NRL 2025 LIVE: Dragons host Knights to kick off round 13
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7.34pm
Origin I the most watched show of 2025
By Adrian Proszenko
The opening State of Origin match was the most watched TV program of the year after an 11.2 per cent spike in viewership from the corresponding match last year.
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A national average audience of 3.755 million tuned in to watch NSW take a 1-0 lead in the series – a figure 38 per cent more than the next most-watched program of 2025, ABC's election coverage. The Blues' 18-6 victory was the highest-rating interstate clash since 2016 after it secured a national total television reach of 5.449 million.
The game broke streaming records for Nine Now, attracting 963,000 viewers, beating the previous record by 11 per cent. That makes it the second-highest rating BVOD (Broadcast Video on Demand) program of all time after a 26.7 per cent rise on last year's Origin series opener.
7.21pm
Dragons v Knights team lists
Dragons
Former Australian Sevens star Nathan Lawson will make his NRL debut on the wing for the Dragons. Toby Couchman and Blake Lawrie replace Jack de Belin and Luciano Leilua in the starting pack. Valentine Holmes will back up from Origin I.
1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Tyrell Sloan 3. Moses Suli 4. Valentine Holmes 21. Nathan Lawson 6. Lyhkan King-Togia 7. Kyle Flanagan 17. Blake Lawrie 9. Damien Cook 10. David Klemmer 15. Toby Couchman 12. Jaydn Su'A 13. Hamish Stewart.
Bench: 8. Jack de Belin 11. Luciano Leilua 14. Jacob Liddle 16. Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga
Knights
Kalyn Ponga is a late out for Newcastle after playing in State of Origin on Wednesday night. Fletcher Sharpe moves to fullback with Jack Cogger joining Tyson Gamble in the halves.
6. Fletcher Sharpe 2. James Schiller 3. Dane Gagai 4. Kyle McCarthy 5. Fletcher Hunt 18. Jack Cogger 7. Tyson Gamble 8. Tyson Frizell 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Leo Thompson 11. Dylan Lucas 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Mathew Croker.
Bench: 14. Jayden Brailey 15. Jack Hetherington 16. Brodie Jones 17. Thomas Cant
7.21pm
Welcome
Hello and welcome to our coverage of Friday night footy, with St George Illawarra taking on the Knights at Jubilee Stadium.
We've already had two doses of State of Origin this week, with the NSW men getting the job done in Brisbane on Wednesday before the Queensland women prevailed in Newcastle on Thursday, and now round 13 of the NRL season kicks off with an intriguing battle of two last-start winners.
Shane Flanagan's Dragons had made an impressive start to the season before a three-game losing streak against the Roosters, Tigers and Warriors, but bounced back to stun the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium ahead of last week's bye.
Newcastle meanwhile had lost seven of their past eight games before last week's win over Penrith in Bathurst.
Which of these bottom-eight sides will put together back-to-back wins and get their campaign back on track?
