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🗞 I've loved doing the job
Marnus Labuschagne has been named in Australia's final squad for the upcoming World Cup.
Sport Journal
September 28, 2023
G'day sports fans,
"It's got to be a do-or-die effort. It's got to be a determined effort. You've got to show me all the guts and determination you've got in your body. You've got to inspire me with this last quarter finish. You've been in front all day and you've got to stay there." - Ted Whitten
🏉 The sticking point that led to Blues legend Brad Fittler quitting as NSW coach was Freddy’s request for a new two-year contract.
The Blues hierarchy only wanted to give Fittler one more year after six years at the helm including losing three of the last four series.
Fox League reported Fittler even offered to walk away if the Blues failed to end the Maroons dominance next season and lost another series.
“The Board understands and respects his decision,” NSWRL chairman Paul Conlon said. “‘Freddy’ [Fittler] was a legend as a player and returned to coach the team at a time when his state needed him.
“He contributed through other programs including his Hogs motorcycle rides in regional NSW which played a big part in uniting the state. He holds a special place in NSW Rugby League history.”
“I've loved doing the job and I will always love NSW,” - Fittler said.
🦙 Fun Fact: Brad Fittler has two pet Llamas named Michelle and Barack to be exact. Barack Ollama.
The NSWRL indicated they will now invite expressions of interest from coaches to be involved in the State of Origin program in 2024.
It's understood Fittler’s assistant coach Paul McGregor, Blues advisor Greg Alexander and Origin legends Andrew Johns and Danny Buderus have informed NSWRL they will not be involved in 2024.
🏉 Billy Slater will continue to lead an exciting group of players after signing a three-year contract extension as the head coach of the Queensland Maroons State of Origin team.
After guiding Queensland to consecutive Origin series wins that inspired millions of Maroons fans, the Queensland Rugby League was eager to extend Slater’s tenure.
QRL chief executive officer Ben Ikin said Slater’s re-appointment will ensure the men’s Origin program remains a force.
“Over the past two years we’ve witnessed a team that has made Queenslanders immensely proud, and it’s been Billy’s vision and leadership driving that.” - Ikin said
“I believe they are only getting started. From the very beginning, I was drawn to this role because I deeply understand the importance of this team to all Queenslanders.” - Slater.
🏆 NRL GF PREVIEW: The 2023 NRL season has culminated in the two most dominant teams facing each other in what shapes to be one of the most enthralling recent grand finals as the Penrith Panthers and Brisbane Broncos battle for glory.
Now the Panthers will finally get to determine whether they can enter the history books as winners of three consecutive titles. Both sides displayed their dominance with rampant wins last weekend; Penrith hammered Melbourne 38-4 while Brisbane overcame a rocky start to eventually thump the Warriors 42-12.
The Panthers and Broncos met twice this year, with each side winning on the road. No changes for either 17, with Penrith’s Jarome Luai and Izack Tago surviving their returns from injury, while Herbie Farnworth is named for Brisbane despite reporting hamstring tightness in training.
Stat Pack:
In each of Penrith's last 11 matches, its starting left wing has scored at least one try. (Brian To’o 1.95 anytime)
Herbie Farnworth has scored at least one try in each of his last six appearances in New South Wales. (3.25 anytime)
Grand Finals are traditionally cagey encounters, with 12 of the last 14 producing Under 40.5 total points and eight of the last 12 producing Under 38.5. Both fixtures featuring these two teams totalled just 44 points.
However, Each of Penrith's last six matches at Accor Stadium have gone OVER the total match points line.
🏏 Marnus Labuschagne has been named in Australia's final squad for the upcoming World Cup.
Labuschagne's inclusion is the only change to Australia's provisional squad as he replaces spinner Ashton Agar, who has a calf injury.
Travis Head is also included, despite being unavailable for the first half of the tournament because of a fractured hand.
Australia start their campaign against hosts India on 8 October.
Australia World Cup squad: Pat Cummins (capt), Sean Abbott, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa.
Labuschagne's call-up comes after recent impressive one-day international performances against South Africa and India, in which the 29-year-old scored 421 runs in eight matches at an average of 60.14.
📺 With global interest in the NBL at an all-time high (including a visit from Bulls legend Scottie Pippen yesterday) a new deal has been struck with ESPN to air all games exclusively LIVE into the United States.
🙍🏻♂️ Peter V’landys has devised a plan for hot boi Reece Walsh to be the face of rugby league and says the Broncos wonder boy is on track to become the code’s first global megastar. Vegas Baby!
