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Sports

Who will win and why? The predictions and tips for Round 22

Who will win and why? The predictions and tips for Round 21

The penultimate round of the season is here and yet again there’s several matches that will come to define the final make up of the top eight.

Friday night sees St Kilda take on Brisbane at Marvel Stadium in a game the Saints must win if they hold out any hope of playing finals this year.

Looking ahead to Saturday, it’s all about the clash between Carlton and reigning premiers Melbourne under lights at the MCG.

And on Sunday, it’s a top four heavyweight blockbuster when Sydney and Collingwood go head-to-head at a sold out SCG.

See our previews and tips for all nine Round 22 matches below:

All times AEST

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St Kilda v Brisbane Lions

Friday – 7:50pm – Marvel Stadium

St Kilda will be looking to keep their season alive when they host Brisbane at Marvel Stadium to open Round 22.

Equally, the Lions will be keen to stay on the winner’s list with a top-four finish in their grasp should they win their remaining two games in 2022.

Last time out these sides met at the Gabba, with St Kilda looking like a potential contender at that stage.

That 21-point loss to Brisbane though would kickstart somewhat of a slide for Brett Ratten’s side as the Saints went 1-5 in the following six games.

With the Saints proving to be a step or two behind the frontrunners, Brisbane will hope that their class shines through under the roof en route to victory.

While it’s St Kilda’s home game, Marvel Stadium is a happy hunting ground for Chris Fagan’s side who have won four straight games at the venue including a 56-point win over the Saints in Round 14, 2019.

If Lachie Neale, Jarryd Lyons and Hugh McCluggage can again get the upper hand in the midfield, it could be a long night for the Saints.

If the home side is a chance, they’ll need to defend well and move the ball quickly to score at least 80 points.

Tip: Brisbane by 19 points.

Lachlan Geleit

Western Bulldogs v GWS Giants

Saturday – 1:45pm – University of Tasmania Stadium

Modern-day rivals Western Bulldogs and GWS face off for the second time this year as the Dogs’ finals chances go on the line yet again.

Coming into the penultimate round of the season, Luke Beveridge’s side remains outside of the eighth and have little room to move if they want to play finals this year.

Coming up against the Giants promises to be a tricky proposition, with GWS coming off a big bounce back disappointing performance against Essendon last week and looking to finish off a largelying season well.

Like many Bulldogs games, this one promises to be won and lost in the midfield as two star-studded on-ball outfits go head-to-head.

The Giants will be without Toby Greene after he played last week with a fractured thumb and in truth, are rank outsiders here.

The Dogs should win with so much on the line, but they’ve been hit and miss at times this year so don’t discount the Giants.

Tip: Western Bulldogs by 4 points.

Laurence Rosen

Adelaide v North Melbourne

Saturday – 2:10pm – Adelaide Oval

Adelaide will play host to North Melbourne on Saturday afternoon.

North Melbourne’s away record against the Crows isn’t great, they haven’t beaten Adelaide in Adelaide since 2003 … a grim stat for Kangaroos fans.

We welcome back Roos great Ben Cunnington who’s playing his first senior game for 2022 after overcoming two bouts of testicular cancer.

Nick Larkey was back to his best last week, booting a career-best bag of seven goals against Sydney – he’ll need to perform well if the Kangaroos are a chance to knock off the home side.

As for the Crows, they’re looking to make it three on the trot for the first time in a long time.

In a game that meant a lot to West Coast last week, Adelaide were great, booting 16 goals away from home in a complete four quarter performance.

Both teams have had fairly disappointing years, making it a tough game to tip with any confidence.

Tip: Adelaide by 23 points.

Hugh Fitzpatrick

Gold Coast v Geelong

Saturday – 4:35pm – Marvel Stadium

What was set to be Patrick Dangerfield’s 300th game loses some relevance given the Geelong superstar was a late out last week.

Unless Geelong loses both of its last two games and Collingwood surprises Sydney and holds off Carlton in Round 23, Chris Scott’s men will finish minor premiers for the first time since 2019.

Meanwhile, despite a plucky season, the Suns have lost three of their last four games.

With endings completely out of the question, Gold Coast is purely playing for pride. However, they’ve shown heart and taken plenty of steps forward this season, meaning the Cats won’t find it easy at Metricon Stadium.

Of their eight games at home so far in 2022, the Suns also have a strong record with five wins.

But Geelong is on an equal competition-high 11-game winning streak, and the leadership from the club throughout the season suggests they’ll find a way to get over the line.

Gold Coast has been one of the best effort sides of the league in 2022 and will match Geelong around the footy, a strength of Scott’s side that has become evident in recent weeks.

The Cats’ defense will look to stifle the Suns and consolidate their fast ball movement style, but Stuart Dew’s men have only dropped below 80 points at home twice this year.

There’s no doubt Gold Coast won’t be pushovers, but Geelong should be able to slice up the visitors and find a way to win.

Type: Geelong by 25 points.

Seb Mottram

Melbourne v Carlton

Saturday – 7:25pm – MCG

Saturday night’s showdown between Melbourne and Carlton has huge final implications.

The Demons finished the round in third spot despite a seven-point loss to Collingwood, their sixth defeat in their past 10 games.

Simon Goodwin’s side squandered a 20-point lead for fifth time since Round 11 in the defeat to the Magpies.

The Demons are locked on 14 wins along with Sydney and Brisbane – a win here would go along way to securing a top four finish.

It also a big night for the Blues who require one more victory to all but clinch a finals spot.

