“It was all pretty consistent, finishing top two or three. I think the difference is with the championships in the 800, you have 48 people in the world, and it gets knocked down to eight people. Everyone else in that final has a kick, everyone has been working on the same thing.
“I am not disappointed in any way of how we performed or anything like that, I just think those guys were better.”
Bol has not raced in the Commonwealth Games before and is keen for it, given that the Commonwealth countries provide most of the best 800m runners in the world. At the world championships in Eugene, five of the eight finalists were from Commonwealth countries.
World and Olympic champion Emmanuel Korir is expected to focus only on the 400m, while the bronze medalists in Eugene Marco Arop from Canada is to miss.
That still leaves Bol, Kenya’s Emmanuel Wanyonyi and defending champion Wycliffe Kinyamal and a handful of other sub-1:45 runners.
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“You have still got the Kenyans, you can’t escape those guys. It’s still tough. Korir is not running and the Algerian is not running, the Canadian is not running, so you have got the top three [from the world championships] not running Comm Games, but it doesn’t mean it’s any easier.
“That’s what makes the 800 super competitive and interesting. Put it this way: if I ever had to bet on any event, it wouldn’t be the 800. It would be the last event I would bet on.”
Bol has worked on his endurance and tactics in the last year but is shifting up to focus on speed. Next year he will look at running the 400m to build his speed from him.
“Korir, the guy who won it, runs 44 seconds in the 400 so that’s the fastest guy in the field. He is just tough to beat, and with a kick down.
“Endurance, I improved on that. I ran a seven-second PB in the 1500, but I think the 800 is a raw speed event these days. It’s just two 400s. It’s just go! So to be better you have to be better at the speed more than endurance.”
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Low carbon emission enthusiasts have launched a scheme to create a fully electrified community, located in the northern Illawarra south of Sydney.
Key points:
A project to fully electrify 500 households in Wollongong’s northern suburbs is calling for submissions
Homes would install solar panels, a battery, electric cooker, heaters and hot water and run an electric car
Initial outlay would receive government subsidies to generate ongoing savings
A call has gone out for homes in the postcode 2515 — covering Thirroul, Austinmer, Coledale, Wombarra Scarborough and Clifton — to sign up and potentially receive financial subsidies to convert to solar panels and install a battery, electric cooking, heating, and hot water. lease an electric car.
The scheme was the brainchild of Dr Saul Griffith, engineer and founder of Rewiring Australia and Rewiring America, who has been a climate adviser to US president Joe Biden and now lives locally.
Trent Janson from Electrify 2515 said the aim initially was to get 500 households to go fully electric.
“So taking your energy from the sun with solar panels, storing it in a battery then transitioning your cooking, space heating and water heating to fully electric and then last of all the big one is transitioning to an electric vehicle,” Mr Janson said.
“We chose this community because we are from this community.
“We know people here, we feel like we have the ability to mobilize this community and to bring them along.
“We also know there is a really high Greens vote here and there is a really large appetite for a project like this.”
He said Mr Griffith had already calculated the potential reduction in emissions.
“As Saul says, if we were to fully electrify all the homes in Australia we would cut our carbon footprint, he says from 28 to 42 per cent and if you include small businesses it’s between like 45 and 72 per cent.”
Dr Saul Griffith says Australia is well placed to lead the world in electrification.(Supplied: Rewiring Australia)
Saul Griffith on his website said Electrify 2515 would potentially be the first of many areas to adopt the program.
“This would be a world first demonstration of full electrification that brings to light the abundant future available if Australia invests in the decarbonisation of its household infrastructure,” he said.
“We are working with regulators and governments on how to cut the ‘green tape’ holding back electrification.”
The project estimated annual savings in fuel and power costs in the thousands of dollars for each home, with the final savings determined by the level of government subsidies.
Bawley Point microgrid project
Further down the NSW South Coast at Bawley Point, work was underway to develop a state government-funded microgrid program to mitigate against local power loss during extreme weather events.
Participants agreed to install solar panels and batteries in their homes.
