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Which Wallabies are injured and when will they return? Australia rugby team casualty ward

Which Wallabies are injured and when will they return? Australia rugby team casualty ward



Did Dave Rennie break a mirror while walking under a ladder after being started by a black cat? How else do you explain the staggering toll of fallen Wallabies this season now numbering 16 and counting?

Reece Hodge might be Rennie’s Mr. Fixit, but even Bob the Builder would shake his head and turn his back on the wreckage of the Kiwi coach’s squad just one game into the Rugby Championship.

Last week Rennie refused to get down about his casualty ward, or accept he was the victim of rotten luck. That was after Samu Kerevi’s ACL but before his captain Michael Hooper left for home, star No.10 Quade Cooper suffered a ruptured Achilles, Allan Alaalatoa suffered a family bereavement and Hunter Paisami suffered a head knock.

“Every squad goes through periods where they are unlucky,” said Hodge on Wednesday.

“Some teams get lucky through periods and they win, but the best teams win when they are going through periods that are quite tough.

“We have gone through one over the last two or three months but the fact we are developing great depth in the squad, and the next-man-up mentality we are developing, that will go a long way to hopefully getting performances together that we can be proud of.”

There could be one piece of good news for Rennie this week with Rory Arnold set to overcome a calf injury to take his place in the second Test against Argentina but the Wallabies casualty ward remains full to the brim.

Here’s a list of the Wallabies missing from action (will be updated through the TRC)

Allan Alaalatoa (personal reasons): The Brumbies skipper left the Argentina tour on Wednesday after suffering a family bereavement. He will likely be ready to play against the Springboks.

Tom Banks (broken arm): Banks fell heavily trying to claim a Nic White high kick in the first Test in Perth. It continued a wretched run after a similar injury a year earlier against South Africa and a fractured face bone during Super Rugby.

“It’s pretty serious,” Rennie said of Banks’ latest injury. “I’m gutted for Banksy, because he’s worked so hard to get back. He’s had a great season. We’ll miss him.”

The injury could spell the end of Banks’ Wallabies career, with him set to resume playing in Japan next season, although he will be hopeful of picking up a foreign spot for some games into the World Cup.

Tom Banks of the Wallabies

Tom Banks. (Yeung/Getty Images)

Angus Bell (toe): Bell suffered his toe injury in the third Test against England in Sydney and was replaced in the squad for Argentina by Matt Gibbon. He will be hopeful of a return later in TRC.

Quade Cooper (Achilles): Having missed the England series due to a calf strain in the warm up in Perth, Cooper was finding a groove in Mendoza before struck down by a sniper. Achilles injuries usually take a good 9-12 months to heal. He will be 35 and racing time to play in the Wallabies pre-RWC Tests. While Cooper has already shown he’s committed to recovery, a strong showing by Noah Lolesio over the rest of this year could end Cooper’s Wallabies comeback.

Ned Hanigan (knee): The Waratahs forward was restored to the Wallabies squad after returning from Japan and then recalled from the Australia A team as an injury cover in the England series. But just as soon as he returned he required knee surgery.

Michael Hooper (personal reasons): The Australian skipper withdrew from the Argentina tour ahead of the first game to return home after struggling with what he called “mindset” issues. Nic White said Hooper had been in touch with team members but there was no indication given as to when he might return, if he does at all.

Harry Johnson-Holmes (Achilles): Called in from the Australia A team in the wake of other injuries, HJH went down with an Achilles rupture that will sideline him for the rest of this season and potentially the start of Super Rugby 2023.

Andrew Kellaway (hamstring): Kellaway suffered hamstring damage during training ahead of the second Test against England and although the Wallabies described the issue as “not severe” at the time the strain has kept him out for a month. He is hopeful of returning to play the Springboks later this month.

Andrew Kelaway

Andrew Kellaway (Photo by Getty Images)

Samu Kerevi (knee): Of all the back luck that’s hit Rennie, this could be the unluckiest. Kerevi was allowed to join up with the Commonwealth Games team and suffered an ACL injury in a pool game against Kenya. He will be out for the rest of the year but the Japan-based star should recover in time to be one of the first picked for France next year. Rennie said he had no regrets about letting Kerevi go to the Games.

