Big cheers for Aussie Steelers back on home soil
With fast and thunderous steel-on-steel collisions, first time spectators quickly learn why wheelchair rugby used to be called murderball.
The sound of high-speed clashes rang out almost as loudly as cheers for the Australian Steelers this week as the side took on many of the strongest teams on earth at home for the first time since 2018.
"They were all singing the national anthem at the top of their lungs and it just made me smile," Steelers star Shae Graham told AAP.
"This is the first time I've had the opportunity to represent my country and play on home soil, so it means the world."
The Aussies are looking towards the finals at the Santos Wheelchair Rugby World Challenge in Adelaide, involving 158 players from nine nations.
While the sport shares its name with rugby union, that's where the similarities end.
It was specifically designed for athletes with limb impairments and is played indoors on wooden courts with mixed gender teams.
"This is a ruthless, fast-paced, hard-hitting, full contact sport and no one cares whether you are male or female," Ms Graham, the first woman to represent Australia internationally, said.
"It's win at all costs."
Wheelchair Rugby Australia chief executive Chris Nay describes the sport as a mash-up of dodgem cars, gridiron and basketball.
With a 2024 Paris Paralympic Games bronze medal and two Paralympic golds in the trophy cabinet, his aim is for the team to be as recognisable as other iconic Australian squads and hopes greater exposure could help with that.
"Our north star as an organisation is Boomers, Matildas and Steelers," Mr Nay explained.
"Our results stack up with any of our national teams, yet no one really knows that story.
"So to change that we thought that hosting an event here every year at home is a great way to introduce the Steelers to the broader Australian public."
It's proven difficult to secure a major sponsorship partner but there are hopes that could soon change with more exposure.
"We're not just looking for a big sum of money to be jumped on the doorstep and nothing further to happen from there," Mr Nay said.
"We really know our value as a brand and as a sport and what we could bring across athlete stories and success."
The new tournament has arrived at a significant time for the Steelers, who are undergoing a period of renewal.
Six of the 12 players made their debut this year, making wins over Germany, Canada and New Zealand so much sweeter.
There's more than just bragging rights up for grabs in Adelaide, with the tournament offering ranking points ahead of the 2026 world championship in Sao Paolo which impact the draw for the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympic Games draw.
Ms Graham suffered a spinal injury in a car crash when she was 18 and took up the sport nine years later, now training six days a week on top of her job as a librarian at the Melbourne Museum.
"People don't really understand that we're actually high performance athletes, this is our job," she said.
"Wheelchair rugby is a fast-paced, full-contact, highly strategic game - it's super addictive to watch.
"It's such a great community. No one will regret giving this sport a go."
With fast and thunderous steel-on-steel collisions, first time spectators quickly learn why wheelchair rugby used to be called murderball.
The sound of high-speed clashes rang out almost as loudly as cheers for the Australian Steelers this week as the side took on many of the strongest teams on earth at home for the first time since 2018.
"They were all singing the national anthem at the top of their lungs and it just made me smile," Steelers star Shae Graham told AAP.
"This is the first time I've had the opportunity to represent my country and play on home soil, so it means the world."
The Aussies are looking towards the finals at the Santos Wheelchair Rugby World Challenge in Adelaide, involving 158 players from nine nations.
While the sport shares its name with rugby union, that's where the similarities end.
It was specifically designed for athletes with limb impairments and is played indoors on wooden courts with mixed gender teams.
"This is a ruthless, fast-paced, hard-hitting, full contact sport and no one cares whether you are male or female," Ms Graham, the first woman to represent Australia internationally, said.
"It's win at all costs."
Wheelchair Rugby Australia chief executive Chris Nay describes the sport as a mash-up of dodgem cars, gridiron and basketball.
With a 2024 Paris Paralympic Games bronze medal and two Paralympic golds in the trophy cabinet, his aim is for the team to be as recognisable as other iconic Australian squads and hopes greater exposure could help with that.
"Our north star as an organisation is Boomers, Matildas and Steelers," Mr Nay explained.
"Our results stack up with any of our national teams, yet no one really knows that story.
"So to change that we thought that hosting an event here every year at home is a great way to introduce the Steelers to the broader Australian public."
It's proven difficult to secure a major sponsorship partner but there are hopes that could soon change with more exposure.
