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  • ‘Free’ McIlroy launches his Masters repeat bid

    ‘Free’ McIlroy launches his Masters repeat bid

    The 90th edition of the Masters Tournament got underway under bright, blustery conditions at Augusta National Golf Club on Thursday, with defending champion Rory McIlroy launching his historic bid for consecutive green jackets while 2018 winner Patrick Reed stormed out to an unexpected early lead in the opening round.

    Northern Ireland’s McIlroy, currently ranked second in the world, etched his name into golf history last year when he captured his first Masters title to complete a career Grand Slam of all four major championships. This week, he is gunning for a place among the sport’s most elite champions: only three legends of the game — Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, and Nick Faldo — have ever claimed back-to-back Masters titles, and McIlroy is aiming to become the fourth.

    McIlroy got his opening round off to a tested but solid start. After sending his opening tee shot drifting under pine trees on the left side of the fairway, his approach fell just short of the putting surface, but a fortuitous bounce rolled his ball onto the green. He calmly sank a five-foot par putt to save his opening hole, avoiding an early stumble on the firm, lightning-fast Augusta greens.

    Heading into the tournament, the 5-time major champion said he was taking a relaxed approach to his title defense. “I relish being free in my swing and in my thoughts” on the opening tee, he noted, while warning that the 2025 course would present one of the toughest tests in recent memory. “It’s going to be a tough test. The wind is going to be up. Greens are going to get firm. It’s certainly not going to be a birdie-fest,” McIlroy said. “It’s going to require patience. It’s going to require more of a mental grind maybe.”

    Playing alongside McIlroy, world number three and recent Players Championship winner Cameron Young got off to a rough start, opening his round with a bogey that left him early behind the curve.

    It was Reed, the 2018 Masters champion, who stole the early spotlight. The American got out to a blistering start, sinking a six-foot birdie putt on the opening hole before holing out from off the green at the second for an eagle, putting him at three-under par through just two holes and into the outright early lead.

    A tight group of chasers sat just one stroke back at two-under par, led by Kurt Kitayama, who notched back-to-back birdies at the par-three sixth and par-four seventh to hold his place in the early leaderboard.

    Even the tournament’s veteran legends put on impressive early displays. Two-time Masters champion Jose Maria Olazabal, the 57-year-old Spaniard who claimed green jackets in 1994 and 1999, birdied the par-five second and par-three third — including a stunning 30-foot curling birdie putt at the third — before parring his way through the rest of the front nine to stay within striking distance early.

    England’s Tommy Fleetwood matched Olazabal’s early run of birdies at the second and third holes, while 2019 British Open winner Shane Lowry of Ireland — who clinched the 2024 Ryder Cup for Europe with his closing putt last fall — opened with back-to-back birdies before a double bogey at the par-three fourth pulled him back down the leaderboard.

    2020 and 2024 U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau, who has picked up two LIV Golf titles in the past month and finished tied for fifth alongside McIlroy in last year’s final group, opened with a bogey at the second hole. He shared the early position with 2022 U.S. Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick of England and 2024 British Open and PGA Championship winner Xander Schauffele, an American.

    The tournament’s top-ranked competitors were set to tee off in the afternoon groups. World number one and four-time major champion Scottie Scheffler, who is chasing a third Masters title in five seasons, was scheduled to tee off at 1:44 p.m. (1744 GMT) in the penultimate group, alongside American Gary Woodland — who claimed his first tour title in six years just two weeks ago — and Scotsman Robert MacIntyre.

    2021 U.S. Open and 2023 Masters champion Jon Rahm of Spain also teed off in the afternoon wave, paired with 2024 Masters runner-up Ludvig Aberg of Sweden, who notched an impressive second-place finish in his major debut last year, and American Chris Gotterup.

  • “Feeling a bit loose’: Liam Martin set for scans as Panthers count the cost of shock loss, Bulldogs flying high after Lachlan Galvin stunner

    “Feeling a bit loose’: Liam Martin set for scans as Panthers count the cost of shock loss, Bulldogs flying high after Lachlan Galvin stunner

    The 2026 NRL season delivered one of its most shocking early results on Wednesday, as the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs pulled off a 32-16 upset victory over the previously undefeated Penrith Panthers, leaving the minor premiers grappling with a major double whammy of injury concerns and disciplinary uncertainty ahead of their next fixture. The Panthers’ perfect five-game opening stretch – a run that included every win by a margin of at least 20 points and sparked bold talk of a potential undefeated full season – came to an abrupt end at Accor Stadium, where star representative forward Liam Martin departed the ground wearing a protective knee brace after suffering a late second-half injury.

