Euan Aitken will return to his preferred position for the first time since July last year. Photo / Photosport
When Euan Aitken was recruited by the Warriors ahead of the 2021 season, he was brought in as a senior centre, after 121 games for St George-Illawarra.
It was a logical move – as the club lacked depth in that position – but hasn’t worked out as expected, with Aitken spending most of his time in the pack.
On Saturday Aitken, who has only played eight of his 31 Warriors matches at centre, will return to his preferred position for the first time since July last year.
He was initially moved to the second row to cover some injuries, which made sense on a short term basis, before the shift seemed to become permanent this year.
It was a brave call by coach Nathan Brown but also risky, as Adam Pompey (34 NRL games at the start of this season) and Jesse Arthars (29 matches) were the most experienced of the other options available, alongside rookies Rocco Berry and Viliami Okay.
Aitken has mostly performed well in the forwards, with his industrious approach but the opportunity cost of the change has been considerable.
The Warriors have had defensive issues all season – only the Gold Coast Titans have conceded more points – and have been particularly vulnerable on the edge, with center arguably the hardest defensive position in the sport.
When Stacey Jones assumed the interim head coach role, he always planned to restore Aitken to the backs and selected him there for the homecoming match against the West Tigers on July 3.
Some late withdrawals curtailed that plan, but Aitken’s switch will finally happen against South Sydney on Saturday.
“I’ve been wanting to put him back there and just [solidify] our defence,” said Jones, who explained that the return of second rowers Jack Murchie and Bailey Sironen from injury had offered the opportunity.
Euan Aitken celebrates during the Warriors’ victory over the Wests Tigers. Photo / Photosport
For his part Aitken, 27, is looking forward to more space and time, one spot closer to the flank.
“It’s probably the one on one attacking opportunities that you get in the centers,” said Aitken, when asked what he has missed the most about playing out wide. “I’m a pretty strong ball runner and I like to beat my defender so I’m excited to get a few more opportunities.”
Despite spending the entire season in the forwards, Aitken has maintained his pace. He tried to bulk up in pre-season but couldn’t keep the extra weight on: “It’s hard to maintain when you are making over 40 tackles.”
Aitken, who is moving to the Redcliffe Dolphins next season, remains confident the Warriors are on the right track, despite two wins in their last 12 games.
“As a team we are sticking together quite well – there’s a decent culture here,” said Aitken. “I feel like we are heading in the right direction, especially in the last three weeks since that Tigers win. We have shown good glimpses of having a strong team but we just can’t put it together over 80 minutes yet, not through lack of trying just errors in fatigue or a little bit of game smarts.”
With their playoff hopes buried weeks ago, Aitken hopes pride and a sense of fun – “the reason we play football is because we enjoy it” – can keep confidence and motivation levels high, along with the desire to hear their victory song again.
“I’m always trying to win,” said Aitken. “That is the number one achievement. I’d like to finish the year playing some good football and if we can get some wins it definitely makes things a bit more enjoyable.”
The Warriors have a dreadful recent record against the Rabbitohs. They have lost 12 of the last 13 encounters dating back to 2013, with their only win coming on the opening weekend of the 2018 season in Perth.
Australia v New Zealand, 6pm local (3am Sunday AEST)
Medal matches, Sunday August 7, Edgbaston
Bronze medal match, 10am local (7pm AEST)
Gold medal match, 5pm local (2am Monday AEST)
How can I watch?
Channel Seven hold the exclusive rights for the live coverage, replays and highlights for the Commonwealth Games in Australia.
Fans can keep up with the semi-finals (and Australia’s pursuit of gold in every sport!) across Seven, 7mate and streaming via 7plus. Seven will be providing coverage across all the Games’ events, so for unfiltered and uninterrupted cricket coverage, your best bet is to tune in to a 7plus stream.
Australia’s Lisa Sthalekar will lead the cricket commentary team, along with Alison Mitchell, ex-West Indies cricketer Stacy Ann King and Natalie Germanos, while those who prefer radio will be able to listen to SEN, who will broadcast the live Seven commentary via their network .
I’ve grown so much: The evolution of Ashleigh Gardner
What if it rains?
Fortunately, there is no rain forecast for Birmingham this weekend. But if that does suddenly change, there is no reserve day for the semi-finals, so in the event of a washout, Australia and England would advance as the higher-ranked qualifiers. However, if a medal match cannot be completed on Sunday due to rain, Monday has been set aside as a reserve day.
Semi-final 2: Australia v New Zealand
Edgbaston, 6pm local (3am AEST, 2.30am ACST, 1am AWST)
Likely teams
Australia have gone unchanged throughout the tournament and that seems set to remain the case for the semi-final, unless there is a last-minute injury, or if the change from a hybrid pitch to a traditional turf pitch prompts a change in tactics.