Consecutive losses to Adelaide and Brisbane dented Carlton’s final hopes and left the door open for surrounding clubs to pinch their spot in the eight.

Their task against the reigning premiers has been made more difficult due to key midfield personnel stuck on the sidelines.

Carlton’s record against Melbourne in recent times has been poor.

They’ve lost their last six against the Dees and haven’t been greeted in his fixture since 2016.

Given the Blues’ depleted midfield stocks, the Demons’ star-studded on-ball brigade, led by Clayton Oliver and Christian Petracca, could gain the ascendancy at the coalface.

Tip: Melbourne by 13 points.

alex zaya

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Fremantle v West Coast

Saturday – 7:40pm – Optus Stadium

Fremantle will go in hot favorites to claim their 23rd Western Derby win on Saturday night as they look to press their top four hopes against a struggling West Coast side.

In the 55th edition of the rivalry clash, it’s the Dockers who will be on the hunt for a big win as they need to earn victories in the final two rounds to clinch a double chance.

Considering Western Derby’s have produced wide margins in recent years and the Dockers sit sixth while the Eagles are 17th, Justin Longmuir’s side will feel confident in getting on top of their opponents.

Last time out, it was the Dockers who saluted by 55 points with the Round 3 clash proving that they were a few steps ahead of their rivals in 2022.

In that clash, Fremantle had 27 shots on goal to West Coast’s 12 and they’d hope for a similar output this time.

Going in search of their third-straight win over their rivals, Fremantle will hope that their class and ability to win stoppages holds them in good stead, while the Eagles will be desperate to snap a six-game losing streak.

Considering the Eagles can’t finish any higher than second, last they don’t have much to lose in this game and will be throwing everything at the Dockers knowing it won’t compromise their draft position.

Simply put though, there’s just too big a gap in class in this match-up and Fremantle should breeze to victory.

Tip: Fremantle by 42 points.

Lachlan Geleit

Richmond v Hawthorn

Sunday – 1:10pm – MCG

Richmond and Hawthorn will clash for the second time this year in what looms as a defining game for the Tigers.

Given Carlton and the Bulldogs’ failures in Round 21, Richmond will likely only need one more win to play finals. Locking that away here would save them some stress heading into Round 23.

Meanwhile, Hawthorn has the chance to play a spoiler for the Tigers, and then the following week for the Dogs as well.

It was a high scoring affair when they met earlier in the season, with Richmond winning 117-94. Tom Lynch kicked four, while Mitch Lewis and Luke Breust combined for six.

Their 2021 encounter ended in a draw as the Hawks farewelled Shaun Burgoyne.

Hawthorn has been up and down this year, but impressed last weekend, defeating the Gold Coast in Tasmania.

Richmond, meanwhile, are also hitting their straps as they put a nail in the coffin of Port Adelaide’s season.

Sam Mitchell hasn’t been afraid to put a tag on this season – could this finally be the week where a team puts some defensive thought into Shai Bolton?

Finn Maginness restricted Touk Miller to 21 disposals last weekend and has proven effective in that role.

With everything at stake, it’s hard to tip against the Tigers.

Type: Richmond by 19 points.

Nic Negrepontis

Sydney Swans v Collingwood

Sunday – 3:20pm – SCG

Sydney hosts Collingwood at the SCG in a mouth-watering contest that has massive top-four implications.

The Swans occupy fourth position heading into Round 21 (which they could relinquish to Brisbane or Fremantle depending on their results) while the Magpies sit second, a game ahead of the chasing pack.

John Longmire’s side enters this on the back of a comfortable 38-point win over North Melbourne where they returned a season-high score of 126. It was their fifth victory on the trot and the fourth time in that run kicking a score of 110 or more.

The Swans have certainly unlocked their attacking power and are now the second highest scoring team in the league.

The Magpies have a fascinating story to tell in 2022.

Under Craig McRae they have won 11 in a row to find themselves just a game off top spot.

They took down the Demons last Friday night, edging the reigning premiers by seven points in their eighth single-digit win of the season. Remarkably, six of those have come consecutively.

They have proven many doubters wrong to date and now head to a venue where the home teams holds an 8-2 record this season. Six of the last seven meetings between these two sides have been at the SCG with the Swans holding a narrow 4-2 lead.

The Pies have been superb and brave across the last few months, but at some point their luck might just run out and it could be against a powerful Swans outfit in Sydney.

Tip: Sydney by 11 points.

Andrew Slevison

Essendon v Port Adelaide

Sunday – 4:40pm – Marvel Stadium

Essendon and Port Adelaide are playing for pride at Marvel Stadium this weekend.

Both clubs are out of final contention after featuring in September last year.

The Bombers fell to their 13th loss of what has been a disappointing season when going down to GWS by 27 points last week.

“I reckon the last 10 weeks or so have been pretty consistent,” coach Ben Rutten said post-game.

“That performance was certainly a bit of an outlier for us. I didn’t see it coming. I can’t put my finger on it right now.”

Rutten’s side host the Power who are officially out of the finals race following a home loss to Richmond.

The 38-point defeat was their fourth in a row and 12th of the campaign.

Port Adelaide has had Essendon’s measure in recent times, winning their last four games by an average margin of 44 points.

The latest meeting between these two clubs was won by the Power in Round 11 this year by 16 points.

Both teams aren’t playing particularly good footy at the moment, making this game a tough one to call.

Backing the Power to snap their run of losses.