Cadeyrn Neville (knee): Neville made a long awaited debut at 33 against England and looked assured of the requisite class, only for his season to be crushed by a knee injury. It was reported as being a medial collateral ligament injury, which means he is an outside chance of making the Spring Tour.

Hunter Paisami (concussion): Fox Sports reported that Paisami suffered a head knock ahead of the second Test against Argentina and was due to undergo a mandatory stand down.

YozAia Perese (knee): Perese had an excellent Super Rugby campaign and was starting to make strides in the international arena but had a miserable time of it in Brisbane. He suffered an early yellow card but matters got much worse when he came back on the paddock, getting crunched in a tackle and suffering a patella tendon rupture that could keep him out for nine to 12 months.

Dave Porecki (concussion): The Waratahs hooker made his debut against England and had quickly become first choice for Rennie. But a concussion suffered during training in Argentina saw him fly home. He should be recovered in time to face South Africa.

Izack Rodda (foot): There is a fair bit of mystery surrounding Rodda and the foot injury that he has described as bone bruising. On June 1 Rodda declared he would be fit to face England, and the injury was much better than he feared. Ten days later Rennie said the injury was worse than expected, adding: “He could be out for as much as three months.” That would put Rodda back in contention for the All Blacks Tests, although there hasn’t been an update reported recently.

Scott Sio (shoulder): Sio came off with a shoulder injury in the second Test against England and wasn’t able to make the Argentina tour. No timeline for his recovery from him has been reported.

Lachie Swinton (shoulder): Swinton hasn’t played since the final round of Super Rugby because of nerve damage in his shoulder. He has been out for more almost four months. “The big point is I’m not playing and out there doing what I love doing,” he said ahead of the England series.

“For me, not doing that does break me a lot. I’m trying to focus and channel my energy into developing myself athletically and in other aspects, and I think that’s going really well. Whenever this comes right, I’m going to be a better player for it.”

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First responders circulating photographs of Gianna and Kobe Bryant’s bodies ‘poured salt in an open wound’, lawyer says

vanessa and kobe bryant sitting at a dining table smiling, kobe has his arm around vanessa and their faces are close together

Vanessa Bryant’s lawyer says first responders “poured salt in an open wound and rubbed it in” by photographing and sharing photos of her husband and daughter’s bodies.

The widow of basketballer Kobe Bryant is suing the LA County sheriff’s department over an invasion of privacy, saying she fears that she or her surviving children could be exposed to the pictures.

The decorated NBA player, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven other people died in a horrific helicopter crash in January 2020 while traveling to a basketball tournament.

Here’s a recap of what’s happened so far.

Why is Vanessa Bryant suing?

Ms Bryant filed the lawsuit over photographs, taken by first responders on their mobile phones, of the crash site including her husband and daughter’s bodies after they died.

She alleges the pictures were circulated among firefighters and off-duty colleagues, and that one deputy showed them to people at a bar.

Kobe Bryant with his family and wife at a basketball game in Los Angeles.
US federal safety officials blamed pilot error for the crash that killed nine people en route to as basketball tournament.(AP)

The lawsuit filed by Ms Bryant says she “feels ill at the thought that sheriff’s deputies, firefighters, and members of the public have gawked at gratuitous images of her deceased husband and child.”

“She lives in fear that she or her children will one day confront horrific images of their loved ones online,” the lawsuit says.

Ms Bryant is seeking undisclosed damage.

What happened in court?

Ms Bryant’s lawyer, Luis Li, told the jury that the photographs taken at the crash site by a deputy and a fire captain had no official or investigative purpose, and that they were viewed “for a laugh.”

The jury was shown CCTV footage of an off-duty sheriff’s deputy drinking at a bar showing the photos to a bartender, and alleged that the photos had been shown around as many as 30 people.

“They were shared repeatedly with people who had absolutely no reason to receive them,” Mr Li told the court.

gianna and kobe bryant smile arm in arm courtside at a basketball game
Kobe Bryant told the LA Times before his death that his daughter Gianna was “something else” on the basketball court.(Getty: Ethan Miller)

“They [the county] poured salt in an open wound and rubbed it in.”