Bawley Point lost power during the Black Summer bushfires. (Supplied: Shoalhaven Tourism)
Then energy from the batteries will be sent back to a $4.8 million microgrid able to continue powering the town if the main supply were to be cut off.
Endeavor Energy’s Scott Ryan said the Bawley Point project would be the first of many.
“What we’re doing is testing the technology, we’re testing and refining our community engagement,” he said.
“I see the future of the grid being a collection of these microgrids throughout the network.”
With the August 1 deadline passed, Reece Walsh will definitely see out the rest of the season with the Warriors and he says he’s determined to give it everything in his last five games for the club.
Walsh was given an early release from his contract to rejoin the Broncos next season and the Warriors have signed Te Maire Martin on a three-year-deal as his replacement.
But Walsh could have gone even earlier than initially expected, to play out the remainder of this year’s campaign with the Storm.
It could have been a great experience for Walsh to spend time working under Craig Bellamy, play footy finals and potentially win a Premiership.
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However, Warriors CEO Cameron George refused to entertain the possibility of Walsh heading to Melbourne, despite a number of calls from the Storm inquiring about it.
In the end, the Storm picked up David Nofoaluma from Wests Tigers, who’s certainly not a player of Walsh’s quality.
MARTY MELVILLE/PHOTOSPORT
Te Maire Martin is joining the Warriors on a three-year deal from next season.
So instead of contemplating picking up his first premiership ring, Walsh will head to the Sunshine Coast this weekend for the Warriors’ game against the Rabbitohs.
“I didn’t look into it too much,” Walsh said of the interest from the Storm.
“I was going through a bit at the Warriors and wanted to get back in the team.
“I sort of feel for the Melbourne boys, they’re going through a bit of adversity, but the Warriors have been through adversity for the last three years and they’re the sort of club that can get themselves out of it.
“That transition isn’t going to happen for myself and I’m going to be here at the Warriors.
“I send all my regards to the Storm boys and I’m backing them to play some good footy and prove all the naysayers wrong.”
Walsh isn’t kicking stones about playing out the season with the Warriors and judging by his performance in the 24-12 loss to the Storm last Friday, it’s not affecting how he’s playing.
“I’m not saying in the weeks before that I hadn’t put in the effort or anything like that, but it was a bit of a statement game for myself,” Walsh said.
“If I can keep getting better each week, I’ll put my heart and soul into my jersey each week.
“If I can keep doing the right things, hopefully we’ll go in the right direction.”
The Warriors take on a Rabbitohs team lying seventh on the ladder, so they’ll be desperate for the two points on Saturday to stay in the top eight.
For their other four games in 2022, they take on the top two teams in the NRL, the Panthers and Cowboys, but also have winnable games against the Bulldogs and Titans.
Winning two of their remaining five games will be a pass mark for the Warriors, more would be a bonus and Walsh feels their closer score against the Storm last week compared to when they lost 70-10 on Anzac Day, shows the improvements the club’s making .
“I’m not saying losing is alright, but if you look at where we’re going, we’re going in the right direction,” he said.
“We’ve got a couple of tough games coming up and it’s going to really show our character and what we’re like as a team, so we’ve got to stay tight, keep working hard for each other and go out there and enjoy playing footy.”
Meanwhile, Wayde Egan is to start at five-eighth against the Rabbitohs on Saturday, with Chanel Harris-Tavita out injured.
Darren England/AAP via Photosport
Wayde Egan will start his first game ever in the halves on Saturday.
Egan filled in for Harris-Tavita when he went off with a knee injury against the Storm last weekend.
Despite it being his first game in the halves at NRL level, Egan did superbly well.
After the game Egan hinted that he’d like to play in the halves again, but didn’t expect it to happen again so soon.
However, Warriors coach Stacey Jones has decided to give him the No 6 jersey for this weekend, with Freddy Lussick named at hooker.
As well as Harris-Tavita, Jazz Tevaga is also out for this round 21 game. He had an arm in a sling after the Storm loss and management were concerned whether he had a serious shoulder at the time. With Tavaga out, Aaron Pene starts at lock.
There are other significant changes to the Warriors team, with Adam Pompey dropped to the reserves and Euan Aitken moved from the second row to center.
