Politis eyes move for Manchester Roosters in English Super League
The Sydney Roosters have opened conversations with the NRL and multiple Super League clubs about the possibility of buying into a potential NRL run European competition.
Sydney Roosters supremo Nick Politis has held high-level conversations with ARL Commission chairman Peter V'landys about the potential of buying into an English club, on the proviso the NRL takes ownership and control of the Super League - or starts a breakaway competition.
Politis, who last year launched the Los Angeles Roosters to help assist the game's push into the United States, has also had conversations with Salford about helping the financially-struggling club.
Politis has a vision of trying to unite the entire Manchester region by rebranding the club and renaming them the Sydney Roosters. Other possibilities being considered is owning a team in London, or potentially even York.
'Nothing will happen unless the NRL is involved,' Politis said. 'We see a lot of potential for the game in England and we want to be part of it if the NRL is on board. We see an opportunity and we will wait to see what happens next.'
The Sydney Roosters boss recently invited York Knights (second division side) owner Clint Goodchild to his chairman's suite for the Roosters' game against Penrith earlier this month.
The news of Politis' interest comes on the back of revelations earlier this month that the NRL has agreed to consider a proposal to buy a 33 per cent stake in the Super League.
That consideration is on the proviso it gets complete administrative control of the struggling competition from 2028 as part of a bid to grow the sport internationally.
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The Advertiser
40 minutes ago
- The Advertiser
Informal talks of EU security deal under way with Canberra
Australia will push ahead with informal talks for a new security agreement with Europe which could involve future defence industry cooperation and intelligence sharing, the EU's top diplomat has confirmed. Gabriele Visentin, the European Union's ambassador to Australia, said both sides have agreed to informal talks about the prospect of a security pact after the EU floated the idea on the sidelines of Pope Leo XIV's inauguration in May. Mr Visentin said a potential deal would mirror similar agreements between the EU and other countries such as Japan and South Korea, which involve military exercises and other cooperation in areas of mutual interest. "It's not a military alliance. It's a partnership for co-operation on defence issues, including industrial things," the envoy told the National Press Club on Wednesday. "So there is no scope for an understanding in terms of transfer of troops or mutual help and mutual assistance." Prime Minister Anthony Albanese appeared to initially downplay the idea of a security pact with the EU after noting Australia already had similar agreements in place with other European countries, including Germany. Mr Visentin indicated he was optimistic the Albanese government would come around after Defence Minister Richard Marles held a recent meeting with the bloc's High Representative in Singapore. European countries are preparing to spend billions of dollars to rebuild their armies in the wake of reduced support from the US and Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Mr Visentin said a European security pact with Australia would be critical as Russia broadens its ambitions beyond Ukraine and China scales up its military posture in the Indo-Pacific. "I think that there are geopolitical tensions which are aiming at reversing what the international rules-based order is, regardless of the actors. And I think that we have to team up to defend that," he said. In a thinly veiled reference to US President Donald Trump's trade tariffs, Mr Visentin also expressed concerns that rising "isolationism and protectionism" will see an increase in unfair trading practices. Mr Visentin confirmed ongoing disputes over negotiations for a free trade agreement between Australia and the EU were unresolved but encouraged both governments to "team up and defend tree trade." "Nothing has changed in terms of content. The differences are still there. And are still difficult to resolve and to address," he said. "What has changed, of course, is the willingness and the readiness to try to strike a deal. We have seen an incredible change in the geopolitics and in the world of trade." Australia will push ahead with informal talks for a new security agreement with Europe which could involve future defence industry cooperation and intelligence sharing, the EU's top diplomat has confirmed. Gabriele Visentin, the European Union's ambassador to Australia, said both sides have agreed to informal talks about the prospect of a security pact after the EU floated the idea on the sidelines of Pope Leo XIV's inauguration in May. Mr Visentin said a potential deal would mirror similar agreements between the EU and other countries such as Japan and South Korea, which involve military exercises and other cooperation in areas of mutual interest. "It's not a military alliance. It's a partnership for co-operation on defence issues, including industrial things," the envoy told the National Press Club on Wednesday. "So there is no scope for an understanding in terms of transfer of troops or mutual help and mutual assistance." Prime Minister Anthony Albanese appeared to initially downplay the idea of a security pact with the EU after noting Australia already had similar agreements in place with other European countries, including Germany. Mr Visentin indicated he was optimistic the Albanese government would come around after Defence Minister Richard Marles held a recent meeting with the bloc's High Representative in Singapore. European countries are preparing to spend billions of dollars to rebuild their armies in the wake of reduced support from the US and Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Mr Visentin said a European security pact with Australia would be critical as Russia broadens its ambitions beyond Ukraine and China scales up its military posture in the