A dramatic change at the top sets the tone for the most super of Sundays
A Tigers win would be a sensational start to a three-game schedule on the final day of round 19 because it would very much signal game back on in the battle to make the all-important top four going into the finals.
And the two teams currently best placed to break into the top four in the run down to the finals - which are also the two teams any other top-four team would most hate to see there - are due in action later the same day.
Sixth-placed Penrith are away to Parramatta in Sunday's second game and the round will then wrap up with fifth-placed Brisbane away to the Gold Coast.
Please forgive me for using the pay-TV catchcry, but it really does shape as a Super Sunday.
Either the Warriors are going to strike a blow in their desperate bid to hang on to a top-four spot, with the Broncos and Panthers and maybe even one or two others to keep coming, or they're going to become even more vulnerable than they already are.
The top four was looking like a lock after round 16, when a six-point gap had opened up between the third and fourth-placed Melbourne and the Warriors, both on 24 points at the time, and the rest of the field.
But the competition dramatically changed shape only one round later. It wouldn't have been so bad for the Warriors had their round-17 loss to Brisbane been the worst thing that happened to them that day, but it wasn't.
Their star halfback, Luke Metcalf, went down with a season-ending knee injury, which followed on from their NSW State of Origin prop Mitch Barnett having experienced the same fate four rounds earlier.
The Warriors had the bye in round 18, which at least for the time being protected what the Broncos had reduced to a four-point advantage over fifth, and now they return to action.
But, let's face it, the Warriors are cooked as far as being a genuine chance of winning the premiership is concerned.
Even if they still make it to the top four from here, which would be a fine effort, they're not going to have what it takes to go all the way from there. They would be doing very well just to win a game in the finals.
The bookmakers have already written them off and they're not taking any real risks when they quote them at $34.
None of the top-three teams ahead of this weekend's round - Canberra, on 30 points, and Melbourne and Canterbury, both on 28 - are going to be anywhere else but in the top four going into the finals.
It's just a matter of where exactly they're going to be placed and finishing in the top two is very important because of the home-ground advantage it brings those teams in the first week of the finals.
But the real interest from now is how the rest of the top eight is going to pan out, with every team down to 12th, definitely, and maybe even right down to 15th still a chance of making the finals from here.
I mean, you'd need a vivid imagination to picture any team among Newcastle, Wests Tigers and Parramatta, all on 16 points and four points outside of the top eight, being there come finals time, but it's possible.
Tenth-placed Cronulla and the seventh-placed Dolphins, both on 20 points, play each other at Sharks Stadium on Friday night, so one of them has to advance to 22 barring a draw. So, too, will eighth-placed Manly, which has the bye.
And if the worst-case scenario develops for the Warriors and they lose to the Tigers and the Broncos and Panthers both win, that would leave the Warriors on 26 and the Broncos and Panthers coming to get them on 24 and 23, respectively.
Have you got it in you, Wests Tigers, to help blow this thing wide open?
Penrith were in last place on nine points after round 12 and we had to at least consider the possibility that coming off four straight premierships they might actually miss the finals.
But much of the competition table has remained compressed all season and even though they were running 17th the Panthers were still only three points outside of the top eight.
They haven't lost a game since and in doing so have added another layer of interest to the competition.
MORE NRL NEWS
After being routinely at or near the top of the table all along during that quartet of premiership-winning years could they come from where they were after round 12 to win it again?
And, having made it back into the top eight, could they win it from the bottom half of the finals draw?
Well, now we can't rule out the possibility of them making the top four again, which would be a phenomenal effort.
IT's going to be fascinating to see how it all pans out at Canterbury over the rest of the season.
Their starting halfback Toby Sexton and hooker Reed Mahoney are both leaving the club at the end of the season and their star mid-season recruit Lachlan Galvin is on the bench. The player tipped to be their starting hooker next year, Bailey Hayward, is at lock.
