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Commonwealth Games 2022: Mum’s drunken celebration on Sunrise, Rugby Sevens, Australia, medal tally

The party is going strong on both sides of the world after Australia’s Commonwealth Games Rugby Sevens gold medal triumph.

Taking to the field just before 6am AEST, the Aussies were unstoppable, leading 22-0 before two late tries gave some respectability to the scoreline in the 22-12 result over Fiji.

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The Commonwealth gold is the final piece of Australia’s trophy cabinet as the side won the 2016 Olympic gold and are the current Rugby Sevens World Series champions.

And while our stars were living it up, those left back at home were also getting in on the celebrations — just ask Richelle Levi.

The mother of the Levi sisters Teagan, 18, and Maddison, 20, was ready for the win, showing up on Channel 7’s Sunriseafter enjoying the spoils of victory.

Asked if the party was going to go on all day, Richelle was clearly already enjoying herself.

“100 per cent, two bottles of champagne already done — woo!” she said.

Sunrise host Natalie Barr and David Koch were in hysterics over the cross to the Gold Coast.

At a bowls club on the Gold Coast, Richelle said: “This is their little club, they used to sit out on that balcony …”

Weatherman Sam Mac added: “…while you were drinking champagne?”

He added: “I feel like the Olympics was all about Dean Boxall (Ariarne Titmus’ coach) in terms of passionate supporter, well I see your Dean Boxall and I raise you Richelle.”

Back in the studio, Edwina Batholemew said: “Imagine winning a gold medal and waking up the next morning with messages, ‘your mum’s on TV, she’s had two bottles of champagne, and she’s a riot”.

However, it wouldn’t be too much of a surprise for the champion sisters who knew their mum was prepared for victory and was even more loose off camera.

“Mum had a bottle of champagne ready at 6 in the morning — she was ready to celebrate and I think she’ll be on it all day celebrating,” a jubilant Maddison Levi said after Australia’s historic maiden Sevens gold medal win over Fiji.

“I don’t know if I can say it on camera (what mum said) but they were definitely happy.

“There were tears of joy. It was a pretty emotional rollercoaster…. they’ve been with us through the highs and lows and to have two kids standing on that podium is pretty awesome.

“They definitely had tears. But lots of swearing, I can confirm.”

Fans may need to remember the Levi name as the duo are set for long careers in the sporting spotlight.

The Levi sisters have been pursued by rugby, AFLW and rugby league, such is their athletic prowess.

Maddison played eight games for the Gold Coast Suns in the AFLW, kicking three goals, before representing Australia at the Tokyo Olympics. Teagan was drafted No. 6 by the Suns in the 2021 Draft before joining the Rugby Sevens tour.

But before the Games, Maddi revealed she would like to try everything.

“AFLW and NRLW is still there, which later down the track we’d love to give a go, but for now our heart is set on sevens,” Maddi told the Sydney Morning Herald.

“In sevens there is so much opportunity and it’s a growing sport. With the Olympics coming up and World Series [tournaments] every year, traveling the world with your best friend … there’s no other sport that compares to that.”

Teagan adds: “Mads has been my best friend since day one. I guess we do fight a little bit, but as we’ve grown older I wouldn’t change it for the world to finally play in an Aussie sevens team together. It’s a dream come true.”

The dream went next level this morning.

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Sports

Socceroos set for busy 2026 World Cup qualifying schedule

The Socceroos’ path to the 2026 World Cup will be a 16-match journey – provided the Australians are among the Asian Football Confederation’s top six qualifiers.

To be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, the 2026 edition of the tournament will expand to include 48 nations.

With 16 more countries to qualify than the 32 at this year’s World Cup, the AFC will have at least eight representatives and a maximum of nine.

Provided, as expected, the Socceroos are at the time among the AFC’s top 25 nations, they will join the race to reach the 2026 World Cup in the second round of the preliminary qualifiers, which is set to start late next year and will involve 36 teams who will be divided into nine groups of four.

Each nation will play six games in a round-robin, home and away format, with the top two from each group – 18 in total – to advance to the stage known as the AFC Asian Qualifiers.

The 18 teams – who will be divided into three groups of six – will play 10 matches in a round-robin, home and away format, with the top two from each group to qualify directly for the World Cup.

The teams finishing third and fourth in each of the three groups will be drawn into two further groups of three and play two matches in a single round-robin format.

Both of the group winners will qualify for the World Cup.

