Walters confirmed as Kangaroos coach for Ashes series
'Jess Skinner had significant success in her first outing as Jillaroos coach in Las Vegas earlier this year,' V'Landys said.
'Jess has progressed through the coaching pathways and is a fantastic choice to lead Australia's most prolific national women's team until the end of the World Cup.'
Eels release Matterson to join Sam Burgess' Wolves;
Parramatta have released out-of-favour back-rower Ryan Matterson for the remainder of the year.
Matterson, a former NSW Origin representative who has spent most of this season either in NSW Cup or in the club's injury ward, will leave immediately to join English club Warrington on a loan deal for the rest of the Super League season.
The 30-year-old still has one more year to run on his deal with the Eels, worth around $700,000 in 2026.
Under the terms of the loan, Matterson can return to Parramatta next year if he chooses not to pursue opportunities elsewhere.
The Eels had given Matterson permission to negotiate with rival clubs, but his management has been unable to land him a contract in the NRL.
Wolves coach Sam Burgess, however, was prepared to take a chance on the player as he looks to improve on his side's current position of eighth on the Super league ladder.
The deal is similar to the one Wests Tigers negotiated with the Wolves last year which allowed John Bateman to leave the club mid-season for a stint in Super League.
That arrangement helped ease the Tigers' salary cap pressure and ultimately led to Bateman choosing to continue his career at the Cowboys this season instead of returning to play at the Tigers under Benji Marshall.
The Eels are privately hopeful Matterson can find a deal elsewhere in 2026, with the player not in the long-term plans of coach Jason Ryles. Matterson has played just four NRL games off the bench for the Eels this season.
Tigers extend Koroisau until end of 2028
Billie Eder
Api Koroisau has signed a two-year extension with the Wests Tigers, which will keep him at the joint venture club until the end of 2028.
The 32-year-old was already contracted through to the end of next year, but the Tigers were eager to retain their skipper as they continue to rebuild under coach Benji Marshall.
Koroisau's extension has been anticipated for a number of weeks and was the reason the Tigers let emerging talent Tallyn Da Silva go to Parramatta.
'This club has become family to me. I've felt nothing but support from the players, staff, and especially Benji - he's someone I really admire and enjoy playing under,' Koroisau said. 'I'm stoked to re-sign and can't wait to help lead this team for a few more years.'
Marshall said Koroisau was a crucial part of the team's future success.
'Api is a great player, but more so he is the heart and soul of this team,' Marshall said. 'His leadership, experience and energy are invaluable. Having him commit to our future is massive for the direction we are heading in. We are thrilled to have him and his wonderful family here long term.'
Eels young gun set to miss next month with broken hand
Michael Chammas
Parramatta have been dealt a blow with rookie-of-the-year contender Isaiah Iongi expected to miss the next month with a broken hand suffered in the loss to Canberra at the weekend.
The Eels were set to be boosted by the return of halfback Mitchell Moses, but the positive news has been offset by the disappointment of their fullback being sidelined.
Joash Papalii has been playing in the halves but is the club's back-up fullback. It could open the door for Dylan Brown to return to the team in the halves however coach Jason Ryles has previously stated his desire to plan for the future.
NRL backs 'outrageous' calls that left Dragons coach seething
Christian Nicolussi
The NRL have defended the two contentious calls Dragons coach Shane Flanagan claimed cost his side victory against Canterbury and a potential NRL finals berth.
An NRL spokesperson confirmed Dragons forward Luciano Leilua was correctly penalised for interfering with a Jacob Kiraz play-the-ball, and there was no video evidence to suggest Viliame Kikau knocked on when being tackled by Tyrell Sloan.
After reviewing footage on Monday, the spokesperson backed the Bunker's decision to punish Leilua for knocking the ball out of Kiraz' hands, and how he still had hold of Kiraz as he tried to get to his feet. The footage showed Leilua with his left hand on the elbow of Kiraz, then his foot comes forward and dislodges the ball.
Kiraz did not play the ball correctly, but was not given the chance to do so because of Leilua's actions.
