The world figure skating championships commence in Prague this Wednesday under a distinctly post-Olympic atmosphere, with several newly crowned champions absent from the ice. This creates a pivotal opportunity for redemption and career-defining conclusions for a cadre of elite skaters.
分类： sports
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‘How true the situation is’: Broncos players respond to shock Ben Te’o departure, Payne Haas set to miss Battle for Brisbane
The Brisbane Broncos’ premiership defense has been plunged into chaos following a dual blow of coaching staff departure and a critical player injury. Defensive specialist Ben Te’o has reportedly resigned from his coaching position after a tactical disagreement with head coach Michael Maguire, just three rounds into the new season. The former premiership-winning player, who worked under Maguire at South Sydney Rabbitohs, tendered his resignation following disputes over defensive strategies ahead of last week’s grand final rematch.
The coaching drama compounds existing troubles for the club, coming on the heels of last week’s public controversy involving Broncos legend Gorden Tallis, who criticized the team’s handling of captain Adam Reynolds’ rib injury. The off-field disruptions couldn’t come at a worse time, with the team preparing for Friday’s highly anticipated ‘Battle for Brisbane’ derby against the Dolphins.
Adding to the crisis, superstar prop Payne Haas is likely to miss the crucial match due to a shoulder injury, creating a significant void in the team’s forward pack. Te’o’s departure leaves the defensive coaching structure in disarray, while Haas’ absence threatens to undermine the team’s forward dominance. Players including Brendan Piakura and Ben Talty acknowledged Te’o’s significant impact on their defensive development while expressing uncertainty about the coaching situation’s resolution. The team now faces the challenge of regrouping ahead of their local derby while managing both coaching instability and key personnel losses.
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‘Proud to have him’: Luke Garner officially off the market after agreeing to new deal with the Panthers
In a significant retention victory, Penrith Panthers have successfully secured versatile forward Luke Garner with a contract extension that will keep the two-time premiership winner at the club through the 2028 season. The decision effectively blocks ambitious expansion franchises Perth Bears and Papua New Guinea Chiefs from acquiring the highly-valued player when they enter the NRL competition in 2027 and 2028 respectively.
Garner, who joined the Panthers in 2023 after five seasons with Wests Tigers, has become an integral component of Penrith’s success machine. The 30-year-old’s exceptional versatility allows him to excel in multiple positions across the back row and centers, providing crucial defensive coverage and tactical flexibility. His contribution was instrumental in securing consecutive premiership titles in 2023 and 2024.
Panthers management expressed unanimous enthusiasm about the retention. Shane Elford, Panthers General Manager of Football, praised Garner as “a true professional who prepares diligently and consistently delivers for the team. His work ethic, versatility and team-first attitude are highly valued within our group.”
Beyond his on-field capabilities, club officials highlighted Garner’s community engagement and character. Panthers Rugby League CEO Matt Cameron emphasized: “Luke is not only a high-quality footballer, but a terrific person who represents our club with integrity. He genuinely invests in the community through charity work and fan engagement, consistently giving his time to make a positive difference.”
The retention represents a strategic coup for the Panthers organization, ensuring continuity in their championship-winning squad while denying expansion teams access to an experienced premiership veteran.
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Carter, Eze and Iwobi named on Football Black List
The 2025 Football Black List has achieved a historic milestone by featuring more women than men for the first time since its inception in 2008. This annual recognition celebrates black professionals making exceptional contributions to football beyond their athletic achievements.
Among the standout honorees are England defender Jess Carter, recognized as a powerful advocate for cultural change following her experience with racist abuse during Euro 2025. Arsenal’s Eberechi Eze earns recognition for his foundation empowering south London youth through education and sports initiatives, while Fulham midfielder Alex Iwobi is acknowledged for his community project supporting underserved populations through football tournaments and mentorship programs.
The comprehensive list spans nine categories including coaching, media, commercial, and community grassroots, highlighting diverse excellence across football’s ecosystem. Notable inclusions include Oxford United captain Naomi Bedeau, former BBC Sport journalist Jessica Creighton, and Manchester United CEO Omar Berrada.
Co-founder Leon Mann emphasized the significance of this year’s gender balance breakthrough: ‘Black women frequently encounter substantial barriers within sports and broader society. Their recognition here powerfully demonstrates their exceptional talent and perseverance. I anticipate their visibility will inspire coming generations.’
While celebrating progress, Mann noted ongoing challenges: ‘The inclusion of a CEO from one of football’s biggest clubs alongside elite coaches represents what was once a distant dream. However, meaningful work remains to enhance representation in leadership and coaching positions.’
The selection process involves an expert panel comprising representatives from the Premier League, Football Association, Professional Footballers’ Association, and anti-discrimination organization Kick It Out, ensuring comprehensive evaluation of nominees’ impact on the sport.
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Real talk is nonsense but I may coach again – Klopp
Former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp has publicly refuted circulating rumors about his potential appointment as Real Madrid’s head coach this summer, labeling such speculation as baseless. The 58-year-old German tactician, currently serving as head of global football with Red Bull since departing Anfield in 2024, addressed journalists during the Magenta TV World Cup team presentation in Munich.
