Channel 7 presenter Alissa Smith and ex-NRL star partner Matt Ballin announce they are expecting their first child
The couple tied the knot in October last year.
A new family milestone is now set to arrive just weeks after their first wedding anniversary.
'We are both extremely excited to share that our family tree will be growing a new branch this November!' the couple wrote on Instagram.
Ballin last month shared a touching Mother's Day message to Smith, praising her as 'an amazing stepmum' to his three children from a previous relationship.
'You have been a positive and loving part of their lives for a long time now,' he wrote.
'The love, care, energy and commitment you show towards their lives displays the beautiful person that you are.
'We are lucky to have you in our lives.'
Smith joined 7NEWS in Brisbane as a sports reporter and presenter in 2023.
Ballin retired from the NRL in 2017 after a brief stint with Wests Tigers followed his premiership-winning career with the Manly Sea Eagles.
The 41-year-old joined the Brisbane Broncos as an assistant coach in 2021 and stayed on under new coach Michael Maguire this year.
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Daily Telegraph
17 minutes ago
- Daily Telegraph
Major Jake Trbojevic concern in heavy defeat to Raiders as DCE falters again
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News. Canberra have returned to the top of the ladder as they zero in on a first minor premiership in 35 years, with a 28-12 win over Manly on Friday night. But for Manly, it painted a far grimmer picture, slipping further out of the finals race, down in 10th place and likely needing to win their remaining games to be playing finals footy in September. FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1. And to make matters worse, they will have to do so at least next week without pack leader Jake Trbojevic, who was badly concussed trying to tackle a rampaging Josh Papali'i. Due to it being classified as a category one, the veteran forward will be required to at least sit out next weekend's game against the Tigers. But the latest head knock is also cause for concern for his welfare. It is his third failed HIA since April and his second in three weeks, and it could lead to an even longer stint on the sidelines. His brother Tom was one of the first to react to his latest concussion, telling him to get off the field as he struggled to stand up. 'Jake, get off the field,' Tom could be heard saying as Jake tried to shake it off before listening to his brother and trudging off. You can watch the latest Trbojevic head knock in the player above. Jake Trbojevic suffered yet another concussion as DCE faltered again. Image: Kayo/Getty There is a different kind of concern for his brother Tom, who continues to struggle to make an impact on the game. In his first game back at fullback, Tom tried to insert himself throughout but failed to produce his trademark tackle-breaking skills. While he crossed early after latching onto a Tolu Koula kick, with the ball, he wasn't able to bust the line open with speed and power, something he was renowned for in years past. He also missed Ethan Strange badly when the Raiders prodigy scored his second and again for his third try. With Lehi Hopoate likely back next week, Tom may return to the centres again. But the bigger question is whether he is a viable starting option anymore, with his body clearly continuing to hinder his performance. One for Anthony Seibold to ponder long and hard about. Tom Trbojevic failed to make a meaningful impact in his return to fullback.. (Photo by) DCE outshone, Jamal Fogarty call looks better by the day Manly also got a taste of life beyond Daly Cherry-Evans with Jamal Fogarty's elite kicking game on full display. Fogarty had a try assist early on for Strange and took control of the game when Kaeo Weekes was in the sin bin, twice smartly kicking for touch to slow the game. The 31-year-old half now has 19 try assists in 2025, and his kicking will be integral to Canberra's march towards the premiership. While DCE struggled to make an impact. Jamal Fogarty (right) was a standout performer on Friday night. (Photo by) The veteran half-back's game was riddled with errors on Friday night as Father Time appears to be catching up with the Queensland great as every month goes by. The decision to replace him with Fogarty next season, while controversial, appears to be the right move based on what was on show on Friday night. The Sea Eagles had 55 per cent of possession and several attacking sets on the Raiders' goal line -including 10 minutes with a man advantage - but DCE nor Trbojevic could unlock the defence. It all bubbled over at the end after Trbojevic delivered a pass behind the veteran halfback, which he dropped, with DCE seen fuming at the star fullback. Daly Cherry-Evans has had a worrying dip in form in 2025. (Photo by) But it was DCE's continued decline that caused most concern among Manly fans. 'DCE's decline towards retirement wasn't exactly what I expected. Get slower and have a less effective running game? Sure. But the decline of his defence has been pretty extreme,' one fan wrote. 'Do Roosters fans actually want DCE? He's been a great player but it looks like its time to hang em up imo,' another wrote. While a third said: 'It's actually sad watching this DCE decline. Happening so much faster and worse than I imagined'. Father Time is undefeated. – with NewsWire Originally published as Major Jake Trbojevic concern in heavy defeat to Raiders as DCE falters again
The Advertiser
43 minutes ago
- The Advertiser
