Sports – Page 121 – Michmutters

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HRC Honda clear in Q1 as ex-Moto2 racer Nagashima stuns

HRC Honda clear in Q1 as ex-Moto2 racer Nagashima stuns

Team HRC has established itself as the early squad to bear during this weekend’s Suzuka 8 Hours after Tetsuta Nagashima emerged to the top of the timesheets in both FP1 and Q1 by a huge margin.

Making his Suzuka 8 Hours debut this weekend alongside Takumi Takahashi and ex-MotoGP rider Iker Lecuona as part of the flagship HRC entry from Honda – one of 16 teams representing the marque at its home venue – Nagashima belied his relative inexperience at the venue by looking very much at home on it.

Stopping the clock for a best of 2m 05.823s in the two-hour FP1 sessionh, Nagashima went to take almost a full second off that benchmark in Q1 with a 2m 04.942s lap set in the first of the three 20min qualifying phases, slicing a full 0.2s off the lap record in the process.

With no other rider able to get close to his best time, Nagashima – who has not raced on a high-profile stage since announcing he would be quitting Moto2 at the end of the 2020 season – would end Q1 almost a second clear over nearest rival Niccolo Canepa on the YART Yamaha R1.

With the Q1 and later Q2 session split into three phases – designated for what organizers refer to as ‘Yellow’, ‘Blue’ and ‘Red’ riders, aka Rider #1, #2 and #3 respectively – while the first and second 20min sessions went ahead without issue, the third was met by rain falling at one sector of the lap, preventing those going last to get anywhere near the top times.

It meant six-time WorldSBK title winning Jonathan Rea’s efforts would be compromised, though Alex Lowes was still quick enough to put the Kawasaki Racing Team in third position, ahead of the domestic Astemo Honda Dream team of Terusuke Sakumoto, Kazuma Watanabe and Taiga Haneda was close behind in fourth.

SDG Honda Racing completed the top five thanks to a rapid lap by Teppei Nagoshi in the first session, relegating FCC TSR France – Honda’s nominated Endurance World Championship effort – down into sixth position.

Two more Honda teams filled out the top ten with Honda Sofukai Suzuka and Honda Dream Racing Team Sakurai ending Q1 in seventh and ninth respectively.

They sandwiched Spa 24 Hours winners BMW – the only entry in the entire field to be competing with European riders on a European motorcycle built by a European manufacturer – in eighth.

Defending EWC champions Yoshimura Suzuki Endurance Racing Team completed the top ten despite doing without its star rider Sylvain Guintoli, who skipped Q1 to rest a hand injury, while Gregg Black is a late addition to the line-up alongisde Kazuki Watanabe after Xavier Simeon was struck down by COVID.

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Melbourne Storm vs Gold Coast Titans live score, updates, stream, start time, teams, Supercoach scores, backline replacements, Craig Bellamy, news

Melbourne Storm vs Gold Coast Titans live score, updates, stream, start time, teams, Supercoach scores, backline replacements, Craig Bellamy, news

The Titans have kicked off the scoring in the second half, courtesy of a pinpoint grubber to find Brian Kelly.

The Storm still hold the upper-hand as the score sits 22-14, but are without star halfback Jahrome Hughes who didn’t take the field after halftime due to a shoulder injury.

MATCH CENTER: Melbourne Storm vs Gold Coast Titans, live scores, teams

44TH MINUTE

AJ Brimson has delivered a pinpoint grubber to open the scoring in the second half, finding Brian Kelly.

Jahrome Hughes has remained off the field after halftime due to a shoulder injury, with Tyran Wishart slotting into the halves.

“All of a sudden the Titans are up and about,” Dan Ginnane said.

30TH MINUTE

Titans forward Herman Ese’ese scored his side’s second try, charging onto an AJ Brimson short ball to spark a comeback.

“What is going on?” Dan Ginnane said.

“It hasn’t been fancy but it has been strong and powerful,” Shane Flanagan said.

But, Storm gun Cameron Munster stopped Holbrook’s side in their tracks, slicing through to score his second.

15TH MINUTE

After making a late switch to fullback, Cameron Munster has crossed for his side’s second try of the night to make the score 10-0.

Halfback Jahrome Hughes put in a cross-field kick, finding Munster flying high to score untouched.

“I think he will like the challenge at fullback,” Shane Flanagan said.

