Gold Coast forward Izak Rankine has been heavily linked with a move to Adelaide.
SEN SA’s Michelangelo Rucci claims the Crows will make Rankine their highest paid player if he does depart the Suns.
Rucci has reported that Adelaide is prepared to offer the 22-year-old up to $900,000 a season – $250,000 more than what the Gold Coast have tabled.
Rankine remains unsigned with the Suns beyond 2022.
Brownlow Medalist Gerard Healy is worried Rankine could be being poorly advised by his manager.
Healy and sports day co-host Sam McClure discussed the out-of-contract Sun’s future and Adelaide’s reported offer.
Subscribe to the SEN YouTube channel for the latest videos!
McClure: “He can’t go, can he?”
Healy: “I would hope not. I’ve got a bad feeling his manager is going to pull him in the wrong direction.”
McClure: “On paper it just looks like a terrible move leaving.”
Healy: “It does to me.”
McClure: “With what they (Gold Coast) are building and with where he is – and his brother’s moved over from Adelaide to live with him, so he’s got family there.”
Healy: “It makes no sense.”
McClure: “He’s going to get well paid.”
Healy: “He’s going to get more than well paid.
“It’s a baffling one and it’s very disappointing for those who have put so much time into him.
“A lot of his peers have signed up and it was all in it together. Let’s hope it stays that way.”
Rankine, a product out of SANFL club West Adelaide, has kicked 55 goals in 47 games for the Suns.
Australia captain Meg Lanning will take indefinite leave from cricket effective immediately, Cricket Australia announced on Wednesday.
The announcement comes just days after Australia won gold at the Commonwealth Games.
A Cricket Australia statement said Lanning will take leave due to “personal reasons”, and has withdrawn from the upcoming Hundred, where she was due to play with Trent Rockets.
Watch The Hundred. Every Match Live & Exclusive to Fox Sports on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
Maxwell suffers back injury during win | 01:26
“After a busy couple of years, I’ve made the decision to take a step back to enable me to spend time focusing on myself,” Lanning said in the statement.
“I’m grateful for the support of CA and my teammates and ask that my privacy is respected during this time.”
CA Head of Performance, Women’s Cricket, Shawn Flegler said: “We’re proud of Meg for acknowledging that she needs a break and will continue to support her during this time.
“She’s been an incredible contributor to Australian cricket over the last decade, achieving remarkable feats both individually and as part of the team, and has been a brilliant role model for young kids.
“The welfare of our players is always our number one priority, and we’ll continue to work with Meg to ensure she gets the support and space she needs.”
Jake Turpin is out in the cold after the Broncos confirmed he will not be at the club next season, while a potential suitor has denied they are interested in his services.
Meanwhile, the Broncos are set to give Kobe Hetherington a pay rise in a bid to ward off NRL rivals and Eels star Will Penisini is open to a switch to rugby union.
Read on for all the latest NRL Transfer Whispers.
Stream every game of every round of the 2022 NRL Telstra Premiership Season Live & Ad-Break Free During Play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
BRONCOS HOOKER IN NRL WILDERNESS
Jake Turpin is out in the cold after the Broncos confirmed he will not be at the club next season, while the Knights have denied they are interested in his services.
Newscorp reported Turpin will not be at the Broncos next season, while the Knights have denied they will make a play to lure him to the Hunter.
The Broncos are set to invest in incumbents Billy Walters and Cory Paix as well as rising rookie Blake Mozer as their dummyhalf options moving forward.
Broncos coach Kevin Walters confirmed Turpin is not in the club’s long-term plans and will not be offered a new deal in 2022.
“At the moment, there is nothing for Jake with us for next year unfortunately,” Walters told Newscorp.
“The reality is it was going to be hard to keep Jake.
“We have Billy (Walters) and Cory Paix in our squad at the moment, so as much as you would love to keep all your players, with the salary-cap it’s difficult.
Payten opens up on time with Cowboys | 06:27
“’Turps’ has played some great games for the Broncos, and he is good at those little effort areas, particularly in defense, but with our roster, we don’t have any spots left for the hooker position.”
Knights Director of Football Peter Parr poured cold water on reports Newcastle will target Turpin as a back-up to Jayden Brailey.
“He is a wholehearted player but his name hasn’t been mentioned to me at all (by recruitment manager Clint Zammit), so we have no plans to sign him” Parr said.
The 25-year-old has scored four tries in 56 games for the Broncos since his debut in 2018 and won the club’s most consistent player award just last season.
