Opals shine to beat NZ in Trans-Tasman Throwdown
Debutant Miela Sowah's sharp shooting and captain Stephanie Reid's dogged defence have carried the Opals to an 88-70 win over New Zealand in the opening game of the inaugural Trans-Tasman Throwdown.
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The Advertiser
8 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Origin star stops 'creepy' NRL teammate groping woman
A former NRL player acquitted of rape has admitted groping a woman on a night out with Brisbane players, prompting teammate Patrick Carrigan to intervene. Teui "TC" Robati, 23, has been sentenced to probation for sexually assaulting the woman at a bar in a "creepy" incident witnessed by former Broncos skipper Carrigan. The ex-NRL backrower made the admission minutes after being found not guilty of two counts of raping a different woman in another incident days earlier. Robati on Wednesday pleaded guilty to indecently groping a 21-year-old woman's breast at a Brisbane bar on the night of December 21, 2022. His then-teammate - Queensland State of Origin forward Carrigan - saw Robati assault the woman and stepped in to stop him, Brisbane District Court was told. Judge William Everson told Robati his offending was "brazen and quite frankly creepy", leaving the victim feeling completely violated. "Your conduct demonstrates a very disrespectful attitude toward women," Judge Everson said. Robati had earlier been on trial charged with rape over the separate incident. Robati on Monday pleaded not guilty to raping a woman twice in the disabled toilet of a pub in the inner-Brisbane suburb of Fortitude Valley on December 11, 2022. Defence barrister David Funch had told the jury it was accepted Robati had sexual contact with the woman after exposing himself but he thought he had consent. "It's poor behaviour but poor behaviour does not make you a rapist," Mr Funch said. The jury had deliberated for nine hours since Tuesday following a trial lasting one-and-a-half days. Robati made his NRL debut in 2021 after shining for Brisbane affiliate club Wynnum-Manly in the Queensland Cup. He played 10 NRL games in 2021 and backed it up with a further seven in 2022 after making that year's Maori All Stars team. The New Zealand-born forward had signed an extension until the end of 2024 but was axed by the Broncos in February 2023, before the NRL season started. Mr Funch had earlier told Judge Everson Robati had "lost everything" and was working in road construction and food packaging. "He remains hopeful of resuming his professional career and he has been in discussion with one other NRL team located in Sydney," Mr Funch said. "He has been informed by his manager that once these charges are finalised then he can resume his hopes of a professional career." Mr Funch asked Judge Everson not to record a conviction against Robati owing to his disadvantaged background while growing up in New Zealand. "He was a young man thrust into the limelight, all of a sudden enjoying fame and fortune, lined with the attention of others combined with alcohol," he said. "In the surreal position with fame at such a young age he was not equipped to handle himself appropriately." In sentencing, Judge Everson said he needed to send a message society condemned those who assaulted women. "That you felt entitled to sexually assault a woman is most concerning," he said. Judge Everson said he was reluctant to affect Robati's rehabilitation and did not record a conviction for his "reprehensible behaviour". "You are still a young man, you are hoping to rehabilitate yourself and resurrect your football career," he said. Robati walked from court after being sentenced to a two-year probation order. His legal representative outside court said Robati thanked the jury for its rape trial verdict and he was ready to move on with his life. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028 A former NRL player acquitted of rape has admitted groping a woman on a night out with Brisbane players, prompting teammate Patrick Carrigan to intervene. Teui "TC" Robati, 23, has been sentenced to probation for sexually assaulting the woman at a bar in a "creepy" incident witnessed by former Broncos skipper Carrigan. The ex-NRL backrower made the admission minutes after being found not guilty of two counts of raping a different woman in another incident days earlier. Robati on Wednesday pleaded guilty to indecently groping a 21-year-old woman's breast at a Brisbane bar on the night of December 21, 2022. His then-teammate - Queensland State of Origin forward Carrigan - saw Robati assault the woman and stepped in to stop him, Brisbane District Court was told. Judge William Everson told Robati his offending was "brazen and quite frankly creepy", leaving the victim feeling completely violated. "Your conduct demonstrates a very disrespectful attitude toward women," Judge Everson said. Robati had earlier been on trial charged with rape over the separate incident. Robati on Monday pleaded not guilty to raping a woman twice in the disabled toilet of a pub in the inner-Brisbane suburb of Fortitude Valley on December 11, 2022. Defence barrister David Funch had told the jury it was accepted Robati had sexual contact with the woman after exposing himself but he thought he had consent. "It's poor behaviour but poor behaviour does not make you a rapist," Mr Funch said. The jury had deliberated