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  • Roosters’ tough contract calls with November arriving

    The Sydney Roosters face a big battle to retain their superstars as rival clubs begin pitching to off-contract players.

    Penrith’s triple premiership-winning five-eighth Jarome Luai headlines a list of more than 150 players who are contracted through 2024, but able to field rival offers for 2025 from November 1.

    Other big names include Newcastle’s recent State of Origin debutant Bradman Best, Brisbane’s grand-final standout Ezra Mam and crafty North Queensland five-eighth Tom Dearden.

    But Trent Robinson’s Roosters undoubtedly have the biggest pool of top-level talent hitting the open market as they look to string together a more consistent season in 2024.

    Five-eighth Luke Keary sits top of that list, with the club facing a difficult call over whether he and Sam Walker are the right halves pairing to inspire more premiership success.

    The perennial heavyweights have endured two up-and-down seasons and Keary, who has struggled with concussion in recent times, turns 32 in February.

    Roosters utility Joey Manu is an enticing prospect for rival clubs, able to play fullback at an elite level but stuck behind captain James Tedesco for that spot at Bondi.

    Manu – who has previously insisted he has no preference as to which position he plays – is tied to a Roosters deal worth an estimated $800,000 per season, big money for a centre.

    Roosters edge forward Angus Crichton has repeatedly been linked with a switch back to his boyhood code of rugby union, but talks of an immediate move have broken down.

    He remains contracted through 2024 on a reported $600,000 per year – another potential financial spanner in the works for the Tricolours if he opts against moving to the 15-man code.

    Stalwarts Nat Butcher and Daniel Tupou are also without deals beyond 2024, as is prop Terrell May, whose impact off the bench was vital as the Roosters made a late charge to the 2023 finals.

    Veteran prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves turns 35 in January and is off contract at the end of 2024, but appears likely to retire at season’s end.

    The Wests Tigers, Canterbury and St George Illawarra are all set to spring into action from November 1, eager to bolster their stocks following disappointing 2023 campaigns.

    Wednesday will be the first official day on the job for new Dragons coach Shane Flanagan and his Gold Coast counterpart Des Hasler.

    St George Illawarra are poised to make a serious play for Luai to start in the halves.

    The playing future of first-choice five-eighth Junior Amone is clouded following a guilty verdict in his recent assault trial, while halfback Ben Hunt has made no secret of his desire to leave the joint venture.

  • Kovalica Waller’s Golden boy

    Chris Waller has put blinkers on Kovalica to sharpen him up for a slight distance drop.

    The Cox Plate came under serious consideration for Kovalica, but his performance in the King Charles III Stakes convinced connections the $10 million Golden Eagle was the right target.

    The Queensland Derby winner was one of the few horses to make headway from back in the field, coming from last on the corner to finish fifth behind stablemate Fangirl.

    That 1600m effort has proved the determining factor in resisting the temptation to step Kovalica up to 2040m in last Saturday’s Cox Plate and instead fit him with blinkers for a Golden Eagle (1500m) assault.

    “Had he not sprinted as hard as what he did in the King Charles, the Cox Plate would have been the logical race to go to,” trainer Chris Waller‘s racing manager Charlie Duckworth said.

    “But the fact he was reeling in older weight-for-age stars, and that he’s only four once …. the Cox Plate is still going to be there for him next year.”

    Waller won the inaugural Golden Eagle with Kolding, who like Kovalica was raced by Neville Morgan and sported the prominent owner’s blue and white colours.

    But they aren’t the only commonalities the horses share.

    Both are by Ocean Park, both won the Queensland Guineas the previous winter and like Kolding, Kovalica will tackle the Golden Eagle fourth-up and off the back of a Group 1 mile run at Randwick.

    Duckworth can make cases for all of the stable’s runners but says Kovalica’s fast finishing second in the Epsom Handicap (1600m) and his King Charles Stakes effort make him Waller’s top seed.

    “He pretty much has to be,” Duckworth said.

    “Despite only running second and fifth, you couldn’t have asked more from any horse in his last two runs.”

    The commitment of jockey Tommy Berry has also been a confidence boost.

    Berry has been retained for the Golden Eagle mount after riding Kovalica last start and hasn’t missed an opportunity to sit on his back since.