Tip: Port Adelaide by 13 points.

alex zaya





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Categories
Australia

DPP wants NSW Corrective Services officer charged with murder

DPP wants NSW Corrective Services officer charged with murder

Corrective Services NSW is trying to stop the strike in the Industrial Relations Commission, it said in a statement.

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“All NSW prisons will continue to operate securely during strike action. All essential services will be maintained,” a spokesperson said.

“Centres will not be facilitating family visits or court appearances during the strike.”

Johnstone’s death was the subject of an inquest before State Coroner Teresa O’Sullivan, who on the third day of proceedings referred the matter to the Director of Public Prosecutions in October 2020.

“After having regard to all the evidence before me at this stage I have formed the opinion that the threshold… has been reached. I am going to refer it to the DPP,” O’Sullivan said at the time.

The inquest heard Johnstone, who had a history of escaping custody, had been taken to hospital while on remand after suffering an epileptic seizure in the cells of Lismore Court House, where he had been denied bail on assault charges.

As he was escorted back to the van by two corrections officers – one of whom was armed with a revolver – he “elbowed” the unarmed officer who had a grip of his pants, throwing him off balance, and started running.

The armed officer fired two shots before a fatal third shot hit Johnstone in the back, going through his aorta, liver and diaphragm.

Johnstone’s family said last year said he was a much-loved partner, son and stepson.

“We will forever remember Dwayne as a funny, bubbly rascal who was a family man at heart. He absolutely adored his partner Kirsty and would go out of his way to help people. He loved animals, enjoyed fishing and lived life to the fullest,” they said in a statement.

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The Public Service Association has retained barrister Philip Strickland SC, who was the Crown prosecutor in the failed attempt to prosecute Alice Springs police officer Zach Rolfe for the fatal shooting of Aboriginal man Kumanjayi Walker.

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Categories
Technology

Sony paying developers to avoid rivals, claims Microsoft during Activision Blizzard merger hearings

Sony paying developers to avoid rivals, claims Microsoft during Activision Blizzard merger hearings

In response to Sony’s comments about the Microsoft and Activision Blizzard merger, Microsoft sent in a 27-page rebuttal to a Brazilian court, claiming that Sony pays developers “blocking rights” to prevent them from publishing their game on Xbox Game Pass and other competitive services .

Microsoft appears to have not taken kindly to Sony’s remarks about there being no way to compete with Call of Duty. First spotted by Eurogamer, Microsoft filed a huge rebuttal squarely aimed at their rival, addressing almost every point Sony has brought up in the hearing so far.

Sony originally remarked that it objected to the merger because Call of Duty has “no rival”, “an essential game” that “influences users’ console choice.” Sony also pointed out that despite arguably bad years for the mega-franchise, Call of Duty still outperforms most other games by large margins due to brand loyalty.

Microsoft’s objections, filed in Brazil’s Administrative Council for Economic Defense (CADE), attempted to counter these claims. Microsoft states that the company was able to grow Game Pass without Call of Duty, claiming that the series might not be as “essential” as Sony claims. They also restored their intent to keep Call of Duty multi-platform.

Regarding the exclusivity comment, Microsoft stated that “the use of exclusive arrangements has been at the heart of Sony’s strategy to strengthen its presence in the gaming industry,” and that the arguments are “incoherent”. PlayStation commands a larger market share of digital sales — and Microsoft claims that Sony is paying developers to keep them away from Xbox Game Pass “and other competing subscription services.”

Microsoft wraps up by stating that Sony isn’t afraid that the merger will hamper its ability to compete, but instead that the Game Pass model will threaten Sony’s market leadership “forged from a device-centric strategy and focused on exclusivity.”

Brazil is only one of the first countries to undergo the scrutinization necessary for the Microsoft and Activision Blizzard merger — expect to hear more from both companies as other countries start to ramp up their investigations.

Written by Junior Miyai on behalf of GLHF.

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Categories
Entertainment

Kassandra Clementi SPLITS from fiancée Jacqueline Toboni as she debuts new romance with a man

Home And Away actress Kassandra Clementi (right) has all but confirmed her split from fiancée Jacqueline Toboni by debuting her romance with animal welfare worker Dan McKernan (left)

Home And Away actress Kassandra Clementi has confirmed her split from fiancée Jacqueline Toboni by going public with a new man.

The UnReal star, who became engaged to Jacqueline in August last year, raised eyebrows on Monday by uploading a photo of herself cozying up to American animal welfare worker Dan McKernan on the beach.

Resting her head lovingly on the tattooed hunk’s shoulder, Kassandra wrote in her caption: ‘My [love heart emoji].’

Home And Away actress Kassandra Clementi (right) has all but confirmed her split from fiancée Jacqueline Toboni by debuting her romance with animal welfare worker Dan McKernan (left)

Home And Away actress Kassandra Clementi (right) has all but confirmed her split from fiancée Jacqueline Toboni by debuting her romance with animal welfare worker Dan McKernan (left)

‘Australians – what are your favorite spots in/around Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide?’ she added, confirming that she and Dan were set to travel across Australia together.

Dan, who owns an animal sanctuary in Michigan, also uploaded the same photo alongside the caption: ‘Off to @kassandraclementi’s homeland, Australia.’

Kasandra was first pictured on Dan’s Instagram page back in July, posing for a series of videos and photos taken at his rescue farm.

