G'day sports fans,

Classic quote: He (David Beckham) cannot kick with his left foot, he cannot head a ball, he cannot tackle and he doesn’t score many goals. Apart from that he’s all right. ―George Best.

In today's edition of Sport Journal:

🏉 Wonderkid in RA switch

🇦🇺 AFL every day

⛳️ Golf previews

⚽️ Live scores

(FT) Watford 0-4 Man City: To give you an idea, Rodri made 10 more passes than Watford's whole team in the 1st half.

• Sterling scores twice, Foden & Laporte also on target

• Watford's survival battle goes to final day

(HT) Aston Villa 1-0 Arsenal

• Trezeguet smashes Aston Villa ahead against Arsenal

• Villa will be out of bottom three on goal difference if they win

🏉 NRL

Joseph Suaalii has apparently rejected South Sydney Rabbitohs for $3 million deal with Australian rugby

Teen prodigy Joseph Suaalii looks set to become the wealthiest 16-year-old sportsman in Australian history after reportedly signing a lucrative deal with Rugby Australia.

Contracted with Souths until the end of next season, Suaalii last month agreed to a three-year extension at Redfern worth around $1.7 million.

But the Daily Telegraph reports, the Rabbitohs were unable to register the contract with the NRL until Suaalii turned 17 on August 1, which has given RA the time they need to steal the talent with an astonishing $1-million-a-year offer.

He is expected to debut for the NSW Waratahs later this year and earn $300,000 for the next three months before pocketing $2.7 million from 2021 to the end of 2023. (nine)

It's worth noting Rugby Australia interim CEO Rob Clarke has since denied the reports. (Fox) - but that's boring.

Super League 2020: Toronto Wolfpack withdraw from competition

Toronto Wolfpack have announced they will take no further part in the 2020 season because of "overwhelming financial challenges" posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. (BBC)

"It's definitely not because we blew $10m on a 34 year old SBW" - someone at the club may have said.

Predictably: NRL clubs clamour for cross-code superstar

The Sydney Roosters have "internally discussed" the prospect of luring cross-code favourite Sonny Bill Williams back to Bondi, as a host of NRL clubs clamour for his signature.

He is one of 7 Australian or New Zealand players to be granted permission by the club to pursue a new contract elsewhere, and the prospect of luring the 34-year-old down under has the NRL world buzzing. (nine)

🇦🇺 AFL

AFL to play 33 matches across 20 straight days

The AFL will stage 33 matches across 20 consecutive days as part of its fixture for rounds nine to 12 of the coronavirus-disrupted premiership season. (abc)

Key points:

• The Bulldogs and Tigers will play the first off 33 matches as part of the compressed 20-day schedule

• Matches will be played in Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania

• The Swans and Giants will leave Sydney and travel to Perth as part of the fixture

⛳️ Golf

Move over Rory McIlroy, we have a new number one player in the world. 

Sports fans were treated to the most dominant performance since the PGA’s return, as Jon Rahm (-9) won the Memorial Tournament on Sunday.

The PGA Tour travels to Minnesota for the 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities. The course will play as a par 71, measuring 7,431 yards.

Defending Champion: Matthew Wolff (in his 3rd PGA start, shot a course record 263)

Weakened field: Just five members of the world's top 25 are in attendance (including bang out-of-form Keopka and D.Johnson).

As shown a few weeks back, players like D.Johnson don't need a run of form to win. However I'd be looking further down the field for a winner this week.

British Masters: Host Lee Westwood can justify favouritism

The European Tour starts in earnest this week with the Betfred British Masters at Close House, stepping up a gear after a low-key fortnight in Austria provided the first post-lockdown action.

• Course: Colt Course, Close House Golf Club, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England

• Prize money: €1.25m (€208,375 to the winner)

• Length: 6,872 yards

• Par: 71

• Fox Sports from 9pm AEST

Market support for: Lee Westwood (11.0), Eddie Pepperall (29.0), Pablo Lazzerabel (41.0) & Adri Arnaus (46.0). No early support but an eye catching price of (101.0) for course record holder Paul Dunne.

🌎 International

🏏 ICC T20 World Cup postponed

The ICC World Cup T20 was set to be held in Australia, October and November 2020.

The windows for the Men’s future events are:

• T20 World Cup 2021 will be held Oct – Nov 2021 with the final on 14 November

• T20 World Cup 2022 will be held Oct – Nov 2022 with the final on 13 November

• Cricket World Cup 2023 will be held in India Oct – Nov 2023 with the final on 26 November

Indian Premier League 2020 (IPL) could now be slotted in during the October-November window 2020, likely staged in the UAE - where Australians such as Glen Maxwell, Cummins, Coulter-Nile and alike can receive their huge payday.

