分类： sports

One of rugby league’s most dominant dynasties over the past 20 years is facing its biggest crisis in more than a decade, as the Melbourne Storm’s five-match losing skid has left their long-running finals appearance streak on the brink of extinction following a 26-22 comeback defeat to the Canberra Raiders at GIO Stadium.

The Storm’s current slump marks the first time the club has dropped five consecutive contests since 2012, the same year they capped off the downturn with a premiership title. But even with Craig Bellamy at the coaching helm, few analysts are predicting a repeat of that unlikely turnaround this time around, after a string of key injuries and off-season departures have finally gutted the roster of the depth and star power that once made the purple-clad side the most feared outfit in the NRL.

Melbourne got off to a promising start to the 2026 season, opening with two dominant wins to reinforce expectations of another deep finals run. But the rot has set in quickly in recent weeks: opposition sides no longer approach matches against the Storm with the same title-tested trepidation they once did, and the club’s vaunted superstar spine can no longer produce game-changing plays, starved for space by a depleted forward pack and lacking dynamic wide threats that can turn broken plays into points.

Saturday’s clash actually marked an improvement from Melbourne’s prior outing, a humiliating home loss to the New Zealand Warriors. Fullback Sua Fa’alogo turned in a particularly sharp performance for the Storm, though his night ended early when he was forced from the pitch after a high tackle. Even with the improved effort, however, the Storm’s thin roster cannot compete with the league’s top contenders, leaving Bellamy needing to pull off an all-time coaching miracle to keep the club’s finals streak alive.

For Canberra, the narrow win marked back-to-back victories, with centre Simi Sasagi turning in the performance of a lifetime to carry the Raiders across the line. A versatile utility who has filled multiple roles for the club over his career, Sasagi has found a permanent home on the right edge this season, and he delivered his best form of the year when it mattered most.

The match got off to a chaotic start: the Raiders thought they had opened the scoring through Hudson Young just minutes in, only for a Bunker review to disallow the try, a call that sparked widespread outcry across social media. A minute later, Ethan Strange executed a sharp build-up play that put Sasagi over for the game’s opening try, before lock Corey Horsburgh extended Canberra’s lead to 12-0 inside the first 10 minutes.

But Canberra’s fast start was nearly derailed by a moment of disciplinary madness from Horsburgh. After opening the scoring, the fiery lock lashed out at referee Peter Gough over what he deemed slow ruck speed from the Storm, earning a penalty for dissent while the Raiders held possession. Melbourne capitalized immediately, crossing for a try through Fa’alogo. The incident was far from the first time Horsburgh’s temper has cost his side, after a sin-binning against Cronulla earlier this season opened the door for two Sharks tries; coach Ricky Stuart pulled the lock aside for a quiet word at halftime to address the outburst, though the mistake ultimately did not cost Canberra the win.

Sasagi stepped up to flip the momentum of the match when the Storm looked poised to pull away. With Canberra trailing and on the ropes, the centre pulled off a game-saving intercept to stop the Storm from opening up a 10-point lead, before throwing a pinpoint offload to send Strange over for a try that leveled the score. He notched a second critical intercept on another Storm attacking drive, finished the night with a team-high 182 running metres, and only missed out on a second assist when a forward pass call negated the play.

Canberra held on to lock in the win, but the side will now face an anxious wait over the fitness of veteran forward Josh Papalii, who was forced from the match with a left calf injury.

A 26-year-old professional basketball player Ngor Nai has formally entered a not guilty plea to a single count of rape during a Friday morning hearing at the Melbourne Magistrates Court, confirming he will contest the allegations at a full trial. The charge against Nai centers on an alleged incident in May of last year, when prosecutors claim he intentionally sexually penetrated a complainant without a condom, and did not hold a reasonable belief that she consented to intercourse without barrier protection.

Nai has built a notable career across multiple regional and national basketball leagues in Australia and New Zealand. He was a squad member for the Adelaide 36ers during the NBL25 season, and had been drafted to join the Manawatu Jets, a team competing in New Zealand’s top basketball league, for the 2026 season. Prior to these stints, he also played for the Ringwood Hawks and Ipswich Force in Australia’s NBL1 competition.