The UnReal star, who became engaged to Jacqueline in August last year, raised eyebrows on Monday by uploading this photo of herself cozying up to American animal welfare worker Dan McKernan on the beach. She wrote in her caption: 'My [love heart emoji]'

The UnReal star, who became engaged to Jacqueline in August last year, raised eyebrows on Monday by uploading this photo of herself cozying up to American animal welfare worker Dan McKernan on the beach. She wrote in her caption: ‘My [love heart emoji]’

The couple's amorous posts came as a surprise to fans, given that Kassandra never announced her split from American star Jacqueline (left). The couple are pictured together in 2019

The couple’s amorous posts came as a surprise to fans, given that Kassandra never announced her split from American star Jacqueline (left). The couple are pictured together in 2019

Dan owns an animal sanctuary in Michigan, America

Dan owns an animal sanctuary in Michigan, America

‘A true source of happiness and joy in my life [love heart emoji] @Kassandra Clementi. [Animal emojis] The residents at my barn approve [smiling emoji]’, he wrote in the caption.

The couple’s amorous posts came as a surprise to fans, given that Kassandra never announced her split from American star Jacqueline.

Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Kassandra’s management for comment.

Kasandra was first pictured on Dan's Instagram page back in July, posing for a series of videos and photos taken at his rescue farm

Kasandra was first pictured on Dan’s Instagram page back in July, posing for a series of videos and photos taken at his rescue farm

'A true source of happiness and joy in my life [love heart emoji] @Kassandra Clementi. [Animal emojis] The residents at my barn approve [smiling emoji]', he wrote in the caption

‘A true source of happiness and joy in my life [love heart emoji] @Kassandra Clementi. [Animal emojis] The residents at my barn approve [smiling emoji]’, he wrote in the caption

The two women were last seen together in January as they stepped out for a romantic stroll in Sydney.

Jacqueline, who stars in popular drama The L Word, had proposed to her girlfriend on holiday in Italy five months earlier, but the same-sex couple mostly kept a low profile.

Jacqueline (right) proposed to Kassandra in Italy last August, confirming their engagement by sharing a gallery of loved-up Instagram photos

Jacqueline (right) proposed to Kassandra in Italy last August, confirming their engagement by sharing a gallery of loved-up Instagram photos

The couple's amorous posts came as a surprise to fans, given that Kassandra never announced her split from American star Jacqueline

The couple’s amorous posts came as a surprise to fans, given that Kassandra never announced her split from American star Jacqueline

Confirming their engagement at the time, Jacqueline shared a gallery of photos to Instagram from their romantic Italian getaway.

‘This first pic is right before I proposed,’ she wrote in the caption.

‘I feel so incredibly lucky to have found such a goofy, smart, funny, kind soul in you,’ Jacqueline said of her fiancée.

'I feel so incredibly lucky to have found such a goofy, smart, funny, kind soul in you,' Jacqueline said of her fiancée

‘I feel so incredibly lucky to have found such a goofy, smart, funny, kind soul in you,’ Jacqueline said of her fiancée

The gallery included photos of Kassandra beaming while showing off her new engagement ring, and another of them kissing.

‘Thank you for making me laugh every day. I can’t wait to do this forever. Love you x.’

Kassandra reposted their engagement announcement on her Instagram Story, along with the caption: ‘I love you infinitely.’

The gallery included photos of Kassandra beaming while showing off her new engagement ring, and another of them kissing

The gallery included photos of Kassandra beaming while showing off her new engagement ring, and another of them kissing

Kassandra played Maddy Osborne on Home and Away from 2013 to 2016, after which she moved to Los Angeles to further her acting career.

Kassandra played Maddy Osborne on Home and Away from 2013 to 2016, after which she moved to Los Angeles to further her acting career.

It’s unclear when the couple began dating, but they started sharing photos together on Instagram in July 2019.

Kassandra played Maddy Osborne on Home and Away from 2013 to 2016, after which she moved to Los Angeles to further her acting career.

She was in a relationship with Bondi Vet star Dr Chris Brown from 2014 to 2015.

During their time together, the pair kept their romance off social media and declined to speak about their private life in the press.

She was in a relationship with Bondi Vet star Dr Chris Brown (pictured) from 2014 to 2015

She was in a relationship with Bondi Vet star Dr Chris Brown (pictured) from 2014 to 2015

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Categories
Sports

Eddie Betts on his 2009 arrest from autobiography The Boy from Boomerang Crescent

Eddie Betts on his 2009 arrest from autobiography The Boy from Boomerang Crescent

“It was f—ed up and I felt like they were power-tripping.”

Betts admitted he was drunk, but so were the “couple hundred” people also waiting outside the club.

“I wasn’t scared,” Betts wrote.

“I’d been around cops in the past – I knew this entire thing was just bullshit.

“The thought that kept revolving around my head was, ‘I just can’t believe I’m here’.”

Despite feeling despondent about his interaction with police, Betts has described the incident as a turning point in his life and his AFL career, vowing from then to always be home by 1am.

The Indigenous icon also highlighted another incident with police that left him shaken.

After winning the first of his four AFL goal-of-the-year awards in 2006, Betts’ prize was a new car.

One day while eating a sandwich, Betts was told by police to step out of his beloved Toyota Aurion and then asked numerous times by officers if he was actually the owner of the vehicle.

“Finally, one of them checked all my details and after that, they arrogantly got back in their own car and left,” Betts wrote.

“I probably could have gotten more upset and indignant about that incident at the time – but for any Blackfulla sitting in a shiny, expensive new car, sadly that scenario is all too common.”

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Betts’ memoirs, released last week, have prompted a renewed focus on Adelaide’s infamous 2018 pre-season camp.