Indo-Pacific. "I think that there are geopolitical tensions which are aiming at reversing what the international rules-based order is, regardless of the actors. And I think that we have to team up to defend that," he said. In a thinly veiled reference to US President Donald Trump's trade tariffs, Mr Visentin also expressed concerns that rising "isolationism and protectionism" will see an increase in unfair trading practices. Mr Visentin confirmed ongoing disputes over negotiations for a free trade agreement between Australia and the EU were unresolved but encouraged both governments to "team up and defend tree trade." "Nothing has changed in terms of content. The differences are still there. And are still difficult to resolve and to address," he said. "What has changed, of course, is the willingness and the readiness to try to strike a deal. We have seen an incredible change in the geopolitics and in the world of trade." Australia will push ahead with informal talks for a new security agreement with Europe which could involve future defence industry cooperation and intelligence sharing, the EU's top diplomat has confirmed. Gabriele Visentin, the European Union's ambassador to Australia, said both sides have agreed to informal talks about the prospect of a security pact after the EU floated the idea on the sidelines of Pope Leo XIV's inauguration in May. Mr Visentin said a potential deal would mirror similar agreements between the EU and other countries such as Japan and South Korea, which involve military exercises and other cooperation in areas of mutual interest. "It's not a military alliance. It's a partnership for co-operation on defence issues, including industrial things," the envoy told the National Press Club on Wednesday. "So there is no scope for an understanding in terms of transfer of troops or mutual help and mutual assistance." Prime Minister Anthony Albanese appeared to initially downplay the idea of a security pact with the EU after noting Australia already had similar agreements in place with other European countries, including Germany. Mr Visentin indicated he was optimistic the Albanese government would come around after Defence Minister Richard Marles held a recent meeting with the bloc's High Representative in Singapore. European countries are preparing to spend billions of dollars to rebuild their armies in the wake of reduced support from the US and Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Mr Visentin said a European security pact with Australia would be critical as Russia broadens its ambitions beyond Ukraine and China scales up its military posture in the Indo-Pacific. "I think that there are geopolitical tensions which are aiming at reversing what the international rules-based order is, regardless of the actors. And I think that we have to team up to defend that," he said. In a thinly veiled reference to US President Donald Trump's trade tariffs, Mr Visentin also expressed concerns that rising "isolationism and protectionism" will see an increase in unfair trading practices. Mr Visentin confirmed ongoing disputes over negotiations for a free trade agreement between Australia and the EU were unresolved but encouraged both governments to "team up and defend tree trade." "Nothing has changed in terms of content. The differences are still there. And are still difficult to resolve and to address," he said. "What has changed, of course, is the willingness and the readiness to try to strike a deal. We have seen an incredible change in the geopolitics and in the world of trade." Australia will push ahead with informal talks for a new security agreement with Europe which could involve future defence industry cooperation and intelligence sharing, the EU's top diplomat has confirmed. Gabriele Visentin, the European Union's ambassador to Australia, said both sides have agreed to informal talks about the prospect of a security pact after the EU floated the idea on the sidelines of Pope Leo XIV's inauguration in May. Mr Visentin said a potential deal would mirror similar agreements between the EU and other countries such as Japan and South Korea, which involve military exercises and other cooperation in areas of mutual interest. "It's not a military alliance. It's a partnership for co-operation on defence issues, including industrial things," the envoy told the National Press Club on Wednesday. "So there is no scope for an understanding in terms of transfer of troops or mutual help and mutual assistance." Prime Minister Anthony Albanese appeared to initially downplay the idea of a security pact with the EU after noting Australia already had similar agreements in place with other European countries, including Germany. Mr Visentin indicated he was optimistic the Albanese government would come around after Defence Minister Richard Marles held a recent meeting with the bloc's High Representative in Singapore. European countries are preparing to spend billions of dollars to rebuild their armies in the wake of reduced support from the US and Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Mr Visentin said a European security pact with Australia would be critical as Russia broadens its ambitions beyond Ukraine and China scales up its military posture in the Indo-Pacific. "I think that there are geopolitical tensions which are aiming at reversing what the international rules-based order is, regardless of the actors. And I think that we have to team up to defend that," he said. In a thinly veiled reference to US President Donald Trump's trade tariffs, Mr Visentin also expressed concerns that rising "isolationism and protectionism" will see an increase in unfair trading practices. Mr Visentin confirmed ongoing disputes over negotiations for a free trade agreement between Australia and the EU were unresolved but encouraged both governments to "team up and defend tree trade." "Nothing has changed in terms of content. The differences are still there. And are still difficult to resolve and to address," he said. "What has changed, of course, is the willingness and the readiness to try to strike a deal. We have seen an incredible change in the geopolitics and in the world of trade."
