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On this day in 1979, British stuntman Eddie Kidd made headlines when he soared across a 25-metre gap (15 metres above a viaduct) on a motorbike. 

Kidd, 20 years old at the time, said afterwards: “I never want to do a jump like that again.”

But never say never… He went on to perform over 12,000 stunts, including jumping over the Great Wall of China in 1993 and doubling for Hollywood stars Harrison Ford and Val Kilmer.

Now that’s a stunt! Kidd’s 1979 jump over the viaduct (Getty)

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Stat of the day

7
The number of Wests Tigers rugby league players who have threatened to leave the club if coach Benji Marshall is sacked, according to The Australian. The NRL club has seen plenty of off-field turbulence in the last week after four independent directors were removed from the board (including chairman and former NSW premier Barry O’Farrell) while CEO Shane Richardson resigned from his role. The report suggests that Jarome Luai, Jahream Bula, Terrell and Taylan May and Sione, Samuela, and Latu Fainu have told club officials they’ll consider leaving the Tigers if Marshall is removed or leaves his role.

Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall (Getty)

Quote of the day

"Gutted to be out the remainder of the Ashes…It has been a tough road these past few months but I remain determined to give it another proper go. I still believe we can turn things around. Never give in. Come on, England."
England fast bowler Mark Wood in an Instagram post announcing a knee injury which has ruled him out of the three remaining Ashes Tests. The 35-year-old played in the first Test in Perth but missed the second in Brisbane. Meanwhile, Australian captain Pat Cummins, who has not played in the series so far, is set to return after being named in the 15-man squad for the third Test today.

Mark Wood during the first test in Perth (Getty)

Random fact of the day

55 runners recently set a world record for the deepest marathon, completing the standard 42.2km distance a staggering 1118.56 metres below sea level inside a Swedish zinc mine.

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In case you missed it…

Matildas stars Caitlin Foord, Steph Catley, and Kyra Cooney-Cross have officially booked their place in the Women’s Champions League knockout stages. Their side, Arsenal, secured a gritty 1-0 victory over Dutch club FC Twente this morning thanks to a 10th-minute goal from Beth Mead. While it was a performance with lots of missed opportunities, the result guarantees the Gunners will advance. The Women's Champions League is the top tier of European club football, where the continent's best teams compete against each other in an elite tournament.

Kyra Cooney-Cross (right) celebrates with teammate Beth Mead (Getty)

🏉 The Perth Bears have poached premiership-winning prop Liam Henry from the Penrith Panthers on a four-year deal. It is a massive statement from the franchise set to join the NRL in 2027, which beat out four rival clubs to secure the 23-year-old as a long-term leader of their forward pack. In another intriguing move, the club also signed Iszac Fa’asuamaleaui, a decision that could help lure his superstar brother and Gold Coast Titans captain, Tino, to Western Australia.

Liam Henry is headed to the Perth Bears (Getty)

🏎️ Formula One veteran Dr Helmut Marko is officially leaving Red Bull. The 82-year-old motorsport advisor has been the ruthless architect behind the team's success for two decades, overseeing six Constructors’ titles and eight Drivers' crowns (between Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen). Marko said seeing Verstappen miss out on the 2025 title by two points to Lando Norris "moved him deeply" and made it clear “that now is the right moment” to end this “very long, intense, and successful chapter.” With Red Bull’s multi-year deal with Honda now over, and just six months after the departure of Christian Horner, Marko’s exit comes amid a total reset for the team.

Helmut Marko and Max Verstappen (Getty)

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Beth Mooney of the Scorchers congratulates Katie Mack after reaching her half century (Getty)

Perth Scorchers blast past Melbourne Stars to advance in WBBL finals

The Perth Scorchers have eliminated the Melbourne Stars from the Women’s Big Bash League finals race with a 28-run victory at the WACA. 

Here’s what to know.

What happened 

A record-breaking opening partnership of 107 between Katie Mack (52 runs) and Beth Mooney (45) helped the Scorchers set a formidable total of 173 runs.

In reply, the Stars looked dangerous while Meg Lanning (49) and Amy Jones (43) were at the crease. However, the game turned on its head when spin bowler Alana King (bowling with a broken finger) removed Jones. That sparked a catastrophic collapse, with the Stars losing 8-44 to finish well short of their 173-run target on 145.

What's next 

The Scorchers now board a flight to Sydney for 'The Challenger' against the Sydney Sixers tomorrow night (Thursday). It is a sudden-death showdown at North Sydney Oval, with the winner advancing to face the Hobart Hurricanes in Saturday’s Grand Final.

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Gianni Infantino, President of FIFA, shakes hands with U.S. President Donald Trump as he receives the FIFA Peace Prize during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Official Draw (Getty)

FIFA facing backlash in wake of 2026 World Cup draw

The 2026 World Cup is still six months away, but FIFA is already facing a diplomatic crisis on two fronts. 

Here’s what to know.

Egypt and Iran request cancellation of Pride celebrations

FIFA faces a major headache after Egypt and Iran formally requested the cancellation of a planned "Pride-themed" celebration at their World Cup match.

The 26 June match at Seattle’s Lumen Field coincides with the city’s annual Pride weekend. Long before the draw, organisers announced the World Cup match would celebrate LGBTQIA+ inclusion to mark Pride festivities.. However, two Muslim-majority nations with strict anti-homosexuality laws have since been drawn to play in that specific game.

Both Egypt and Iran have urged FIFA to intervene. They argue the celebration ignores "cultural and religious sensitivities." 

Same-sex relationships between men are punishable by death in Iran, while LGBTQIA+ communities in Egypt face ongoing prosecution. 

The Egyptian Federation says FIFA must stay neutral and focus only on the sport. FIFA must now choose between supporting the host city’s inclusive values (and its own rules against discrimination) or agreeing to the demands of the competing nations.

Ethics complaint over Trump’s 'Peace Prize' 

While dealing with the fallout in Seattle, FIFA President Gianni Infantino is also facing a personal challenge regarding his relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump.

Human rights group FairSquare has filed a formal complaint with FIFA’s ethics committee. They allege that awarding the inaugural "FIFA Peace Prize" to a sitting leader breaches the organisation's own rules on political neutrality.

Technically, this breach can carry a ban from football of up to two years. Infantino has aligned himself closely with Trump ahead of the tournament, which is expected to earn FIFA over $10 billion.

FairSquare claims Infantino may have acted alone in creating the prize. However, experts doubt the case will go far. The current ethics committee is viewed as having less independence than the one that removed former president Sepp Blatter a decade ago.

Looking back…

WNBL

Who: Canberra Capitals v
Adelaide Lightning

Result: The Capitals won 76-71

UEFA Men’s Champions League

Who: Atalanta v Chelsea
Result: Atalanta won 2-1

Who: Spurs v Slavia Praha
Result: Spurs won 3-0

Who: Liverpool v Inter
Result: Liverpool won 1-0

Looking forward… (All times are AEDT)

A-League Women

Who: Canberra United v Sydney FC
Time: 5pm today

Where to watch: Channel 10, Paramount+

NBL (Ignite Cup)

Who: SE Melbourne Phoenix v Tasmania JackJumpers
Time: 7:30pm tonight

Where to watch: ESPN (via Foxtel, Kayo, Disney+)

UEFA Men’s Champions League

Who: Real Madrid v Man City
Time: 7am tomorrow

Who: Club Brugge v Arsenal
Time: 7am tomorrow

Who: Athletic Club v PSG
Time: 7am tomorrow

Where to watch: Stan Sport

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