New Zealand have stuck to a similar line-up through the group change, bringing in Rosemary Mair for their second game and rotating left-arm orthodox bowler Fran Jonas with off-spinner Eden Carson, so it is unlikely much will change against Australia.
Australia: Alyssa Healy (wk), Beth Mooney Meg Lanning (c), Tahlia McGrath, Rachael Haynes, Ashleigh Gardner, Grace Harris, Alana King, Jess Jonassen, Megan Schutt, Darcie Brown
New Zealand: Sophie Devine (c), Suzie Bates, Amelia Kerr, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Hayley Jensen, Izzy Gaze (wk), Lea Tahuhu, Hannah Rowe, Rosemary Mair, Fran Jonas
ICC T20I Rankings
Australia: 1st; New Zealand 3rd
Road to the semi-finals
Australia’s form line (most recent first): WWW
New Zealand’s form line: WWL
Australia advanced through the group stage unbeaten but were forced to dig deep at various stages. They recovered from 5-49 against India to pull off a three wicket win chasing 155, thanks to a match-winning partnership between Ashleigh Gardner and Grace Harris. They rolled Barbados for 64 in a nine-wicket win, then come back from a sluggish start against Pakistan to put on a commanding 160, sealing a 44-run win.
New Zealand started the tournament with an all-important win over South Africa that put them in the box seat for a return to the knockout stages of a major tournament. They were shaky at times batting first against Sri Lanka but with the help of a Lea Tahuhu cameo, they were able to post a winning total. However they will need to move on quickly from their humbling defeat to England, which saw them score 9-71 from their 20 overs before losing by seven wickets.
overall record
Played 46 | Australia 23 | New Zealand 21 | Tied 1 | did not result 1
Last time they met in T20Is
Australia 4-129(Mooney 61, Haynes 29; Mackay 2-20) lost to New Zealand 6-131 (Mackay 46, Kerr 36; Schutt 2-24) by four wickets in 20 overs at McLean Park, Napier in March 2021
In-form players
Leg-spinner Alana King has been the standout bowler of Australia’s UK tour and has five wickets already these Commonwealth Games. The batters have shared the spoils, but Tahlia McGrath looks to be finding good all-round form, having taken six wickets in the last two games alongside her unbeaten 78 against Pakistan.
For New Zealand, Hayley Jensen has been finding swing with the new ball – she credits new coach Ben Sawyer for her improvement – and will be key to picking up early wickets. Suzie Bates is the tournament’s leading run scorer despite missing out against England.
So how do they stack up?
Recent results, depth and history are in Australia’s favour, but New Zealand have renewed confidence under new coach Ben Sawyer and will back themselves to cause an upset. No team with Sophie Devine, Suzie Bates and Amelia Kerr can ever be discounted, and they have a habit of turning up against their trans-Tasman rivals.
Keeping it simple: Get to know Shelley Nitschke
Semi-final 1: England v India
Edgbaston, 11am local (8pm Sunday AEST, 7.30pm ACST, 6pm AWST)
Likely teams
England have already confirmed captain Heather Knight has been ruled out of the Games with a hip injury suffered during the recent T20 series against South Africa, with Natalie Sciver to continue leading in her place. Like Australia, they have remained unchanged through the Games so far so can be expected to stick with the same line-up.
India have swapped their spinners and adjusted their middle-order but now that Pooja Vastrakar has re-joined the side followed her delayed arrival due to COVID, and given their 100-run win in their most recent outing against Barbados, they are unlikely to be making many changes for the semi-final.
England: Danielle Wyatt, Sophia Dunkley, Alice Capsey, Natalie Sciver (c), Amy Jones (wk), Maia Bouchier, Katherine Brunt, Sophie Ecclestone, Freya Kemp, Issy Wong, Sarah Glenn
India thought they had Australia on the ropes in the opening match of the Games, but they learned an important lesson about the depth in Meg Lanning’s side as they ultimately suffered a three-wicket defeat. They bounced back in style, smashing Pakistan by eight wickets and Barbados by 100 runs.
England were not wholly convincing in their first game, beating Sri Lanka by five wickets having been set 107 for victory, before 17-year-old Alice Capsey shone against South Africa, scoring her first international half-century to help set up a 26- run win. But they will take plenty of confidence from routing New Zealand, restricting the Kiwis to 9-71 before chasing the target with relative ease.
overall record
Played 22 | England 17 | Indian 5
Last time they met in T20Is
India 6-153 (Mandhana 70, Kaur 36; Ecclestone 3-35) lost to England 2-154 (Wyatt 89*, Sciver 42; Rana 1-27) by eight wickets in 18.4 overs at Chelmsford in July 2021
In-form players
For England, Sophie Ecclestone has continued to prove why she is the world’s top-ranked T20I bowler, capturing five wickets and maintaining an economy rate of 4.75 through the group stage. With the bat, 17-year-old Alice Capsey has made an impressive start to her international career, hitting fifty against South Africa.