That's how the team has been named for the game against North Queensland at Queensland Country Bank Stadium on Saturday night anyway.
How it looks by the time the finals come around, we'll have to wait and see.
If ever the NRL needed the team that seems to fascinate the masses - Wests Tigers - to stand up and be counted it's when they play the Warriors in Auckland on Sunday.
A Tigers win would be a sensational start to a three-game schedule on the final day of round 19 because it would very much signal game back on in the battle to make the all-important top four going into the finals.
And the two teams currently best placed to break into the top four in the run down to the finals - which are also the two teams any other top-four team would most hate to see there - are due in action later the same day.
Sixth-placed Penrith are away to Parramatta in Sunday's second game and the round will then wrap up with fifth-placed Brisbane away to the Gold Coast.
Please forgive me for using the pay-TV catchcry, but it really does shape as a Super Sunday.
Either the Warriors are going to strike a blow in their desperate bid to hang on to a top-four spot, with the Broncos and Panthers and maybe even one or two others to keep coming, or they're going to become even more vulnerable than they already are.
The top four was looking like a lock after round 16, when a six-point gap had opened up between the third and fourth-placed Melbourne and the Warriors, both on 24 points at the time, and the rest of the field.
But the competition dramatically changed shape only one round later. It wouldn't have been so bad for the Warriors had their round-17 loss to Brisbane been the worst thing that happened to them that day, but it wasn't.
Their star halfback, Luke Metcalf, went down with a season-ending knee injury, which followed on from their NSW State of Origin prop Mitch Barnett having experienced the same fate four rounds earlier.
The Warriors had the bye in round 18, which at least for the time being protected what the Broncos had reduced to a four-point advantage over fifth, and now they return to action.
But, let's face it, the Warriors are cooked as far as being a genuine chance of winning the premiership is concerned.
Even if they still make it to the top four from here, which would be a fine effort, they're not going to have what it takes to go all the way from there. They would be doing very well just to win a game in the finals.
The bookmakers have already written them off and they're not taking any real risks when they quote them at $34.
None of the top-three teams ahead of this weekend's round - Canberra, on 30 points, and Melbourne and Canterbury, both on 28 - are going to be anywhere else but in the top four going into the finals.
It's just a matter of where exactly they're going to be placed and finishing in the top two is very important because of the home-ground advantage it brings those teams in the first week of the finals.
But the real interest from now is how the rest of the top eight is going to pan out, with every team down to 12th, definitely, and maybe even right down to 15th still a chance of making the finals from here.
I mean, you'd need a vivid imagination to picture any team among Newcastle, Wests Tigers and Parramatta, all on 16 points and four points outside of the top eight, being there come finals time, but it's possible.
Tenth-placed Cronulla and the seventh-placed Dolphins, both on 20 points, play each other at Sharks Stadium on Friday night, so one of them has to advance to 22 barring a draw. So, too, will eighth-placed Manly, which has the bye.
And if the worst-case scenario develops for the Warriors and they lose to the Tigers and the Broncos and Panthers both win, that would leave the Warriors on 26 and the Broncos and Panthers coming to get them on 24 and 23, respectively.
Have you got it in you, Wests Tigers, to help blow this thing wide open?
Penrith were in last place on nine points after round 12 and we had to at least consider the possibility that coming off four straight premierships they might actually miss the finals.
But much of the competition table has remained compressed all season and even though they were running 17th the Panthers were still only three points outside of the top eight.
They haven't lost a game since and in doing so have added another layer of interest to the competition.
MORE NRL NEWS
After being routinely at or near the top of the table all along during that quartet of premiership-winning years could they come from where they were after round 12 to win it again?
And, having made it back into the top eight, could they win it from the bottom half of the finals draw?
Well, now we can't rule out the possibility of them making the top four again, which would be a phenomenal effort.
IT's going to be fascinating to see how it all pans out at Canterbury over the rest of the season.
