Head belts 76 in final IPL game
Cricket: Australian Travis Head as led the Sunrisers to a big win despite missing finals in the 2025 season.
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News.com.au
35 minutes ago
- News.com.au
‘Load of crap': Senior Broncos players fire back at critics and defend coach Michael Maguire
They've been bashed from pillar to post in the wake of their humbling loss to the Sea Eagles, but senior Broncos players have hit back at suggestions that Michael Maguire's coaching methods aren't working. The Broncos have lost six of their past seven games to drop out of the top eight ahead of a crucial derby against the Titans on Saturday that will double as Adam Reynolds' 300th NRL match. Maguire replaced Kevin Walters this season and brought a hardened edge before a ball was kicked, but that hasn't delivered the results people were expecting with suggestions the players are already burnt out. Critics have called out the playing group for not responding to Maguire's methods, but centre Kotoni Staggs fired back at those claims and urged club bosses to show faith in the experienced coach. 'It's a load of crap,' Staggs said. 'You've got to train hard. It's a very tough sport, and if you don't train hard, I don't think you're going to go far in this competition. 'The training load here is pretty even, and I think any other club is doing the same as what we're doing. 'It's just excuses from outside noise that we can't control, we can just control what's happening within these walls. 'The training's good, the boys are sweet, we come here every day to training trying to turn the results around. 'They're the only people that can get us out of what we what we're going through right now. 'If we let that take control of us, then I guess we won't be able to get ourselves out of where we are.' The off-field drama has provided unwanted headlines ahead of Reynolds' milestone match, with the veteran halfback fed up with the outside noise. 'It's easy to write headlines when you are not winning games,' he said. 'It's external and doesn't mean anything to us. 'The conversations we are having in these four walls are the important ones. 'If you listen to people on the outside, you end up on the outside, so for us we know what we are capable of and what type of football team we have. 'It's easy to write from the outside. Unless they are in these four walls and know what is going on, it is irrelevant to us. 'People can say and write what they want but as a team and a club we are sticking solid and we will get through it. 'We will get a result and see what you write then.'
West Australian
an hour ago
- West Australian
Socceroos Milos Degenek and Ryan Teague wary of Japan despite absence of stars for Perth's World Cup qualifier
It's an inexperienced Japanese team that stands in between the Socceroos and a potential World Cup berth in Perth, but Australian duo Milos Degenek and Ryan Teague won't be taking them lightly. The scene is set for the Socceroos' high-profile clash against the Blue Samurai at Optus Stadium on Thursday night, with an Australian win moving them to the precipice of a sixth consecutive World Cup qualification. Three points over an already-qualified Japan for Australia would mean only an unthinkable thrashing by Saudi Arabia in Jeddah next Thursday would ruin their hopes of direct qualification. Helping Australia's case is Japan having named only seven players with more than 10 international caps in their squad, with overseas stars Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton), Daizen Maida, Reo Hatate (both Celtic), Takumi Minamino (AS Monaco) and Ritsu Doan (SC Freiburg) all omitted. But Degenek said if anything, it made Japan an even more dangerous opponent. 'If I'm going to be really honest, it's even harder for us that those so-called stars are out,' he said. 'The boys that are coming in, whether they're from the J1 League or other clubs in Europe, are going to want to prove to the boss that they should be there at the World Cup. 'It's not going to be a walk in the park and they're going to take this as serious, if not more serious, than any other game, because they want to prove to their coach that they should be a part of that World Cup squad. 'There's no B-team, A-team; it's one country and we all know how good Japan is.' Teague, who only made his international debut in the Socceroos' last game against China, said the enormity of the game was not lost on him and Japan's strength in depth was notable. In the event of a draw or loss to Japan, Australia's match with Saudi Arabia will be a live rubber — provided the Saudis are able to beat or draw with Bahrain in the early hours of Friday morning. 'It's a big game but I don't try to overthink it. Japan's a very good squad, but it's about focusing on ourselves and what we can do to to break them down and beat them,' Teague said. 'We've got another game against Saudi Arabia after; obviously it would be a big win, but the most important thing is preparing and getting ourselves ready for the game against Japan.' 'Any team Japan puts out is going to be very good, very respectable. It's about us focusing on the things that we can control, things that we can do, getting a result, not letting them get through.' Degenek is one of the elder statesmen of the squad, as he nears his 50 cap in the nine years since he debuted. A veteran of two World Cups, the Serbian-based defender said reaching a third one would be incredibly meaningful. 'It'll be even even more special, because I'm not old, but I'm getting older,' he said. 'It's going to be a really special World Cup in the States. They're going to go all out guns blazing, and show the world they've got everything — probably flying taxis and everything will be around at that time.' And Degenek, who has spent most of his career playing in front of intimidating atmospheres in Europe, called on Australian fans to do similar for Thursday night's game. 'It would be a lot nicer when countries come into Australia to play against us, if the crowd was a little bit more hostile, and made them aware that it's Australia; you're here, they're supporting us, and the other countries that come to play here have a disadvantage of any sort,' he said. 'Whether it's just they don't feel well, they don't feel welcome after the travel, after everything, it's how it is. 'I've been around in Europe for a while, when you go to away games, they make you feel it, they make you know you're away.'
