🗞️ Tries, Lies, and Supercar Highs

🏉 Double Hatty’s: Tom Wright and Matt Faessler scored a hat-trick of tries each as Australia thrashed Wales 52-20 in Cardiff to consign Warren Gatland’s team to a national record of 11 consecutive Test losses.

The result keeps Australia on track to emulate the 1984 Grand Slam-winning Wallaby tourists who swept past all four home nations, after their impressive opening 42-37 victory over England and with Tests against Scotland and Ireland to come.

The only negative on the day, was Kerevi being yellow carded for a high, head-on-head tackle on Jac Morgan.

That card was upgraded to red as there were no mitigating factors, although Kerevi was replaced after 20 minutes under new laws World Rugby are trialling. Australia still notched up three converted tries while down to 14 men, and kept Joseph Suaalii on ice until the 62nd minute.

🏏 Australian cricket legend Glenn McGrath has urged the national team to capitalise on India's current vulnerabilities ahead of the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy series.

McGrath noted that India is "coming off a 3-0 loss against New Zealand," providing Australia with "plenty of ammunition to back yourself up."

"…put the pressure on them and see if they’re up for it." - said McGrath who also highlighted the challenges faced by former Indian captain Virat Kohli, who has been struggling with form, averaging just 22.72 in his six Test matches this year. "I think he’s probably under pressure a little bit, and if he has a couple of low scores to start with, he could really feel it."

🏀 A courtside spectator plunged Melbourne's 20-point victory over Adelaide into chaos after an on-court tussle between two competitors spilled off-court at John Cain Arena on Sunday afternoon.

In the fourth quarter of United's 113-93 win over the 36ers, a physical altercation broke out after Adelaide players clashed with a spectator.

Four patrons were subsequently removed from the stadium by venue security as a result of the blow-up.

🚘 The 2024 Supercars season ended in extraordinary drama with newly crowned champion Will Brown storming from last to first to claim victory in a race filled with carnage in Adelaide.

Brown, who on Saturday secured the championship, wasn’t the first across the line in Sunday’s street circuit event – that honour belonged to Red Bull Racing teammate Broc Feeney.

But Feeney was holding a 30-second penalty at the chequered flag for two incidents with rival Chaz Mostert that ruined both drivers’ shot at victory.

🏏 Sheffield Shield: Victoria are in sight of victory over Western Australia and the outright lead in the Sheffield Shield standings; Stumps: Western Australia lead Victoria by 72 runs with 3 wickets remaining.

Queensland opener Matthew Renshaw reminded Test selectors that he is no spent force with a vital century (120 not out) to frustrate Tasmania's quest for a Sheffield Shield victory.

Queensland finished day three on 7-274 and need 37 runs to avoid the follow-on with a day remaining.

🙋🏼‍♀️ AFLW: After their incredible comeback win, Port Adelaide will play North Melbourne in the first preliminary final next weekend. While Brisbane plays Adelaide for a Grand Final spot on Saturday night.

NRL NEWS

🗓️ The opening-round fixtures for next season were released on Sunday morning, with several grudge matches included in the eight games.

Kyle Flanagan is up against Stephen Crichton on the St George Illawarra playmaker's full return from his biting ban as part of a blockbuster start to 2025.

Canberra and the Warriors will play the opening game in Las Vegas on March 1, before Penrith and Cronulla also square off at Allegiant Stadium.

 Sydney Roosters and Brisbane playing the first game back in Australia the following Thursday.

2025 NRL OPENING-ROUND FIXTURES (All times AEDT)

Sunday, March 2 (Las Vegas double-header); 11am: Canberra v Warriors % 3.30pm: Penrith v Cronulla

Thursday, March 6: Sydney Roosters v Brisbane

Friday, March 7: 6pm: Wests Tigers v Newcastle % 8.05pm: Dolphins v South Sydney

Saturday, March 8: 5.30pm: St George Illawarra v Canterbury & 7.35pm: Manly v North Queensland

Sunday, March 9: 4.05pm: Melbourne v Parramatta

✍🏼 Free Agency Wrap: Clubs actively negotiating for the 2026 season and beyond. Veteran forwards Christian Welch and David Klemmer face uncertain futures due to performance-based clauses in their contracts.

Leo Thompson has attracted interest from multiple clubs, including the Bulldogs, Dolphins, Tigers, Dragons, and now the Raiders, who see him as a potential replacement for Josh Papalii.

At the Roosters, hooker Brandon Smith's future is uncertain, with reports suggesting the club may not offer him a deal beyond 2025.