"We're not just looking for a big sum of money to be jumped on the doorstep and nothing further to happen from there," Mr Nay said.
"We really know our value as a brand and as a sport and what we could bring across athlete stories and success."
The new tournament has arrived at a significant time for the Steelers, who are undergoing a period of renewal.
Six of the 12 players made their debut this year, making wins over Germany, Canada and New Zealand so much sweeter.
There's more than just bragging rights up for grabs in Adelaide, with the tournament offering ranking points ahead of the 2026 world championship in Sao Paolo which impact the draw for the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympic Games draw.
Ms Graham suffered a spinal injury in a car crash when she was 18 and took up the sport nine years later, now training six days a week on top of her job as a librarian at the Melbourne Museum.
"People don't really understand that we're actually high performance athletes, this is our job," she said.
"Wheelchair rugby is a fast-paced, full-contact, highly strategic game - it's super addictive to watch.
"It's such a great community. No one will regret giving this sport a go."
With fast and thunderous steel-on-steel collisions, first time spectators quickly learn why wheelchair rugby used to be called murderball.
The sound of high-speed clashes rang out almost as loudly as cheers for the Australian Steelers this week as the side took on many of the strongest teams on earth at home for the first time since 2018.
"They were all singing the national anthem at the top of their lungs and it just made me smile," Steelers star Shae Graham told AAP.
"This is the first time I've had the opportunity to represent my country and play on home soil, so it means the world."
The Aussies are looking towards the finals at the Santos Wheelchair Rugby World Challenge in Adelaide, involving 158 players from nine nations.
While the sport shares its name with rugby union, that's where the similarities end.
It was specifically designed for athletes with limb impairments and is played indoors on wooden courts with mixed gender teams.
"This is a ruthless, fast-paced, hard-hitting, full contact sport and no one cares whether you are male or female," Ms Graham, the first woman to represent Australia internationally, said.
"It's win at all costs."
Wheelchair Rugby Australia chief executive Chris Nay describes the sport as a mash-up of dodgem cars, gridiron and basketball.
With a 2024 Paris Paralympic Games bronze medal and two Paralympic golds in the trophy cabinet, his aim is for the team to be as recognisable as other iconic Australian squads and hopes greater exposure could help with that.
"Our north star as an organisation is Boomers, Matildas and Steelers," Mr Nay explained.
"Our results stack up with any of our national teams, yet no one really knows that story.
"So to change that we thought that hosting an event here every year at home is a great way to introduce the Steelers to the broader Australian public."
It's proven difficult to secure a major sponsorship partner but there are hopes that could soon change with more exposure.
"We're not just looking for a big sum of money to be jumped on the doorstep and nothing further to happen from there," Mr Nay said.
"We really know our value as a brand and as a sport and what we could bring across athlete stories and success."
The new tournament has arrived at a significant time for the Steelers, who are undergoing a period of renewal.
Six of the 12 players made their debut this year, making wins over Germany, Canada and New Zealand so much sweeter.
There's more than just bragging rights up for grabs in Adelaide, with the tournament offering ranking points ahead of the 2026 world championship in Sao Paolo which impact the draw for the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympic Games draw.
Ms Graham suffered a spinal injury in a car crash when she was 18 and took up the sport nine years later, now training six days a week on top of her job as a librarian at the Melbourne Museum.
"People don't really understand that we're actually high performance athletes, this is our job," she said.
"Wheelchair rugby is a fast-paced, full-contact, highly strategic game - it's super addictive to watch.
"It's such a great community. No one will regret giving this sport a go."
With fast and thunderous steel-on-steel collisions, first time spectators quickly learn why wheelchair rugby used to be called murderball.
The sound of high-speed clashes rang out almost as loudly as cheers for the Australian Steelers this week as the side took on many of the strongest teams on earth at home for the first time since 2018.
"They were all singing the national anthem at the top of their lungs and it just made me smile," Steelers star Shae Graham told AAP.
"This is the first time I've had the opportunity to represent my country and play on home soil, so it means the world."
The Aussies are looking towards the finals at the Santos Wheelchair Rugby World Challenge in Adelaide, involving 158 players from nine nations.
While the sport shares its name with rugby union, that's where the similarities end.
