分类： sports

The build-up to the second State of Origin clash and this weekend’s round of the National Rugby League has been thrown into disarray, with a wave of injury updates, unexpected selection calls and Origin selection dilemmas shaking up teams across the competition.

The most high-profile disruption hits New South Wales Blues head coach Laurie Daley, who faces a critical selection call in his playmaker group just weeks out from Origin II on June 17. Eels star Mitchell Moses, who was in line for a recall to the Blues starting side after missing the series opener with a hamstring injury, has not been named in Parramatta’s squad for their Monday night showdown against Canterbury Bulldogs. Initial assessments had suggested the injury was minor, but the latest Parramatta injury update confirms Moses is not expected to return to competitive play until either round 15 or 16.

This timeline rules Moses out of any chance to prove his match fitness before the Blues name their Origin II squad early next week. With Moses sidelined, 22-year-old Ethan Strange, who was thrown into the starting five-eighth role last minute after Moses’ injury two days before Origin I, is now the firm favourite to retain his spot in the side for the second clash.

Over at the Bulldogs, captain Stephen Crichton’s absence from Tuesday’s training session sparked rumours of a fresh shoulder injury ahead of both Monday’s club clash and potential Origin selection. However, the club confirmed the rest was planned, as the side is gearing up for five days of leave following the match. Bulldogs winger and potential Origin debutant Jacob Kiraz, who also took a light session on an exercise bike instead of full training, backed up his captain’s fitness.

“I’m sure ‘Critta’ will be sweet,” Kiraz told reporters, addressing the injury rumours. The young winger, who is currently in contention to earn his first Origin cap, said planned rest was a necessary move following a string of physically demanding matches. “It’s a long turnaround. We’ve had a couple of big games the last couple of weeks, so probably the best thing is to (rest a bit),” he explained. When asked about his own potential Origin selection, Kiraz remained focused on his club commitments: “I guess it’s always nice to hear (your name in the mix). I know it’s probably the answer none of you want to hear, but being honest, I’m just worried about the Bulldogs at the moment. The Blues had a good win and I thought (Blues rookie Tolu Koula) has been outstanding.”

In another major selection shock, Brisbane Broncos coach Michael Maguire has dropped starting five-eighth Ezra Mam following the side’s embarrassing home defeat to the previously winless St George Illawarra Dragons. Tom Duffy will step into the starting five-eighth role for the Broncos, with Xavier Willison shifting to lock, and Grant Anderson returning from injury to fill the gap left by injured starter Pat Carrigan.

South Sydney Rabbitohs have received a major boost ahead of their upcoming clash, with star trio Brandon Smith, David Fifita and Campbell Graham all named to return to the starting side. Their returns offset the continued absence of star fullback Latrell Mitchell, who remains sidelined with his ongoing injury issue.

The Rabbitohs’ opponents Manly Sea Eagles have been given clearance to select Blues winger Tolu Koula, who missed recent action after suffering a head knock in the opening Origin clash. Koula’s Blues teammate Haumole Olakau’atu is also set to return to the Manly side this week.

Other key selection updates across the league include: Sydney Roosters winger Mark Nawaqanitawase has been named in the reserves, in line for an earlier-than-expected return from injury; Newcastle Knights will field Fletcher Sharpe at five-eighth after regular starter Sandon Smith was ruled out with a calf injury; defending premiers Penrith Panthers have welcomed back their entire Origin trio – Nathan Cleary, Brian To’o and Isaah Yeo – who were rested for the previous round; and Cronulla Sharks will hand a starting start to hooker Jayden Berrell after rookie Blues representative Blayke Brailey suffered a broken arm in recent action.

In a layered player transfer deal that links three National Rugby League (NRL) clubs, versatile utility Connor Watson has secured an early release from the final year of his contract with the Sydney Roosters, clearing the way for a multi-stage move that will see him join the St George Illawarra Dragons in 2027 before linking up with the expansion Papua New Guinea (PNG) Chiefs for their historic inaugural 2028 NRL season.

Watson, a former New South Wales representative who has built a reputation as one of the league’s most adaptable and team-first players, had been contracted to remain with the Roosters, widely known as the Tricolours, through the 2027 season. The early release approval will see him suit up for the Dragons (nicknamed the Red V) for a single 2027 campaign before his two-year deal with the PNG-based expansion side kicks in.

