G'day sports fans,

Classic quote: Whoever said 'It's not whether you win or lose that counts' probably lost.-Martina Navratilova (Tennis legend)

In today's edition of Sport Journal:

🏉 NRL back in style + Tipping Comp

🏏 Full summer fixtures released

⚽️ EPL returns 17th June

🏉 NRL

NRL announces new broadcast deal with Nine, Foxtel

The ARLC has agreed to new broadcast deals with Channel Nine through to 2022 and Foxtel through to the 2027 season.

Details around the finances of the deal were not disclosed.

“I want to thank Foxtel CEO Patrick Delany and Nine CEO Hugh Marks for reaching an outcome that puts the fans and the game’s future first,” ARLC Chairman Peter V’landys said.

Fox Sports 1 in the United States will broadcast the NRL to its 60 million subscriber base, bringing rugby league to an all-new audience that brings Fox League’s estimated global reach to 300 million people. (Fox)

Broncos on toast (Broncos 6-34 Eels)

The showdown kicked off 67 days after the enforced COVID-19 shutdown of the NRL as one of the most anticipated rugby league matches in the 112-year history of the code.

It lived up to the billing, and then some.

The forwards played tough and with skill. Reed Mahoney had an outstanding game with his passing, kicking and defensive work of the highest standard.

Parramatta had two tries disallowed in the first half, while the Broncos butchered a couple of their chances.

Broncos skipper Alex Glenn did not return in the second half after he suffered a nasty gash to his leg on the cusp of half-time and was taken to hospital for stitches. He'll require surgery this week.

This could have been a rout, the Eels were electric with their ball movement while Brisbane scrambled superbly to limit the damage on the scoreboard.

The pace of the game was intense with one referee on-field and the new six-again rule in play as fatigue played its part late in both halves.

In the second half the Eels were able to drive home their advantage. (NRL)

I didn't mind the 'virtual crowd' noises. How did you like it?

Friday Night Football:

Cowboys ($1.30) v Titans ($3.45)

The Cowboys have a relatively settled squad while rookie coach Justin Holbrook has had to deal with plenty of upheaval in the past couple of months, with centre Kallum Watkins returning to the UK and fullback AJ Brimson ruled out indefinitely with a back problem.

• Head to Head - Cowboys 15 wins, Titans 8 wins, since 1998

• Last time out: Titans 4 Cowboys 6

• Form: Cowboys WWLLW, Titans LLLLL

• This season: Cowboys 1/2, Titans 0/2

As with Parramatta $1.95 > $1.75, there's been a plunge on the Roosters who opened at $1.55.

🏉 NRL Tipping Comp

Predict the winning margin in the two Friday games to win.

How to play: It’s FREE to play, have a go at picking the winning margin in the Cowboys v Titans and Roosters v Rabbitohs matches, win Sport Journal merch. simple. It’s free to enter and a bit of fun.

How to play:

• Click HERE to enter

• Enter your email and name (so we can contact you when you win)

• Pick a winning margin in Cowboys v Titans > hit next

• Pick a winning margin in Roosters v Rabbitohs > hit next

• Have a guess at the time the first try will be scored in each match > make sure you hit submit

If we have a good number of players, we’ll look to build out the comps and increase the prize fund. Play HERE

⚽️ Football

FFA outline A-League restart timetable

Football Federation Australia today unveiled their planned timetable to restart the A-League – if Fox Sports come on board.

We are committed to delivering the completion of the Hyundai A-League 2019/20 season,” CEO, Johnson said.

“We are now looking forward to the agreement of our broadcast partner, Fox Sports, to our fixture proposal and timings.

Johnson added: “Ideally mid-June will see players return to training, allowing them to reach the required elite level of fitness for competitive matches to commence by mid-July, and for the Hyundai A-League Finals Series to be completed by mid-August. (ftbl)

Premier League to restart on 17 June

The Premier League season is set to restart on 17 June with Aston Villa v Sheffield United and Manchester City v Arsenal, the BBC has learned.

So far 12 people have tested positive for coronavirus after 2,752 tests across the league.

On Wednesday, clubs unanimously voted to resume contact training, having started non-contact training last week.

A full fixture list would then be played on the weekend of 19-21 June - subject to government approval.

A few high-profile games maybe played at neutral venues at the request of the police.

There are 92 fixtures still to play. (BBC)

🇦🇺 AFL

Buddy Hell: Long AFL rehab looming for Franklin

Sydney star Lance Franklin is looking at possibly more than two months on the sidelines after a scan on his latest hamstring injury.

The veteran forward suffered the injury at training this week and won't be able to run for three to four weeks.

Swans CEO Charlie Gardiner admitted it's "slightly worse" than the hamstring injury that plagued Franklin's 2019 campaign.

Former Essendon star Matthew Lloyd, who also endured hamstring troubles towards the end of his career, suggested that Franklin is playing catch-up due to constant injuries.

"It's amazing how durable you can be for so long, Buddy hardly missed a game for 14 years, and from that point last year he just can't take a trick," he said. (nine)

Fremantle Dockers boss gives passionate defence of AFLW

The club president proclaimed that he would "die in a ditch" to keep the comp alive as some detractors suggest the $20 million invested in AFLW could be used elsewhere to insulate the game.

"I'm on record as saying if anyone was to touch AFLW or suggest it shouldn't be there in the future, I'd die in a ditch over it," Alcock said on SEN's Dwayne's World.