“This is ominous,” Dan Ginnane said.

Only moments later, backrower Kenny Bromwich crossed for a four-pointer of his own before Titans gun Beau Fermor scored the Titans first.

10TH MINUTE

Storm debutant David Nofoaluma has come desperately close to scoring only seven minutes into the Titans contest, before the returning Xavier Coates crossed.

After arriving in Melbourne last week, the 28-year-old almost opened his scoring tally for his new club.

Gold Coast winger Jojo Fifita swiped at the veteran’s hands to dislodge the ball.

But, only moments later Harry Grant spotted winger Xavier Coates in space finding his man to score untouched.

“Finally Melbourne have it,” Dan Ginnane said.

“Just too good, Harry Grant, I knew he had it,” Shane Flanagan said.

PRE-MATCH WRAP

Craig Bellamy is set to unleash his new look backline against a struggling Titans outfit.

Young Tonumaipea returns to the NRL after a 1,483 day hiatus, having last played in the first grade competition for the Gold Coast in 2020.

Meanwhile, mid-season recruit David Nofoaluma will make his debut for his new club on the wing, alongside Cameron Munster who made a late switch from the halves.

Cooper Johns has slotted into five-eighth, while Tyran Wishart has moved to the bench.

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MATCH CENTER: Melbourne Storm vs Gold Coast Titans, live scores, teams

Holbrook’s Titans have struggled so far in 2022, but the Gold Coast side will be looking to young gun Jayden Campbell to provide spark from the back.

AJ Brimson also makes up a new halves pairing with Tanah Boyd, who will play in the No.7 jersey.

As it stands, the Titans sit outright last on the competition ladder recording only three wins in 2022 — and with another defeat at the hands of the Storm could find themselves even further away from the pack.

15th place Tigers take on the Knights, who sit in 14th place, and with a win could cement a two-win gap in the wooden spoon race.

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WHISPERS: Titans’ odd man out revealed, four clubs plot raid for Cowboys star

LATE MAIL: Storm considered big Munster switch; Panthers to unleash sensation

RESURGENCE: How Dogs escaped Baz’s ‘shackles’ as roster calls wake sleeping giant

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Commonwealth Games 2022: Candice Warner questions why Kyle Chalmers made ‘love triangle’ comments

Commonwealth Games 2022: Candice Warner questions why Kyle Chalmers made 'love triangle' comments

Candice Warner has ventured into the murky waters of the Commonwealth Games’ swimming “love triangle”, offering up some blunt criticism for Kyle Chalmers.

She revealed her surprise about how badly he handled the headlines after a “media frenzy” over his relationship with ex and Commonwealth Games golden girl Emma McKeon and her new boyfriend, pop star-turned fellow swimmer Cody Simpson.

Acknowledging “alpha male” Chalmers’ ego “would be burnt a little bit” by McKeon’s new relationship, Warner said she expected someone who had dealt with media scrutiny since 2016 — when he won the gold medal for the 100m freestyle at the Rio Olympics — to manage his interactions with the media far better.

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More than a number: Why Keary has handed No.7 jersey to Walker

More than a number: Why Keary has handed No.7 jersey to Walker

Luke Keary always knew that he was only wearing the No.7 jersey until Sam Walker was ready to take it over and the Sydney Roosters playmaker believes that time has now arrived.

After scoring a try and setting up two more in Thursday night’s 34-16 defeat of the Broncos at the SCG, Keary said it felt natural to be backing playing the five-eighth role, while Walker reveled at halfback on the opposite side of the ruck .

The differences may only be subtle but Keary said there was more to the halfback and five-eighth positions than just the numbers on his and Walker’s jerseys.



Luke’s hand too cool

“Playing No.6 on the left side is something I really enjoy and I feel comfortable,” Keary said. “I have obviously done it for a long time over there and I just know my role and I know how to get it done.”

Walker was called up last season to make his debut as an 18-year-old after Keary ruptured his ACL in round three and Roosters coach Trent Robinson wanted the three-times premiership winner to show his younger halves partner the ropes when he returned.

Keary, who revealed that he had committed to Ireland for the end-of-season World Cup, played the halfback role for the first 14 rounds of the season until a head knock against the Storm forced Walker to step up while he spent five weeks recovering .