When Nai first appeared in court on February 2, the court was informed that the 6-foot-10 forward was in the process of relocating to New Zealand ahead of the 2026 Manawatu Jets season. However, just weeks before the new season was set to kick off on March 27, the Jets announced via social media that the organization and Nai had reached a mutual agreement to separate immediately, ending his contract with the team ahead of his debut. During Friday’s hearing, Nai’s legal aid representative told the court that the player has since returned to Melbourne to reside while the legal process moves forward.

Nai currently remains on bail, with strict conditions that require him to live at a confirmed fixed address and prohibit him from leaving Australia. His next court appearance is scheduled for May 15 at the County Court, where he will attend a preliminary directions hearing to outline next steps for the upcoming trial.

Six consecutive opening-season losses and a recent 10-match losing skid have pushed St George Illawarra Dragons head coach Shane Flanagan into the spotlight, with his job security and the future of young talent Loko Pasifiki Tonga dominating headlines this week. As the club prepares to face South Sydney Rabbitohs this Saturday, Flanagan has made a public appeal to the club’s passionate fanbase to stand by the team through its rough patch.

St George Illawarra’s poor form, which has seen the side struggle for consistent attacking spark throughout the losing run, was compounded by recent confirmation that star edge forward Jaydn Su’A will depart the club by 2027. Disgruntled supporters have taken to social media in droves to criticize the club’s direction, with online circulations of petitions demanding sweeping changes that include removing both Flanagan and the club’s board from their positions.

A premiership-winning coach with the Dragons back in 2016, Flanagan acknowledged the widespread frustration among fans, saying no one at the club is satisfied with the current results. “Nobody’s happy with what’s happened. We are not trying to cover over it. I know how passionate the Dragons fans are,” he told reporters. “We’ve just got to fight our way out of it. Hopefully the Dragons fans can see that. Time will tell, but all I ask is that they stay solid. This club is a great club. We’re trying to fight our way out of a hole at the moment and we need them behind us.”

Flanagan’s situation is the latest high-profile example of the intense coaching pressure that has defined the early stages of this NRL season. Just weeks into the year, Manly Sea Eagles cut ties with head coach Anthony Seibold after three opening losses, a decision that has sparked an immediate turnaround for the club: interim coach Kieran Foran has led the side to an unbeaten run since taking over.

Veteran South Sydney Rabbitohs head coach Wayne Bennett, who will go head-to-head with Flanagan this weekend, shared his perspective on the relentless scrutiny that comes with elite rugby league coaching. “I feel for all coaches,” he said. “I feel the day they sign their contracts is the day they sign their dismissal as well, so that’s the business we’re in. We apply for the jobs, we want the opportunities, and you’ve got to take the good with the bad, so it’s just the job we’re in. I’ve been coaching a long time, they were trying to sack me back in 1977, so nothing’s changed really.”

Alongside addressing questions about his own future, Flanagan also pushed back on recent public speculation surrounding 20-year-old forward Loko Pasifiki Tonga, who requested an early release from the club that was ultimately denied by St George Illawarra’s management. The young front-rower has impressed in reserve grade, notching one try and a massive 252 running metres in his most recent NSW Cup outing, but has grown frustrated after failing to add to his 10 NRL appearances so far this season.

Flanagan explained the club’s decision to keep Pasifiki Tonga in reserve grade was a deliberate plan to build his match fitness, noting the timeline was disrupted by a bye week and a scary on-training incident that saw the youngster rushed to hospital in an ambulance after a neck injury scare. “I signed and re-signed Loko and have a high opinion of him,” Flanagan said. “Some of the commentary around it was pretty unfair on the club because at the club we value him because he’s a 20-year-old front-rower who we’re looking after.”

Despite the overwhelming outside noise surrounding the club this week, Flanagan said the playing group has remained focused, and understands the only way to silence critics is to secure a win this weekend. “There’s so much outside noise at the moment, but the playing group have been really good. They’ve been solid, they understand what’s going on and understand to stop the noise, you need to go and win a football game. We’ve knuckled down and trained hard, and that’s all I can ask for.”

