Good evening!

Last week, we asked if you’d like to see a community sports segment in the newsletter once a week.

After the overwhelmingly positive response we received, we’ve decided to collect some stories this week and add a segment on every Friday.

So, if you have a story about a sports team or individual you’d like us to highlight from your local community please click on the link below and fill out the form. Please add a photo if you have one. We can't wait!

I’ve got 10 seconds

Stat of the day

11
The number of professional boxing matches Australian boxer Skye Nicolson has now won without a loss. Nicolson was awarded victory by unanimous decision over the Dominican Republic’s Dyana Vargas in Philadelphia on Saturday. As a result, Nicolson retains the WBC featherweight title. 

Quote of the day

"Pretty dang cool."
22-year-old Major League Baseball player Paul Skenes, who is a pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates, during the MLB All-Star Game media day. Skenes has been selected to play in the MLB All-Star game despite playing only 11 games in the league. It is the lowest number of MLB appearances for an All-Star player in the league’s 91-year history.

Random fact of the day

Australian swimmer Shane Gould is the only swimmer in history to hold world records for the 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m freestyle and 200m individual medley all at the same time. At the age of 15, she won five Olympic medals at the 1972 Games in Munich. Gould then retired at the age of 16.  Oh, and she won Australian Survivor in 2018 at the age of 61.

I’ve got 30 seconds

In case you missed it…

🏀 Caitlin Clark continues to break records in the WNBA. Over the weekend, she became the first rookie to reach the combined milestone of 400 points, 150 assists and 100 rebounds in a season. Clark, who plays for the Indiana Fever, is still in a race with the Chicago Sky’s Angel Reese for the Rookie of the Year award. Reese is currently on a record 15-game streak of posting double-doubles. 

⚽ Former Socceroo Harry Kewell has been released from his position as manager by Japanese club Yokohama F. Marinos. Kewell, who represented Australia 58 times, spent less than seven months as manager at the club which has endured four straight losses and sits in 12th (out of 20) on the league ladder. Fellow Australian John Hutchinson will step in as interim manager.

🏉 AFL prospect Lance Collard is being investigated by the AFL integrity unit for allegedly making homophobic slurs during a Victorian Football League game between Sandringham (affiliated with St Kilda) and Williamstown on Saturday. If found guilty, he will receive a suspension. 

🏉 NRLW star Corban Baxter, who plays for the Sydney Roosters, has been ruled out for the season after rupturing her ACL during a pre-season match against the Cronulla Sharks last night. Baxter joins fellow Roosters players Brydie Parker (broken forearm) and Shawden Burton (hamstring injury) on the sideline. The NRLW season begins next Thursday with a clash between the Sydney Roosters and Newcastle Knights. 

I’ve got 1 minute

The Boomers (Australia’s men’s basketball team) lost to Team USA 98-92 in an exhibition match in Abu Dhabi overnight. 

How it unfolded

The Aussies were behind by 24 points during the third quarter but clawed their way back into the game to trail by just six points with five minutes remaining. 

Jock Landale starred for Australia leading all scorers with 20 points. Teammates Josh Giddey scored 17 and Dyson Daniels scored 14. 

What they said 

Boomers coach Brian Goorjian said: “The exciting part was we got better as the game went on. My job right now is to convince my team, ‘How do you win?’ We came back with the style we wanted to play and it came through the defence. In the second half [we had] the grit, got back to the bump and grind and controlling the tempo of the game.”

What’s next?

The Boomers will play Serbia tomorrow at 2:00am (AEST) in their last game before the Olympics. 

You can watch the game on Foxtel or for free on Kayo. 

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I’ve got 2 minutes

The State of Origin men’s series decider is finally here. The NSW Blues will take on the Queensland Maroons tomorrow night at Suncorp Stadium (Lang Park), in Brisbane.

Significance of Suncorp Stadium

Queensland have a formidable record at home. In the history of the men’s State of Origin, there have been 13 deciders played at Suncorp Stadium and Queensland has won 11 of them (The Blues won in 1994 and 2005). 

Recent History

Queensland is seeking a third straight series win in State of Origin. Since player-turned-coach Billy Slater has been in charge, the Maroons have not lost a series. This year’s decider looks to be his biggest test after the Blues dominated Game II 38-18 on neutral turf in Melbourne. 

NSW changes

Blues coach Michael Maguire, coaching the team for the first time this year, has only made two changes to the side that played Game II. Newcastle Knights centre Bradman Best will replace Latrell Mitchell due to injury and NZ Warriors forward Mitch Barnett will sit on the bench in place of Haumole Olakau’atu. Best will play in his second-ever Origin match after he debuted for the Blues in Game III last year and scored two tries. It is Barnett’s first inclusion in the NSW side. You may remember him as the player who missed the birth of his son to attend the Blues training camp before Game I. 

Queensland changes

Billy Slater has replaced injured players Xavier Coates and Murray Taulagi with Origin veteran Dane Gagai and outside back Selwyn Cobbo, who had a strong impact off the bench in Game I but was rested for Game II. The return of Kalyn Ponga from a foot injury will also bolster the Maroons. Ponga was the 2023 Dally M Medallist and is widely regarded as one of the most exciting players in the game. The final selection change sees back-rower Kurt Capewell starting and Jaydn Su’A excluded from the team. 

How to watch

Kick-off is at 8:05pm on Wednesday 17 July. You can watch the game on Nine, Foxtel or Kayo.

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Looking back…

Looking forward…(All times are AEST)

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