During that period, Walker was also called into the Queensland Origin squad for the July 13 series decider and while he didn’t play the recognition has boosted his confidence.

Since Keary’s return, he has reverted to the five-eighth role against Manly and Brisbane, with Walker remaining at halfback.

“I said in the pre-season that at some point he is going to take over that role and he is more the natural No.7 type player,” Keary said. “We are definitely in a better place the way it is at the moment.

“He can feel his way through it a bit more rather than trying to do it in a position that he is not as comfortable in, in the No.6 jersey.”

Robinson said that the switch suited both players and he always envisaged it would happen at some stage during the season.



Robinson expands on the subtlety of his halves

“There is importance in a number and the side of the field, but there is also importance in the players’ individual style of play and how they can play and what to play,” Robinson said.

“They are high quality players that can dominate the opposition and as a 20-year-old you are going to run into different fits and spurts about the choices you make, so is a 30-year-old in the five-eighth style that Luke plays the game as well.”

Playing on the right side, Walker assumed most of the responsibility for kicking in general playing – particularly long kicks.

“Obviously the right side half does do a bit more kicking, you are on the better side to kick the long ones and as a seven that is your responsibility to get the team around and make sure you finish sets, and the six compliments that. ” Keary said.

“We mix it up a bit. You want the seven to take care of option one and then the six can find an option two. You get a bit more freedom as a six, you are more linking with your backrowers than your middles, which is what I have enjoyed a lot in my career.”

Walker’s 13 kicks yield 319 meters times, while Keary kicked four times. Both forced a goal line drop out and Walker laid on the opening try of the match for second-rower Nat Butcher with a chip kick over the Broncos defense.



A try just within Butcher’s reach

“That’s the bits that he walked in the door with,” Robinson said of Walker.

“Dominating the start of a game and how you push a team around without touching the ball, they’re the things we are adding. But the instinct of seeing the fullback in the line and chipping the ball, that’s why we went and got him.”

Meanwhile, Keary confirmed his intention to play for Ireland at the World Cup in England.



Keary coming in hot

“I stuck my hand up for them in 2017, it didn’t eventuate because I had a few things at the back end of the year so we will just see how the next few weeks go, but I have told the people I need to tell what my intentions are,” he said.

“I wish I did play for Ireland in that World Cup, I just didn’t get to. I have always had a connection there since I was a kid.

“Dad’s family are still over there. He has gone to visit, I haven’t been over there but you just feel proud. When you talked about it as a kid you always felt proud. It makes me think good about it.

Keary’s call follows Roosters team-mate Victor Radley’s recent decision to pledge his representative allegiances to England but the former Kangaroos five-eighth revealed he had been talking with Ireland officials for some time.

“I spoke to them at the start of the year,” he said. “We have got Jamaica, Lebanon and the Kiwis. If we can get through those first two games, I think we will be right.

“It is going to be a great World Cup, there are so many great NRL players who are putting their hands up to play for their nations of birth or heritage or where their parents come from. I think it is great for our game.”

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Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson praises Jared Waerea-Hargreaves for leadership abilities

A tumultuous season in Bondi looks to be coming good at the right time – but nobody in the Roosters camp is taking it for granted.

Injuries, suspensions and some mediocre form at times in the first half of the year have kept the Chooks off the pace and out of the top eight for chunks of their campaign – but now, with just a month left to play, nothing’s out of the question. Including the top four.

If you want to look at how locked in the Roosters are right now, it was the actions of Jared Waerea-Hargreaves both during and after Thursday’s win over the Broncos.

READMORE: Diamonds rocked by historic loss to Jamaica

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AS IT HAPPENED: Commonwealth Games 2022 day 7 results

First, the veteran prop gave Sam Walker an on-field spray over a play (on a set that led to a Roosters try, no less), and then made it clear to his teammates after the game that they were far from their potential, despite the quality of this win over Brisbane.

Waerea-Hargreaves’ actions had the full endorsement of his coach.

“Jared’s coached as many players as I have, so that’s his role (on the field),” Trent Robinson said after the game.

“We care about the way that we play the game and we feel like we can get better. It’s not just about finishing a game going, ‘What happened, how can we get better?’ On the field, these guys are coaching each other.’

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“We’ve got more in us and the coach isn’t going to decide that. We know how we’re going to play, it’s those guys on the field nailing it.”