For India, Renuka Singh Thakur – the architect of Australia’s top-order collapse – has taken nine wickets in three games and will be targeting Danni Wyatt and Sophia Dunkley. Shafali Verma has not hit a fifty but is India’s leading run scorer from the group stage, with those runs coming at a damaging strike rate of 157.
So how do they stack up?
England and India go head-to-head in a semi-final once more, and unlike the 2020 T20 World Cup, this time it does not look like rain will spoil the party! England are full of confidence and have the home advantage – they also have more experience at winning knockout matches. The washout of 2020 aside, England came out on top in their two previous knockout meetings, defeating India in the 2018 T20 World Cup semi-final, and the 2017 World Cup final. But India have more than enough firepower to upset the hosts and this is shaping up to be a cracking contest.
Australia began day eight of the Commonwealth Games with 50 gold medals, a metaphorical bat raised towards the pavilion with hopes of more to come. Instead, after such a dominant opening week, the Australian team stalled for the first time and were unable to add to their golden tally in Birmingham.
Host nation England promptly closed the gap on the medal board with a swag of golds to sit on 47, trailing by just three with as many days to go. But the one-day drought did not mean the day was a complete disappointment for Australia.
Decathlete Cedric Dubler will forever be remembered for the outstanding sportsmanship and selflessness he showed at the Tokyo Olympics last year, but for all the backslapping that followed, Dubler is a competitive beast and he wanted his own medal. Now he has a bronze.
Over the past two days, the Queenslander was center stage throughout the decathlon when engaging in an enthralling battle with Grenadian Lindon Victor and fellow Australian Daniel Golubovic. After eight events, Dubler had the lead. But the defending Commonwealth Games champion Victor rebounded strongly in the javelin, his favorite event from him, to seize control. By the end, Golubovic passed Dubler as well when claiming the 1500m in brilliant fashion to clinch the silver in what provided a great event to watch.
Australia also produced medal-winning performances at the gymnastics and the aquatic centre, while Jayden Lawrence claimed a bronze in wrestling in the 86kg class. Despite competing in his last two fights with a torn anterior cruciate ligament, the 27-year-old managed to win the nation’s first medal in the sport since the Delhi Games in 2010. Asked whether battling through the pain was worth it, he told the Seven Network; “Bloody oath.”
Diver Brittany O’Brien was struggling to leap from the platform in her favored event 10m a year ago when her coach suggested a change in focus. She switched to the springboard and will return to Australia with a silver medal after an outstanding effort in the 1m event.
Sam Fricker partnered Shixin Li to a bronze medal in the 3m springboard, while Dom Bedggood and Cassiel Rousseau matched the feat in the synchronized 10m platform. Alexandra Kiroi-Bogatyreva also claimed a bronze in the rhythmic gymnastics all around event.
Brittany O’Brien on her way to silver in the 1m springboard event. Photograph: Darren England/AAP
On the track, Ella Connolly qualified for the women’s 200m final with a time of 23.41 seconds, while Michelle Jenneke hurdled superbly in the 100m. Connolly ran a brilliant semi-final when placing second behind Namibian teenager Christine Mboma with an outstanding performance she described as “crazy”.
The final appeals as a match race between Mboma and Jamaican legend Elaine Thompson-Herah, who is seeking to complete a Commonwealth Games 100m and 200m sprint double after completing the feat in the Rio De Janeiro and Tokyo Olympics. But Connelly has vowed to give her very best of her as she fights for a medal. “I need to get out to a good start again and hold my form in the last 100m and just stay relaxed,” she said.
Jenneke ran a personal best of 12.63 seconds when qualifying for the 100m hurdle final, though it will not count on her official record given it was wind-assisted. Ella’s key to her return to form, and to succeeding this weekend, is staying happy and relaxed. “I’m not someone who likes to be super focused on what I do. Even in the call room I am chatting with officials. That’s what I do,” she said.
But there was disappointing news for cycling star Caleb Ewan who was forced to withdraw from Sunday’s road race after undergoing surgery to remove a plate from his collarbone. Ewan is devastated and so is Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Nicola Olyslagers, who has withdrawn from the women’s high jump final on Saturday with a calf tear.
The Hockeyroos closed out an entertaining Friday when defeating India in a penalty shootout, in doing so, they avenged a heartbreaking loss in the quarter-finals of the Tokyo Olympics. But it was not without drama, with India leveling late at 1-1 to force a penalty shootout. Australia were able to make their first three attempts at the shootout, while India failed to convert, to progress to Sunday’s final against England. It may provide a decisive battle to the overall medal tally.
In 2016 at the Rio Olympics, Patterson could not clear a training height and sobbed inconsolably in the mixed zone afterwards. In 2018, she did not make the Australian team for the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games and just stopped training and engaging with anyone much in the sport.