    “Tommy has come in and galloped him on the Saturday, Tuesday, (last) Saturday and again on Tuesday.

    “He is putting the hard yards in and he has got bags of faith in the horse.”

    Kovalica ($10) will lead a five-pronged Golden Eagle bid for Waller, although he has been a market drifter since landing gate 16 at Tuesday night’s barrier draw.

    His barn mates fared better with Rediener drawing three, Osipenko and Vienna Princess alongside each other in barriers eight and nine respectively, while Age Of Kings will jump from gate 11.

  • Good signs for Simmons as Nets nab first win of season

    Ben Simmons is impressing coach Jacque Vaughn and his Brooklyn teammates early in the NBA season, falling just shy of a triple-double in the win over Charlotte.

    Ben Simmons is showing shades of his best to begin the NBA season, starring in Brooklyn’s first win of the campaign over Charlotte.

    A run of injuries hampered Simmons after he moved to the Nets last season as part of a highly-publicised trade that sent James Harden to Philadelphia.

    But Simmons has appeared undaunted by the prospect of repaying Brooklyn for their faith this season and came within two assists of a triple-double in Tuesday’s 133-121 road win.

    Running the point, the Australian (11 points, team-high 10 rebounds, team-high eight assists) masterminded a 15-2 run that helped the Nets begin the game on the front foot.

    Brooklyn never surrendered their lead, though the Hornets did cut it to single digits either side of halftime and then again in the final period.

    Simmons’ passing game out of trouble was especially effective at setting the Nets up in transition and it was encouraging to see him use his size to take the paint on.

    “I said this to him specifically at shoot-around, ‘I saw progression from game one to game two and I’m looking forward to seeing the progression from game two to game three’,” said Nets coach Jacque Vaughn.

    “He definitely set the tone for us to start the basketball game. I think his physicality, his ability to push the basketball was high-level for us, getting guys open for shots.

    “It’s a joy to play that way. I think this team is built versatility-wise to play that way. We’ll continue to embrace it.”

    Simmons would likely have finished the game with his second triple-double as a Net had he not been shifted to the post late in the fourth quarter.

    Brooklyn, without Nic Claxton due to a left ankle sprain, were down a big man in their rotation.

    Nets forward Cam Thomas (33 points) lauded Simmons on his start to the season.

    “Him playing like this, I wouldn’t say it’s at his full potential yet but him getting back in stride, he’s looking real good. He’s been solid,” Thomas said.

    “We’re getting comfortable with him. Just figuring out how he plays is good, he’s playing fast, up-tempo. He’s going to find us.

    “The harder you run, the more easy baskets you can get from him. Obviously he’s playing well. I’m happy for him.”

  • Rugby Australia accept coach Jones’s resignation

    Rugby Australia have officially accepted the resignation of embattled coach Eddie Jones, who quit following the Wallabies’ disappointing World Cup showing.

    Rugby Australia have officially confirmed the resignation of coach Eddie Jones, who will depart next month.

    RA chief executive Phil Waugh will hold a press conference in Sydney on Tuesday afternoon as the search for a new coach begins.

    After signing a five-year deal Jones quit the post after less than 10 months on the back of a shambolic Rugby World Cup campaign in France, where the Wallabies failed to get out of the pool stage for the first time.

    They also endured record losses to Fiji and Wales, with Jones only managing two wins from his nine Tests in charge.

    The 63-year-old had been heralded as the Wallabies’ saviour when he was appointed as a ‘captain’s pick’ by chairman Hamish McLennan after the axing of previous incumbent Dave Rennie.

    Jones coached Australia to the World Cup final in 2003, and took England to the 2019 showpiece before being sacked late last year after a run of poor results.

    But he made a series of confounding decisions on his return to the Wallabies hot-seat, including naming a young, inexperienced squad for the World Cup and leaving out long-serving skipper Michael Hooper and playmaker Quade Cooper.

    Australia’s players were also rocked when Jones was linked with the Japan coaching vacancy. He was forced to deny he’d interviewed for the role just days out from the tournament opener in Paris.

    Two weeks ago, Jones insisted he was “absolutely committed” to overseeing the Wallabies through to the next World Cup, on home soil in 2027.