A couple of weeks ago the top eight was up in the air. Now, they’re eyeing off an extra chance in the finals.

The Roosters leapfrogged arch-rivals South Sydney into seventh place after the win, although the Rabbitohs have a game in hand against the lowly Warriors on Saturday.

But should other results go their way, Robinson’s team will find themselves out of the top four only via for and against.

Radley’s head split open in head clash

“Our best is yet to come because of what we’re talking about with Jared. Jared wants more, Teddy talked about it after the game to the team,” Robinson said.

“It’s not about a negative point of view, but we feel we’ve worked hard enough this year and tried different things that it’s time to play better.”

They were far from their best in a 20-10 win over a weakened Manly last week, and looked to step it up a gear as they ran in six tries against a team with top four aspirations of their own in the Broncos.

“The last month has been good, and improving, but we’ve got to keep going,” Robinson said.

Tedesco reiterated that the team was extremely disappointed after the win at Brookvale, and although last night was an improvement, there was a long way to go.

“It was better – but again, we’re still striving for better,” he said.

“We’re still chasing that 80 minute performance – we’re getting better and better and we’re learning a lot of lessons along the way.”

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Uniform controversies that have rocked sport around the world

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Commonwealth Games 2022: Fans cruelled by semi-final scheduling, New Zealand vs Australia start time, cricket news

Commonwealth Games 2022: Fans cruelled by semi-final scheduling, New Zealand vs Australia start time, cricket news

The Australian women’s cricket team will face New Zealand in the Commonwealth Games semi-finals this weekend, but most Aussie supporters won’t be awake for the must-win contest in Birmingham.

The semi-final fixtures were unveiled on Friday morning AEST, with hosts England scheduled to take on powerhouse nation India on Saturday at 11am local time.

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Meanwhile, world champions Australia will battle their trans-Tasman rivals in the evening timeslot, meaning fans back home hoping to cheer on Meg Lanning’s side will need to set an alarm for 3am AEST on Sunday morning.

Kiwi viewers have been treated to a slightly less painful 5am start time.

Swapping the fixtures would have given three of the competing nations a prime broadcast timeslot for their respective audiences, but accommodating India’s massive fanbase has seemingly been prioritized.

Australia was undefeated in the group stage, defeating India, Barbados and Pakistan to cruise through the knockouts.

New Zealand, meanwhile, suffered a horror collapse in their final group stage match against England on Thursday, managing just 9/71 from their 20 overs after winning the toss and electing to bat first at Edgbaston.

Maddy Green top-scored for the Kiwis with 19 as veteran seamer Katherine Brunt rattled the New Zealanders with a classy spell of 2/4 from three overs in the Powerplay.

“We were well below par and it wasn’t through lack of effort or lack of planning or anything like that, I think you just get days like that,” New Zealand captain Sophie Devine said.

“It’s never nice to be a part of but we’ve got to flush it down the dunny pretty quickly and move on to something that’s actually really exciting for us, playing in a semi-final against Australia at a Commonwealth Games.”

England chased the 72-run target with more than eight overs to spare and seven wickets in hand.

Regardless, Australia remain firm favorites to return home with the coveted gold medal around their necks, having not lost a 20-over match since March 2021.

“I think a lot of the pressure is going to be on Australia,” Devine said.

“They’ve certainly come into this competition as favorites and hopeful of taking that gold medal whereas a lot of people didn’t think we’d maybe make the semi-finals.

“We can really take that on board and just play with a bit of freedom and take it to the Aussies. We obviously know them really well, so I think our plans are going to be pretty spot on and likewise they know us really well too. It’s always just a great battle against the Australians.”

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Cricket 2022: Chris Lynn ‘nervous’ for return to Australia in innovative Brisbane Premier League, how to watch, Kayo Freebies

Cricket 2022: Chris Lynn 'nervous' for return to Australia in innovative Brisbane Premier League, how to watch, Kayo Freebies

Aussie T20 specialist Chris Lynn admits he is feeling “nervous” ahead of his foray into a new domestic cricket tournament.

This weekend the explosive batter is taking part in the Brisbane Premier League (BPL) — a local cricket event with a few innovative twists.

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The BPL sees eight teams compete across two pools, with the tournament culminating in the semi-finals and final, which will be played on Sunday afternoon.