Klopp explicitly denied any contact with the Spanish giants, stating: ‘If Real Madrid had phoned, we would have heard about it by now. They haven’t called even once – not once. My agent is there, you can ask him. They haven’t called him either.’ Despite his current break from management, Klopp left the door open for future coaching opportunities, noting: ‘For my age I’m quite advanced in life, but as a coach I’m not completely finished. I haven’t reached retirement age.’
The celebrated manager, who shocked the football world by announcing his Liverpool departure in January 2024 citing energy depletion, emphasized that no concrete plans exist for his return to the dugout. During his illustrious nine-year tenure at Liverpool, Klopp secured six major trophies including the Champions League (2019), Premier League (2019-20), FA Cup, two League Cups, UEFA Super Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup.
Klopp reiterated his previous commitment to never manage another English club, affirming: ‘What I know definitely is that I will never, ever manage a different club in England than Liverpool, 100%. That’s not possible.’ Prior to his Liverpool success, the German manager achieved back-to-back Bundesliga titles with Borussia Dortmund in 2011 and 2012, following his earlier tenure at Mainz 05.
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‘Everyone was speaking about KD’: How an NBA legend helped Taniela Paseka recover from devastating achilles injury
Manly Sea Eagles prop forward Taniela Paseka has revealed how studying NBA superstar Kevin Durant’s recovery from a similar injury provided crucial inspiration during his own rehabilitation from a devastating Achilles rupture. The 28-year-old rugby league behemoth suffered the catastrophic injury during Round 3 last year against Canberra Raiders, creating a significant void in Manly’s forward pack that proved difficult to fill throughout the season.
Now making his gradual return to the NRL arena, Paseka has demonstrated encouraging progress through the opening two rounds of the 2024 season, averaging 123 meters per game—just three meters shy of his career-best performance set in 2023. Despite these promising metrics, the 1.97-meter-tall forward acknowledges that full recovery remains an ongoing process that may require additional time to regain his signature explosiveness and power through contact.
“It’s been good, I’m just finding my feet,” Paseka commented regarding his comeback journey. “I’ve had three games now under my belt, including a trial, so I feel more than ready to return to that level I left at and hopefully keep going. My calf has obviously lost considerable strength, and being right-footed, I’ve experienced some reduction in push and explosiveness on that side.”
The rehabilitation process led Paseka to research Durant’s successful return from an Achilles rupture sustained during the 2019 NBA Finals. Though the basketball legend stands 14 centimeters taller and was nearly 31 at the time of his injury, his remarkable return to elite performance—eventually becoming the fifth-highest scorer in league history—provided valuable psychological motivation for the Sea Eagles forward.
“I actually searched on YouTube because everyone was discussing ‘KD’ and his return,” Paseka explained. “I watched some of his clips and how he managed the recovery process. While I primarily leaned on my partner and the rehabilitation trainers here, seeing Durant’s successful comeback provided additional encouragement.”
The Sea Eagles urgently need Paseka at his peak performance as they prepare for Thursday night’s crucial match against the Roosters, seeking their first victory of the season. The team’s forward pack has faced criticism for lacking mobility, a critique that Paseka acknowledges motivates the squad to demonstrate their capabilities on the field.
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Sheffield Shield final: Victorian star Scott Boland on his side’s selection squeeze
Victoria’s cricket team confronts a formidable selection challenge as they prepare for the Sheffield Shield final against South Australia, with veteran seamer Scott Boland expressing relief that the difficult decision rests with coaches rather than players. The team management must choose between Sam Elliott and Mitch Perry to make way for the returning Fergus O’Neill, who was rested during the final match of the regular season.
This selection predicament stems from Victoria’s strategic approach throughout the summer, where they consistently fielded an additional seamer, leveraging their bowlers’ batting reliability. Both Perry and Elliott present distinct strengths, creating what Boland describes as a ‘tricky’ situation for coach Chris Rogers and the selection committee.
Boland, preparing for his 100th Sheffield Shield appearance, emphasized the quality of both contenders: ‘Those guys have put in a lot of hard work over the last four or five years. Sam is probably the most inexperienced out of those guys, but whenever we’ve needed a wicket he’s bowled some really good spells.’
The selection complexity would have intensified if not for Matt Short’s early departure for the Indian Premier League. Boland acknowledged the changing landscape of modern cricket, noting that while teams miss their own players to IPL commitments, they simultaneously benefit from not facing opposition stars who are similarly absent.
The final decision will ultimately determine which promising bowler misses cricket’s premier domestic final, a harsh reality of professional sports where talent sometimes exceeds available opportunities.
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Nigerian heritage key to my success – Itauma
British-Nigerian heavyweight sensation Moses Itauma has discovered profound personal meaning beyond his rapid boxing success through reconnecting with his African roots. The 21-year-old phenom, who maintains an unblemished 13-0 professional record with 11 knockouts, recently visited his father’s homeland of Nigeria for the first time in over a decade, finding answers to questions about identity that had long eluded him.