🏉 Roosters star Angus Crichton has reportedly been offered a two-year contract to join rugby union worth a whopping $1.6 million.
The 27-year-old would depart the Roosters immediately to join the Western Force in the Super Rugby competition according to The Daily Telegraph.
Rugby Australia boss Hamish McLennan has reportedly made it clear he wants to recruit players to boost the struggling 15-man code.
🏆 AFL GF PREVIEW: With a place in history on the line, Collingwood and Brisbane will meet in the 2023 AFL Grand Final at the MCG.
It’s fitting that these clubs also met in a decider two decades ago, seeing the Lions triumph 134-84 to mark their second straight premiership-winning victory over the Magpies and third straight overall. Brisbane has also gotten the better of Collingwood recently, claiming six straight wins in this head-to-head matchup, including a 124-100 victory at Marvel Stadium during Round 23 and a 116-83 win at the Gabba in Round 4. Charlie Cameron dominated those fixtures, totalling 10 goals, while Lachie Neale averaged 26.5 disposals and 8.5 clearances.
However, the Lions will still need to exorcise some demons if they’re to lift the cup on Saturday; they hold a 1-14 record from their last 15 matches at the MCG, whereas the Magpies are 23-4 from their last 27 at the home of football.
Stat Pack:
Eight of Collingwood's last 10 Finals matches have been decided by a margin of 15 points or less.
Brisbane has won each of its last six matches against Collingwood.
Charlie Cameron has kicked 4+ goals in three of Brisbane's last four matches against Collingwood.
Nick Daicos has recorded 25+ disposals in 20 of his last 21 appearances.
⛳️ The 44th edition of the Ryder Cup gets under way in Rome this afternoon as Europe attempt to regain the trophy and avenge their record defeat by the United States two years ago at Whistling Straits.
Luke Donald's team will be aiming to record an eighth victory in 12 meetings for Europe at the Marco Simone Golf and Country Club.
The United States' last victory on European soil was in 1993, when they triumphed 15-13 at The Belfry, in England, with Europe winning the past six tournaments this side of the Atlantic.
First round foursomes look tasty: Rookie, Ludvig Aberg will partner Viktor Hovland for Europe against US rookies Brian Harman and Max Homa.
Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood face Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay in arguably the match of the round.
🏀 Portland Trailblazers are trading Damian Lillard to Milwaukee as part of a 3-team deal with Jrue Holiday, Deandre Ayton, Toumani Camara, a 2029 unprotected MIL 1st, and unprotected MIL swap rights in 2028 and 2030 to Blazers. Phoenix lands Jusuf Nurkic, Grayson Allen, Nassir Little and Keon Johnson.
💰 Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG) have agreed to sell a minority stake in the club worth between £82m and £164m to global sports investment firm Dynasty Equity.
The new investment will primarily be used to pay off the club's bank debt.
Squint a little bit to see Messi and Ronaldo.
⚽️ Brighton manager Roberto de Zerbi and Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso are contenders to replace Carlo Ancelotti should he leave Real Madrid when his contract expires at the end of the season.
⛳️ ‘Big Fat Cheater’ Patrick Reed has seen his AU$1.2BN defamation lawsuits against golf reporters and media outlets dismissed by a federal judge in Florida.
Reed's filing claimed "calculated, malicious, false and reckless attacks" had caused him major damages.
Adidas single-use shoes has smashed all marathon records.
👟 As reported on Monday, last weekend’s Berlin marathon saw the tumbling of the latest marathon record as Ethiopia’s Tigist Assefa shattered the women’s record by more than two minutes to finish in 2hr 11 min 53 secs - with a breathtaking performance.
Since then there has been a lot of speculation on how impactful the ‘single-use’ marathon shoes by Adidas were in the feat.
Adidas's Adizero Adios Pro Evo 1 - soon to be released to the general public - Weigh just 138 grams per show, the AU$760 running sneaker is 40% lighter than any other Adidas sneaker ever made.
⚾️ Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. stole his 70th base of the season to become the first player in MLB history to post a 40 (homes runs) & 70 (stolen bases) season, swiping the bag in the 10th inning against the Chicago Cubs.
⚽️ Stat: Leicester City have scored more Premier League goals than Chelsea in 2022. They were relegated in May.
