🗞 The Time is Now

AUSSIE SPORTS
Sprint Duo to Paris

🏃🏻💨 Australian speedster Josh Azzopardi has scored an entry in the men's Olympic 100m dash less than a fortnight out from the start of the Paris Games.

It means Australia will be represented by more than one athlete in the men's 100m at an Olympic Games for the first time since Sydney 2000.

Azzopardi and Rohan Browning will both contest the 100m in the French capital.

🏀 Andrew Bogut has called on the Boomers to bench Patty Mills for the Paris Olympics following Australia's 98-92 loss to Team USA in Abu Dhabi.

Bogut has been adamant about giving Mills less minutes on the floor, which would ideally open the door the Dante Exum to start alongside Josh Giddey.

The Sydney Roosters' hopes of winning the NRLW premiership have taken a major hit with star fullback Corban Baxter [knee] set to miss the entire season. She is one of several Roosters sidelined before a ball has been kicked. (ABC)

⚽️ Socceroos great Harry Kewell is back in the coaching wilderness after he was sacked by J1 League powerhouse Yokohama F. Marinos after less than eight months.

Head coach John Hutchinson (AUS) will take over as interim manager.

HISTORY BECKONS
Origin III Preview

The Blues head into the Origin decider brimming with confidence after a dominant first half in Melbourne saw them demolish the Maroons with a record-setting 34-0 halftime lead. Led by Payne Haas's powerhouse performance and Mitch Moses's stellar display as NSW's No.7, they showcased devastating edge play through Latrell Mitchell, Stephen Crichton, Brian To'o, and Zac Lomax. However, Mitchell's absence due to injury is a significant setback.

Newcastle's Bradman Best, who shone in a previous Origin outing, steps in but lacks Mitchell's intimidating presence. Mitch Barnett's inclusion for Haumole Olakau'atu adds versatility to the Blues' lineup. Meanwhile, Queensland, buoyed by a stronger second half in Melbourne, aims to vary their attack more effectively with Selwyn Cobbo and Dane Gagai's return. Their formidable three-quarter line, including Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, poses a potent threat.

Historically, Queensland holds a dominant record in game-three deciders, winning 15 out of 22 when the series is still alive. Suncorp Stadium, hosting 13 deciders, has favored the Maroons with only two NSW wins on enemy turf since 1994. Recent encounters in Brisbane show Queensland's edge, winning 15 of the last 18 Origins at Suncorp.

Despite a large deficit in game two, teams have often rebounded strongly in deciders, highlighting the unpredictability of Origin's final showdowns.

📺 Something to get you in the mood [10mins] of Classic Origin:

Your Origin III Stat Pack:

⬇️ Seven of the last eight Origin III matches have gone UNDER the total match points line. (41.5pts)

📈 In 10 of the last 11 Origin series, the team that lost Game II has covered the line in Game III. (Maroons -1.5)

🚨 Insane stat alert: Valentine Holmes has been the first try-scorer in each of the last four Origin III matches at Suncorp Stadium (10.0)

🔥 Lomax on Fire: In each of the last three Origin matches, the starting New South Wales left wing has scored a try. (2.02)

AFL NEWS
Bans, Bans, Bans

Alex Davies, Toby Bedford and Charlie Cameron will all miss their sides' next three matches after the trio failed to overturn suspensions on Tuesday evening.

Each player challenged their respective ban at the AFL Tribunal, but none were successful.

In the first of three hearings, Brisbane's Cameron sought to overturn his three-match ban for a tackle that left West Coast's Liam Duggan concussed. Originally graded as careless, severe impact, and high contact by the match review officer, Brisbane argued Cameron's actions were justified under the circumstances and did not amount to rough conduct. Despite their arguments, the Tribunal upheld the ban, ruling against Cameron.

He will be eligible to return for Brisbane's round 22 match against Greater Western Sydney.

In the second case, Greater Western Sydney argued Bedford's chase-down tackle on Richmond's Tim Taranto was not careless conduct nor a reportable offence. 

The incident was originally graded as careless, severe impact and high contact, which attracted a three-week ban.

The challenge was unsuccessful, meaning Bedford will miss Greater Western Sydney's next three matches.

In the final hearing of the evening, Alex Davies failed to overturn his three-game suspension for a collision with Port Adelaide's Lachie Jones during Sunday's match.

The Tribunal acknowledged Davies' intent to contest the ball but deemed his approach unreasonable, leading to the upheld ban.

NRL NEWS
Cleary Named

TEAM NEWS: It’s not even happened yet but, a lot of Clubs will be happy that State of Origin period is finally coming to an end.