A lawyer for the county defended the taking of the photos as an “essential” tool for first-responders and said that showing the bartender was “a moment of weakness.”

The defense lawyers told jurors that the fact that the pictures have not gone public showed that leaders in the sheriff’s and fire department did their jobs.

“They’re not online. They’re not in the media. They’ve never even been seen by the plaintiffs themselves,” she said.

“That is not an accident. That is a function of how diligent they were.”

A short, smiling woman in a red dress stands next to a tall bald man in a suit in front of a red Oscars photo background.
Vanessa Bryant was visibly emotional during the first hearing.(AP: Richard Shotwell)

But Mr Li said there’s no guarantee that the photos won’t be leaked in the future.

He said Ms Bryant “will be haunted by what they did forever”, and fears that her surviving children may see them.

What’s next?

The trial is expected to run for more than a week.

Another plaintiff in the case is Chris Chester, whose wife Sara and daughter Payton were also killed in the crash.

Los Angeles County officials have previously argued that Ms Bryant’s “severe and emotional and mental injuries” were caused by the crash, not the pictures, and dismissed the case as a “money grab.”

The county already agreed to pay $US2.5 million to settle a similar case brought by two families of victims of the crash.

Ms Bryant and Mr Chester declined to settle as part of that case.

ABC/wires

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How has the hype surrounding Matt Rowell evolved in the last three years?

How has the hype surrounding Matt Rowell evolved in the last three years?

Former Essendon captain Tim Watson raised a discussion on SEN Breakfast on Thursday morning regarding how the discourse surrounding Matt Rowell has evolved in the last few years.

The Gold Coast midfielder polled nine Brownlow votes in his first three games in the AFL, bursting onto the scene like almost no player ever has, before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury.

After an injury-interrupted 2021, Rowell has found a role for himself as a grunt, inside midfielder for the Suns this season, ranking seventh in the competition for contested possessions and equal seventh for center clearances.

The contested beast is not necessarily the dominant midfielder that was teased initially, but remains a vital cog for Gold Coast.

“The greatest disappearing act in AFL football in the last 50 years, is it the hype around Matt Rowell?” Watson posed on SEN Breakfast.

“Think back to his first three games of AFL football and then now think about the last time you heard anyone raving about Matt Rowell’s football.”

Garry Lyon: “Your point is well made, but I also think Matt Rowell has been playing some really good footy.”

Watson: “Oh. I’m not saying that he hasn’t.”

Lyon: “But yeah at the time three best on grounds in the first three weeks is going to cause some hype.”

Watson: “Everybody is talking about Touk Miller now as their most important midfielder and Noah Anderson has maybe gone passed him in people’s minds as to how important he might be.”

Lyon: “Rowell does a lot of that really hard, hard inside grunt work.”

Watson: “That’s what I was going to say, in those three weeks we got the snapshot of him and it was brilliant, but that’s not a long enough period of time to reveal everything.”

Lyon: “What we now have seen and what he has revealed is that his football is more blue collar than three best on grounds in three weeks suggests. We’ve just got to make the adjustment, he’s still a beauty, Matt Rowell.”

Watson: “I’m not saying he isn’t, but the change around the conversation regarding him and his football, it’s remarkable the way that it has changed.”

Lyon: “And understandable given he ripped the whole competition to shreds in three games of footy.”

Watson: “We’ve acknowledged the fact that he’s had a serious injury, but he’s probably exactly what Stuart Dew wants, that bloke that just turns up every week and he knows he’s going to give him 100 per cent effort and be a beast inside midfielder.”

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Bernard Foley to join Dave Rennie Australia camp after Quade Cooper injury

Bernard Foley to join Dave Rennie Australia camp after Quade Cooper injury

It starts with Pollard getting a late-night message from Wallabies forward coach Dan McKellar.

“It was 12.30pm and I thought he was gonna get me up for still being up, that he’d seen I was active on WhatsApp,” Pollard said. “I didn’t want to reply at first but I said ‘yeah I am up’. He gave me a call and gave me the news.”