“Obviously I stepped away from the sport [in 2018]. I wasn’t happy in any way, I wasn’t enjoying the sport, I wasn’t happy within myself, I wasn’t confident, I was not happy in the environment I was in and that was showing out on the field and athletics is such an area where it highlights a lot of things going on in life. And anyone in life can only hold on for so long, but it got to a point where I couldn’t hold on any longer, and I was not happy in any shape or form,” she said.
“There were a number of reasons why I stepped away, it wasn’t necessarily a moment, it took me a long while to wrap my head around it in all honesty. I still held on to such a strong belief in this dream but everything else that life was throwing at me, I couldn’t hang on to any longer, so it was a gradual understanding of ‘I am done’.
“I hadn’t been training for a number of months, but I was hoping to return, and then it got to a point where I was like ‘I don’t think I want to’. It was a slow progression and that was the same for returning. It took me over a year to wrap my head around stepping away and not entering into a gym, not stepping foot on a track. So it took me over a year to feel at peace with myself and realize ‘I am not finished here’. I knew I needed to change my environment and so I had always had in the back of my head if I ever decided to change the environment that Alex Stewart was the one that I would go to.”
Australia’s dynamic duo: High jumpers Nicola Olyslagers (left) and world champion Eleanor Patterson.Credit:Holly Adams
Stewart is a high jump coach in Sydney. I have coached Brandon Starc.
When Patterson broke through in Glasgow, there were offers from Athletics Australia for her to take funding and help with coaching but Patterson for myriad reasons resisted, wanting to stay at home in Leongatha. By late 2019 she realized she needed to change something. She knew she fundamentally still loved jumping and wanted to get back to enjoying doing it. She got in touch with Stewart, who had occasionally reached out with kind, unsolicited messages after she had missed the Australian team.
“It wasn’t until really 2019 … that I admitted to him – and he was probably the first person I admitted it to in the athletics world – ‘hey, I am not training, I haven’t been training for this long ‘. I kind of just disappeared and ghosted the sport.
“I kept under the radar and I kept it that way. Then I spoke to him and he was like ‘come and join us in training’.”
She took some time to pluck up the courage. She was unfit and wanted to hit a gym before rolling up to a training session and embarrassing herself.
She eventually moved to Sydney and the physical shift was as important in opening up her world as Stewart’s advice was about the fact being a world-class high jumper is not just about understanding how to jump high.
“Alex was always telling me simple things like ‘walk like you are an Olympic champion, walk like you’re a world champion’ and about the way you go about life,” she said.
“The training environment with other athletes, Brandon Starc, he is such a professional athlete, and others there that are world-class, and obviously they are men and they are able to jump higher than me, but I am such a stubborn person I was like ‘if they can do that, I can have a crack and do it’.
“Everything was so new and different. It really changed me physically and mentally and I really felt like I was fresh in the sport. I had this rejuvenated love of the sport and enjoyment in so many facets.”
She came from basically scratch for fitness but has quickly rebuilt her career and life. She moved to Sydney, traveled to Europe and began competing on the Diamond League circuit. She has a boyfriend, Marco, who is a European athlete. She is happy.
In the final in Eugene, she was jumping with fellow Australian Nicola Olyslagers, who won silver at the Olympics last year (she was Nicola McDermott then).
Patterson was nearly being eliminated when she cleared 198 centimeters with her third and last jump to stay in the competition. She then cleared two meters for the first time ever and moved from fourth to first place. Then she jumped another personal best, and a national record, when she cleared 2.02m and won gold.
loading
“In the scheme of things it seems ridiculous. I started from scratch less than four years ago, and I am world champion. It’s good to have a reminder because it still does feel like a dream come true,” Patterson said.
“I knew for a long time I could bring that type of jump to fruition, that type of performance, but now the rest of the world knows.”
So now we know. Despite the assurances by Daly Cherry-Evans that his Manly team remained unified even after seven players chose to trash the season rather than support the rainbow jersey, now comes the truth.
“[The seven] are still saying they weren’t consulted about the [rainbow] jersey and it went against their religious and cultural beliefs,” an anonymous first-grader told Wide World Of Sports columnist The Mole.
“We weren’t consulted when a betting sponsor was placed on our jersey – the guys wear that every week … I’m not sure what their god would say about that.
“No one asked us when our oval was renamed after a brewery – I don’t think their god would have been crazy about that either. And I can tell you very few young blokes in our club live by the 10 commandments – nor most young blokes in Australia for that matter.”
Bravo. How could you be anything other than still pissed off with the seven players who did this? What have they got to say for themselves? Funny you should ask. Step into the next section.
Standing strong – on rocky ground
At last, the Manly Seven speak!
Or at least one of them did, passing on his thoughts to Danny Weidler, for his column last Sunday.