“Hopefully there’s a bit of a festival happening and we’re able to see some quality cricket,” Lynn told news.com.au.

Dubbed ‘The Century’, the games will see 20 balls bowled from each end five times with the aim of speeding up the game without having to break for overs across the 100-ball innings.

“For the seniors this weekend, the rules are based around The Hundred from England but it’s called The Century,” Lynn said.

“So we’ve got a bit of a twist, we try to spice things up.”

All the action is available to stream via Kayo Freebies and the BPL has created a concept called the ‘Kayo Call’, where Lynn and former Queensland teammate Nathan Reardon will be the two VIP batters for the 6pm games on Friday and Saturday night.

“It’s all on Kayo Freebies,” Lynn said.

“With that, myself and Nathan Reardon will be commentating tonight’s game at 6pm and tomorrow night’s game at 6pm. Whoever wins the toss gets to choose either myself or Reardo, that’s a little bit of a novelty.”

How the ‘Kayo Call’ works

— Both players (Lynn and Reardon) are available to bat.

— The winner of the toss can either choose the player they want to bat for them or whether they bat or bowl first.

— If the winner of the toss chooses a player, the loser of the toss gets the other play and decides whether they want to bat or bowl first.

— If the winner of the toss chooses to bat or bowl, the loser of the toss gets to choose which player they want.

— The player not on the field will be in the commentary box.

Lynn, who is a part-owner of the Northern Kings, said the Kayo Call could even see him playing against his own local side.

“I could actually be playing against the Kings… so it’s going to be quite funny,” he said.

Lynn’s future in the Big Bash is up in the air after he was cut by the Brisbane Heat, but he is hoping to continue his strong from the T20 Blast in the UK into this weekend’s action.

“I’m looking forward to getting out in the middle,” he said.

“I haven’t played local cricket for a while now so I’m keen to see how the juniors are travelling.”

“There’s going to be some buzz around Norths cricket club and we’re going to see some local talent on display. I’m probably a bit nervous because you’re expected to score runs.

“It’s all about scoring runs, I’m going to try and entertain. For those who can’t get down to Norths, it’s on Kayo so it’s a great endorsement from them to allow the Brisbane Premier League on that.”

The 32-year-old said the aim of the BPL is to showcase junior local talent to top level cricket.

“We’re trying to get some youngsters some exposure in men’s cricket,” Lynn said.

“We’ve just seen Adelaide starting their league as well. Ideally we’d love to have teams in every state. The world’s your oyster after that. The winners can play against each other, there’s a number of options that we’ve got.

“The guys have put a really good foundation in Brisbane. Having this festival century tournament is really going to make its mark in Brisbane Premier Cricket.”

The Brisbane Premier League (BPL) is available to stream live and free via Kayo Freebies. No credit card details are required to sign up.

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MotoGP Silverstone: Dovizioso: It’s the right moment, Misano will be a farewell party | MotoGP

MotoGP Silverstone: Dovizioso: It's the right moment, Misano will be a farewell party | MotoGP

It was at that same event last season that the Italian made his return to MotoGP, initially on a year-old Petronas Yamaha before switching to the latest factory-spec M1 for the revamped RNF team.

Dovizioso had fond memories of the Yamaha from a brilliant 2012 campaign at Tech3, while the current M1 leads the standings with reigning champion Fabio Quartararo.

But from his first laps, Dovizioso felt the current Yamaha possessed an unusually narrow window of grip, which only a Quartararo-type riding style could master.

The end result is that, while Quartararo leads the standings with three race wins and 172 points, the next best Yamaha of team-mate Franco Morbidelli is just 19th on 25 points.

Dovizioso has just ten points, putting him equal with rookie Darryn Binder on the A-spec bike. Dovizioso’s friend, former team-mate and Yamaha test rider Cal Crutchlow will take over Dovi’s seat for the final six rounds, following Misano.

“First of all, I would like to thank Yamaha and the team and WithU because they give me a big support and they understood me,” Dovizioso said. “That has been very important to me.

“At the end, after 20 years, it’s always tough to make this kind of decision. But it’s OK, I’m relaxed and it’s the right moment to make this decision.

“As a rider, when you are not able to be where you want, your mind starts thinking about these things [stopping].

“And with that I started thinking that Misano would be the right final race. To do my last home race and finish there with a party and a big smile from my friends and all the fans.”