It was specifically designed for athletes with limb impairments and is played indoors on wooden courts with mixed gender teams.
"This is a ruthless, fast-paced, hard-hitting, full contact sport and no one cares whether you are male or female," Ms Graham, the first woman to represent Australia internationally, said.
"It's win at all costs."
Wheelchair Rugby Australia chief executive Chris Nay describes the sport as a mash-up of dodgem cars, gridiron and basketball.
With a 2024 Paris Paralympic Games bronze medal and two Paralympic golds in the trophy cabinet, his aim is for the team to be as recognisable as other iconic Australian squads and hopes greater exposure could help with that.
"Our north star as an organisation is Boomers, Matildas and Steelers," Mr Nay explained.
"Our results stack up with any of our national teams, yet no one really knows that story.
"So to change that we thought that hosting an event here every year at home is a great way to introduce the Steelers to the broader Australian public."
It's proven difficult to secure a major sponsorship partner but there are hopes that could soon change with more exposure.
"We're not just looking for a big sum of money to be jumped on the doorstep and nothing further to happen from there," Mr Nay said.
"We really know our value as a brand and as a sport and what we could bring across athlete stories and success."
The new tournament has arrived at a significant time for the Steelers, who are undergoing a period of renewal.
Six of the 12 players made their debut this year, making wins over Germany, Canada and New Zealand so much sweeter.
There's more than just bragging rights up for grabs in Adelaide, with the tournament offering ranking points ahead of the 2026 world championship in Sao Paolo which impact the draw for the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympic Games draw.
Ms Graham suffered a spinal injury in a car crash when she was 18 and took up the sport nine years later, now training six days a week on top of her job as a librarian at the Melbourne Museum.
"People don't really understand that we're actually high performance athletes, this is our job," she said.
"Wheelchair rugby is a fast-paced, full-contact, highly strategic game - it's super addictive to watch.
"It's such a great community. No one will regret giving this sport a go."
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John Aloisi's famous penalty in the 2005 World Cup qualifier against Uruguay is etched into Australian sporting folklore. Substitute goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne was the man in 2022 when his penalty shootout heroics sealed a shock win over Peru and passage through to the Qatar World Cup. Socceroos attacker Martin Boyle was there when Australia secured their spot for the 2022 World Cup, and he wants history to repeat itself. "I've played in a lot of big games before, but these are the games that you can be a hero in," Boyle said. "To this day, it's probably the greatest situation that I've had in my career, qualifying for that World Cup. "There's no better feeling. And just the adrenaline, the buzz - it's the pinnacle of people's careers." Japan are ranked 15th in the world - the best team in Asia. Australia (26th) are only the fourth highest in Asia, with Japan, Iran (18th) and South Korea (23rd) all ranked above them. Veteran goalkeeper Maty Ryan doesn't agree with the rankings. 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Curtain comes down on Big Show's Australian ODI career
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The right-hander played a prominent role in Australia's 2015 success on home soil, belting 102 from 53 balls against Sri Lanka in a match at the SCG. He was dropped from the team a year later, but was back for the 2019 World Cup and then had his crowning moment four years later in India. With Australia's spot in the tournament in peril, Maxwell famously blasted an unbeaten 201 from 128 balls while batting on one leg to take Australia from 7-91 to a successful chase of 292 against Afghanistan. "I'm extremely fortunate that I was able to have my moment," Maxwell said. "Almost everything that you've worked hard for, the peak of your powers, being able to put it in front of the world to see. "It's almost like saying this is the best of me, you can either take it or leave it, but this is all I've got." Maxwell would hit the winning runs in the final against India, after also getting the key wicket of Rohit Sharma with the ball. "Congratulations to Glenn on what has been one of the most exciting and influential one-day international careers in the format's history," Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg said."Glenn's ballistic batting has lit up the cricket world and been one of the cornerstones of Australia's continued success in the 50 over game, including his heroic role in the 2023 World Cup triumph." Glenn Maxwell has been hailed as one of the most influential figures in one-day cricket history after the destructive batsman retired from the 50-over format. Maxwell announced on Monday he had played his last ODI for Australia, instead opting to focus solely on Twenty20 cricket ahead