    But by last weekend he had offered his resignation to the RA hierarchy.

    It’s believed Jones will walk away from his hefty contract without a pay-out.

    He insisted he had no other international role to go to, including the Japan position which has yet to be filled.

    World Cup-winner Stephen Larkham and fellow former Wallabies assistant Dan McKellar are expected to be RA’s top targets to replace Jones.

    Larkham is currently coaching the ACT Brumbies after taking over from McKellar, who is head coach at Leicester Tigers in the UK.

    McKellar was Rennie’s forwards coach, and believed to be viewed as next in line to succeed the Kiwi, but resigned earlier this year when Jones was appointed to the top job.

  • Amelia’s Jewel shining ahead of Golden Eagle

    Simon Miller is confident Amelia’s Jewel can bounce back in the $10 million Golden Eagle.

    His stable star may have been beaten for just the second time in her career last start, but Simon Miller couldn’t be happier with Amelia’s Jewel ahead of Saturday’s 1500m Golden Eagle at Rosehill.

    Beaten 5.5 lengths as a $2.40 favorite in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) last start, Miller is confident the Group 1 winning mare is 100%, working her the Sydney way of going at Flemington on Tuesday morning.

    “Her work was brilliant, really good, strong, weights good, she’s eating up again which is what she always does. I was just waiting for her to get back on her game before I increased her work again and she did,” Miller said.

    Damian Lane will remain on Amelia’s Jewel this weekend, forgoing rides at Flemington to partner her, something Miller takes confidence in.

    “He reverse galloped her last Tuesday… it was her first time proper reverse gallop, she got on the right lead straight away and then Saturday morning she launched onto the right lead straight away and he said “mate, she’s taken to this pretty good,” Miller said.

    “He was glowing in his post-race gallop.”

    Miller puts Amelia’s Jewel’s poor performance in the Toorak Handicap down to the occasion and an “off day”, something he noticed in her demeanour pre-race.

    “We were tickled pink going to Caulfield, and then I got into the pre-enclosure and I thought we’re in a bit of trouble here, it’s amazing how externally they can look brilliant and internally there’s something not right,” Miller said.

    Originally with a tough decision between the Golden Eagle or last Saturday’s Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m), Miller and owner Peter Walsh effectively had their decision made for them after her ninth placing in the Toorak.

    “We were probably lucky we got three weeks to the Eagle… You can’t hit the Cox Plate like that… that extra week just let us idle her along so the timing was perfect,” Miller said.

    Amelia’s Jewel will travel to Sydney on Wednesday night but won’t get a feel for the Rosehill track before Saturday, set to stable her with John O’Shea.

    “I’m going to stay at Randwick, I’ve got to stay at my old bosses, at O’Shea’s, otherwise he’ll kill me… It’s interesting isn’t it, how will she go with it (Rosehill), I’m not sure. She’s pretty professional, she got around The Valley her first go… I think she’ll be fine,” Miller said.

    Miller will bring Amelia’s Jewel back to Perth after Saturday’s Golden Eagle, for which she is the $4.50 favorite, and hasn’t completely ruled out running in The Pinnacles at Ascot in December.

  • Thirteen Aussies to challenge for 2024 world surf title

    The World Surf League has confirmed the competitors who will challenge for 2024’s elite Championship Tour, with 13 Australians making the cut.

    Thirteen Australians have been confirmed for 2024’s World Surf League Championship Tour and can look forward to staking their claim to be crowned the world’s best.

    Jacob Willcox, India Robinson, Sally Fitzgibbons and Isabella Nichols have added their names to the roster of nine Aussies who qualified through last season’s final Championship Tour (CT) rankings.

    In the men’s competition, Queenslander Ethan Ewing will bid to go one better than his second-place finish in 2023 as he again suits up to challenge reigning world champ Filipe Toledo of Brazil.

    Fellow Australians Jack Robinson and Ryan Callinan finished in the top-10 last time out, while Connor O’Leary was 11th.

    Western Australia’s Willcox qualified for the CT by virtue of finishing third in the WSL’s 2023 Challenger Series, while surfing legend Kelly Slater has been handed a wildcard to take his place among the 36 men contesting the title.

