🗞 Thanks but no thanks

🏉 The Wallabies will seek to rebound as they face off with the Springboks in Perth on Saturday 7:45 pm AEST.

Joe Schmidt's side heads to Optus Stadium fresh off a 33-7 defeat to the world champions in Brisbane.

Marika Koroibete and Angus Bell make their return to the Test arena after linking back up with the squad at the start of the Rugby Championship.

While Exciting prospect Max Jorgensen (debut) is poised to show what he can do, is named on the bench. 

Jorgensen's decision to re-sign with both Rugby Australia and the Waratahs, when Sydney Roosters had made a big play to bring across to the other side of Moore Park, was hailed as a win for the code.

The Wallabies v South Africa match will be shown on free-to-air, with coverage on Channel 9 (VIC, SA, TAS) 9Gem (NSW, QLD, ACT, NT) and Go (WA)

Wallabies (15-1): Tom Wright; Andrew Kellaway, Len Ikitau, Hunter Paisami, Marika Koroibete; Noah Lolesio, Nic White; Harry Wilson, Carlo Tizzano, Rob Valetini; Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Angus Blyth; Allan Alaalatoa (captain), Josh Nasser, Angus Bell

🏏 Tim Paine has secured his first major coaching role with the former Test captain to take charge of Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash League.

Paine was told this week he had secured the top job in Adelaide, going from Australia’s captain to elite-level coaching in the space of three years.

The 39-year-old’s appointment comes after a rapid-fire rise through the coaching ranks.

😡 A petition calling for an investigation into breakdancer Rachael Gunn's selection for the Olympics has "stirred up public hatred without any factual basis", says the Australian Olympic Committee.

The petition, which calls for an apology from Gunn, 36, as well as Australia's Olympic chef de mission Anna Meares, now has over 50,000 signatures.

The petition says they should say sorry for "attempting to gaslight the public and undermining the efforts of genuine athletes."

Who did this?

🐴 The time-honoured PB Lawrence Stakes headlines a big offering at Caulfield on Saturday, and it really does feel like spring has arrived!

The PB Lawrence is often used as a springboard into some of the Spring Carnival’s major Group 1 feature races, and names like Mr Brightside, Mystic Journey and Hartnell feature on the recent winner’s list.

🎾 Alex De Minaur has confirmed that he will play in this month's US Open, weeks after withdrawing from the Paris Olympics because of a cartilage tear in his hip. Been working hard trying to recover from my injury," De Minaur, 25, wrote on Instagram.

NRL NEWS
Cleary sent for Scans

The Melbourne Storm are closing in on the JJ Giltinan Shield after securing a 24-22 victory over the Panthers last night.

With a four-point lead over Penrith and only three games remaining in the regular season, Craig Bellamy’s side is on track to finish on top for the fifth time in nine years.

On top of the pain of losing, the Panthers also had star halfback Nathan Cleary suffer a shoulder injury late in the match.

Cleary reeled out of a tackle by Storm prop Josh King in the 68th minute and clutched at his left shoulder.

The Kangaroos halfback was in obvious pain and the Panthers doctor came onto the field to assess him, before taking Cleary from the field. 

"He hurt the shoulder in the pre-season and had some trouble with it earlier in the year and he got on top of it throughout the hamstring issues but it's a recurrence tonight," coach Ivan Cleary said post-match.

"We'll organise scans tomorrow and once we get those we'll be in a better position to see our way forward but it's obviously a concern.”

🚩 The NRL has issued Latrell Mitchell with a “breach notice” after the South Sydney superstar was pictured with a white substance over the weekend.

The NRL integrity unit was called in to investigate after a leaked photo emerged of Mitchell hunched over a table with a white substance. There is no suggestion it is an illicit drug.

The league has given Mitchell five business days to respond.

As per an agreement with the players’ union, the NRL refused to detail the proposed sanction until Mitchell had responded to the notice.