Pollard was told he would be flying the next afternoon and went to sleep. However, not willing to risk him arriving five hours before the first Test, the Wallabies found a ‘better’ itinerary. But, now he needed to catch a 6am flight, Pollard couldn’t be roused.

Brumbies teammates living nearby were called until flanker Luke Reimer answered. At 4am, he drove to Pollard’s place and broke through his back door.

“I packed two shirts and two pairs of shorts and that was it. I thought I packed more,” Pollard said.

He missed that flight to Sydney, but the next one to San Francisco was delayed, so the 22,328km journey began. Crammed up the back of the bus, I slogged from Sydney to San Francisco to Houston to Santiago and then into Mendoza.

Brumbies hooker Billy Pollard had an epic journey to Argentina.

Brumbies hooker Billy Pollard had an epic journey to Argentina.Credit:Lachlan Lawson/Brumbies

“I left home at 4am on Thursday morning and got there, in Aussie time, at Friday 11pm,” he said. “I hate plans and I can’t sleep on them, so I was struggling. But it was a good experience.”

A shortage of team kit meant players and staff had to donate bits and pieces to Pollard, who has been carrying around his boots in a cotton sack. But, as per that smile, Pollard couldn’t care less.

Hello... Michael Cheika is speaking Spanish at all possible opportunites.

Hello… Michael Cheika is speaking Spanish at all possible opportunites.Credit:Getty

“I am very excited. It is still surreal, being around guys like James O’Connor, growing up watching those guys play. I haven’t said much to them,” he said.

Cheika’s challenge

He deserves huge credit for giving it a go but it seems some of the Argentinian players and press are still coming to grips with Michael Cheika’s developing Spanish. The multilingual coach, who speaks Italian, French and Arabic, talks in Spanish to the team and to media in press conferences.

One newspaper article said it was occasionally hard to understand his “strained mix of English, Spanish and Italian” and locals say players rely on assistant coach Felipe Contepomi to do a bit of on-the-fly clarification work.

Road trip of peace canceled

How did the trans-Tasman road trip of peace, between Andy Marinos and his NZR counterpart Mark Robinson go? The one where the two chief executives were due to drive back to London together after the Commonwealth Games sevens in Coventry?

Turns out it didn’t go ahead. Plans changed due to Robinson, who has a few issues on his plate currently, having an early morning meeting in London. I have caught a train instead.

Douglas claims rugby club’s biggest honour.

Giant Manly and NSW forward Max Douglas was a popular winner of the prestigious Ken Catchpole Medal on Wednesday night.

Douglas, who has played nine games for the Waratahs since his debut in 2021, starred for the Marlins with his high defensive work rate and dominant lineout work. He was the first Manly winner of the Ken Catchpole medal since Peter Hewat in 2006.

The winners. (From left) Scott Coleman, Max Douglas, Conor Hickey and Sean Hedger.

The winners. (From left) Scott Coleman, Max Douglas, Conor Hickey and Sean Hedger.Credit:Karen Watson

Scott Coleman (Hunter Wildfires) and Sean Hedger (Sydney Uni) shared the coach of the year award, while Warringah’s Conor Hickey was the rookie of the year.

Shute Shield qualifying finals

SATURDAY

Norths v Manly, North Sydney Oval, 3.05pm.

Sydney Uni v Randwick, Sydney University Football Ground, 3.20pm.

Eastwood v Eastern Suburbs, Eric Tweedale Stadium, 3:30 p.m.

SUNDAY

Warringah v Gordon, Pittwater Rugby Park, 3.05pm

With the finals starting this week, Douglas will be a leader for Manly when they take on Norths at North Sydney Oval on Saturday.

Elsewhere, the Students will host Randwick, while Eastwood and Easts will do battle at Eric Tweedale Stadium. On Sunday, the Rats host Gordon.

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Turf war over Waratahs’ next gen
The unveiling of NSW’s Gen Blue U16 squad ruffled feathers last week when word spread that almost half of the backline players named had contracts with NRL clubs.

Zach Fittler, son of NRL great and Blues coach Brad, was among the names, as was Tom Farr-Jones, nephew of World Cup-winning former Wallabies captain Nick.