Novak Djokovic tipped to ‘take advantage’ of Rafael Nadal decision

Novak Djokovic will look to ‘take advantage’ of any decision Rafael Nadal may take to skip the US Open, says Chris Evert.

The US Open is currently planned to go ahead in September, however many players have said they may have to skip it should quarantine rules impact their return to Europe.

Nadal is one of those players, as an enforced quarantine would mean he was unable to play in the Madrid and Rome Masters on his favoured clay surface.

“If Djokovic sees Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer and maybe a couple of other players not playing, and he’s chasing the numbers, wouldn’t he want to take advantage of that and come over and win it?”

⚽️ Football

Jets' comeback spoils Sydney FC's party

Kosta Petratos’ last-minute goal handed Newcastle Jets a last-gasp 2-1 win to not only spoil Sydney FC’s Premiership party but keep their faint finals hopes alive.

Needing only a point to clinch the Premiers’ Plate, the Sky Blues had one hand on the silverware when Anthony Caceres had them leading 1-0 at the break.

But a quality goal from Nick Fitzgerald just after half-time followed by Petratos’ maiden league goal in the final minute shocked the hosts and handed the Jets a memorable victory.

Perth Glory (2.45) v Wellington Phoenix (2.50) preview: Perth and Wellington will both have their sights set on stealing second place from Melbourne City and could overtake the Citizens by winning both their games in hand. A draw seems the most likely outcome.

Celebrities and former players unite to bring a NWSL team to Los Angeles

Several big names including Serena Williams, Alexis Ohanian, Jessica Chastain, Jennifer Garner, Eva Longoria and Natalie Portman, along with former members of the US women's national team, formed an ownership group to bring women's professional soccer to Los Angeles in 2022.

The team's venue partner and official name will be announced at a later date.

🔁 Transfer Gossip

Manchester City are close to completing the signing of Bournemouth and Netherlands defender Nathan Ake, 25. (Guardian)

Arsenal could trigger the £40m release clause in the contract of Sporting Lisbon's 17-year-old Portuguese forward Joelson Fernandes in the next 24 hours. (A Bola)

Manchester United will make a take-it-or-leave it offer of £80m to Borussia Dortmund for England winger Jadon Sancho, 20. (Star)

📺 Live sport

Wednesday

⚽️ 05:15 - Premier League - Aston Villa v Arsenal (Optus Sport 1)

⚽️ 05:45 - Serie A - Sassuolo v Milan (BeIN Sports 1) 

⚽️ 10:00 - MLS - Atlanta United v Columbus Crew (BeIN Sports 1)

⚽️ 12:30 - MLS - Montreal Impact v DC United (BeIN Sports 1)

⚽️ 19:30 - A-League - Perth Glory v Wellington Phoenix (Fox Sports More)

⚽️ 20:00 - J1 League - Sagan Tosu v Shimizu S-Pulse (Optus Sport 2)

⚽️ 20:00 - J1 League - Yokohama F. Marinos v Yokohama FC (Optus Sport 1) 

⚽️ 20:05 - J1 League - Consadole Sapporo v FC Tokyo (Optus Sport 3) 

⚽️ 20:30 - J1 League - Cerezo Osaka v Vissel Kobe (Optus Sport 4) 

⛳️ 21:00 - European Tour, British Masters, Round 1 (Fox Sports) 

⚽️ 23:00 - MLS - Real Salt Lake v Sporting Kansas City (ESPN 1)

Thursday

⚽️ 05:15 - Premier League - Liverpool v Chelsea (Optus Sport 1) 

⚽️ 05:45 - Serie A - Inter Milan v Fiorentina (BeIN Sports 1) 

⚽️ 05:45 - Serie A - Sampdoria v Genoa (BeIN Sports 3) 

⚽️ 05:45 - Serie A - SPAL v Roma (BeIN Sports 2) 

⚽️ 10:00 - MLS - FC Cincinnati v New York Red Bulls (ESPN 1)

⚽️ 12:30 - MLS - Colorado Rapids v Minnesota United (ESPN 1)

🇦🇺 19:40 - AFL - Gold Coast Suns v Western Bulldogs (Fox Footy) 

🏉 19:50 - NRL - Parramatta Eels v Wests Tigers (Fox League)

⛳️ 21:00 - European Tour, British Masters, Round 2 (Fox Sports)

⚽️ 23:00 - MLS - Vancouver Whitecaps v Chicago Fire (ESPN 1)