分类： sports

The National Rugby League (NRL) premiership race has been thrown into a new state of flux, as one of the competition’s biggest superstars is set to make his return just weeks out from the finals series, turning a mid-tier Sydney club into an immediate genuine title contender.

For months, rugby league fans have speculated over when star South Sydney Rabbitohs centre Latrell Mitchell would return from a persistent injury that sidelined him mid-season. Now, three short words from legendary Rabbitohs head coach Wayne Bennett have put all speculation to rest: Mitchell is cleared to hit the field this Saturday.

Mitchell has not played a competitive NRL match since South Sydney’s Round 11 loss to the Dolphins on May 15. The 29-year-old representative star has spent more than three months recovering from a back nerve issue that eventually triggered a persistent calf problem, forcing him to miss the entire 2024 State of Origin series for New South Wales and sparking widespread fears that he would miss the remainder of the 2024 season.

Before his injury, Mitchell was in the best form of his decades-long career, notching 11 tries across just nine appearances. That stellar run included a four-try masterclass against the St George Illawarra Dragons that cemented his status as one of the league’s most dominant attacking weapons.

In Mitchell’s absence, the Rabbitohs have turned in inconsistent results, hovering around the lower edge of the top eight finals positions. But with Mitchell set to link back up with star playmakers Cam Murray and Cody Walker, South Sydney is now being widely tipped as a dark horse that could upend the premiership favourites in the finals.

Mitchell was originally slated to return last weekend, but was a late scratching as the club’s medical staff exercised extra caution. This week, however, the star centre has received full medical clearance to face the Gold Coast Titans on Saturday afternoon. When asked directly by reporters if Mitchell would take the field, Bennett confirmed simply: “Yes he will.”

Bennett emphasized that the club has no plans to overwork their returning star in his first match back, noting that the side has held its own without Mitchell’s contribution. “The boys have been great without him, so we just need to get him back playing now and not put him under any unnecessary pressure where he thinks that he’s got to do something special for us because we can handle ourselves pretty well,” Bennett said. “It’s great to have him back and get a bit of condition and contact behind him.”

Addressing questions about whether Mitchell’s return was a rushed move that hid lingering injury issues, Bennett shut down any concerns, confirming the centre is completely match-fit with no ongoing pain management required. “He’s totally cleared to play,” Bennett said. “There are no needles involved, there are no painkillers involved, there’s nothing. He’s 100 per cent fit.”

The timing of Mitchell’s return could not be better for South Sydney. With just two rounds remaining in the regular NRL season, the Rabbitohs hold a two-point buffer over the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs for the last finals spot, and a win over the Titans this weekend will all but lock in their place in the post-season.

Bennett has already mapped out his game plan for Mitchell’s return: the superstar will come off the bench to play left centre, forcing incumbent utility Tallis Duncan to shift into the back row. Beyond his attacking prowess, Mitchell’s reliable goalkicking is also expected to solve a recent kicking slump that has cost South Sydney close matches in recent weeks.

For Duncan and the rest of the Rabbitohs squad, Mitchell’s return is more than just a tactical boost – it’s a massive morale boost ahead of the finals. “He brings himself, you know? His X-factor,” Duncan said. “He’s Latrell, so any time you can be on the same field as someone like that, you know he’s a big moments player. When we need a moment, he’ll come up with the footy.”

With Mitchell back in the fold, the league’s top-four contending teams now face a new, dangerous threat to their premiership hopes, reshaping the final weeks of the 2024 NRL season.

Sydney Roosters head coach Trent Robinson has kept the possibility alive for club legend Joseph Manu to make a shock short-term return to the NRL side in 2025, ahead of the former Golden Boot winner’s permanent move back to the competition with the Chiefs in 2028. Manu departed the Roosters at the end of the 2024 NRL season to pursue international rugby opportunities, and is currently plying his trade with French Top 14 side Racing 92. His contract with the Hamilton-based Chiefs is set to kick off in 2028, following a one-season stint with PNG Rugby in 2027.

