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News.com.au
37 minutes ago
- News.com.au
New Brisbane Roar marksman Chris Long intent on scoring ‘loads of goals'
New Brisbane Roar striker Chris Long is looking forward to scoring 'loads of goals' for a club desperate to rekindle its past glories. Englishman Long arrived in Queensland on Sunday night ready to lead the Roar's revamped new attack that also includes fellow fresh signings Michael Ruhs and Justin Vidic. 'This opportunity is massive for me – I can't wait for it to get started,' the 30-year-old marksman said. 'I'm in my prime now. It's the best I've ever felt with my body. The A-League's got me at the right time.' Long's move to Australia is a fresh start for him after what he described as a 'tough' few years at English lower league club Crewe Alexandra. 'I've learnt things and I've matured,' he said. 'I want to be part of success here.' Great to have fan favourites Matt McKay, Michael Zullo and Remo Buess in the house for this afternoon's action! ðŸ¦� — Brisbane Roar FC (@brisbaneroar) August 3, 2025 The Roar hasn't tasted success since winning a third A-League title in four seasons in 2014. The club's past few years have been particularly depressing for fans, with Brisbane not having played finals football since 2021 and having been among the competition's also-rans. However, under new coach Michael Valkanis, the club is hopeful of a revival, showing signs of improvement in a 2-2 weekend trial draw with last season's Premier's Plate winners Auckland FC. 'I can't wait to work under him,' Long said of Valkanis. 'There are some really good young players at the club as well. Hopefully, they help me out and I can help them out.' Soon after arriving in Brisbane, Long drove past the club's home ground, Suncorp Stadium, and he liked what he saw. 'The stadium's incredible. I can't wait to score loads of goals there,' the former England youth international said. 'Win football matches – that's the plan.' Long said he had heard nothing but good things about the A-League from three of his countrymen – Zach Clough, Adam Le Fondre and David Ball – who had stints in the competition with Adelaide United, Sydney FC and Wellington Phoenix respectively. 'They had nothing but positive words to say about the league, and that it was the best thing you'll ever do, so I couldn't say no,' he said.
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
‘Infectious': Harry Grant confirms talks with Storm about new deal as rep star weighs in on looming R360 threat
Jahrome Hughes' decision to re-sign with the Storm could prove 'infectious' for the rest of the club's superstar spine, with skipper Harry Grant confirming conversations have started for him to extend his stay beyond 2026. The club locked in the reigning Dally M Medal winner last week on a long-term deal and the attention now shifts to Grant, Ryan Papenhuyzen and Cameron Munster who are the core four who can help them win premierships. 'I think it definitely does (affect my decision) knowing that you've got your halfback and a guy that I've got a really good relationship with on and off the field,' Grant said. 'He takes control of the team, leads the team around the park well and you know he's going to perform week in, week out. 'If you have this within your club, it's pretty infectious and that's what you want to be as a footy team – a footy team that wants to raise the bar and keep getting better.' Grant is signed until the end of 2026 but would be free to negotiate with rivals from November 1 if a deal isn't struck by then. It's something he's not focused on as he prepares to play his 100th game for the club in Thursday's heavyweight showdown with the Broncos, with the Storm desperate to keep the game's best dummy-half. 'Those conversations always happen and they've been happening,' he said. 'It's just when that time's right to sit down and knuckle something down and know what that looks like. 'As a player and a club, we've all got really good relationships in that sense. There have been those conversations happening, but that'll come when the time's right. 'You've just got to be delicate of when that is. 'The main thing at the moment is playing good footy. So for me, it's knowing that I've got to do whatever it takes to perform.' While other clubs would love to have the Queensland and Australia hooker, the emergence of Rugby360 could also mean Grant fields enormous offers to switch codes. 'My old principal when I was in primary school told me I was better suited to rugby union, but I never put my hand up (to play),' he said. 'Everyone is an athlete at the end of the day, and you've seen plenty of guys that have been able to make the switch from rugby union to rugby league, so I don't see why it would be any different. 'If it's in guys' best interests and it's a decision they want to make, then I don't think any player or anyone should hold anything against them in that regard.' Grant said the threat of other codes should lead to the NRL focusing on grassroots footy and looking to develop the future with all the emerging talent out there. It comes amid reports that R360 bosses met with Papenhuyzen in Melbourne last month as they try to pinch as much top-end talent as possible. 'He's a businessman, Paps, so he's probably had meetings with plenty of people,' Grant said, hoping the Storm can keep their spine together for as long as possible. 'You want to keep everyone, you want to keep the squad together. 'As players, we know we're here to perform and to get the best out of ourselves. All that stuff is not a worry that I need to be stressed about or thinking about. 'There's so much trust with the guys up top, so whatever decision is made in terms of the roster, then we're comfortable with that.'
ABC News
an hour ago
- ABC News
Penrith Panthers fined, trainer banned for running in front of crucial Gold Coast Titans conversion attempt
Penrith has been fined a whopping $50,000 and will be without trainer Corey Bocking until the NRL finals after a controversial blunder late in their win over Gold Coast. Half-back Jayden Campbell was incensed when Bocking ran in front of him just as he was lining up for a sideline conversion that could have given the Titans a four-point lead in the final minutes on Saturday. After Campbell missed the shot, Nathan Cleary kicked a two-point field goal that sent the game to extra time, where Blaize Talagi broke the Titans' hearts with the match-winning try. On Monday, the NRL hit the Panthers with a hefty breach notice that factored in the four-time reigning premiers' previous trainer misconduct. Bocking will be suspended for the Panthers' last five games of the regular season, with the club also needing to pay $50,000 — five times the financial penalty of their previous breach. "It is alleged the trainer unnecessarily interfered with and distracted Gold Coast Titans player Jayden Campbell as he was attempting a conversion kick, in breach of the NRL operations manual and NRL code of conduct," an NRL statement said. "The proposed penalty takes into account previous breaches by Penrith Panthers trainers. "The NRL rules permitting club trainers onto the field will be monitored and strictly enforced by the NRL." Panthers coach Ivan Cleary said at full-time that Bocking made "an honest mistake" and had been running to the bench to communicate a late change in substitutions. The club released a statement on Monday afternoon doubling down on this claim. "The club is adamant that the actions of the trainer were an honest mistake and there was no intent to breach the rules or gain an advantage. The trainer immediately apologised upon realising the error," a Panthers spokesperson said. "The circumstances involved a late change and in-the-moment confusion, but we understand that does not excuse the outcome." Penrith is reportedly likely to accept the sanctions as it aims for nine consecutive wins against Newcastle this Friday. The NRL reviews all its rules at the end of each season but currently there are no firm plans to change rules to reward teams that are on the receiving end of similar incidents. Earlier in the season, Penrith was fined $10,000 after trainer Shane Elford squirted water on the ball during a match against North Queensland, who was also fined as its trainer Mitch Dunn did the same thing. The NRL memorably also fined Penrith $25,000 in 2021 when trainer Peter Green requested the semi-final against Parramatta be stopped so he could attend to an injured Mitch Kenny in the final minutes. The Eels had been on the attack at the time and chasing a potentially game-winning try but had their momentum stifled by the stoppage, which was found to have occurred without Green performing a mandatory initial assessment on Kenny. The Panthers held on to win the game and eliminate the Eels from finals contention but lost Green to suspension as they went on to win the 2021 grand final. AAP
