I’m Pav, one of TDA’s newer journos and a sports fanatic. Some of you may recognise me as George’s double agent sneaking in a few stories here, usually about my love for rugby union.

I’ve got a full slate of sport reporting for you below, but first I thought I’d share the headline that grabbed my eye this morning: the top-priced ticket for next year's Rugby World Cup final will exceed $AU 1,900 for the first time in the tournament's history.

Dad and I were lucky to get tickets for the Grand Final (still pinching myself!), but it raises an interesting question for rugby union fans and sports lovers alike:

10.21 seconds
The time Sydney sprinter Josh Azzopardi ran to reclaim the Oceania 100 metre crown in Darwin. Azzopardi, a “pre-race favourite” held his nerve to win the final after equalling the meet record of 10.19 in the semi final, managing Darwin’s “humid conditions” and “swirly wind”. The 24-year-old finished clear of the field to secure his second regional title.

“I was once that little girl sitting at home watching and looking up to them, so it’s pretty special to think that young girls might now be doing the same with me”.
Maroons debutant Shannon Yarrow after receiving her first Queensland call up for Women’s State of Origin. The 21-year-old forward said the moment left her “speechless”. Her rise adds fresh depth to Queensland’s pack and signals the next wave of young talent pushing through. NSW have taken a 1-0 series lead in Women's State of Origin with the final game on 28 May.

Indigenous ball game Marn Grook - meaning “game ball” is believed to have inspired Australian Rules Football. Traditionally played with a possum-skin ball stuffed with charcoal and grass, the game featured teams of up to 50 players kicking the ball across long distances. AFL founder Tom Wills is believed to have watched Marn Grook in the 1840s and later drew on elements of the game when shaping early Australian football – a connection recognised during Sir Doug Nicholls Round, which wraps up this Sunday at the end of Round 11.

🏉 Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, a well-known Rabbitohs fan, has revealed he knew of Jai Arrow’s motor neurone disease diagnosis a week before it became public. Albanese praised the 30‑year‑old for showing “courage, strength, and determination” off the field. Yesterday, Arrow announced his immediate retirement from the NRL due to being diagnosed with MND, a progressive condition that weakens the body’s muscles and currently has no cure. According to MND Australia, most people diagnosed with the disease live an average of two to three years, however survival time varies. Arrow played 178 NRL games and 12 Origin matches, and asked for “support, understanding, and privacy”. He and his partner have a one-year-old daughter. Albanese said the NRL “will wrap their arms around him”.

🗻 18-year-old Melburnian Bianca Adler has become the youngest Australian to summit Mount Everest. In a post on Instagram, she said: “On the summit and climbing up, I felt amazing, but coming down is tough.” It is her second time climbing Everest, but her first time reaching the summit. It was the teenager’s second expedition to Everest. Last year, she turned back just 400 metres from the summit due to safety concerns. Before Adler, the record was held by fellow Melburnian Gabby Kanizay, who reached the summit aged 19 in 2022. Adler is currently continuing her descent down the mountain.

🎾 Aussies Storm Hunter and Tristan Schoolkate have advanced to the next round of French Open qualifying, keeping their hopes of reaching the main draw alive after several seeded players were knocked out early. Hunter won 6‑4, 6‑3 as she pushes for her first Roland Garros appearance since 2023. Schoolkate progressed 7‑6(4), 6‑2 with a composed performance. French Open qualifying acts as a mini‑tournament, with players needing to win three matches to secure a spot in the main draw. Both Australians now face higher‑ranked opponents in the next round.

⚽ Football Australia has posted a record $11 million loss, with the governing body preparing to cut staff as it tries to stabilise its finances. The deficit follows rising operating costs and reduced broadcast revenue, with FA warning job losses are expected across the organisation. Former Socceroo Robbie Slater said “the entire Football Australia board should resign so the house can be put back in order.” However, the governing body said it must “reset” to stay sustainable, while assuring national team programs will continue. Football Australia CEO Martin Kugeler told reporters: “Two significant losses, and increasing losses year-on-year, is obviously not a situation that is sustainable or acceptable”.

🏈 Aaron Rodgers says he will retire after the 2026 NFL season, framing the year as a final chapter in a two‑decade career that includes four MVP awards and a Super Bowl title. The 42‑year‑old told reporters “this is it” in his first news conference since signing a one‑year deal to return to Pittsburgh. It marked a firmer stance than last year, when he said he was only “pretty sure” 2025 would be his final run. Pittsburgh finished 10‑7 (10 wins, 7 losses) last season and opens its 2026 campaign against Atlanta.