Five years ago, the small northern Welsh city of Wrexham was best known for a struggling football club mired in the fifth tier of English football, with a stagnant local economy and little global recognition. That all changed in 2020, when Hollywood A-listers Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds completed their takeover of Wrexham AFC — and set in motion a transformation that has reshaped the club, the city, and even the wider region.

What began as an unconventional celebrity investment has turned into a modern fairytale, with success stretching far beyond the white lines of the pitch. On the field, Wrexham has secured three consecutive promotions, climbing from the depths of non-league football to the Championship, England’s second tier. With just four matches left in the current season, the side sits just one spot outside the playoff places, narrowly vying for a historic fourth promotion and a spot in the Premier League. Even in defeat, the club has captured global attention: earlier this season, they pushed top-flight Chelsea to the brink of an upset in the FA Cup, earning widespread praise for their grit and underdog spirit.

Off the pitch, the impact has been even more dramatic. The hit Disney+ documentary series *Welcome to Wrexham*, which chronicles the club’s rebuild and the new owners’ journey into lower-league football, has ignited a surge of interest across North America, drawing tens of thousands of international visitors to the city each year. Tourism data confirms the boom: annual tourism income in the area has doubled to £200 million ($271 million), and local industry leaders say that figure may be a conservative estimate.

Sam Regan, owner of Wrexham’s popular Lemon Tree hotel and restaurant and chair of local tourism board This is Wrecsam, says international visitors now make up a core part of local business. “Year round now about 20 percent of my accommodation is filled with American and Canadian guests, but when the home games are on, pretty much 80 percent is international visitors,” Regan explained. On match days, iconic local spots like The Turf pub, located steps from Wrexham’s Racecourse Ground, fill with fans drawn from across the Atlantic — from Virginia to Vancouver — all eager to experience the club’s magic in person.

Unlike some rapid tourist booms that spark local resentment, the “Rob and Ryan effect” has been widely embraced by long-time Wrexham residents and lifelong fans. James Townshend, a 30-year-old sales trainer and lifelong Wrexham supporter, says the entire local community has benefited from the renewed energy. “Every business around here now feels the buzz of Wrexham,” Townshend said. “Wrexham wouldn’t be where they are now without them, so we have to embrace and appreciate what these fans are bringing to the area.”

That affection for the city is shared even by new international fans, many of whom had never heard of Wrexham before watching the documentary. Becki Hendricks, a 51-year-old programme analyst from Virginia, has now visited Wrexham seven times since first watching the show — and she and her husband are even considering relocating permanently to the city. “We started with the documentary, yes. My life-long friends are here now,” Hendricks said. “Wrexham is a part of our hearts and part of our souls now.”

While a fourth consecutive promotion may prove out of reach this season, the club is already investing heavily for long-term growth, in anticipation of eventually reaching the Premier League. A new 7,500-seat state-of-the-art stand is currently under construction at the Racecourse Ground, set to open next year and bring the stadium’s total capacity to 18,000. The expanded facility will also allow Wrexham to once again host Wales international matches, bringing more visitors and revenue to the region.

Club CEO Michael Williamson told AFP the transformation runs far deeper than commercial growth. “This has had an impact that goes beyond just football. It has had an impact on the entire community,” Williamson said. “It has helped create jobs and opportunities within the community, but it’s also more importantly just inspired people and reestablished hope.”

For long-time observers who lived through 15 years of the club languishing in the fifth tier, the most visible change is a new wave of local civic pride. Richard Williams, a journalist who has covered the club for 20 years, notes the shift in how the city sees itself. “Just the fact that you go around the town and it used to be little kids in Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal shirts. Now it’s Wrexham, Wrexham, Wrexham everywhere,” Williams said. “So, the vibe, the feel-good factor around the town, it’s just absolutely phenomenal.”

The success of Reynolds and McElhenney’s experiment has also sparked a wider trend, with other American celebrities jumping to invest in lower-tier English football. Rapper Snoop Dogg now holds a minority stake in Swansea City, while NFL legend Tom Brady is an investor in Birmingham City — who even defeated Wrexham in an exhibition match last weekend.

