G'day sports fans,

Quote: “Ben Simmons might also be the weakest, most pathetic excuse for a professional athlete we have seen, not just in American history, but the history of sports". - ESPN Analyst Stephen A. Smith (following the Brooklyn Nets going down 4-0 in the NBA play-offs)

⚽️ Incredible Match

Man City have dominated an incredible UEFA Champions League Semi-Final first leg at the Etihad.

Real Madrid have somehow struck back three times to hang in the tie.

In the 80th minute, it's 4-3 to City, after Benzema did this....

🇦🇺 Aussie Sport

🏉 Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett says the club is "heading in the right direction" in its bid to lure Storm superstar Cameron Munster to Queensland.

Melbourne's contract talks to keep Munster beyond 2023 are looking difficult for the club, with reports the Dolphins have put forward a deal worth more than $1 million a year to lure him out of Victoria.

It's thought the offer from Melbourne is closer to $750k-$800k per season.

"A lot of that [contract talk] is speculation, but we're keen to have Cameron at Redcliffe, whether it's in 2023 or 2024," Bennett confirmed on 9News Queensland.

🏉 Official team lists, updates, and injury news for Round 8 of the NRL season. (NRL)

🇦🇺 Who's struggling, who's a test, check out the players from your list who are a little sore. Medical room: The full AFL injury list, R7 

🏟 The Queensland government has reportedly launched an audacious bid to steal the NRL grand final from Sydney as early as this year.

The Sydney Morning Herald reports Australian Rugby League Committee chairman Peter V'landys has "sought an urgent meeting with NSW premier Dominic Perrottet".

Queensland powerbrokers are apparently willing to fork out upwards of $10 million a year to host the season decider. (SMH)

🗣 Essendon great Matthew Lloyd says he doesn't want to hear any excuses coming out of his former club surrounding its lacklustre start to 2022.

Having scraped into the finals last season, the Bombers' hopes of repeating those efforts look to be a long shot now following a 1-5 start to the year. (nine)

🌍 World Sport

🏆 Novak Djokovic can defend his Wimbledon title after organisers said players who are not vaccinated against Covid-19 will be allowed to compete.

The Serbian world number one, 34, was not allowed to play at the Australian Open in January following a row that centred around him being unvaccinated.

"The requirement set out by the government to enter the UK does not include mandatory vaccination," All England Lawn Tennis Club chief executive Sally Bolton told a news conference.

"Therefore, while it is of course encouraged, it is not a condition of entry."

Wimbledon takes place from 27 June to 10 July (GMT)

🎾 A new record: Rafa Nadal has been in the World's Top 10, every week for 17 consecutive years 🤯

🏀 The Celtics beat the Nets, 116-112, on Monday to complete one of the most unexpected sweeps in recent memory.

This is the first time in NBA history that the two preseason title favorites (Nets and Lakers) didn't win a playoff game.

"I think it was just really heavy emotionally this season," said Kyrie Irving, whose decision not to get vaccinated hung over the team all year.

🎱 Aussie Neil Robertson's superb maximum break could not prevent him from losing in a dramatic final-frame decider to Jack Lisowski in the second round of the World Championship.

⛳️ Phil Mickelson is seeking a release from the PGA Tour to play in the first event of Greg Norman's Saudi-funded LIV Golf Invitational event in June.

The 51-year-old American missed the Masters in April as he took a break from the game after apologising for his criticism of Saudi Arabia's regime.

👊🏻 UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou expects a crossover fight with Tyson Fury to happen next year.

Ngannou, 35, joined Fury in the ring for a post-fight interview following his stunning sixth-round knockout of Dillian Whyte at Wembley on Saturday.

"We both want this fight, that's clear, and we respect each other," Ngannou said on the MMA Hour on Monday.

⚽️ Real Madrid have agreed on a deal to sign Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger when his contract expires at the end of the season, says Guillem Balague.

🏒 President Biden welcomed the Lightning to the White House on Monday to celebrate the team's back-to-back Stanley Cup championships.

⛳️ A record-breaking 290,000 fans are set to attend the 150th Open Championship at St Andrews between 10-17 July.

There were more than 1.3 million ticket applications, which has led to the highest-ever number of general admission tickets.

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📺 Live sport 👇🏼

TODAY

🏀 09:00 - NHL - Pittsburgh Penguins v Edmonton Oilers (ESPN)

⚾️ 09:45 - MLB - St. Louis Cardinals v New York Mets (ESPN 2)

🏀 12:00 - NBA Playoffs First Round - Phoenix Suns v New Orleans Pelicans (ESPN)

🏀 18:30 - NBL - NBL Andrew Gaze MVP Awards (ESPN)

⚽️ 19:00 - AFC Champions League - Ulsan Hyundai v Kawasaki Frontale (Paramount+)

🏏 00:00 - Indian Premier League - Gujarat Titans v Sunrisers Hyderabad (Fox Cricket)

THURSDAY

⚽️ 05:00 - UEFA Champions Lge Semi-Final - Liverpool v Villarreal (Stan Sport)

🏒 09:30 - NHL - New York Rangers v Montreal Canadiens (ESPN 2)

⚾️ 11:38 - MLB - Los Angeles Angels v Cleveland Guardians (ESPN 2)

🏀 19:30 - NBL Semi-Final Series - Melbourne United v Tasmania JackJumpers (ESPN)

🏉 19:50 - NRL - Brisbane Broncos v Cronulla Sharks (Fox League or Channel 9)