The two second-placed teams will meet in a playoff, with the winner to represent the AFC in an Intercontinental playoff, where a World Cup berth will be up for grabs.

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Categories
Sports

Commonwealth Games 2022: Mum’s drunken celebration on Sunrise, Rugby Sevens, Australia, medal tally

The party is going strong on both sides of the world after Australia’s Commonwealth Games Rugby Sevens gold medal triumph.

Taking to the field just before 6am AEST, the Aussies were unstoppable, leading 22-0 before two late tries gave some respectability to the scoreline in the 22-12 result over Fiji.

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The Commonwealth gold is the final piece of Australia’s trophy cabinet as the side won the 2016 Olympic gold and are the current Rugby Sevens World Series champions.

And while our stars were living it up, those left back at home were also getting in on the celebrations — just ask Richelle Levi.

The mother of the Levi sisters Teagan, 18, and Maddison, 20, was ready for the win, showing up on Channel 7’s Sunriseafter enjoying the spoils of victory.

Asked if the party was going to go on all day, Richelle was clearly already enjoying herself.

“100 per cent, two bottles of champagne already done — woo!” she said.

Sunrise host Natalie Barr and David Koch were in hysterics over the cross to the Gold Coast.

At a bowls club on the Gold Coast, Richelle said: “This is their little club, they used to sit out on that balcony …”

Weatherman Sam Mac added: “…while you were drinking champagne?”

He added: “I feel like the Olympics was all about Dean Boxall (Ariarne Titmus’ coach) in terms of passionate supporter, well I see your Dean Boxall and I raise you Richelle.”

Back in the studio, Edwina Batholemew said: “Imagine winning a gold medal and waking up the next morning with messages, ‘your mum’s on TV, she’s had two bottles of champagne, and she’s a riot”.

However, it wouldn’t be too much of a surprise for the champion sisters who knew their mum was prepared for victory and was even more loose off camera.

“Mum had a bottle of champagne ready at 6 in the morning — she was ready to celebrate and I think she’ll be on it all day celebrating,” a jubilant Maddison Levi said after Australia’s historic maiden Sevens gold medal win over Fiji.

“I don’t know if I can say it on camera (what mum said) but they were definitely happy.

“There were tears of joy. It was a pretty emotional rollercoaster…. they’ve been with us through the highs and lows and to have two kids standing on that podium is pretty awesome.

“They definitely had tears. But lots of swearing, I can confirm.”

Fans may need to remember the Levi name as the duo are set for long careers in the sporting spotlight.

The Levi sisters have been pursued by rugby, AFLW and rugby league, such is their athletic prowess.

Maddison played eight games for the Gold Coast Suns in the AFLW, kicking three goals, before representing Australia at the Tokyo Olympics. Teagan was drafted No. 6 by the Suns in the 2021 Draft before joining the Rugby Sevens tour.

But before the Games, Maddi revealed she would like to try everything.

“AFLW and NRLW is still there, which later down the track we’d love to give a go, but for now our heart is set on sevens,” Maddi told the Sydney Morning Herald.

“In sevens there is so much opportunity and it’s a growing sport. With the Olympics coming up and World Series [tournaments] every year, traveling the world with your best friend … there’s no other sport that compares to that.”

Teagan adds: “Mads has been my best friend since day one. I guess we do fight a little bit, but as we’ve grown older I wouldn’t change it for the world to finally play in an Aussie sevens team together. It’s a dream come true.”

The dream went next level this morning.

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Sports

David Klemmer Eels transfer blocked, mid-season move, Knights prop, Parramatta Eels, Newcastle Knights, loan deal, transfers, contracts, news

The Parramatta Eels reportedly were blocked in their attempts to sign Knights enforcer David Klemmer for the remainder of the 2022 season on a loan deal.

Reports circled Sea Eagles prop Marty Taupau would make the short move, but that play was rejected by Manly coach Des Hasler.

Brad Arthur then turned his attention elsewhere in a bid to secure a front rower before the August 1 deadline but Knights powerbrokers also denied the request according to The Daily Telegraph’s Buzz Rothfield.

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“They contacted Clint Zammit, who took it to Adam O’Brien and the senior management at the Knights… they made the decision, and they made it about an hour ago that they would not realize him,” Rothfield said on NRL360.

Rothfield revealed there were a number of sticking points that were unable to be negotiated, including the length of the deal.

The Eels reportedly wanted Klemmer on a short-term loan, but the bustling prop wanted a longer contract to extend his stay at Parramatta past 2022.