for nine hours since Tuesday following a trial lasting one-and-a-half days. Robati made his NRL debut in 2021 after shining for Brisbane affiliate club Wynnum-Manly in the Queensland Cup. He played 10 NRL games in 2021 and backed it up with a further seven in 2022 after making that year's Maori All Stars team. The New Zealand-born forward had signed an extension until the end of 2024 but was axed by the Broncos in February 2023, before the NRL season started. Mr Funch had earlier told Judge Everson Robati had "lost everything" and was working in road construction and food packaging. "He remains hopeful of resuming his professional career and he has been in discussion with one other NRL team located in Sydney," Mr Funch said. "He has been informed by his manager that once these charges are finalised then he can resume his hopes of a professional career." Mr Funch asked Judge Everson not to record a conviction against Robati owing to his disadvantaged background while growing up in New Zealand. "He was a young man thrust into the limelight, all of a sudden enjoying fame and fortune, lined with the attention of others combined with alcohol," he said. "In the surreal position with fame at such a young age he was not equipped to handle himself appropriately." In sentencing, Judge Everson said he needed to send a message society condemned those who assaulted women. "That you felt entitled to sexually assault a woman is most concerning," he said. Judge Everson said he was reluctant to affect Robati's rehabilitation and did not record a conviction for his "reprehensible behaviour". "You are still a young man, you are hoping to rehabilitate yourself and resurrect your football career," he said. Robati walked from court after being sentenced to a two-year probation order. His legal representative outside court said Robati thanked the jury for its rape trial verdict and he was ready to move on with his life. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028 A former NRL player acquitted of rape has admitted groping a woman on a night out with Brisbane players, prompting teammate Patrick Carrigan to intervene. Teui "TC" Robati, 23, has been sentenced to probation for sexually assaulting the woman at a bar in a "creepy" incident witnessed by former Broncos skipper Carrigan. The ex-NRL backrower made the admission minutes after being found not guilty of two counts of raping a different woman in another incident days earlier. Robati on Wednesday pleaded guilty to indecently groping a 21-year-old woman's breast at a Brisbane bar on the night of December 21, 2022. His then-teammate - Queensland State of Origin forward Carrigan - saw Robati assault the woman and stepped in to stop him, Brisbane District Court was told. Judge William Everson told Robati his offending was "brazen and quite frankly creepy", leaving the victim feeling completely violated. "Your conduct demonstrates a very disrespectful attitude toward women," Judge Everson said. Robati had earlier been on trial charged with rape over the separate incident. Robati on Monday pleaded not guilty to raping a woman twice in the disabled toilet of a pub in the inner-Brisbane suburb of Fortitude Valley on December 11, 2022. Defence barrister David Funch had told the jury it was accepted Robati had sexual contact with the woman after exposing himself but he thought he had consent. "It's poor behaviour but poor behaviour does not make you a rapist," Mr Funch said. The jury had deliberated for nine hours since Tuesday following a trial lasting one-and-a-half days. Robati made his NRL debut in 2021 after shining for Brisbane affiliate club Wynnum-Manly in the Queensland Cup. He played 10 NRL games in 2021 and backed it up with a further seven in 2022 after making that year's Maori All Stars team. The New Zealand-born forward had signed an extension until the end of 2024 but was axed by the Broncos in February 2023, before the NRL season started. Mr Funch had earlier told Judge Everson Robati had "lost everything" and was working in road construction and food packaging. "He remains hopeful of resuming his professional career and he has been in discussion with one other NRL team located in Sydney," Mr Funch said. "He has been informed by his manager that once these charges are finalised then he can resume his hopes of a professional career." Mr Funch asked Judge Everson not to record a conviction against Robati owing to his disadvantaged background while growing up in New Zealand. "He was a young man thrust into the limelight, all of a sudden enjoying fame and fortune, lined with the attention of others combined with alcohol," he said. "In the surreal position with fame at such a young age he was not equipped to handle himself appropriately." In sentencing, Judge Everson said he needed to send a message society condemned those who assaulted women. "That you felt entitled to sexually assault a woman is most concerning," he said. Judge Everson said he was reluctant to affect Robati's rehabilitation and did not record a conviction for his "reprehensible behaviour". "You are still a young man, you are hoping to rehabilitate yourself and resurrect your football career," he said. Robati walked from court after being sentenced to a two-year probation order. His legal representative outside court said Robati thanked the jury for its rape trial verdict and he was ready to move on with his life. