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Cricket news 2022: Trent Boult granted released from national contract, New Zealand

New Zealand cricketer Trent Boult has been granted a release from his national contract so the bowler can spend more time with his family and make himself available for domestic leagues.

On Wednesday morning, New Zealand Cricket confirmed the 33-year-old will have a “significantly reduced role” with the Black Caps, upon his request.

The talented left-armer sits at No. 1 on the ICC Men’s ODI Bowling Rankings, having taken 169 scalps at 25.21 since his international debut in 2011. He has also taken 317 Test wickets at 27.49.

Boult will still be eligible for New Zealand selection when available.

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“This has been a really tough decision for me and I’d like to thank NZC for their support in getting to this point,” Boult said in a statement.

“Playing cricket for my country was a childhood dream and I’m so proud of everything I’ve been able to achieve with the Black Caps over the past 12 years.

“Ultimately this decision is about my wife Gert and our three young boys. Family has always been the biggest motivator for me and I feel comfortable with putting it first and preparing ourselves for life after cricket.

“I still have a great desire to represent my country and feel I have the skills to deliver at the international level. However, I respect the fact that not having a national contract will affect my chances of selection.

“Having said that, as a fast bowler I know I have a limited career span, and I feel the time is right to move into this next phase.”

Boult’s bombshell move could have substantial ramifications for NZC. As more domestic T20 leagues are scheduled during the country’s home summer, Black Caps teammates may be tempted to follow suit.

Boult’s decision to prioritize domestic leagues over international commitments comes after England Test captain Ben Stokes retired from ODI cricket at 31 last month.

Due to the over-saturated cricket calendar, it may soon become the norm for cricketers to step aside from international duties so they can play more high-paying franchise cricket, particularly late in their careers.

The Indian Premier League’s overwhelming success has prompted the introduction of several privately-owned domestic leagues, including the United Arab Emirates’ International League T20 and South Africa’s newly-launched T20 competition.

Importantly, these high-paying tournaments also coincide with the Big Bash League and Australian home summer of cricket, meaning Aussie players could be forced into making some difficult decisions late in their careers.

Former Brisbane Heat captain Chris Lynn has already turned his back on the Big Bash League, signing for next year’s inaugural ILT20.

Boult was recently named in New Zealand’s squad for an upcoming white-ball tour of the West Indies, which gets underway on Thursday.

“We respect Trent’s position,” NZC chief executive David White said in a statement.

“He’s been completely honest and upfront with us about his reasoning and, while we’re sad to be losing him as a fully-contracted player, he leaves with our best wishes and our sincere thanks.

“Trent’s made a massive contribution to the Black Caps since his Test debut in late 2011 and is now considered one of the best multi-format cricketers in the world. We’re very proud of what he’s achieved.

“We’ve had several conversations and I know Trent understands that, in terms of selection, NZC will continue to make a priority of those players with either central or domestic contracts.”

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Mike Tyson lost pet tiger when he tried to eat neighbor’s dog, boxing news

Mike Tyson lost his famous pet tiger after the white Bengal tried to eat his neighbours’ dog.

The boxing legend was convinced into buying the wild cat after coming out of prison in 1995 following a three-year stretch.

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Tyson is believed to have had three tigers in all, costing him over $US80,000 each at the time.

But, according to his former boxing manager Shelly Finkel, he was forced to give them up after one fateful walk.

Finkel, who SunSport spoke with in New York, recalled: “His house was between two houses in Vegas.

“And on the right side, facing the street was a famous Vegas performer. And on the left side was a businessman who had some dogs.

“Mike decided to walk one of his Bengal tigers, he’s walking the tiger, and the tiger saw the dog and scales the wall to go and eat the dog.

“The man is looking out his window and sees a tiger coming over the wall to try and eat his dog and Mike is pulling him down.

“He gets him off the fence and that night Mike calls me and says, ‘Shelly, the ASPCA is here, I’m not allowed to keep cats in captivity, how do you think they found out?’

“I said, ‘How do you think they found out? Your neighbor sees him coming over the wall to eat his dog. How do you think they found out.’

“That to me was my favorite story with Mike.”

Finkel managed Tyson right up until his retirement in 2005.

But their history dates back to when Iron Mike was a teenage amateur sensation.

And they first worked together in 1988 when Finkel brokered a closed-circuit pay-per-view deal for Tyson’s win over Michael Spinks.