After writing about his “disrespectful” and “traumatic” experience, fellow former Crows players Josh Jenkins and Bryce Gribbs backed up Betts’ accounts of the club’s doomed trip to the Gold Coast.

AAP

Categories
Australia

Thousands of NSW prison officers to strike over colleague’s murder charge

More than 6000 prison officers across NSW say they will go on strike on Friday after a charge against one of their colleagues was upgraded to murder.

The charge relates to the shooting of an inmate escaping Lismore Base Hospital in 2019.

The prison officer was charged with manslaughter but the Director of Public Prosecutions has since upgraded that charge to murder.

A Corrections Officer walks past the Goulburn Correctional Center in Goulburn. The High Risk Management Correctional Center which is part of the Goulburn Correctional Center has undergone a refurbishment. Goulburn, NSW. 22nd November, 2021. Photo: Kate Geraghty
Prison officers across the state are expected to strike on Friday. (The Sydney Morning Herald)

Prison officers argue the officer acted according to protocol and he had no other choice when the escaping inmate assaulted another officer and tried to flee.

“As soon as a prisoner used force to break free and started fleeing the protocol was crystal clear: warn the escaping prisoner, and, if no response, shoot for the body mass,” Public Service Association NSW General Secretary Stewart Little said.

“Officer A didn’t go to work that fateful day wanting to shoot anyone. His life has been ruined by this moment. He can’t work. His mental health and his family life has deteriorated. He is a victim, not a murderer .”

Little defended the actions of the officer and said it is “morally wrong to place responsibility on a single individual”.

“Prison officers work incredibly hard in dangerous jobs to maintain the toughest part of a justice system we all benefit from,” he said.

“If they have to worry about having their lives ruined by a murder charge for following protocol they’ll quit in mass numbers and not return.”

Bluff Knoll in the Stirling Range in SW Western Australia was transformed into a winter wonderland.

Rare flurry of snow dusts Western Australia

I have added the upgrading of the charges makes prison officers question the use of weapons.

“If they are not to use weapons, they should not be deployed with them. If they are to use them, they should have clarity they will not be charged with murder,” Little added.

The strike is expected to impact all of the state’s correctional facilities with around 6,000 officers being asked to participate in the action.

Categories
Technology

Is Elden Ring coming to Game Pass? Xbox glitch got fans excited

Xbox Game Pass might soon see some of the biggest titles coming to the service (Image via FromSoftware)

From Software’s Elden Ring is the biggest game of the year by a wide margin.

Some players recently saw Elden Ring appear on Xbox Cloud Gaming as part of Xbox Game Pass, sparking speculation that the title was coming to the subscription service.

Many other games, such as GTA 5 and Soul Hackers 2, also appeared with the service’s branding on store pages.

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Xbox is no stranger to adding big AAA games to Game Pass. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Elden Ring and some of this year’s biggest titles pop up on the service.

Recently, Grand Theft Auto 5 also appeared as xCloud enabled, which is in line with Microsoft’s push towards the expansion of Cloud Gaming beyond its first-party titles.

Unfortunately for fans of Elden Ring, the game is definitely not coming to the Xbox Game Pass. It appears that all the confusion was caused by a bug.

Details of what went down and why fans thought Elden Ring and other non-Xbox games were coming to Game Pass

Twitter user Klobrille recently shared a screenshot of Xbox’s Cloud Gaming page. On the page, Elden Ring was shown to be part of Game Pass and was ready to be played via xCloud.

Titles such as Dying Light 2, Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands, LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, and Resident Evil Village also showed up as part of Game Pass.

A user replied to Krobille’s tweet with a screenshot of an ad that they received, which showed that the FromSoftware title was available with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

The user got the ad on a loading screen before it redirected him to another page.

In June 2022, Microsoft confirmed their plans to expand the xCloud and Cloud Gaming platform by including non-Game Pass titles with Game Pass Ultimate later this year.

Many players thought this could be the reason why third-party non-Game Pass titles showed up with Game Pass and Cloud Gaming enabled tags.

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Microsoft representative confirms that cloud listing was caused by a bug

A Microsoft representative confirmed to Eurogamer that the cloud listings of non-Game Pass titles were a glitch. An update was even rolled out to fix the issue. The games no longer show up as Game Pass or Cloud Gaming titles.

The representative said:

“We’re aware of a bug that incorrectly displayed some titles as available with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. We rolled out a fix and this is now updated.”

The Xbox Game Pass subscription service has been one of the most profitable ventures for Microsoft. It gives players a plethora of quality games at a small monthly fee.

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Story Continues below

You are the hope of the Golden Order, Tarnished. Your choices will shape the future of all who dwell in the shadow of the Erdtree.#ELDENRING https://t.co/dTp3UC7Q7k

Getting Elden Ring on the service would’ve been really awesome for Xbox and PC Game Pass owners. It would’ve allowed them to experience one of the best games of the year at no extra cost. The game truly redefined the open-world genre while also acting as the natural evolution of FromSoftware’s Dark Souls series.

Edited by Rachel Syiemlieh

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Categories
Entertainment

Rita Ora’s mother Vera, 58, shows off her figure in an orange swimsuit as she soaks up the sun

Looking good: Vera Ora certainly let her hair down after the celebrations as she showed off her figure while soaking up the sun on holiday in new snaps shared to her Instagram on Monday

Her pop singer daughter Rita Ora recently tied the knot with film director Taika Waititi.