“I think there were too many issues involved in the deal, David Klemmer, to join Parramatta for these five games, wanted two years, not just the last year of his contract,” Rothfield said.

“And there were a lot of things like this they couldn’t sort their way through.”

Is O’Brien under pressure at Knights? | 05:59

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“So he would have gone for the remainder of this season and then another couple of seasons on top of that,” Fox League’s James Hooper said.

While the 28-year-old has been one of Newcastle’s best in 2022, Rothfield believes a move for Klemmer was entertained by Newcastle powerbrokers and could have been finalized.

Knights coach Adam O’Brien was said to have met with club bosses on Monday afternoon who reportedly “wouldn’t have fought too hard to keep him”.

“I can’t sit here and say that definitely, but what I am hearing within the club they wouldn’t have fought too hard to keep him,” Rothfield said.

“If the right deal could have been done, why would that have been? He is only 28, he has been around, he has played Origin, he has played Test matches.

V’landys moves transfer deadline | 03:02

“I think there is a feeling around the club that Klemmer hasn’t fitted into game plans like they’d probably hope he had had this year.

“That he might take one or two too many carries each half, when Joey has trained them during the week to switch it or spin it or whatever.

“I just think he can be a hard guy to coach, and that is why I am saying that I don’t think they would have tried overly hard, they wouldn’t have kicked him out the door, but that is why they entertained it today.”

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Sports

Fernando Alonso signs for Aston Martin in 2023, news, latest, Sebastian Vettel retirement, Formula One, Oscar Piastri

Fernando Alonso will join Aston Martin from 2023, clearing the way for Oscar Piastri to make his full-time debut next season.

Alonso made the shock announcement on Monday, confirming the switch on a multiyear deal starting in 2023.

The two-time champion said he was convinced the team, currently ninth in the standings with 20 points, less than half his own current tally, was capable of success during his contract term.

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“This Aston Martin team is clearly applying the energy and commitment to win, and it is therefore one of the most exciting teams in Formula 1 today,” he said. “I have known Lawrence [Stroll] and Lance [Stroll] for many years and it is very obvious that they have the ambition and passion to succeed in Formula 1.

“I have watched as the team has systematically attracted great people with winning pedigrees, and I have become aware of the huge commitment to new facilities and resources at Silverstone.

“No-one in Formula 1 today is demonstrating a greater vision and absolute commitment to winning, and that makes it a really exciting opportunity for me.”

Alonso had signaled he wanted to stay with Alpine for at least two more seasons, but the French team was reportedly prepared to offer him only one more year before shifting his to sportscars to avoid losing Aussie junior Piastri to a rival constructor.

The Spaniard, who said he returned to the sport last year to fight for a third championship, said he wasn’t prepared to give up on his long-held goal.

“I still have the hunger and ambition to fight to be at the front, and I want to be part of an organization that is committed to learn, develop and succeed,” he said. “I intend to win again in this sport and therefore I have to take the opportunities that feel right to me.”

‘CRAZY’: Mad Max stunner rocks Ferrari after ANOTHER ‘incredible’ F1 ‘disaster’

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‘He f****** hit me’ – Dan & Stroll crash | 00:32

His defection paves the way for Aussie young gun Oscar Piastri to be promoted to his seat alongside Esteban Ocon next year.

Piastri will be the second full-time Australian driver on the grid alongside Daniel Ricciardo.

The team has been agonizing over Alonso’s future knowing that the Mark Webber-led Piastri was determined to see the reining F2 champion in a competitive seat as early as possible.

As recently as last week the team was talking publicly about loaning Piastri, most likely to backmarking the Williams team. Webber was meanwhile rumored to be attempting to engineer a switch to Ricciardo’s McLaren seat despite the senior Aussie being under contract.

Alpine is yet to comment on Alonso’s announcement.

Leclerc burnt by ANOTHER Ferrari blunder | 01:14

Aston Martin team owner Lawrence Stroll said Alonso’s signature was a vote of confidence in his team’s plans to move forward on the grid.

“I have known and admired Fernando for many years and it has always been clear that he is a committed winner like me,” he said. “I have set out to bring together the best people and develop the right resources and organization to succeed in this highly competitive sport, and those plans are now taking shape at Silverstone.

“It seemed natural therefore to invite Fernando to be part of the development of a winning team, and we very quickly established in our recent conversations that we have the same ambitions and values, and it was logical and easy to confirm our desire to work together. .”

Alonso is replacing four-time champion Sebastian Vettel, who announced his end-of-year retirement from the sport last week.