The PNG Chiefs, who are preparing for their first ever NRL season in 2028, have now secured three high-profile marquee signings to build their foundational roster, following earlier acquisitions of star playmaker Jarome Luai and veteran winger Alex Johnston. Chiefs football general manager Michael Chammas emphasized that Watson’s commitment to the expansion project runs deeper than just a playing contract.

“From the very start, Connor made it clear he wanted to be part of the PNG Chiefs and the incredible journey we’re building here,” Chammas said in a statement confirming the signing. “He and his partner Kiana recently visited Port Moresby, and they genuinely fell in love with the country, the people, and the chance to be part of something far bigger than rugby league itself.”

Chammas highlighted Watson’s intangible and on-field value for the fledgling club, noting: “Connor is exactly the type of player every organization wants to build around. He’s selfless, tough, relentlessly professional, and commands incredible respect across the entire league. His versatility and years of top-flight experience will be absolutely invaluable as we continue putting our squad together for 2028. Every signing matters for a new club, and there’s something really exciting about watching this roster come together piece by piece. Locking in Connor as our third major signing is another key milestone in the PNG Chiefs journey. We also want to thank the Sydney Roosters for their professionalism, patience, and understanding throughout this entire process.”

For the St George Illawarra Dragons, Watson’s one-season stint comes at a critical time, as the club is set to lose veteran starting hooker Damien Cook to the UK’s Super League ahead of 2027. Dragons chief executive Tim Watsford said the club is eager to add Watson’s proven quality to their roster, even for just one season.

“We’re incredibly excited to welcome Connor to the club next year,” Watsford said. “He’s performed at the highest level in the toughest competitions the game has to offer, and we love everything he brings to our group. He’s a true professional, and we’re confident his addition, even for one season, will make our entire team better. We’ve identified that his combination of skill, athleticism, and versatility fills key gaps for us, and we can’t wait to see him in the Red V.”

This structured one-year “layover” arrangement follows a similar model used in other recent NRL transfers, including deals for Jonah Pezet at Parramatta Eels and Davvy Moale at Melbourne Storm for the 2026 season. For the Roosters, the early release also creates valuable salary cap space, with the club widely expected to finalize the signing of North Queensland Cowboys winger Murray Taulagi in the coming weeks.

In an official statement confirming Watson’s release, the Roosters said: “The Sydney Roosters today announced that Connor Watson has been granted an early release from the final year of his contract following a request from his management, allowing him to pursue an opportunity with another NRL club. Watson will remain with the Roosters for the remainder of the 2026 season and will continue to play an important role within the club’s NRL squad.”

Watson’s arrival adds to a busy offseason of recruitment for the Dragons, who have already locked in other key 2027 signings including Luke Metcalf, Keaon Koloamatangi, Scott Drinkwater and Phil Sami.

A little-known New Zealand defender at the upcoming men’s FIFA World Cup has become one of the most talked-about names in global football this week, after a viral social media campaign catapulted his Instagram following from just 4,000 to more than 4 million followers in only seven days. The unexpected surge in fame comes thanks to Argentine influencer Valen “El Scarso” Scarsini, who set out last week to lift the profile of what he called the “least recognizable player” at the 2026 World Cup, zeroing in on Wellington Phoenix right-back Tim Payne, 32. By Tuesday, the grassroots social media movement had pushed Payne’s follower count past the 4 million mark, outstripping the follower base of the All Blacks — New Zealand’s world-famous national rugby union team, a cultural institution in the rugby-mad nation. If the growth continues at its current pace, Payne will soon match the total population of New Zealand, which stands at roughly 5.3 million. The viral campaign has been the top source of banter and conversation at New Zealand’s World Cup training camp in Florida, where the side is wrapping up warm-up preparations ahead of the tournament kicking off across Mexico, the United States, and Canada next week. Ranked as the lowest-placed side heading into the World Cup, New Zealand has never seen a player draw this level of global social media attention, a fact that has taken the entire squad by surprise. New Zealand head coach Darren Bazeley told local outlet Stuff.co.nz that the sudden explosion of fame has not shaken the steady 32-year-old defender, adding that Payne is handling the unprecedented attention better than most players would. “At the moment I do feel like he’s dealing with it really well, probably better than maybe some others would have,” Bazeley said. “Putting Tim up on a pedestal like that was really cool and probably not something that he, or anyone, expected.” The coach added that the squad has leaned into the lighthearted hype, with teammates constantly teasing Payne about his new celebrity status. “The players talk about it. I can hear the banter they’re having with Tim, and I think it’s amazing,” he said. Payne himself has described the outpouring of online attention as “pretty crazy,” and he is now set to meet the man who started the viral movement. Scarsini announced he would travel to Fort Lauderdale to watch New Zealand’s warm-up match against Haiti on Tuesday, with a meeting with Payne planned after the final whistle. “Guys tomorrow is the day,” Scarsini posted ahead of the match. “Let’s go watch Tim’s game v Haiti and then we’re going to meet him! Thanks to all who made it possible.” The lighthearted viral trend has spawned countless humorous memes and online comments, with many football fans drawing playful comparisons between Payne and Argentina’s two greatest football icons. One top comment on Payne’s latest Instagram post, which has racked up more than 2.1 million likes and 66,000 comments (most written in Spanish), read simply: “Messi, Maradona, Tim.”