And Vera Ora certainly let her hair down after the celebrations as she showed off her figure while soaking up the sun on holiday in new snaps shared to her Instagram on Monday.

The NHS Psychiatrist, 58, looked fabulous in a flattering orange bikini as she posed by the Buna River, which flows through Albania and Montenegro.

Looking good: Vera Ora certainly let her hair down after the celebrations as she showed off her figure while soaking up the sun on holiday in new snaps shared to her Instagram on Monday

Looking good: Vera Ora certainly let her hair down after the celebrations as she showed off her figure while soaking up the sun on holiday in new snaps shared to her Instagram on Monday

Vera teamed her one-piece with dark sunglasses and black sandals, with the matriarch seemingly preparing to do a spot of kayaking.

Another image saw her enjoying a hot beverage as she posed on a ledge in front of the idyllic backdrop.

With another seeing her pose for a sweet snap with her husband and Rita’s father Besnik Sahatçiu.

Strike a pose: The NHS Psychiatrist, 58, looked fabulous in a flattering orange bikini as she posed by the Buna River, which flows through Albania and Montenegro

Strike a pose: The NHS Psychiatrist, 58, looked fabulous in a flattering orange bikini as she posed by the Buna River, which flows through Albania and Montenegro

Meet Mrs Waititi-Ora! It comes as her daughter de ella Rita Ora married director Taika Waititi in an intimate ceremony in London, according to reports (pictured together in March)

Meet Mrs Waititi-Ora! It comes as her daughter de ella Rita Ora married director Taika Waititi in an intimate ceremony in London, according to reports (pictured together in March)

Mother of the bride Vera also filmed herself wearing a yellow patterned co-ord as she enjoyed a drive with her husband.

The fun-filled getaway comes after daughter Rita married director Taika Waititi in an intimate London ceremony, according to reports, with the pair both been pictured with gold bands on their ring fingers in recent days.

The Hot Right Now hitmaker, 31, and the Thor: Love And Thunder director, 46, have both been pictured with gold bands on their ring fingers in recent days – sparking speculation they had already tied the knot.

Holiday bliss: Another image saw her enjoying a hot beverage as she posed on a ledge in front of the idyllic backdrop

Holiday bliss: Another image saw her enjoying a hot beverage as she posed on a ledge in front of the idyllic backdrop

Couple: With another seeing her pose for a sweet snap with her husband and Rita's father Besnik Sahatçiu

Couple: With another seeing her pose for a sweet snap with her husband and Rita’s father Besnik Sahatçiu

Good times: Mother of the bride Vera also filmed herself wearing a yellow patterned co-ord as she enjoyed a drive with her husband

Good times: Mother of the bride Vera also filmed herself wearing a yellow patterned co-ord as she enjoyed a drive with her husband

Rita said to have already changed her surname and will now be known as Mrs Waititi-Ora.

Rita and Taika started dating in March 2021, before going public with their romance that August.

The couple got engaged two months ago, and sources now claim that they are planning a huge party to celebrate their secret wedding with friends and family.

Happy! Rita and Taika reportedly got engaged two months ago after going public with their romance in August 2021 (pictured last month)

Happy! Rita and Taika reportedly got engaged two months ago after going public with their romance in August 2021 (pictured last month)

A source told The Sun: ‘It was a really intimate ceremony and super special for everyone there. Their nearest and dearest can see how madly in love they are.

‘Despite living in the spotlight, Rita is determined to keep the relationship as private as possible and didn’t want to make a big song and dance about the wedding.

‘Rita’s already back in the studio working on her third album, with her latest session being with Ava Max and Noah Cyrus’ writer Rollo.’

MailOnline has contacted representatives for Rita Ora and Taika Waititi for comment.

Some-ring to tell us? The singer, who sparked wedding speculation when she was seen wearing a gold band on her ring finger de ella, has reportedly already changed her de ella last name

Some-ring to tell us? The singer, who sparked wedding speculation when she was seen wearing a gold band on her ring finger de ella, has reportedly already changed her de ella last name

In recent days Rita has done little to quash speculation that she and Taika had secretly tied the knot, after she was seen wearing a gold band on her ring finger.

She delighted fans with a photo dump on Monday as she shared sultry snaps from her recent getaway in Paris.

Rita modeled an array of dazzling outfits in the post, yet it was her jewelery that caught the eye as she was spotted wearing a gold band that matched the one Taika was also seen wearing in a previous snap.

Sizzling: Rita delighted fans with a photo dump on Monday as she shared sultry snaps from her recent getaway in Paris, with a noticeable new addition on her wedding finger

Sizzling: Rita delighted fans with a photo dump on Monday as she shared sultry snaps from her recent getaway in Paris, with a noticeable new addition on her wedding finger

New Zealand-born filmmaker Waititi was seen sporting a wedding band on Friday.

In an Instagram snap shared by Rita’s sister Elena, Taika could be seen sporting the gold jewelery on his left finger as he enjoyed a drink in the sunshine.

Bling: She modeled dazzling outfits yet it was her jewelery that caught the eye

Bling: She modeled dazzling outfits yet it was her jewelery that caught the eye

Rita also uploaded the same shot to her Instagram, but the singer tellingly covered Taika’s hand with her caption.

MailOnline contacted representatives for Rita and Taika for comment at the time.

It was reported in June that the couple were to wed one another after almost simultaneously popping the question.

The British singer and the filmmaker were said to be planning an imminent, low-key ceremony abroad before celebrating with their fellow A-listers in a big London bash later this year.

