🗞 Sticky Fingers

G'day sports fans,

A huge weekend of sport ahead; NRL All-Stars and Pre-season Challenge, A-League, Phoenix Open Golf, First Group 1 of the year with the C.F. Orr Stakes, UFC 284 (ft. Aussie Volkanovski)... all running into the Super Bowl on Monday.

📊 Make sure you get involved with the prediction polls - just click on your selection, and we'll put some punts together on our Dabble account.

🇦🇺 Aussie Sport

🏏 Australia's hopes of pulling off an upset win in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series opener rest on the shoulders of their bowlers after their counterparts gave the hosts a commanding hold of the match.

After Ravindra Jadeja (5-47 from 22 overs) ran through the Aussie middle-order in his comeback Test, captain Rohit Sharma (55no) helped India reduce the deficit to 100 runs after a 76-run opening stand.

But the Aussies got a late shot in the arm from debutant Todd Murphy, who broke through for his maiden Test wicket when KL Rahul (20) chipped back a regulation catch in the penultimate over of the day to see the 22-year-old mobbed by teammates.

A debate has erupted after vision of a questionable moment was spotted during the first innings of the first Test between Australia and India.

The TV broadcast captured Jadeja appearing to either take something off the hand of one of his teammates, or from inside his hand, with his right hand.

🐴 Saturday will see the running of the first Group 1 of the year and it is a top class line up, with seven of the ten starters having already won at the elite level. Typically held at Caulfield, this years C.F. Orr Stakes will be run on the Sandown Hillside.

The nine race card will also include a further 6 stakes races, making for a very exciting day for racing enthusiasts.

The rail will be out 10m and it looks likely that we’ll be racing on a good 4 surface.

🐴 The prospect of the Cox Plate moving later into the spring will not happen – at least not this year.

Apart from the major rescheduling involved, effectively moving the majority of the spring carnival back three weeks and reshuffling the placement of a few "secondary" major races, there are simply too many moving pieces involved in the spring carnival puzzle.

However, there still remains a chance a move will happen in the future.

✍🏼 Fijian forward Tui Kamikamica has re-signed with the Storm on a two-year deal until the end of 2025.

🇦🇺 Giving it one more crack: Former Gold Coast, Fremantle and Melbourne player Harley Bennell has signed with Port Melbourne for the 2023 VFL season

🏉 The Warriors started the Andrew Webster era off in style with a thumping 48-12 win over Wests Tigers in the opening round of the Pre-season Challenge on Thursday night. Marcelo Montoya chipping in with a hat-trick (match report)

🏄🏻‍♂️ Rising Aussie surf star Jack Robinson declared he’s “getting his legs ready” for a world title push after seizing the fourth win of his young career at the Billabong Pro Pipeline in Hawaii.

Robinson, starting just his third season on the World Surf League Championship Tour, took down Italian Leonardo Fioravanti in the final in tricky conditions at the famed Banzai Pipeline to become the new world No.1.

👊🏻 The UFC will bring the action back to Australia, Perth on Sunday for the first time since UFC 243 for a fight card headlined by a colossal “Champion vs. Champion” clash in the lightweight division.

Main Event: Islam Makhachev vs Alexander Volkanovski (Aus)

Makhachev (1.25) has won 11 straight, earning four straight stoppage wins on his way to facing Charles Oliveira for the belt last October, and submitting “Do Bronx” in the second round to claim the title.

Not to be outdone, Volkanovski (3.0) is a perfect 12-0 in the UFC and riding an incredible 22-fight winning streak overall. And, is ranked #1 Pound-for-pound on the planet.

This is a fascinating fight and arguably the best matchup the UFC could put together at this moment. Both men are highly skilled, dynamic, and dangerous, and it’s going to be captivating to see how this one plays out.

🔥 This trailer will get you fired up!! 👇🏼

🌎 World Sport

🏀 Trade time: Kevin Durant has been traded to the Suns for Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder and four first-round picks. Didn't see that coming.