Making his NRL debut with the Roosters in 2016, the 30-year-old developed into one of the world’s top centres during his tenure at the club, winning two premiership titles and earning a place in the hearts of Roosters supporters, who have long held out hope he would one day return to the Sydney-based side.

Speaking to reporters, Robinson left the door ajar for a potential cameo stint with the Roosters during the 2025 NRL finals series, saying the fan favourite will always be welcome at the club. “So he’s not coming back? I know he’s going to PNG. Who knows what’s going to happen next year?” Robinson teased. “It’s been great for Joey, he’s got some adventures going to Japan and France and now PNG. He deserves everything he gets. Joey is one of our favourites and he’ll always be a Rooster, but his adventure has taken him elsewhere and he’s always welcome through these doors, that’s for sure.”

Robinson confirmed Manu remains an elite talent capable of playing at the highest level as either a fullback or right centre, and noted that Manu’s Racing 92 season wraps up on June 6, 2026, leaving a window where he would be available to join the Roosters for a late-season run if a deal can be struck. A short-term stint would also allow Manu to reacclimate to NRL rules and physicality ahead of his permanent move to the Chiefs. “I haven’t spoken to Joey about that,” Robinson added. “He likes his European holidays now that he’s got some culture in him, so we don’t know what he’s going to do after that Top 14 season. We’ll see.”

In other Roosters team news, superstar fullback James Tedesco is on track to make his return to the starting lineup for this Saturday’s clash against the Dolphins, after two recent missed matches where he was named to play but ruled out before kickoff due to a lingering lower-leg injury. Tedesco picked up the unusual injury during the club’s Round 22 victory over the Cowboys, and Robinson says the playmaker will take the field as long as he passes his final training session Friday. “We’re not going to put someone out there that’s not ready to play and play the way that he does. He’s ready to get back and going as long as he ticks off today,” Robinson said. “It’s probably just a non-traditional injury. That would be the simplest way (to explain it). It was a membrane injury rather than a muscle injury, which is getting technical here, but that’s why it was just slightly different about the rehab and how long it was going to take.”

The Roosters are gearing up for the crucial clash looking to bounce back from an unexpected upset loss to the Wests Tigers. Robinson said an internal review held earlier in the week left him confident the squad is still on the right track heading into the final stretch of the regular season. Lock forward Victor Radley will miss Saturday’s match after sustaining a concussion, but Robinson said the forward could return for the final round of the regular season if he successfully completes the league’s mandatory concussion protocols. “I’m not sure where that sort of came from that he would miss next week as well but it’s progressions as normal like any other one and he’s just got to make sure he keeps ticking off that,” Robinson said. “I can’t say on next week until we get past the next couple of progressions.”

The simmering power struggle within global football erupted into open conflict this week, as European football’s governing body UEFA has formally moved forward with plans to pursue criminal mismanagement charges against FIFA President Gianni Infantino, while temporarily stepping back from its threat of a widespread boycott of FIFA tournaments.

The controversy centers on Infantino’s recently abandoned proposal to introduce private financing into the World Cup tournament structure, a plan that drew fierce backlash from multiple regional football confederations almost immediately after it was unveiled last month. On Thursday, following a gathering of UEFA’s 55 member associations in Monaco, the governing body announced it would provisionally suspend its call for European national teams to withdraw from upcoming FIFA-hosted competitions. The temporary pause offers a brief reprieve for key upcoming events, most notably next month’s women’s Under-20 World Cup hosted by Poland, which would have faced massive disruption if a full boycott went into effect.

Despite pulling back on the boycott for now, UEFA made clear that the threat remains on the table, with the organization noting its position will be continuously reassessed and can be reversed immediately if changing circumstances warrant it. The so-called “nuclear option” of a boycott is widely credited with forcing Infantino to backtrack on his private financing plan just days after he announced it, a major reversal that left the FIFA president politically weakened.

