🗞 Hey Big Spenders

G'day sports fans,

🌶 "I think people are seeing it as England having a huge chance to turn the Aussies over," - England batter Ben Duckett.

🇦🇺 Aussie Sport

🏉 Angus Crichton's return to the NRL has taken a significant step after the second-rower was named to start for Sydney Roosters this weekend in NSW Cup.

In February, news of Crichton's bipolar diagnosis shocked the rugby league world, with the representative footballer not playing a game of rugby league since Australia's World Cup victory.

Speaking to media on Thursday, Roosters coach Trent Robinson confirmed Crichton will be back playing on Saturday against Newtown.

🇦🇺 Hawthorn young gun Will Day's bid to overturn a two-game ban has been tossed out, with the tribunal labelling his dumping tackle an “inherently dangerous action”.

Day will now miss games against Greater Western Sydney and Adelaide, despite arguing he was trying to roll Geelong’s Brad Close and take the force of his fall to the ground. (AFL)

⚽️ Melbourne City stand on the precipice of wrapping up a historic third consecutive Isuzu UTE A-League Premiership and A-Leagues Club Championship this weekend - with a win on Saturday against Central Coast Mariners, they will secure a third consecutive Premiership – becoming the first team to do so in the history of the competition.

A point will also wrap up a second trophy as City also sit nine points clear on top (78 points) of the A-Leagues Club Championship standings ahead of Sydney FC (69) – meaning a draw will lock in consecutive titles.

The A-Leagues Club Championship Trophy is awarded to the football club whose men’s and women’s A-League teams perform the best across both their respective leagues.

🏉 Western Force prop Tom Robertson is eager to test himself against some of his best mates, knowing a strong performance in the Australian derby against NSW Waratahs will leave the perfect impression before next week's Wallaby camp.

Saturday's clash at Allianz Stadium will see the 28-year-old face off against his old side, with both teams desperate for victory after slow starts to the season

“I definitely want to have bragging rights for the rest of the year. It doesn’t make it any less important of a game.”

🏀 Australian phenom Josh Giddey tied his NBA career high of 31 points as the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the New Orleans Pelicans 123-118 on Thursday (AEST) to remain alive in the Western Conference play-in tournament.

Giddey, 20, also had 10 assists and nine rebounds for Oklahoma City, the only Western Conference team still playing with a losing record.

Giddey's usually calm demeanour switched to a fiery streak when Pelicans veteran Josh Richardson hit him in the groin while attempting to set a screen.

🏀 NBL Salary cap leak: The NBL experienced an interesting phenomena over the 2022-23 season: the three teams that spent the most missed the playoffs, while the three teams that spent the least made it into the top-four.

1. Adelaide 36ers: $2.92 million.

2. South East Melbourne Phoenix: $2.85 million.

3. Perth Wildcats: $2.64 million.

If these are accurate five teams would end up finishing the season over the salary cap. League average: $2.33 million.

🐴 The Mark and Ben Currie saga will drag on as lawyers consider whether or not the father and son duo will give evidence at a stewards' hearing involving a failed drug test for one of their horses End Assembly.

In remarkable circumstances, Queensland Racing Integrity Commission stewards were forced to call in the help of high-profile silk Tim Ryan KC after new evidence came to light in the case when a punter claimed he was behind the failed test, saying he petted the horse at Eagle Farm in December after consuming two "bags" of cocaine and having 10 to 15 drinks.

🌎 World Sport

⚽️ Premier League clubs have collectively agreed to withdraw gambling sponsorship from the front of their matchday shirts by the end of the 2025-26 season.

However, after the deadline, clubs will still be able to continue featuring gambling brands in areas such as shirt sleeves and LED advertising.

🥊 Later this year, Nate Diaz will go head-to-head against Jake Paul in the boxing ring in what is expected to be a hugely anticipated contest between the two fighters.

