🗞 King Charlie is still the man

G’day Sports Fans,

📺 Some quality live sports today; PGA Tour final round, Aus v NZ test Match, Sheffield Shield action, and a NBL Semi-Final Series match.

📧 P.S. First time reading? Subscribe here for free.

🏉 In a stunning display at Suncorp Stadium, the Cowboys crushed the Dolphins 43-18. Under new attack coach James Maloney, North Queensland capitalised on the Dolphins' defensive weaknesses, scoring seven tries.

The Cowboys took advantage of the Dolphins' struggles late in tackles, scoring four times when running the ball on play five, showcasing their offensive prowess in the season opener.

🏉 Round 1 wrap-up from NRL.com - The Storm continued their remarkable streak and the Eels and Cowboys made an early statement in an opening round that produced plenty of shock results and some injuries to key players.

Australia is in for a nail-biting showdown in the second and final Test against New Zealand.

🏏 Australia is in for a nail-biting showdown in the second and final Test against New Zealand. Despite all of their recent success, they're trailing at 4-77 on day four at Hagley Oval, chasing 202 runs for a clean sweep.

Historically, Australia hasn't bounced back from a 4-34 start, adding to the pressure. 

The best they've managed previously is when they bounced back from 4-9 against Sri Lanka at Moratuwa in 1992 before reaching 9(dec)-271 due to a 130-run seventh-wicket stand between Ian Healy and Greg Matthews that ultimately brought about a draw.

🏉 NRL Whispers: Panthers young gun Izack Tago has reportedly penned a new deal that will make him one of the highest-paid centres in the NRL. 

Penrith have upgraded the 21-year-old’s 2025 contract and the new deal averages around $750,000 per season.

The Dragons are reportedly chasing Wallabies star Jordan Petaia but coach Shane Flanagan has declared he won’t be releasing Zac Lomax this season.

The Roosters are trying to get Joseph Suaalii out of his $4.5 million rugby union contract to stay at the club amid fellow centre Joey Manu’s impending switch to French rugby.  

⛳️ Cam Smith's wait for a LIV Golf victory in 2024 has continued, after the former Champion Golfer of The Year agonisingly missed out in a three-man playoff at LIV Hong Kong on Sunday.

Smith stormed into contention during Sunday's round, shooting a bogey-free four-under-par at Hong Kong Golf Club.

This earned the Ripper GC captain a spot in the playoff following the end of regulation play, joining overnight leader Abraham Ancer, as well as Paul Casey, Ancer, who led all weekend went on to win.

⚽️ EPL Wrap-Up: Liverpool and Manchester City fought out a thrilling draw at Anfield to leave Arsenal top of the Premier League.

This meeting of the pre-eminent domestic powers of recent years lived up to its billing in an encounter of the highest quality in which both sides had chances to claim a vital victory.

Manchester City took a 23rd-minute lead when a slick corner routine caught Liverpool cold and John Stones turned in Kevin de Bruyne's delivery at the near post.

City deserved the lead but were pegged back when they conceded a penalty only 84 seconds after the interval - Darwin Nunez was sent crashing to the ground by keeper Ederson after intercepting Nathan Ake's poor backpass. After a delay, Alexis Mac Allister scored the spot-kick.

Tottenham boosted their hopes of a top-four Premier League finish with an emphatic 4-0 victory over 10-man Aston Villa at Villa Park. 

Andrew Omobamidele scored an own goal to gift Brighton victory and dent Nottingham Forest's chances of Premier League survival.

West Ham substitute Danny Ings stopped his former club Burnley earning a rare win as the home side fought back from 2-0 down (to draw 2-2) in a pulsating game.

🏉 The Six Nations sprung into life this weekend:

• On Saturday, England poured on the power-game to defy Ireland the first ever back-to-back Grand Slam, winning 23-22.

• Italy dented Scotland’s championship hopes with a hard-fought 31-29 win, which saw Wallaby Legend Michael Lynagh’s son Louis mark his debut for Italy with a try.

• France overpowered winless Wales in an eight-try Six Nations thriller in Cardiff 45-24.

🏀 Putting up numbers: Luka Doncic became the first NBA player to record six consecutive 30-point triple-doubles as the Dallas Mavericks pulled away in the second half and beat the Detroit Pistons 142-124 on Saturday night.

Doncic finished with 39 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds, eclipsing Russell Westbrook's mark of five straight 30-point triple-doubles. He also extended his own record with a fifth straight 35-point triple-double.

🏈 The New England Patriots are finalising a deal to trade quarterback Mac Jones to the Jacksonville Jaguars according to ESPN.

Jones, who grew up in Jacksonville, joins his hometown team as a backup to Trevor Lawrence - the first pick in the 2021 draft.

👊🏻 Sean O'Malley's only career loss came against Marlon "Chito" Vera. Now he has avenged it, cementing himself as UFC's next big star in the process.

In a stylish striking performance befitting someone who wore blue and pink cornrows and custom pink fight shorts, O'Malley defeated Vera via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-44) in the main event of UFC 299 on Saturday night. With the victory, O'Malley picked up his first successful defense of the UFC bantamweight title.

TODAY 

05:30 - PGA TOUR - Puerto Rico Open, Round 4 (Fox Sports)
08:00 - NHL - Carolina Hurricanes v Calgary Flames (ESPN 2)
09:00 - Test Match - New Zealand v Australia (Fox Cricket)
10:00 - NBA - New York Knicks v Philadelphia 76ers (ESPN)
10:30 - Sheffield Shield - Tasmania Tigers v South Australia Redbacks (Kayo Sports)
10:30 - Sheffield Shield - Victoria v Western Australia (Kayo Sports)
11:00 - NHL - Anaheim Ducks v New York Islanders (ESPN 2)
11:00 - Sheffield Shield - Queensland Bulls v New South Wales Blues (Kayo Sports)
12:30 - NBA - Los Angeles Lakers v Minnesota Timberwolves (ESPN)
19:30 - NBL Semi-Final Series - Tasmania JackJumpers v Perth Wildcats (ESPN)

TUESDAY 

03:00 - Pakistan Super League - Karachi Kings v Peshawar Zalmi (Fox Sports)
07:00 - Premier League - Chelsea v Newcastle United (Optus Sport 1)
09:00 - Test Match - New Zealand v Australia (Fox Cricket)
10:30 - Sheffield Shield - Tasmania Tigers v South Australia Redbacks (Kayo Sports)
10:30 - Sheffield Shield - Victoria v Western Australia (Kayo Sports)
11:00 - NBA - San Antonio Spurs v Golden State Warriors (ESPN)
11:00 - Sheffield Shield - Queensland Bulls v New South Wales Blues (Kayo Sports)
12:00 - College - Men's NCAA (ESPN 2)
13:30 - NBA - Portland Trail Blazers v Boston Celtics (ESPN)