“I can speak on behalf of all the players, the seven, plus another player who was asked to replace the players,” the player said, “the view of the group is united, the players will not be taking part in a pride exercise .”
Jason Saab, Christian Tuipulotu, Haumole Olakau’atu, Josh Aloiai and Josh Schuster are five of the seven Manly players who drew from the pride round clash.Credit:Getty/NRL Photos
Great, so they’ll trash next season’s rainbow jersey plan, too, and tear apart some within the club rather than even be tangentially involved with a gesture supporting the idea that gays are just like everyone else and deserve respect. But they’re not homophobic, so do bear that in mind! Look, If I was a potential Manly sponsor right now, I’d run screaming from the room. And if I was the incoming Manly CEO Tony Mestrov, I’d resign sooner than re-sign any of them.
The implacability of the Seven, was backed up by an intermediary telling Weidler: “The players will not be told what to believe.”
Great. Believe what you damn well please, no matter how absurd. God made everything, but he strongly disapproves of gays – really?
“They won’t tell others how to believe or behave and want the same respect given to them.”
So, you will unsettle the season rather than stand with the notion of equality inclusivity for gay players and fans, but you want respect? Any thoughts that they might deserve some, too?
“While consultation was important, the real issue relates to their religion. The players have been criticized for playing in a sports betting jumper at a beer field. The critics may not have read the Bible. There is nothing to say it’s not OK, just not in excess…”
Champion, bring it in tight. The bible doesn’t come out against beer, or betting on sports outcomes by using points spread? And you are being freaking seriously?
And yes, I gather the Old Testament actually does have some stuff against gays. That, however, would be the same text that, as in Exodus 21:7, says you can sell your youngest daughter into slavery? And let’s not forget Exodus 35:2 which says “Whoever does any work on [the Sabbath] is to be put to death.”
Say, don’t you professional footballers play on Sundays? Isn’t that your job?
I could go on, but if you google “President Josiah Bartlett and Leviticus”, you’ll get the drift from that famous episode of West Wing. He speaks for many of us.
Don’t get upset. They’re our beliefs, yo’?.
No London buzz for Commonwealth Games
The Colonial Games?
No doubt there’s been lots of fine sporting moments, and good luck to all the competitors. But as one who has been in London for the last week researching a book, it has been instructive.
Not even here, in the host country, it is a particularly big deal. It’s on, and when England wins something there is a good smattering of polite applause. But it doesn’t come up in conversation, nor on the street. It’s happening over in Birmingham, wherever that is, and that’s fine, but there is precisely zero buzz.
What They Said
Peter V’landys on the NSW Government developing a spine and – citing the Lismore floods, and COVID-19 costs – standing up to the NRL on the absurdity of building endless stadiums for a non-tax paying business that already has stadiums: “I find it appalling that they’re using human tragedy of the floods to renege on an agreement.” I daresay the people of Lismore might find endless expenditure shoveled into the gaping maw of stadiums even more appalling?
Premier Perrottet reacting to the threat that – brace yourself subsequent – the NRL grand final might go to Brissie because of it: “Sydney will always be the home of rugby league and, if Peter V’landys wants to take the grand final away from his home, then he can explain that to the fans.”
Former Sports Minister Stuart Ayres: “If the NRL took the grand finale from Sydney, after the NSW government has spent in excess of $1.5 billion on sporting infrastructure that massively benefits the NRL … if the NRL walked away from the home of its sport here in NSW, the state where the grand final has always been played in with the exception of the COVID grand final from last year, that would be an extraordinary move.” See, Premier? We need that kind of money to “massively benefit,” NSW, not the NRL.
Gray Wiggle Andrew Redmayne on the abuse from Peruvian fans. “Half of me wishes I could speak and read Spanish, so I could know what they’re saying. But on the other half I’m glad I can’t, I think.” It’s better that you don’t understand anything, Rojomayne.
Rick Williams, who invented the refereeing “bunker” on which the NRL one was modeled: “When it first started, I said to Graham [Annesley], ‘you are getting guys into the bunker who want to referee the game. You can’t do that, it’s not right.’ That’s the way it has gone, which is unfortunate. It’s a brilliant tool for them, but it should just be for scoring. It’s just gone further and further and this is what happens.”
Kyle Chalmers denying there was any tension between him and his former partner Emma McKeon, after they’d won gold as part of a mixed relay: “I think the media really need to start to grow up and focus on the good things. You look at America, they jump on the winners, they support. No matter what I do these days, the media wants to jump on when I have done nothing but give all to this country. I stand and talk to you guys after every race. Bad, good, I’ve always stopped to give you guys the time of day.” Mighty big of you, Tex!
Chalmers on what will happen if we of the media don’t go into the room full of mirrors, take a good look at ourselves, and stop making shit up about him: “There’s definitely going to be a time when I stop [talking to you after races]if that is going to be the case.” We can’t say we haven’t been told.