MORE NRL NEWS
ROSTER OVERHAUL: Tigers target ex-Raiders star Bateman as Sheens gets creative
NRL RUN HOME: Eels star sparks title arises as grim Broncos reality sets in
‘NOT A GOOD LOOK’: Tigers star reveals he wanted Storm loan switch
‘MEDICAL DECISION’: Turbo opens up on Manly season…
Jake Turpin is on the lookout for a new club.Source: Getty Images
EELS STAR OPEN TO CODE SWITCH
Eels young gun Will Penisini is open to a switch to rugby union in the future as the club looks to lock him to a long-term extension.
Newscorp reported Penisini, who played the rival code at school with Roosters star Joseph Suaalii at Kings College, hasn’t shut the door on a potential move to the 15-man game in the future.
“I’m not closing the door on rugby union,” Penisini told News Corp.
“Right now, I am content with where I am at Parramatta and I’m loving rugby league at the moment. I am just at the start of my career and I want to build my game and focus on playing consistent footy for Parramatta and try not to look too far ahead about the decision between rugby league or rugby union.”
The Eels are already trying to extend Penisini beyond his current deal, which expires in 2023.
The 20-year-old center has scored seven tries in 25 games for the Eels since his debut in 2021 and has already played one Test for Tonga, who he is likely to feature for at the World Cup.
Will Penisini is open to a switch to rugby union.Source: Getty Images
BRONCOS UP OFFER TO YOUNG GUN AS RIVALS CIRCLE
Broncos lock Kobe Hetherington is set for a massive pay rise as Brisbane aim to ward off approaches from rival clubs for his services.
Newscorp reported Hetherington is set to earn a pay rise of $200,000 a year as the club aims to lock him up on a two-year extension.
However, it is believed Hetherington, who is starting for Brisbane in the absence of the suspended Patrick Carrigan, could command upwards of $300,000 on the open market.
Hetherington is a versatile forward who can cover back row, front row and hooker, with no shortage of clubs keen on a player of his ability.
The 23-year-old has scored three tries in 33 games for the Broncos since his debut in 2021 and has been a mainstay of Kevin Walters’ pack rotation this season.
Kobe Hetherington is set for a pay rise.Source: Getty Images
Get all the latest NRL news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now!!
Former Fremantle Dockers ruck Zac Clarke has been slapped with a ban for a scary on-field incident which left a fellow former AFL player with a fractured skull and bleeding on the brain.
Clarke was playing for Doncaster East in Melbourne’s Eastern Football Netball League when chased St Kilda player Eli Templeton towards the boundary-line, before pushing him in the back and sending him into a water container and over a wire fence.
Templeton hit his head on a footpath just outside the fence with some force. Spectators and players appeared visibly distressed by the incident as trainers rushed to help.
Clarke was given a two-week ban but the league’s tribunal on Tuesday night, but Templeton’s club, the Balwyn Tigers are reportedly set to appeal the decision, believing the sanction to be inadequate.
The match was abandoned after an ambulance was called in the third-quarter, with the Tigers handed the win because they led at the time.
Zac Clarke pushed Eli Templeton over the fence in this incident; Credit: The Leader/Twitter
Balwyn president Richard Wilson said Tempelton’s condition had improved and he was expected to make a full recovery.
“He spoke on the phone last night (Saturday), he’s cognitive and speaking and passing all the tests, which means he’s basically going to be OK,” he said.
Clarke played 101 games for Fremantle between 2009 and 2016, including all three of the club’s finals appearance in its only grand final season in 2013.
He then spent time at WAFL club Subiaco, before being thrown an AFL lifeline for one season by Essendon in 2019.
There are two matches remaining in the EFNL’s regular season, but Doncaster are set to play finals, which means Clarke would be available if the Tigers’ appeal fails.
They currently have an 11-5 record and it will be the club’s first finals appearance in the league’s top division.
Templeton spent three years at St Kilda for a total of 14 games before being de-listed. He is currently listed at VFL club Port Melbourne.
On Sunday, the Saints posted a message for the former player on their social media.
“Our thoughts are with former Saint Eli Templeton,” the post read.
Australia captain Meg Lanning will take an indefinite break from the game for personal reasons.
It means Lanning, who recently led Australia to the gold medal at the Commonwealth Games to follow their T20 and ODI World Cup titles in 2020 and 2022, will miss the Hundred where she would have played for Trent Rockets. Australia’s domestic season starts in late September with the WNCL ahead of the WBBL in October.