Kikau also appeared to knock the ball into Sloan when he raced in off his wing in the 78th minute. Rather than stop play and give the ball to the Dragons, referee Adam Gee awarded the Dogs a fresh set, and they scored the match-winner a minute later.
The spokesperson was satisfied Kikau was trying to quickly pass the ball, and that there was nothing to suggest the ball travelled forward into Sloan.
Flanagan was seething after the game, describing the Leilua call as 'outrageous'.
'They're a good side the Bulldogs, they compete hard, but there were some decisions tonight that cost us two competition points, and could cost us an opportunity to play semi-finals,' he said.
Flanagan preferred not to comment on Monday, and was focused on making sure his side were ready for the road trip to Townsville to face the Cowboys on Friday.
Christian Tuipulotu (hamstring) and Mat Feagai (ankle) are in contention to replace Sione Finau on the left wing after the youngster dislocated his shoulder scoring against the Dogs in the second half on Saturday night.
Tabuai-Fidow considers Samoa switch
Michael Chammas
Queensland superstar Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow is considering walking away from the Kangaroos to represent Samoa at the end-of-season Pacific Championship.
With NSW prop Payne Haas and Maroons counterpart Tino Fa'asuamaleaui also weighing up the move, the news of Tabuai-Fidow's potential defection looms as a hammer blow to incoming coach Kevin Walters' hopes of winning the first Ashes series in more than two decades.
The Dolphins fullback, who has represented Australia for the past two years and would be an almost guaranteed selection in the Kangaroos team for the Ashes, is strongly considering changing his international allegiance.
The Australian Rugby League Commission is putting the finishing touches to the deal for Walters to take charge of the Kangaroos in the three-Test series against England starting at the end of October.
One of Walters' first assignments will be to convince a host of Australian-eligible players to represent the Kangaroos instead of the countries of their family heritage.
Other potential Kangaroos who have previously represented Samoa include Stefano Utoikamanu and Jeremiah Nanai.
Potential Samoa team
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
Brian To'o
Izack Tago
Stephen Crichton
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
Blaize Talagi
Jarome Luai
Terrell May
Danny Levi
Payne Haas
Jeremiah Nanai
Jaydn Su'A
Tino Fa'asuamaleaui
Sua Fa'alogo
Spencer Leniu
Josh Papalii
Shawn Blore
Tabuai-Fidow represented Samoa at the 2022 World Cup, where injury limited his involvement to just one game. He was one of Queensland's best players in game three of this year's State of Origin series after being moved to fullback to cover for the injured Kalyn Ponga.
Tabuai-Fidow's form has him strongly in the conversation for the Kangaroos No.1 jersey currently held by Penrith's Dylan Edwards. Other fullback options include Reece Walsh and Kalyn Ponga – if he is fit to play and chooses to represent Australia.
Storm enforcer banned for elbowing rival's head
Dan Walsh
One enforcer in, one enforcer out.
Melbourne's Nelson Asofa-Solomona is set to miss Thursday's showdown with the Roosters as he faces a three-game ban for elbowing, while the Tricolours' own hitman Victor Radley will manage a shoulder injury after scans cleared him of serious injury.
The Roosters do face being without halfback Hugo Savala once more for a critical clash with the Storm though after he was spotted in what the club described as a precautionary moon boot while already recovering from a wrist injury.
Savala had a cortisone injection to ease a foot injury last week and given the young playmaker was already out with ligament damage in his wrist, he is considered unlikely to be available.
While Roosters coach Trent Robinson recalled Chad Townsend for his first NRL appearance since April in an error-riddled 31-18 loss to Cronulla last week, playmaker Sandon Smith was also withdrawn from NSW Cup on Saturday.
Immortal Andrew Johns on The Sunday Footy Show described Townsend's elevation over Smith against the Sharks as a 'head scratcher' that he couldn't comprehend given Smith's Anzac Day heroics against the Dragons and running threat this season.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Canberra Times
an hour ago
- Canberra Times
De Minaur opens Washington campaign with solid win
As seventh seed at the tournament, de Minaur was favourite to see off world No.75 Bu. Now the Australian can take heart from a solid performance at the hardcourt ATP 500 tournament as he builds towards next month's US Open, where last year he reached his third consecutive grand slam quarter-final.