Far from stepping down its broader attack on Infantino’s leadership, UEFA has ramped up pressure through the courts. Legal documents reviewed by Agence France-Presse show the organization is actively preparing formal litigation, with plans to file evidence requests in a Florida U.S. court to support a future criminal complaint in Switzerland, where both FIFA and UEFA are headquartered. Under Article 158 of the Swiss Criminal Code, UEFA intends to bring criminal mismanagement charges directly against Infantino, with potential additional charges against other senior FIFA officials and external advisors tied to the proposal.

The legal push centers on gaining full access to internal records related to FIFA’s proposed Forward Enterprise (FFE) plan, the formal name for the private financing initiative. Key documents include records of a closed-door meeting held at a New York City hotel on the eve of last month’s men’s World Cup final, where a small group of senior FIFA directors were briefed on the proposal. According to reporting from *The New York Times*, two of the five directors in attendance refused to approve the plan — including then-chief operating officer Kevin Lamour, who has since left his position at FIFA.

UEFA confirmed that once it obtains the requested documentary evidence, it will file the formal criminal complaint in a Swiss court, noting it has already received legal confirmation that the filing meets all procedural requirements to be heard. “On information and belief, Infantino’s actions described herein rise to the level of criminal mismanagement,” UEFA stated in its legal filing.

The conflict has thrown Infantino’s expected path to re-election into chaos just months ahead of FIFA’s presidential vote, scheduled for next March in Rabat. Prior to the controversy, Infantino was widely expected to win an unopposed fourth and final term, capping a 10-year run at the head of world football that followed a widely praised 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

UEFA has been the most vocal critic of Infantino’s proposal, labeling it a “shady, opaque backroom deal,” but it has not stood alone in its opposition. The North American confederation CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) have joined UEFA in a unified bloc against the plan, issuing a scathing joint letter earlier this month that called into question Infantino’s leadership. “Leadership in football is not a possession. It is not about holding — or demanding — power to be held,” the confederations wrote. “When trust is broken through deception, when an individual places himself above the collective that entrusted him with authority, that duty has been abandoned.”

CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani is now widely seen as the most credible challenger to Infantino’s presidency, after UEFA chief Aleksander Ceferin ruled himself out of the race. Still, Infantino retains significant support across global football: 2034 World Cup hosts Saudi Arabia publicly backed the FIFA president on Thursday, while the African confederation CAF and South American confederation CONMEBOL have also voiced their support.

For its part, UEFA remains unwavering in its goal of ending Infantino’s tenure as FIFA president. In its official statement announcing the temporary suspension of the boycott threat, UEFA closed with a clear rebuke of his leadership: “FIFA must once again be governed as an institution serving football – not operate as an instrument of individual power.”

The second week of the new Premier League season brings a slate of compelling fixtures, with headline stories ranging from a rebuild-challenged Aston Villa welcoming defending champions Arsenal to north London, where Tottenham Hotspur will look to turn around a disastrous opening weekend and deliver the first signs of a return on their record-breaking £300 million ($408 million) summer outlay on new talent.

Across the top flight’s other standout matches, new Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola will make his first competitive home appearance at the iconic Anfield stadium hosting Nottingham Forest, while a shellshocked Manchester United will hunt for a much-needed confidence boost after their opening-weekend upset defeat at Hull, as newly promoted Ipswich Town visit Old Trafford.

### Villa’s Mass Exodus Leaves The Club Vulnerable Against Champions
Monday’s headline clash at Villa Park carries extra narrative weight after a summer of staggering player departures that gutted Unai Emery’s squad, which secured a fourth-place Premier League finish and Europa League glory last season. Former Villa defender Ezri Konsa, who completed a summer move to Arsenal, could even make his Gunners debut in front of his old fanbase, where he is expected to face a frosty reception.