'He'll play for Australia': Stuart's not-so Strange tip
In an extraordinary show of support, Ricky Stuart is tipping "Laurie Daley-like" sensation Ethan Strange to wear the troublesome NSW State of Origin No.6 jumper in 2026. Unknown to most NRL fans before the season's start, Strange bagged a spectacular try-scoring hat-trick in Friday night's 28-12 win over Manly to lead the Raiders back to the top of the NRL ladder. But it wasn't merely the tries, but more the manner in which he scored them - and when - that drew lavish praise from his veteran coach. After collecting Canberra's opening try in the 10th minute, Strange took the game by the scruff off the neck when the Raiders found themselves behind on the scoreboard midway through the second half. First he took on and beat the Manly defence to storm over in the 54th minute. Then Strange skilfully reeled in an audacious flick pass from coach Stuart's son Jed down the left wing to realistically put the game beyond Manly's reach. "He's got qualities of a representative player already as a young person, and I don't say that outlandishly," Stuart said. "For a young player such as Ethan to be able to give off energy to his teammates is similar to Laurie Daley when Laurie was a young player." With a favourable run home, Canberra are fast firming to claim their first premiership since Stuart and Daley were at the forefront of the legendary Green Machine that won three between 1989 and 1994. But Stuart is predicting even greater honours for Strange - and doesn't mind sharing his thoughts. "I've got a very strong opinion of where he's going to go as a player," the former Blues coach and premiership-winning mentor said. "You look at his game today to where he started with us a year and a half, two years ago, 25, 30 games into his career. "He's got an unbelievable future. I think he'll play for Australia this year and he'll be our next five-eighth for NSW. "And I don't sit here gloating. I don't sit here as a happy coach saying that. I firmly believe that. "He's got Origin attitude the way he defends, the way he runs the football. "He's got qualities of a representative player already as a young person and, as I say, I don't say that outlandishly." Stuart said he was unconcerned about placing such heady expectations on the young super talent. "I know I'm talking about big shoes to fill and (people will say), 'You're putting too much pressure on Ethan'. Bad luck, he'll handle it,'' the coach said. "If you're ever going to make it in this game, you've got to handle pressure, and he will." Raiders captain Joseph Tapine agrees Strange is something special. "He's strong as well," Tapine said. "And he's still young in his communication stage as well. When he starts to come out of his shell and open up and starts talking a bit more, it's going to go to another level. "So it's impressive where he is at the moment, but exciting where he can get to soon." In an extraordinary show of support, Ricky Stuart is tipping "Laurie Daley-like" sensation Ethan Strange to wear the troublesome NSW State of Origin No.6 jumper in 2026. Unknown to most NRL fans before the season's start, Strange bagged a spectacular try-scoring hat-trick in Friday night's 28-12 win over Manly to lead the Raiders back to the top of the NRL ladder. But it wasn't merely the tries, but more the manner in which he scored them - and when - that drew lavish praise from his veteran coach. After collecting Canberra's opening try in the 10th minute, Strange took the game by the scruff off the neck when the Raiders found themselves behind on the scoreboard midway through the second half. First he took on and beat the Manly defence to storm over in the 54th minute. Then Strange skilfully reeled in an audacious flick pass from coach Stuart's son Jed down the left wing to realistically put the game beyond Manly's reach. "He's got qualities of a representative player already as a young person, and I don't say that outlandishly," Stuart said. "For a young player such as Ethan to be able to give off energy to his teammates is similar to Laurie Daley when Laurie was a young player." With a favourable run home, Canberra are fast firming to claim their first premiership since Stuart and Daley were at the forefront of the legendary Green Machine that won three between 1989 and 1994. But Stuart is predicting even greater honours for Strange - and doesn't mind sharing his thoughts. "I've got a very strong opinion of where he's going to go as a player," the former Blues coach and premiership-winning mentor said. "You look at his game today to where he started with us a year and a half, two years ago, 25, 30 games into his career. "He's got an unbelievable future. I think he'll play for Australia this year and he'll be our next five-eighth for NSW. "And I don't sit here gloating. I don't sit here as a happy coach saying that. I firmly believe that. "He's got Origin attitude the way he defends, the way he runs the football. "He's got qualities of a representative player already as a young person and, as I say, I don't say that outlandishly." Stuart said he was unconcerned about placing such heady expectations on the young super talent. "I know I'm talking about big shoes to fill and (people will say), 'You're putting too much pressure on Ethan'. Bad luck, he'll handle it,'' the coach said. "If you're ever going to make it in this game, you've got to handle pressure, and he will." Raiders captain Joseph Tapine agrees Strange is something special. "He's strong as well," Tapine said. "And he's still young in his communication stage as well. When he starts to come out of his shell and open up