🗞️ Vomit Buckets

AUSSIE SPORTS

Ruthless Kangaroos & Jillaroos win Pacific finals

🏉 Tom Dearden showed he belongs in the do-or-die environment of Test rugby league after standing tall and guiding Australia to a 20-14 Pacific Cup final win over Tonga.

In front of a 28,728-strong pro-Tongan crowd at CommBank Stadium on Sunday, the Kangaroos made amends for last year's final - when they suffered the biggest defeat in their history at the hands of New Zealand.

Tom Trbojevic grabbed two tries at centre but it was Dearden who shone brightest as he upstaged halfback Mitchell Moses on his home ground, showing a ruthless edge to exploit Tonga's defensive lapses.

Australia also reasserted their status as the heavyweights of international women’s rugby league, thrashing New Zealand 24-4 in the Pacific Cup final as revenge for last year’s decider.

Aussies belted as Pakistan wins first one-day series.

🏏 Australia's batsmen suffered yet another collapse against Pakistan in the third ODI in Perth, bowled out for 140 in 31.5 overs.

Pakistan then made light work of the run chase, hunting down the 141 runs required in 26.5 overs with eight wickets in hand.

It’s Pakistan’s first series victory down under in 22 years.

From bad to worse: Allrounder Cooper Connolly has been ruled out of the T20I series against Pakistan after suffering a fractured left hand while batting.

McSweeney happy to take first ball

🏏 Nathan McSweeney is confident the conditions in Perth will suit his natural game and says he is “comfortable” taking the first ball in a new opening partnership with Usman Khawaja.

The 25-year-old was given the nod to move into an opening role to make his Test debut against India after he was trialled at the top of the order in last week’s Australia A game.

McSweeney has not played a first-class game at Perth Stadium, but anticipated a bouncy pitch that he said would suit his technique when the Border-Gavaskar series begins on November 22.

“Yesterday after the game, George (Bailey) pulled me aside and gave me the news. Mum and Dad were straight on the phone, they were super happy,” McSweeney told reporters in Melbourne on Sunday.

Three-peat triumph! 

⛹🏻‍♀️ Australia are Fast5 champions for a third straight year, after coming from a staggering 15 goals down to beat New Zealand in the final in Christchurch on Sunday.

The 34-30 win ensured the unbeaten Australia went back-to-back-to-back.

Purcell/Thompson make fast start in Finals

🎾 Max Purcell and Jordan Thompson kick-started the 2024 Nitto ATP Finals in style in Turin, Italy.

The fifth-seeded Australian pair downed third seeds Wesley Koolhof and Nikola Mektic 7-6(1), 6-3 on their debut at the prestigious season finale.

LIVE: Alex de Minaur is taking on world #1 Jannik Sinner now.

NRL NEWS

Player welfare under the microscope

🥵 Player welfare, particularly in the hot summer months, is front of mind for the NRL, which has introduced new heat check measures following the death of Manly youngster Keith Titmuss four years ago. 

His passing led to a coronial inquest and recommendations to review pre-season training guidelines.

The sight of Bronco players pushing themselves to the limit (including sightings of the infamous “vomit buckets”) has reportedly prompted the NRL to make inquiries after footage of the demanding training sessions emerged. 

“All our staff are well aware of the new pre-season guidelines,” Broncos CEO Donaghy said.

Under the new training rules, heat tests must be conducted before every training session and cooling breaks in shade must be accounted for.

Ice towels, misting fans and extra drinks must be available to the players where possible.

The Courier Mail reports every NRL club is expected to assess players for risk factors to heat using their total body mass.

Clubs have been instructed to immediately move a player into the shade if they look worse for wear, wand have their rectal temperature measured.

⚽️ EPL WRAP: Bruno Fernandes marked his 250th Manchester United appearance by playing a starring role as Ruud van Nistelrooy signed off his stint in interim charge with a 3-0 Premier League win over Leicester.

Pedro Neto drilled in a 22-yard equaliser as Chelsea and Arsenal played out an entertaining 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge.

The visitors opened the scoring when Gabriel Martinelli slammed the ball past Blues keeper Robert Sanchez at his near post after collecting the returning Martin Odegaard’s curling cross.

Ipswich held on for a 2-1 win at Tottenham to celebrate their first win of the season - and their first in the Premier League in 22 years.

Newcastle's impressive second-half performance earned a deserved 3-1 win at the Premier League's surprise package Nottingham Forest.

The best to ever do it

🚴🏻‍♂️ Britain's Mark Cavendish, the most successful sprinter in cycling history, ended his career with victory in the Tour de France Criterium in Singapore.

The 39-year-old triumphed in a sprint finish to end a 19-year career.

Cavendish, riding for Astana-Qazaqstan, wore race number 35 to mark his record for stage wins in the Tour de France.

🏉 Southern Hemisphere dominance was the story of the weekend in the Spring/Autumn rugby tours: Following wins for Australia (42-37 v England), New Zealand (23-13 Ireland), and Argentina (50-18 Italy), France did manage a win (52-12 v Japan), but Sunday’s fixtures followed the same trend.

Fiji surged to their first victory in Cardiff 24-19 as Wales’s losing run stretches to 10 Tests (a record).

South Africa Beat Scotland 32-15 In One-off Rugby Test. South Africa wing Makazole Mapimpi scored two tries before the world champions withstood a fierce Scotland second-half onslaught as they launched their November campaign with a 32-15 win

🏉 Casey McLean announced himself as a superstar of the future, bagging four tries in New Zealand’s 54-12 demolition of Papua New Guinea at the Pacific Championships.

With only seven NRL games to his name, the 18-year-old winger became the third-youngest debutant in Kiwis history.

⛳️ England's Paul Waring held off a stellar field to win the Abu Dhabi Championship, claiming just his second title on the European Tour and first in six years.

The 39-year-old beat countryman Tyrell Hatton by two shots, closing with a six-under-par 66 at Yas Links to finish on 24 under.

Race to Dubai leader (with one event to go) Rory McIlroy shot a 64 to finish in a three-way tie for third on 21 under.

🏀 New Orleans Pelicans star forward Zion Williamson is out indefinitely with a left hamstring strain.

Imaging taken Saturday morning confirmed the injury. Though the team did not provide a timetable for Williamson’s return, ESPN reported he will be re-evaluated “in the coming weeks”.

Williamson has averaged 22.7 points, 8.0 rebounds and 5.3 assists while playing in just six of the Pelicans’ first 10 games.

Kevin Durant suffered a left calf strain and will be reevaluated in two weeks.

Durant suffered the injury in Friday's 114-113 win over the Dallas Mavericks, a game he finished with 26 points in 37 minutes.

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10:35 - AUS One-Day Cup - South Australia Men v NSW Men - Fox Cricket

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