The Advertiser
40 minutes ago
- The Advertiser
'Unbelievable' Aussie pace pack lord it at Lord's again
At the party they always get to host but never get the chance to play in, English cricket has again been left to gaze on enviously on that old Australian cut-throat firm of Cummins, Hazlewood, Starc and Smith, who have been lording it at Lord's for years. First up, in this third World Test final to be staged in England, it had been that old nuisance Steve Smith, in all his familiar idiosyncratic glory even while suffering with a dose of the flu, marking himself the all-time overseas top scorer in all Lord's Tests with a knock of 66 that took his total to 591 in 10 innings. Er, Bradman only got 551 in eight. And even if that other 'old firm' of Smith and Marnus Labuschagne looked as if it could be on its last legs after perhaps one unconvincing struggle too many from the junior partner, the self-styled 'home of cricket' was then left to witness the familiar excellence of Australia's three-pronged mean, green, pace machine doing its stuff. Even the egg 'n bacon-tied MCC brigade in the Long Room, on their very best behaviour this time, couldn't help but applaud the 'big three'. After all, who knows how long Hazlewood, Cummins and Starc can keep up the sort of heroics after eight years working in perfect harmony at the Test coalface? "It's unbelievable. Me and (Cameron) Greeny were watching from the slips and gully and it looked like every ball they were going to make something happen," said an admiring Beau Webster as he got a close-up view of the trio who've never been on a losing final in an ICC event when they've all been on the same side. Their combined 4-34 off a combined 21 overs felt like a rinse-and-repeat show to infect every English fan's nightmares. Mean, tight and destructive, the three now have 959 Test wickets between them - and counting quickly. Could they actually be better than ever? Starc was just as menacing as usual while being even less expensive; Hazlewood, coming off a full IPL season, looked fresh and immensely sharp. Cummins was just Cummins, leading from the front, probing relentlessly. "They've done it for a long time, haven't they?" smiled Smith. "Today was no different. They all bowled really nicely." After Australia had struggled to 212, they knew they had to hit back sharpish. "When you know you've only got a couple of hours to bowl in the night, you can probably give a little bit more knowing you can have a break afterwards," said Smith, praising Starc's 2-10 contribution in particular. "I looked this up today and kind of forget every now and again, Starcy, he's played 97 Tests with this one, which is a hell of an effort for a fast bowler. He's just relentless with his body, a tough character. He bowls through a lot of pain and things like that. "The three have been great, and hopefully they can come again in the morning and make a few early inroads." Webster, the 'Slug from Snug', will take his place back in the catching cordon and just enjoy. "They're a luxury we've had for a lot of years and it's not going to last for ever, but we are still in a good place," mused the Tasmanian. "And the less overs I have to bowl the better!" At the party they always get to host but never get the chance to play in, English cricket has again been left to gaze on enviously on that old Australian cut-throat firm of Cummins, Hazlewood, Starc and Smith, who have been lording it at Lord's for years. First up, in this third World Test final to be staged in England, it had been that old nuisance Steve Smith, in all his familiar idiosyncratic glory even while suffering with a dose of the flu, marking himself the all-time overseas top scorer in all Lord's Tests with a knock of 66 that took his total to 591 in 10 innings. Er, Bradman only got 551 in eight. And even if that other 'old firm' of Smith and Marnus Labuschagne looked as if it could be on its last legs after perhaps one unconvincing struggle too many from the junior partner, the self-styled 'home of cricket' was then left to witness the familiar excellence of Australia's three-pronged mean, green, pace machine doing its stuff. Even the egg 'n bacon-tied MCC brigade in the Long Room, on their very best behaviour this time, couldn't help but applaud the 'big three'. After all, who knows how long Hazlewood, Cummins and Starc can keep up the sort of heroics after eight years working in perfect harmony at the Test coalface? "It's unbelievable. Me and (Cameron) Greeny were watching from the slips and gully and it looked like every ball they were going to make something happen," said an admiring Beau Webster as he got a close-up view of the trio who've never been on a losing