Josh Curran has been named on the interchange bench, so there is a new-look second row, with Bayley Sironen wearing the No 11 jersey and Jack Murchie at 12.
AT A GLANCE
Warriors: Reece Walsh, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Marcelo Montoya, Euan Aitken, Edward Kosi, Wayde Egan, Shaun Johnson; Addin Fonua-Blake, Freddy Lussick, Tohu Harris, Bayley Sironen, Jack Murchie, Aaron Pene. Exchange: Taniela Otukolo, Bunty Afoa, Eliesa Katoa, Josh Curran. Reservations: Jackson Frei, Dunamis Lui, Daejarn Asi, Adam Pompey, Viliame Vailea.
Paul Gallen has confirmed his next fight – a radical double bout on the same night billed as the Blues great against Queensland.
The retired Cronulla champion told Wide World of Sports he hopes to punch on with Justin Hodges and another Queenslander back-to-back to headline a card in September.
The details aren’t yet finalized but former Queensland star Hodges is expected to be one of the two opponents.
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“The way he’s been carrying on lately I presume he would be one of them,” Gallen said of Hodges.
“The other one I’m not sure – it’s going to be a footy player, though, it’s not going to be (heavyweight champion) Justis Huni.
Paul Gallen celebrates after defeating Lucas Browne by TKO. (Getty)
“Pretty sure it’s going to be in Queensland… I’m hoping it’s going to be (against) two Queenslanders. Get a bit of an Origin feel about it.
“I’d say it will be six or eight three-minute rounds, and two opponents will do half each. That’s what I think it will be.
“It’s really only one fight, just two opponents.”
Gallen carved out a stellar rugby league career but his boxing feats are impressive in their own right.
He’s had 15 professional bouts and won 12, losing two and having a controversial draw against AFL great Barry Hall. His last fight against him was a unanimous decision loss to Kris Terzievski in May.
But the notion of fighting two different people in the one night is certainly a first for boxing.
His fitness, though, is still up to scratch and he will only need about a month to prepare.
Unseen footage shows Gallen SBW stoush
“I’ve got COVID at the moment so I’ll start next week. The preparation for a fight like this isn’t going to be like the preparation for a Huni or Terzievski, I’m not going to be sparring 25-30 rounds a week,” he told WWOS.
“I might only spar 10 rounds a week, so it’s going to be a lot better for my body and my head long-term.”
Gallen reaffirmed his commitment to retire from boxing before this year is out.
But he’s unsure if the September double header will be his last appearance in the ring, floating to a final fight in December.
Fans will be hoping that is against Sonny Bill Williams, who Gallen has been chasing for years.
“I’ve told everyone this is my last year. I have one more fight booked in for December, no idea who,” he said.
“This could be it, I don’t know. But this is my last year without a doubt.
“If I have one at the end of the year it will be a proper six-eight round fight, if it happens.”
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Here is who NRL legend Paul Gallen has fought during his colorful boxing career
Bulldogs halfback Kyle Flanagan has enjoyed a remarkable rise under interim boss Mick Potter in Canterbury, with the now free-scoring team surging up the ladder.
Now the 23-year-old number seven has shut down talk of a mooted move to the English Super League, declaring he ‘definitely’ wants to extend his time at the club.
Having been benched in the opening months of the season and subsequently for struggling form, Flanagan had been linked to a move to English side Hull FC in recent months.
But he shut that talk down at Tuesday’s press conference, laughing off a question around whether he had held talks with Hull.
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“No,” Flanagan laughed. “The first time I got out there on social media and shut that stuff down, that was the first I’d heard of it.
“I’m on contract here next year at the Bulldogs and keep winning footy games, I won’t have to listen to that sort of stuff.”
With his contract expiring at the end of 2023, Flanagan declared his allegiance to the Dogs long-term, stating his desire for a long-term deal.
“Yeah, I think so,” Flanagan replied to a question about remaining at the club.
“Obviously I live in Cronulla and I love the Bulldogs. They gave me an opportunity and I like to think I have turned things around and things are going forward for the club.
