🏉 NRL's Big Move: US Expansion!

G’day Sports Fans,

🗣️ Classic quote: “You can sum up this sport in two words: You never know.” - Boxing Trainer Lou Duva

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🏏 Next up, the T20 World Cup.

Despite relentless rain in Auckland on Sunday afternoon, Australia toppled the Black Caps by 27 runs (DLS Method) to secure a 3-0 series whitewash in New Zealand.

The T20 series not only served as an entree for next week’s Test campaign, but also gave both nations an opportunity to fine-tune their starting XI ahead of June’s T20 World Cup campaign in the West Indies and United States.

🏉 The NRL is making waves with plans to expand into the lucrative US market. Here's the scoop:

• Secret talks are underway for a $23 million, 10-team super league competition in the US.

• Led by ARL Commission chief Peter V'landys, a consortium is pitching 'NRL America' – an elite rugby league extravaganza aiming to capture American hearts.

• The proposal is set to be presented to the ARL Commission next Sunday by Steve Scanlan, known for backing Australian boxing champions Tim Tszyu and Jeff Horn.

• Stay tuned: The league aims to kick off in 2025, with private investors driving ownership and governance to establish a lasting NRL presence in North America.

🏏 Kings of men's domestic cricket, Western Australia, overcame a nervy chase to claim their third straight Marsh One-Day Cup with a five-wicket win over NSW in Sydney.

A disciplined bowling display vindicated skipper Sam Whiteman's decision to send the Blues into bat as the hosts were dismissed for 169 in 42 overs at Cricket Central on Sunday.

But a spirited NSW reduced the two-time reigning champions to 3-30 on a slowish surface hosting just its second men's 50-over match to keep themselves in the hunt.

⛵️ Slingsby comes through when it counts!

In front of his home crowd on a resplendent Sydney Harbour, 3-time defending Sail GP champion Tom Slingsby and his Australian team showed why they sit atop the season standings.

In a tense final race against the Danish and Kiwi teams, the Australian team put another ordinary start behind them to overtake both boats and take the clutch win. It marks their first event victory of the season and one they'll be hoping to repeat next month in the New Zealand Grand Prix. (thanks to reader Matt B for the write up).

🚘 Will Brown defeated Chaz Mostert in a tense conclusion to the Thrifty Bathurst 500, with the Red Bull Ampol Racing recruit claiming the championship lead.

Brown, in his first Supercars event as a Triple Eight driver, jumped Mostert in the second round of stops, and held off the Walkinshaw Andretti United star in the run home.

🎾 Jordan Thompson is celebrating the finest moment of his career after clinching a maiden ATP Tour title in Mexico.

Australia’s second-ranked player behind Alex de Minaur, capped a week in which he demonstrated remarkable resilience in Los Cabos by defeating three-time grand slam finalist Casper Ruud 6-3 7-6 (4) in the decider on Sunday, AEST.

His work was not yet complete though, with the 29-year-old returning to the court in Los Cabos after the trophy ceremony alongside fellow Australian Max Purcell to win the doubles decider against Gonzalo Escobar and Aleksandr Nedovyesov.

Thompson, who became the first man since Nick Kyrgios in Washington D.C two years ago to clinch both the singles and doubles in an ATP Tour event, described Los Cabos as “my favourite place now, without a doubt” after his spectacular day at the office.

🇦🇺 A Northern Territory footballer recently released from jail faces a huge suspension for multiple acts of violence – including throwing a teenage umpire to the ground – in the NTFL.

As first reported by NT News, the vision shows PINT’s Warwick Williams, who returned to the NTFL this season after serving 14 months in prison for assault, approach a contest in the fourth term of his side’s elimination final against Southern Districts.

🏉 The new batch of baby Broncos have ensured Brisbane take out the Pre-season Challenge and the $100,000 cash prize after they overcame a slow start to smash Manly 40-14 at 4 Pines Park.

The Raiders 36-26 loss to the Cowboys on Sunday ensured the Broncos would win the second NRL Pre-season Challenge.

🏍️ Alex Lowes won the World Superbike Superpole Race Sunday morning at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit. Riding his factory Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10RR, the British racer won the 10-lap race by 1.157 seconds.

🏏 Spinner Ravichandran Ashwin took five wickets as India bowled England out for 145 on day three of the fourth Test on Sunday to set up a chase of 192 to clinch the series.

India reached 40-0 at stumps, needing another 152 to win their third straight match and the five-Test series.

⚽️ Virgil van Dijk headed home deep into extra time to win the Carabao Cup for Jurgen Klopp's youthful Liverpool side in a captivating final against Chelsea at Wembley (0-1 in Extra time). The Quadruple is on in Klopp’s final season.

⚾️ Blue Jays reliever Tim Mayza is serving his punishment for finishing last in their Fantasy Football league Bat Boy for a day with his 4-10 record on the back of the jersey.

🏉 France 13-13 Italy: Paolo Garbisi's injury-time penalty hit the post as Italy were denied a first Six Nations victory in France.

The fly-half looked set to seal the historic win until the ball fell off the tee, which resulted in a rushed attempt due to the shot clock.

🥊 Super-middleweight contender Edgar Berlanga is targeting a fight with Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez after a sixth-round knockout win over Padraig McCrory.

The American, 26, sent McCrory to the canvas with a right overhand punch with 25 seconds left of the sixth round in Orlando.

🏀 Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr, an architect of four franchise championships, agreed on a two-year, $35 million contract extension that will make him the highest-paid coach in NBA history.

🏏 He's done it again Rahkeem the dream Cornwall…(do not adjust your sets)…

TODAY

05:00 - PGA TOUR - Mexico Open, Round 4 [Fox Sports]

05:37 - Men's World Series - Men's Vancouver Sevens, Day 3, Round 4 [Stan Sport]

06:00 - Men's NCAA - Memphis Tigers v Florida Atlantic Owls [ESPN]

07:00 - Spanish La Liga - Real Madrid v Sevilla [Optus Sport 2]

08:00 - Men's NCAA  - Wichita State Shockers v Temple Owls [ESPN]

08:00 - Men's NCAA - Tulane Green Wave v UAB Blazers [ESPN 2]

11:00 - NBA - Golden State Warriors v Denver Nuggets [ESPN]

13:30 - NBA - Los Angeles Clippers v Sacramento Kings [ESPN]

15:00 - Test Match - India v England [Fox Cricket]

TUESDAY

01:00 - Pakistan Super League - Peshawar Zalmi v Islamabad United [Fox Sports More]

07:00 - Premier League - West Ham United v Brentford [Optus Sport 1]

11:00 - Men's NCAA - North Carolina Tar Heels v Miami Hurricanes [ESPN]

11:00 - Men's NCAA - Kansas State Wildcats v West Virginia Mountaineers [ESPN 2]

13:30 - NHL - Edmonton Oilers v Los Angeles Kings [ESPN 2]

14:00 - NBA - Sacramento Kings v Miami Heat [ESPN]

15:00 - Test Match - India v England [Fox Cricket]

18:40 - AFL Community Series - Collingwood Magpies v Richmond Tigers [Fox Footy]