But following the heavyweight’s infamous 1997 disqualification for biting Evander Holyfield’s ear, Finkel became his full-time manager.

He said: “It was one of the greatest trips of my life. The adventures with Mike Tyson were phenomenal.”

Finkel was in touch with Tyson as recently as two years ago, when the boxing icon made a shock comeback.

Tyson, now 56, drew over eight exhibition rounds with Roy Jones, 53, and talk of a trilogy with Holyfield emerged.

But following Holyfield’s painful beating against former UFC champion Vitor Belfort, 45, the plug was rightfully pulled.

This story first appeared in The Sun and was republished with permission.

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Australian legend Lauren Jackson will play for Opals at the World Cup after retiring in 2016

The remarkable comeback story of basketball champ Lauren Jackson has continued, with the 41-year-old included in Australia’s 12-strong Opals team for this year’s FIBA ​​Women’s Basketball World Cup nine years after she retired.

An emotional Jackson, who retired in 2016 through a chronic injury after a Hall of Fame career in Australia and the US, said she “didn’t honestly know” if her body would hold up to the rigors of international basketball again.

But Opals coach Sandy Brondello said Jackson would add “another dimension” to the team that has gone through some tough recent times in the wake of Liz Cambage’s controversial exit.

“Making the final cut to 12 is always difficult with so many great athletes pushing for selection” Brondello said.

“The training camp in New York demonstrated how much each of these athletes wanted to compete on home soil. The competition for a spot on the team was fierce.”

“Of course, the inclusion of Lauren is the talking point, but from my perspective, she has put in the work and deserves to be here. She will add another dimension to our team dynamic.”

Jackson began her comeback for local team Albury but is hoping to help the Opals add to the team’s rich World Cup legacy having won silver in 2018, bronze in 2014 and gold in 2006.

“There were a lot of emotions when Sandy rang me, I had a bit of a cry to be honest,” Jackson said.

“I have been working my body hard, and I didn’t honestly know if it was going to hold up to my intense training regimen, but it has and I’m feeling good.

“The whole team have been so welcoming and made me feel at home. The age difference disappears as soon as I step onto the court.

“I believe in this team and what we can achieve. If I can play a part if getting us onto the podium, then the hard work is all worthwhile.”

Shyla Heal was a notable omission from the final 12, with Bec Allen and Cayla George to return for their third World Cup appearance. Marianna Tolo, Steph Talbot, Sami Whitcomb, Tess Madgen and Ezi Magbegor will return for their second appearance and Sara Blicavs, Darcee Garbin, Anneli Maley and Kristy Wallace will make their debut.

Jackson will make her fifth World Cup appearance after last playing in 2010.

The squad is filled with international experience, with Allen (New York Liberty), Magbegor (Seattle Storm), Whitcomb (New York Liberty), Wallace (Atlanta Dream) and Talbot (Seattle Storm) all playing in the WNBA.

The Opals are ranked No.3 in the world and have drawn Group C, with pool matches against France, Serbia, Japan, Mali and Canada tipping off on September 22 in Sydney.

Australian Opals 2022 FIBA ​​Women’s Basketball World Cup team: Bec Allen, Sara Blicavs, Darcee Garbin, Cayla George, Lauren Jackson, Ezi Magbegor, Tess Madgen, Anneli Maley, Steph Talbot, Marianna Tolo, Kristy Wallace, Sami Whitcomb.

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Serena Williams’ parting shot at Margaret Court, nod to Ash Barty in retirement announcement

Serena Williams sounded just the tiniest little bit salty as she reflected on likely finishing her tennis career with one less grand slam title than Australian legend Margaret Court.

Williams’ crusade to win an elusive 24th major title and draw level with Court has been a five-year saga that looks almost certain to end fruitlessly when she retires at this year’s US Open.

The 40-year-old American revealed her plans to end her career to focus on having another child in an article in Vogue Magazine published on Tuesday night (AEST).

Williams referenced Court twice in the piece, and while she was careful with her words left the impression she should be remembered as tennis’ greatest ever player.

“There are people who say I’m not the GOAT because I didn’t pass Margaret Court’s record of 24 grand slam titles, which she achieved before the ‘open era’ that began in 1968,” Williams wrote.

“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want that record. Obviously I do. But day to day, I’m really not thinking about her. If I’m in a grand slam final, then yes, I am thinking about that record. Maybe I thought about it too much, and that didn’t help.