    Tyler Wright was the highest-ranked Australian woman in 2023, finishing third in the rankings behind champion Caroline Marks and No.2 Carissa Moore.

    She will challenge on the CT again next season, where she will be joined by five of her countrywomen, including eight-time world champion Stephanie Gilmore.

    Victoria’s Robinson topped the rankings in the WSL’s qualifying Challenger Series to return to the CT, with three-time world runner-up Fitzgibbons and Queensland’s Nichols also making the step up.

    The 2024 CT campaign will kick off at Hawaii’s legendary Banzai Pipeline, with the mid-season cut at the season’s halfway point following the Margaret River event in WA.

    The season will conclude at the one-day WSL finals, where the top five men and women will battle for the world title.

    “We’re excited to welcome and officially confirm the new class of Championship Tour competitors,” Jessi Miley-Dyer, WSL’s chief of sport said.

    “We’re excited to see the potential of this year’s rookie class and how they will rise to the occasion of competing against the best in the world.”

    AUSTRALIANS QUALIFIED FOR THE 2024 WSL CHAMPIONSHIP TOUR

    MEN

    Ethan EwingJack RobinsonRyan CallinanConnor O’LearyLiam O’BrienCallum RobsonJacob Willcox*

    WOMEN

    Tyler WrightMolly PicklumStephanie GilmoreIndia Robinson*Sally Fitzgibbons*Isabella Nichols*

    (* denotes: qualified through the 2023 Challenger Series)

  • Hong Kong star claims Cox Plate

    Hong Kong’s Romantic Warrior has scored a last stride thrilling win in the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley.

    Champion James McDonald’s faith in Hong Kong superstar Romantic Warrior has been vindicated with the jockey landing a second Cox Plate victory. 

    After guiding Anamoe to success in last year’s Group 1 weight-for-age championship, McDonald had to call on all his strength to get Romantic Warrior home in the 2040m contest at Moonee Valley on Saturday. 

    McDonald never lost faith in Romantic Warrior despite the Danny Shum-trained gelding being beaten at his Australian debut in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on October 7. 

    Starting the $3.60 favourite, Romantic Warrior scored by a nose from Mr Brightside ($9) with Alligator Blood ($6) a short-neck away third. 

    Romantic Warrior returned a win dividend of $2.80 on the World Pool. 

    McDonald made trips to Hong Kong to partner Romantic Warrior to win the lead up to the Hong Kong Cup as well as the Hong Kong Cup at the international meeting last year and was also aboard gelding to win the Queen Elizabeth II Cup in April. 

    “This horse is pretty special to me,” McDonald said. 

    “I mentioned if he came to a Cox Plate, he’d be a suitable horse. I meant what I said and credit to (owner) Peter (Lau Pak Fai) and Danny. 

    “It takes a hell of a lot of balls to come out of Hong Kong with all the prizemoney there. It is one of the best racing jurisdictions in the world and they come here and showcase their boy. 

    “I reckon he’s got more to come, too. 

    “He’s been bubbling. He showed a significant amount of improvement like I thought he would, and he loves the bloody Valley!” 

    The first three horses across the line were positioned third, fourth and fifth in the running line behind King Colorado and Zaaki. 

    McDonald elected to ease three wide racing to the 600m mark with Alligator Blood taking up his spot. 

    Romantic Warrior wobbled slightly around the turn, as did Zaaki which allowed Mr Brightside to get up on the fence to hit the front 50m out, only to be grabbed on the line. 

    McDonald said he was comfortable where Romantic Warrior was positioned in the race. 

    “I knew I was on the right horse, and I kept going, ‘he’s the best horse, he’s the best horse’ so I’d ride him like it,” McDonald said. 

    “I took a gamble about the 1000 (metres) or 1200. We elected to come back a spot and to the minute right now I believe that was the winning move.” 

    Shum said it had been a gamble to send Romantic Warrior from Hong Kong to contest Saturday’s race. 

    Romantic Warrior had to adapt to different training conditions in quarantine at Werribee having not raced since late in May in Hong Kong. 

    The gelding had an interrupted preparation before arrival in Australia missing an important trial and initially not taking to a change in feed. 

