North Queensland continued their march towards an NRL top-four finish with a thrilling 40-26 home derby win over Brisbane. Two quick tries to begin the second half improved their marginal half-time lead before a late flurry from the Broncos had the sellout Townsville crowd sweating in the final minutes. The hosts scored two tries in two separate four-minute periods to garner a sizeable buffer in the second half, but when Corey Oates crossed for his second of the game and […]

Fine Kula is done with seeing medical clipboards, so he’s picked up a coaching one instead. When Kula was diagnosed in 2020 with an aggressive brain cancer rarely found in adults, there were fears it would end not only his promising football career, but also his life. Football was the least of Kula’s concerns as he made countless hospital visits to undertake excruciating blasts of radiation and chemotherapy. There were moments when it was touch and go, but late last […]

St Kilda are back in the finals hunt after upsetting Carlton with a pressure-packed game where the lead changed eight times as the Saints refused to wilt. The performance was a statement of faith in soon-to-be-reappointed coach Brett Ratten and a reminder to everyone, including Blues fans, that nothing is guaranteed in 2022, least of all a finals spot. Max King and Tim Membrey celebrate a goal during St Kilda’s win over Carlton.Credit:Getty Images Although a response from the Saints […]

There is every chance that this summer is to be the last swansong for the July tour. World Cup preparations will guide next year’s schedule and it is likely that a Nations Championship and cross-border itineraries will be in place from 2024 onwards. However commercially appealing whatever comes next may be, it will be a shame to lose these slower-burn affairs, steeped as they are in narrative and tradition as foes familiarise themselves with one another. Certainly the three-date entanglement […]

Through adversity comes opportunity. Brodie Grundy’s posterior cruciate ligament injury in round six had initially spelled trouble for Collingwood, who at that stage appeared short on genuine ruck and key position depth. Collingwood’s Brodie Grundy is still recovering from a PCL injury.Credit:Getty Images But Darcy Cameron has proved a revelation. While one swallow doesn’t make a summer, he’s been building into the type of form we’ve seen over the past fortnight. His workrate has been impressive, so too his strength […]

Since a humbling series whitewash in 2016 began a run of eight England victories, the mantle of chief Wallabies tormentor has usually been handed to coach Eddie Jones. However, the true persecutor of Australian rugby in Cook and World Cup clashes has arguably been the man Jones is expected to reinstate as England captain on Thursday, Owen Farrell. Farrell missed the Six Nations due to an ankle injury, and with Tom Curry and Courtney Lawes in his place, England fell […]

Saracens scrum-half Aled Davies is given a three-week ban following his dangerous tackle on Leicester’s Julian Motoya in the Premiership final Aled Davies was only shown a yellow at the time during the Premiership final Scrum-half has been banned retrospectively for three weeks next season  Many at the time were baffled as to how Wayne Barnes had not sent him off Ban could be reduced to two weeks should the player undertake World Rugby’s Coaching Intervention Programme Saracens scrum-half Aled Davies […]

Blues prop Payne Haas is set to play through the pain again, in a major boost for NSW’s Origin defence, by shrugging off an ankle injury to run out for the Broncos this weekend. Scan results revealed Haas suffered a low-grade high ankle sprain as NSW squared the series on Sunday night, prompting fears within the Blues camp he would struggle to be fit for the July 13 decider. Sources have indicated though that Haas will be fit for the […]

Reports of a sky-blue demise have been greatly exaggerated. Brad Fittler’s faith in Penrith’s premiership connection has been vindicated in enthralling fashion, NSW keeping their Origin campaign alive with a liquorice allsorts-flavoured, 44-12 thrashing of a shellshocked Queensland outfit. Having taken a machete to his Origin I team sheet and had those selection calls sliced and diced every which way since, Fittler’s plumping for rookie centre Matt Burton among an oh-so-familiar all-Panthers left-edge paid off handsomely as the mountain men […]

Our reporters give you the lowdown on all the action from round 15 of the AFL season. Melbourne v Brisbane Lions After hibernation for three rounds, Melbourne awoke with a roar midway through the second quarter of their match against the Brisbane Lions to reassert themselves as premiership favourites. The midfield was brilliant with Jack Viney reminding everyone how good he can be, but the main takeaway was that Steven May’s presence makes the gap between the Demons and their […]