Good evening!

Happy October long weekend to some states, and happy regular weekend to others.

It’s about the most oversaid thing ever but…gee this year has gone quickly hasn’t it?!

Have an excellent weekend and if you’re a rugby league fan, enjoy the grand finals on Sunday. The newsletter will be back in your inbox on Tuesday.

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Stat of the day

66
The number of votes, out of a possible 67, that Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark received to win the WNBA Rookie of the Year award. The voting panel is made up of American sportswriters and broadcasters. Angel Reese of the Chicago Sky received the only other vote.

Quote of the day

“I love the sport of racing and the passion of our fans, but the way NASCAR is run today is unfair to teams, drivers, sponsors, and fans,”
Six-time NBA Champion basketballer Michael Jordan in a statement. Jordan is the owner of 23XI, one of two car racing teams that have filed a federal antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR and its CEO Jim France. The team disagrees with the “unchecked monopolistic practices” of NASCAR and its current revenue-sharing model.

Random fact of the day

The first known bicycle was engineered in 1817 by German inventor Karl von Drais. His invention was known as a ‘Swiftwalker’. It had wooden wheels and no pedals. The user was required to push their feet off the ground to gather and maintain speed. Now, a top of the line “pushbike” is made almost entirely of carbon fibre and will cost you around $20,000.

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In case you missed it…

⚽ 32-year-old Massimo Luongo has come out of retirement to join the 26-man Socceroos squad named by new head coach Tony Popovic. The Socceroos will face China on Thursday in a must-win World Cup qualifier. Popovic took up the role after long-time coach Graham Arnold stepped down last month. 

🏏 The women’s T20 cricket World Cup in Dubai is officially underway. In the opening match, Bangladesh beat debutants Scotland by 16 runs. Later, Pakistan downed Sri Lanka by 31 runs. Australia’s first match is against Sri Lanka on Saturday at 8:00pm (AEST).

⚽ Footballing great Lionel Messi has led Major League Soccer (MLS) side Inter Miami to its first-ever Supporters’ Shield. Messi scored two of the side’s three goals in its win over Columbus Crew. The shield is awarded to the MLS team with the best regular season record. Messi will make his MLS Playoffs debut on 25 October. The match has attracted so much interest that it will be live-streamed on the 25,000-square-foot video screen in Times Square, New York.

🏉 Joe Daniher, who played a starring role in the Brisbane Lions’ 2024 premiership, is retiring. Daniher played 204 matches between Essendon and Brisbane, kicking 395 goals along the way. The 30-year-old said, "I retire knowing I gave my absolute all to the Brisbane Lions and Essendon, and I am extremely proud of what I achieved individually and as a team,".

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Wallaroos set to take on South Africa in WXV 2 on Sunday

The Australian women's rugby union team is set to take on South Africa in the second WXV 2 matchday in Cape Town, South Africa. It will be the fourth-ever game between the two sides and their first since 2014. The Wallaroos have won all three previous encounters.

Context

The Wallaroos thrashed Wales 37-5 last weekend and will be looking to impose a similar scoreline on hosts South Africa. The Springboks also had a strong start to their WXV 2 campaign, beating Japan 31-24. Australia are favourites to win. However, a South African rugby team on home soil will always pose a challenge.

Squad Changes

Wallaroos coach Jo Yapp has made one change to the starting lineup with Cecilia Smith set to start at inside centre. Halfback Samantha Wood, who has been named on the bench, was flown over to South Africa this week after Nat Wright suffered a foot injury against Wales.

What is WXV 2?

WXV 2 is the second tier of international women’s rugby and features six sides. The Wallaroos are in WXV 2 because they finished fourth in the Pacific Four series, a competition that features New Zealand, the U.S. and Canada.

How to watch

You can watch the game on Stan Sport. Kick-off is Sunday at 1:00am (AEDT).

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NRLW and NRL Grand Finals preview

The NRL and NRLW grand finals are on Sunday at Sydney’s Accor Stadium. Here’s what you need to know before the games.

NRLW Grand Final - Sunday at 3:55pm

The NRLW Grand Final between the Sydney Roosters and Cronulla Sharks will be just the third meeting between the two teams. The Sharks were introduced to the NRLW in 2023 and have impressed with a grand final debut in their second season. The Roosters have never lost to the Sharks. The two sides’ most recent game was in Round 7 when the Roosters won 40-0.

Despite the Roosters’ favourable record against the Sharks, they have lost all four matches played at Accor Stadium in Sydney Olympic Park. The Sharks are playing at Accor for the first time. The Cronulla-based club includes ten players who have all played a grand final with other clubs but have never won a premiership. Meanwhile, the Roosters squad includes 12 who have tasted victory in a grand final.

Players to watch include Sharks captain and tryscoring machine Tiana Penitani and Roosters fullback Sam Bremner. Penitani has scored five tries in the Sharks’ last six matches. Bremner is a two-time World Cup winner who came out of retirement this season and has played a major role in securing the Roosters' place in this year’s final.

NRL Grand Final - Sunday at 7:30pm

Following the NRLW, the Penrith Panthers and Melbourne Storm will contest the NRL Grand Final. The Panthers are seeking a fourth consecutive premiership while the Storm are seeking their first since 2020, when they beat the Panthers. The Panthers are the first team since the 1967-71 South Sydney Rabbitohs to appear in five straight grand finals.

The Storm had the better of the Panthers in both of their meetings this season in Round 1 (8-0) and 24 (24-22). The Melbournians have had one significant change to their starting team with suspended prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona being replaced by Tui Kamikamica.

This match is undoubtedly the battle of the two best teams in the competition and will see some key individual matchups played out. The most closely watched will be the battle of the playmakers. The Panthers’ greatest weapon is a three-time premiership-winning halves combo of Jarome Luai and Nathan Cleary, while the Storm has QLD and Kangaroos representative Cameron Munster alongside 2024 Dally M medallist Jahrome Hughes.

How to watch

Both games will be streamed live on Channel 9, Foxtel, and Kayo.

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Looking forward…(All times are AEST)

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