Talent-scouting sources told the Cauliflower that while none of the players’ contracts extended beyond the end of high school (as per NRL rules??), it was curious to see NSW Rugby bothering with players many believe will inevitably end up in the 13 -player game.

RA chairman Hamish McLennan put the NRL on notice that rugby would come for league’s top talent with rugby pedigree in the lead-up to the home 2027 World Cup, but the 15-player code has not had much success on that front in recent years. Kalyn Ponga comes to mind, as does Joseph Suaali’i.

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

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Parramatta Eels Bryce Cartwright fronts court over AVO

Parramatta Eels Bryce Cartwright fronts court over AVO

NRL star Bryce Cartwright has fronted a Sydney court after police took out a restraining order to protect his anti-vaxxer wife.

The 27-year-old Parramatta Eels forward split from his former wife Shanelle early last year, after the couple caused controversy over their views on vaccinations.

Cartwright walked away from a $450,000-a-season contract with the Gold Coast Titans and returned to NSW in September 2020 with his then-wife and two children.

Months later, the pair split up following their three-year marriage.

It was revealed this week that police have now sought an apprehended violence order (AVO) against Cartwright on behalf of his ex-wife.

He fronted Waverley Local Court on Thursday but the matter was quickly adjourned.

Cartwright will have to face court again on August 25. He has not been charged with any criminal offence.

An interim order prevents the 27-year-old from assaulting, threatening, stalking, harassing or intimidating Shanelle.

Standard conditions of the interim order state he also must not damage her property or harm any animal she owns.

Neither the Parramatta Eels or NSW Police have commented on the matter.

The former couple received heavy criticism in 2020 after they expressed their beliefs about vaccinations widely on social media.

Cartwright and his ex-wife said they chose not to vaccinate their children, which was condemned by medical experts.

They called themselves “pro-choice” rather than “anti-vax”.

Both Shanelle and Cartwright were sent a number of threats due to the controversial stance.

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AFL star Buddy Franklin and wife Jesinta with kids at Sydney playground amid Gold Coast move rumor

Jesinta with her daughter Tallulah at Parsley Bay in Vaucluse

AFL glamor couple Jesinta and Buddy Franklin have been spotted enjoying some family time amid rumors they’re moving to the Gold Coast so the busy mum-of-two can make her mark in the business world.

The doting parents were pictured playing with their daughter Tallulah, 2, and son Rocky, 1, at a playground in Parsley Bay in Sydney’s Vaucluse.

Make-up free Jesinta, 30, and barefoot Buddy, 35, were worlds away from the red carpet as the model rugged up in a puffer jacket while her AFL superstar husband wore a hoodie with many visible marks.

Jesinta with her daughter Tallulah at Parsley Bay in Vaucluse

Jesinta with her daughter Tallulah at Parsley Bay in Vaucluse

Jesinta keeps a close eye on her daughter

Jesinta keeps a close eye on her daughter

Her husband, Buddy, was also at the playground, and looked like he may have been doing some DIY before the trip

Her husband, Buddy, was also at the playground, and looked like he may have been doing some DIY before the trip

Jesinta and Buddy have officially ‘shut down’ any talk of their plans until the end of the current AFL season. But rumors are rife he won’t continue with the Sydney Swans beyond 2022 after he was asked to take a 50 per cent pay cut in 2023.

A move to the Gold Coast will allow Jesinta to finally ‘get serious’ about her next steps, say those close to her, whose parents Valerie and Andrew also live in the area.

It’s understood Jesinta has a number of business ideas on the go including a retail fashion venture, as well as plans to build on her position as a high-profile media personality.

Jesinta has made her media intentions known in recent years, speaking out on controversial issues including racism in sport and the Bali Nine executions which gained worldwide attention in 2015.

Back in 2015 she came to the support of Indigenous Sydney Swans player Adam Goodes after he was booed during a match.

‘Booing is a public form of bullying and Adam has come out and said it was affecting him so everyone needs to stop,’ she told the Today show.

Is it racist? Yes I think it is. And anyone who has never experienced racial vilification, racism is just a word to them.’