    Martin, a key part of Penrith’s premiership-winning campaigns, pulled up after a play clutching his left knee, with initial medical assessments pointing to possible medial collateral ligament (MCL) damage. The NRL Physio Twitter account shared early analysis noting that Martin reported his knee felt “loose”, a symptom that can indicate a moderate to severe injury requiring multiple weeks of recovery. Speaking after the match, Panthers head coach Ivan Cleary described the injury as most likely a medial sprain, adding that Martin is not experiencing severe pain or swelling, leaving the club waiting for official scan results to confirm the severity and timeline for his return.

    In addition to Martin’s injury scare, Penrith faces an anxious wait to see if Origin hopeful Casey McLean will be suspended for next week’s game. McLean, who has enjoyed a blistering start to the 2026 season and emerged as a contender for a New South Wales Blues debut next month, was sin-binned in the eighth minute after the NRL Bunker reviewed a high tackle on Bulldogs forward Max King. The hit was initially missed by on-field officials, but the Bunker pulled it up for review one set later. Cleary argued the contact was accidental, noting that King was able to return to the field immediately after the tackle and that minimal clear footage exists to confirm a dangerous transgression. McLean struggled defensively for the remainder of the match, particularly on the left edge where the Bulldogs attack consistently found gaps. Cleary joked that young edge players may have been distracted by upcoming Origin selection talks, adding that the difficult loss would serve as a valuable learning experience for the team’s young talent.

    In positive injury news for Penrith, Cleary confirmed that winger Liam Henry is set to make his long-awaited return from injury this Friday, turning out for Penrith’s NSW Cup side to build match fitness ahead of a call-up to the first-grade squad.

    For the Bulldogs, the upset win was headlined by a career-best performance from halfback Lachlan Galvin, who turned in his first full 80-minute masterclass in the NRL. Galvin, whose NRL career has drawn constant scrutiny since he made his debut for the Wests Tigers, delivered a controlled, clinical performance that consistently troubled Penrith’s left edge. Speaking after the match, Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo noted that the clash marked Galvin’s 50th NRL appearance – a milestone many believe is when players truly find their footing in top-flight rugby league. “I thought he was brilliant. He controlled the game for long periods, he did what he needed to do and he didn’t overplay his hand,” Ciraldo said. “He has to deal with a fair bit. There are always question marks asked about him, but he’s handled it great.”

    Penrith co-captain Isaah Yeo said the upset loss could prove to be a blessing in disguise, silencing the growing external hype around the Panthers going undefeated for the entire 2026 season. “Rugby league is the ultimate leveller so it might be the best thing for us to maybe stop a little bit of that noise of people talking about being unbeaten through the season,” Yeo said. Unlike previous matches where Penrith held comfortable leads for most of the game, Wednesday’s loss forced the side to play from behind for long stretches, a challenge Yeo said will provide valuable lessons for the team ahead of the business end of the season. “Our best footy is still in front of us, but it probably took a bit of a step back tonight which is disappointing,” he added.

  • McIlroy ready for early start as 90th Masters begins

    McIlroy ready for early start as 90th Masters begins

    The 90th edition of the Masters Tournament officially got underway on Thursday at Augusta National Golf Club, with three of golf’s most legendary figures stepping into the spotlight for the traditional honorary opening tee ceremony ahead of defending champion Rory McIlroy’s bid for history.

    Three icons of the sport — 86-year-old Jack Nicklaus, 90-year-old South African Gary Player, and 76-year-old Tom Watson — delivered the ceremonial opening drives to a cheering crowd gathered at the first tee under the early morning sun. Between them, the trio boasts 33 major championship titles, 11 of which were claimed at Augusta National: Nicklaus holds the all-time record of six Masters victories as part of his 18 total major titles, Player captured three green jackets among his nine major crowns, and Watson won two Masters titles as part of an eight-major career that also includes five Open Championship wins.

    With the opening ceremony complete, attention turns to the 91-player field competing across four rounds for the sport’s most iconic green jacket. Defending champion Rory McIlroy, the Northern Irish five-time major winner ranked second in the world, is among the first to tee off, starting his first round at 10:31 a.m. local time (1431 GMT). He will be grouped alongside world number three Cameron Young, the American who claimed victory at the Players Championship last month, and 2023 U.S. Amateur champion Mason Howell. McIlroy’s goal this week is historic: a win would make him only the fourth golfer in Masters history to claim back-to-back green jackets, following Nicklaus, Nick Faldo, and Tiger Woods.