Konsa is far from the only key departure: England midfielder Morgan Rogers swapped the West Midlands club for Chelsea in an £117 million deal, while Youri Tielemans moved to Manchester United and Lucas Digne secured a transfer to Paris Saint-Germain. Star striker Ollie Watkins and first-choice goalkeeper Emi Martínez are widely expected to follow the exodus before the summer transfer window closes.

The scale of Villa’s squad turnover was laid bare on opening weekend, when the depleted side slumped to a 4-0 deficit against Brighton within just 31 minutes on their way to a heavy defeat. Now they face an Arsenal side brimming with title-winning confidence after a perfect start to their campaign: Mikel Arteta’s men have dispatched both Manchester City and Coventry by 3-0 scorelines to claim the Community Shield and kick off their title defense with a win.

Even with long-term injury ruling out key centre-back William Saliba, Arsenal’s deep squad means Konsa may still have to wait for his first regular start. Despite the club’s crisis, Villa captain John McGinn remains optimistic the side can still turn in a successful campaign — as long as manager Unai Emery stays at the helm. “I’m still positive about the season but we need to make sure we keep hold of the manager,” McGinn told the *Stick to Football* podcast. “If we lose him, it’s a different story.”

### Spurs Look To New Signing Savio To Reverse Poor Fortunes
Tottenham’s fanbase has waited years for the club to step into the role of the Premier League’s big spenders, but opening weekend brought a harsh reality check: Ange Postecoglou (correction: the content references new manager Roberto De Zerbi) side fell to a humiliating 3-0 defeat at Brentford, leaving supporters questioning where that £300 million transfer spend will deliver results.

Since the opening weekend, Spurs have added two more top signings: winger Savio and forward Omar Marmoush, joined from Manchester City for a combined fee that could reach nearly £150 million. Savio’s £75 million price tag has drawn criticism from some quarters, after the Brazilian winger failed to secure a regular first-team spot during two years at City. But manager Roberto De Zerbi says he is confident the 20-year-old can transform Spurs’ fortunes after two consecutive 17th-place league finishes.

“I think his biggest step and biggest improvement is to increase the number of goals because as qualities, I think he is one of the best wingers, but the best wingers score many goals,” De Zerbi explained after Savio scored on his debut in a midweek League Cup tie against Charlton. “Last season we suffered too much because also the number of goals were not enough to compete for nothing more than that (17th) position.” Savio will get his first chance to prove his worth in the Premier League when Newcastle United visit Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday.

### Iraola Prepares For Emotional Anfield Debut
At Liverpool, new manager Andoni Iraola is preparing for his first home game in charge, after his opening away fixture at Newcastle delivered a late 2-2 draw thanks to a 99th-minute penalty from Dominik Szoboszlai. The growing pains of shifting the club to Iraola’s signature high-energy pressing system were clear in the match, as Newcastle hit the Reds twice on rapid counter-attacks to take a two-goal lead.

Nottingham Forest have claimed away wins at Anfield in each of the past two seasons, but Iraola says he is expecting an emotional first home match at one of the world’s most iconic stadiums. “I think it’s going to be emotional and I think it has to be like this. It is a special place,” the Spaniard said. “I’ve had to fight a lot to arrive to this place and I hope everything goes well and I can enjoy also the game.”

Below is the full fixture schedule for Matchweek 2 (all times listed in GMT):
– **Friday**: Crystal Palace vs Manchester City (19:00)
– **Saturday**: Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest (11:30), Coventry vs Hull City, Bournemouth vs Everton (14:00), Tottenham Hotspur vs Newcastle United (16:30)
– **Sunday**: Leeds United vs Brentford, Sunderland vs Fulham, Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion (13:00), Manchester United vs Ipswich Town (15:30)
– **Monday**: Aston Villa vs Arsenal (19:00)

As the Western Bulldogs prepare for a high-stakes Friday night clash against Collingwood, one of their key defensive players is turning widespread outside criticism into a powerful source of motivation. For seasons, the Bulldogs’ back six has been labeled the soft underbelly of their premiership campaign — a persistent narrative that doesn’t sit right with young defender James O’Donnell, and his refusal to back down from that critique is exactly why he has become one of head coach Luke Beveridge’s most admired players.