Serena Williams waves goodbye to the crowd following her defeat against Naomi Osaka in the semis of the 2021 Australian Open – a match that would prove to be her last in Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

“The way I see it, I should have had 30-plus grand slams. I had my chances after coming back from giving birth. I went from a C-section to a second pulmonary embolism to a grand slam final. I played while breastfeeding. I played through postpartum depression.

“But I didn’t get there. Shoulda, woulda, coulda. I didn’t show up the way I should have or could have. But I showed up 23 times, and that’s fine. Actually it’s extraordinary. But these days, if I have to choose between building my tennis resume and building my family, I choose the latter.”

Williams stepped onto a hardcourt for the first time in a year and a half on Monday in the WTA Toronto tournament where she fought through to the second round with a straight sets victory over Nuria Parrizas Diaz.

It was her first singles victory since the 2021 French Open, some 14 months ago. The former world number one had played her first singles match in a year during a first round defeat at Wimbledon in June.

“I know there’s a fan fantasy that I might have tied Margaret that day in London, then maybe beat her record in New York, and then at the trophy ceremony say, ‘See ya!’ I get that. It’s a good fantasy,” she wrote.

Margaret Court watches the women’s singles final at Wimbledon last month. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Ash Barty and Serena Williams at the 2018 French Open. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

“But I’m not looking for some ceremonial, final on-court moment. I’m terrible at goodbyes, the world’s worst.”

Another Aussie champion, Ash Barty, also got a mention in Williams’ self-penned article as she revealed how hard she was finding it to walk away.

Barty stunned the tennis world by retiring at age 25 earlier this year.

“I know that a lot of people are excited about and look forward to retiring, and I really wish I felt that way,” Williams wrote. “Ashleigh Barty was number one in the world when she left the sport this March, and I believe she really felt ready to move on. Caroline Wozniacki, who is one of my best friends, felt a sense of relief when she retired in 2020.

“Praise these people, but I’m going to be honest. There is no happiness in this topic for me. I know it’s not the usual thing to say, but I feel a great deal of pain. It’s the hardest thing that I could ever imagine. I hate it. I hate that I have to be at these crossroads. I keep saying to myself, I wish it could be easy for me, but it’s not.”

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Cameron Smith joins LIV Golf, contract, salary, when will he join, latest, updates

Cameron Smith is set to become the latest golf star to default to LIV Golf in a mega-money deal.

Just a day after Australian golfer Cameron Percy let slip that Smith and fellow Aussie Marc Leishman were set to join the breakaway tour, The Telegrpah reported Smith has inked a $AUD140 million deal.

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Smith’s first tournament with the rebel tour is set to be the LIV’s International in Boston which begins September 2.

Despite the report, Smith did not elaborate in his press conference ahead of the FedEx Cup play-offs.

“You know, my goal here is to win the FedExCup Playoffs,” Smith said.

“That’s all I’m here for. If there’s something I need to say regarding the PGA Tour or LIV, it’ll come from Cameron Smith, not Cameron Percy.

“I’m a man of my word and whenever you guys need to know anything, it’ll be said by me.”

Cameron Smith has reportedly signed on with the LIV tour.
Cameron Smith has reportedly signed on with the LIV tour.Source: Getty Images

MORE COVERAGE

Aussie golf’s ‘special’ $3.4m move earns big boost… but Smith wait goes on amid LIV link

‘They want to come back’: The final pieces in Aussie golf’s historic $3.4m shift

However, Smith confirmed he “absolutely” had plans to play in the President’s Cup even though the report claims he’d be with LIV Golf at the time.

After further LIV-related questions, Smith thanked the reporters and walked out of the press conference.

To date, LIV Golf has signed golf stars like Phil Mickelson, Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka, but Smith’s arrival brings more credibility to the competition given he is World Number Two and recently won The Open.

The Australian star declined to comment after winning the Claret Jug but refused to deny it and sent the rumor mill into overdrive.

“I just won the British Open and you’re asking about that? I think that’s pretty- not that good,” Smith said.

Pressed on the matter, the Australian was coy.

“I don’t know, mate. My team around me worries about all that stuff, I’m here to win golf tournaments,” he said.

The Telegraph goes on to state that LIV CEO Greg Norman struck a deal prior to Smith’s famous Open triumph and that an official announcement confirming the latter’s move is not expected until the FedEx Cup play-off series is complete.