    World number one Scottie Scheffler, who is hunting a third Masters title in five seasons, tees off later in the day at 1:44 p.m. local time as part of the penultimate group. He is joined by American compatriot Gary Woodland and Scottish golfer Robert MacIntyre.

    Tournament organizers are predicting firm, fast playing conditions across the course this week, with lightning-fast greens that will challenge players to hold their approach shots on target. Hard fairways and quick putting surfaces are expected to test every competitor’s accuracy and course management from the opening round.

    McIlroy and Scheffler are far from the only title contenders eyeing the 2025 crown. Former major champions in the chasing pack include LIV Golf stars Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau, both two-time major winners, alongside American Xander Schauffele and England’s Matt Fitzpatrick. A number of top players are also chasing their first career major victory at Augusta this year, including Sweden’s rising star Ludvig Aberg and England’s consistent contender Tommy Fleetwood.

  • War in the Middle East: latest developments

    War in the Middle East: latest developments

    The fragile calm brokered by a US-Iran ceasefire in the Middle East shattered Wednesday when Israel launched its most devastating wave of airstrikes on neighboring Lebanon since Hezbollah joined the regional conflict in March, leaving more than 180 people dead and hundreds injured, and drawing widespread condemnation from world leaders and international aid organizations.

    The death toll from the single day of attacks, which targeted areas across Lebanon including densely populated central Beirut, stands at 182 killed with 890 wounded, according to Lebanon’s health ministry. In response to the carnage, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam designated Thursday a national day of mourning across the country.

    Agnes Dhur, head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) delegation in Lebanon, described the sudden, deadly assault as a catastrophic blow to a population already clinging to hope for a ceasefire. “People across Lebanon were holding their breath for a ceasefire agreement, but a wave of deadly strikes plunged the country into panic and chaos,” Dhur said, adding that the ICRC is outraged by the devastating death and destruction inflicted on densely populated civilian areas. United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk echoed the condemnation, saying “The scale of the killing and destruction in Lebanon today is nothing short of horrific. Such carnage, within hours of agreeing to a ceasefire with Iran, defies belief.”

    In the aftermath of the strikes, the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah announced it had launched rocket attacks toward northern Israel, framing the action as a response to Israel’s violation of the US-brokered truce between Washington and Tehran. The group had previously asserted its right to retaliate for the deadly wave of bombardment.

    Global powers have widely called for the existing ceasefire between the US and Iran to be extended to Lebanon to prevent further escalation. British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper told Sky News she was deeply troubled by the escalating Israeli attacks in Lebanon and strongly supports extending the ceasefire to the country. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot condemned the ongoing strikes, noting they “undermine the temporary ceasefire reached yesterday between the United States and Iran” making them all the more unacceptable. French President Emmanuel Macron held phone talks with both US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to push for Lebanon to be included in the truce. “I expressed my hope that the ceasefire will be fully respected by each of the belligerents, across all areas of confrontation, including in Lebanon,” Macron wrote on social media platform X.

    China’s foreign ministry spokesperson emphasized that “Lebanon’s sovereignty and security should not be violated. The safety of civilian lives and property must be guaranteed,” and called for urgent de-escalation across the region. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has already listed a halt to Israeli strikes on Lebanon as one of the core conditions of Iran’s 10-point plan to end the broader regional war, according to Iranian state media.

    Despite the regional escalation triggered by the Lebanese strikes, many residents of Iran’s capital have welcomed the ceasefire with the US, breathing a collective sigh of relief after weeks of cross-border bombardment. While some residents expressed fear the truce would ultimately collapse, others celebrated what they framed as a victory for their country. “Everyone is at ease now, we are more relaxed,” 50-year-old Tehran housewife Sakineh Mohammadi told Agence France-Presse, adding she was proud of her country’s actions.

    In other regional developments, Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares announced that Spain will reopen its embassy in Iran, a mission that was shuttered in March following the outbreak of the latest war. Iran also announced that it is rerouting commercial shipping through an alternative route in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy chokepoint, citing risks of sea mines in the main shipping lane. The Iranian government released official navigation instructions for the new entry and exit corridor through the strait.