The established young monarchs of men’s tennis have already been dethroned at this year’s Roland Garros, and as the tournament enters its quarter-final round on Tuesday, an even younger cohort of rising stars is preparing to leave their mark on the iconic Paris clay. Over the past two years, 24-year-old Jannik Sinner and 23-year-old Carlos Alcaraz have claimed nine of the 12 available Grand Slam titles, cementing their status as the sport’s new top elite. But an early exit has cleared the way for the next wave: Alcaraz withdrew before the tournament due to injury, while Sinner crumpled under the unforgiving Parisian heat and suffered a shock second-round defeat, opening the door for three teenagers to compete in their first ever Grand Slam quarter-finals.

Leading the charge of this new generation is 19-year-old Rafael Jodar, Spain’s next prodigy molded in the mold of legendary clay-court great Rafael Nadal. He will face off against Alexander Zverev, the highest-seeded player remaining in the men’s draw, to kick off Tuesday’s quarter-final action. Closing out the day on Court Philippe Chatrier will be 20-year-old Jakub Mensik, a rising Czech talent, against 19-year-old Brazilian Joao Fonseca – the undisputed breakout sensation of this year’s tournament. The only 19-year-old on Tuesday’s schedule with prior Grand Slam late-round experience is women’s eighth seed Mirra Andreeva, who will contest her third consecutive Roland Garros quarter-final against Romania’s Sorana Cirstea.

History has long proven that the French Open is uniquely welcoming to teenage prodigies. Of the five youngest men to win a Grand Slam in the Open Era, four – Michael Chang, Mats Wilander, Rafael Nadal and Bjorn Borg – lifted the Coupe des Mousquetaires at Roland Garros. Among the 16 women who have claimed a major title as teenagers, seven captured their Roland Garros crown in Paris, including tennis icons Monica Seles, Steffi Graf, Chris Evert and current world No. 1 Iga Swiatek.

On Monday, two of the sport’s most famous teenage champions returned to Paris for the annual reunion of former Roland Garros title holders, and both shared their insights into what makes this generation of young stars so dangerous. Chang, who became the youngest men’s Grand Slam winner in history when he took the 1989 Roland Garros title at 17, now coaches 18-year-old American rising star Learner Tien. He noted that youth brings unique advantages on court, but also added that modern young players carry a heavier burden of expectations than he did decades ago.

“In some ways it’s easier when you’re young because you don’t overthink the moment,” Chang explained. “But at the same time, a lot of these kids already have massive spotlight on them, and that brings a lot of pressure. That pressure doesn’t always let them go out and play freely. When I was 17, no one expected me to win. I got to be the underdog through the second week, and that gave me all the freedom in the world.”

Wilander, who won the first of his three Roland Garros titles at 17 in 1982, argued that today’s teenagers hold a distinct mental edge over more experienced opponents. “You can’t find a 19-year-old playing this well that feels fear. None of them do,” the Swede said. “There’s no pressure, no nerves – I don’t think that, I know that. They don’t have a history of losing big matches yet. Losing a quarter-final doesn’t feel like the end of the world the way it does for a player who’s been around longer. That freedom lets them swing without hesitation, and that’s what makes them so tough to beat.”