and starts talking a bit more, it's going to go to another level. "So it's impressive where he is at the moment, but exciting where he can get to soon." In an extraordinary show of support, Ricky Stuart is tipping "Laurie Daley-like" sensation Ethan Strange to wear the troublesome NSW State of Origin No.6 jumper in 2026. Unknown to most NRL fans before the season's start, Strange bagged a spectacular try-scoring hat-trick in Friday night's 28-12 win over Manly to lead the Raiders back to the top of the NRL ladder. But it wasn't merely the tries, but more the manner in which he scored them - and when - that drew lavish praise from his veteran coach. After collecting Canberra's opening try in the 10th minute, Strange took the game by the scruff off the neck when the Raiders found themselves behind on the scoreboard midway through the second half. First he took on and beat the Manly defence to storm over in the 54th minute. Then Strange skilfully reeled in an audacious flick pass from coach Stuart's son Jed down the left wing to realistically put the game beyond Manly's reach. "He's got qualities of a representative player already as a young person, and I don't say that outlandishly," Stuart said. "For a young player such as Ethan to be able to give off energy to his teammates is similar to Laurie Daley when Laurie was a young player." With a favourable run home, Canberra are fast firming to claim their first premiership since Stuart and Daley were at the forefront of the legendary Green Machine that won three between 1989 and 1994. But Stuart is predicting even greater honours for Strange - and doesn't mind sharing his thoughts. "I've got a very strong opinion of where he's going to go as a player," the former Blues coach and premiership-winning mentor said. "You look at his game today to where he started with us a year and a half, two years ago, 25, 30 games into his career. "He's got an unbelievable future. I think he'll play for Australia this year and he'll be our next five-eighth for NSW. "And I don't sit here gloating. I don't sit here as a happy coach saying that. I firmly believe that. "He's got Origin attitude the way he defends, the way he runs the football. "He's got qualities of a representative player already as a young person and, as I say, I don't say that outlandishly." Stuart said he was unconcerned about placing such heady expectations on the young super talent. "I know I'm talking about big shoes to fill and (people will say), 'You're putting too much pressure on Ethan'. Bad luck, he'll handle it,'' the coach said. "If you're ever going to make it in this game, you've got to handle pressure, and he will." Raiders captain Joseph Tapine agrees Strange is something special. "He's strong as well," Tapine said. "And he's still young in his communication stage as well. When he starts to come out of his shell and open up and starts talking a bit more, it's going to go to another level. "So it's impressive where he is at the moment, but exciting where he can get to soon."
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
NRL world up in arms over Nathan Cleary farce as Panthers star's previous comments paint damning picture
Nathan Cleary has come under fire for appearing to 'dive' on two separate occasions in Penrith's 48-12 win over the Knights. The Panthers charged into the NRL's top four on Friday night, easily dispatching Newcastle to bring up their ninth consecutive win. But two moments from Cleary didn't go down well with NRL fans. On two separate occasions in the first half, the Knights were penalised for their pressure on Cleary as he went to kick the ball on the final tackle. Each time as Cleary kicked the ball, he threw himself to the ground and complained to the referee, who awarded him a penalty both times. The first penalty was against Jermaine McEwen, who pushed Cleary while he still had the ball, but was still pinged. You can watch the moment in the player above. Newcastle coach Adam O'Brien erupted in the coach's box, while in the commentary box, Warren Smith and Steve Roach were equally gobsmacked. 'He couldn't pull out of that,' Roach said. While Smith added, 'That's harsh'. Moments later, Cleary again received a penalty, after again making the most of contact. This time, Cleary's kicking leg came down on top of a Knights defender. Cleary again threw himself to the ground and was subsequently awarded a penalty. He got up with a smirk, high-fiving teammates as the Panthers continued to roll through the Knights with a huge weight of possession. But fans cried foul, feeling Cleary continues to 'take dives' and the refs seem to keep falling for it. 'Week in week out, Cleary takes dives, the NRL need to step in,' one fan wrote. 'Nathan Cleary barely touched twice and yet gets 2 penalties … F***ing joke,' another said. While a third added: 'I hate that Cleary does that'. Cleary has previously admitted to playing up for penalties back in 2021, and it appears his stance on the matter hasn't changed. As penalties for high contact and crushers swept the sport, Cleary said in 2021, while obviously it's not what fans want to see, if it helps you win, it's worth doing. 'That's something that ultimately would be nice to be eliminated, but if it keeps going like that, everyone's going to do it because at the end of the day, you want to win,' Cleary said. 'Getting penalties helps you win, so it's just the way it is at the moment. It comes down to just wanting to win the game, and those things help.' Next week, the Panthers will face Melbourne, in a match that could shape the top four, while the Knights take on the Cowboys.