It is understood that Rita, who is working on several films and The Voice Australia, and Taika, who is planning a string of movies, hope to tie the knot once their work commitments have wrapped up.

A friend told The Sun: ‘This isn’t about them doing a big showy thing and crowding about it beforehand. It’s just about them being in love and deciding the time is right to formalize their relationship. They couldn’t be happier.

‘They didn’t do a whole, ‘Will you marry me?’ thing and an Instagram post.

‘There’s no ring or big build-up. They just got closer and closer and eventually said to each other almost simultaneously, ‘I want to marry you.”

Married man? Rita and Taika fueled speculation that they have married after the Thor director was seen sporting a wedding band on Friday

Married man? Rita and Taika fueled speculation that they have married after the Thor director was seen sporting a wedding band on Friday

Could it be? Rita also uploaded the same shot to her Ella's Instagram, but the singer tellingly covered Ella's Taika's hand with her caption

Could it be? Rita also uploaded the same shot to her Ella’s Instagram, but the singer tellingly covered Ella’s Taika’s hand with her caption

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Categories
Sports

Matt Toomua opens up on Ellyse Perry divorce and missing the Wallabies cut

Matt Toomua opens up on Ellyse Perry divorce and missing the Wallabies cut

As it stands, after the second review of Australia’s overseas eligibility rules, the system still requires a player to establish themselves at Super Rugby and Test level before they can have their cake and eat it too.

“It was tough. Not fun. Not fun at all. It sucks. You can see why it breaks people.”

Matt To’omua on the breakdown of his marriage to Ellyse Perry.

Wallabies coach Dave Rennie has just three picks per series, but recently muddied the waters suggesting he would petition to have that increased to four. RA shot down the talk, but there is strong speculation Rennie will be given whoever he wants next year in the lead in to the World Cup.

To’omua, and many others in the game, believe the current arrangement has put the Wallabies in a sort of no-man’s land.

“If we are going to be running this trickle-down economics thing, let’s not restrain the Wallabies in any way, shape or form, because that’s just silly,” he says. “If we need Rory [Arnold], we need Rory. If we need Will [Skelton], we need Will. Samu [Kerevi] – why is he not playing all the time? We can’t just have them for a two-game tour. We have to have these guys.”

Worse, two changes in seven years and the likelihood of more on the horizon, is risking the organisation’s credibility, To’omua believes.

Matt To'omua and the Wallabies celebrate victory over France in Brisbane in 2021, To'omua's second last Test for Australia.

Matt To’omua and the Wallabies celebrate victory over France in Brisbane in 2021, To’omua’s second last Test for Australia.Credit:Getty

“As a player, it’s quite frustrating,” he says. “I signed a contract last year on the basis that the Giteau Law was in play, so you do the depth chart, you look at it and think, ‘I’ll probably be around here’. And then the rules get changed.

“It’s only a rule until two blokes decide it’s not a rule, so I feel like it’s dying a bit of a slow death at the moment.

“Let it go, let the costs go, some other young kid is going to shine, be the face of the game, and we’ll still have our international stars playing for Australia, and we’re not crippling ourselves by not having all of them.”

In a reminder of how fast professional sport moves, it was less than a year ago that To’omua pulled on a Wallabies jersey. He started at No.12 outside Noah Lolesio in the first Bledisloe Cup Test, but injury ended his international season prematurely.

Matt To'omua in action for the Rebels this year in what will likely be his final season in Australia.

Matt To’omua in action for the Rebels this year in what will likely be his final season in Australia.Credit:Getty

A poor season with Melbourne followed – including news he was being stripped of the captaincy in favor of Michael Wells – and it was topped off with the dreaded call from Rennie to let him know he hadn’t made the cut for the England series.

“It was humbling in all sorts of ways,” To’omua says of his final year.

“I finished last season with a head knock, that kept me out for a fair while. I came back and I wanted to be part of the [Rebels] leadership group, so that wasn’t a decision made on my part. I was pretty disappointed by that.

“It was a few blows. I was playing No.12 [with Melbourne]and I’d always expressed my desire to play No.10, then I got put back in 10, but then the Wallabies said they see me as a No.12 and me playing No.10 is not really helping my chances of playing at No.12.

“Towards the end, I just had to come to the position that I wanted to play rugby and a position that I wanted to play, and if it’s not good enough for the Wallabies, I’m OK with that. I’ll do my best, I’ll do everything I can. But if that’s not enough, I am actually quite proud of what I’ve done at a Wallaby level and the experiences I’ve had.

“I do really, really like the environment in terms of the coaching set up there. I spoke to Dave Rennie on the phone when he called me to tell me I wasn’t in. I said, ‘Mate, I genuinely wish I was a few years younger, playing a little bit better’.

“For me, it’s just the natural cycle of being an athlete. You’re good for a bit and, hopefully, you take advantage of that little bit, and then you become not very good for a bit. I don’t think I’m completely out the other side, but I’m setting myself up for that because it does eventually happen. I want to be pragmatic about that.”

There was also a marriage breakdown thrown in for good measure, although To’omua’s best season with the Rebels, 2020, coincided with the year he and cricketer Ellyse Perry decided to end their four-year marriage. He was Super Rugby AU’s joint top try-scorer with James O’Connor as his personal life crumbled around him.

It was not an amicable split – To’omua says they have not spoken in more than a year – but the 32-year-old wants to keep the details out of the public domain out of respect for his new partner and soon-to- be wife, Naomi Cameron, a forensic psychologist.