Wilander is one of the most high-profile fans of Fonseca, who has already claimed three stunning upsets to reach the quarter-finals. The Brazilian rallied from a two-set deficit to beat Dino Prizmic in the third round, followed by an even more historic upset of 23-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic in the round of 16, before outlasting former finalist Casper Ruud to book his spot in the final eight. Wilander called Fonseca a future great, and the teenager himself says the rising generation is ready to compete at the top of the sport long-term.

“It’s amazing to see the next generation coming through together,” Fonseca said after his win over Djokovic. “It’s not just me, Jodar and Mensik. There’s Learner Tien, Alex Michelsen, Martin Landaluce – so many of us pushing each other to get better, putting on great matches. That can only make all of us stronger.”

Chang, meanwhile, has been equally impressed by Jodar’s run through the draw. “On clay, he’s just taken off this tournament,” Chang said. “He’s riding this incredible wave, he’s not overthinking anything, and that’s why he’s playing such great tennis right now.” Jodar, for his part, says he is still finding his footing at the highest level, even as he advances deep into the draw. “I’m still building my game, I know I still have a huge margin for development,” he said after reaching the quarter-finals. “I’m just going to keep going out there and competing.”

The final match of the day on Tuesday shifts focus to the women’s draw, where two Ukrainian compatriots will face off: 31-year-old veteran Elina Svitolina will take on 23-year-old Marta Kostyuk in an all-Ukrainian quarter-final. Svitolina noted that it is the first time two Ukrainian women have advanced this far in the same Grand Slam, and Kostyuk credited her older compatriot for paving the way for the next generation of Ukrainian tennis. “She’s a legend of our sport in Ukraine,” Kostyuk said. “None of us would be here without what she’s done for our country.”

As Penrith Panthers prepare for a highly anticipated grudge clash against the Wests Tigers, head coach Ivan Cleary has offered a striking, understated response to the growing national debate over whether his son, star halfback Nathan Cleary, has finally cemented his legacy as a dominant force in rugby league’s iconic State of Origin series.

Nathan Cleary, one of the most decorated players in modern National Rugby League (NRL) history with four premiership titles and two Clive Churchill Medals to his name, has long been held to an unmatched standard at the representative level. For years, his stellar club form with the Panthers failed to fully translate to Origin, the sport’s most high-stakes domestic representative series, where he represents New South Wales (NSW) Blues. That narrative shifted dramatically last week, when a masterclass second-half performance from Cleary steered the Blues to a thrilling 22-20 game one victory over Queensland, pushing his career Origin winning record with the side to 50 percent.

In that series opener, Cleary delivered a career-defining outing: he crossed for a try, nailed a clutch 40/20 kick, set up two tries from set pieces including James Tedesco’s match-winning score in the final two minutes, and converted the try to seal the result. The performance earned him his third Origin man-of-the-match award, silencing the long-time critics who questioned his big-game pedigree at the representative level. Ivan Cleary, who watched the win from the stands at Sydney’s Accor Stadium, says he has never bought into the external chatter surrounding his son’s Origin legacy.

“I’ve always seen him do that. He’s learnt a lot over the years and has had some really good games and has had some other games where he feels like he could do better,” Ivan Cleary told reporters this week. “I don’t even know what dominating Origin is because we’ve never seen anyone do it. Even Wally Lewis back in the day, he’s probably the only one who really (went close) but did he? I don’t know. I’m just so proud of him that he’s in there for a start and that he prepares as hard as he can and plays as hard as he can. He did well last week, but it’ll all be on again in a couple of weeks.”

Beyond the Origin conversation, the Panthers are gearing up for Sunday’s round 13 clash against the Tigers, with Nathan set to make his return to the club lineup alongside rested NSW teammates Isaah Yeo and Brian To’o. Nathan missed Penrith’s last-start thrilling win over the New Zealand Warriors, a match widely labelled the NRL game of the 2024 season, after being rested by the club following the Origin opener.