Australia’s next series is an away T20I tour of India in mid-December ahead of hosting Pakistan next January before the T20 World Cup in South Africa.
“After a busy couple of years, I’ve made the decision to take a step back to enable me to spend time focusing on myself,” Lanning said in a statement. “I’m grateful for the support of CA and my team-mates and ask that my privacy is respected during this time.”
Cricket Australia’s head of performance, women’s cricket, Shawn Flegler said: “We’re proud of Meg for acknowledging that she needs a break and will continue to support her during this time.
“She’s been an incredible contributor to Australian cricket over the last decade, achieving remarkable feats both individually and as part of the team, and has been a brilliant role model for young kids.
“The welfare of our players is always our number one priority, and we’ll continue to work with Meg to ensure she gets the support and space she needs.”
Melbourne Stars general manager Blair Crouch said: “We’re fully supportive of Meg’s desire to have a break from cricket and we will give her all the time, support and space she needs.”
Lanning made her international debut in 2010 and was named captain as a 21-year-old in 2014. She has led the team in 171 matches across all formats with 135 victories. Since 2017 she has only missed five internationals.
Australian captain Meg Lanning has announced she will take an indefinite break from cricket for personal reasons.
Her statement comes only a week after she led the Aussies to a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games, beating India in the deciding match.
Lanning has captained one of the most successful Australian national teams of the last decade. Australia is the reigning ODI and Twenty20 World Cup champions.
READMORE:Serena Williams drops bombshell retirement letter
READMORE:Aussie stars ‘gone’ in shock LIV Golf defection
READMORE:Final blow rocks Manly star’s World Cup dream
“After a busy couple of years, I’ve made the decision to take a step back to enable me to spend time focusing on myself,” Lanning said.
“I’m grateful for the support of (Cricket Australia) and my teammates and ask that my privacy is respected during this time.”
Australia captain Meg Lanning celebrates with the 2022 Women’s Cricket World Cup trophy. (Getty)
Lanning’s announcement comes less than a week after Wallabies captain Michael Hooper announced he will take an indefinite break from his rugby duties.
Cricket Australia’s head of women’s performance Shawn Flegler commended the skipper for making her wellbeing a priority after a busy international period.
“We’re proud of Meg for acknowledging that she needs a break and will continue to support her during this time,” he said.
“She’s been an incredible contributor to Australian cricket over the last decade, achieving remarkable feats both individually and as part of the team, and has been a brilliant role model for young kids.
“The welfare of our players is always our number one priority, and we’ll continue to work with Meg to ensure she gets the support and space she needs.”
For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter byclicking here!
Australian cricket’s highest earners – Pat Cummins tops contract list for third straight year
A federal judge in California ruled that three golfers who joined Saudi-backed LIV Golf will not be able to compete in the PGA Tour’s post-season.
US district judge Beth Labson Freeman made her decision in San Jose after attorneys for the sides each spoke for about an hour. Freeman said she didn’t consider the golfers faced irreparable harm because of the big money they were guaranteed by joining LIV, a key issue in the case.
“There simply is no irreparable harm in this case,” PGA Tour attorney Elliot Peters said.
READMORE:Raiders coach hit with unprecedented penalty
READMORE:Fresh contract farce spotlights dud NRL system
READMORE:Cripps learns fate for crunching hit on Lion
The three suspended golfers were seeking a temporary restraining order, which Freeman denied. Talor Gooch, Matt Jones and Hudson Swafford claimed they should be able to play where they want to, each saying in letters last month to the PGA Tour, “I am a free agent and independent contractor.”
They are among 10 players who filed an antitrust lawsuit against the PGA Tour last week — including Phil Mickelson.
Phil Michaelson. (Getty)
Robert Walters, an antitrust litigator representing the golfers, noted this would be their opportunity on a big playoff stage, “effectively the Super Bowl of golf” because of its “significant income opportunities.”
Freeman responded that the LIV Tour earnings potential was also great and asked whether players might have been able to wait until the conclusion of the PGA Tour season to depart for the new tour.
Walters argued there were only 48 spots and they would have filled up according to LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman, to which Freeman said she agreed with that stance but that the golfers stood to gain far more financially joining LIV than the money they might have earned on the PGA Tour.
“This is an extraordinarily attractive financial opportunity but it’s much more than that,” Walters said, saying the harm done is that “players lose intangible benefits” such as qualifications for the major tournaments as well as other marquee invitationals.