A move to the Gold Coast would give Jesinta an extra layer of support with her mum living there, and allow her to pursue her career interests

A move to the Gold Coast would give Jesinta an extra layer of support with her mum living there, and allow her to pursue her career interests

The couple are reportedly considering founding a local version of rapper Jay Z's management company Roc Nation, which represents some of the world's most elite athletes

The couple are reportedly considering founding a local version of rapper Jay Z’s management company Roc Nation, which represents some of the world’s most elite athletes

It's understood Jesinta has a number of business ideas on the go including a retail fashion venture, as well as plans to build on her position as a high-profile media personality

It’s understood Jesinta has a number of business ideas on the go including a retail fashion venture, as well as plans to build on her position as a high-profile media personality

Addressing the imminent executions of Bali heroin smugglers Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, Jesinta sparked national debate after saying the doomed pair were aware of ‘the consequences’.

‘The past 10 years has been dedicated to Buddy’s AFL career in many respects and I think now Jesinta is seeing a window into a time when she can start to make some big moves of her own,’ said a source close to the model mum.

‘She has always been very ambitious…she is very well spoken. She aspires to a career in the media but obviously her priorities changed after having two children in a short space of time.

‘But a move to the Gold Coast would mean she has that extra layer of support with her parents nearby.’

'My original influencer' - Jesinta pays tribute to her mum Valerie who runs an acclaimed school on the Gold Coast

‘My original influencer’ – Jesinta pays tribute to her mum Valerie who runs an acclaimed school on the Gold Coast

Jesinta’s mother, Valerie, is a renowned educator on the Gold Coast where she founded the revolutionary Silkwood School in 1997 – a ‘non-traditional’ institution which focuses on students’ ‘interests and passions’ over regular curriculum.

Jesinta was one of the first students when the original classroom was formed in the family living room 23 years ago.

Nestled high in the Gold Coast hinterland, the school – which Jesinta has told friends she want to send her children – now boasts three campus’s and about 650 students.

Jesinta with parents Andrew and Valerie at a recent Swans match

Jesinta with parents Andrew and Valerie at a recent Swans match

The 30-year-old also recently completed an AFL Player’s Association agent course sparking speculation that she and her husband may join the talent management world.

The couple are reportedly considering founding a local version of rapper Jay Z’s management company Roc Nation, which represents some of the world’s most elite athletes.

It has been suggested a management firm run by the star couple would primarily represent Indigenous stars.

Meanwhile, any further speculation about Buddy’s playing future has been snuffed out via his rep Adam Finch who released a statement on Saturday on behalf of the Swans forward.

‘At this stage conversations have been paused around my contract so I can put all my focus on playing footy,’ the statement said.

‘No further comment will be made until the season is done and I have decided about my future.’

Rumors are rife the footy superstar will not continue with the Sydney Swans beyond 2022 after he was asked to take a 50 per cent pay cut in 2023

Rumors are rife the footy superstar will not continue with the Sydney Swans beyond 2022 after he was asked to take a 50 per cent pay cut in 2023

However rumors were again fueled on Wednesday when Buddy was a no-show at teammate Josh Kennedy’s emotional retirement announcement.

Video footage released by the club show teammates rallying around Kennedy as he was moved to tears describing his ‘incredible journey’ in footy, with many rushing to hug him after his heart-warming speech.

Franklin, however, was absent.

It came a day after Franklin was criticized by outspoken pundit Kane Cornes for his ‘me, me, me’ approach to contract negotiations.

Swans management are also said to be suspicious of two major leaks about their contract negotiations with Franklin who reportedly has also had quiet talks with the Brisbane Lions.

However Lions coach Chris Fagan has said that while he would welcome Franklin to the club, the talks were ‘news to him’.

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Paul Green, NRL premiership-winning coach and former player, dies aged 49 | NRL

The NRL is in shock following the death of premiership-winning coach Paul Green, aged 49. Green is reported to have died in his Brisbane home on Thursday morning, with a post mortem to be conducted.

A star in his own right as a player, Green played 162 games across five different clubs as a halfback, five-eighth and hooker while also playing seven State of Origins for Queensland. But he will forever be remembered as the man who helped guide North Queensland to their maiden premiership in 2015.