The match also marks a potential stepping stone for Liam Martin, a Blues representative who made his first appearance in 10 weeks after a knee injury sustained in round 6. Martin had a quiet opening stint on the right edge but impressed in a second shift in the middle of the park against the Warriors, putting his name forward for a recall to the NSW starting side for Origin II at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on June 17.

Ivan Cleary remained non-committal on Martin’s recall prospects, with current starting back-rowers Hudson Young and Haumole Olakau’atu unlikely to be dropped from the game two side. “He’s obviously been there a lot and understands that arena, but it’s hard to say based on what he’s just done. I’m sure he wouldn’t let anyone down,” Cleary said. “It’s been a real stop-start year for him, so I think he’s just happy to get back out there. I thought the second stint where he came back on, he was looking pretty free, so he’ll only get better.”

As for the Tigers, the side Ivan coached across two seasons earlier in his career, the Panthers head coach warned his side would face a much-improved opposition this weekend. Wests snapped a multi-game losing streak last round with key playmakers Api Koroisau and Jahream Bula returning to the lineup, and Cleary said the club has made clear progress across the 2024 season. “They’ve definitely improved throughout the year. They’re a high-energy team who look pretty connected. When they’ve got it going, they’re a real handful, so it should be a really good game.”

After one of the rockiest starts to a season in the franchise’s modern history, the Melbourne Storm is steadily climbing back into NRL finals contention, putting every other top-eight side on high alert. Once written off by league analysts and fans following a catastrophic seven-match losing skid that left many questioning whether the Storm’s 20-year dynastic run had finally come to a close, the club has turned a corner in recent weeks, and its veteran core says nothing is off the table.

The Storm currently sit six points adrift of the eighth and final finals spot, having already conceded more points through 13 rounds than many full previous campaigns. A humiliating 50-10 round five defeat to reigning premiers Penrith Panthers seemed to seal their fate – no first-grade side in Australian rugby league history has ever conceded 50 points in a single game and gone on to win the premiership that season. Compounding the Storm’s early struggles were key injuries to star playmakers Eli Katoa and Xavier Coates, plus widespread growing pains adapting to the NRL’s new rule changes, which left the usually consistent side uncharacteristically disorganized on both sides of the ball.

But the tide has turned dramatically for Craig Bellamy’s side: the Storm have notched three wins from their past four outings, and face a make-or-break home clash this Friday against the Newcastle Knights. A victory this weekend would catapult them right back into the top-eight conversation, coming just ahead of their first bye of the 2024 season. Veteran prop Josh King, the club’s long-time locker room voice, says the squad retains unshakable belief that a deep run is still within reach.

“I have so much belief in this team, and the possibilities are endless,” King said. “The season isn’t written off by any means. The ladder is quite tight, and you don’t really see it settle into place until after the Origin period. Some teams have already had two byes, but we haven’t had a bye yet, so we’ll certainly keep on fighting each week.”

Rather than fixating on the distant goal of qualifying for September football, King says the club has refocused on the core fundamentals that made them the most dominant force in the NRL over the past two decades. He pointed to the club’s round nine loss to the Dolphins as the unheralded turning point of the season – even in defeat, the Storm rediscovered the aggressive, clinical style of play that defined their premiership runs.

“I think at the moment for us, it’s about each week at a time and really making sure we’re building on our performances and every week we can be proud of our performance,” King explained. “I reckon it’s not that we’re trying any harder, or that we’ve explored completely new things – but rugby league has so many moving parts, and you often shift your focus to the wrong areas. After the Dolphins game, we started putting our focus back into some areas that we dominated last year that we’d slipped on without even noticing. Even though we lost that game, it was one of our best performances of the year. We went back to the drawing board, dusted off the systems that worked for us before, and we’ve been a really competitive side ever since.”

Emerging talent is also carrying the Storm through their resurgence: five-eighth Cameron Munster has steadily returned to his elite best form, while young homegrown winger Sua Fa’alogo has emerged as a offensive weapon, turning in a best-on-ground performance in last week’s win over the Sydney Roosters.

Winger Will Warbrick echoed King’s confidence, noting that while the seven-game losing streak was uncharted territory for a club accustomed to consistent top-four finishes, the squad refused to panic. He pointed to precedent of other great NRL sides clawing their way out of slow starts to make deep September runs: the Panthers stumbled to a 3-7 record in 2023 before nearly reaching the grand final, while the 1999 Brisbane Broncos won just one of their first 10 matches before recovering to sneak into the top eight and win the premiership.