“This is the holy grail because everybody wants to compete in and prevail in major championships, but it’s not just the majors,” Walters said. He noted that the PGA Tour inferred these golfers would put a “taint” or “stench” on the tour’s image by playing, perhaps even wearing LIV Tour gear in PGA Tour tournaments.
LIV Golf stars sue PGA Tour
“We’re disappointed that Talor Gooch, Hudson Swafford and Matt Jones won’t be allowed to play golf. No one gains by banning golfers from playing,” LIV Golf said in a statement.
The first of three FedEx Cup playoff events begin Friday (AEST).
Two tournaments offer $15 million prize funds, and the player who wins the FedEx Cup at East Lake in Atlanta gets $18 million — thus the urgency for Freeman to rule. This case could go to trial next year, with the possibility of an injunction hearing in late September or early October, according to Peters.
Peters said lifting the suspensions of the golfers and allowing them to play would “change the status quo” for the PGA Tour and “give them a fabulous platform” to promote the LIV tour while competing in a PGA event.
“I think it’s a huge problem,” he said. “… The Commissioner needs the ability to protect the Tour. This is a very dire situation for the Tour.”
Gooch (No.20), Jones (No.65) and Swafford (No.67) are among nine players who have joined LIV Golf and finished the regular season among the top 125 in the FedEx Cup standings. The other six who joined LIV Golf are not asking to play in the tour’s post-season.
PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan issued a memo to members that included: “With today’s news, our players, fans and partners can now focus on what really matters over the next three weeks: the best players in the world competing in the FedEx Cup playoffs, capping off an incredibly compelling season with the crowning of the FedEx Cup champion at the Tour Championship.”
For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter byclicking here!
The stars who’ve signed with Greg Norman’s LIV Golf tour
The Wests Tigers have made an inquiry with Wigan about the prospect of bringing 2019 Dally M Backrower of the Year John Bateman back to the NRL in 2023.
In a move unrelated to Isaiah Papali’i having second thoughts about switching from Parramatta to Concord next year, Tigers director of football Tim Sheens has confirmed the club has made the approach.
The catch is going to be Bateman is under contract with Wigan until at least the end of 2024 and for now the Warriors have blocked the Tigers move.
Stream every game of every round of the 2022 NRL Telstra Premiership Season Live & Ad-Break Free During Play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
Bateman was one of the standout backrowers in the NRL the year the Canberra Raiders made the grand finale in 2019 before his tenure in the national capital sourced over a contract stalemate with the Green Machine.
Bateman then returned home to the UK at the end of the 2020 NRL season after inking a four-year deal with Wigan through until the end of 2024.
The Raiders were forced to pay a $250,000 transfer fee to Bradford to bring Bateman to the NRL the first time around but the one bonus with transfer fees to English clubs is they aren’t included in the NRL clubs salary cap.
MORE NRL NEWS
NRL RUN HOME: Eels star sparks title arises as grim Broncos reality sets in
‘NOT A GOOD LOOK’: Tigers star reveals he wanted Storm loan switch
‘MEDICAL DECISION’: Turbo opens up on Manly season…
‘TAKING THE PISS’: Twist in Eels star’s $1.9m backflip as third NRL team emerges
The Tigers have made a play for former Raiders star John Bateman.Source: Getty Images
The Bateman approach is creative thinking from Sheens trying to look outside the square and devise recruitment ploys aimed at overhauling the Wests Tigers roster.
The Tigers have made some recruitment moves this week by re-signing Brent Naden, Asu Kepoa and Starford To’a but the real recruitment space where they need to get busy is the re-signing of Adam Doueihi.
Doueihi is easily the Tigers best player, a local junior and the type of leader the Wests Tigers need to build the club around.
With Sheens and Benji Marshall now having control of the steering wheel at least it won’t be left to dithering management types to make another misguided mistake.
Get all the latest NRL news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now!!
‘He gets angry at some weird things’ | 01:13
The issue with Doueihi is he’s going to be a free agent as of November 1 and you can guarantee rival clubs are going to be getting the queue to try and convince the five-eighth to switch allegiances.
The Tigers need to sharpen their pencil and try and get a long-term deal done now prior to the stronger clubs being able to table a deal.
The Melbourne Storm have already had one crack at getting Doueihi on loan for the remainder of this year and with uncertainty surrounding the future of Cameron Munster the Tigers five-eighth would make an ideal replacement.
Willie Rioli Senior has been remembered as a football legend and community leader, and a man whose “cheeky” smile brightened the lives of those around him.