final in an ICC event when they've all been on the same side. Their combined 4-34 off a combined 21 overs felt like a rinse-and-repeat show to infect every English fan's nightmares. Mean, tight and destructive, the three now have 959 Test wickets between them - and counting quickly. Could they actually be better than ever? Starc was just as menacing as usual while being even less expensive; Hazlewood, coming off a full IPL season, looked fresh and immensely sharp. Cummins was just Cummins, leading from the front, probing relentlessly. "They've done it for a long time, haven't they?" smiled Smith. "Today was no different. They all bowled really nicely." After Australia had struggled to 212, they knew they had to hit back sharpish. "When you know you've only got a couple of hours to bowl in the night, you can probably give a little bit more knowing you can have a break afterwards," said Smith, praising Starc's 2-10 contribution in particular. "I looked this up today and kind of forget every now and again, Starcy, he's played 97 Tests with this one, which is a hell of an effort for a fast bowler. He's just relentless with his body, a tough character. He bowls through a lot of pain and things like that. "The three have been great, and hopefully they can come again in the morning and make a few early inroads." Webster, the 'Slug from Snug', will take his place back in the catching cordon and just enjoy. "They're a luxury we've had for a lot of years and it's not going to last for ever, but we are still in a good place," mused the Tasmanian. "And the less overs I have to bowl the better!" At the party they always get to host but never get the chance to play in, English cricket has again been left to gaze on enviously on that old Australian cut-throat firm of Cummins, Hazlewood, Starc and Smith, who have been lording it at Lord's for years. First up, in this third World Test final to be staged in England, it had been that old nuisance Steve Smith, in all his familiar idiosyncratic glory even while suffering with a dose of the flu, marking himself the all-time overseas top scorer in all Lord's Tests with a knock of 66 that took his total to 591 in 10 innings. Er, Bradman only got 551 in eight. And even if that other 'old firm' of Smith and Marnus Labuschagne looked as if it could be on its last legs after perhaps one unconvincing struggle too many from the junior partner, the self-styled 'home of cricket' was then left to witness the familiar excellence of Australia's three-pronged mean, green, pace machine doing its stuff. Even the egg 'n bacon-tied MCC brigade in the Long Room, on their very best behaviour this time, couldn't help but applaud the 'big three'. After all, who knows how long Hazlewood, Cummins and Starc can keep up the sort of heroics after eight years working in perfect harmony at the Test coalface? "It's unbelievable. Me and (Cameron) Greeny were watching from the slips and gully and it looked like every ball they were going to make something happen," said an admiring Beau Webster as he got a close-up view of the trio who've never been on a losing final in an ICC event when they've all been on the same side. Their combined 4-34 off a combined 21 overs felt like a rinse-and-repeat show to infect every English fan's nightmares. Mean, tight and destructive, the three now have 959 Test wickets between them - and counting quickly. Could they actually be better than ever? Starc was just as menacing as usual while being even less expensive; Hazlewood, coming off a full IPL season, looked fresh and immensely sharp. Cummins was just Cummins, leading from the front, probing relentlessly. "They've done it for a long time, haven't they?" smiled Smith. "Today was no different. They all bowled really nicely." After Australia had struggled to 212, they knew they had to hit back sharpish. "When you know you've only got a couple of hours to bowl in the night, you can probably give a little bit more knowing you can have a break afterwards," said Smith, praising Starc's 2-10 contribution in particular. "I looked this up today and kind of forget every now and again, Starcy, he's played 97 Tests with this one, which is a hell of an effort for a fast bowler. He's just relentless with his body, a tough character. He bowls through a lot of pain and things like that. "The three have been great, and hopefully they can come again in the morning and make a few early inroads." Webster, the 'Slug from Snug', will take his place back in the catching cordon and just enjoy. "They're a luxury we've had for a lot of years and it's not going to last for ever, but we are still in a good place," mused the Tasmanian. "And the less overs I have to bowl the better!"
