🗞 Nine Hour Extravaganza

AUSSIE SPORTS
Warner Comeback?

🥊 Sam Goodman's boxing career is poised for a major leap as he eyes a potential bout against Japanese sensation Naoya Inoue in September. Promoters have drawn comparisons between Goodman and UFC star Alexander Volkanovski, highlighting his undefeated record and aggressive fighting style. Volkanovski himself praised Goodman's tenacity, likening him to "a pitbull" in the ring and showing his support by purchasing signed gloves for $4000.

Goodman's next challenge is a significant one, facing Thai rising star Chainoi Worawut on today’s No Limit Pay-Per-View event in Wollongong, aiming to secure a lucrative $1 million payday.

Curtis Scott is set to KO Barry Hall (according to his trainer) despite conceding 12kg to what is undeniably a new, beefed up version of the AFL great.

More than two years after being brutally stopped by Sonny Bill Williams, Hall has unveiled a significantly overhauled physique for his hyped heavyweight return tonight.

🏏 icymi: David Warner officially retired from International cricket, thanking fans, teammates, and staff in a social media post. He said he remains open to a comeback for the Champions Trophy next year, set to resume in Pakistan after eight years. (Instagram)

🎾 Australian tennis star Alex de Minaur conceded his body “feels a little bit ginger everywhere” but insisted he will be good to go in time for his quarterfinal against Novak Djokovic (Scheduled for midnight AEST).

🐕 The embattled CEO of Greyhound Racing New South Wales has resigned, ending a tumultuous two years in power.

According to The Daily Telegraph, Rob Macaulay’s fate was sealed at a GRNSW board meeting on Monday. His resignation followed on Tuesday.

⚽️ Daniel Arzani is expected to escape sanction from club side Melbourne Victory after a photo was circulated which showed the Australia international playing for an amateur team in Sydney.

Arzani turned out for Coogee United, his junior club, in a sixth division game last Saturday.

NRL NEWS
Vegas, Baby

👨🏻‍⚖️ Roosters prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves has failed in his bid to have a careless high tackle charge downgraded.

In his club-record 307th game, which ended with celebratory scenes at bringing up the milestone, Waerea-Hargreaves was sin binned and placed on report for a high shot on Dragons outside back Max Feagai.

Waerea-Hargreaves would have missed three games had he taken an early plea, but the NRL club opted to challenge the grading in the hope of it being downgraded to only a $3k fine.

The gamble failed big time, however, and the giant Kiwi will miss matches against the Storm, Sea Eagles, Dolphins and Eels for the Roosters, who are sitting third on the ladder.

🤕 It has been revealed that a crucial training session looms on Thursday involving Harry Grant, who is racing the clock to be fit for Game III.

Grant has been battling with a sternum injury, and hasn’t played since Game II, having missed the past two Storm games. 

If Grant can’t go, Bulldogs rake Reed Mahoney is expected to be called into the 17 and make his Origin debut.

🇺🇸 The NRL has confirmed the lineup for its historic 2025 season opener in Las Vegas, set for Sunday March 2 (AEDT). The Canberra Raiders will face off against the New Zealand Warriors, while the Penrith Panthers will go head-to-head with the Cronulla Sharks in an exciting double-header event.

Additionally, the UK Super League will feature a match between the Wigan Warriors and Sam Burgess-coached Warrington Wolves as part of the day's festivities.

As revealed by AAP last week, Australia's women will also take on England in an international Test match on the same day at the venue.

It means the action will begin at 8.30am in Australia, before the last NRL match between Penrith and Cronulla finishes at 5.30pm.

🩼 Nicho Hynes is set to miss approximately eight weeks of action due to a significant leg injury, as confirmed by scans following an incident during training at Shark Park on Monday. Reports indicate Hynes was assisted off the field by Cronulla trainers.

According to a club statement, the injury includes a broken leg and a complete syndesmosis rupture. While not season-ending, it’s a heavy blow to Cronulla, currently struggling with form after losing five of their last six matches.

📄 TEAMS: The NRL season reaches the last of the Origin-stunted rounds with seven teams having a bye this weekend (NRL.com)

• Sea Eagles: Tom Trbojevic slides back to his customary fullback role.

• Broncos: Tristan Sailor and Tyson Smoothy join the starting side.

• Eels: Daejarn Asi takes over at halfback from Blues No.7 Mitch Moses

AFL NEWS
Parting Ways

👋🏼 The West Coast Eagles have officially parted ways with long-time senior coach Adam Simpson.

It puts an end to his 11-year tenure as coach, having led the club to two grand finals — including the 2018 premiership — with West Coast on a gradual decline since including a horror run in recent years — going 8-53 since 2022.

Assistant coach Jarrad Schofield will be the interim boss for at least the next six games, with Simpson yet to make a call on whether he’ll coach on Sunday against Brisbane.

“The last three years have been tough on the club and tough on Adam,” Eagles CEO Don Pyke said. 

“It was time for change and a refresh of our program ... he had no more to give and we reached this (decision) in a mutual space.”

Simpson said he felt the time was right for him to depart after giving his all to the role.

“This has been a massive part of me and my family’s life, this football club. We fell in love with the place straight away and the people in particular,” he said.