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Entertainment

Beckham Peltz family feud: Brooklyn, Nicola in love but Victoria, David clashing with parents

It’s like Miami’s own version of dynasty.

Amid rumors of tension between Victoria Beckham and her new daughter-in-law, Nicola Peltz, Page Six is ​​told the trouble within the Beckham and Peltz clans is more widespread.

“Victoria and Nicola are just collateral damage. It’s not just about two women — it’s two families coming together,” said one highly placed source.

“It’s pretty obvious there’s an issue between the two families. Everybody needs to find their place. They’re just not quite connecting yet.”

The problems are not said to be between Brooklyn, 23, and his new in-laws, billionaire investor Nelson Peltz and his wife, Claudia.

In fact, Nelson’s is offering to back his son-in-law in whatever venture he wants.

According to the source, the chatter in Palm Beach is that the young couple could create their own empire, à la Brooklyn’s parents’ “Brand Beckham”.

It’s believed that Brooklyn and Nicola, a 28-year-old actress, would love to follow in the Beckhams’ footsteps by launching clothing, beauty and perfume lines.

“There is a very deliberate move orchestrated by Nicola and her mom and funded by Nelson. There is a reason why Brooklyn and Nicola are now ‘Peltz Beckham’. It’s all about branding,” the highly-placed source said.

“I think that Nicola and her mom come up with ideas, Nelson can fund anything and he says yes! But for David and Victoria, it has to have some substance.”

Among the Beckham brands are Victoria’s fashion and beauty range, as well as David’s $139 million lifetime deal with Adidas, endorsements including Tudor watches and his own whiskey with Diageo Haig Club.

Earlier this year, the 47-year-old British soccer star, who co-owns the Inter Miami CF team, signed the biggest deal of his life, with Authentic Brands Group (ABG) — which will co-own and manage his global brand , DB Ventures. CNBC reported that the company paid $269 million for a 55 per cent stake.

“The Beckhams are quite old-fashioned. They believe that everyone should make their own way up in the world,” said another source in the know. “Although they’ll always give their kids a leg up in terms of support and endorsement, they famously made Brooklyn work in a cafe to teach him about work ethics and to get some values. They really were keen to support his passion for photography, so they helped him get internships; then he got into cooking, and they’ve supported that.”

The Beckhams were unavailable for comment.

“There are cultural differences between the two families,” the source in the know added.

Reps for Nelson and Nicola did not comment.

Immediately after the wedding, Brooklyn, who has more than 14 million Instagram followers, changed his account handle to @brooklynpeltzbeckham, while Nicola is now @nicolaannepeltzbeckham.

Another family source said: “Brooklyn has become so, so close to the Peltzes, and to Nicola’s dad, especially. For Victoria, who is extremely close to Brooklyn, that has to be difficult.”

And as Brooklyn is close to Victoria, 48, Nicola is said to be just as tight with her mom, Claudia, who reportedly joined her on the movie set of “Lola James,” which Nicola wrote, co-directed and stars in. It’s not yet known when the film will be released.

“Claudia pulls a lot of the family’s strings.” said one Florida society source.

There’s also a bit of snobbery in the mix, according to multiple sources.

“The Peltzes may have thought, (the Beckhams) ‘will be easy’. The Beckhams are just a pop star and a footballer, but they’ve been doing this for 25 years — they’re very astute,” said the Florida society source.

“They can’t be controlled with the Peltz money.”

David’s fortune is now at around $750 million, Page Six is ​​told by an insider. Nelson, meanwhile, is reportedly worth $1.8 billion.

The Daily Mail last month pointed out how the initial love affair between Victoria and Nicola had seemed to cool down.

Back in 2021, Victoria liked 25 of Nicola’s Instagram posts in a three-month period, and Nicola liked 20 of hers in the same time frame.

Now, Victoria hasn’t liked a single post by Nicola since May 27 — but she has been active on the platform, posting photos of her latest fashion designs, as well as of her husband and other children.

While Nicola posted on Instagram from her honeymoon with Brooklyn, spent on a yacht with her family in Italy, Victoria liked none of them.

The newlyweds took Nelson, 80, and Claudia, 67, on their Italian honeymoon.

The Beckhams were holidaying at the same time on another yacht nearby and it was not clear whether the families saw each other.

