlies v Denver Nuggets (ESPN 1 or Sky Sports 2)

🐴 13:10 - Group 3, Magic Night Stakes (Sky Racing 1 or 7)

🥊 13:30 - Super Flyweight - Srisaket Sor Rungvisai v Kwanthai Sithmorseng (DAZN)

🐴 13:45 - Group 3, Pago Pago Stakes (Sky Racing 1 or 7)

⛵️ 14:00 - America's Cup Match, Races 5 & 6 (Fox Sports)

🎾 14:00 - WTA Abierto Zapopan, Semi-Final 2 (BeIN Sports 1)

⛳️ 14:00 - PGA Tour of Australasia, QLD Open, Round 3 (Fox Sports)

🏀 14:30 - NBA - Los Angeles Lakers v Indiana Pacers (SBS on Demand or Sky Sports 2)

🐴 14:35 - Group 2, Alister Clark Stakes (Racing.com, Sky Racing 1 or 7)

🏉 15:00 - NRL - Warriors v Gold Coast Titans (Fox League)

🇦🇺 15:10 - AFLW - St Kilda Saints Women v GWS Giants Women (Fox Footy or 7mate)

🐴 15:35 - Group 2, Phar Lap Stakes (7, Sky Racing 1)

⚽️ 16:00 - J1 League - Yokohama FC v Cerezo Osaka (Optus Sport)

⚽️ 16:00 - J1 League - Tokushima Vortis v Avispa Fukuoka (Optus Sport)

🏉 16:00 - Top League - Toshiba Brave Lupus v Suntory Sungoliath (Stan Sport)

🐴 16:15 - Group 1, Coolmore Classic (7, Sky Racing 1)

🐴 16:40 - All-Star Mile, 1,600m- WFA (7, Racing.com or Sky Racing 1)

🐴 17:00 - Group 2, Ajax Stakes (Sky Racing 1 or 7TWO)

🏉 17:05 - Super Rugby Aotearoa - Crusaders v Chiefs (Stan Sport)

⚽️ 17:05 - A-League - Sydney FC v Newcastle Jets (Fox Sports)

🇦🇺 17:10 - AFLW - North Melb. Kangaroos Women v Western Bulldogs Women (Fox Footy)

🏉 17:30 - NRL - Sydney Roosters v Manly Sea Eagles (Fox League)

🏀 17:30 - NBL - Brisbane Bullets v Sydney Kings (SBS on Demand or SBS Viceland)

⚽️ 19:10 - A-League - Melbourne Victory v Adelaide United (Fox Sports)

🇦🇺 19:10 - AFLW - Melbourne Demons Women v Adelaide Crows Women (Fox Footy)

🏉 19:35 - NRL - Penrith Panthers v North Queensland Cowboys (Fox League)

🏉 19:45 - Super Rugby AU - Brumbies v Reds (GEM or Stan Sport)

🐎 19:55 - Group 3 Pacers, Harness Breeders Go Girlfriend Final (Sky Racing 1)

⛳️ 20:00 - European Tour, Qatar Masters, Round 3 (Fox Sports)

🏀 20:00 - NBL - Illawarra Hawks v Melbourne United (ESPN 1)

⚽️ 23:00 - France Ligue 1 - Angers SCO v AS Saint-Etienne (BeIN Sports 3)

⚽️ 23:15 - English Championship - Luton Town v Swansea City (BeIN Sports 2)

🚴🏼‍♀️ 23:20 - Paris-Nice, Stage 7 (SBS on Demand or SBS)

⚽️ 23:30 - Premier League - Leeds United v Chelsea (Optus Sport 1)

🏉 23:30 - Premiership Rugby - Exeter Chiefs v Harlequins (Fox Sports)

🏉 23:30 - Premiership Rugby - Newcastle Falcons v Bath (Fox Sports)

SUNDAY

⚽️ 07:00 - Premier League - Fulham v Manchester City (Optus Sport)

⚽️ 07:00 - Spanish La Liga - Getafe v Atletico Madrid (BeIN Sports 2)

👊🏻 09:00 - UFC Fight Night Prelims (ESPN 2)

🏏10:00 - Marsh One-Day Cup - New South Wales Blues v Western Australia (Fox Cricket)

🏀 11:00 - NBA - Brooklyn Nets v Detroit Pistons (Sky Sports 2)

🥊 12:00 - Super Flyweight Title - Juan Francisco Estrada v Roman Gonzalez (DAZN)

👊🏻 12:00 - UFC Fight Night Main Card - Leon Edwards v Belal Muhammad (ESPN 2)

🎾 12:00 - WTA Abierto Zapopan, Final, Day 6 (BeIN Sports 1)

⛳️ 12:00 - PGA Tour of Australasia, QLD Open, Round 4 (Fox Sports)

🏉 13:10 - NSW Cup - Blacktown Workers v North Sydney Bears (Fox League)

🇦🇺 13:10 - AFLW - Carlton Blues Women v Fremantle Dockers Women (Fox Footy)

🏉 13:35 - Super Rugby Aotearoa - Blues v Highlanders (Stan Sport)

⛵️ 14:00 - America's Cup Match, Races 7 & 8 (Fox Sports)

🏀 14:00 - NBL - New Zealand Breakers v South East Melbourne Phoenix (ESPN 1)

🏀 14:00 - NBA - Denver Nuggets v Dallas Mavericks (Sky Sports 2)

🏍 14:10 - Australian Superbike Championship, Race 2 (Fox Sports More or SBS Viceland)

⚽️ 15:00 - J1 LeagueYokohama F. Marinos v Urawa Red Diamonds (Optus Sport 1)

🇦🇺 15:10 - AFLW - Brisbane Lions Women v Collingwood Magpies Women (Fox Footy or 7mate)

⚽️ 16:00 - J1 League - Shimizu S-Pulse v Sagan Tosu (Optus Sport 2)

🏉 16:00 - Top League - NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes v Panasonic Wild Knights (Stan Sport)

🏏16:00 - Women's ODI Series - India v South Africa (Fox Sports)

🏉 16:05 - NRL - Canberra Raiders v Wests Tigers (Fox League or Nine)

⚽️ 16:05 - W-League - Melbourne City Women v Newcastle Jets Women (Fox Sports More)

⚽️ 16:05 - A-League - Central Coast Mariners v Perth Glory (Fox Sports)

🏀 16:30 - NBL - Perth Wildcats v Adelaide 36ers (SBS on Demand or SBS Viceland)

⚽️ 18:10 - A-League - Western United FC v Brisbane Roar (Fox Sports)

🏉 18:15 - NRL - St George Illawarra Dragons v Cronulla Sharks (Fox League)

🏏 18:45 - Women's ODI Series - India v South Africa (Fox Cricket)

⛳️ 20:00 - European Tour. Qatar Masters, Round 4 (Fox Sports)

⚽️ 22:30 - Italian Serie A - Bologna v Sampdoria (BeIN Sports 2)

⚽️ 23:00 - Premier League - Southampton v Brighton & Hove Albion (Optus Sport)

⚽️ 23:15 - English Championship - Sheffield Wednesday v Norwich City (BeIN Sports 3)

⚽️ 23:30 - FA Women's Super League - Reading Women v Tottenham Women (Optus Sport App)