Charles Barkley on not going to commentate on the LIV Tour and staying to do basketball which will be his last contract: “I don’t want to overstay my welcome. I’ve been doing it 21 years already. First off, dude, I’m almost 60 years old now. I’m very aware of my body disintegrating, like all the older guys’ bodies are disintegrating. I would like to be on vacation somewhere instead of sitting in Turner’s studio as I decay. I don’t want to decline on television.”
Charles Howell III, 43, formerly ranked No. 15 but now 150 spots lower, on what motivated him to take the blood money of the LIV mob and join the Saudis: “No, money was not a factor.” Perish the thought! Rather, he said, he believed that “Golf can be a force for change and good.”
team of the week
Emma McKeon. I honestly can’t keep track, but she seems to have won everything going in the pool at the Comm Games.
Emma McKeonCredit:john shakespeare
Wallabies. Begin the Rugby Championships early Sunday morning in Mendoza.
Premier Perrottet. Finally, a Premier that stands up to the NRL.
Women’s Soccer. 87,192 fans at Wembley for the final was record for a European finals match – men’s or women’s!
Jess Fox. Successfully defended her world title in Extreme Slalom.
Alex de Minaur. The Australian tennis player won his sixth ATP title.
R.I.P. Johnny Famechon. One of our greatest boxers has died, aged 77. Among other achievements, he won the World featherweight title in 1969.
Ricciardo’s future has been a hot topic in an underwhelming campaign and, despite telling Crash.Net “I have not forgotten how to drive” several months ago, he is set to be ushered out of McLaren.
His current contract expires at the end of the 2023 season but Zak Brown, the McLaren CEO previously revealed that clauses existed to end it early. That option will be taken at the end of this season and Ricciardo has been informed, ESPN report.
McLaren opted not to comment when asked by Crash.Net.
Piastri, the F2 champion who is at the center of a tug-of-war with Alpine, will step into Ricciardo’s seat.
It is the latest major move for a fascinating 2023 F1 driver line-up kickstarted by Sebastian Vettel’s retirement and Fernando Alonso’s move from Alpine to Aston Martin.
Alpine that announced Piastri, one of the brightest emerging talents in the sport, would replace Alonso but he immediately reacted “that is wrong”.
The FIA contract recognition board has recognized Piastri’s deal with McLaren above a contract he has with Alpine which expires at the end of 2022, RacingNews365 reported.
McLaren are stalling on confirming Piastri as their new driver for 2023 until they have helped Ricciardo find a new drive, Racer.com reports.
Alpine are the obvious choice. The vacancy caused by Alonso’s move will not be filled by Piastri after all, so they need a driver.
They currently pay Alonso a reported £14.9m per season – the fourth highest salary among drivers for 2022 – so should be able to afford Ricciardo, who currently pockets £12.2m per season from McLaren.
Ricciardo spent two seasons with Renault before they rebranded and became Alpine.
Haas have not yet confirmed Mick Schumacher as their driver beyond the end of this season. Schumacher has veered between poor performances and flirting with the idea of eventually moving to Ferrari, where his father was a legend, but Ricciardo’s availability will give Haas options at the negotiating table.
Williams have a seat vacant alongside Alex Albon. Nicholas Latifi has been tipped to leave although Nyck de Vries or Logan Sargeant are younger, likelier options.
Alfa Romeo have Valtteri Bottas signed up for 2023 but haven’t confirmed Zhou Guanyu’s spot beyond the end of this year. Yuki Tsunoda’s future with AlphaTauri, who also have Pierre Gasly, is also unconfirmed. Although Zhou and Tsunoda are among the lowest-earners on the 2022 grid so replacing them with the veteran Australian would be costly.
Ricciardo has previously been linked with a switch to IndyCar, too.
Captain Michael Hooper has withdrawn from the Wallabies’ Rugby Championship Test against Argentina 24 hours before kick-off, saying he isn’t in the “right mindset” to lead or represent the country.
The tireless flanker had been named to lead the side in his 122nd Test on Sunday morning (AEST) but will now return to Australia, missing both matches against the Pumas. Fellow Test centurion James Slipper will captain the side in Mendoza, while Fraser McReight will replace Hooper in the number seven jersey.
“While this decision did not come easily I know it is the right one for me and the team at this point in time,” Hooper said in a statement. “My whole career I’ve looked to put the team first and I don’t feel I am able to fulfill my responsibilities at the moment in my current mindset.”
Hooper addressed teammates prior to the announcement, telling the squad he had the utmost confidence they could get win the tests against Argentina without him.
Coach Dave Rennie said his captain, aged 30, had shown “true courage.”
“Michael’s one of the most professional and impressive men I’ve coached I know this has been a difficult decision for him,” he said. “He’s shown true courage by acknowledging where he is at and acting on it. We will support him in any way we can and I know the team will be focused on getting the job done tomorrow.”