“As I said, if we keep winning and combinations keep building, this footy team is only going to get better.
“I’m loving my time here and I definitely want to extend here.”
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Flanagan was full of praise for interim boss Potter, declaring he has simplified the club’s on-field strategy and removed the shackles from the side.
“I can’t give any more credit to what Pottsy has done for me individually or this footy team.
“He is such a calm head and simplifies things so much for us. He just backs up and gives us confidence to go out there and play footy, and we do exactly that.
“We are repaying the faith he puts in us.”
“We are out there putting the wins on the board, the shackles are off and we are just playing what we see.,” he added.”
“It’s really exciting to be playing in this footy team and for myself, I’m just really enjoying my own footy and starting to love playing every weekend.”
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Significantly, Erskine said his star client could not play in the UAE league this season because it would be a breach of his agreement with CA. Player contracts prohibit involvement in overseas leagues during the home summer.
Warner has played just three BBL matches, the last in 2014, largely due to his international commitments, but remains a dynamic T20 opener. He was man of the series in Australia’s inaugural T20 World Cup triumph last November in the UAE.
Last month Seven West Media, which owns Channel Seven, took CA to court again over its $450 million broadcast deal, arguing that the governing body breached its contract relating to the quality and standards of the BBL.
Warner’s presence in the competition would be a major plank in rebuilding both the relationship with Seven and the ratings of the BBL, giving it a credibility boost heading into the next broadcast deal. The current six-year, $1.18 billion agreement with Seven and Fox expires in 2024.
The BBL was second only to the IPL when it began 12 years ago but now faces unprecedented competition from more lucrative T20 leagues in the UAE and South Africa, backed by capital from IPL franchise owners and other Indian companies, during the same January time slot.
During its infancy, the BBL lured box-office players such as Shane Warne and Kevin Pietersen. Both earned $500,000 packages, which included contributions from broadcast deals, but this time CA will need to fund the Warner offer from its own pocket.
While expanding the BBL to a full home-and-away schedule over almost two months netted CA a massive broadcast deal, it reduced its appeal, with average crowds and ratings falling. BBL clubs now attract mostly second-tier overseas players with little star billing. This was compounded over the past two seasons with the restriction of COVID biosecurity bubbles.
Kurtis Patterson, who dominated for the Perth Scorchers last season, has signed with the Sydney Sixers.Credit:Getty Images
Another major factor is that Australia’s best players are usually unavailable because of international duties.
CA and state administrators became so inflexible last season that Steve Smith was refused permission to play in the BBL on a technicality when a New Zealand white-ball series was cancelled.
There is more space in the calendar this summer for Australia’s stars to play in the BBL after South Africa canceled one-day matches during January in favor of their own, new T20 competition.
The Sydney Sixers’ latest signing, Kurtis Patterson, believes players should have the right to compete in overseas T20 competitions.
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“I absolutely love playing the Big Bash and there are a lot of guys who feel the same, but having said that, it’s a free market,” said the NSW captain, who boasts a batting average of 144 from his two Tests in 2019.
“If guys thought that was best for them and their family, I’ve certainly got no personal prejudice against that,” said Patterson, whose signing announcement was to help promote BBL and WBBL tickets going on sale.
Josh Battle will call St Kilda home for at least the next two seasons, putting pen to paper on a new contract extension that will see him in Saints colors until the end of 2024.
The 23-year-old has pieced together a career-best season following a relocation to defense at the start of this year.
However despite increased time in the defensive half of the ground, Battle’s versatility has remained an important part of his game, playing a valuable pinch-hitting ruck role on a number of occasions throughout the year.
“We’re proud to have Josh sign with us for the next two seasons,” Head of List Management James Gallagher said.
“Josh is a hard-working, dedicated young man who plays his role for the team week-in week-out.
“He’s a fierce competitor on-field who is willing to put his body on the line, which has earned him a great deal of respect from his teammates.
“Since joining the club at 17-years-old, Josh’s commitment to improve as a footballer and a person has been unwavering.
“His performances are a reflection of that commitment, plus a growing maturity that we have seen in Josh and a number of his teammates.