TODAY
05:00 - Rugby World Cup - Japan v Samoa (Stan Sport)
05:30 - Spanish La Liga - Osasuna v Atletico Madrid (Optus Sport 1)
10:05 - Marsh One-Day Cup - Victoria v New South Wales Blues (Fox Cricket)
10:15 - NFL - Green Bay Packers v Detroit Lions (ESPN)
10:30 - AFL - AFL Grand Final Parade (Fox Footy)
11:40 - MLB - Seattle Mariners v Texas Rangers (ESPN 2)
15:30 - Ryder Cup Golf, Round 1 (Kayo)
16:05 - NPC - Auckland Rugby v Northland (Stan Sport)
18:30 - Cricket World Cup Warm-up - New Zealand v Pakistan (Fox Cricket)
18:30 - Cricket World Cup Warm-up - South Africa v Afghanistan (Fox Sports More)
19:30 - NBL - Brisbane Bullets v Adelaide 36ers (ESPN)
21:00- Rugby Spring Series - Western Force v Cheetahs (Stan Sport)
21:15 Group 1 Racing - AJ Moir Stakes, 1,000m (Sky1)
21:30 - NBL - Perth Wildcats v Tasmania JackJumpers (ESPN)
SATURDAY
05:00 - Rugby World Cup - New Zealand v Italy (Stan Sport)
05:00 - Super League Play-Offs Round 1 - Hull Kingston Rovers v Leigh Leopards (Fox League)
05:00 - Spanish La Liga - Barcelona v Sevilla (Optus Sport 1)
09:07 - MLB - Toronto Blue Jays v Tampa Bay Rays (ESPN 2)
11:05 - NPC - Wellington Lions v Hawke's Bay (Stan Sport)
11:05 - NPC - Waikato v Canterbury Rugby (Stan Sport)
14:30 - AFL Grand Final - Collingwood Magpies v Brisbane Lions (Channel 7)
14:50 - Group 1 Racing - Flight Stakes, 1,600m (Sky1, 7Two)
15:30 - Ryder Cup Golf, Round 2 (Kayo)
16:05 - NPC - Taranaki v North Harbour (Stan Sport)
16:05 - Group 1 Racing - Epsom Handicap, 1,600m (7Two, Sky1)
16:45 - Group 1 Racing - The Metropolitan, 2,400m (7Two, Sky1)
17:30 - NBL - New Zealand Breakers v Cairns Taipans (ESPN)
18:30 - Cricket World Cup Warm-up - Australia v Netherlands (Fox Cricket)
18:30 - Cricket World Cup Warm-up - India v England (Fox Sports)
20:00 - NBL - Illawarra Hawks v Sydney Kings (ESPN)
21:30 - Premier League - Aston Villa v Brighton & Hove Albion (Optus Sport 1)
21:45 - Super League Play-Offs Round 1 - St Helens v Warrington Wolves (Fox League)
23:00 - Rugby World Cup - Argentina v Chile (Stan Sport)
00:00 - Premier League - West Ham United v Sheffield United (Optus Sport 4)
00:00 - Premier League - Wolverhampton Wanderers v Manchester City (Optus Sport 6)
00:00 - Premier League - Manchester United v Crystal Palace (Optus Sport 2)
00:00 - Premier League - Newcastle United v Burnley (Optus Sport 5)
00:00 - Premier League - Everton v Luton Town (Optus Sport 7)
00:00 - Premier League - Bournemouth v Arsenal (Optus Sport 3)
SUNDAY
01:45 - Rugby World Cup - Fiji v Georgia (Stan Sport)
03:30 - Premier League - Tottenham v Liverpool (Optus Sport 1)
03:30 - Spanish La Liga - Girona v Real Madrid (Optus Sport 2)
06:00 - Rugby World Cup - Scotland v Romania (Stan Sport)
06:00 - Spanish La Liga - Real Sociedad v Athletic Club (Optus Sport 2)
12:05 - NPC - Bay of Plenty v Tasman Mako (Stan Sport)
12:05 - NPC - Otago v Counties Manukau (Stan Sport)
12:30 - Women's T20 Series - Australia v West Indies (Fox Cricket or Channel 7)
13:20 - NRL State Championship Grand Final - South Sydney Rabbitohs NSW Cup v Brisbane Tigers (Channel 9, Fox League)
14:00 - NBL - Adelaide 36ers v Melbourne United (10 Peach, ESPN or Kayo Sports)
14:35 - NPC - Manawatu v Southland (Stan Sport)
16:00 - NBL - South East Melbourne Phoenix v Perth Wildcats (10 Peach, ESPN or Kayo Sports)
17:40 - Group 1 Racing - Sprinters Stakes, 1,200m, JPN. (Sky2)
19:30 - NRL Grand Final - Penrith Panthers v Brisbane Broncos (Channel 9)
20:30 - Ryder Cup Golf, Round 3 (Kayo)