Next month, the ABC will premiere a new comedy series called ‘Ground Up’, which is about an AFL administrator dispatched from Melbourne to set up Tasmania's first AFL team, with the small matter of getting locals to sign off on a $1.13 billion stadium first.

There’s no guessing as to where the writers have come up with their inspiration for this one. 

The question is, how does it all end? 

$12.4 million
The amount of funding the Federal Government has committed to the 2026 Rugby League World Cup, which kicks off in Sydney this October. The tournament will feature 26 teams from 16 nations across men’s, women’s, and wheelchair competitions. It is being co-hosted by Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea. 

“If I'm the best man for the job, yes, I would love to do that job. But if I'm not, choose the best man, and let's go forward with this club and make it the best club in the AFL again.”
Former Essendon premiership player and coach James Hird speaking on Nine's Footy Classified on Tuesday night when asked if he'd like to return to coach the Bombers. Hird's comments come after Brad Scott was sacked yesterday, with the club having won just one of its past 24 matches and sitting at the bottom of the AFL ladder. Hird coached Essendon from 2011 to 2013, before being suspended by the AFL in 2014 for his role in the club's players’ use of supplements, which ultimately saw 34 players handed anti-doping suspensions. He returned as coach in 2015 but resigned amid mounting pressure later that year.

In Paris on Tuesday (local time), 17-year-old French wildcard Moïse Kouamé beat former U.S. Open champion Marin Cilic in straight sets to become the youngest man to win a French Open match since 1991. The win also made him the youngest man to win any Grand Slam match since Australian Bernard Tomic at the 2009 Australian Open. 

🚴 Denmark's Jonas Vingegaard moved closer to overall victory at the Giro d'Italia overnight, riding clear of his rivals on stage 16 in the Italian and Swiss Alps. The two-time Tour de France champion pulled away from the field with roughly 10 kilometres to ride and finished one minute and nine seconds ahead of second-placed Felix Gall of Austria. Australia's Jai Hindley, who won the Giro in 2022, came third on the stage and sits fourth in the general classification, with fellow Australians Michael Storer seventh and Ben O'Connor ninth. Vingegaard now leads by four minutes and three seconds with five stages remaining.

🥊 Crews have begun building a temporary fighting cage on the South Lawn of the White House ahead of next month's UFC event. The mixed martial arts event is being held to mark 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence and U.S. President Donald Trump's 80th birthday. The card features only two title fights. One of those is for an interim heavyweight belt rather than the official championship. Up to 85,000 free tickets will be issued.

🏉 New Zealand MP Winston Peters has hinted at a possible rescue for Super Rugby franchise Moana Pasifika, telling media in Wellington that "good news" was imminent. The Pacific-based club appointed liquidators on Monday with reported debts of $NZ2.7 million ($A2.2 million), after the Pasifika Medical Association announced it would no longer bankroll the franchise. A joint funding deal involving the Australian, New Zealand and Samoan governments has emerged as one option to keep the team alive.

🏀 The defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder are one win away from a second straight  NBA Finals appearance after defeating the San Antonio Spurs 127-114 in Game 5 of the Western Conference finals. Reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the way with 32 points, while  Alex Caruso added 22 and Jared McCain scored 20. For the Spurs, Stephon Castle scored 24 points, and Victor Wembanyama added 20. Oklahoma City leads the best-of-seven series 3-2.

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Footy finals, music festivals, interstate weekends – if you're flying anyway, you may as well get rewarded for it. Virgin Australia's Velocity program lets you earn Points and Status Credits on every eligible flight, working towards complimentary upgrades, free flights and Pilot Gold status faster than you'd think.

Flexible fare options mean you only pay for what you actually need. Fly smart this EOFY.

The French Open, the second tennis major of the year, is underway in Paris. 

The only Grand Slam played on clay runs until 7 June.

Australia’s Adam Walton has produced the biggest win of his career, knocking out former world number one Daniil Medvedev. Fellow Aussie Kimberly Birrell also succeeded with her first match win in Paris.

Here’s what else is going on at Roland Garros. 

The Aussie contingent includes thirteen Australians in the men's and women's singles main draws, with Birrell and Walton securing early wins.

Wild-card invitee Walton (world no.97) knocked out Medvedev in five sets (6-2, 1-6, 6-1, 1-6, 6-4).  

The loss marked Medvedev’s second straight first round exit at the French Open and his third in four years. 

Walton told reporters the conditions might have worked in his favour: “Obviously very hot conditions out there today… I think I play better in the heat.” 

In the women’s draw, Birrell advanced to the second round by upsetting U.S. player Jessica Pegula in three sets (1-6, 6-3, 6-3). The result is her highest ranked win, her first against a top five player and her first match victory at the French Open.

Alexei Popyrin, the only other Aussie in action last night, fell short against U.S. player Zachary Svajda, losing in four sets (3-6, 6-3, 7-6, 7-5).

Last night’s results marked the end of the opening round with five of thirteen Australians advancing to the second round. 

Tonight, Thanasi Kokkinakis and James Duckworth will play their second round matches.

Alex de Minaur also advanced to the third round after his opponent, Alexander Blockx, withdrew from the second round due to injury.

Reporting by Pavitra Ravi.

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The 2026 men’s State of Origin series begins tonight, with the NSW Blues hosting the Queensland Maroons in Sydney. Both teams enter Game 1 with reshuffled lineups and a host of debutants.

Here’s what to know before kick-off at 8:05pm.

The Maroons are chasing back-to-back series titles after defeating the Blues 24-12 in last year’s Sydney decider.

Captain Cameron Munster retains the No. 6 jumper, while Sydney Roosters playmaker Sam Walker will debut at halfback in place of the injured Tom Dearden, last year’s Wally Lewis Medallist.

Coach Billy Slater has selected Newcastle Knights fullback Kalyn Ponga ahead of incumbent Reece Walsh, while six debutants feature in Queensland’s squad. Dolphins prop Thomas Flegler also returns to the Maroons after three years out.

Slater is entering his fifth series as Maroons coach, having won three of his first four series in charge.

NSW coach Laurie Daley has recalled Sydney Roosters captain James Tedesco at fullback, selecting him ahead of four-time premiership winner Dylan Edwards.

Tonight will be Tedesco’s first Origin match since Game 1, 2024, and his 24th appearance for the Blues – drawing level with Paul Gallen for third on NSW’s all-time list behind Brad Fittler (31) and Andrew Ettingshausen (27).

Canberra Raiders five-eighth Ethan Strange will make his Origin debut after Parramatta captain Mitchell Moses was ruled out on Tuesday with a hamstring strain. Bulldogs utility Matt Burton has been added to the NSW bench.

Daley, now in his second stint as NSW coach, has won one of six series to date — the Blues’ 2014 triumph that ended Queensland’s eight-year dynasty.

In February, the Australian Rugby League Commission opened Origin eligibility to players who have previously represented New Zealand or England internationally.

Four players in tonight’s match qualify under the rule change: NSW trio Addin Fonua-Blake, Victor Radley and Casey McLean, alongside Queensland second-rower Briton Nikora.

Stadium Australia has hosted 33 Origin matches since opening in 1999.

NSW have won 20 matches at the venue, Queensland 12, with one draw. The Maroons have won the past two Origin matches there – last year’s 24-12 series decider and Game 1 in 2024 (38-10).

The Blues’ most recent win at the stadium came in Game 3, 2023 (24-10).

The remaining two matches of the series will be played at the MCG on 17 June and Brisbane’s Lang Park on 8 July.

Tonight’s match kicks off at 8:05pm. 

State of Origin will air on Channel 9. The match will also be broadcast in more than 100 countries internationally.