Key points:
Around 500 people attended a memorial service in Darwin for Willie Rioli Senior
He died suddenly of a heart attack in July at age 50
Mr Rioli will also be commemorated at a burial at his home on the Tiwi Islands
Warning: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this story contains the name and image of a person who has died.
The ABC has permission from Willie Rioli Senior’s family to use his name and image.
Hundreds of people filled the pews at St Mary’s Cathedral in Darwin on Wednesday to pay tribute to the father, grandfather, star footballer and respected leader in the Tiwi Islands community.
Mr Rioli died suddenly last month, age 50, of a heart attack, according to a statement from AFL Northern Territory.
Willie Rioli Senior died suddenly in July at the age of 50. (Supplied: Tiwi Bombers Football Club)
Northern Territory Football league (NTFL) broadcaster Dominic McCormack remembered his friend as a man with a “cheeky smile” who “brightened all our lives.”
“He always brought great energy, experience, organisation, a big smile, lots of humility and a bit of stubbornness to all he did,” Mr McCormack said in a eulogy.
He said even Mr Rioli’s opponents could not help but like him.
“It would be rare to ever hear a bad word about him,” Mr McCormack said.
“Even while he was taking [the opposite] team apart they still loved him — they just wanted him on their side.”
Proud of his children and a lifelong love story
In his younger years, Mr McCormack said Mr Rioli would sneak out of boarding school at night to visit Georgina Vigona, the woman who would remain his wife until his death.
Mr Rioli’s wife, Georgina Vigona, had been by his side for decades.(ABC News: Myles Houlbrook-Walk)
The couple raised three children: Nikita, Kathleen and West Coast Eagles premiership winner Willie Junior.
Mr Rioli is survived by his three children, two grandchildren and wife Georgina.(ABC News: Myles Houlbrook-Walk)
Adelaide Crows chairman John Olsen says the club has not sought legal advice despite talk of a class action in the wake of Eddie Betts’ claims about a controversial 2018 training camp.
Key points:
Crows chairman John Olsen said a class action would be addressed if and when it happened
He rejected suggestions there had been a cover-up at the time of the camp
But he conceded elements of what had occurred were “inexcusable”
Mr Olsen described any such move against the club as “hypothetical”, and also defended the way the club had responded in the seven days since the publication of Betts’ memoir The Boy from Boomerang Crescent.
The book details Betts’ anxiety and anger following the preseason camp, and prompted former Crow Josh Jenkins to speak out as well.
Adelaide lawyer Greg Griffin said he had begun investigating a potential class action against the club, on behalf of several players who attended the camp.
“Any action would be brought in the Supreme Court of Victoria, which requires a minimum of seven group members to bring and maintain a class action,” he said.
“The number of persons, or players, is well in excess of the number that we require.”
But Mr Olsen, who earlier this week issued a public apology to Betts and Jenkins, told ABC Radio Adelaide such a development would be addressed if and when it arose.
“It is hypothetical, because until it takes place it’s not fact, and if it takes place, we’ll address the issue at that time,” he said.
Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume.
Adelaide Crows chairman John Olsen speaks to ABC Radio Adelaide’s Stacey Lee and Nikolai Beilharz.
Mr Olsen said he had spoken to all the club’s board members in the past week, but issues for discussion did not include the position of board member Mark Ricciuto who, on his Triple M breakfast show last week, said “the club has moved on from “the camp.
“Mark’s position at the board was not discussed at the meeting over the weekend. That’s not on my agenda at the moment,” Mr Olsen said.
Mr Olsen joined the club in 2020, two years after the now infamous camp.
Denials of a ‘cover-up’
The former SA premier denied the club had sought to conceal the controversy at the time, and said player welfare was the current “priority”.
“I think that’s a stretch to say there was a cover-up. People were dealing with a difficult situation,” he said.
“A number of individuals indicated to me they had a very positive experience at the camp.
“[But receiving] confidential information given by a player, and that being used in front of others at the camp, is inexcusable.
“Those circumstances cannot, and will not, happen again.”
A crowd favorite during his time at Adelaide, Betts returned to Carlton at the end of the 2019 season.(AAP: David Mariuz)
Since the publication of Betts’ book, Mr Olsen has confined himself to individual interviews and statements, rather than holding a media conference — an approach he defended.
“I have made myself available across the board, to radio, print and television,” he said.
“Shortly after Eddie Betts’s book had been released, and his comments related to chapter 17, [chief executive] Tim Silvers was immediately available on that Wednesday and immediately apologised.”