⚽️ Bayern Munich are considering selling Sadio Mane who has been suspended after his bust-up with teammate Leroy Sane following their defeat to Man City. Mane is said to have punched Sane in the mouth.

🗣 Speaking in an Irish pub, United States president Joe Biden appeared to confuse the All Blacks with the Black and Tans, a group of British reserve troops who gained notoriety for their brutality during the Irish war of independence in 1920.

The president thanked Rob Kearney (A distant relative of Biden and former Ireland international) for presenting him with a tie and referred to Ireland's famous win over the All Blacks in Chicago in 2016.

"This was given to me by one of these guys, right here, was a hell of a rugby player. He beat the hell out of the Black and Tans," Biden said.

⚽️ Rumour has it Tottenham Hotspur have decided on Vincent Kompany (Burnley) as their new manager, after talks with Julian Nagelsmann stalled.

🏈 Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is not going to bid on the Washington Commanders, a source close to him said Wednesday, ending a pursuit that struggled to gain any momentum.

⚾️ Umpire Larry Vanover was hospitalised after being hit in the head with a relay throw in a “scary” moment during the New York Yankees game against the Cleveland Guardians.

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📺 Live Sports TV Guide

TODAY

04:00 - PGA TOUR - RBC Heritage, Round 1 (Fox Sports)

09:00 - NHL - Montreal Canadiens v Boston Bruins (ESPN)

09:05 - MLB - New York Yankees v Minnesota Twins (ESPN 2)

12:30 - NHL - Seattle Kraken v Vegas Golden Knights (ESPN)

14:05 - Super Rugby Pacific - Moana Pasifika v Queensland Reds (Stan Sport)

17:10 - AFL - Fremantle Dockers v Gold Coast Suns (Fox Footy)

18:00 - NRL - Cronulla Sharks v Sydney Roosters (Fox League)

19:35 - Super Rugby Pacific - Brumbies v Fijian Drua (Stan Sport)

19:45 - A-League Men - Newcastle Jets v Macarthur FC Bulls (Paramount+)

20:00 - NRL - Manly Sea Eagles v Melbourne Storm (Fox League or Channel 9)

20:10 - AFL - Richmond Tigers v Sydney Swans (Fox Footy Channel 7)

00:00 - Indian Premier League - Kolkata Knight Riders v Sunrisers Hyderabad (Fox Cricket)

00:00 - T20 Series - Pakistan v New Zealand (Fox Sports)

SATURDAY

04:00 - PGA TOUR - RBC Heritage, Round 2 (Fox Sports)

04:45 - Premiership Rugby - Gloucester Rugby v Bath Rugby (Stan Sport)

04:45 - Premiership Rugby - Bristol Bears v Sale Sharks (Stan Sport)

09:00 - NBA Play-In Game Final - Miami Heat v Chicago Bulls (ESPN)

09:00 - Major League Baseball - MLB Strike Zone (ESPN 2)

11:30 - NBA Play-In Game Final - Minnesota Timberwolves v Oklahoma City Thunder (ESPN)

12:35 - Super Rugby Pacific - Hurricanes v Chiefs (Stan Sport)

13:10 - AFL - Brisbane Lions v North Melb. Kangaroos (Fox Footy)

15:00 - NRL - Warriors v North Queensland Cowboys (Fox League)

15:05 - Shute Shield - West Harbour Pirates v Southern Districts Rugby (Stan Sport)

15:05 - Shute Shield - Sydney University Rugby v Newcastle Wildfires (Stan Sport)

15:05 - Shute Shield - Randwick Rugby v Northern Suburbs Rugby (Stan Sport)

15:05 - Shute Shield - Manly Rugby v Eastern Suburbs Rugby (Stan Sport)

15:05 - Shute Shield - Gordon Rugby v Warringah Rugby (Stan Sport)

15:05 - Shute Shield - Eastwood Rugby v Western Sydney Two Blues (Stan Sport)

15:10 - Group 1 Racing - Champagne Stakes, 1,600m - SW, 2YO (7, Sky1)