Wallabies coach Dave Rennie said there were no signs through the week of Hooper’s anguish. “Nothing was evident to us in how he trained, how he contributed around the team, around leadership was excellent but clearly he’s been struggling a bit and masking that pretty well,” Rennie told reporters from Argentina on Saturday (AEST).
“Obviously he’s been able to suppress things over the past handful of weeks and so we certainly weren’t aware of anything but he’s such a professional and he was able to get on and do the job.
“I have addressed the team today which took an enormous amount of courage to let them know that he’s not OK and that he felt it was best for himself and for the team that he gets home. “It was an easy decision to let him go home where he will get plenty of support around him.”
Hooper reached out to the Wallabies team doctor Sharron Flahive, who put the wheels in motion for his return home. He will travel back to Sydney with Waratahs teammate Dave Porecki, who is unavailable for both Tests due to a training head knock.
Hooper captained Australia during their recent 2-1 series loss to England at home and has been a regular presence in the side since making his debut in 2012.
The Wallabies have a daunting schedule in the coming months. After two tests in Argentina, they return to Australia for Rugby Championship Tests against reigning world champions South Africa and then a two-test series against New Zealand, as they try and build momentum for the Rugby World Cup in France next year.
“Michael is an incredible leader, it takes a brave man to identify where he’s at and come forward whilst having the best interests of the team at heart,” Rugby Australia boss Andy Marinos said. “His wellbeing of him is and remains the highest priority right now where Rugby Australia and the Australian Rugby community will do everything to support him and his family of him.”
Hooper last year took a six-month sabbatical to leave Australian rugby and play in Japan’s Top League. He then took further contractual leave and missed most of the 2021 Super Rugby season for the NSW Waratahs.
Although Hooper returned for the latter part of the 2021 Super Rugby Pasifika season and led the Wallabies with customary aplomb in the recent home series against England, Hooper has spoken openly in the past about the stresses of professional sport, the pressure of leadership and the effects of social media on young players.
“You’re trying to be the best you can be and sometimes that doesn’t work out, and when it doesn’t: that’s hard to deal with,” Hooper told media in the past. “I think it’s important, especially for young players, to be educated on how to deal with that.
“Players are getting a lot better at talking to each other about it,” Hooper said. “It’s certainly something that’s paramount, how people are feeling. There’s so much going on, you see so much stuff that’s constantly bombarding you about your job, day in and day out.”
key-forward Brody Mihocek will return for the Pies this Friday night to replace the injured taylor adams.
Mihocek has been a consistent performer in 2022 and will be a fantastic inclusion for the Pies. He has kicked 34 goals this season, an equal career high with three games to go before finals.
Collingwood are looking to make it 11 wins in a row on Friday night, but will face strong competition against an in-form Melbourne side.
senior coach Craig McRae noted in his press conference on Thursday that, “This is our biggest test for a number of weeks, we are playing the best team in the competition, I feel.”
This isn’t the first time Collingwood have faced the Demons in 2022, the Pies were 26-point victors in Round 13. Notably, Mihocek kicked four goals and had 16 disposals in what was one of his best performances for the season.
Under the Friday night lights, this game shapes up to be a cracker.
IN: Brody Mihocek OUT: Taylor Adams (groin), Trent Bianco (omitted)
AFL ROUND 21 Collingwood v Melbourne friday 5 august CGM 7.50pm (AEST)
Sydney Swans forward Lance Franklin is still “undecided” about his future in the sport, officially putting contract talks on hold and hinting at a possible retirement.
According to a report by Nine reporter Michael Atkinson, the 35-year-old is considering turning his back on the Swans for a deal with the Brisbane Lions.
The Nine report was immediately countered by Swans chief executive Tom Harley, who confessed the veteran forward’s move to Brisbane was “news to him”.
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Sports broadcaster Andy Maher later claimed Franklin would stay with the Sydney-based club, potentially on a one-year contract extension.
“I can’t say where it came from, but Franklin’s not going to Brisbane,” he told SEN on Friday.
“He’s not going, he’s going to stay at Sydney and they’re in the throws of working out the contract, so it does sound like he’s going to play another year at the Swans if this information is true and where it’s coming from is pretty strong.”
On Saturday morning, Franklin’s manager Adam Finch released a statement confirming contract talks had been put on hold so the 1000-goal hero could focus on Sydney’s run towards the finals.
“At this stage conversations have been paused around my contract so I can put all my focus on playing footy,” Franklin said.
“No further comment will be made until the season is done and I have decided about my future.
“I am still undecided and need time after the season to make a family decision about whether I continue to play next year.”
Franklin has been in excellent form this season, kicking 41 goals in 17 games for Swans. However, the ongoing contract drama has become a significant distraction for John Longmire’s side as they approach September.
