🗞 Pulled Off a Major Coup

June 01, 2021

G'day sports fans,

Classic quote: "Boxing is the only sport you can get your brain shook, your money took and your name in the undertaker book."  - Joe Frazier

In today's edition of Sport Journal:

🏟 Further ground moves

✍🏼 Sharks pull of coup

🎾 Barty survives scare

🥇 Weird Word Records

How many watermelons could you chop off a guys head in a minute?

This fella did 59 watermelons (and almost one arm). 🙈

🇦🇺 AFL

🏟 No AFL games will be played in Victoria this weekend because of Melbourne's COVID-19 outbreak, with the league hopeful it will be only a one-week hiatus.

Giants Stadium in Sydney has been confirmed as the venue for Friday night's monster clash between ladder-leader Melbourne and third-placed Brisbane. (AFL)

Arrangements for the Adelaide-Collingwood match scheduled for Saturday at 4.35pm AEST are currently being worked through.

It had already been determined that Saturday night's Dreamtime match between Essendon and Richmond would be transferred from the MCG to Optus Stadium in Perth, where a big crowd is still expected to attend.

Fremantle will host Western Bulldogs at Optus Stadium on Sunday.

St Kilda's match against Sydney Swans on Saturday, which was previously scheduled for Marvel Stadium, will now be played at the SCG.

Geelong defender Jake Kolodjashnij is on the verge of a fresh contract extension that will wipe him off this year's free agency list.

AFL.com.au understands the 25-year-old is working towards a new three-year deal to tie him to the Cats until at least the end of 2024. (AFL)

🏉 NRL

The biggest rivalry in rugby league returns to its mid-year billing in 2021 with the game's showpiece to get underway at Queensland Country Bank Stadium on June 9.

The Cronulla Sharks have pulled off a major coup by signing Melbourne Storm utility Nicho Hynes to a three-year deal.

According to a report by the Daily Telegraph, the deal beginning from 2022 is worth $1.8 million.

The Queensland Maroons have released Eels hooker Reed Mahoney, with Harry Grant expected to be fit for the series opener on June 9.

Felise Kaufusi will lend his invaluable experience to the Maroons pack in the State of Origin opener after beating a tripping ban at the judiciary, while Wests Tigers forward Luciano Leilua was found not guilty of a shoulder charge.

The Maroons are bracing for star fullback Kalyn Ponga to be officially ruled out of the June 9 Origin series opener today.

⚽️ Football

Good news Socceroos fans, you'll be able to stream all of our upcoming fixtures live and free on Kayo sports.

v Kuwait: 4.6.21, 5am

v Chinese Taipei, 8.6.21, 5am

v Nepal: 12.6.21, 2am

v Jordan: 16.6.21, TBC

Perth Glory claim they have been “thrown out on the street” after RugbyWA refused to renew their sub-lease at the Rugby HQ building in Floreat. (West Australian)

Australian official Jarred Gillett is among five EFL referees being interviewed for promotion to the top flight  this summer and the 34-year-old could become the first overseas referee in Premier League history. (Daily Mail)

Brad Jones has left Saudi club Al Nassr. Tony Sage has confirmed that Perth Glory are interested in signing the West Australian, with Jones also believed to have purchased a home in the state. (@Its_Shanen)

Carlo Ancelotti has left Everton to become head coach of Real Madrid for a second time.

The 61-year-old Italian, who managed Real Madrid for two years between 2013 and 2015, has left Everton after 18 months in charge at Goodison Park.

He succeeds Zinedine Zidane at Real and the move leaves Everton searching for a sixth permanent manager in five years.

Manchester United think re-signing Juventus and Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo, 36, is a genuine possibility this summer. (Express)

🎾 French Open

World number one Ashleigh Barty came through an injury scare to avoid a shock in the French Open first round against American Bernarda Pera.

Barty, whose solitary Grand Slam title came in Paris in 2019, took the first set but needed lengthy treatment on her left hip after losing the second.

However, the Australian recovered to beat world number 70 Pera 6-4 3-6 6-2.

Third seed Rafael Nadal began his bid for a 21st Grand Slam men's singles title with a straight-set win against Australia's Alexei Popyrin.

The 34-year-old Spaniard, going for a record-extending 14th triumph at Roland Garros, won 6-3 6-2 7-6 (7-3).

Russian seventh seed Andrey Rublev is out after losing in five sets to German world number 42 Jan-Lennard Struff.

Boris Becker has warned Naomi Osaka's career is “in danger” after the world No 2's dramatic withdrawal from the French Open. The world No 2 announced last week she would not attend mandatory press conferences in Paris to protect her “mental health”.

The four Grand Slam events reacted after her first round win on Sunday by fining her (AU$25,000) and threatening to default and ban her.

That backfired on Monday, when Osaka returned to social media to declare she has unilaterally decided to withdraw for her “well-being”.

Three-time French Open champion Serena Williams says she wants to give Naomi Osaka a hug after the world number two withdrew from the tournament amid the controversy over her refusal to speak to the media.

Media duties are dangerous: Two-time Grand Slam champion Petra Kvitova has withdrawn from the French Open because of a freak ankle injury sustained during her post-match media duties.