    A new round of direct talks between US and Iranian officials is set to open Saturday in Islamabad, with US Vice President JD Vance leading the American delegation. Vance will be joined by White House special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, former President Trump’s son-in-law. Speaking to reporters during a stop in Hungary, Vance urged Iran not to allow the truce to collapse over the conflict in Lebanon, noting that a halt to Israeli military operations in Lebanon was never included in the original ceasefire agreement reached earlier this week.

  • ‘Increasingly challenging’: Charity founded by former Australian of the Year Grace Tame winds up operation

    ‘Increasingly challenging’: Charity founded by former Australian of the Year Grace Tame winds up operation

    Three weeks after former Australian of the Year Grace Tame revealed she had lost professional income following widespread backlash over her participation in a high-profile pro-Palestine protest, the prominent advocacy organisation she founded is set to cease operations. The Grace Tame Foundation, launched in 2021 to uplift survivors of child sexual abuse and advance critical legal reforms across Australia, will wind down its operations in the coming weeks, its board confirmed in an official statement released Thursday.

    The core driver behind the organisation’s closure is persistent, growing financial pressure that has made long-term operation unworkable, according to the board. Sustaining consistent, sufficient funding to support the foundation’s programs and advocacy work has become “increasingly challenging” over time, the statement noted. Since its founding, the organisation has left an indelible mark on Australia’s national conversation around child safety, earning broad acclaim for shifting public discourse and pushing through systemic change.

    Key achievements credited to the foundation include driving landmark national legislative changes, leading the push to harmonise survivor identification laws across all Australian states and territories, championing mandatory anti-grooming education in schools, and providing direct support to hundreds of survivors navigating the justice system. Latest financial filings show the foundation held roughly $129,563 in equity, with core expenses allocated to critical survivor services including psychological support, legal assistance, as well as staffing and recruitment costs.

    Tame, who serves as one of four board members alongside child safety scholar Professor Michael Salter, solicitor Michael Bradley, and fellow survivor Scarlett Franks, has long been recognised nationally for her unflinching, uncompromising advocacy on behalf of abuse survivors. She was named Australian of the Year in 2021 for her groundbreaking work pushing for reforms that allow survivors of child sexual abuse to speak publicly about their experiences.

    The closure of the foundation comes amid a period of intense public and political scrutiny for Tame. Earlier this year, she sparked fierce national backlash after leading a chant of “globalise the intifada” at a pro-Palestine demonstration outside Sydney’s Town Hall. The incident drew widespread condemnation from federal and state politicians, as well as Australian Jewish community leaders, with multiple public figures calling for Tame’s Australian of the Year title to be revoked or reviewed.

    Tame has pushed back against the criticism, framing the backlash as a coordinated “smear campaign” that has cost her paid speaking engagements and professional work. She has repeatedly stressed that she rejects antisemitism, Islamophobia, and all forms of bigotry and hatred in any context.

    Even as the organisation prepares to close, the board emphasized that the foundation’s work and mission will have a lasting legacy beyond the organisation itself. “The mission it has championed will continue through the many survivors, advocates, and organisations working to protect children and drive reform,” the board’s statement read.

  • Artemis crew’s families enthralled by messages from space

    Artemis crew’s families enthralled by messages from space

    One week after the groundbreaking Artemis II lunar mission launched from Florida, family members of the four-person crew are sharing their deeply personal experiences watching their loved ones make history, with unique insight from the wife of Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen — the first non-American astronaut to journey toward Earth’s celestial satellite.

    In an exclusive interview with AFP, Catherine Hansen, a Canadian obstetrician-gynecologist, opened up about the rollercoaster of emotions she has experienced while following her husband’s trailblazing trip from Earth. Dressed in rocket-shaped earrings for her video interview, she described how she has clung to every update from NASA mission control and every word shared during private family calls with the crew.

    The Artemis II mission, humanity’s first crewed lunar flyby mission in over 50 years, is a critical test flight designed to validate the safety and performance of NASA’s new Space Launch System rocket and Orion crew capsule, neither of which had carried humans before launch. Hansen and his crewmates — NASA astronauts Victor Glover, Reid Wiseman, and Christina Koch — have already reached a historic distance of 250,000 miles (400,000 kilometers) from Earth, a new record for human spaceflight.