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028 A former NRL player acquitted of rape has admitted groping a woman on a night out with Brisbane players, prompting teammate Patrick Carrigan to intervene. Teui "TC" Robati, 23, has been sentenced to probation for sexually assaulting the woman at a bar in a "creepy" incident witnessed by former Broncos skipper Carrigan. The ex-NRL backrower made the admission minutes after being found not guilty of two counts of raping a different woman in another incident days earlier. Robati on Wednesday pleaded guilty to indecently groping a 21-year-old woman's breast at a Brisbane bar on the night of December 21, 2022. His then-teammate - Queensland State of Origin forward Carrigan - saw Robati assault the woman and stepped in to stop him, Brisbane District Court was told. Judge William Everson told Robati his offending was "brazen and quite frankly creepy", leaving the victim feeling completely violated. "Your conduct demonstrates a very disrespectful attitude toward women," Judge Everson said. Robati had earlier been on trial charged with rape over the separate incident. Robati on Monday pleaded not guilty to raping a woman twice in the disabled toilet of a pub in the inner-Brisbane suburb of Fortitude Valley on December 11, 2022. Defence barrister David Funch had told the jury it was accepted Robati had sexual contact with the woman after exposing himself but he thought he had consent. "It's poor behaviour but poor behaviour does not make you a rapist," Mr Funch said. The jury had deliberated for nine hours since Tuesday following a trial lasting one-and-a-half days. Robati made his NRL debut in 2021 after shining for Brisbane affiliate club Wynnum-Manly in the Queensland Cup. He played 10 NRL games in 2021 and backed it up with a further seven in 2022 after making that year's Maori All Stars team. The New Zealand-born forward had signed an extension until the end of 2024 but was axed by the Broncos in February 2023, before the NRL season started. Mr Funch had earlier told Judge Everson Robati had "lost everything" and was working in road construction and food packaging. "He remains hopeful of resuming his professional career and he has been in discussion with one other NRL team located in Sydney," Mr Funch said. "He has been informed by his manager that once these charges are finalised then he can resume his hopes of a professional career." Mr Funch asked Judge Everson not to record a conviction against Robati owing to his disadvantaged background while growing up in New Zealand. "He was a young man thrust into the limelight, all of a sudden enjoying fame and fortune, lined with the attention of others combined with alcohol," he said. "In the surreal position with fame at such a young age he was not equipped to handle himself appropriately." In sentencing, Judge Everson said he needed to send a message society condemned those who assaulted women. "That you felt entitled to sexually assault a woman is most concerning," he said. Judge Everson said he was reluctant to affect Robati's rehabilitation and did not record a conviction for his "reprehensible behaviour". "You are still a young man, you are hoping to rehabilitate yourself and resurrect your football career," he said. Robati walked from court after being sentenced to a two-year probation order. His legal representative outside court said Robati thanked the jury for its rape trial verdict and he was ready to move on with his life. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
News.com.au
2 days ago
- News.com.au
Auckland City's amateurs take unpaid leave for Club World Cup adventure
The revamped Club World Cup starting on Saturday brings together some of the most celebrated teams and players in global football. And Auckland City. In a tournament boasting $1 billion in prize money and featuring superstar multi-millionaire players including Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe, the New Zealand side are a striking anomaly. Auckland City are an amateur club, their players balancing football with university studies or full-time jobs as teachers, real estate agents and sales reps. They don't earn a salary for playing. Their first game at the Club World Cup in the United States brings them face-to-face with German champions Bayern Munich and their prolific England striker Harry Kane. Benfica and Boca Juniors, two other storied heavyweights, come next. Auckland City striker Angus Kilkolly cannot wait. "It's probably our dream group," he told AFP by telephone as he made his way to training from his day job in sales. "For us to be able to experience playing against those teams is a dream for us. To be actually on the same pitch is a little bit crazy." The 13-time Oceania Champions League winners have been an almost constant presence at the Club World Cup since 2006. The Navy Blues finished third of seven sides at the 2014 edition, beaten by Argentina's San Lorenzo in extra time in the semi-finals. The tournament this time is a different beast after FIFA pumped in huge resources and made it a 32-team competition that includes Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City and Inter Milan. - After-game drinks - Kilkolly describes Auckland City as "a family club where everyone's welcome, you know everyone, you see the same people at every game". Their picturesque Kiwitea Street ground is nestled