🌍 World Sport

⚾️ We’ve seen plenty of players have nasty encounters with outfield walls over the years. Add Minnesota Twins outfielder Rob Refsnyder to the list.

🥊 The father and trainer of Olympic heavyweight hopeful Justis Huni says his son would "eat up" Sonny-Bill Williams but that Paul Gallen will be the first and last footballer his boy faces.

🏎 Daniel Ricciardo, took some time to “reset and refocus” after a poor outing at the Monaco Grand Prix. “Monaco wasn’t my weekend (lapped by his team mate and finishing P12) but I’m looking to bounce back,” he said in McLaren’s Baku preview.

“It’s been important to take time to reset and refocus before heading to Baku.

🏀 Russell Westbrook scored a triple-double to help the Washington Wizards beat the Philadelphia 76ers and keep their play-off hopes alive.

Westbrook scored 19 points, 21 rebounds and 14 assists in a 122-114 victory.

The 76ers, who lost Joel Embiid to a knee injury in the first quarter, now lead the best-of-seven series 3-1.

⛳️ After three months of largely travelling around the southern states of the USA, the PGA Tour heads north to Ohio.

As is traditional for early June, the players will tee-up at Muirfield Village, for the 46th staging of the Memorial Tournament.

This prestigious title usually attracts a strong field, and this week's instalment certainly doesn't disappoint.

Seven of the world's top 10 are teeing-up, as well as 16 of the leading 25.

Five of this group have all won here, including current Masters' champion Hideki Matsuyama.

🐴 Racing

Queensland Oaks fancy Duais will be going into Saturday’s Group 1 not having raced for seven weeks but in that period trainer Edward Cummings hasn’t spotted a rival filly that he is scared of. 

Cummings, the son of Anthony, brother of James and grandson of the legendary Bart, is hunting his first Group 1 and believes Duais could elevate his stable to the next level at Eagle Farm on Saturday. (racenet)

🏉 Rugby

James O'Connor's journey to 100 Super Rugby games has been anything from ordinary.

From bursting onto the scene as a 17-year-old to returning to Australia on his last chance, O'Connor has pretty much experienced all the highs and lows that professional sport has to offer. He reflects on a wild ride.

Chiefs and All Black fullback Damian McKenzie has been suspended for the rest of Super Rugby Trans-Tasman following his red card in last week's loss to the Reds.

🗞 Back on Friday!

📺 Live sport 👇🏼

⚾️ 09:05 - MLB - New York Yankees v Tampa Bay Rays (ESPN 2) 

⚾️ 09:40 - MLB - Milwaukee Brewers v Detroit Tigers (Sky Sports 3)

🏀 11:00 - NBA Playoffs - Denver Nuggets v Portland Trail Blazers (Sky Sports 2)

🏀 12:00 - NBA Playoffs - Phoenix Suns v Los Angeles Lakers (ESPN 1) 

⚾️ 12:10 - MLB - Los Angeles Dodgers v St. Louis Cardinals (Sky Sports 3)

🏀 17:30 - NBL - New Zealand Breakers v Cairns Taipans (ESPN 1 or SBS on Demand)

🎾 19:00 - French Open, Round 2, Day 4 (GEM, Nine or Stan Sport)

⚽️ 19:05 - A-League - Brisbane Roar v Perth Glory (Fox Sports) 

🏀 19:30 - NBL - South East Melbourne Phoenix v Brisbane Bullets (ESPN 1 or SBS on Demand)

🏏 20:00 - Test Match - England v New Zealand (Fox Cricket) 

⚽️ 20:00 - J1 League - Yokohama FC v Kawasaki Frontale (Optus Sport 1) 

🚴🏼‍♀️ 22:20 - Critérium du Dauphiné - ITT (GCN, SBS on Demand or SBS Viceland)

THURSDAY

⚽️ 04:45 - Friendly - Netherlands v Scotland (Optus Sport 3)

⚽️ 05:00 - Spanish La Liga Play-Off Semi-Final - Girona v Almeria (BeIN Sports 2) 

⚽️ 05:00 - Friendly - England v Austria (Optus Sport 1) 

⚽️ 05:00 - Friendly - Germany v Denmark (Optus Sport 2) 

⚽️ 05:05 - Friendly - France v Wales (Optus Sport 4) 

⚾️ 09:05 - MLB - New York Yankees v Tampa Bay Rays (Sky Sports 3)

🏀 11:30 - NBA Playoffs - Utah Jazz v Memphis Grizzlies (Sky Sports 2)

⚾️ 12:10 - MLB - Seattle Mariners v Oakland Athletics (Sky Sports 3)

🎾 19:00 - French Open, Round 2, Day 5 (GEM, Nine or Stan Sport)

🏀 19:30 - NBL - Illawarra Hawks v Sydney Kings (ESPN 1 or SBS on Demand)

⚽️ 19:35 - A-League - Adelaide United v Western Sydney Wanderers (Fox Sports)

🏉 19:50 - NRL - St. George Illawarra Dragons v Brisbane Broncos (Fox League or Nine)

⛳️ 20:00 - European Open, Round 1 (Fox Sports) 

🏏 20:00 - Test Match - England v New Zealand (Fox Cricket) 

🚴🏼‍♀️ 22:20 - Critérium du Dauphiné (GCN, SBS on Demand or SBS Viceland)