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Business

Elon Musk’s dad Errol Musk gives savage Kyle and Jackie O interview

Elon Musk’s 76-year-old father has given a stunning interview to Australian radio, taking aim at his tech billionaire son and opening up about his controversial relationship with his 34-year-old stepdaughter.

South Africa-born and based Errol Musk, who has seven children including two with his stepdaughter from a second marriage, Jana, spoke with KIIS FM’s Kyle and Jackie O this morning in a bizarre 20-minute interview, in which he dismissed his son’s success .

“Your offspring is a genius. He’s worth so much money and has created so many things, you can’t take that away from him. Are you proud? Jackie O asked.

“Nope. You know, we are a family that have been doing a lot of things for a long time, it’s not as if we suddenly started doing something,” Errol replied.

Elon is his eldest son with his ex-wife, model Maye Musk, who joined the Tesla CEO at the Met Gala this year. Maye and Errol also share are Kimbal and daughter Tosca.

Errol said his billionaire son feels as though he is running behind schedule in his career achievements. The father agreed with that sentiment.

“He is frustrated with progress and it’s understandable,” he said.

“I know it sounds crazy, but we tend to think like that as a family. He’s 50 now and I still think of him as a little boy. But he’s 50, I mean he’s an old man.

He went on to sledge his son’s body and diet while discussing recent shirtless photos of Elon on a yacht in Greece.

“Elon is very strongly built but he’s been eating badly,” he said, adding that he’s recommended a supplement called garcinia cambogia, which supposedly aids weight loss without additional exercise or dieting, to his son.

Jackie O then asked if the South African engineer drove a Tesla, to which he replied he instead drove a Bentley, Rolls Royce and Mercedes. He then told the hosts it was Elon’s younger brother Kimbal who was his “pride and joy” about him.

Asked about marrying his 34-year-old stepdaughter Jana Bezuidenhout – who he had raised since she was four and now shares two young children with – Errol said the relationship was “completely normal”.

Last month, the 76-year-old revealed he had had a daughter with Ms Bezuidenhout in 2019, a year after they had their first child, Elliot Rush, now aged five. The children do not live with their biological father, with Errol telling The Sun they “get on their nerves” when they visit.

He refused to rule out having even more children, however, saying: “The only thing we are on Earth for is to reproduce.”

According to The SunElon finds his dad’s relationship with Jana “creepy”.

Recently, it emerged Elon welcomed twins last November with a senior executive at one of his companies, 36-year-old Shivon Zilis.

The twins were born just a few weeks before Musk had a second child via surrogate with his on-off girlfriend, Canadian pop star Grimes.

The father-of-nine also has five children with his first wife, Canadian author Justine Musk.

Read related topics:Elon Musk

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The pain behind Andrew Fifita’s emotional celebration

Sharks veteran Andrew Fifita couldn’t hear the home crowd chanting his name on Saturday night when he crashed over for a try that was eerily similar to the one he scored in the 2016 grand final.

And while he would have loved to have heard the support from the Cronulla faithful, the only support he’s really cared about over the past 12 months has been from his partner who has been there for him after the scariest moment of their lives.

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The Sharks should finish in the top four thanks to Andrew Fifita's try.  Picture: Matt King/Getty Images
The Sharks should finish in the top four thanks to Andrew Fifita’s try. Picture: Matt King/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images

Fifita suffered a shocking throat injury and spent several days in an induced coma last season, but before he got to the hospital, he messaged his wife telling her that he didn’t think he’d survive.

“That’s why I was a lot more emotional when I went over,” he said of his special celebration.

“It’s been a long time, especially for my missus. What she went through, especially in this round, that’s why it felt way more emotional. I think the excitement got the better of me and I started pointing at her saying, ‘See, you don’t believe me’.

“It did get the better of me.

“It’s Women in League round so I wanted to do this for her, but she didn’t believe me. I told her I was going to go over – I had a feeling – and it came true.”

Saturday’s try was the first time Fifita had scored in the NRL since 2020, and it brought back memories of his legendary four-pointer against the Storm in the 2016 decider.

Andrew Fifita scored the most famous try in Sharks history. Picture: Phil HillyardSource: Supplied

That one was in the 68th minute, while this one was a few seconds earlier, and it could prove telling for Cronulla’s top-four hopes.

But can you compare them?

“Por favor. That was the best try in the club’s history so it won’t go near it. I’m just grateful to get over the paint,” he said.