🙋🏼‍♀️ Australia’s maiden Jillaroos captain Natalie Dwyer will headline the first-ever class of women’s players to be inducted into the NRL Hall of Fame.

Officials confirmed on Thursday six women will enter the league’s Hall of Fame, in an historic move for the game.

Dwyer will be the first officially inducted, along with Katrina Fanning, Tarsha Gale, Veronica White, Karyn Murphy and Tahnee Norris.

“This class includes some of the great trailblazers of women’s rugby league,” ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys said.

🏉 The Dragons have officially signed Valentine Holmes on a three-year deal from 2025 as coach Shane Flanagan continues strengthen his roster.

The centre had one year remaining on his current Cowboys contract which was reportedly worth upwards of a million dollars for 2025.

The 29-year-old’s signature is the latest in Flanagan’s recent recruitment drive which includes former Blues and Australian hooker Damien Cook who will also join the club next year.

Tonight:

The best attacking side in the competition will host the second-worst defensive outfit, as the Sydney Roosters (1.15) aim to consolidate their position inside the top four when they host the Parramatta Eels (5.60) at Allianz Stadium.

• Dominic Young has been the first try-scorer in each of Sydney's last three home matches against opponents that were ranked in the bottom four.

The Manly Sea Eagles (1.15) are within touching distance of playing finals footy for the first time since 2021, and a win against the New Zealand Warriors (5.00) will go a long way to locking down their spot in the eight.

• Jason Saab has scored at least one try in each of his four previous appearances against New Zealand.

AFL NEWS
Thanks but no thanks

🙅🏻‍♂️ Another major candidate for the West Coast coaching role has withdrawn, with Essendon’s Daniel Giansiracusa joining Carlton’s Ashley Hansen in opting out of the race. Both Giansiracusa and Hansen have decided to remain in Victoria due to family reasons.

This leaves current West Coast interim coach Jarrad Schofield, who is gaining internal support, GWS assistant Brett Montgomery, known for his strong tactical skills, and former Richmond interim coach and current Melbourne assistant Andrew McQualter as the leading contenders for the position.

Tonight:

With its September hopes dashed by yet another heartbreaking defeat, Essendon (2.10) will host Sydney (1.73) at Marvel Stadium.

Sydney will be without Chad Warner, with the star midfielder ruled out due to a sore calf.

• The Swans have won five of their last six against the Bombers.

⛳️ The PGA Tour’s lucrative FedEx Cup playoffs began late last night at the St. Jude Championship with big ramifications on the line for the four Australians in the field, as well as world number one Scottie Scheffler.

The top 70 golfers in the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup standings will tee it up at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee for the 72-hole, no-cut event which is the first tournament of the Tour’s three-week season finale.

Only the top 50 players can progress to next week’s BMW Championship — where it will be whittled down to the top 30 for the Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta — and the field will face a stern test to reap the rewards on offer which include a share of the (A$151m) FedEx Cup Playoffs prize pool.

Jason Day is best-placed of the Australians in 26th position as Cam Davis, Adam Scott and Min Woo Lee all require several low-rounds to make it to the Tour Championship.

⚽️ Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has signed a new contract that will extend his stay at Old Trafford until June 2027, with the option for a further year.

The Portugal midfielder has scored 79 goals and contributed 67 assists in his 234 appearances for the club.

🥇 Two world record holders will meet in a 100m exhibition race on 4 September as Olympic pole vault champion Armand Duplantis and Paris 2024 400m hurdles silver medallist Karsten Warholm face off.

The pair will settle a friendly rivalry about who is the quickest over the distance at the Letzigrund Stadium in Zurich, a day before the Diamond League meeting in the Swiss city.

⚾️ Aaron Judge hit his 300th homer. The New York Yankees' slugger reached that milestone faster than any other player (in just 955 games) when he connected against the Chicago White Sox during a 10-2 victory.