    Catherine and the couple’s three children traveled to NASA’s Johnson Space Center mission control in Houston earlier this week to watch the crew’s close lunar flyby, shortly after which they connected with Jeremy for a private call. She recalled how he vividly described the staggering view of the Moon from the capsule’s window, noting the celestial body appeared strikingly three-dimensional, like a full globe hanging in the blackness of space. Hansen will share these firsthand observations with the public once he returns to Earth, Catherine confirmed.

    Before he launched, Jeremy gave his wife a high-powered pair of binoculars to watch the Moon from Earth during the mission. “Our family would lie down and look at various places on the Moon that he would identify based on his mapping and his study guides,” Catherine explained. Many of those mapped sites were later observed up close by the Artemis II crew during their flyby.

    One of the most tense moments of the mission for the family came during the crew’s pass behind the far side of the Moon, when all communications with Earth were intentionally cut off for roughly 40 minutes. Catherine admitted that this period triggered particular anxiety: “I wanted to be there for that, because as someone who has never flown in space, I wanted to make sure they actually reacquired signal.” She said she was surprised by the calm, confident energy of mission control teams, who showed no visible stress, trusting entirely in the pre-planned flight sequence.

    “It has been a very emotional week,” Catherine said. Before the launch, Catherine, her children, and the families of the other three Artemis II astronauts gathered near the Florida launch pad to watch the rocket lift off. “It was absolutely incredible. And I think everyone is sort of at a loss for words. I don’t think anyone was quite prepared,” she recalled.

    To stay connected during the mission, Catherine and their three children pre-recorded personal videos for Jeremy to view while he orbits near the Moon. The astronaut later told reporters that watching those messages in deep space was an unforgettable experience.

    For Catherine, the mix of overwhelming joy, pride, and lingering anxiety has defined the week, as the family counts down to the crew’s splashdown in the Pacific Ocean, scheduled for Friday. “There’s been a lot of happiness and excitement, a lot of joy but also some anxiety and some wanting to get him home safely,” she said. The Hansen family is now preparing to welcome Jeremy home after his history-making journey.

  • ASX 200 closes higher as oil prices surge on escalating Middle East tensions

    ASX 200 closes higher as oil prices surge on escalating Middle East tensions

    Even as fragile ceasefire efforts in the Middle East unraveled just 24 hours after they were struck, Australia’s benchmark share market managed to hold onto a mild upward trajectory in Thursday’s trading session. New cross-border strikes against Lebanon renewed geopolitical uncertainty across global markets, but the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) still closed out the day with small incremental gains, bucking fears of a broader downturn.

    The benchmark ASX 200 index added 21.4 points, or 0.24 percent, to close at 8,973.20, while the wider All Ordinaries index edged up 3.2 points to finish at 9,168.90. Of the 11 major industry sectors tracked on the exchange, only four closed with positive gains, led by a massive 2.58 percent surge in the energy sector. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the information technology sector recorded a steep 6.46 percent drop, erasing most of the prior day’s strong rally.

    Market analyst Tony Sycamore of IG explained that a rebound in global crude oil prices triggered the sharp pullback in tech stocks. “The rebound in crude oil prices has weighed heavily on the ASX200 Tech sector, which has given back almost all of yesterday’s impressive 7.31% gain,” Sycamore noted. Global benchmark oil prices climbed 2.4 percent to settle at $US97.06 a barrel, reversing the previous day’s downward movement as geopolitical instability in the oil-rich Middle East erased hopes of falling energy costs.

    The day’s biggest losing stock was logistics tech firm WiseTech Global, which plummeted 10.9 percent to close at $38.62 per share. By contrast, major Australian energy firms posted robust double-digit and single-digit gains. Woodside Energy rose 3.96 percent to $33.33, while Santos gained 2.45 percent to $7.95. Refiners and retailers Ampol and Viva Energy closed up 3.46 percent and 3.31 percent respectively, boosted by a federal government announcement that Export Finance Australia had finalized terms to support increased fuel imports into Australia.

    Regional lender Bendigo and Adelaide Bank emerged as one of the top-performing financial stocks of the day, jumping 8.41 percent after announcing two new partnerships with tech firms that will cut annual operating costs by $65 million via workforce reductions. The bank also reported stronger-than-expected cash profits for the March 2025 quarter, coming in $138 million above analyst consensus forecasts. Australia’s big four retail banks also posted mild positive growth: National Australia Bank led the group with a 2.18 percent gain to $45.50, ANZ climbed 1.07 percent to $38.75, Westpac added 1.67 percent to $42.65, and Commonwealth Bank rose 1.29 percent to $182.53.