    But Romantic Warrior was able to overcome that adversity to claim Australia’s best race. 

    “I don’t know how to tell you how happy I am. I am really happy,” Shum said. 

    “I want to thank Peter the owner for giving permission to come here. James Mcdonald, all the team, all the Hong Kong fans, my wife Christine, my son Aaron. 

    “I love you! I love you!” 

    After Romantic Warrior’s first-up Australian defeat, Shum said he was a little deflated, but knew the gelding would improve with the outing. 

    “He was not really ready, but he got better day-by-day,” Shum said. 

    “I was confident he would run a good race, but it is a strong race. 

    “He overcame all of the challenges and the difficulties. James McDonald gave me a very good report.” 

    Shum said Romantic Warrior would return to Hong Kong as early as possible to prepare for the Group 1 Hong Kong Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin on December 10.

  • 32 left in Cup, penalty for Cleveland

    Monee Valley Cup winner jumps to 14th in order of entry.

    A penalty for his Moonee Valley Cup win, combined with natural attrition, has Cleveland safely in the field for next week’s $8.4 million Group 1 Melbourne Cup.

    Racing Victoria’s head of handicapping David Hegan issued the Kris Lees-trained entire a 0.5kg penalty for Friday night’s win under 55.5kg, taking his Melbourne Cup weight to 52kg.

    Placed 24th in the order of entry prior to the win, Cleveland elevated a few spots owing to several higher-weighted runners not being paid-up as third-round acceptors and now sits in 14th position after the penalty.

    “Under the set weights and penalty conditions of the Moonee Valley Gold Cup, Cleveland was allocated the base weight on Friday night,” Hegan said.

    “Thus, he came in well at the weights against some of his opposition on the night and compared to where they are in the Melbourne Cup weights.

    “Vow and Declare and Future History will now meet Cleveland 0.5kg and 3kg better respectively in the Melbourne Cup after the penalty. If the luckless Athabascan makes the field it would be a 3.5kg turnaround in his favour against Cleveland too.”

    Cleveland becomes the first Moonee Valley Gold Cup winner to receive a Melbourne Cup penalty since 2015 when The United States moved to 52.5kg with a 2.5kg penalty.

    Cleveland will be one of two Melbourne Cup runners for six-time winner Lloyd Williams and his partners after Epsom Derby winner Serpentine jumped to 22nd in the order of entry.

    In 23rd position is More Felons with True Marvel 24th but those two are not yet guaranteed a run with a ballot exemption on offer to the winner of Saturday’s The Archer at Flemington, while Wednesday’s Bendigo Cup contains two runners – Hasta La War (29th) and Interpretation (31st) – who can elevate their position in the order of entry if they win and receive a penalty.

  • Morphettville Parks Races Review on 28th October 2023

    The three-year-old gelding Give Some Lip raced away to bring up his first win at his fourth start in the 1250 metre opening event on the Parks track at Morphettville on Saturday.

    Prepared by Will Clarken and Niki O’Shea and guided to victory by apprentice Ben Price Give Some Lip  came from a worse than midfield position with a late run to take the event.

    Jason Holder continued his purple patch of form when he rode Free Vino  to a win in the 1400 metre second race.

    Coming out of the Gordon Richards and Damien Moyle stable Free Vino raced in the rear of the field before flying home to win.

    Moving his operation from Morphettville to Murray Bridge trainer Travis Doudle was well pleased with the win of Prince Jofra in the 1550 metre third race.

    Having the services of apprentice Alana Livesey Prince Jofra raced in a forward position all the way.

    Apprentice Ben Price landed his second winner for the afternoon when Manzala won his first race in 1190 days in the 1950 metre fourth race.

    Trained by Ashton Downing Manzala settled in a midfield position before ging in to win.

    Anjopin landed his second win in seven days when he took out the 1250 metre fifth race.

    Prepared by Sue and Jason Jaensch the well placed Anjopin gave apprentice Maggie Collett her first win since being injured at Ceduna last December.

    Coming off a last start second Miss Kermie went one better when she took out the 1400 meter sixth race.

    Having the services of Emily Finnegan the Phillip Stokes prepared Miss Kermie raced one off the pace in winning her fourth race from fourteen starts.