Born in Slovakia to a Nigerian father and Slovak mother, Itauma endured racial abuse during his childhood in Eastern Europe before relocating to England. His journey to Akwa Ibom state in southeastern Nigeria provided unexpected emotional resolution. “Some of the questions that I want to be answered are in my dad’s village,” Itauma revealed. “Why am I this type of way? Why do I look this type of way? Or why do I think this type of way?”
The heavyweight contender described an overwhelming reception at Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed Airport, where security personnel immediately embraced him as one of their own despite knowing nothing about his background. “They said just because I’m Nigerian, I’m doing well, that they’re proud of me. That’s something I’ve never had anywhere else,” Itauma noted, drawing sharp contrast with his experiences in Slovakia where he received no recognition.
Itauma joins a growing trend of British-Nigerian boxers reconnecting with their heritage. Anthony Joshua, who sports a continent tattoo on his arm, and Lawrence Okolie, who headlined a fight card in Lagos last December, have paved the way for this cultural homecoming. While Nigeria’s boxing authorities acknowledge there’s limited financial incentive for these visits, they recognize the value in star athletes promoting the sport and connecting with their cultural roots.
As Itauma prepares for his delayed bout against American Jermaine Franklin in Manchester on March 28, he carries with him a renewed sense of belonging. The Commonwealth champion believes victory could propel him toward world title contention, potentially with strong Nigerian support behind him. His journey illustrates how athletic excellence and cultural identity increasingly intersect in modern sports, particularly for athletes with multinational backgrounds seeking connection to their heritage.
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Italy coach Gattuso says ‘no albis’ for World Cup playoff as he sends Chiesa home
Italian national team coach Gennaro Gattuso has openly acknowledged the immense pressure surrounding Italy’s crucial World Cup qualifying playoff against Northern Ireland, stating only “someone without blood running through their veins” wouldn’t feel nervous. The Azzurri face the daunting task of overcoming their recent playoff failures to avoid missing a third consecutive World Cup.
The 2006 World Cup winner, maintaining the gritty demeanor that characterized his playing career, addressed several controversies ahead of Thursday’s decisive match in Bergamo. Most notably, Gattuso sent winger Federico Chiesa back to Liverpool despite the player’s recent return to the national team after a nearly two-year absence. The coach described the decision as mutual, citing Chiesa’s physical issues and mental state, though it marks a potential definitive break with the standout performer of Italy’s European Championship victory five years ago.
Italy’s qualification hopes hinge on defeating Northern Ireland at home before facing either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina away next week. The team seeks to avoid extending their World Cup drought beyond 16 years, having suffered disappointing playoff eliminations against Sweden and North Macedonia in previous cycles.
Gattuso emphasized the irrelevance of Italy’s historic achievements—four World Cups, two European Championships, and an Olympic title—in the current context. “There are no alibis,” he stated. “The only thing we should be thinking about is Thursday’s game.”
Both teams face significant roster challenges. Beyond Chiesa’s departure, Italy remains without injured players Sandro Tonali, Gianluca Scamacca, and Alessandro Bastoni, though they remain with the squad. Northern Ireland suffered their own setback with center back Daniel Ballard ruled out due to a hamstring injury, joining captain Conor Bradley on the sidelines.
Gattuso revealed extensive efforts to maintain team spirit, including dinners with players across Italy and visits to London, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar. The coach deliberately selected Bergamo’s 23,500-seat stadium to create a more supportive atmosphere than Milan’s San Siro, where he noted fans previously whistled at players from rival clubs.
The playoff arrives amid a successful period for Italian sports across disciplines including Winter Olympics, Formula 1, tennis, volleyball, and baseball. Gattuso expressed motivation from these achievements, viewing Thursday’s match as an opportunity to reverse football’s current struggles. Should Italy qualify, they would join Group B with Canada, Qatar, and Switzerland for the North American World Cup.
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Trophy turns up in German team’s own basement after being reported stolen
In an extraordinary twist to a months-long mystery, the prestigious championship trophy of Germany’s premier men’s handball team Fuechse Berlin has been discovered hidden within the club’s own basement storage facility. The silver dish, initially feared permanently lost after its disappearance last November, reappeared Monday following an intensive search operation.
The valuable trophy, estimated at approximately €12,000 ($13,900) based on 2014 valuations, carries decades of champion team engravings representing one of German sports’ most celebrated traditions. Club officials theorize that perpetrators initially removed the award from organizational offices with criminal intent, but subsequently abandoned retrieval plans due to overwhelming media scrutiny surrounding the high-profile theft.
‘Even for seasoned criminals, the probability of detection ultimately proved excessively prohibitive,’ the club formally stated regarding the suspects’ apparent change of strategy.
The development contradicts previous speculation from law enforcement authorities, who during January raids on multiple locations had uncovered a silver bar that prompted theories of the trophy’s destruction through melting. This discovery prompted the handball league to cancel replacement trophy production orders according to German press agency dpa.
As one of northern Europe’s most passionately followed sports with extensive television coverage, German handball’s championship symbol remains in police custody for evidentiary purposes, temporarily delaying the team’s physical reclamation of their hard-earned silverware.