Brisbane will be looking to keep their top-eight hopes alive in a must-win clash and will be boosted by the returns of Reece Walsh and Payne Haas, while Adam Reynolds could be a shock late inclusion as he continues to recover from a biceps injury.

The game's best player, Nathan Cleary, will also be back in action this weekend for the Panthers after recovering from a hamstring injury.

St George Illawarra, Cronulla and Parramatta will all receive the bye this weekend. (NRL.com)

WORLD NEWS
Hala Mbappé

🚴🏻 Belgium's Jasper Philipsen sprinted to his third stage victory at the 2024 Tour de France after Biniam Girmay suffered a late crash on stage 16.

Mark Cavendish crossed the line in 17th position in the final sprint stage of his Tour de France farewell before a mountainous conclusion to this years' race.

Tadej Pogacar retained the leader's yellow jersey and protected his lead of three minutes nine seconds over two-time defending champion Jonas Vingegaard.

⚽️ EPL Whispers: Liverpool and Atletico Madrid are interested in RB Leipzig's 24-year-old French defender Mohamed Simakan.

Manchester City are in advanced talks to sign 26-year-old Spain midfielder Dani Olmo from RB Leipzig.

⚽️ England manager Gareth Southgate has resigned after a second consecutive European Championship final defeat.

Newcastle Manager, Eddie Howe is the leading candidate to replace Southgate.

⚽️ Kylian Mbappé was presented as a Real Madrid player in front of close to 80,000 fans at the Bernabéu, vowing to "give everything" for the La Liga champions.

📺 UFC just dropped extended cage audio and Khabib truly HATED Conor McGregor (Twitter)

🏀 The New York Knicks and free agent guard Cameron Payne agreed to a one-year deal for the veteran minimum.

Payne, who turns 30 next month, split the 2023-24 season between the Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers.

❤️ Former NBA player Joe Bryant, the father of Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, has died at the age of 69.

Nicknamed "Jellybean," Bryant was a 1975 first-round draft pick by the Golden State Warriors.

🥇 Olympics run-in: From the 26th of July, the Paris 2024 Olympic Games will showcase 3,800 hours of live sport and award 329 gold medals in 32 sports over 18 days of competition across the capital and in other parts of France.

New Sports: The only new sport for the 2024 Olympics is breaking. It is a style of dance that originated in the Bronx in New York during the 1970s but has has evolved to become a competitive sport.

Other tweaks to sports include; Kayak cross will also makes its debut. It is a form of canoe slalom but four athletes in each heat race against each other, not just the clock.

In sailing two kite events have been added to the programme, windsurfer – iQFoil and kiteboarding.

And in artistic swimming, men are included for the first time in Olympic history

PREVIEW
152nd Open Championship

Reigning Open Championship winner Brian Harman will attempt to become the first player in 16 years to win the Claret Jug in back-to-back years when he tees off in the 2024 Open Championship beginning Thursday at Royal Troon in South Ayrshire, Scotland.

There’s a record purse to play for at US$17m, with US$3.1m going to the winner.

The Course: 

The course has been extended to 7,385 yards while retaining its Par 71 status. Notable updates include nine new tee boxes and a challenging blind shot from the new 10th hole.

Renowned for its strategic demands, the course is a true test of skill, especially with the prevailing north-westerly wind.

Scrambling was a standout stat in 2016, however, Stenson’s caddy has said that without wind this year, “they’ll murder it”.

History:

Royal Troon witnessed one of the greatest Open Championship finishes of all time in 2016 when Henrik Stenson ousted Phil Mickelson in an epic final-round duel.

Big Names:

The most eye-catching group of the day is Rory McIlroy (14.0) joining world number one and huge favourite Scottie Scheffler (4.33), as well as the most recent major winner - PGA champion Xander Schauffele (12.0).

Rory McIlroy is eager to bounce back from his gut-wrenching loss at the US Open last month, where he bogeyed three of the last four holes, finishing just one shot behind Bryson DeChambeau.

DeChambeau, on the other hand, hopes to maintain his impressive form in majors this season, having already secured a 6th, 2nd, and 1st place finish.

Tiger Woods has been all over social media in the run up to this week (albeit limping a little), after missing the tournament last year. He also failed to make the cut in 2022. “I believe I can still win” - Woods at his press conference.

Big Name Aussies:

Cameron Smith (41.0) has no real form to go on. He played The Open Championship six times recently, with one win, an average finish of 33rd, and an average score of 2-under.

Adam Scott (56.0), will hope to go one better than last week when he was denied his first PGA Tour win in four years after a stunning comeback from Robert MacIntyre at the Scottish Open.

Jason Day (101.0); Finished second (with a score of 7-under) in his most recent appearance at The Open Championship 2023. And, has an average finish of 15th over his last 5 appearances.

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