The young couple wed in April at her family’s $103 million home in Palm Beach, with the bash covered by fashion bible Vogue.

As a sign of just how much the Peltz clan was in control of the wedding, there was reportedly a Wendy’s burger truck at the bash — Nelson is chairman of the board. Said the Palm Beach source: “The wedding was very much a Peltz production.”

Each family had their own table at the lavish reception, while the newlyweds sat at a separate table, Page Six is ​​told.

“Let’s face it, weddings are hard enough, but particularly tough when you’re dealing with two big wealthy, high-profile and complicated families,” said the highly-placed source.

Last Friday, Nicola shared a melodramatic selfie on Instagram in which she appeared to have tears running down her face.

“Sometimes I find it hard to show the sad bits of me,” she wrote, explaining that, growing up in a large family, her “strong parents” had “hammered it into me to not let people bring me down or hurt my heart .”

She then thanked her followers for their support the next day.

“Look, whatever happens, Nicola and Brooklyn are clearly crazy about each other — and that’s what matters right now,” said the source in the know. “Families go through these things, frankly, everyone thinks it will all sort itself out.”

This article was originally published by Page Six and reproduced with permission

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Ken Hinkley contract, David Koch comments, will he coach next year, Port Adelaide, Mark Robinson

AFL 360 co-host Mark Robinson believes Port Adelaide president David Koch “made an error of judgment” with recent comments about the club’s football department.

Koch told FIVEaa this week “every single person’s role” would be assessed at the end of the season, which has seen the Power drop out of finals contention after back-to-back preliminary final runs.

Senior coach Ken Hinkley is contracted until 2023, but a question mark remains over whether he’ll continue in the role, despite Hinkley himself at this stage still expecting to be there next year.

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Koch statement awkward for Hinkley? | 01:36

Koch’s comment, “turn it around or watch out”, drew criticism from Robinson.

“David Koch has been a tremendous president but he made an error of judgment in my opinion by saying what he said,” Robinson posed.

“I don’t think he gets football in the sense where if he knew this was going to be the fallout – that every media organization in Australia is going to be looking at it saying ‘are you going to get rid of him or not’ – that’s not how to treat a guy who has been there for 10 years.

“Just hold the horses a little bit. I think that’s been the fallout from this.”

Robinson labeled the comments “footy-naive”, but added they should not be misinterpreted as a call for prospective coaches to make their intentions known.

“What Koch said yesterday was not an open invitation for Alastair Clarkson’s people to ring the club,” he said.

“I know that’s been floating around … but that’s not my information.”

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Peter Bol in 800m final result, Aussie knew race was compromised

Peter Bol took one look at the start list and knew he wasn’t going to get the race he wanted.

But rather than fret about it he made a decision to overcome it — and he very nearly did in a thrilling men’s 800m final at the Commonwealth Games on Monday morning (AEST).

The 28-year-old was still smiling after he took the silver medal, but there will always be a part of him that looks back at his incredible achievement as “bitter sweet”.

Bol described the race as “strange” and was left lamenting the tactics at play that resulted in the first 500m being run ultra-slow.

It was playing out as he expected — not in his favour.

Bol told reporters after the race he knew it was going to be a slow race because there were no front-runners anywhere on the start list.

It meant he was unable to run the race he wanted as he took just a brief moment to respond when Kenyan Wyclife Kinyamal took off with more than 200m to go. That brief, micro, delay was all it took in the end as Kinyamal, the defending champion, won by just 0.14 seconds in a time of 1:47.52.

It will be particularly painful for Bol to see his time of 1:47.66 after he ran a 1:47.01 in the heats — and a 1:45.51 at the world championships in Oregon last month.

Silver medalist Peter Bol was so close.  Photo by Tom Dulat/Getty Images.
Silver medalist Peter Bol was so close. Photo by Tom Dulat/Getty Images.Source: Getty Images
Peter Bol did us proud. Picture: Michael Klein.Source: News Corp Australia

“Looking at the start list and there’s no front runners out there,” he said.

“So I just knew it was going to be tactical and I knew I just had to come home strong and that’s what I did so I’m happy with that.

“After the first lap, and I’ve been saying it, it’s so tactical… I saw 55 (seconds) and I said to myself, ‘Stay relaxed, stay relaxed’.

“Maybe in 20 more meters I could have got him. But it’s the 800m not the 820m.”