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News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
Wyong preview, best bets, inside mail for Sunday, June 8, 2025
If only Hall Of Famer Clarry Conners could count on the equine Iceman as much as he did his two-legged namesake, he would be sure of tallying up his 150th career win at Wyong. Conners, a four-time Golden Slipper-winning trainer among other things — bought, part-owns and of course trains Iceman. It was only natural that we asked him if his name is a tribute to the Champion trans-Tasman jockey Grant Cooksley — aka 'The Iceman'. 'I wish he was,' Conners joked. 'But no, he was a pretty easy horse to name after his mother (Ice Girl). Mention Conners, and the first jockey that comes to mind is Shane Dye, but it was in fact Cooksley who holds the singular honour and distinction as judged by Conners himself. Photo! ðŸ'¸ Iceman gets there in a photo for Clarry Conners and Andrew Adkins! @aus_turf_club â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 16, 2024 The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. 'Grant Cooksley rode the best horse I ever had,' Conners said. 'And Cooksley reckons he was the best horse he ever rode. 'I'll never forget him.' That horse is Mouawad. A year younger brother to Octagonal, Mouawad won seven of his eight career starts and was widely acknowledged as a certainty-beaten at the other in mid-January, 1997 at Royal Randwick. 'He was on the fence and he never got out,' Conners recalled. After that, Mouawad and Cooksley were never beaten, sweeping the Debonair, Australian Guineas, Futurity Stakes and George Ryder in succession. Then a sensation. 'He was the favourite for the Doncaster but the day before, he bumped himself in the pool, it was nothing but the owners decided to send him to stud which was stupid,' Conners said. Mouawad served 32 mares in the spring 1997 but 29 of the mares failed to go in foal. The three that did, all delivered dead foals. With his stud seemingly over before it started, a racetrack return was on the radar. 'I tried to buy him back and I ran out of money,' Conners explained. 'I formed a syndicate for half a million dollars and that was as far as we were going to go and then Y. P Cheng from Domeland bought him for $550,000 and took him to China to go to stud. 'If you can work that out, I can't.' Conners, meanwhile, has had his work cut out working the somewhat enigmatic Iceman out but is getting there. 'He is still a work in progress,' Conners said. 'He is a bit of a dumb horse. I put the nose-roll on him because he gets his head up and he's looking around but the penny will drop one day I hope.' The nose-roll has, it seems, to be propelling Iceman closer to adding to his single Warwick Farm victory with back-to-back thirds, one of them unlucky, during May ahead on his quest in The Enterance Leagues Club Class 1 Handicap (1600m). 'His last two runs have been pretty good and he has drawn a barrier so that will help a little bit,' he said. 'It is a nice race for him on Sunday.' SHAYNE O'CASS' TOP SELECTIONS BEST BET Race 2 No. 10: RAINBOW GODDESS Daughter of Zanbagh placed at four of eight starts in superior company, most times. NEXT BEST Race 1 No. 1: GOLDEN STRAAND Blue blooded Snitzel colt in the Gerry Harvey colours. Trialled well enough to win. VALUE BET Race 6 No. 3: MIZELLA Kim Waugh-trained local who looks ready and able to see out the 2000m now. QUADDIE Race 5: 3, 9, 11, 12 Race 6: 3 Race 7: 2, 4, 9 Race 8: 5, 8 JOCKEY TO FOLLOW ALYSHA COLLETT has a decent book and will be popular with punters across the day. INSIDE MAIL - WYONG RACE 1: EZY PROJECTS - BUILDING MADE EASY MAIDEN HANDICAP 1100m GOLDEN STRAAND (1) is a Gerry Harvey-owned and bred colt by Snitzel out of Kryptelon who was a nine-time winner including the Gai Waterhouse Classic at Ipswich. A half to VRC Sires' placegetter, Fling, this colt has trialled well enough to suggest a winning debut is well within reason. SWEXAN (2) is bred to get two miles (his dam is by Melbourne Cup placegetter Jakkalberry) but could easily run well here on debut. RAINBOW GODDESS (10) is a valuable daughter of Exceed And Excel out of Zanbagh who was well known to this mare's owners, the Taits, and trainer John Thompson. Rainbow Goddess has placed at half of her four starts, three of them seconds. Been in much better races than this one. INNCOURT (1) makes his Australian debut off two recent trials, winning the last one over 1200m. Miler but could run well fresh. PRATT (2) had three starts for Chris Waller prior to him changing hands for $45,000 online in Feb, 2025. The now Mark Minervini-trained three-year-old had trialled well prior to his booming three-and-a-quarter length win at Newcastle on May 26. Can't vouch for the beaten brigade but he