West Australian
an hour ago
- West Australian
AUKUS review: Pentagon's Elbridge Colby orders inquiry to ensure defence agreement aligns with ‘America First'
The Trump Administration's biggest AUKUS sceptic has ordered a review into whether the US should pull out of the submarine deal with Australia, just days after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese refused America's request to lift defence spending. The inquiry was directed by AUKUS-sceptic Elbridge Colby, the Pentagon's Deputy Under Secretary of Defence for Policy, the Financial Times reported . A US Defence official said the review was 'part of ensuring that this initiative of the previous Administration is aligned with the President's America First agenda.' 'As Secretary Hegseth has made clear, this means ensuring the highest readiness of our servicemembers, that allies step up fully to do their part for collective defence, and that the defence industrial base is meeting our needs,' the official said in a statement. 'This review will ensure the initiative meets these common-sense, America First criteria.' Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said Beijing would be cheering at the news. 'News that the Trump Administration is considering backing away from AUKUS will be met with cheers in Beijing, which is already celebrating America's global pullback and our strained ties with allies under President Trump,' Senator Shaheen said. 'Scrapping this partnership would further tarnish America's reputation and raise more questions among our closest defence partners and our reliability.' Mr Colby is one of the America First movement's fiercest critics of what he views as shirker allies. He was also the first in US President Donald Trump's orbit to voice concerns about AUKUS. When asked by The Nightly, at a speaking engagement in London, he said he would have been quite sceptical about the deal if it were put to him to sign off on. 'My concern is why are we giving away this crown jewel asset when we most need it?' he said 12 months ago. 'AUKUS is only going to lead to more submarines collectively in 10, 15, 20 years, which is way beyond the window of maximum danger, which is really in this decade. 'So the benefits are questionable and the viability is also questionable.' However, Mr Colby retreated from some of his criticisms and directed most of his ire toward European NATO allies, who have subsequently begun to pledge massive defence spending increases prompting his praise. By contrast, in the last few days he has been issuing statements on X about the need for Indo-Pacific allies to heed Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth's call for more defence funding. Mr Hegseth asked Defence Minister Richard Marles to raise defence spending to 3.5 per cent of GDP at a meeting on the sidelines of the Shangri-la Dialogue in Singapore. Currently, Labor plans to spend 2.3 per cent of GDP on defence by the middle of the next decade. Mr Marles responded by saying he was 'totally up for a conversation' but refused to confirm the figure Mr Hegseth requested. The Defence Secretary released the figure in a statement three days later. Since then, Labor has become more strident in its opposition and said the decision is for Australia, not the US to make. Mr Albanese told the Press Club this week he had not been provided with any capabilities that need funding and was not going to commit to a blind yardstick method of government spending. Australia has already paid the first US$500 million ($760 million) to buy up to three nuclear-powered submarines from the United States, under a deal first struck with the Biden Administration by former Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Mr Marles paid the cheque in Feburary when he first met Mr Hegseth after President Trump's inauguration. At the time, Mr Hegseth said Mr Trump was aware and supportive of AUKUS and this was recently further backed by comments the President's personally appointed Ambassador to the UK, Warren Stephens, made at an event in London, alongside UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. It is unclear if Mr Colby's review is the act of a lone operator or represents a change in the stance of the Administration, which is often ideologically split on key policy areas. AUKUS is the most expensive and ambitious defence acquisition project in Australia's history and aims to buy and then build nuclear-powered submarines at a cost of $368 billion. But because Australia cannot build nuclear-propelled submarines and faces an urgent capability gap with the Collins Class boats reaching their end of life, it is reliant on purchasing off-the-shelf Virginia-class boats from the Americans and then co-building an SSN AUKUS version of submarine with the British. The UK government put on a brave face. A government spokesperson said the review was 'understandable.' 'It is understandable that a new administration would want to review its approach to such a major partnership, just as the UK did last year,' the spokesperson said. 'The UK will continue to work closely with the US and Australia at all levels to maximise the benefits and opportunities which AUKUS presents for our three nations.'
