Papua New Guinea joins Australia as 2026 World Cup hosts
As they jostle to be included as part of the NRL’s expansion plans, the Pacific country has been handed a massive boost by its Australian neighbours.
- by Adam Pengilly, Christian Nicolussi and Dan Walsh
Latest
Eels face wooden spoon battle with $4.5m of talent on sidelines
Interim coach Trent Barrett will hold the fort for old Dragons teammate Jason Ryles with roughly 40 per cent of the Eels’ salary cap sidelined for the rest of the season.
- by Dan Walsh
Analysis
NRL 2024
Cleary’s clutch miracle shouldn’t have happened. But he’s just that good
After a 10-week injury lay-off, Nathan Cleary and his Panthers teammates needed just three simple plays to set up the NRL’s best match-winner for the most unlikely play.
- by Dan Walsh and Billie Eder
Shortly after taking this photo at Teahupo’o, Byron was face-down, blue and drowning
Teenage surf photographer Byron Mcloughlin, of North Curl Curl, chased the swell of a lifetime to the Olympic venue of Teahupo’o. He is lucky to be alive after the biggest wipeout of his life.
- by Dan Walsh
Sea Eagles 38 Titans 8
NRL 2024
End in sight to Brooks’ 223-game finals drought as he rains on Hasler’s parade
Luke Brooks owns the longest finals drought of any player, but surely not for long after helping shore up Manly’s surge to fifth following the Bulldogs’ later loss.
- by Dan Walsh
126m cruise ships, the Secret Service and Jesus bans: When surfing and the Olympics collide
The Games are descending on an island paradise and the world’s most intimidating wave, with all the rules, regulations and Olympic-sized logistics that entails.
- by Dan Walsh
Updated
State of Origin
‘I’d do the same’: Clubs rue injury, suspension toll as Origin melee costs $26,000
The Rabbitohs are fuming after losing skipper Cameron Murray for their finals charge as Penrith, Parramatta and Manly all wear the brunt of a brutal State of Origin decider.
- by Dan Walsh and Christian Nicolussi
Game, party, bed, flight: 16 hours after Origin kick-off Brian To’o was still wearing his playing kit
Blues winger Brian To’o was still wearing his NSW Origin playing kit 16 hours after kick-off and Michael Maguire brought back his famous baseball bat before taking one last swing at Queensland.
- by Dan Walsh
Holy Moses: NSW reclaim Origin shield after injured half stars in wild decider
NSW has reclaimed the Origin shield with just their third Suncorp Stadium win in a decider despite not leading until the 65th minute in a drama-packed contest.
- by Billie Eder and Dan Walsh
The no-poach clause that will keep Ryles’ claws out of Melbourne
The Storm have allowed Jason Ryles to begin work at Parramatta immediately, but he won’t be bringing any Melbourne players with him.
- by Adrian Proszenko, Billie Eder, Dan Walsh and Michael Chammas
Explosion imminent? The NRL’s most combustible halves enter the Suncorp furnace
Only South Sydney’s Cody Walker would join Mitch Moses and Jarome Luai on a podium of the game’s most fiery playmakers as they return to rugby league’s most hostile environment.
- by Dan Walsh