Local councillor Nigel Williams says the Wrexham model has set a new benchmark for celebrity overseas investment, proving that it can deliver broad, shared benefits rather than just personal branding. As tourism board leader Regan puts it, the city’s reputation has been completely remade: “Before people knew Wrexham for problems like anti-social behaviour,” Regan added. “Now we are known worldwide and people are proud to be from here.”

The Brisbane Broncos have been hit by an unprecedented injury crisis at the hooker position that has forced a major shake-up ahead of this weekend’s clash with the Wests Tigers, and the unprecedented shortage has opened the door for promising young prospect Cameron Bukowski to make his long-awaited National Rugby League (NRL) debut. Head coach Michael Maguire has thrown full support behind the 20-something rookie, insisting Bukowski is more than prepared to handle the intensity of top-flight rugby league after cutting his teeth against the Broncos’ biggest stars in daily training sessions.

The injury crisis began last weekend during Brisbane’s high-scoring loss to the North Queensland Cowboys, when starting hooker Cory Paix sustained a head knock that was initially classified as a category one concussion. While Broncos medical staff worked to clear Paix to feature against the Tigers, an independent specialist tasked with approving concussion-related returns declined to reverse the ruling, immediately ruling Paix out of Saturday’s road fixture in Sydney.

Paix’s absence is just the latest blow for Brisbane at the dummy-half position: the defending NRL premiers are already without established hookers Billy Walters, Ben Hunt, and Blake Mozer, all sidelined by separate injury issues. The injury toll extends far beyond the hooker role, with key starting stars Reece Walsh and Patrick Carrigan also ruled out of the trip to face the Tigers, who enter the clash sitting high on the competition ladder on the back of a stunning five-game winning run under new head coach Benji Marshall.

With all experienced hookers unavailable, Bukowski will get his shot off the bench this Saturday, with utility Josh Rogers tapped to start in the position. Maguire says the rookie, a former Queensland Under-19s State of Origin representative, has earned his opportunity after years of development through the Broncos’ academy system, located just across from the club’s main training facility. For two to three years, Bukowski has been tasked with tackling Brisbane’s powerhouse forwards Carrigan and Payne Haas in daily training drills – a trial by fire that Maguire says has him fully prepared for his first NRL outing.

“Cam has been here the entire time I’ve been head coach, and even before I arrived,” Maguire told reporters this week. “He grew up in our academy program, worked his way through the ranks, and this opportunity is a real testament to the work both he and our development staff have put in. He’s been matching up against Patty and Payne every day in training for years – he’s more than ready to step out on Saturday.”

Another Bronco on the injury list is winger Grant Anderson, who moved to Brisbane from the Melbourne Storm during this year’s off-season and is set to miss another two months with a serious knee injury. Anderson recently made headlines for signing a three-year contract to join the New Zealand Warriors starting in the 2027 NRL season, a deal that will see representative forward Mitch Barnett move to Brisbane in exchange.

Maguire described the contract move as a transformative moment for Anderson, noting that long-term big-money deals at the NRL level are rare for fringe squad players, and the opportunity to secure a starting spot long-term at the Warriors was one the club was happy to let him pursue. “It’s a life-changing opportunity for him and his family,” Maguire said. “When you work as hard as he has to put yourself in this position, it’s great to see a player get rewarded with a contract like that – they don’t come around every day. Grant is a quality person, and he’s going to keep working hard for us while he’s here, even with this move locked in for down the line. Unfortunately, injuries happen, and this one came at a bad time for him.”

Heading into the weekend clash, the severely depleted Broncos enter the game as clear underdogs, and they know they have major improvements to make after conceding 35 points in last week’s loss to the Cowboys. The Tigers, by contrast, have hit top form under Marshall, playing an expansive, free-flowing style of attacking football that has climbed them up the ladder. Their attack got even more dangerous this week with star five-eighth Jarome Luai cleared to return from his own injury layoff, adding another elite playmaker to an already dangerous forward and back line.

Maguire acknowledged that his side faces a huge test on Saturday, but said the focus this week has been on tightening up defensive efficiency rather than simply adding more physical intensity to their game. “We just need to be better across the board,” he said. “It isn’t about being more aggressive, it’s about executing our game plan more effectively, and we’ve worked on that all week. We know what to expect from the Tigers – they play an open, attacking style, they move the ball around really well, and Saturday will be no different. We have to be ready for whatever they throw at us.”