thrashed them just the same. HARLEX (1), who shares the same third dam as Yes Yes Yes and In Her Time, has come up with a favourable draw here. Ran well in a deep Class 1 on Scone Cup Day. BRAVE CALL (1) was $17 into $14 when he made his Australian debut at Scone on Cup Day. The Kris Lees-trained gelding had the race snatched away right on the line by one of the locals. Mile again here, drawn 3 compared to 14 at Scone. Beautiful race for him. DIAMOND SHOW (4), a mare in-bred to Eight Carat no less, was miles too good when she won at Hawkesbury over the mile at Hawkesbury third-up. Only one word to describe her, progressive. ICEMAN (3) has claims. MATETE (3) is a son of Dundeel out of Kimillsy who, like Matete, was trained by Kim Waugh for husband Mark and others. Matete's resume says he is unplaced in his four career starts but two are fourths, two are fifths and pretty respectable they were too. REVERBERATES (12) is a very well-bred Brad Widdup-trained filly who chased home an even better bred Brad Widdup mare, Diamond Show (see above) in that mile maiden. Peaking for this and hard to beat. Bet: Matete to win, quinella 3,12 box trifecta 3, 9, 11, 12 MIZELLA (3) is a Kim Waugh-trained local by Winx's soon to be 2025 spring partner, Too Darn Hot. Mizella has won three of her 12 starts. Those wins were at 1000m, 1500m and 1600m which is a nod to her versatility but 2000m here looks both suitable and doable. Dundeel gelding WHETU (2) has raced at Wyong twice and won both times. One of them was over 2000m and he won by three-and-a-half lengths. Rock hard fit. Bet: Mizella to win, box trifecta 2, 3, 6, 8, DD 1st Leg 3, 2nd Leg 5 RACE 7: SCAPE PROPERTIES CG&E BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP 1200m FRENCH MARINE (2) is a rising eight-year-old and just two starts shy of 50. That said, the Kris Lees-trained son of Epaulette posted his seventh career win at Newcastle this time on May 26 and it would have to rank right up there with one of his easiest. Just need some luck late from the rails draw maybe. Not so DIVINE BENE (4). He can be counted on to be right up there on the speed throughout. Purpose-built for these Central Coast tracks. Bet: French Marine to win, quinella 2, 4, box trifecta 1, 2, 4, 9 COCO DREAMING (5) has one win and three seconds from her eight starts but to be fair to the mare, she could have at least one or two more wins added to the present tally had it not been for circumstances beyond her control. We know that when she does have even luck, how good she can be. Keep in mind that the Angela Davies-trained chestnut has raced at Wyong twice for a win and a second. The last preparation of CANDY WOMAN (8) was short and a wee-bit sour but she is handy and the trial the other day was a sweet one. Bet: Coco Dreaming to win, quinella/exacta 5, 8 BEST BETS WYONG BEST BET R2 No.10: Rainbow Goddess Daughter of Zanbagh placed at four of eight starts in superior company, most times. NEXT BEST R1 No.1: Golden Straand Blue-blooded Snitzel colt in the Gerry Harvey colours. Trialled well enough to win. BEST VALUE R6 No.3: Mizella Kim Waugh-trained local who looks ready and able to see out the 2000m now. QUADDIE Race 5: 3,9,11,12 Race 6: 3 Race 7: 2,4,9 Race 8: 5,8
West Australian
2 hours ago
- West Australian
Best buds: how Opetaia and Crawford hit it off
The two-way respect earned in an evening with Terence 'Bud' Crawford could pay off in the form of a Las Vegas stadium unification blockbuster for Jai Opetaia. Australian cruiserweight Opetaia (27-0) defends his IBF and The Ring belts on the Gold Coast on Sunday against Italian knockout artist Claudio Squeo (17-0). If successful he'll then accelerate his push for more belts, a quest dating back almost three years since his upset win against Mairis Briedis despite breaking his jaw in two places. Gilberto 'Zurdo' Ramirez will defend his WBA and WBO belts later this month and is Opetaia's target, potentially on the undercard to Crawford's super-fight against Canelo Alvarez at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on September 25. Crawford, who took Jeff Horn's welterweight title in 2018, will aim to become a five-weight world champion and the first undisputed three-weight champion. Opetaia has never fought in the United States but has earnt a reputation in the UK and has Saudi billionaire and boxing supremo Turki Alalshikh in his corner after a series of pulverising knockout wins in both countries. Manager Mick Francis plans to head to the United States after Sunday's fight to pursue a deal, buoyed after a meeting with future Hall of Famer Crawford on the Gold Coast last week. "After dealing with him, he's a real one of the sport and he realised I was too," Opetaia told AAP of his time with Crawford on the American's promotional tour. "He knows who I am, for the right reasons." Crawford, among the world's top pound-for-pound talents, defied the poverty, crime and violence associated with his Omaha upbringing and now operates a not-for-profit gym there. NSW-born Opetaia has enjoyed recent visits to conduct junior clinics in Samoa, a heritage he celebrates heavily on fight nights. "There's a lot of similarities in how he thinks, it was refreshing to hear his take," Opetaia said. "I've looked up to him, now we're both up there, rubbing shoulders on the same stage. "I'm telling you. Canelo-Crawford, with me and Zurdo on the undercard ... 