Russell Westbrook is on the move again after the Lakers completed a three-team trade with the Jazz and Timberwolves.

🏀 Incase you missed it: LeBron James, at age 38, is now in sole possession of the coveted record —long considered one of the NBA's unattainable— on the all-time scoring list. Abdul-Jabbar became the league's leading scorer in 1984, and his 38,387 career points had stood as the record since 1989.

The top 5 scorers in NBA history:

1. James: 38,390 points

2. Abdul-Jabbar: 38,387

3. Karl Malone: 36,928

4. Kobe Bryant: 33,643

5. Michael Jordan: 32,29

⚽️ Private investors linked to the Qatari royal family are considering making a bid to buy Manchester United next week.

🏎 Under-fire International Automobile Federation (FIA) president Mohammed ben Sulayem has conceded day-to-day control of Formula One.

The 61-year-old Emirati’s shock decision comes after a number of controversial weeks at the helm of world motorsport – including the threat of legal action from Formula One, and the exposure of historical sexist remarks on his now-defunct personal website.

👋🏼 Wild Sport alert: Dana White's controversial Power Slap league has drawn criticism from fight fans and non-fans, alike, and is now being condemned by a leading neuroscientist.

Two competitors stand at a podium and trade open-palm slaps - two judges observing the and one analyzing replays.

There are 3 rounds in the bout - in each of them, the participant has one slap.

I wasn't sure how much to show before you've eaten breakfast, but you can watch a more detailed trailer here.

🏈 NFL player Damar Hamlin, who collapsed from cardiac arrest during a game last month, has made a surprise appearance during Super Bowl week.

Hamlin, 24, was one of five finalists for the NFL Players Association's (NFLPA) Alan Page Community Award.

And he stunned journalists when he took to the stage to accept the accolade.

⚽️ Liverpool are among the clubs interested in Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite, 20, who is on loan at PSV Eindhoven. Manchester United and Roma are also tracking the England Under-20 centre-back. (Mail)

🏉 World number one, plays number two - when Ireland meet France in the second round of the Six nations on Saturday.

Ireland captain Johnny Sexton, 37, has insisted that there are no concerns over his fitness after he came off in the second half of the opening 34-10 win over Wales and it was initially said that he had undergone a head injury assessment.

📺 LIVE SPORTS

⛳️ 07:30 - PGA TOUR - Phoenix Open, Round 1 (Fox Sports)

🏒 11:00 - NHL - Tampa Bay Lightning v Colorado Avalanche (ESPN 2)

🏀 11:30 - NBA - Brooklyn Nets v Chicago Bulls (ESPN)

🏀 14:00 - NBA - Los Angeles Lakers v Milwaukee Bucks (ESPN)

🏏 15:00 - Test Match - India v Australia (Fox Cricket)

🏀 15:00 - Men's NCAA - Oregon Ducks v USC Trojans (ESPN 2)

🏉 17:55 - Pre-Season Challenge - Newcastle Knights v Cronulla Sharks (Fox League)

⚽️ 19:45 - A-League Men - Brisbane Roar v Central Coast Mariners (Paramount+)

🏉 20:00 - Pre-Season Challenge - Rabbitohs v Sea Eagles (Fox League)

SATURDAY

⚽️ 06:45 - Italian Serie A - Milan v Torino (beIN SPORTS 2)

⛳️ 07:30 - PGA TOUR - Phoenix Open, Round 2 (Fox Sports)

🏒 11:00 - NHL - New York Rangers v Seattle Kraken (ESPN 2)

🏀 11:30 - NBA - Boston Celtics v Charlotte Hornets (ESPN)

🏀 14:00 - NBA - New Orleans Pelicans v Cleveland Cavaliers (ESPN)

🏒 14:00 - NHL - Anaheim Ducks v Pittsburgh Penguins (ESPN 2)