EPL 2024/25 Season Preview

Overview: This will be the 33rd season of the Premier League and the 126th season of top-flight English football overall. It will also be the first season to see the use of semi-automated offside technology after Premier League clubs unanimously agreed to its introduction.

🏟️ New Teams: EFL Championship title holders Leicester City and Southampton will return to the Premier League after a one-year absence, while Ipswich Town returns after a twenty-two-year absence. They will replace Luton Town, Burnley, and Sheffield United, respectively.

Meanwhile, Manchester City will be looking to do the unthinkable as five-time successive Premier League title winners following a record fourth successive title win. A feat that will certainly break many hearts in North London (Arsenal).

🙋🏻‍♂️ New Managers: Chelsea have a new boss yet again (Enzo Maresca, who led Leicester back to the Premier League last season), and Premier League debutant Arne Slot will attempt to fill Jürgen Klopp’s boots at Anfield after the former Liverpool boss ran out of energy.

Roberto De Zerbi left Brighton after a disappointing 11th-place finish, is replaced by a German child, 31 yr old Fabian Hurzeler, while David Moyes was shown the exit after a less-than-impressive 9th-place finish at West Ham United (replaced by Spanish guru Julen Lopetegui).

Mo’ Money, Mo Problems: The Premier League last season witnessed Everton and Nottingham Forest receiving points deduction.

PSR will remain in place, but amongst other new regulations will be clubs the new Squad Cost Rules (SCR), which will regulate on-pitch spend to 85% of a club’s football revenue and net profit/loss on player sales.

The overall system aims to improve and preserve clubs’ financial sustainability and the competitive balance of the Premier League.

🏆 Contenders: Manchester City have set their sights on that elusive quadruple, and have only lost Julian Alvarez. However, what might stop them from doing so are the alleged 115 financial charges against the side, with the hearing set to begin in mid-September.

Arsenal: Arsenal will be looking to do one better this time. Just one new signing in the form of Italian Ricardo Calafiouri, who joins from Bologna.

The Gunners have made the transfer of goalkeeper David Raya. The onus for goals will remain on Bukayo Saka, which shouldn’t come as a surprise.

Liverpool: Liverpool enter a new era with Arne Slot as manager. They still have the talismanic Mohammed Salah, whom Liverpool chose to retain despite reported interest from Saudi Arabia. 

Manchester United: Boss Erik ten Hag signed a new contract with the club in July that keeps him till 2026. And ahead of the new season, the transfer window means serious business for United. The arrivals of Leny Yoro (Lille), Matthis de Ligt and Noussair Mazraouni (Bayern Munich)… However the jury is still out on whether they can compete at the sharp end of the season. 

Tottenham Hotspur: Ange Postecoglou lifted the mood at Spurs during his first year in charge but expectations will be a lot higher now. They narrowly missed out on finishing fourth and qualifying for the Champions League, The majority of players who have left this summer were ill-suited to Postecoglou’s style of play and will be hoping the arrival of striker Dominic Solanke in a (AU$83.4m) deal can push them closer to success.

💰 Hey Big Spenders: Let’s now take a look at the top five highest spenders among Premier League clubs (as per Tranfermarkt.co.uk):

1. Chelsea: AU$314 million

2. Aston Villa: AU$294 million

3. Manchester United: AU$274 million

4. West Ham United: AU$240 million

5. Tottenham Hotspur: AU$192 million

Predictions:

Winner: Man City may well get their comeuppance and be deducted some points, this could open the door for Arsenal ($3.0) to finally get over the line.

Top Goalscorer: Has to be Haaland ($1.80), if he plays twenty games, he wins it. simple. Newcastle’s Alexander Isak is interesting at $17.0, despite injury, and Newcastle’s drop off, he was third last season with 21 goals. definite each way claims.

Dark Horse: Crystal Palace - They have lost Michael Olise to Bayern Munich, but finished last season like a train under the new boss. Expect that to continue with Jean-Philippe Mateta stepping up with the goals.

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