Their starting halfback Toby Sexton and hooker Reed Mahoney are both leaving the club at the end of the season and their star mid-season recruit Lachlan Galvin is on the bench. The player tipped to be their starting hooker next year, Bailey Hayward, is at lock.
That's how the team has been named for the game against North Queensland at Queensland Country Bank Stadium on Saturday night anyway.
How it looks by the time the finals come around, we'll have to wait and see.
If ever the NRL needed the team that seems to fascinate the masses - Wests Tigers - to stand up and be counted it's when they play the Warriors in Auckland on Sunday.
A Tigers win would be a sensational start to a three-game schedule on the final day of round 19 because it would very much signal game back on in the battle to make the all-important top four going into the finals.
And the two teams currently best placed to break into the top four in the run down to the finals - which are also the two teams any other top-four team would most hate to see there - are due in action later the same day.
Sixth-placed Penrith are away to Parramatta in Sunday's second game and the round will then wrap up with fifth-placed Brisbane away to the Gold Coast.
Please forgive me for using the pay-TV catchcry, but it really does shape as a Super Sunday.
Either the Warriors are going to strike a blow in their desperate bid to hang on to a top-four spot, with the Broncos and Panthers and maybe even one or two others to keep coming, or they're going to become even more vulnerable than they already are.
The top four was looking like a lock after round 16, when a six-point gap had opened up between the third and fourth-placed Melbourne and the Warriors, both on 24 points at the time, and the rest of the field.
But the competition dramatically changed shape only one round later. It wouldn't have been so bad for the Warriors had their round-17 loss to Brisbane been the worst thing that happened to them that day, but it wasn't.
Their star halfback, Luke Metcalf, went down with a season-ending knee injury, which followed on from their NSW State of Origin prop Mitch Barnett having experienced the same fate four rounds earlier.
The Warriors had the bye in round 18, which at least for the time being protected what the Broncos had reduced to a four-point advantage over fifth, and now they return to action.
But, let's face it, the Warriors are cooked as far as being a genuine chance of winning the premiership is concerned.
Even if they still make it to the top four from here, which would be a fine effort, they're not going to have what it takes to go all the way from there. They would be doing very well just to win a game in the finals.
The bookmakers have already written them off and they're not taking any real risks when they quote them at $34.
None of the top-three teams ahead of this weekend's round - Canberra, on 30 points, and Melbourne and Canterbury, both on 28 - are going to be anywhere else but in the top four going into the finals.
It's just a matter of where exactly they're going to be placed and finishing in the top two is very important because of the home-ground advantage it brings those teams in the first week of the finals.
But the real interest from now is how the rest of the top eight is going to pan out, with every team down to 12th, definitely, and maybe even right down to 15th still a chance of making the finals from here.
I mean, you'd need a vivid imagination to picture any team among Newcastle, Wests Tigers and Parramatta, all on 16 points and four points outside of the top eight, being there come finals time, but it's possible.
Tenth-placed Cronulla and the seventh-placed Dolphins, both on 20 points, play each other at Sharks Stadium on Friday night, so one of them has to advance to 22 barring a draw. So, too, will eighth-placed Manly, which has the bye.
And if the worst-case scenario develops for the Warriors and they lose to the Tigers and the Broncos and Panthers both win, that would leave the Warriors on 26 and the Broncos and Panthers coming to get them on 24 and 23, respectively.
Have you got it in you, Wests Tigers, to help blow this thing wide open?
Penrith were in last place on nine points after round 12 and we had to at least consider the possibility that coming off four straight premierships they might actually miss the finals.
But much of the competition table has remained compressed all season and even though they were running 17th the Panthers were still only three points outside of the top eight.
They haven't lost a game since and in doing so have added another layer of interest to the competition.
MORE NRL NEWS
After being routinely at or near the top of the table all along during that quartet of premiership-winning years could they come from where they were after round 12 to win it again?
And, having made it back into the top eight, could they win it from the bottom half of the finals draw?