It’s been a long road back for Fifita, who doesn’t play the big minutes he used to.

But if he can chime in with big plays in clutch moments, then he looms as a wildcard for their premiership push.

“That was vintage Andrew,” skipper Wade Graham said.

“He’s worked hard and he’s a great character to have around the place with how much care he has for the team and the club.

“When he has energy, the team has energy – not just the team – but the club as well. You heard the crowd after the try chanting his name from him. ”

Those chants were so loud that you would’ve been able to hear them through the TV even if you had it on mute, yet there was one person who missed it.

“I honestly didn’t hear it,” Fifita said.

Cronulla Sharks press conference | 08:39

“Everyone was saying it, but I sh*t you not, I was saying to the boys ‘what do you mean Andrew chant’.

“When you’re out there it’s different, so you can’t really hear the crowd. You hear them roaring, but I didn’t hear it, and that’s what everyone was saying. I came in here and Dale (Finucane) was going ‘Andrew’.

“I’m grateful. At least I’ve left my touch on here, so I’m all good.”

The try caps a difficult couple of years for Fifita, who spent time in reserve grade playing with the Jets but will now need to step up with Royce Hunt likely to miss a few weeks with a shoulder injury.

“I wanted to play, and I’m forever grateful for Newtown because they brought the love of footy back in for me,” he said.

“Playing big minutes and having some fun on the ball, it was just one of those times.

“Did I think I’d get back? I knew I’d get back to the NRL – that was always there – but the thing for me was about getting back after the accident.”

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Sports

AFL: Melbourne captain Max Gawn doesn’t think Luke Jackson will leave the Demons for Fremantle

Melbourne captain Max Gawn is confident his premiership teammate Luke Jackson will knock back a huge offer to join Fremantle, declaring the young ruckman was the “happiest person out there” after the Demons took down the Dockers last Friday night.

Jackson, who is from Perth, has put off contract talks until the end of the season amid rampant speculation he’s headed back to Western Australia, and the Dockers, on a monster deal.

Local fans taunted the Melbourne players last Friday night by hanging a Fremantle jersey with “Jackson” written on it over the race. The jersey was snatched and then thrown away by Jackson’s teammate Jake Melksham.

On Monday, Gawn conceded his opinion was going against the grain of what most were saying about Jackson, but he thought the 20-year-old would remain at the Demons.

“Luke’s a talent and he’s got every right, as every player does, to look at any offer that’s coming his way,” Gawn told reporters on Monday.

“I’m pretty confident he’s going to be a Melbourne player still and I know that’s very far from what the consensus is out in the media.

“He was the happiest person I’ve ever seen (last Friday night) beating Fremantle, who is the team that he’s supposed to be going to.

“He seemed the happiest person out there.”

Jackson was the center of attention from the moment he touched down in Perth last week, but Gawn joked the youngster was the “best character” to handle it.

“I actually think he doesn’t know he’s out of contract,” Gawn said.

“That little bit helps him. He does n’t read anything, he does n’t look at anything, he just continues on his merry way and I think his performances by him are showing that.

“If you go out there and watch him, he doesn’t look like he’s over-thinking. He’s just out there playing football.”

Last week, Melbourne re-signed midfield star Angus Brayshaw to a six-year deal having also secured best and fairest Clayton Oliver on an on long-term contract.

Jackson, however, remains the No.1 priority and Gawn said he was hopeful of continuing to build on the partnership they had formed, on and off the field, since the youngster arrived at the Demons in the 2019 draft.

“I love playing with him, I love being his leader, I love being his friend, I love coaching him and I love seeing little bits that I’ve told him during the week come out on game day,” Gawn said.

“I’m really excited, especially for the next seven weeks, to play with Luke and then hopefully for the next few years.”

Read related topics:melbourne

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Pre-season games, Manchester United, Cristiano Ronaldo, contract, transfer, rumours, updates

Cristiano Ronaldo played 45 minutes as he made his first Manchester United appearance in 12 weeks during a 1-1 pre-season draw with Rayo Vallecano at Old Trafford and later proclaimed: “Happy to be back”.

The 37-year-old Portugal forward, who missed the club’s pre-season tour to Thailand and Australia for personal reasons, reportedly wants to leave the club he rejoined last year.

Former Real Madrid and Juventus star Ronaldo finished as United’s top scorer last season with 24 goals.

Ronaldo returns to Manchester at last | 00:36

But the campaign as a whole was a huge disappointment for the club, with a sixth-place finish in the Premier League meaning they missed out on qualification for the Champions League.