“Yeah, we lost seven in a row, but the biggest thing for us was trying to not panic and have doubt and to then maintain belief in the playing group with the way we wanted to play,” Warbrick said. “There are a few things we’ve needed to tweak and improve on, but I think as long as everyone is on the same page with what we’re trying to do, the belief is still strong. One win sometimes helps with building that confidence back up and getting us back on track. The destination’s not the worry. It’s probably more what works for us this week to help us win and just being able to do that and back that up.”

With momentum building and key players returning to form, the once-left-for-dead Storm are now just one big win away from putting genuine pressure on the sides clinging to the top eight, and are on track to pull off one of the most remarkable mid-season turnarounds in modern NRL history.

On Monday night at Roland Garros, top-ranked women’s singles star Aryna Sabalenka delivered a powerhouse performance to defeat four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka in straight sets, securing her spot in the 2024 French Open quarter-finals and extending an extraordinary streak of deep major tournament runs. The world number one’s 7-5, 6-3 victory not only marked her fourth consecutive quarter-final appearance at the clay-court major, but also her 14th straight advancement to the last eight of any Grand Slam — a feat no other remaining singles player at this year’s tournament can match. In fact, Sabalenka now stands as the only former Grand Slam champion left in both the men’s and women’s singles draws, after a wave of unexpected upsets swept through the early rounds.

Sabalenka’s aggressive game was on full display throughout the clash, firing 39 winners and 12 aces past a resilient Osaka who pushed her to tight service games on multiple occasions. The opening set set the tone for the tight contest: the two power hitters traded breaks in the early going before Sabalenka leveled at 2-2 with a hold that included three aces, the third coming on a powerful second serve. The set remained on serve until the 11th game, when Sabalenka broke through with a blistering backhand winner that earned her two break points, converting on the first after Osaka found the net. She closed out the set with a ruthless love hold to take the lead.

In the second set, Osaka fought hard to stay in the match, saving a break point in a marathon sixth game to hold a 3-2 lead. But Sabalenka, who had dropped only six points across her previous seven service games, responded with a clever drop shot to hold serve in a grueling game that proved pivotal. In the very next game, a brilliant low volley at the net broke Osaka’s serve, shifting all momentum to the top seed. Two games later, an Osaka double fault set up match point, and Sabalenka sealed the win with a blistering return.

The Monday night clash carried extra significance beyond tournament advancement: it was the first women’s match scheduled for the French Open’s prime-time night session since 2023, ending a streak of 32 consecutive men’s night matches that drew widespread criticism from players and fans over unequal treatment. Both Sabalenka and Osaka embraced the moment, with Sabalenka — who has previously spoken out in favor of equal scheduling for women — saying she hopes the match opens the door for more women’s night sessions in future tournaments. “I hope that this is the beginning, today’s match. It’s like we open up that door for woman night sessions,” she said after the win.

For Sabalenka, the victory keeps alive her bid for a maiden French Open title, a chance to avenge her painful 2023 final defeat to Coco Gauff. She will next face Russian rising star Diana Shnaider for a spot in the semi-finals. Reflecting on the wave of upsets that cleared her path to this point, Sabalenka said she has remained focused on her own game regardless of results elsewhere. “I was able to kind of separate myself from what’s going on this year at the Roland Garros,” she said. “I have been around. Anything can happen. That’s tennis. My mindset, it’s basically that I’m ready to do whatever it takes to get this beautiful trophy.”

For Osaka, the result marks the best deep run of her career at the French Open, ending her tournament in the round of 16. The 28-year-old Japanese star, who once again competed in her iconic sequined gold dress she has compared to the Eiffel Tower at night, showed a new sense of perspective post-match, noting how her approach to the sport has matured. “If I lost this match when I was younger, I’d shut myself in my room or whatever,” she said. “But now I feel like obviously I love tennis, and I’m trying my best to do everything to be the best player I can. But… it’s kind of like a clock in/clock out type of thing. I’m excited to go home and see my daughter.” She added that she found playing the historic night match a fun experience, calling it “really cool” to share the spotlight with Sabalenka.