🗞 "I’m not here to play games"

July 12, 2022

G'day Sports Fans,

Origin quote: “Laurie Daley is running on old legs. I’ve got young legs. It’s time for the new generation, brother,” Anthony Mundine in 1997 prior to a State Of Origin match.

🇦🇺 Aussie Sport

🏉The scene is set for an epic 2022 State of Origin decider, NSW bouncing back hard from a disappointing 16-10 series-opening loss at home with an emphatic 44-12 game two victory in Perth. But will the Suncorp Stadium factor tip the scales back in the favour of the underdog Queenslanders?

Despite criticism of some perceived kneejerk changes from coach Brad Fittler, the Blues addressed their game one shortcomings impressively. They dominated the middle of the field – with inspirational Jake Trbojevic’s return for NSW and Reuben Cotter’s absence for Queensland proving crucial – and Nathan Cleary produced a man-of-the-match display on the back of it.

Despite being heavy favourites, the historical Origin decider stats make daunting reading for the Blues. In 21 game three clashes where the series has still been alive, Queensland has won 14 times to NSW’s five, with two drawn (the Maroons retained the shield on both occasions as the current ho lders).

STATS:

  • Five of the last six Origin III matches have gone UNDER the total match points line.

  • Valentine Holmes has been the first try-scorer in each of the last three Origin III matches at Suncorp Stadium.

  • Daniel Tupou has scored a try in three of his last four Origin appearances.

  • James Tedesco has scored at least one try in three of the last four Origin III matches.

🏉 Melbourne's Brandon Smith has been suspended for calling an NRL referee a "cheating bast*rd".

🇦🇺 Fremantle pair Michael Walters and Michael Frederick were the victims of racism on social media at the weekend. (nine)

🇦🇺 Medical room: The full AFL injury list, R18: Who's struggling, who's a test, check out the players from your list who are a little sore (AFL)

🏉 Benji Marshall has opened up on his NRL head coaching ambitions and his love for the Wests Tigers after reports the club are considering installing Tim Sheens as a mentor to him. (Fox)

🏏 Plans for ‘A’ tour of NZ ahead of 2023 Ashes: Players on the fringe of the Australian XI could be tested with a Dukes ball in New Zealand at the back-end of the upcoming home summer

🏟 Talks are underway about the potential construction of a 20,000-seat stadium inside the Brisbane Showgrounds that could host Lions games for up to four years. (Fox)

Brisbane will require a temporary new home ground for the 2026 season onwards, as the Gabba undergoes a $1 billion redevelopment in time for the 2032 Olympics.

🏉 Wallabies scrum-half Nic White has stressed the importance of matching the English physically if they wish to claim the inaugural Ella-Mobbs Cup in Saturday's decider at the SCG. (rugby)

Maro Itoje and Sam Underhill have been withdrawn from England's squad for the decider against the Wallabies.

The 10 Youngest State of Origin Debutants

🌍 World Sport

⛳️ The Open Championship is always staged on a links course and this year we're off to the most famous of them all - St Andrews.

Par 72, 7,297 yards

Five of the last eight Open winners had won in one of their five previous starts

Previous Open Championship form is a huge pointer and 14 of the last 16 winners have recorded a prior top-ten. 

Nine of the last 10 winners at St Andrews has achieved a T3 or better at the Masters

Favourite: Rory McIlroy ($11.0), In the Northern Irishman’s last seven stroke-play starts, he has one win (the RBC Canadian Open), five top-10 finishes, with the worst result of T19.

Rory has finished runner-up in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship three times and he was third here in the 2010 Open.

Xander Schauffele has been well supported while he's contended at the Scottish, which he's just won, and he's far and away the hottest player in the field. 

Jordan Spieth has an excellent Open record and his tied 10th at the Scottish Open should prove to be a fabulous warm-up.

Collin Morikawa hasn't tasted victory since he won the DP World Tour Championship in November, but he was second in the prestigious Genesis Invitational, and he finished fifth in both the US Masters in April and the US Open last month. 

Worth a mention: Shane Lowry ($23.0), Tommy Fleetwood ($41.0), & Tony Finau ($41.0)

Cameron Smith leads the Aussie charge at ($26.0).

🏏 Police in India have arrested a group of conmen who set up a fake version of cricket's Indian Premier League (IPL) and fooled gamblers in Russia.

The conmen staged the match on a farm in Gujarat, paying labourers to pose as players, sporting jerseys of real IPL teams, with a bogus umpire instructed to signal a boundary or wicket. 

The YouTube channel would never show a wide shot of the pitch, and crowd noise sound effects were downloaded from the internet and played through a speaker. 

Bets were replaced via Telegram, and relayed otthe onfield umpire who would tell the players what to do, to make them lose.

⚽️ Erik ten Hag enjoyed a winning start as Manchester United manager as three first-half goals set up his side for an impressive 4-0 success over rivals Liverpool in Bangkok.

⚽️ Bayern Munich are considering Tottenham Hotspur and England forward Harry Kane, 28, as a replacement for Robert Lewandowski, with the 33-year-old Poland striker eager to leave the Bundesliga champions this summer. (Kicker - in German)

⚽️ Watch the moment Valour FC's William Akio clears his own team-mate's would-be goal off the line during their Canadian Premier League game.

🏏 England were bowled out for 110 as they slumped to a miserable 10-wicket defeat against India in the first one-day international at The Oval.

Jason Roy, Joe Root and Ben Stokes were all out for ducks inside the first three overs after the hosts were put into bat.

🎾 An incredible thing to visualize is the BIG 3's record in majors: Nadal, Federer, and Djokovic have won an astounding 62 of the past 75 Grand Slams.

  • 20 of the last 22 Grand Slams.

  • 17 of the past 19 Wimbledons.

  • 17 of the past 18 French Opens.

  • 16 of the past 17 Australian Opens.

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TODAY

08:30 - NBA Summer League - Brooklyn Nets v Memphis Grizzlies (ESPN) 

09:40- MLB - Minnesota Twins v Milwaukee Brewers (ESPN 2) 

10:30 - NBA Summer League - Golden State Warriors v Boston Celtics (ESPN)

12:30 - NBA Summer League - Dallas Mavericks v Phoenix Suns (ESPN) 

20:10 - State of Origin - Queensland v New South Wales (Channel 9)

THURSDAY

07:00 - NBA Summer League - Charlotte Hornets v Cleveland Cavaliers (ESPN)

09:00 - NBA Summer League - Utah Jazz v Toronto Raptors (ESPN)

11:00 - NBA Summer League - Philadelphia 76ers v Miami Heat (ESPN) 

11:38 - MLB - Los Angeles Angels v Houston Astros (ESPN 2)

14:00 - Men's Asia Cup Group Game - Australia v Saudi Arabia (ESPN) 

15:30 - The Open Championship, Round 1 (Fox Sports) 

19:45 - Queensland Champions Cup - Leeds United v Brisbane Roar (10 Bold or Paramount+)

22:00 - ODI Series - England v India (Fox Cricket)