Speaking to Fox Footy, former Hawthorn forward Ben Dixon argued that Franklin has more chance of “playing on the moon than Victoria” next year.
“I reckon there’s some real merit in (rumors of the Brisbane move),” he said.
“My gut feels is yes (he’ll leave Sydney).
“He’s more chance of playing on the moon than in Victoria.
“Going for one more tilt, going to a different club, it’s not going to tarnish anything about your reputation in the game.
“He’s only going to go north.
“He’s a Perth boy, but you can rule out those two clubs (Fremantle and West Coast). You can rule out the Giants. It’s a process of elimination – the Gold Coast or it’s Brisbane.
“Brisbane’s right in the wheelhouse to win it. If it’s not this year, they still have got a little tilt next year.
“I know his motivation in signing a long-term deal with Sydney was sustainable success.
“I think his drive and his motivation – he wants to win a flag.
“He could be the hottest property in Queensland.
“If you look at it and you say, ‘Who’s closer to the flag (Gold Coast or Brisbane)?’ Well, there’s no doubt Brisbane are.”
Lions coach Chris Fagan believes that if Franklin is considering a move to Queensland it would be more likely to be for retirement rather than continuing his football career.
“I would have thought if they are moving to Queensland, that’s perhaps an indication that Bud’s going to retire from AFL football,” he said on Friday.
“If it came to pass down the track that they do move here, and. someone reaches out from his camp and suggests that he still wants to play, then we would be remiss as a footy club not to go and have a conversation with him.
“As far I’m concerned he’s a Sydney Swans player, and if any of that was going to happen, it would happen when the season’s all over.
“My latest communication with him was a text message I sent to him when he kicked his 1000th (AFL) goal which was four months ago.
“I don’t know what will play out in the future but the way I see it right now is if he is moving to Queensland to live, I would suggest that he’s going to retire.”
Franklin joined the Swans from the Hawthorn Hawks in 2014 on a nine-year, $10 million deal.
While he has been injury prone in recent years, the scenes of fans flooding onto the SCG when the eight-time All-Australian kicked his 1000th career goal showed he is still one of the sport’s biggest drawcards.
The Swans will face North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium on Sunday afternoon, with the first bounce scheduled for 1.10pm AEST.
Missile Stakes/Aurie’s Star Day: Ultimate late mail, tips and analysis
There’s a touch of spring in the air with some of the big guns set to resume in the Group 2 Missile Stakes (1200m) at Randwick while Flemington hosts Aurie’s Star Handicap day.
The first Group 1 of the season – the Winx Stakes at Royal Randwick – is only two weeks away while the Memsie Stakes is Victoria’s first Group 1 of the season on August 27.
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Here is a selection of our best content for Saturday’s racing and don’t forget to hear from our experts, including legendary form guru Tony Brassel, all day on our exclusive Expert Feed.
AUSTRALIA-WIDE
The big bets: $30,000 plonked on a galloper at Flemington.
Tips from the big bookies for Saturday’s races, including their tips for the Missile Stakes and Aurie’s Star.
The Oracle has six great bets, including one sprinter he thinks can be an Everest contender next year.
The Armchair Punter is keen on three horses at double-figure odds.
Market movers: Hurdler smashed from $9.50-$4 in flat race and plenty of other big shorteners around the country.
Trainer insights: Paul Snowden (sample below), Matt Hoysted, Bjorn Baker and more give the inside word on all of their Saturday runners.
Race 5 – King Of Sparta (No. 3)
“It’s no secret he’s an on top of the ground horse and because of that reason his last start win was probably better than it looked because they had two downgrades on the day. That’s a good indication on how the horse is going and back on top of the ground on Saturday should see him run well if he enjoys the straight.”
Trainer Paul Snowden gives insight to the stables runners on Saturday. Picture: Mark Evans – Getty Images
Jockey insights: Gun hoops Tommy Berry (sample below) and Billy Egan analyze all of their Saturday rides.
Race 8 – Nimalee (No. 4)
“I really like her. Her two trials of her have been nice, I really liked her of her most recent one of her at Rosehill. Ella she’s drawn a little bit sticky and I’ll probably have to go back from the barrier but ella she’s one of the top three or four seas in the country and she generally runs very well first-up.
The Weekend Winners team likes one at $22 in the feature at Randwick.
Weekend Best Bets from our national racing newsroom’s team of experts.
NEW SOUTH WALES
Tony Brassel has found one at $14 in his Randwick tips and analysis.
Matt Jones and Ron Dufficy analyze all 10 races at Royal Randwick.
Clinton Payne has found a good chance at $35 at Randwick.
VICTORY
Mark Guest’s tips and analysis for Saturday’s Flemington meeting.
Pro Punter The Trackwalker is keen on one at $7 at Flemington.
Longshot Laurie Sainsbury’s roughies for Flemington.
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