Well, now we can't rule out the possibility of them making the top four again, which would be a phenomenal effort.
IT's going to be fascinating to see how it all pans out at Canterbury over the rest of the season.
Their starting halfback Toby Sexton and hooker Reed Mahoney are both leaving the club at the end of the season and their star mid-season recruit Lachlan Galvin is on the bench. The player tipped to be their starting hooker next year, Bailey Hayward, is at lock.
That's how the team has been named for the game against North Queensland at Queensland Country Bank Stadium on Saturday night anyway.
How it looks by the time the finals come around, we'll have to wait and see.
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The Advertiser
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Roosters roll on in NRLW as Broncos receive a big scare
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Teitzel, the Broncos' goal-kicking back rower, claimed a personal tally of 16 points from a try and six goals, putting her on 50 for the season, eclipsing Jocelyn Kelleher (Roosters) and Jesse Southwell (Knights) – both on 48 - as the season's top points-scorer so far. The never-say-die Raiders did have the last say with prop Chloe Saunders scoring as the fulltime hooter sounded. "I'm extremely proud at the way we've come together and connected better," said Raiders captain Simaima Taufa as her team continue to search for a maiden win in 2025. Sunday's five tries were in stark contrast to the past two weeks, when the Raiders lost 26-0 to the Cowboys and 18-0 to the Knights. "We knew we had points in us and we never gave up," Taufa said. "I just want them to keep having confidence in themselves, in their ability and their talent. We just have to keep backing ourselves and the chocolates will come." The Roosters scored five tries to two to never feel threatened by Gold Coast, despite the fact the Titans held a 3-2 record over them heading into the match. Fijian international Taina Naividi scored a double on the Roosters' right wing, giving her six tries in five games. It just wasn't the Titans' day on the scoreboard or in the casualty ward. They lost five-eighth Pauline Piliae-Rasabale (hamstring) for the second half after she'd scored in the first, then fullback Jaime Chapman was helped from the field (left ankle) in the 49th minute. But debutant and First Nations player Phoenix-Raine Hippi slotted into the No.1 spot after Chapman's injury and scored a try - in her first NRLW Indigenous Round. In the final match of round six, North Queensland scored a come-from-behind 14-10 win over Parramatta at CommBank Stadium to leap-frog the Sharks into the top-four. Parramatta was down on troops with five-eighth Cassey Tohi-Hiku (ankle), centre Rory Owen (leg) and middle forward Kennedy Cherrington (concussion) all missing but it didn't seem to matter. Cherrington's younger sister Rueben scored the Eels' first try, and stand-in No.6 Rosemarie Beckett grabbed the second to put her side up 10-0. But momentum was building for the Cowboys, who had been held up over the line three times. Winger Francesca Goldthorp then managed a double, while a third came through Jillaroos winger Jakiya Whitfeld. The visitors were suddenly up 14-10 and hung on for the remaining 13 minutes. The Sydney Roosters have continued their relentless march to the NRLW finals with Brisbane not far behind, although the Broncos had to battle to overcome plucky Canberra to retain their top-two position on the ladder. The Roosters made it six straight wins with a 24-8 victory over Gold Coast at Cbus Stadium on Sunday to stay in top spot, while the Broncos handed the Raiders their fourth loss at home, winning 44-28. But the luckless Raiders did give the three-time premiers a run for their money. Darren Borthwick's team came from 20-0 down midway through the first half to trail by 26-22 with 15 minutes left on the clock. That jolt to the ego sparked the Broncos to three more tries, by Romy Teitzel, Shalom Sauaso and Julia Robinson. Teitzel, the Broncos' goal-kicking back rower, claimed a personal tally of 16 points from a try and six goals, putting her on 50 for the season, eclipsing Jocelyn Kelleher (Roosters) and Jesse Southwell (Knights) – both on 48 - as the season's top points-scorer so far. The never-say-die Raiders did have the last