Bol looked like he was about to go up alongside Kinyamal with 50m to run, but he just didn’t have the legs to keep his charge going.

Bol, who became a cult hero en route to his fourth-placed finish at last year’s Olympic final, was hoping to become the first Australian in 40 years to win 800m gold.

“What an environment and atmosphere, so close but will take second today,” Bol told Channel 7. “I’m pretty happy with that, to be honest. It was a strange race again, super slow but the 800m is super tactical.

“I thought, stay relaxed, stay relaxed but he (Kinyamal) is so strong and kept going and going. It’s just racing, I raced the best I could and came up short but … silver medal in the Commonwealth Games, we are second which is really good.

Australian Peter Bol chases down winner Wyclife Kinyamal to win silver. Picture: Michael Klein.Source: News Corp Australia

“We speak of this journey and we have different people from different years, I want to say a massive thanks to my family, especially my parents… I’m so grateful for them. This is for them, this is for my family, this is for the country.

“There’s a kid out there with a Peter Bol sign so definitely for him. I have to go find him.”

Seven commentator Bruce McAvaney said the race started on a “sluggish” note and Tamsyn Manou agreed, adding: “It is slower than we would have liked.”

At the conclusion of the race, Manou said: “Peter Bol did everything he possibly could there, he got into the right position, he covered… when Kinyamal made that move.

“Peter has still done us proud. People expected him to win that gold but we are talking about an athlete (Kinyamal) who is the defending champion and there is nothing more Peter Bol could have done.

“I hope everyone in Australia is very proud of Peter Bol, because we certainly are.”

England’s Ben Pattison was third in 1:48.25sec.

Bol embarrassed the rest of the field in the heats of the men’s 800m with an imperious run on Wednesday. He then had four agonizing days to wait for Monday’s final.

The Olympics finalist won his heat and was the fastest overall qualifier despite pulling up with 50m still to run.

Bol last month had a disappointing run in the world championships final after he became the first Australian man to ever contest an 800m final at the World Champs.

Earlier, Abbey Caldwell produced a huge shock when she collected the bronze in the women’s 1500m. The 21-year-old just nudged out fellow Aussie Linden Hall.

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Andy Lee’s argument with girlfriend Rebecca Harding plays out on-air

Andy Lee may be considered one of the funniest blokes on Aussie TV, but the joke’s been turned on him in an excruciatingly awkward prank call which has played out on radio.

Airing on the Kyle and Jackie O Show Monday morning, the 41-year-old Australian comedian is heard during a phone chat with his long-term girlfriend Rebecca Harding, 31, who tells him she’s signed him up to speak at a charity gig at the last minute.

Things goes south quickly when Lee, who said he left an intense meeting to take Harding’s call, flat-out declines to help.

Here’s how it went down:

Rebecca: i’ve got [bleep] begging me, they’ve had someone pull out [of an event] and they need a celebrity for this thing in the office they’re doing tomorrow night and I said you can do it. It’ll be 15 minutes.

Andy: No. It’s an absolute no. I don’t care how long it is.

A: You’ve just got to auction yourself off for a lunch you’ll go to with one of the girls …

A: (Laughs) No, god no.

A: I’ve told her that you’re doing it and they’ve posted it and told the whole office you’re going.

A: Tell her that I’m undoing it. I’m not doing it.

A: It’ll be good promotion for The 100 [Lee’s show].

A: (Laughs) 80 people … I may as well walk down the street and hand out flyers. I know she can be a persistent friend, but no.

A: I’ve told her you can do it, so you’re doing it. It’ll be 15 minutes tomorrow night.

A: You’ve explained to me the scheduled appointment I’m just not making it.

A: It’s for charity … You’re going to come off as such ad**k if you don’t do it.

A: I’m not af***ing d**k. I never said I’d do it.

A: I said that you can do it; it’s a last minute thing for a friend.

A: Well ring someone else. Get a contestant from MAFS. You can attend with a cardboard cut-out of me.

A: Well then would you do the date?

A: No … What’s the charity?

A: I’m not sure – I didn’t ask.

A: That’s another thing as well, the answer’s no. And we don’t even know what the charity is.

A: It’ll be 15 minutes of your time

A: It’s your problem not mine. Enjoy your problem.

Harding then reveals she was “only lying” and it was all a prank for the Kyle and Jackie O Showto which a dumbfounded Lee responded, “Oh f***ing hell, I cannot believe I’ve failed for this.”