The Age
2 hours ago
- The Age
It's a long shot. But Sydney FC should be applauded for having a crack at Thomas Müller
Domestically, the Australian football economy continues to shrink. Club distributions are down from over $3 million per season to an all-time low of $530,000, and so most clubs don't even bother trying to sign big names. It's beyond them, and there is little appetite from club owners to dig their hands even further into their pockets. And when they do, they have to settle for the likes of Douglas Costa, who had already had his run through MLS by the time he washed up at the Sky Blues last season, but has proved to be a worthy signing, or Juan Mata, who was many years past his peak when Western Sydney Wanderers had the chance to grab him - as evidenced by his on-field output. Mata might yet return next season, but if he does, he'll be a luxury add-on for the Wanderers, rather than a key starting player. A-League clubs have largely pivoted towards bringing through academy players - and so they should. They've finally learned how to turn young, homegrown talent into sizeable transfer fees, and flipping kids for cash is the only way they can be sustainable in the long term. It's good for the game, too. It's a shift that is already benefiting the Socceroos and, in turn, will reinforce the A-League's legitimacy as a breeding ground and relevance for the many fans in Australia who follow European football but not the local product. The more that A-League alumni players can reach the top levels, the more it says to the unconverted that our competition is worth keeping a close eye on. But that can't be all that the A-League is, or will be. For one thing, those youngsters need to have hardened pros next to them in the dressing room to learn from. If the A-League was too reliant on experienced players in the past, it now runs the risk of going too far the other way. A careful balance has to be struck. Star power has always been the thing that moves the needle in this country, but it's never been more true than today. As mass culture continues to splinter into a million micro-niches, the need to have something - or someone - with cut-through power is critical. Müller is that sort of someone. And for every player who opts for the megabucks, there might be one per cent of them who are happy to forego those earnings for the glorious Australian lifestyle, of which the appeal to foreigners we sometimes underestimate because we're so lucky to experience it 24/7. Del Piero, don't forget, turned down more money elsewhere - and even a contract offer from Liverpool - because he was so attracted by the wonders of Sydney. Loading To ask the question of Müller is to send a message to the rest of the football world - and to sceptical local fans - that the A-League still has ambition. There's no risk in trying. In fact, the risk is not trying, and never knowing if he might have been the next Del Piero. At worst, you get a polite rejection. At best, you spark the sort of rare moment that can reignite interest in the domestic game, especially at a time when eyeballs are hard to win.
The Age
2 hours ago
- The Age
Australia were in trouble. Then Tim David blasted a record-breaking century
Tim David has smashed the fastest international century by an Australian in history, bringing up triple figures from just 37 balls in a jaw-dropping T20 run chase that sealed a dominant series victory over the West Indies. Set 215 for victory, Australia overcame a shaky start at 3-61 from 5.5 overs following the early dismissals of Glenn Maxwell (20 off seven), Josh Inglis (15 off six) and Mitch Marsh (22 off 19), before David launched one of the most destructive innings ever seen in national colours. David had a relatively modest start to his innings, reaching eight off five balls, before exploding from there to reach a half century in 16 balls, one delivery faster than 17-ball efforts from Marcus Stoinis (against Sri Lanka in 2022) and Travis Head (against Scotland in 2024). Yuvraj Singh's 12-ball half century is the fastest in a T20 international by a player from a major nation. David's blistering knock included four consecutive sixes off left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie in a 10th over that went for 28 runs. Far from slogging recklessly, David was so in control that he turned down singles to keep the strike from Mitch Owen at the other end. Owen, who hit a 39-ball hundred in this year's BBL final for the Hobart Hurricanes, played second fiddle as David punished a poor West Indian attack. After racing to 82 off 26 balls, David briefly rotated the strike before finishing with a flourish, hitting a boundary to fine leg to finish unbeaten on 102 from 37 balls. David hit 11 sixes, with only Aaron Finch (14) clubbing more during his 156 off 63 balls against England in 2013. Australia chased down the target with 23 balls to spare, with David and Owen (36 not out off 16) combining for a 128-run stand – the highest fifth-wicket partnership in Australian T20I history.