say with prop Chloe Saunders scoring as the fulltime hooter sounded. "I'm extremely proud at the way we've come together and connected better," said Raiders captain Simaima Taufa as her team continue to search for a maiden win in 2025. Sunday's five tries were in stark contrast to the past two weeks, when the Raiders lost 26-0 to the Cowboys and 18-0 to the Knights. "We knew we had points in us and we never gave up," Taufa said. "I just want them to keep having confidence in themselves, in their ability and their talent. We just have to keep backing ourselves and the chocolates will come." The Roosters scored five tries to two to never feel threatened by Gold Coast, despite the fact the Titans held a 3-2 record over them heading into the match. Fijian international Taina Naividi scored a double on the Roosters' right wing, giving her six tries in five games. It just wasn't the Titans' day on the scoreboard or in the casualty ward. They lost five-eighth Pauline Piliae-Rasabale (hamstring) for the second half after she'd scored in the first, then fullback Jaime Chapman was helped from the field (left ankle) in the 49th minute. But debutant and First Nations player Phoenix-Raine Hippi slotted into the No.1 spot after Chapman's injury and scored a try - in her first NRLW Indigenous Round. In the final match of round six, North Queensland scored a come-from-behind 14-10 win over Parramatta at CommBank Stadium to leap-frog the Sharks into the top-four. Parramatta was down on troops with five-eighth Cassey Tohi-Hiku (ankle), centre Rory Owen (leg) and middle forward Kennedy Cherrington (concussion) all missing but it didn't seem to matter. Cherrington's younger sister Rueben scored the Eels' first try, and stand-in No.6 Rosemarie Beckett grabbed the second to put her side up 10-0. But momentum was building for the Cowboys, who had been held up over the line three times. Winger Francesca Goldthorp then managed a double, while a third came through Jillaroos winger Jakiya Whitfeld. The visitors were suddenly up 14-10 and hung on for the remaining 13 minutes. The Sydney Roosters have continued their relentless march to the NRLW finals with Brisbane not far behind, although the Broncos had to battle to overcome plucky Canberra to retain their top-two position on the ladder. The Roosters made it six straight wins with a 24-8 victory over Gold Coast at Cbus Stadium on Sunday to stay in top spot, while the Broncos handed the Raiders their fourth loss at home, winning 44-28. But the luckless Raiders did give the three-time premiers a run for their money. Darren Borthwick's team came from 20-0 down midway through the first half to trail by 26-22 with 15 minutes left on the clock. That jolt to the ego sparked the Broncos to three more tries, by Romy Teitzel, Shalom Sauaso and Julia Robinson. 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The Roosters scored five tries to two to never feel threatened by Gold Coast, despite the fact the Titans held a 3-2 record over them heading into the match. Fijian international Taina Naividi scored a double on the Roosters' right wing, giving her six tries in five games. It just wasn't the Titans' day on the scoreboard or in the casualty ward. They lost five-eighth Pauline Piliae-Rasabale (hamstring) for the second half after she'd scored in the first, then fullback Jaime Chapman was helped from the field (left ankle) in the 49th minute. But debutant and First Nations player Phoenix-Raine Hippi slotted into the No.1 spot after Chapman's injury and scored a try - in her first NRLW Indigenous Round. In the final match of round six, North Queensland scored a come-from-behind 14-10 win over Parramatta at CommBank Stadium to leap-frog the Sharks into the top-four. Parramatta was down on troops with five-eighth Cassey Tohi-Hiku (ankle), centre Rory Owen (leg) and middle forward Kennedy Cherrington (concussion) all missing but it didn't seem to matter. Cherrington's younger sister Rueben scored the Eels' first try, and stand-in No.6 Rosemarie Beckett grabbed the second to put her side up 10-0. But momentum was building for the Cowboys, who had been held up over the line three times. Winger Francesca Goldthorp then managed a double, while a third came through Jillaroos winger Jakiya Whitfeld. The visitors were suddenly up 14-10 and hung on for the remaining 13 minutes.
