It’s me again.

Another full slate of sport reporting for you below ahead of a big weekend across the codes, but with the Enhanced Games set to launch on Monday morning (AEST), the moment raises a bigger question for all of us:

🏎️ NASCAR champion Kyle Busch died aged 41 after what his family described as a “severe illness”. Busch was in his twenty second full time season in NASCAR’s top division, where he won two Cup Series titles and finished with 63 victories, the ninth most in the series. He also dominated NASCAR’s other national competitions with record win totals in the second-ranked and the truck series. In a joint statement, the Busch family and NASCAR said: “He was fierce, he was passionate, he was immensely skilled and he cared deeply about the sport and fans.” Busch’s final social media post, made three days before his death, showed him cheering on his son Brexton at a junior race, writing: “You’re the best kid on and off the track… There is no limit to what you’ll accomplish!”

🏆 Australia will host Ireland in a historic AFLW match at North Sydney Oval on 1 August, the first meeting between the nations at senior women’s level. Ireland will draw its squad from Gaelic football talent, while Australia will field a combined group of current and former AFLW players. Played solely under AFLW rules, AFLW Executive General Manager Laura Kane said it is a “another example of continuing to be bold with AFLW,” also serving as a “celebration of culture” amid the game’s eleventh season.

🏉 In the NRL, the Dolphins beat the Raiders 30 to 22 in Canberra and claimed a fourth straight win with a depleted side missing several Origin and injured players. Young half Isaiya Katoa controlled the game and Jamayne Isaako’s late penalty goal proved decisive to clinch the Dolphins’ first-ever four-win streak. Raiders coach Ricky Stuart said he had “never been so confused” by NRL officiating. He added: “We’re picking and choosing when we apply” NRL rules. Stuart also expressed the Raiders’ support for Jai Arrow, who revealed this week he had been diagnosed with motor neurone disease, calling him a “courageous footballer”. The result means the Dolphins move further into the top eight. It was Canberra’s second straight loss.

⏱️ Carlton is investigating the hosts of a fan podcast who joked about hitting the female hosts of another Carlton-related podcast, according to CODE Sports. On a live recorded episode, the hosts of The Jumper Punch discussed a hypothetical charity boxing match for Blues content creators. In a clip shared online, host Rocco Stagnitti said he would “punch the f**k out of” the Carlton Besties, prompting laughter from the panel. Another host also mocked the Carlton Respects Round next week, which promotes gender equality and raises awareness of gender-based violence against women. ‘Besties’ host Tori Saros said: “This isn’t the first time and I’m sure it’s not going to be the last… This is where we draw the line.” In a post to Instagram, Stagnitti said: “I did not make this comment with any intention of wanting to really punch anyone… I completely acknowledge that what I said promoted the wrong message”.

🏏 The Afghan women’s cricket team will tour England in July. The team, made up of refugees who mainly settled in Australia after the Taliban took power in 2021, have played sporadically over the last two years. The England and Wales Cricket Board will host the squad for matches against county and regional teams, while the ICC said the initiative gives displaced players a pathway back into elite cricket. The group will train in England before the series begins.

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Talking points: Moana Pasifika will play their final home match ever tomorrow in Auckland after financial pressures forced the club to fold at the end of the 2026 season. They recall William Havili and Fine Inisi as they face a Reds side boosted by the return of captain Tate McDermott. Last month, William Havilli told TDA: “This team gave me a chance”. It’s not yet known if a bid to save the team will progress. In Sydney tonight, the Waratahs host the Brumbies in their last home game of the year with an unchanged team, while the Brumbies celebrate Allan Alaalatoa’s 150th match.
How to watch: Waratahs v Brumbies kicks off 7:35pm tonight (AEST). Moana v Reds starts at 2:35pm tomorrow (AEST). You can watch it all on Stan Sport.

Talking points: Collingwood midfielder Scott Pendlebury will run out for his 433rd VFL/AFL game against Waalitj Marawar (West Coast Eagles) at the MCG on Saturday, surpassing former North Melbourne champion Brent Harvey to become the player with the most games in league history. AFL chairman Craig Drummond called it a “jaw-dropping achievement”. Collingwood have named four inclusions for the milestone match, while Dan Houston will also play his 200th game. Eagles coach Andrew McQualter was confident ahead of the match, saying: “you’ve got to win big finals at the MCG, that’s what our competition’s about”. It is the final week of the Sir Doug Nicholls Round.
How to watch: Pendlebury’s milestone match will start at 4:35pm on Saturday (AEST). You can watch it on Foxtel and Kayo.

Talking points: The Enhanced Games will debut in Las Vegas on Monday morning (AEST), becoming the first major event to let athletes compete using performance enhancing drugs under medical supervision. Australian swimmer James Magnussen is one of 50 athletes competing, alongside other events like athletics and weightlifting. Athletes can use prescribed substances such as testosterone, anabolic steroids, EPO and growth hormone, while some competitors will remain unenhanced. Prize money could reach $US25 million, with bonuses for breaking world records.
How to watch: The Games will run for about three-and-a-half hours on Sunday local time (Monday morning AEST) and will be streamed on YouTube. Preliminary events and the blue carpet begin at 8.30am Monday AEST.

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