The English Premier League is gearing up for one of its most consequential matchweeks of the 2024-25 season, with a title-deciding showdown between league leaders Arsenal and defending-chasing Manchester City set to take center stage at the Etihad Stadium this Sunday. Beyond the top-of-the-table clash, the weekend also brings high-stakes battles for Champions League qualification, a historic first Merseyside derby at Everton’s new stadium, and a host of other fixtures that could reshape the final standings of England’s top flight with just six weeks remaining in the campaign.

For Arsenal, Sunday’s trip to Manchester represents the defining moment of their bid to end a 21-year wait for a Premier League crown. Mikel Arteta’s side currently hold a comfortable six-point advantage over second-placed City, but their form has nosedived dramatically in recent weeks, putting their title momentum in question. The Gunners have dropped points across all competitions, suffering a League Cup final defeat to City, a shock FA Cup quarter-final exit to second-tier Southampton, and a damaging league loss to Bournemouth. Even their 1-0 aggregate win over Sporting Lisbon to reach the Champions League semi-finals was underwhelming, secured via a nervous, laborious goalless draw in the second leg. Arsenal have recorded just one victory in their last five matches across all competitions, while City enter the clash in peak form, having knocked off Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea in their previous three outings.

Despite the slump, Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice says the squad is relishing the challenge of facing City on their own turf. “There’s no beating around the bush. We have to perform better than we did against Bournemouth and probably Sporting as well,” Rice told reporters ahead of the match. “Recently, we have made too many errors. The Etihad is the ultimate test but it’s why we play this game. So, bring it on. It’s beautiful. I can’t wait. When you’re a kid, you’re watching the Premier League, you see these big matches, these title-defining moments and it comes down to if you’re going to be ready and how much do you want it?”

Down the table, the fight for the final Champions League qualification spots is reaching a fever pitch, with Chelsea and Manchester United set to clash at Stamford Bridge on Saturday night in a make-or-break fixture for the west London side. Chelsea have slumped to a dismal run of form, picking up just one win in their last seven league outings, leaving them on the brink of falling out of contention for a top-four finish. Sixth-placed Chelsea currently trail third-placed United by seven points, and sit four points behind fifth-placed Liverpool, leaving the Blues with zero margin for error with only six matches left to play. A loss against United would all but end Chelsea’s Champions League hopes, piling even more pressure on manager Liam Rosenior just one week after his side was booed off the pitch following a 3-0 home defeat to Manchester City.

Blues midfielder Andrey Santos admitted the squad understands fan frustration, but says the players remain committed to turning their season around. “We understand the fans are frustrated. We are frustrated too. When you talk about Chelsea, you talk about winning games, which we’re not doing. It’s a difficult moment but we have to work hard and keep going. Of course we believe we can finish in a Champions League place.”

Meanwhile, Merseyside rivals Everton and Liverpool will write a new chapter of their historic derby on Sunday, when Liverpool visits Everton’s brand-new Hill Dickinson Stadium for the first ever Merseyside derby at the venue. Liverpool is reeling from a bruising 4-0 aggregate Champions League exit at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain earlier this week, a result that has increased scrutiny on manager Arne Slot. The Reds suffered another major blow this week when French striker Hugo Ekitike was ruled out for the remainder of the season with a ruptured Achilles injury, leaving their attacking depth depleted heading into the final stretch of the campaign.

Liverpool midfielder Ryan Gravenberch says a derby win would not only lift the mood for anxious Reds fans, but also keep the club firmly in the mix for Champions League qualification. “We have to pick ourselves up as Sunday is waiting,” he said. “We just want to play in the Champions League next year. We have to give it our all.”

The full slate of fixtures kicks off on Saturday with an early London derby between Brentford and Fulham, followed by midday matches between Leeds United and Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Newcastle United against Bournemouth. Later that day, Tottenham Hotspur hosts Brighton & Hove Albion before the primetime clash between Chelsea and United. Sunday’s action opens with Aston Villa hosting Sunderland, followed by the Merseyside derby, Nottingham Forest against Burnley, and the highly anticipated title showdown between City and Arsenal. The matchweek wraps up on Monday night with Crystal Palace hosting West Ham United at Selhurst Park.