“We look forward to seeing more of Josh in the years ahead and hope to see his development continue to have an influence on those around him.”
Battle follows recent signees Dan Butler, Cooper Sharman, Ben Paton and long-term extensions Rowan Marshall, Jack Steele and Max King in recommitting to St Kilda.
After making his debut in 2017 while still in high school, Battle has played 75 senior matches in red, white and black.
Battle is one of just seven Saints players to line up for every game this season to-date.
Australia’s gymnastics gold rush continued with a stunning one-two in the women’s balance beam.
Australia’s artistic gymnasts snared five medals on the final day of competition at Arena Birmingham – one gold, two silver and two bronze.
Kate McDonald celebrated her 22nd birthday with a shock gold medal, relegating her star teammate Georgia Godwin to second on the podium.
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – AUGUST 02: Kate McDonald of Team Australia competes during Women’s Balance Beam Final on day five of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games at Arena Birmingham on August 02, 2022 on the Birmingham, England. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
Godwin has been the star of the team at the meet so far, with gold in the all-around and vault and silver in the team and uneven bars, and she was looking to maintain when she laid down a marker of 13,433 in the first routine of the programme. But McDonald recorded 13,466, leapfrogging her teammate with a routine that had a lower difficulty but higher execution.
“Amazing. Incredible. And even (Canadian bronze medalist) Emma Spence) I couldn’t have asked for a better podium finish,” she said.
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“Like, best podium finish ever.
“I did feel a little bit sad in that sense, but you know, she’s an amazing teammate,” McDonald said of Godwin. “But it was just great to be on the podium, both Emma (Canada’s bronze medalist Emma Spence), Georgia and myself.”
Gold medalist Kate McDonald of Team Australia (R) and silver medalist Georgia Godwin of Team Australia embrace each other following Women’s Balance Beam Final on day five of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games at Arena Birmingham on August 02, 2022 on the Birmingham, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images) (Getty)
Goodwin paid tribute to her teammate.
“To come off the last three days and have the beam routine I did, I’m really happy with myself,” Goodwin said.
“But, the star of the moment, Kate. She’s just been solid the whole time.”
The Aussie gymnastics team finished second overall on the medal count behind an England outfit that dominated both the men’s and women’s competitions.
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Paul Kent has urged the NRL to “stand up and show some balls” by banishing all hip-drop tackles from the game.
It comes as Broncos star Patrick Carrigan was handed a four-game suspension for his hip-drop tackle on Jackson Hastings — who will now miss the rest of the season with a fracture in his leg and a syndesmosis injury.
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NRL 360 host Braith Anasta declared the hip-drop tackle “needs to go,” before Kent stressed it was “learned behaviour”.
Kent called on the NRL to get tough on the tackle given the trauma it’s caused Hastings.
Eels outside back Haze Dunster has also been a victim of the hip-drop tackle this year. He ruptured his ACL, PCL and MCL as a result of the tackle from Dragons forward Tyrell Fuimaono, who received a five-game ban.
“Why’s it even in the game?,” Kent asked.
“This is what gives me the sh**s. These tackles come into the game that clearly cause injuries and rather than the first coach that sees it, identifies it and says ‘you know what guys, we’re not doing this — get it out,’ they all look around the league and see other clubs doing it so say ‘we’re going to have to do it because you get an extra three seconds in the play the ball.’
“Forget about poor Jackson Hastings, who’s now got five months with his leg in a cast and now has to go through rehab. That’s the price they’re willing to pay these guys.
“The game’s got to stand up and show some balls and actually get it out of the game.
“If Carrigan gets a two-week or three-week penalty, which is what he’s going to ask for, then you just may as well throw it all away and say ‘you know what guys, do your best… take a baseball bat out’ with you next time.’
“It’s just a joke.”
Carrigan was referred straight to the judiciary for the tackle and fronted the panel on Tuesday night.
His defence, Nick Ghabar, proposed a two-game ban on Tuesday night, however the NRL counsel put forward a five-to-six game suspension.
Originally published as ‘Gives me the s***s’: TV host Paul Kent explodes over hip-drop tackles