100 per cent. "We can't get comfortable, though." That's because a shock loss to the unfancied but dangerous Squeo would up-end all those plans. But Opetaia, who qualified for the Olympics as a 16-year-old and fought at the London 2012 Games at 17, has never got ahead of himself. A fourth generation boxer on his dad's side and third generation on his mum's, Opetaia can't remember a time he wasn't near a ring. "It wasn't a specific moment; I grew up in it, it was life," he said. "Training, boxing, sparring and punching on. "When I was a little boy I'd go for runs before school then the gym straight after. "There was no homework for me. My homework was training. "That's what's pushing me for the unification fights so much. "I'm always pushing up, my whole life just wanting to win, win." The Convention Centre card also features Brisbane-based Irish light heavyweight world title prospect Conor Wallace, rejuvenated super welterweight Ben Mahoney, and entertaining Paris Olympic heavyweight Teremoana Teremoana.
Perth Now
2 hours ago
- Perth Now
Best buds: how Opetaia and Crawford hit it off
The two-way respect earned in an evening with Terence 'Bud' Crawford could pay off in the form of a Las Vegas stadium unification blockbuster for Jai Opetaia. Australian cruiserweight Opetaia (27-0) defends his IBF and The Ring belts on the Gold Coast on Sunday against Italian knockout artist Claudio Squeo (17-0). If successful he'll then accelerate his push for more belts, a quest dating back almost three years since his upset win against Mairis Briedis despite breaking his jaw in two places. Gilberto 'Zurdo' Ramirez will defend his WBA and WBO belts later this month and is Opetaia's target, potentially on the undercard to Crawford's super-fight against Canelo Alvarez at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on September 25. Crawford, who took Jeff Horn's welterweight title in 2018, will aim to become a five-weight world champion and the first undisputed three-weight champion. Opetaia has never fought in the United States but has earnt a reputation in the UK and has Saudi billionaire and boxing supremo Turki Alalshikh in his corner after a series of pulverising knockout wins in both countries. Manager Mick Francis plans to head to the United States after Sunday's fight to pursue a deal, buoyed after a meeting with future Hall of Famer Crawford on the Gold Coast last week. "After dealing with him, he's a real one of the sport and he realised I was too," Opetaia told AAP of his time with Crawford on the American's promotional tour. "He knows who I am, for the right reasons." Crawford, among the world's top pound-for-pound talents, defied the poverty, crime and violence associated with his Omaha upbringing and now operates a not-for-profit gym there. NSW-born Opetaia has enjoyed recent visits to conduct junior clinics in Samoa, a heritage he celebrates heavily on fight nights. "There's a lot of similarities in how he thinks, it was refreshing to hear his take," Opetaia said. "I've looked up to him, now we're both up there, rubbing shoulders on the same stage. "I'm telling you. Canelo-Crawford, with me and Zurdo on the undercard ... 100 per cent. "We can't get comfortable, though." That's because a shock loss to the unfancied but dangerous Squeo would up-end all those plans. But Opetaia, who qualified for the Olympics as a 16-year-old and fought at the London 2012 Games at 17, has never got ahead of himself. A fourth generation boxer on his dad's side and third generation on his mum's, Opetaia can't remember a time he wasn't near a ring. "It wasn't a specific moment; I grew up in it, it was life," he said. "Training, boxing, sparring and punching on. "When I was a little boy I'd go for runs before school then the gym straight after. "There was no homework for me. My homework was training. "That's what's pushing me for the unification fights so much. "I'm always pushing up, my whole life just wanting to win, win." The Convention Centre card also features Brisbane-based Irish light heavyweight world title prospect Conor Wallace, rejuvenated super welterweight Ben Mahoney, and entertaining Paris Olympic heavyweight Teremoana Teremoana.