Ronaldo was left out of United’s squad for Saturday’s friendly with Atletico Madrid in Oslo.

But, commenting on a post on a fan page about him missing the game in Norway, Ronaldo wrote Friday: “Domingo o rei joga” which translates as “Sunday the king plays”.

Ronaldo applauded fans on both sides of the ground as he led the team out for their pre-match warm-up on Sunday.

The veteran forward had one clear chance during his 45-minute appearance but drove over the bar after running on to Donny van de Beek’s lay-off.

LATEST ON RONALDO: Man Utd star chases stunning reunion with Sporting Lisbon

Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United during the Pre-Season Friendly match.  (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)
Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United during the Pre-Season Friendly match. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

After the match, Ronaldo posted a photograph of himself playing in the game on his Twitter feed beneath a caption of “Happy to be back”.

“I cannot tell at this moment [how fit Ronaldo is],” Manchester United coach Erik ten Hag said pre-game.

“He is not on the level of the rest of the squad because he has missed a lot of weeks.

“But he needs games and he needs training, a lot.”

New signings Christian Eriksen and Lisandro Martinez both featured for an hour in a game set up by Ten Hag for the players who did not have major roles in Saturday’s 1-0 defeat by Atletico.

Amad Diallo, who was on loan at Rangers last season, gave United the lead early in the second half when the 20-year-old Ivory Coast winger fired in the rebound after a shot from Alex Telles had been saved.

United’s lead, however, lasted just nine minutes before Alvaro Garcia equalized in similar fashion after Tom Heaton had saved Isaac Palazon Camacho’s initial effort.

United start their Premier League campaign at home to Brighton on August 7.

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Canberra Raiders hero Jamal Fogarty not bitter over Titans axing

After putting his former club to the sword, Canberra half Jamal Fogarty said he had “no regrets” about leaving the last-placed Titans and has pleaded with the Gold Coast to have patience with rookie No.7 Toby Sexton.

Fogarty, who played 41 games for the Gold Coast, was superb for the Raiders in the 36-24 win over the Titans. He set up a crucial try when the game was in the balance and combined superbly with halves partner Jack Wighton to keep Canberra’s finals hopes alive.

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Sexton and the Titans spine was unable to ice key moments, causing coach Justin Holbrook to say that “Kieran (Foran) can’t get here quick enough”, in reference to the Manly star’s impending arrival in 2023.

The Titans parted ways with Fogarty at the end of last year and allowed him to sign with the Raiders after backing 21-year-old Sexton to be their main man in the seven jersey.

That decision has been a flop, but Fogarty said he had no bitterness towards the Gold Coast.

“There are no regrets,” the 28-year-old said.

“I’ll be totally honest. When I signed at the (Titans) they told me day one Toby was going to be their halfback moving forward. It was just going to be a matter of when.

“Once they said Tobes was ready to take over it was ‘sweet, where is the best option for me to keep playing?’

Jamal Fogarty says the Titans should show some faith in Toby Sexton. Picture: Mark Nolan/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

“I am not bitter towards the club or any of the players. I am just grateful that Sticky (Ricky Stuart) and the Canberra boys have given me the opportunity to keep playing NRL because it took me so long to get here. I had to look after myself first.

“Moving forward I hope all the Gold Coast supporters give Tobes a bit of time and give him a bit of love and credit. He’s had two years where it has been Covid.

“He has come straight out of school, hasn’t played any footy, and obviously it was going to be tough for him to play a full season of halfback. He is going to be a 10 or 12-year player for the club and play 200 games for them.”

The Raiders are in ninth position on the ladder on 22 points and just outside the eight on for and against.

Fogarty, who has won five of eight games for the Raiders after overcoming injury, is building his combination with Wighton.

“People on the outside don’t realize we’ve played just five games together,” Fogarty said.

“Two of those weeks he was in Origin camp. He came back for captain’s run after I’d trained all week with Matt Frawley… so we were learning on the run in captain’s run. Another time he had Covid and it was very similar.

“The last weeks we’ve been able to have a full week of preparation and we are finding a groove. I think we are heading in the right direction at the right time of the season whether they are good wins or ugly wins.”

The selfless Fogarty said the win over the Titans was not about him, but it still felt weird.

“It is obviously different in the away sheds, to start off with. It is the first time I have come to the stadium on a bus as well,” he said.

“I spoke to the boys every week that it is just about us. When we focus on ourselves we play our best style of footy.”

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