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“It was tough,” he says. “Not fun. Not fun at all. It sucks. You can see why it breaks people. I’m very lucky that I’ve found someone now who’s amazing, but at the time, it was brutal.

“I’m very fortunate that we had no children and, of the divorces, it was a good one in the sense of the separation of those things. The one unique thing being it was public. Getting sprayed while I’m goalkicking or getting abused on some social media platform isn’t great, but they’re minor things.”

Onwards and upwards for rugby’s “Pup”, who is now working with host broadcaster Stan Sport. There’s just one final point to make before he leaves.

“It’s super exciting what’s coming up, with two World Cups and a [British and Irish] Lions tour, but there’s a responsibility for whoever’s in charge to make sure they set us up,” he says. “If we don’t benefit from those events you can’t say we didn’t have a chance. In rugby we’ve always had that in our back pocket, against anyone who played league: we could say that we’re the international game and they’re big in western Sydney. We genuinely have a chance now. I hope that we lock in the benefits for the future.”

Watch every match of The Rugby Championship on the Home of Rugby, Stan Sport. Kicks off this weekend with South Africa v All Blacks (Sunday, 12.30am, AEST) and Argentina v Wallabies (Sunday, 4.45am, AEST). All matches streaming ad-free, live and on demand on Stan Sport.

Categories
Australia

Brisbane’s Queen Street Mall celebrates 40 years of attracting visitors in their droves to the CBD

Brisbane's Queen Street Mall celebrates 40 years of attracting visitors in their droves to the CBD

Brisbane’s “transformational” Queen Street Mall celebrates a milestone this month, 40 years after it forever changed the city’s retail heart.

What started as a dirt strip hosting horse and carriage traffic in the 1800s had long housed iconic and fashionable brands, but it was not until August 8, 1982 that the two blocks between Edward and George streets were closed to traffic and officially opened by its namesake , Queen Elizabeth II herself.

Black and white city street photo with horse and carriage
Queen Street in about 1868 was a far cry from what it is today.(Supplied: State Library of Queensland)

Brisbane City Council’s chair of its 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games Committee Krista Adams said the mall’s opening, coinciding with the 1982 Brisbane Commonwealth Games, was an “absolutely historic moment”.

“I have to say, 1982 was nothing short of transformational for our city,” Ms Adams said.

“From Matilda winking at us right through to the closing ceremony… it was the first time that Brisbane considered, ‘Hey, we can do this, and we are on the world stage’.

Whether Brisbanites came for lunch at Jimmy’s on the Mall, met friends after school at Hungry Jack’s or dared to take the dragon ride at the top of the Myer Centre, Queen Street Mall embedded itself in the urban life of Queensland’s capital.

Old photo of Queen St in Brisbane in early 1900s
A Christmas postcard featuring a colored view of Queen Street in about 1908.(Supplied: State Library of Queensland)

Ms Adams remembered coffee dates at Jimmy’s on the Mall and watching people from JoJo’s, as well as the terrifying sounds from the rollercoaster at Tops, an amusement venue in the Myer Center.

“There was absolutely nowhere else to meet other than Hungry Jack’s because no-one had mobile phones,” she said.

“It has been reinvented many times over — there has been the Wintergarden, the Myer Centre, Burnett Lane and the extension of the mall down Albert Street.

“It has remained the most popular mall in the southern hemisphere, and the most successful in Australia, and has stood the test of time.”

Ms Adams says while the council has “struggled to get pedestrians back into Queen Street Mall after COVID, it is still home to more than 500 retailers including six major shopping centres.

Designed by late Robin Gibson, the architect also behind the Queensland Art Gallery and later the Queensland Cultural Centre, the Queen Street Mall has hosted parades for athletes returning from the Olympic and Commonwealth Games, live music performances and plenty of fashion parades.

More than two decades ago, Hollindale Mainwaring Architecture took on the redevelopment of the mall, and described Queen Street as “a proven exception continuing its history of vibrant commerciality and increasing pedestrian usage”.

In 2022, Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said Queen Street Mall attracted “more than one million pedestrian movements a week”.

“As it returns to its post-pandemic prime, with pedestrian movements at 72 per cent of pre-COVID levels, it is set to be bolstered by massive investment into new CBD attractions and transport options,” he said

Man walks through empty mall.
During COVID lockdowns in 2021, the Queen Street Mall was eerily empty.(ABC News: Chris Gillette)
Black and white photo of Queen St Brisbane
Queen Street with decorations for the royal visit in 1954, between George and Albert streets.(Supplied: State Library of Queensland)

“With major transformations underway like Queen’s Wharf and Waterfront Place, Queen Street Mall is at the center of an exciting evolution that will drive visitation and renew popularity in the iconic precinct.”

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Brisbane fashion stylist, educator and commentator Dianne Cant was involved in the first fashion parades in 1982 in the mall.

“The brief back then was to promote the retailers and impress the shoppers with what was on offer; they weren’t just entertainment but of course, the crowds stopped for 15 to 20 minutes and enjoyed,” she said.

Floodwaters Brisbane 1893
Queen Street flooded in 1893.(Supplied: State Library of Queensland)

“Another personal highlight was being invited to drive Brownlow Medalist Simon Black in a convertible car down the mall when the Brisbane Lions won the AFL Premiership in 2002.”

There will be two weeks of celebrations for Queen Street Mall’s 40th birthday with pop up champagne bars and fashion shows.

Find more information here.

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