Dovizioso: ‘Straight away I was a bit surprised about the grip’

“From the beginning when I jumped on the bike, and felt the base of the bike, straight away I was a bit surprised about the grip. I always said that and that I think was the biggest characteristic I really fought.

“My way to ride the Yamaha has not been the best way to use the potential of the bike, because Fabio has shown every race there is a possibility to be competitive and win the title with this bike.

“I worked a lot with the team. I worked a lot with Ramon [Forcada], with Yamaha and tried a lot of things, maybe even too much. But when we changed also big things it didn’t affect a lot.

“So that was just a confirmation that the match between my riding style, my way to approach the track and the characteristic of Yamaha didn’t match in the best way.”

On paper, Dovizioso’s results suffered after the introduction of a revised Michelin rear tire construction in 2020.

“The [tyre] change when I was in Ducati affected me in a negative way for sure. But at the end I was fighting that year and I finished fourth, as the first Ducati. So also without a good feeling at the end of the result was acceptable,” Dovizioso said.

“It’s difficult to know exactly how much that [tyre construction] affected me, but I think it’s a mix of a lot of things.

“MotoGP is changing, but it’s normal when we are speaking about the best class about motorcycle and the development is big. The effort from the manufacturer is big, the effort from the rider is big.

“So it’s normal the development is really fast and a lot of things changed. Now in the way you have to race and ride the bike is quite different compared to five years ago for example.

“I don’t speak about this in a negative way, just it’s different.

“Now you win the race by [pure] speed,” Dovizioso added. “It’s difficult to see a lot of overtaking because now everybody is fast and you play more about the lap time than the strategy for the consumption of the tyre.

“If you are fast in practice and you already found the speed, more or less you can also keep this speed in the race. But this is just a consequence of developing the tyre. The tires change. You can push a bit more than the past so you can be consistent and keep a similar pace until the end.

“That’s why now in MotoGP there are less battles, there is also a lot of aerodynamics and that doesn’t help for the overtaking. So this is the change of the MotoGP, but I don’t want to speak in a negative way, it’s just change and it’s not the best for the battle. But it’s the way to race in MotoGP now.”

The future? ‘I don’t have anything on the table’

After two decades in the world championship, 103 podiums and 24 race wins, what comes next for Dovizioso?

“Now I don’t have anything big on the table, because I didn’t try to find anything,” he said. “I think it’s normal after 20 years in one place that you need a bit of time to do some other things and live in a different way.

“I’m not anymore that young, but I still feel young enough to live and use my body at this moment. To race, for example, motocross and enjoy the last I don’t know – some years! – in a good shape and enjoy that situation.

“I also have in my mind for a long time, more than 10 years, a dream to create something at home and still it’s not done, but I’m close and I’m really happy,” he revealed.

“But I’m not done about that so I don’t want to speak about it yet, because it’s a bit too early, but I’m really focused on one project and I think that it would be really nice if I would be able to work on that and race with Motocross.

“I will keep for sure the door open about everything because I think I have a lot of experience in this [MotoGP] world. I already had some requests in the past already to do something here, but in this moment I feel I need a bit of time to do what I want at home and let’s see.”

Dovizioso also didn’t exclude taking on some kind of rider representation role in MotoGP.

“I already hear something about that and I want to keep the door open… So let’s see. Can be 50-50.”

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Cronulla Sharks, Will Kennedy injury, Tevita Tatola tackle that has left the Sharks seeing

Cronulla Sharks, Will Kennedy injury, Tevita Tatola tackle that has left the Sharks seeing

Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon says the match review committee has become “difficult to understand” after he lost fullback Will Kennedy to a serious injury as a result of a hip-drop tackle that went uncharged.

Kennedy isn’t expected back until the final round of the regular season after he was forced to undergo ankle surgery following an ugly tackle by South Sydney’s Tevita Tatola in the 63rd minute of last week’s pulsating golden point battle.

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The incident has attracted very little interest during a week where Brisbane’s Patrick Carrigan was banned for four matches for fracturing Jackson Hastings’ fibula in a shocking tackle just hours after the Kennedy injury.

The Sharks sent an email to the NRL asking why Tatola hadn’t been charged, but the response they got left a lot to be desired just a week after Sharks lock Dale Finucane was suspended for two games for an accidental head clash.