    Against the US dollar, the Australian dollar held steady through the session’s volatility, ending trading flat at 70.3 US cents.

  • Lach and load: Lachlan Galvin produces masterclass as the Bulldogs snap Penrith’s perfect start to the year

    Lach and load: Lachlan Galvin produces masterclass as the Bulldogs snap Penrith’s perfect start to the year

    In an NRL upset that echoes one of professional wrestling’s most iconic shocking results, the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs have brought Penrith Panthers’ historic undefeated season bid to a crashing halt, claiming a 32-16 victory at Sydney’s Accor Stadium on Thursday night. The match was billed as a celebration for Panthers star halfback Nathan Cleary, who was set to mark his 200th NRL appearance, but the night quickly turned sour for the league-leading side. What made the result all the more remarkable is that the Bulldogs claimed the win without their injured captain Stephen Crichton, silencing widespread critics of the club and young playmaker Lachlan Galvin in one dominant 80-minute performance.

    Galvin entered the match under intense public and media scrutiny, with widespread questions raised over his attacking output and ability to compete at the top NRL level. But the young five-eighth delivered a career-defining performance that dominated the contest from the opening whistle. He finished the night with four line-break assists, constantly tearing apart Penrith’s vaunted left-edge defence, and built a devastating on-field combination with forward Jacob Preston that stepped up multiple gears when it mattered most. Galvin guided the Bulldogs to an early 16-0 lead, setting up Preston for a pivotal try with a perfectly weighted short ball before creating the match-clinching score for Sitili Tupouniua. Beyond his playmaking, he showed unprecedented defensive intensity, repeatedly crashing into tackles and displaying a kicking range and accuracy that had not been seen in his previous outings this season.

    Recalled winger Bronson Xerri, returning to the top flight after a spell in the NSW Cup, added to the Bulldogs’ standout performance by setting up the club’s second try, while coach Cameron Ciraldo will now see this upset as one of the signature wins of his tenure at Belmore. Penrith entered the contest on unprecedented form: they became the first NRL side in history to open a season with five straight 20-point-plus victories, fueling widespread discussion about whether they could become the first team in decades to finish a full regular season undefeated. That conversation has now been firmly put to rest. To make matters worse for the Panthers, star edge forward Liam Martin was forced to leave the match early with a left knee injury, and key playmakers Cleary and Isaah Yeo turned in uncharacteristically underwhelming performances, with the club’s legendary impenetrable defence shut out for a full 38 minutes in the second half.

    Panthers winger Tom Jenkins did notch one historic milestone on the night, scoring two tries to extend his run of consecutive doubles to six matches. That achievement levels the record set by South Sydney Rabbitohs legend Alex Johnston back in 2021, and pushes Jenkins’ season try total to an extraordinary 14. His second try was particularly impressive, a perfectly timed finish onto a pin-point cross-field kick from Cleary that will feature in NRL highlight reels all season.

    The match was not without its contentious moments, however. Teenage Panthers forward Casey McLean, a touted future Origin representative, faces an anxious wait for the NRL’s match charge sheet to drop on Friday after he was sin-binned for a high tackle on Bulldogs prop Max King. The Bunker reviewed the contact on replay, which saw McLean’s shoulder connect with King’s head, and ordered referee to send the player from the field for a 10-minute spell off the pitch after the completion of the next set. Bulldogs utility Kurt Mann was also placed on report for a similar high contact incident on Panthers forward Scott Sorensen, but escaped a sin-bin suspension during the match.

  • Alleged car thief’s escape goes to pot after prickly landing

    Alleged car thief’s escape goes to pot after prickly landing

    A chaotic police chase across suburban Brisbane has ended in an unlikely and painful mishap, after a 17-year-old suspect accused of a string of property and car theft crimes made a desperate escape attempt that landed him directly in a backyard filled with spiky cactuses.

    The incident unfolded when Queensland Police officers targeted two teenage suspects — a 17-year-old from Crestmead and a 16-year-old accomplice — linked to multiple criminal offenses across Brisbane’s southern suburbs. According to police statements, the pair are suspected of targeting nine separate properties across four local suburbs, carrying out a pattern of theft and trespassing.

    As officers moved in to apprehend the suspects, the 17-year-old attempted to outrun police, scrambling over a residential fence in a bid to hide in a neighboring private backyard. What the teen did not account for, however, was that the yard was home to a dense collection of cacti. He landed directly among the spiny plants, and ended up embedded with more than 30 sharp cactus barbs across his body.