In total, he was in charge of the Cowboys in 167 games with the 2015 title coming in just his second season as head coach. He left the club in 2020 and took over as Queensland’s State of Origin coach last year.

When he resigned from that job last September, it appeared certain he would resume his days as an NRL coach. He was linked to Wests Tigers at the end of last season and was expected to take on a role at the Dolphins next year.

Green’s death will hit the NRL hard. Beyond those still at North Queensland, he has coached several players across the game who began their careers in Townsville or played for the Maroons last year.

On Thursday night alone Cameron Munster, Xavier Coates and Viliame Kikau were among those due to take to the field just hours after learning of their former coach’s death.

Green was in Sydney only last weekend for the Cronulla ex-players’ reunion, a club where he played 95 games before moving north to the Cowboys. He was also a part of the Sydney Roosters’ 2002 premiership-winning squad, before finishing his playing days at Parramatta and Brisbane.

“We are deeply saddened at the tragic passing of Queenslander and former Bronco, Paul Green,” the Broncos tweeted. “A legend on and off the field gone far too soon.”

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tennisnews | Serena Williams retirement, wipes away tears after loss to Belinda Bencic, Toronto farewell

An emotional Serena Williams has wiped away tears after being beaten by 12th seed Belinda Bencic in Toronto.

Just a day after confirming the end of her career is near, the 40-year-old couldn’t match it with her Swiss opponent, who was relatively untroubled in the 6-2 6-4 victory.

“Thank you from the bottom of my heart. It’s been a joy playing in front of you guys all these years, so thank you,” Williams said after the match, the tears welling in her eyes.

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“It was a lot of emotions, I’ve always loved playing here, I wish I could have played better but Belinda played so well.

“It’s been a pretty interesting 24 hours.

“It’s just been so memorable. I’m terrible at goodbyes, but goodbye Toronto.”

The match started with a video tribute to Williams from the likes of Billie Jean King and Wayne Gretzky.

“We’ve been very blessed to have Serena Williams in our sport,” King said.

“Great athlete, a lot of people think she’s the GOAT, and I think every generation gets better, so right now, she’s the GOAT.

Billie Jean King pays tribute to retiring Serena Williams

“Serena has transcended our sport, gone way beyond the boundaries of just being an athlete.

“It’s just the beginning for Serena.”

The crowd was right behind Williams during the match against Bencic, but the tone was set early, when Williams was broken to love early in the first set, giving up the break with a double fault.

On the next point she missed a routine volley with the court wide open, the gulf between her and the 12th ranked player in the world painfully obvious.

Bencic needed five sets points to close out the first set, even surviving a break point, the only such opportunity Williams would have during the match.

The second set went to script as well for Bencic, who broke Williams in the seventh game before serving out the match.

“Tonight was really special, it’s quite overwhelming, I never imagined to play Serena so many times and it’s always an honor to be on the court with her, that’s why I think tonight is about her,” Bencic said.

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Serena Williams at the Australian Open: Legend’s transformation after 1998 debut

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Dustin Martin won’t return for last two games but could play ‘significant role’ in finals

Dustin Martin won't return for last two games but could play 'significant role' in finals

“That’s our thoughts on that at this stage, but there is a bit of water to go under the bridge as that is three or four weeks away.

“He won’t play any further part in the regular season. If we make it, he will put his hand up to play.”

Hardwick said the Tigers would be cautious with Martin, who they had initially hoped would return during the season.

“Speaking to Dustin about how he feels and what the medical staff think, he has had two incidents [with his hamstring] so we have to be a little bit cautious with him,” Hardwick said.

“With where we are at, when he is back, we have to make sure he is ready to go.

“He hasn’t played a lot of footy. He has only played eight games for the year so we want to give him his very best chance to play at his best from him, we know what he is like and if we get there, he will have a significant part to play.

Hardwick hoped Nick Vlaustin would prove his fitness after injuring his ribs but the defender was yet to be locked in, while Shai Bolton should play despite being managed this week.

“Nick has got a rib issue so he will train today and we will see how he goes,” Hardwick said on Thursday.

“He’s a pretty tough man, we will see. He won’t do the full session but he’s still a chance.