15:50 - Group 1 Racing - All Aged Stakes, 1,400m - WFA (7, Sky1)

16:10- AFL - Essendon Bombers v Melbourne Demons (Fox Footy)

17:00 - A-League Men - Central Coast Mariners v Melbourne City (Paramount+)

17:30 - NRL - Newcastle Knights v Penrith Panthers (Fox League)

17:50 - Featured Race - The Quokka, 1,200m - WFA (7TWO)

19:35 - Super Rugby Pacific - NSW Waratahs v Western Force (GEM or Stan Sport)

19:35 - NRL - Gold Coast Titans v Brisbane Broncos (Fox League)

19:45 - A-League Men - Western Sydney Wanderers v Melbourne Victory (10 Bold or Paramount+)

19:50 - AFL - Port Adelaide Power v Western Bulldogs (Fox Footy)

20:00 - Indian Premier League - Royal Challengers Bangalore v Delhi Capitals (Fox Cricket)

21:30 - Premier League - Aston Villa v Newcastle United (Optus Sport 1)

23:00 - Italian Serie A - Bologna v Milan (beIN SPORTS 2)

00:00 - Premier League - Southampton v Crystal Palace (Optus Sport 6)

00:00 - Premier League - Tottenham v Bournemouth (Optus Sport 4)

00:00 - Premier League - Everton v Fulham (Optus Sport 5)

00:00 - Premier League - Chelsea v Brighton & Hove Albion (Optus Sport 3)

00:00 - Premiership Rugby - Harlequins v Newcastle Falcons (Stan Sport)

00:00 - Premiership Rugby - Northampton Saints v Saracens (Stan Sport)

00:00 - Indian Premier League - Lucknow Super Giants v Punjab Kings (Fox Cricket)

SUNDAY

00:15 - Spanish La Liga - Athletic Club v Real Sociedad (Optus Sport 2)

02:00 - T20 Series - Pakistan v New Zealand (Fox Sports)

02:30 - Premier League - Manchester City v Leicester City (Optus Sport 1)

02:30 - German Bundesliga - Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Monchengladbach (beIN SPORTS 1)

03:00 - PGA TOUR - RBC Heritage, Round 3 (Fox Sports)

05:00 - Spanish La Liga - Cadiz CF v Real Madrid (Optus Sport 2)

05:00 - France Ligue 1 - Paris Saint-Germain v Lens (beIN SPORTS 1)

08:00 - NBA Playoffs First Round - Cleveland Cavaliers v New York Knicks (ESPN)

10:30 - NBA Playoffs First Round - Sacramento Kings v Golden State Warriors (ESPN)

11:30 - NSW Cup - Canberra Raiders NSW Cup v St. George Ill. Dragons NSW Cup (Fox League)

13:00 - A-League Men - Wellington Phoenix v Brisbane Roar (Paramount+)

13:10 - AFL - Geelong Cats v West Coast Eagles (Fox Footy)

14:00 - NRL - Canberra Raiders v St. George Illawarra Dragons (Fox League)

15:00 - A-League Men - Sydney FC v Perth Glory (10 Bold or Paramount+)

15:20 - AFL - GWS Giants v Hawthorn (Fox Sports)

16:05 - NRL - Parramatta Eels v Canterbury Bulldogs (Fox League or Channel 9)

16:50 - AFL - Collingwood Magpies v St. Kilda Saints (Fox Footy)

17:00 - A-League Men - Adelaide United v Western United FC (Paramount+)

17:45 - A-League Women Semi-Final - Sydney FC Women v Western United Women (Paramount+)

20:00 - Indian Premier League - Mumbai Indians v Kolkata Knight Riders (Fox Cricket)

23:00- Premier League - West Ham United v Arsenal (Optus Sport 1)

23:15 - Women's FA Cup Semi-Final - Aston Villa Women v Chelsea Women (Optus Sport 3)