    Apprentice Sheriden Clarke was all smiles after her win on Trumpsta in the 1950 metre seventh race.

    Being under the care of Ron Stokes Trumpsta was another runner to be well placed.

    Establishing his base at Gawler in recent times trainer George Dimitropoulos was all smiles with the win of his charge Mouse Almighty in the 1000 metre eighth race.

    Having the services of Stacey Metcalf Mouse Almighty came from a midfield position with a strong run over the concluding stages.

    Foster Street was one of the few winners to come from well back when he won the 1000 metre final event.

    Being under the care of Byron Cozamanis senior and having the services of Ryan Hurdle Foster Street brought up his third win in fourteen starts.

  • Australia close in on WC semi after classic win over NZ

    Australia have beaten New Zealand by just five runs in Dharamshala to move closer to a semi-final place at the cricket World Cup in India.

    Australia are closing in on a World Cup semi-final berth after a pulsating five-run win over New Zealand, who came perilously close to pulling off the biggest successful run chase in the tournament’s history.

    Australia appeared in the box seat after a 175-run opening stand from newly-fit Travis Head and in-form David Warner propelled them to a formidable total of 388 in Dharamshala on Saturday.

    But a second World Cup century to Rachin Ravindra (116) kept the Black Caps on track, before their last recognised batter Jimmy Neesham (58 off 39 balls) stepped up for a furious cameo.

    Only called in to replace the injured Mark Chapman, Neesham was tasked with scoring 19 from the last over to seal a famous win and once again put Australia’s knockout hopes in doubt.

    Mitchell Starc bowled a wide from his second delivery, which slipped past wicketkeeper Josh Inglis for four byes and reduced the target from 18 runs off five balls to only 13 from as many.

    But the Australians put their bodies on the line with fine fielding in the final over and the Kiwis were unable to find the boundary.

    After hitting Starc’s penultimate delivery to deep mid-wicket, Neesham was made to pay as he attempted to scramble back for a second run, run out by Inglis at the striker’s end.

    Paceman Lockie Ferguson could not hit the six required off the final ball and the Australians were home.

    “It was very close in the end, a hell of a game,” said Head, named player of the match.

    After beginning the India-based tournament with consecutive defeats, Pat Cummins’ side have now won four games in a row and will likely make the knockout stage even if they lose one more.

    They will start favourites in their three remaining group-stage games against out-of-sorts England as well as Afghanistan and Bangladesh.

    In his first hit-out since breaking his hand six weeks ago, World Cup debutant Head (109) partnered with Warner (81) to punish the Kiwis for sending Australia in to bat.

    Their 175-run partnership, posted at a run-rate of 9.13, was the fastest for an opening pair scoring over 150 runs in an ODI.

    “We complement each other really well,” Head said.

    “It’s just about making sure we react well, making sure we stay connected with each other, stay in the moment and play what’s coming towards us.”

    Kiwi quick Matt Henry (1-67) unwittingly kickstarted Head’s superb innings with two back-to-back no balls in the third over.

    Head smacked both free hits for six on his way to posting the fastest half-century of the tournament (50 off 25 balls) so far.

    Warner, for his part, was 19 runs short of becoming the first Australian in history to notch a century in three consecutive ODIs.

    Part-time off-spinner Glenn Phillips (3-37) sent both openers packing, first catching Warner from his own delivery and then bowling Head.

    He ended up as pick of the bowlers for the Kiwis, who took 5-99 after the opening onslaught to prevent what could have been an astronomical score.

    Just as Australia did against the Kiwi quicks, Ravindra took advantage of a wicket that offered little for the world-class Australian pace attack.

    He brought his century up by belting Glenn Maxwell over deep mid-wicket for six and was given an extra life shortly thereafter, dropped by a gutted Maxwell from his own bowling.

    Red-hot spinner Adam Zampa (3-74) helped ensure Ravindra was never able to form a steady partnership, though.

    Zampa removed the dangerous Daryl Mitchell (54) and later soared atop the ladder for most wickets this tournament (16).

    Late cameos from Cummins (37 off 14 balls) and Maxwell (41 off 24) reinvigorated the Australians with late runs that were ultimately crucial to holding the spirited Kiwis at bay.