    During the course of the chase, the suspect also dropped a bag carrying 10 vehicle keys and a quantity of cannabis, which was recovered by investigating officers. Captured on official police body and scene footage, the teen can be seen lying prone on the ground next to a thick row of cacti as first responders from the police force attend to his injuries.

    Radio communications between officers captured the absurd nature of the incident, with a dispatcher asking if the suspect had only sustained light scratches to his legs, only for the on-scene officer to reply: “Yeah, you could say that, he’s got a large number of barbs.”

    Despite the painful encounter, the 17-year-old only suffered minor injuries from the cactus encounter. After receiving on-site medical attention from police, he was taken into police custody.

    Both teens have been formally charged over the alleged crime spree. The 17-year-old faces 11 criminal counts, including charges of attempted entry to a dwelling, possession of dangerous drugs, unlawful possession of suspected stolen property, and wilful damage. He is scheduled to appear before Brisbane Children’s Court on May 11.

    His 16-year-old co-accused was also taken into custody, facing 11 counts of attempted trespass alongside two additional charges. The younger suspect will make his first court appearance at Brisbane Children’s Court on April 20.

  • ‘Starting to bite’: Key union representing 25k NSW council workers calls for four-day work week in response to fuel crisis

    ‘Starting to bite’: Key union representing 25k NSW council workers calls for four-day work week in response to fuel crisis

    As global energy market volatility fueled by Middle East conflict sends Australian fuel costs spiraling, a major public sector union in New South Wales has launched a groundbreaking legal push to deliver relief to thousands of frontline council workers grappling with rapidly rising commuting expenses.

    The United Service Union (USU), which represents 25,000 local government employees across NSW, has submitted an application to the state’s Industrial Relations Commission, requesting emergency workplace measures to ease the financial burden placed on workers by the ongoing fuel crisis. Union leaders estimate that affected commuting workers are now paying an extra AU$50 to AU$100 per week to fill their vehicles, a cost that has stretched household budgets to breaking point for many.

    The union’s proposal asks the commission to greenlight a series of temporary, trigger-based adjustments that would activate once average weekly retail fuel prices climb above AU$2 per litre, and remain in place for an initial 12-month trial period. Under the plan, employers would be required to set default working-from-home arrangements for eligible roles. For staff who cannot perform their duties remotely, a four-day work week would be mandated. Additional measures include adjusting start and end times at worksites to cut down on commuting time and costs, and providing dedicated work transportation when practical.

    Daniel Papps, head of legal at the USU, explained that the policy targets two key benefits for both workers and the broader community. “Our members are telling us that the fuel crisis is really starting to bite,” Papps said. “By offering either home working or four-day working weeks it will help get more people off the road. This would save our members in the pocket, but would also help to conserve fuel for the people that need it the most.”

    The application held its first preliminary hearing before the Industrial Relations Commission on Thursday, where initial stakeholder discussions got underway. A follow-up hearing is scheduled for the following week to continue deliberations. Ahead of the court proceeding, the USU sent formal letters to all 128 local councils across NSW to outline the severe financial pressure skyrocketing fuel costs are placing on their workforce.

    In the letter, USU General Secretary Graeme Kelly emphasized the union’s commitment to a collaborative, mutually beneficial solution. “We recognise that councils are currently navigating significant operational pressures associated with fuel price increases and potential supply constraints,” Kelly wrote. “Our shared objective is to maintain service continuity while ensuring that employees are supported and able to continue working safely and sustainably. In this context, we are seeking a cooperative approach between councils and the USU to implement practical, temporary measures that support both operational resilience and workforce stability.”

    Papps added that the union remains open to negotiation: “We are hopeful we will be able to find a mutual position, but if we cannot we will be prepared to call for an order to be made. Our hope and desire is that we can come to a common sense conclusion.”

    Responding to the union’s application, a spokesperson for the NSW Local Government Association noted that there is no universal solution to address the current fuel crisis across all councils. “We understand the union’s position in wanting to advocate in the best interests of their members,” the spokesperson told the Australian Financial Review. “Councils across NSW are already managing the impact on their staff appropriately at this time.”

    If the court rules in the union’s favor, the decision would set a historic precedent for emergency workplace adjustments in response to cost-of-living crises, potentially opening the door for similar claims across other industries in Australia and beyond.