"It's just wonderful to see the community uptake of women's football as well."

"I'm absolutely committed to it, as Fremantle Football Club is to it." (nine)

🏌🏻‍♂️ Golf

European Tour: Six-week 'UK Swing' will start season resumption

The European Tour season is set to resume in July with a six-week 'UK Swing' tournament and run to December.

The British Masters in Newcastle from 22-25 July is the first of six events, two of which will be at Celtic Manor.

Later in the year, the Scottish Open is set to run from 8-11 October with the Tour's flagship PGA Championship event the following week at Wentworth, while other tournaments are to be revealed. (BBC)

🏏 Cricket

Full summer fixtures released: The teams joining India down under

Cricket Australia has confirmed the men’s and women’s international fixtures for the home season, with three one-dayers against Zimbabwe and a limited overs campaign against New Zealand book-ending a huge summer of cricket.(CA)

Western Australian cricket chief Christina Matthews says it is “astounding” the state has missed out on an India Test this summer, declaring Perth Stadium is superior to the Gabba in every facet.(Fox)

Men's:

• ODI Series against Zimbabwe (August 9, 12, 15th)

• T20I Series against West Indies (Oct 4, 6, 9)

• T20I Series against India (Oct 11, 14, 17)

• Test Series against Afghanistan (Nov 21-25)

• Test Series against India: Brisbane (December 3- 7), Adelaide (December 11 - 15), Boxing Day Test, Melbourne (December 26 - 30), Pink Test, Sydney (January 3 - 7)

• ODI Series against India (Jan 12, 15, 17)

• ODI & T20I series against New Zealand (January 26, 29, 31, February 2)

Women's:

• Women’s T20I Series against New Zealand (Sept 27, 29, October 1)

• Women’s ODI Series against New Zealand (Oct 5, 7, 10)

• Women’s ODI Series against India (Jan 22, 25, 28)

🏉 Rugby

World Rugby approves law trials to reduce coronavirus risk

Among the law trials:

• Removing scrum resets.

• Taking away the option of a scrum for a penalty, a free-kick, or when an attacker is held-up in-goal.

• Reinforcing high tackle guidelines to reduce face-to-face contact and the introduction of an "orange card" for potential red-card offences.

• The player is removed with the offence checked by the Television Match Official. If deemed a red card offence, the player doesn't return. If not, they return after 15 minutes.

• Speeding up rucks by cutting the "use it" time from 5 seconds to 3 seconds.

Implementation of the measures will be at the discretion of individual unions based on the prevalence of the virus in their territory and specific government advice. (BBC)

Back on Monday!

📺 Live sport

Friday

🎮 02:00 - Esports - Motorsport, Red Bull Homestretch, Week 3 (ESPN 2)

🎯 04:30 - PDC Home Tour, Night 35 (Fox Sports)

🚘 09:00 - NASCAR Cup Series, Charlotte 500 (Fox Sports)

🎮 09:00 - Esports - Basketball, NBA 2K League (ESPN 1)

🏉 18:00 - NRL - North Queensland Cowboys v Gold Coast Titans (Fox League)

🏉 19:55 - NRL - Sydney Roosters v South Sydney Rabbitohs (Fox League)

Saturday

⚽️ 04:30 - Bundesliga - SC Freiburg v Bayer Leverkusen (BeIN Sports 1)

🎯 04:30 - PDC Home Tour, Night 36 (Fox Sports)

🎮 09:00 - Esports- NBA 2K League (ESPN 2)

🏉 15:00 - NRL - Warriors v St George Illawarra Dragons (Fox League)

⚽️ 17:30 - K League 1 - Gangwon FC v Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (Optus Sport 1)

🏉 17:30 - NRL - Cronulla Sharks v Wests Tigers (Fox League)

🐎 19:20 - Harness Racing - Group 3 Pacers (Sky Racing 1)

🏉 19:35 - NRL - Melbourne Storm v Canberra Raiders (Fox League)

⚽️ 23:30 - Bundesliga - VfL Wolfsburg v Eintracht Frankfurt (BeIN Sports 1)

⚽️ 23:30 - Bundesliga - Hertha Berlin v Augsburg (BeIN Sports 3)

⚽️ 23:30 - Bundesliga - Schalke 04 v Werder Bremen (BeIN Sports 2)

Sunday

🎮 00:30 - Esports - Formula E Race at Home Challenge (Fox Sports)

⚽️ 02:30 - Bundesliga - Bayern Munich v Fortuna Dusseldorf (BeIN Sports 1)

🎯 04:30 - Darts - PDC Home Tour, Night 37 (Fox Sports)

👊🏻 08:00 - UFC Fight Night, Prelims (ESPN 1)

👊🏻 11:00 - UFC Fight Night, Tyron Woodley v Gilbert Burns (ESPN 1)

🏉 16:05 - NRL - Penrith Panthers v Newcastle Knights (Fox League)

🐴 17:35 (TBC)- Group 1Tokyo Yushun, 2,400m (Sky Racing 2)

🏉 18:30 - NRL - Manly Sea Eagles v Canterbury Bulldogs (Fox League)

⚽️ 20:00 - K League 1 - Incheon United v Pohang Steelers (Optus Sport 1)

⚽️ 23:30 - Bundesliga - Borussia Monchengladbach v FC Union Berlin (BeIN Sports 1)