The National Rugby League’s contentious six again rule has sparked a heated divide between two of the code’s most long-serving and respected coaches, with legendary South Sydney Rabbitohs mentor Wayne Bennett doubling down on his support for the controversial regulation, arguing it has rescued the sport from more than a decade of slow, grapple-heavy stagnation.

Bennett’s outspoken defense of the rule, which replaces traditional penalties for ruck infringements and offside offences beyond the 20-metre line with fresh set restarts, comes just 24 hours after Canberra Raiders head coach Ricky Stuart delivered a scathing rebuke of the policy, claiming it has eroded the core identity of rugby league. While the rule change has drawn widespread criticism from fans online, who argue its frenetic pace and frequent set changes have stripped the game of its traditional fabric, Bennett says the current format is a dramatic improvement over the slow, wrestling-dominated play that bogged matches down for 10 years.

“There’s no doubt it’s a game-changer,” Bennett told reporters this week. “We’ve got a game that’s full of entertainment right now, some wonderful tries being scored, some great ball movement. Do we go back to when we had wrestle and we had all the other terms for different types of tackles that were making the whole game bog down? I don’t want to go back to that. We suffered for over a decade with that and I don’t want to go back there. If we find an answer for not having the six again then I’d be happy, but the reality of it is the onus is back on the players. The players are always playing on the edge with the rules and this is one they really can’t play on the edge with because it really hurts your team.”

Beyond the rule debate, Bennett is facing a string of injury challenges ahead of his side’s Saturday night clash against the winless St. George Illawarra Dragons, and has made a surprising selection call to bring dynamic fullback Matt Dufty back for his first NRL outing in four years. Dufty, who most recently played in the UK’s Super League for Warrington Wolves, returned to Australia earlier than planned and linked up with the Rabbitohs, earning an unexpected call-up after starting fullback Jye Gray was sidelined for two to three weeks with an AC joint injury.

Many fans and analysts expected Bennett would shift star back Latrell Mitchell from his current position at left centre back to fullback, a role Mitchell has played extensively throughout his career. But Bennett opted against a major reshuffle of his backline, noting Gray’s absence is only short-term, and that the team already has an injury gap on the left edge after second-rower David Fifita was ruled out for three to four weeks with a hamstring injury. “That was based on the fact that Jye will be back in a couple of weeks, probably two to three weeks max, so do I change one position or do I change four positions to put Latrell back at fullback?” Bennett explained. “That really wasn’t an option for me with only two or three weeks. If Jye had been out for a lot longer I might have made a different decision, but next couple of weeks I think we can get the job done there and it makes us more stable in our backline because these guys are playing together each week, and I think any coach in the game wants his players to play together as much as they possibly can.”

Bennett added that Mitchell’s permanent shift to centre this season was already a deliberate choice made in the best interest of the club, and a short-term injury did not justify upending the entire unit. “I don’t see a world where he won’t go back to fullback eventually,” he said. “It was only a decision we made this year because we believed it was in the best interest of the club, and we made this decision again because I believe it’s in the best interest of the team that we have one new guy coming in rather than moving the whole backline around.”

The Rabbitohs are already stretched thin in their forward pack, with five forwards currently sidelined in rehab. Prop Keaon Koloamatangi will play through a painful knee injury this weekend, after Bennett ruled out resting him, with the club awaiting the return of Junior Tatola next week to ease their forward depth crisis. “He’s a bit restricted as well. We probably need a week off for him, but we just can’t do it at the moment,” Bennett said. “We’ve got five forwards sitting in rehab at the moment with injuries and won’t be back for a couple of weeks, we’ll probably get Junior Tatola back next week, so we just need a bit of relief there and have to hang on a little bit longer for Keaon.” Dufty, a former Dragons player, will make his Rabbitohs debut against his old club this weekend, with Bennett saying the club is excited to welcome him to the squad. Assistant coach Ben Hornby has a long history of coaching Dufty, giving the South Sydney staff confidence he will fit in both on and off the pitch, Bennett added.