Perth Now
an hour ago
- Perth Now
Socceroos won't underestimate threat from undermanned Japan
It's an inexperienced Japanese team that stands in between the Socceroos and a potential World Cup berth in Perth, but Australian duo Milos Degenek and Ryan Teague won't be taking them lightly. The scene is set for the Socceroos' high-profile clash against the Blue Samurai at Optus Stadium on Thursday night, with an Australian win moving them to the precipice of a sixth consecutive World Cup qualification. Three points over an already-qualified Japan for Australia would mean only an unthinkable thrashing by Saudi Arabia in Jeddah next Thursday would ruin their hopes of direct qualification. Helping Australia's case is Japan having named only seven players with more than 10 international caps in their squad, with overseas stars Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton), Daizen Maida, Reo Hatate (both Celtic), Takumi Minamino (AS Monaco) and Ritsu Doan (SC Freiburg) all omitted. But Degenek said if anything, it made Japan an even more dangerous opponent. 'If I'm going to be really honest, it's even harder for us that those so-called stars are out,' he said. 'The boys that are coming in, whether they're from the J1 League or other clubs in Europe, are going to want to prove to the boss that they should be there at the World Cup. 'It's not going to be a walk in the park and they're going to take this as serious, if not more serious, than any other game, because they want to prove to their coach that they should be a part of that World Cup squad. 'There's no B-team, A-team; it's one country and we all know how good Japan is.' Teague, who only made his international debut in the Socceroos' last game against China, said the enormity of the game was not lost on him and Japan's strength in depth was notable. In the event of a draw or loss to Japan, Australia's match with Saudi Arabia will be a live rubber — provided the Saudis are able to beat or draw with Bahrain in the early hours of Friday morning. 'It's a big game but I don't try to overthink it. Japan's a very good squad, but it's about focusing on ourselves and what we can do to to break them down and beat them,' Teague said. Teague was part of the Melbourne Victory side who lost the A-League grand final on the weekend. Credit: Morgan Hancock / Getty Images 'We've got another game against Saudi Arabia after; obviously it would be a big win, but the most important thing is preparing and getting ourselves ready for the game against Japan.' 'Any team Japan puts out is going to be very good, very respectable. It's about us focusing on the things that we can control, things that we can do, getting a result, not letting them get through.' Degenek is one of the elder statesmen of the squad, as he nears his 50 cap in the nine years since he debuted. A veteran of two World Cups, the Serbian-based defender said reaching a third one would be incredibly meaningful. 'It'll be even even more special, because I'm not old, but I'm getting older,' he said. Milos Degenek played in Australia's round of 16 loss to Argentina at the 2022 World Cup. Credit: Michael Steele / Getty Images 'It's going to be a really special World Cup in the States. They're going to go all out guns blazing, and show the world they've got everything — probably flying taxis and everything will be around at that time.' And Degenek, who has spent most of his career playing in front of intimidating atmospheres in Europe, called on Australian fans to do similar for Thursday night's game. 'It would be a lot nicer when countries come into Australia to play against us, if the crowd was a little bit more hostile, and made them aware that it's Australia; you're here, they're supporting us, and the other countries that come to play here have a disadvantage of any sort,' he said. 'Whether it's just they don't feel well, they don't feel welcome after the travel, after everything, it's how it is. 'I've been around in Europe for a while, when you go to away games, they make you feel it, they make you know you're away.'