“It’s getting difficult to understand,” Fitzgibbon said, confident that Kennedy may return ahead of schedule.

William Kennedy was the victim of an ugly tackle. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images

“No one actually intends to do it. They are unfortunate and they are happening more than normal.

“But we lose a good player who’s an important part of our team for an extended period, and there was no charge.

“I didn’t understand the explanation, but it is what it is. The same goes for Dale with the head clash. We’ve got to move on.

“Kade (Dykes) gets an opportunity, which is really exciting. When things like that happen, you really don’t want to get stuck and dwell on what you can’t control. All I can control is the team that’s going to play this weekend.”

There is a silver lining to all of this, with Dykes set to make his NRL debut on Saturday in front of a packed house on Old Boys’ Day.

It’s a huge moment for the local junior who will become a third-generation Shark and will follow in the footsteps of dad, Adam, and grandfather, John.

Dykes has been in red-hot form in reserve grade, scoring eight tries and setting up another nine in his 13 games this season where he’s split time between fullback and in the halves.

Lachie Miller and his teammates celebrate a stunning try. Picture: NRL PhotosSource: Supplied

He’s been playing so well that he’s even pipped former sevens star Lachie Miller, who scored a slashing try on debut for Cronulla back in round 11.

“His form for Newtown has gotten to a point where (picking) him was undeniable,” Fitzgibbon said.

“We had a couple of weeks where we were rotating between him and Lachie Miller. Both really were pressing for selection. He’s got really good balance and speed and footwork so hopefully we can see some of his best attributes from him tomorrow.

“It was a hard decision based on Lachie’s debut.

“If you have a rewards system based on NSW Cup, training, performance etc, then Kade got to a point where it warranted an opportunity.

“I will say Lachie has been performing well and has been pressing for selection as well, so Lachie has some utility value and I do see Lachie playing again for us soon.

“It was difficult in that regard but also really exciting for Kade because he earned the opportunity.”

The hype around Dykes is already building, but his coach is confident the 20-year-old will handle it days after he signed a contract extension to keep him at the club until 2024.

“Young players who are exceptionally talented have a confidence about them so the hype doesn’t affect them too much,” Fitzgibbon said.

“Kade is a confident kid and really confident in his ability, so when you see the way that they mingle with the other players and the way that they train (you’re not worried).

“This is Kade’s first season against has men and he’s been one of the strongest performers in the competition.”

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Revealed: Piastri to replace Ricciardo at McLaren in 2023

Revealed: Piastri to replace Ricciardo at McLaren in 2023

Alpine reserve driver Oscar Piastri has agreed a deal to race for McLaren in 2023 in place of Daniel Ricciardo, RacingNews365.com you have learned.

The Australian’s future has been the subject of much debate this week, with Alpine releasing a statement on Tuesday saying Piastri would replace the Aston Martin-bound Fernando Alonso at the French squad next year.

However, in a remarkable turn of events, the 21-year-old released a statement of his own just two hours later refuting the claims that he would be racing for the Enstone team in 2023.

Piastri was known to be admired by other teams, having previously been linked with a loan move to Williams, and RacingNews365.com has learned from sources in Australia that Piastri has signed a contract at McLaren that would see him partner Lando Norris and replace compatriot Riccardo at the Woking squad in 2023.

FIA’s contract recognition board, where all F1 contracts are checked for validity, is said to have validated Piastri’s new contract with McLaren at the expense of his existing deal with Alpine.

RacingNews365.com understands that Piastri has a contract with Alpine for 2022, but not for 2023. His 2022 deal is said to contain an option on Piastri’s services for 2023, but that option was not exercised within the required 30 days of signing that contract.

What now for Ricciardo?

The FIA’s contract recognition board ruled that there was no valid contract between Alpine and Piastri before 2023, leaving McLaren free to agree to a deal with the Australian.

Piastri’s deal with McLaren was said to have been finalized on the evening of July 30, before Fernando Alonso’s move to Aston Martin was confirmed on August 1.

Under Formula 1’s regulations, Alpine cannot challenge the board’s decision, as F1 teams have previously unanimously decided that it is the highest body that can rule on contractual matters.

Piastri’s move leaves Ricciardo’s F1 future up in the air. The Australian’s best bet may be replacing Alonso at Alpine, for whom he drove in 2019 and 2020 in his previous guise of Renault.

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