The NRL will test a new kick-off rule when the Brisbane Broncos host the Melbourne Storm tonight.

Normally, the team that scores a try receives the ball on the next kick-off.

Tonight, the team that concedes a try will get to choose whether they want to kick off or receive, adding a new element of strategy to rugby league.

The league is testing the rule in a match where both teams are out of finals contention.

Whether you agree with the proposed change or not, it should make for some interesting viewing.

225
The number of former Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) athletes who have received restorative payments for abuse endured at the centre between 1981 and 2013, according to AAP. The Australian Sports Commission’s program set payouts between $5,000 and $50,000. It launched in 2022 after gymnasts detailed decades of physical, sexual, and psychological abuse. Australian Sports Commission chief Kieran Perkins said the money was just one component of the organisation’s broader restoration effort. The payments to the 225 athletes total $3 million.

“You come in here, your opponent believes you won and you get a draw. It’s a hard pill to swallow.”
Boxer Ben Mahoney speaking after his fight with fellow Aussie Nikita Tzsyu on the Gold Coast on Wednesday night was called a draw. The three judges all scored the fight differently, with Mahoney’s promoter Mick Francis, suggesting that his team would seek a review of judge Phillip Holliday’s scoring. Holliday was the only judge to award the fight to Tzsyu (117-111).

China’s first Olympic medal was a gold won by Xu Haifeng at the 1984 Games in Los Angeles. Haifeng became the country’s first Olympic champion by winning the 50 metre free pistol shooting event.

🏏 Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc has topped the ICC Test bowling rankings for the first time, ending Indian bowler Jasprit Bumrah’s two-month reign at the top. The 36-year-old moved up two spots after his most recent 10-wicket haul in Mackay helped Australia to an emphatic win over Bangladesh, levelling the two-Test series at 1-1. Starc was named Player of the Match and Player of the Series.

🎾 Alex de Minaur will lead Australia in a Davis Cup tie against Poland at Brisbane’s Pat Rafter Arena on 19 and 20 September. Australia has won the Davis Cup 28 times but is currently ranked eighth. The team will need to win against Poland to reach next year’s qualifiers after a loss to Ecuador in February. Before the tie against Poland, de Minaur will compete as the highest-ranked Aussie in the men’s singles draw at the U.S. Open beginning next week.

🏑 The Hockeyroos, Australia’s women’s hockey team, are just one win away from the final of the Hockey World Cup as they prepare to take on Argentina in the semi-final tomorrow morning. The Aussies, who drew 0-0 with India earlier in the week to secure their spot, will go in as underdogs against the world’s second-ranked side. When the two teams met in February, Argentina won 1-0. You can watch the match from 4:30am tomorrow AEST on 7mate.

Two heritage brands just dropped a collab we didn't see coming - Ford x Brixton.

The limited-edition collection brings Ford's Built Tough legacy into Brixton's signature streetwear - think tees, caps and jackets in that unmistakable Ford Blue, plus bold racing stripes straight from decades of American automotive heritage. Workshop-grade quality with weekend-ready style.

New research published in medical journal The BMJ suggests at least a quarter of ex-NFL players who died during a five-year period had chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

The NFL is the U.S. professional American Football or gridiron league.

Here’s what to know.

The study, led by a team of U.S. scientists, identified 878 ex-players who died between 2016 and 2021. Of the 235 whose brains were donated, 215 showed evidence of CTE.

CTE is a degenerative brain disease linked to repeated head impacts. It can only be diagnosed after death.

The researchers set the conservative minimum prevalence for CTE in ex-NFL players at 25%. That is because those who decided to donate their brain for research are more likely to have done so after showing symptoms of brain trauma. In the general population, the rate of CTE is under 1%.

The study's lead author, Dr Daniel Daneshvar, said many of the head impacts occurred well before players went pro.

“The bulk of the head impacts didn’t occur at the NFL level,” he told ABC News Breakfast.

Daneshvar wants youth, high school, and college programs to adopt the NFL’s contact-practice limits, which he says could significantly reduce head impacts.

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The AFL has fined the Geelong Cats $140,000 for failing to disclose a letter waiving the rights of defender Jake Kolodjashnij to sue the club for any future brain injury.

At the time he signed the waiver, Kolodjashnij had a history of concussion and the AFL Concussion Panel had not clearly stated whether or not he should continue to play.

He had also expressed a strong desire to continue playing in the AFL.

Here’s what to know.

Kolodjashnij first played for Geelong in 2015 and has spent his entire career at the club.

Earlier this month, the Herald Sun reported a club had signed a deal with a player to waive any responsibility for future head trauma, essentially stopping the player from suing the club in future.

Further reporting revealed the club to be Geelong. Kolodjashnij then released a statement identifying himself as the player.

The AFL appointed an independent legal counsel, James Peters KC, to review the matter.

According to Peters’ review, in 2023, following several concussions, the AFL Concussion Panel made an “amber” finding about Kolodjashnij’s ability to play.

Other possible findings are “green” or “red”, meaning a player can or can’t play.

Media reports suggest an amber finding means a player can go on the field but has an elevated risk.

Kolodjashnij said in his statement that he was “comfortable with the outcome” of the panel, had continued playing since then, and felt healthy.

Peters’ review says Geelong consulted with the league’s Chief Medical Officer and other leadership, and with Kolodjashnij and his family over the following months.

Kolodjashnij told the club he wanted to continue playing.

In February 2024, Kolodjashnij and the club drafted a letter saying he “would take upon himself the legal risk of loss, damage or injury of any kind arising as a result of concussion.”

It was reviewed by doctors and his “insurance representative” before he signed it. The document was never lodged with the AFL nor flagged with the AFL Players’ Association.

Following the review, the AFL has handed the club a $100,000 fine for varying Kolodjashnij’s contract and not informing the league.

The AFL has also activated a $40,000 fine over a different issue, which it had previously suspended.

Peters determined that the club had not intentionally concealed the letter from the AFL.

He also said the club’s “complex and novel situation” should be taken into account.

The $140,000 fine will go to the AFL and AFLPA Players’ Injury and Support Fund.

In a statement, AFL Commission member Paul Bassat said: “The health and safety of our players is our highest priority and the Commission is satisfied it was central to the decisions made by the Geelong Football Club.”

“While the review found no intention to conceal the document or deceive the AFL or AFLPA, the Commission determined the rules were breached and that a significant sanction was warranted.”