🗞 Hero Retires

AUSSIE SPORTS
Hooper Retires

🏉 According to The Sydney Morning Herald, Mark Nawaqanitawase may have the opportunity to pursue dual sporting ambitions in 2024. The talented Sydney Roosters outside back is reportedly in contention to represent Australia in Rugby Sevens at the Olympics in Paris. However, to facilitate this dual commitment, Nawaqanitawase would need to finalize his contract with the Roosters before today’s deadline.

This arrangement would allow him to transition from Olympic competition to NRL Premiership aspirations later in the year.

⛹🏻‍♀️ The NSW Swifts’ season is all but over after falling to a shock 61-60 loss to rivals the Queensland Firebirds on Sunday.

Last year’s grand finalists have endured a horror 2024 campaign and now sit only percentage off the bottom of the ladder thanks to a sixth straight loss in an alarming fall from grace.

They now need to win their final two games by big margins – including next week against reigning premiers the Adelaide Thunderbirds – and rely on other results to go their way if they are to play post-season in a shock outcome for Briony Akle’s team.

🏉 Wallabies great Michael Hooper has announced his retirement from all forms of Australian rugby, effective immediately.

The 32-year-old former Test captain announced the news via Instagram on Sunday night.

Hooper missed out on selection for Australia's Olympic sevens team which is due to be announced on Wednesday.

NRL NEWS
Manu Blow

📄The Dragons (26-6 v Dolphins), and Cowboys (16-6 v Panthers) came away with upset victory while the Roosters ( 40-6 v Tigers) flexed their muscles in Sunday’s games.

🏉 Round Wrap: Matt Burton kicked the Bulldogs to a golden point victory over the Sharks and the Dragons' stormed their way into the top-eight after a big win over the Dolphins, the competition ladder is beginning to take shape for the 2024 season. (NRL.com) 

While Roosters coach Trent Robinson has confirmed superstar Joseph Manu has suffered a “broken hand” in a horror blow for Tricolours outfit.

AFL NEWS
Man in the Mirror

🦘 Kangaroos legend David King has urged the Giants to “look in the mirror” or risk being the most talented team he’s seen miss finals.

GWS’ mid-season slump continued in a 16-point away loss to Adelaide on the weekend to see the Giants slide out of the top eight for the first time in 2024.

It comes despite Adam Kingsley’s side opening its season 5-0 before dropping seven of its past 10 games to fall to 8-7 overall. (AFL.com)

📄 Match reports: Port Adelaide has given its embattled coach Ken Hinkley a reprieve, beating St Kilda by two points in an error-filled clash at Marvel Stadium.

Port defender Aliir Aliir was mighty in the last quarter as the Power held on to win Sunday's match 8.14 (62) to 8.12 (60). (match report)

A stunning burst of five goals in less than four minutes in the third quarter has helped Carlton overcome a brave Richmond side by 61 points and move six points clear inside the top two with eight rounds left in the home-and-away season. (match report)

Hawthorn has continued its charge into finals contention with the team's biggest win of 2024, dismantling West Coast in clinical style at Optus Stadium to win a one-sided clash by 61 points on Sunday.

The Hawks, who never looked troubled after kicking the opening three goals, now boast the equal longest current winning streak alongside Carlton after five straight wins, and gained valuable percentage from the 14.10 (94) to 4.9 (33) win. (match report)

🇦🇺 Is this the last we will see of Richmond champion Dustin Martin?

The AFL world is collectively holding their breath, after Martin was subbed out of the Tigers' 61-point loss to Carlton on Sunday at the MCG.

The 33-year-old was removed from the match during the third term, citing back soreness as his reason for sitting out.

It comes after Tigers coach Adem Yze remained coy on Martin's immediate future, confirming before the Carlton match, that he would not travel to face the Dockers the following week.

✍🏼 Geelong fans can breathe a sigh of relief, after confirmation that premiership small forward Tyson Stengle has chosen to remain a Cat.

The 25-year-old officially signed a five-year contract extension on Sunday, locking him into Geelong until at least 2029.

His signature comes after Stengle turned his back on a mega deal tabled by St Kilda, who were keen to lure him to Linton Street as a free agent at season's end.

WORLD NEWS
Hey Jude

🏎️ Max Verstappen secured a dramatic win at the Austrian Grand Prix, extending his championship lead. The race saw intense battles, including a clash between Lewis Hamilton and George Russell.

Verstappen's victory was marked by strategic pit stops and consistent performance.

The Austrian GP also highlighted Ferrari's struggles, with Charles Leclerc finishing fourth. The win reinforces Verstappen's dominance this season, with Red Bull continuing to excel in both driver and constructor standings.

⚽️ Jude Bellingham produced a moment of genius to keep England in Euro 2024 as they survived another desperate display and a huge scare to beat Slovakia 2-1, (with a Harry Kane heading in extra time) to reach the last eight.

⛳️ 56-year-old club pro, Frank Bensel has defied the odds to make back-to-back holes-in-one at the US Senior Open.

It's a first in the 1,001-tournament history of the USGA and believed to be the only time it’s happened on any major golf tour.

Frank Bensel used the same ball and same club for both holes-in-one on the fourth and fifth holes at the Newport Country Club in the US state of Rhode Island in the tournament's second round.

🍾 French Rugby: It’s the 82rd minute and Toulouse produce THIS whilst up 51 POINTS - IN A FINAL. Masterpiece. (Twitter)

🏏 Legend Retires: Virat Kohli saved his best for last – having made only 75 runs for the whole tournament, he scored a sensational 76 to top score and anchor the Indian innings, breaking a decade-long trophy drought with a seven-run win over South Africa in the T20 World Cup final.

It was enough to earn him player of the match honours, and he then announced he'd played his final T20I.

⚽️ European Football Whispers: Manchester United open talks with Matthijs de Ligt (Bayern Munich), Paris St-Germain consider world-record bid for 16yr-old Lamine Yamal (Barcelona) and Manchester City are interested in Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich) and Dani Olmo (RB Leipzig).

Italian side Juventus have completed the (50million Euros) signing of Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz.

🚴🏻‍♂️ Tadej Pogacar moved into the leader's yellow jersey as France's Kevin Vauquelin won stage two of the Tour de France.

Vauquelin took his first Grand Tour stage victory after breaking away from the front group, making the Arkea-B&B Hotels rider the second French winner of the 2024 race already.

Pogacar, of UAE-Team Emirates, powered away on the final climb of the 199.2km stage to Bologna, Italy, but took his main rival and last year's winner Jonas Vingegaard with him.

Dane Vingegaard of Visma-Lease a Bike crossed the line with Pogacar, but the Slovenian took the yellow jersey after having a higher placing in the first stage.

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