Sport

Transfer marketCashed-up rival eyes move for Storm star Smith

Melbourne Storm are in danger of losing star Brandon Smith to a Queensland raid, with one club leading race to poach the New Zealander from Victoria.

Travis Meyn

NRL FrenemiesFriendly fire: Roosters, Sharks stars’ lifelong bond

From kindergarten through junior footy and high school – even TV game shows – the Roosters’ Kyle Flanagan and Cronulla’s Blayke Brailey have been inseparable for 16-years. That all changes Saturday night.

David Riccio

Fight IslandHow a YouTube obsession taught plumber the UFC trade

Self-taught fighting machine Jamuie Mullarkey spent hours watching YouTube learning to mimic different moves. Now the UFC fighter is one of six Aussies heading at Abu Dhabi’s Fight Island in October.

Nick Walshaw

BasketballGiannis wins second straight NBA MVP award

Milwaukee Bucks' Greek forward Giannis Antetokounmpo has been named NBA MVP for the second successive season.

ExclusiveFittler’s mission: Footy legend shocked by junior league knifing

Stunned by the link between violent video games and criminal behaviour, NSW State of Origin coach Brad Fittler is determined to make a change to the lives of young people through physical activity and reviving a NSW institution.

David Riccio

Groundbreaking goldInsane: the shot behind Australia’s biggest pool party

The Australian women’s water polo team had lost the lead with just 13 seconds to go but these shock stars of the Sydney Olympics were never going to let the fairytale slip away, writes Julian Linden.

Julian Linden

Serious threatsHot field joins race to be Broncos boss

Ben Ikin won’t have things all his own way in the battle to become Broncos CEO with two football heavyweights emerging as serious threats to nab the job.

Peter Badel

SportEagle putt gives DeChambeau clubhouse lead

Bryson DeChambeau set a testing clubhouse target on day two of the 120th US Open as Winged Foot belatedly began to justify its fearsome reputation.

Ryan DanielsCaro, Ross and the Hot Take to end all Hot Takes

If the eighth-placed team hopping on a plane to Perth next week is feeling hard done by, maybe they should’ve considered finishing higher on the ladder. Why can’t respected footy voices see that?

Ryan Daniels

In-form jockeyParnham tells Pike: Catch me if you can

Chris Parnham leads the Perth jockeys’ premiership with 24 winners while William Pike rides in Melbourne this spring. Can he break the champion hoop’s grip on the title?

Jay Rooney

Giant risingRuck or forward role? Lobb finding his place at Freo

The Dockers giants opens up on his stuttering approach at goal, the right positional balance, the next step in Freo’s progression, and more.

Glen Quartermain

Daughter-of-a-gunFamous Bilcich name: Ebony eyes off Peel flag

Peel Thunder midfielder Ebony Bilcich looks to become a WAFLW premiership player, 12 years after her father Stephen won his last of three WAFL flags for East Fremantle.

Mitchell Woodcock, Picture: Peel Thunder

TennisBig names all advance to quarters in Rome

Victoria Azarenka, Simona Halep and Karolina Pliskova have all advanced to the quarter-finals of the Italian Open in Rome.

CyclingDenmark's Kragh Andersen wins 19th stage

Sunweb's Soren Kragh Andersen has claimed his second stage win of the Tour de France with a perfectly-timed attack late in the 19th stage.

Julien Pretot

Mark RobinsonRobbo: The jury is out on St Kilda’s finals credentials

Jack Steele keeps getting better, the Marshall-Ryder combination is firing and Brett Ratten is in charge. But determining just how much of a finals threat the Saints are isn’t easy, writes Mark Robinson.

Mark Robinson

ON THE MARCHThe wait is over as Saints break nine-year finals drought

St Kilda will play finals for the first time in nine years after a convincing win over the Giants, a result which ended the season of Leon Cameron’s side. A big clash against Collingwood or the Western Bulldogs awaits.

Sam Landsberger

Rugby LeagueParramatta on track for top-four NRL spot

Parramatta have all but wrapped up a top-four finish but were unconvincing in their NRL victory over Brisbane at Bankwest Stadium on Friday night.

Pamela Whaley

Gloucester ParkBull torpedoes rivals in Navy Cup

Champion pacer Chicago Bull brilliantly wins the $50,000 Navy Cup.

Ernie Manning

BIG CONCERNUgly finals series looms as Dogs change plan of attack

There are serious fears growing that Queensland will deliver a damp and dull finals series, a clubs train with soap and the Bulldogs’ brilliant brigade of handballers told to tweak their game.

Sam Landsberger

Expert opinionMatty Johns: Why minor premiers could end up finals duds

How the Panthers respond in the big moments, in big matches when the Roosters and Storm, filled with tough, experienced veterans of high pressure football, tighten the screws, will be key to their finals hopes.

Matty Johns

Finals tightropeWe can win it from fifth: Darling

If the premiership can be won from outside the top four it will happen in 2020, according to West Coast forward Jack Darling.

Braden Quartermaine

Dockers blowWhy Freo will slide back four spots in draft order

Fremantle are set to be shut out of the top 10 at December’s national draft — likely costing them the chance to nab either of WA guns Logan McDonald or Denver Grainger-Barrass.

Braden Quartermaine

UpdatedLate Mail: Cordner out, Manly lose big bopper

The Roosters have given captain Boyd Cordner a week to rest his aching head while Manly must tackle the Titans without one of their key forwards. FULL WACKO’S WHISPERS.

Wacko's Whispers, David Riccio, Peter Badel, Christopher Honnery, Gilbert Gardiner, Michael Carayannis, Wilson Smith

2010 WAFL GF revisitedCramp the secret to Krakouer’s famous match-winner

A sudden bout of severe cramp was the secret weapon that helped Andrew Krakouer kick the “one in a thousand” match-winning goal in the final moments of the 2010 grand final.

John Townsend