in a residential area in New Zealand's biggest city and matches typically take place in front of crowds of between 200 and 2,000, Kilkolly said. "We've got a nice boutique club room and everybody enjoys a drink after the game," said the 29-year-old, who averages a goal every other game in his nearly 140 appearances for the club. Auckland City are currently second, a point behind leaders Birkenhead United AFC in the amateur 12-team Northern League. So against the highest level of opposition they have ever faced, what would represent success against Bayern and the rest? "If we can leave there and say, 'we played our style, we've done our best', I think that's a positive outlook," said Kilkolly. "If we leave there with regrets, going 'we didn't do all we could', that would be a sour feeling." He says the team will stick to the club's "DNA" of attractive possession-based football and playing out from the back. "We don't concede a lot of goals in New Zealand so obviously we're aiming not to concede too many goals at the Club World Cup as well," he said. - Unpaid leave - Kilkolly's typical week day is a busy one and he has not taken a proper holiday for three or four years because football eats up all his leave days. A manager in sales for a power tools firm, he is in the office at 7:30 am, does a day's work, trains three or four times a week, home by 9:00 pm, off to bed, repeat. He does not receive a wage for playing football. Rather, there is a cap of 150 New Zealand dollars (US$90) a week for amateur footballers in the country covering basic expenses such as gym membership. The Auckland City players will be in the United States for nearly a month -- thankfully Kilkolly's boss is understanding and likes football. "It's not easy, it's four weeks' leave, but I don't have four weeks' annual leave so there's unpaid leave going there," Kilkolly said. "But it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Playing at the World Cup gives us the ability to compete on a world stage and have that feeling of being a professional footballer, without being one." As a forward, Kilkolly will have eyes on Kane's number nine jersey after their game at the 26,000-capacity TQL Stadium in Cincinnati. "I think he earns more in a week than I earn in a year working," he said with a laugh.
News.com.au
4 days ago
- News.com.au
Brumbies seal Super Rugby semi final berth with win over the Hurricanes
There's still a pulse in Australia's ailing Super Rugby teams. Not for the first time, the ACT Brumbies have saved Australian rugby's blushes with a thrilling 35-28 quarter-final win over the Hurricanes in Canberra on Saturday. They now face the dreaded prospect of having to win twice in New Zealand to take the title but that's a problem for another day because the good news is that at least they're still alive. Australia's other teams all folded like cheap suits and have already crashed out of the tournament, leaving the Brumbies to fly the flag alone against the three remaining Kiwi sides. If it wasn't for an officiating blunder that cost them victory in their final regular season clash with the Crusaders, the Brumbies would be hosting a semi next week but instead they're off to Waikato Stadium in Hamilton to tackle the Chiefs. It's a tough assignment but the Brumbies have always been a side willing to roll up their sleeves and grind out wins through hard work. Twice they found themselves trailing the Hurricanes inside the first quarter of the game but both times they levelled the scores with tries off the back of rolling mauls after spurning the chance of easy points from penalties. It's not pretty but it's a highly effective tactic that the Brumbies have mastered and the Wallabies should consider using in their upcoming series against the British and Irish Lions. Four of the Brumbies' five tries against the Hurricanes were scored by frontrowers, two by hooker Billy Pollard and one each from props James Slipper and captain Allan Alaalatoa, who returned to the side from injury. 'It felt good to earn ourselves another week,' Alaalatoa said. 'We knew it was probably going to take everything we had. Physically, we spoke a lot about our tackle area and our tackle completion from the last time we played them. 'We backed ourselves. We knew that if we were going to beat the Hurricanes, we had to score some tries. 'The last time we played him, we didn't get many A-Zone opportunities, so we wanted to take as many as we could.' Only Tom Wright, who had an impressive game at fullback, chalked one up for the backline after he combined with powerhouse backrower Rob Valentini. If the Brumbies have a weakness it's with their defence. They conceded 50 tries during the normal season and gave up four more against the Hurricanes to keep the visitors in the game right until the final whistle. There was some added pressure before the game when the Auckland Blues scored in the last minute to beat the Chiefs in New Zealand, meaning the Brumbies' match was sudden-death. Had the Chiefs won, both the Brumbies and the Canes would have been assured a place in the semis regardless of the result but it was the Aussies who survived to fight again. 'It's good for us to experience that pressure now, especially heading over to Hamilton now where it is going to be do or die,' Alaalatoa said. 'To have that feeling for the game I think it's gonna be good for us heading into next week.'