News.com.au
14 hours ago
- News.com.au
Former champion jockey Larry Cassidy has taken on a mentoring role for apprentice Chelsea Baker
Like a golfer diagnosed with paralysis by analysis, apprentice jockey Chelsea Baker admits she needs to simplify her approach to racing. But she couldn't have much better mentors in Brisbane's top trainer Tony Gollan and former champion jockey Larry Cassidy. Baker celebrated her 24th birthday on Saturday with her first ride in the city, finishing fifth out of eight runners on the John Thomas -trained Expectant in a Benchmark 78 (1400m) won by Gollan's Free Carry at Eagle Farm. The Tasmanian hoop then travelled west to Toowoomba where she had another four rides, steering gelding Einstag to victory in a 3YO Maiden for local trainer Michael Nolan. 'She's coming along really well,' Baker's boss Gollan said. 'Larry Cassidy is mentoring and coaching her now and she's making really good advancements with that. 'She's a terrific person. Over this next month there's a few things that Larry and her will iron out and she'll come here with a valuable 3kg (claim).' Free Carry shoulders the load first-up and gets the win at Eagle Farm! ðŸ'° @emilyyplang @tonygollan @BrisRacingClub — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 9, 2025 Baker said she was working to keep things simple when racing, conceding she was 'a month or two away from being really competitive' in Brisbane. 'My head is one of my worst attributes,' she said. 'At times I tend to overanalyse and overthink things but there could be worse things to have as a negative trait. 'My major goal is to ride the metro scene and be competitive. I don't care too much about titles, I just want people to say 'gee that girl can ride'. 'I'd rather be told that I've ridden the horse well and given it every chance than have the horse do it for me.' As a champion jockey who won more than 40 Group 1s in his glittering career, Cassidy is the ideal mentor for Baker, whose parents Kylie and Barry are trainers in Tasmania. Cassidy won the Sydney jockeys' premiership for three consecutive seasons from 1997/98 to 1999/00, and partnered champion mare Sunline to six victories, including two Group 1s in the Flight Stakes and the Doncaster Handicap in 1999. He famously rode Winx in the 2015 Group 3 Sunshine Coast Guineas (now Winx Guineas) to kickstart the mighty mare's record 33-race winning streak. Baker said she drew inspiration from the rapid rise of fellow female jockeys Angela Jones and Emily Lang, who fought tooth and nail for the 2024/25 Brisbane jockeys' premiership, with Jones ultimately prevailing. 'Emily and Ang, they're not only good jockeys but they're really good people too,' Baker said. 'They're definitely jockeys who I look up to and aspire to be like. 'They're very cool, calm and collected in the way they carry themselves and that's something I definitely need to work on myself. 'They're absolute inspirations and the effort they put in behind the scenes, it's really great.' Baker's parents flew up from Tasmania to help celebrate her birthday and although they have been major influences in her career, she doesn't lean on them too much for advice. 'I try not to get too involved, otherwise we butt heads a little bit, especially me and Dad,' she said. 'But they've taught me everything I know and they've got me to the point where I can come up here (to Brisbane) so I'm forever grateful to them.'
SBS Australia
16 hours ago
- SBS Australia
INTERVIEW: Jolly Duong on pursuing the dream of being a Paralympian
Listen to Australian and world news, and follow trending topics with SBS News Podcasts . The second-generation Vietnamese-Australian has been adjusting to a new set of challenges, 18 months after a bike accident left him with a spinal cord injury. Parasports provided an outlet to make the transition - and now he is among 346 chosen to advance to the next stage of a national talent program to find and support the athletes who will represent Australia at the Brisbane Olympics and Paralympics in 2032. In this episode of Weekend One on One, I spoke with Jolly Duong about the next chapter in his journey - preparing for the prospect of competing at the Brisbane Paralympic Games.