⚽ Stadium workers in Los Angeles World Cup have threatened to strike over a potential ICE role at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, warning the agency’s presence would create a climate of fear for immigrant workers and fans. The 2026 tournament will mark the first men’s World Cup jointly hosted by three countries – the U.S., Canada and Mexico. U.S Customs and Border Protection Executive Director Matt Davies said officials are “proactively preparing” to ensure “a safe and efficient welcome”. Workers have also raised concerns about how fan and worker data could be shared through FIFA’s accreditation process. The union is now seeking guarantees from FIFA and federal officials ahead of the tournament. Meanwhile, according to The Athletic, FIFA has confirmed the pre-revolutionary Iran flag will be again prohibited inside stadiums under its code of conduct.

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Congo’s soccer team has cancelled its World Cup send-off match and a planned training camp after health officials warned large crowds could increase the risk of Ebola transmission.

The decision comes as the country prepares for its first World Cup appearance since 1974.

Here’s what to know.

The Congolese Football Federation said the farewell event was cancelled after the Health Ministry warned mass gatherings could complicate efforts to contain an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared the outbreak a public health emergency after 139 suspected deaths were recorded.

Health officials say there is currently no approved vaccine for the strain linked to this outbreak.

Earlier this week, head coach Sébastien Desabre told FIFA the squad was ready for a historic return to the tournament, saying “it has not been simple, but we showed resilience to our goal”.

The 26-player squad includes Cedric Bakambu, Chancel Mbemba and Fiston Mayele.

The U.S. has confirmed the team will still be allowed to enter the country, despite travel restrictions linked to Ebola-affected regions, because the squad has been based and training in Europe for several weeks.

DRC will travel directly to its U.S. base camp before warm-up matches against Denmark in Belgium on 3 June and Chile in Spain on 9 June.

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The Enhanced Games will begin in Las Vegas on Monday morning (AEST).

It’s the first major sporting event to let athletes compete using performance enhancing drugs under medical supervision.

Australian swimmer James Magnussen is one of 50 athletes competing this weekend.

Here’s what to know.

Co-founded by Melbourne-born businessman Aron D’Souzacan, the Enhanced Games will see athletes compete in swimming, athletics, and weightlifting while using performance-enhancing drugs that are usually prohibited by anti-doping bodies.

The event will be held at Resorts World Las Vegas and features a purpose built pool, sprint track and weightlifting stage.

Magnussen is set to hit the pool block for the 50m and 100m freestyle.

In the pool, there will be seven men’s races and two women’s. On the track, there will be the men’s and women’s 100 metre sprint. Weightlifting includes Olympic style events and a deadlift competition.

Athletes can use substances such as testosterone, anabolic steroids, EPO and growth hormone when they are legally prescribed. However, some athletes, such as U.S. swimmer Hunter Armstrong, have said they will compete without enhancement.

Athletes receive major prize money for breaking world records or winning their event. Organisers say total athlete compensation could reach $25 million.

In May 2025, organisers revealed Greek swimmer Kristian Gkolomeev had already swum the 50m freestyle in ‘world record’ time as part of the performance-enhancing program.

Gkolomeev received a $US1 million bonus for his 20.89-second swim. The legal record is 20.91 seconds, set by Brazilian swimmer César Cielo in 2009, while wearing a since-banned ‘supersuit’.

In an official statement last May, the World Anti Doping Agency called it “a dangerous and irresponsible concept”, suggesting it carries the possibility of athletes dying due to the “serious long-term side-effects” of “prohibited substances and methods.”

Medical experts also warn that combining anabolic steroids, growth hormone and peptides could increase the risk of cancer. Using the substances on their own risks heart complications, blood clots or liver damage. However, organisers argue their medical screening processes provide safeguards.

Athletes have also pushed back. UK Athletics CEO and Olympian Jack Buckner said "those of us who have competed know what it takes to succeed the right way,” after British Olympian Reece Prescod announced his intent to compete. Under legal conditions, Prescod ran the fourth-fastest 100m in British history.

Australian Olympic champion Ariarne Titmus said she would not even compete for $10 million, while 50m freestyle world record holder Cam McEvoy also dismissed the event, but noted the financial gap between clean and doped events. McEvoy broke the world record in Shenzhen earlier this year but received no prize money because it was not a World Aquatics meet.

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.

More to come.