Lee previously pranked Harding in a similar fashion on the show, in which he was heard telling his girlfriend he “regretted” getting their new puppy and that he wanted to get rid of it.

She said she was left “shaking in anger” after the exchange.

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AFL: Pre-season banter made Collingwood’s Isaac Quaynor and Jack Ginnivan best mates

It’s the Collingwood bromance built on banter.

Jack Ginnivan first registered on Isaac Quaynor’s radar when his agent, John Meesen, asked him two years ago to look out for a “cheeky” new draftee and fellow Kapital Sports Group client.

But it wasn’t until this past summer when Ginnivan’s bravado and spunk caught Quaynor’s attention and he began gravitating to him.

Quaynor was mic’d up one pre-season session and, as a small defender, found himself regularly alongside the dangerous goalsneak.

“I was running past him just trying to razz him up a little bit, and he bit back,” he said of Ginnivan.

“We played on each other in a lot of the match simulation stuff towards the end of pre-season and it was always good fun.

“The more games you play, the more comfortable you feel, so when he wasn’t playing AFL football, he was kind of in his shell a little bit, then as his confidence grew he started to express himself in his own unique way.

“He’s a very confident fella out on the field, he’s very talented, he does some freaky things and he talks a lot of crap when he’s out there – and I love that.”

They have become best mates, with Quaynor watching in awe as the 19-year-old transformed into a “national sensation.”

The pair make up half of the Collingwood representation in the 40-man AFL Players’ Association 22 Under 22 squad, alongside Nathan Murphy and Rising Star favorite Nick Daicos.

“The best part is there are four of us this year and there’s a few other boys who could have been in the mix if they’d played a few more games,” Quaynor said.

“It’s an exciting young group we’ve got at the moment.”

But it hasn’t been all smooth sailing for Quaynor and Ginnivan, who were caught up in a TikTok controversy in June after taking part in a social media trend where they rated women on their features and looks.

“You need to learn from the mistakes you make, and I definitely did,” he said.

“As soon as it came to the media and ‘Wrighty’ (football boss Graham Wright) and things like that; I was automatically remorseful and wanted to get that apology video out to try and nip it in the bud.

“It was pretty full-on but sometimes you’ve got to cop a whack to learn some things.”

Quaynor is convinced Collingwood can win this year’s premiership after a barnstorming run of 11 consecutive victories, including six straight by single-digit margins and eight overall.

The extraordinary run comes a year after the Pies finished second-last and sacked coach Nathan Buckley before hiring Craig McRae, who won his players over with a pre-season pledge to be “a man of his word”.

“It’s been a bit of a whirlwind and a great year to date,” Quaynor said.

“I think the way ‘Fly’ (McRae) and the rest of the coaching staff have been able to direct the ship and create this family, winning environment and culture so quickly is pretty special.

“Us young boys are really buying into that and kind of drive that, which really helps as well.”

Voting runs from August 10 to 17 at 22under22.com.au, with the final team announced on August 23 on the AFL’s social media channels

AFLPA 22UNDER22 SQUAD

DEFENDERS

Keidean Coleman (Bris), Isaac Quaynor (Coll), Nathan Murphy (Coll), Nick Daicos (Coll), Hayden Young (Frem), Jordan Clark (Frem), Sam De Koning (Geel), Harrison Petty (Melb), Bailey Scott (NM), Nick Blakey (Syd), Tom McCartin (Syd)

MIDFIELDERS

Sam Berry (Adel), Adam Cerra (Carl), Sam Walsh (Carl), Andrew Brayshaw (Frem), Caleb Serong (Frem), Matt Rowell (GC), Noah Anderson (GC), Tom Green (GWS), Jai Newcombe (Haw), James Jordon (Melb), Connor Rozee (PA), Zak Butters (PA), Chad Warner (Syd), James Rowbottom (Syd), Justin McInerney (Syd), Bailey Smith (WB)

FORWARDS

Darcy Fogarty (Adel), Cameron Rayner (Bris), Jack Ginnivan (Coll), Nic Martin (Ess), Michael Frederick (Fre), Izak Rankine (GC), Kysaiah Pickett (Melb), Max King (StK), Errol Gulden (Syd), Aaron Naughton (WB), Cody Weightman (WB)

RUCKS

Luke Jackson (Melb), Noah Balta (Rich)

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