🏏 15:00 - Test Match - India v Australia (Fox Cricket)

🏉 15:45 - Rugby League - Maori All Stars v Indigenous All Stars (Fox League or Channel 9)

🐴 16:20 - CF Orr Stakes, 1,400m - WFA 3YO & Up (7, Sky 1, Racing.com)

🏏 16:30 - NZ Super Smash Final - Canterbury Kings v TBC (Fox Sports)

⚽️ 17:00 - A-League Men - Western United FC v Adelaide United (Paramount+)

🏉 18:00 - Pre-Season Challenge - Penrith Panthers v Parramatta Eels (Fox League)

⚽️ 19:45 - A-League Men - Western Sydney Wanderers v Sydney FC (10 Bold or Paramount+)

🏉 20:05 - Pre-Season Challenge - Dragons v St Helens (Fox League)

⚽️ 22:30 - A-League Men - Perth Glory v Melbourne City (Paramount+)

⚽️ 23:30 - Premier League - West Ham United v Chelsea (Optus Sport 1)

SUNDAY

🏉 01:15 - Six Nations - Ireland v France (Stan Sport)

⚽️ 01:30 - German Bundesliga - Bayern Munich v VfL Bochum (beIN SPORTS 2)

⚽️ 02:00 - Premier League - Leicester City v Tottenham (Optus Sport 3)

⚽️ 02:00 - Premier League - Arsenal v Brentford (Optus Sport 5)

⚽️ 02:00 - Premier League - Fulham v Nottingham Forest (Optus Sport 4)

🏏 02:30 - SA20 Final - Pretoria Capitals v TBC (Fox Sports)

⚽️ 03:00 - France Ligue 1 - AS Monaco v Paris Saint-Germain (beIN SPORTS 3)

🏉 03:45 - Six Nations - Scotland v Wales (Stan Sport)

🏏 04:00 - Women's T20 World Cup - Australia v New Zealand (Fox Cricket)

⚽️ 04:30 - Premier League - Bournemouth v Newcastle United (Optus Sport 1)

⛳️ 05:00 - PGA TOUR - Phoenix Open, Round 3 (Fox Sports)

🏒 05:00 - NHL - Dallas Stars v Tampa Bay Lightning (ESPN 2)

⚽️ 06:45 - Italian Serie A - Lazio v Atalanta (beIN SPORTS 3)

⚽️ 07:00 - France Ligue 1 - Clermont Foot 63 v Marseille (beIN SPORTS 2)

🏒 07:30 - NHL- Boston Bruins v Washington Capitals (ESPN 2)

🏀 10:00 - NBA - Brooklyn Nets v Philadelphia 76ers (ESPN 2)

🏀 12:30 - NBA - Golden State Warriors v Los Angeles Lakers (ESPN 2)

🏉 13:50 - Pre-Season Challenge - Melbourne Storm v Sydney Roosters (Fox League)

👊🏻 14:00 - UFC 284 Main Card - Islam Makhachev v Alexander Volkanovski (Main Event)

🏀 14:00 - NBL Semi-Final Series - Taipans v Wildcats(10 Peach, ESPN)

⚽️ 15:00 - A-League Men - Newcastle Jets v Melbourne Victory (10 Bold or Paramount+)

🏏 15:00 - Test Match - India v Australia (Fox Cricket)

🏉 15:55 - Pre-Season Challenge - Canberra Raiders v Canterbury Bulldogs (Fox League)

🏀 16:00 - NBL Semi-Final Series - New Zealand Breakers v JackJumpers (10 Peach, ESPN)

⚽️ 17:00 - A-League Men - Macarthur FC Bulls v Wellington Phoenix (Paramount+)

🏉 18:00 - Pre-Season Challenge - North Queensland Cowboys v Dolphins (Fox League)

🏉 20:05 - Pre-Season Challenge - Brisbane Broncos v Gold Coast Titans (Fox League)