The Eagles will face Brisbane this Sunday which could provide Simpson a farewell match.

📺 Watch the announcement on X

❌ Sydney Swans' star Isaac Heeney has been confirmed ineligible for the Brownlow Medal following an unsuccessful AFL Tribunal appeal over a one-game striking ban. Heeney's absence from this weekend's match against North Melbourne means he's now unable to contend for the AFL's top individual honour.

Heeney's strong early season form could see him leading the count initially, with competition from contenders like Nick Daicos, Patrick Cripps, and Marcus Bontempelli expected to intensify as the season progresses.

Meanwhile Adelaide midfielder Izak Rankine was also unsuccessful in his attempt to have his four-match ban for a bump on Brandon Starcevich downgraded and will miss the next four matches.

WORLD NEWS
Repeat Semi

Knockout Football: Euro 2024 Semi-Final: Spain 2-1 France: Cometh the hour, cometh the boy. Barcelona’s sixteen year old Lamine Yamal announced himself with an incredible goal, and all round performance, in Spain’s 2-1 victory over France, to reach the Euro 2024 Final.

📺 Copa America Semi-Final - 10:00 AEST Today (Optus Sport 3): Argentina v Canada: Argentina, World Cup winners in 2022, are defending Copa champions and top the FIFA rankings, while Canada are ranked 48th in the world and are making their debut in the tournament.

📺 Euro 2024 Semi-Final 2 - 05:00 AEST Thursday (Optus Sport 1): England v Netherlands: Although they are pre-match favourites, England have won just one of their last nine meetings with Netherlands in all competitions (D4 L4), winning a friendly match 1-0 in 2018.

📺 Copa America Semi-Final 2: 10:00 AEST Thursday (Optus Sport 3) - Uruguay v Colombia.

🎾 Wimbledon Wrap: Defending Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz recovered from a slow start to beat Tommy Paul and set up another semi-final against Daniil Medvedev - a repeat of their meeting from last year.

Medvedev, who defeated world number one Jannik Sinner, will be looking to avenge the heavy defeat one-sided 2023 last-four match, which Alcaraz won in straight sets on his way to taking the title.

Alcaraz was a set and a break of serve down on Court One against American Paul, the 12th seed, but recovered to win 5-7 6-4 6-2 6-2 in a match that lasted three hours 11 minutes.

Meanwhile, Medvedev had to fight every bit as hard as he defeated Sinner 6-7 (7-9) 6-4 7-6 (7-4) 2-6 6-3 win in four hours on Centre Court.

Qualifier Lulu Sun's dream run at Wimbledon was ended in the quarter-finals by Croat Donna Vekic under the Court One roof.

The 28-year-old will face defending champion Carlos Alcaraz or Queen's Club winner Tommy Paul in the semi-finals.

🚴🏻‍♂️ TDF Stage 10: Belgium's Jasper Philipsen powered to victory in a sprint finish on stage 10 of the Tour de France as Tadej Pogacar retained the leader's yellow jersey.

Slovenia's Pogacar finished safely in the main bunch, as the threat of crosswinds and echelons failed to materialise on an uneventful 187.3km run from Orleans to Saint-Amand-Montrond.

On Wednesday, the race crosses the rolling terrain of the Massif Central as it travels 211km from Evaux-les-Bains to Le Lioran.

General Classification:

• 1. Tadej Pogacar (Slo/UAE Team Emirates) 40hrs 02mins 48secs

• 2. Remco Evenepoel (Bel/Soudal-Quick Step) +33secs

• 3. Jonas Vingegaard (Den/Visma-Lease a Bike) +1min 15secs

🏏 India have appointed former opening batter Gautam Gambhir as their new head coach.

Gambhir succeeds former team-mate Rahul Dravid, who stood down after his contract expired following India's victorious T20 World Cup campaign.

The 42-year-old's most recent role was at Kolkata Knight Riders, who he led to the Indian Premier League title in May.

"India is my identity and serving my country has been the greatest privilege of my life. I’m honoured to be back, albeit wearing a different hat," Gambhir said on X.

Gambhir made his India debut in 2003 and went on to score more than 10,000 runs across all formats before retiring in 2016.

🥍 GOAL OF THE YEAR: Connor Fields from the Utah Archers, in the Premier Lacrosse League, went between the legs to the top left corner…

⚽️ EPL Whispers: Arsenal and Manchester United battle for England's Marc Guehi, with the 23-year-old set to reject Crystal Palace’s new contract offer. Tottenham are exploring a player-plus-cash deal for Aston Villa's English midfielder Jacob Ramsey, 23, with Argentine midfielder Giovani lo Celso, 28, heading the other way.

Manchester United have increased their offer to about AU$90m for Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite.

🏏 Oh Jimmy, Jimmy: Jimmy Anderson will truck out for one final time when England face the West Indies at Lord’s today. The 41-year-old will bow out on 188 caps after the England management told him they want to move on to younger pace bowlers with a view to the 2025-26 Ashes tour.

Anderson is England’s all-time leading wicket-taker with 700 Test scalps. Remarkably, his 113 not-outs in Test cricket is a massive 52 more than anyone else has managed.

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