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“Shai has had a big season and is an important player, he went through a couple of management things earlier in the week but should do most of training today.”

The Tigers also announced on Thursday that Tyler Sonsie, Noah Cumberland and Ben Miller had all signed two-year contract extensions.

Hardwick also made it clear his club wanted to be in the finals and would do all they could to make it.

“There is no question we want to make the finals – we know we are good enough to play there and we know we are good enough to challenge,” Hardwick said.

“So if we didn’t make it, absolutely, it’s a failure.”

Hannebery to miss clash with Lions

Dan Hannebery won’t play in St Kilda’s must-win clash with Brisbane, with coach Brett Ratten revealing they were likely to rest him even before his latest injury.

The luckless midfielder suffered an ankle injury in the Saints’ heavy loss to Geelong last round, which was only his second match of the season due to persistent calf problems.

Ratten has ruled Hannebery out of Friday night’s Marvel Stadium clash but said it was already on the cards due to the six-day turnaround.

“He won’t get up, we’re going to manage Dan,” Ratten said ahead of training at Moorabbin on Thursday.

“It was a conversation that we had even before last weekend’s game around a six-day turnaround for a player that hasn’t played a lot of footy and the risk of playing him.

Dan Hannebery will not play against the Lions.

Dan Hannebery will not play against the Lions.Credit:Getty Images

“We were having that conversation and then with the ankle, the risk probably becomes greater and allowing Dan to get through this weekend and be ready for the following week will be really important.

“So we’ll manage him and he’ll have the weekend off.”

Ratten said the 31-year-old had been able to complete some training this week, with the injury not as serious as initially feared.

But he didn’t think it was worth the risk despite the high stakes, with the ninth-placed Saints’ finals hopes on the verge of being snuffed out with two rounds to play.

“With the ankle, it’s an easy one to manage,” Ratten said.

“We have to look after Dan as well.

“The game is super important for us – we can’t shy away from that so picking our best team, but we’ve got to make sure that everyone can get through as well, that’s important.

“We’ve got to make sure we’ve got 22 fit men to run out of the game.”

AAP

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Isaac Moses back in NRL, ban lifted, reaction, player managers, Gavin Orr, why was Isaac Moses banned?, clients

Isaac Moses back in NRL, ban lifted, reaction, player managers, Gavin Orr, why was Isaac Moses banned?, clients

Controversial rugby league player manager Isaac Moses looks set to return to the NRL after a leaked email revealed he has been given the green light to return to the industry again.

Moses had been deregistered for 18 months after he was found to have breached his obligations as an agent in 2017 while working with then client Tim Mannah.

There was no guarantee Moses would be cleared to return to the game again but now he and another banned agent, Gavin Orr, have been given a reprieve.

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“He has been reinstated according to a leaked document,” rugby league reporter Michelle Bishop said on SEN 1170.

“A panel, we haven’t been told who was actually sitting on the panel to make the call on Tuesday night, listened to the managers pleading their case. They’ve decided that they’ve done their time and offered to lift their ban.

“Moses, who has a stable of about 100 players and looks after some coaches as well, he was deregistered in February 2021 for breaching his obligations as an agent. He was looking after Tim Mannah at the time. That ended in tears, I won’t go into finer details, but he’s back after 18 months.

“Gavin Orr had some issues in and around the salary cap with Cheyse Blair when he was at Parramatta. At one stage we were talking about both these player agents facing life bans. It’s been a massive turnaround.”

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At the time of Moses’ ban in February 2021, the NRL Appeals Committee described his breach as “one of great seriousness”.

Fox League’s James Hooper had reported back in April that Moses was getting closer to being allowed back into the game, not that the ban was stopping him from finding another way to support his clients.

“Technically, Moses has been banned from directly dealing with all 16 NRL clubs since the beginning of last year,” Hooper wrote in April.

“But in reality the deregistered agent’s company Cove Agency is still one of the most influential in the game and has been as busy as ever with a list of more than 100 NRL players on the books.

“Moses simply handed over the reins of the operation to his cousin – Stephen Moses – the brother of Eels halfback Mitchell Moses.”

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