Additionally, Terrell May has been granted permission to negotiate with rival clubs, indicating potential changes in the forward pack. (Fox)

AFL NEWS

🗳️ It’s almost time for The 2024 AFL National Draft, scheduled for November 20 and 21, with coverage beginning at 7 pm AEDT on Fox Footy and Kayo Sports.

This year's draft is highly competitive, with top prospects like Sam Lalor and Finn O'Sullivan leading discussions for the number one pick.

🎾 Jannik Sinner became the first Italian to win the ATP Finals title as he earned a commanding straight-set victory over American Taylor Fritz in Turin.

World number one Sinner capped a superb year, in which he has also won the first two Grand Slam titles of his career, with a 6-4 6-4 win over the fifth-ranked Fritz.

With that victory - his 70th in 2024 - the 23-year-old became the first player to take the title at the season-ending ATP Finals without losing a set since Ivan Lendl in 1986.

Amid his remarkable successes in 2024, the reigning Australian Open and US Open champion has also been embroiled in an ongoing doping controversy.  

Wada is seeking a ban of between one and two years for Sinner to be applied from the date of a Cas ruling that found "no fault or negligence" attached to 23-year-old Sinner.

👊🏼 icymi: Jon Jones cemented his status as one of the best mixed martial artists of all time as he stopped Stipe Miocic with a stunning kick to retain his heavyweight title at UFC 309.

Jones dropped fellow American Miocic with a thudding spinning back kick in the third round at New York's Madison Square Garden to make the first defence of his belt.

Jones, 37, said he plans to continue his UFC career, but did not confirm if his next fight will be against Britain's interim champion Tom Aspinall.

"As far as my future in the octagon, I decided that maybe I will not retire," said Jones.

🏏 Questions around India's batting order for the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Perth grew after Shubman Gill hurt his left thumb on the second day of India's intra-squad training match at the WACA.

🏀 Los Angeles Lakers defeat of the New Orleans Pelicans (104-99) marked the 1505th regular-season game for 39-year-old Lakers' leader LeBron James.

With this achievement, LeBron has surpassed John Stockton for most regular-season games played. Ahead of him are only Dirk Nowitzki (1522), Vince Carter (1541), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1560), and Robert Parish (1611).

🏍️ Jorge Martin won the MotoGP world championship for the first time with an untroubled run to third place at the Grand Prix of Barcelona on Sunday, the Spaniard’s 32nd podium of the season enough to dethrone reigning world champion Francesco Bagnaia, who won from pole position but fell short of a hat-trick of titles.

⛳️ Rory McIlroy held off Denmark's Rasmus Hojgaard to win the season-ending DP World Tour Championship and clinch his sixth Race to Dubai title.

-15 R McIlroy (NI); -13 R Hojgaard (Den); -11 S Lowry (Ire), A Rozner (Fra), A Scott (Aus).

It is the third year in succession that McIlroy has topped the tour's season rankings and his sixth title overall - matching Seve Ballesteros' record.

"Everyone knows what Seve means to European golf and Ryder Cup players," an emotional McIlroy told Sky Sports.

"He means so much to European golf and for me to be mentioned in the same breath, I'm very proud."

🥊 "I almost died in June. Had eight blood transfusions. Lost half my blood and 25lbs in hospital and had to fight to get healthy to fight, so I won." - Mike Tyson after his defeat to YouTuber Jake Paul. Netflix said that 60 million households tuned in live to watch the event.

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TODAY

06:30 - PDC Grand Slam of Darts - Grand Slam of Darts Final, Night 9 - Fox Sports

06:45 - UEFA Nations League - Italy v France - Optus Sport 2

08:05 - NFL - San Francisco 49ers v Seattle Seahawks - 7mate

08:25 - NFL - Buffalo Bills v Kansas City Chiefs - ESPN

10:30 - Sheffield Shield - Victoria Men v Western Australia Men - Kayo Sports

10:30 - Sheffield Shield - Queensland Bulls v Tasmania Tigers Men - Kayo Sports

11:00 - NBA - Chicago Bulls v Houston Rockets - ESPN 2

12:20 - NFL - Los Angeles Chargers v Cincinnati Bengals - ESPN

19:00 - T20 Series - Australia v Pakistan - Fox Cricket

TUESDAY

06:45 - UEFA Nations League - Croatia v Portugal - Optus Sport 3

06:45 - UEFA Nations League - Spain v Switzerland - Optus Sport 2

06:45 - UEFA Nations League - Poland v Scotland - Optus Sport 4

11:00 - NHL - Boston Bruins v Columbus Blue Jackets - ESPN 2

12:15 - NFL - Dallas Cowboys v Houston Texans - ESPN

14:30 - NBA - Los Angeles Clippers v Golden State Warriors - ESPN 2