In an interview ahead of the Collingwood match, O’Donnell opened up about leaning into the doubt surrounding his defensive unit, explaining that the negative chatter pushes him to perform better. “To be honest, I kind of like it. It fuels me a bit,” he said. “It is, at times, a narrative that is a little bit… I don’t think it’s completely correct. There’s definitely been areas in our game we needed to lift, and I feel like we made a lot of ground this year. Statistically speaking, we’re a pretty solid back six. Again, it’s just fuel and something I don’t shy away from. It’s definitely been nice to prove all those doubters wrong.”

Data from the final third of the 2026 AFL season backs up O’Donnell’s confidence. After a shaky start to the year that saw the Bulldogs leak goals at an alarming rate, the defensive unit has turned its performance around dramatically. What was once a clear weakness now matches the output of the club’s top-tier attack, pushing the Bulldogs into the league’s top six when it comes to defensive efficiency without possession. The backline has also racked up wins in critical individual matchups against some of the league’s most dangerous forward lines, outperforming many pundits’ expectations.

For O’Donnell, this underdog identity is core to who the Western Bulldogs are as a club, rooted in their blue-collar reputation that has defined the western Melbourne franchise for decades. “We don’t really talk about (the external noise) too much, it’s quite process driven,” he explained. “It sounds cliche, but that’s what it is: week-to-week, what we want to go after, different teams show different looks. But for me, I personally think as well, I’m sure the other boys if you ask them would probably feel similar. I think that’s us as a club in general as well: (we’re) doubted, but when our backs are against the wall we hopefully stand up. I love that side of it.”

Ahead of Friday’s game, O’Donnell is expected to shoulder the heavy responsibility of marking Collingwood star forward Dan McStay, a task he and the Bulldogs’ backline are already gearing up to meet.

Beveridge has openly admitted O’Donnell is one of his favorite players, and the coach’s praise for the young defender highlights just how far O’Donnell has come since switching his focus from professional cricket to elite AFL. “He’s a stand-up lad, isn’t he? He’s a ripper,” Beveridge said. “I know coaches aren’t allowed to play favourites, but I just admire how he’s come on, for a young fella who turned his mind to playing this game in a serious sense from cricket.”

Beveridge even compared O’Donnell’s famous long kicking to that of Carlton club legend Val Perovic, who was renowned across the league for his powerful distance kicks. “I made the comment to the players a while ago, he’s a thumping kick, you know? I reckon it started with Val Perovic, remember Val Perovic? Val had a thumping leg, he could kick it a mile. Mainly at Carlton, I think, when he would roost it, the whole crowd would go ‘oof’, like that. Now when there’s a highlight and Jimmy O’Donnell kicks the ball, the whole lecture theatre, the players go ‘oof’. He’s our Val Perovic now. Jimmy has been outstanding, and Buku Khamis has been tremendous. I think that backline, the composition now is probably in a place where it’s favourable.”

The respect and admiration between player and coach is fully mutual. O’Donnell says he owes much of his growth and confidence to Beveridge, who gave him an early opportunity in the Bulldogs’ senior side and has trusted him with critical responsibilities from the start of his AFL career. “Bevo and I have a great relationship, I am very lucky to have Bevo as my coach,” O’Donnell said. “I think about how I started and how he, I guess, gave me the opportunity so early in my Bulldogs career. The trust he’s given me and the responsibility, he’s probably given me more belief than I ever had in myself – especially at the start. That as a starting point, we’ve just got a great relationship in that sense, but from a backline and role point of view, he’s super clear. He knows what he needs from me and I try to provide that every week – I love playing for him.”