of next year's World Cup in India and Sri Lanka amid concerns over his body. The 36-year-old's exit from the format comes after Steve Smith also walked away following this year's Champions Trophy, part of a national changing of the guard. Maxwell finishes with the second highest strike-rate in ODI history, with his 3149 career runs struck at a rate of 126.70 and average of 33.81. He also has both the fastest hundred and only double century by an Australian, after his back-to-back epics against Netherlands and Afghanistan in the 2023 World Cup. Maxwell said he had been tempted to play on until Australia's title defence in 2027, but felt his body could no longer handle 50 overs in the field during the Champions Trophy. "I started to think if I don't have the perfect conditions in 50-over cricket, my body probably struggles to get through," Maxwell said in an extended interview on the Final Word Podcast. "I realised it was probably a bit far-fetched to to keep I suppose reaching for that next series and try to hold on. "In reality, I think I'd be doing a disservice to the team ... more hoping rather than expecting to get through. "I don't think that would be fair to anyone."Maxwell broke onto the scene when he was picked for an ODI against Pakistan in Sharjah in 2012 as a batting allrounder. He almost immediately followed the line of Michael Bevan and Mike Hussey as great middle-order talents, albeit with more flair and punch. The right-hander played a prominent role in Australia's 2015 success on home soil, belting 102 from 53 balls against Sri Lanka in a match at the SCG. He was dropped from the team a year later, but was back for the 2019 World Cup and then had his crowning moment four years later in India. With Australia's spot in the tournament in peril, Maxwell famously blasted an unbeaten 201 from 128 balls while batting on one leg to take Australia from 7-91 to a successful chase of 292 against Afghanistan. "I'm extremely fortunate that I was able to have my moment," Maxwell said. "Almost everything that you've worked hard for, the peak of your powers, being able to put it in front of the world to see. "It's almost like saying this is the best of me, you can either take it or leave it, but this is all I've got." Maxwell would hit the winning runs in the final against India, after also getting the key wicket of Rohit Sharma with the ball. "Congratulations to Glenn on what has been one of the most exciting and influential one-day international careers in the format's history," Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg said."Glenn's ballistic batting has lit up the cricket world and been one of the cornerstones of Australia's continued success in the 50 over game, including his heroic role in the 2023 World Cup triumph." Glenn Maxwell has been hailed as one of the most influential figures in one-day cricket history after the destructive batsman retired from the 50-over format. Maxwell announced on Monday he had played his last ODI for Australia, instead opting to focus solely on Twenty20 cricket ahead of next year's World Cup in India and Sri Lanka amid concerns over his body. The 36-year-old's exit from the format comes after Steve Smith also walked away following this year's Champions Trophy, part of a national changing of the guard. Maxwell finishes with the second highest strike-rate in ODI history, with his 3149 career runs struck at a rate of 126.70 and average of 33.81. He also has both the fastest hundred and only double century by an Australian, after his back-to-back epics against Netherlands and Afghanistan in the 2023 World Cup. Maxwell said he had been tempted to play on until Australia's title defence in 2027, but felt his body could no longer handle 50 overs in the field during the Champions Trophy. "I started to think if I don't have the perfect conditions in 50-over cricket, my body probably struggles to get through," Maxwell said in an extended interview on the Final Word Podcast. "I realised it was probably a bit far-fetched to to keep I suppose reaching for that next series and try to hold on. "In reality, I think I'd be doing a disservice to the team ... more hoping rather than expecting to get through. "I don't think that would be fair to anyone."Maxwell broke onto the scene when he was picked for an ODI against Pakistan in Sharjah in 2012 as a batting allrounder. He almost immediately followed the line of Michael Bevan and Mike Hussey as great middle-order talents, albeit with more flair and punch. The right-hander played a prominent role in Australia's 2015 success on home soil, belting 102 from 53 balls against Sri Lanka in a match at the SCG. He was dropped from the team a year later, but was back for the 2019 World Cup and then had his crowning moment four years later in India. With Australia's spot in the tournament in peril, Maxwell famously blasted an unbeaten 201 from 128 balls while batting on one leg to take Australia from 7-91 to a successful chase of 292 against Afghanistan. "I'm extremely fortunate that I was able to have my moment," Maxwell said. "Almost everything that you've worked hard for, the peak of your powers, being able to put it in front of the world to see. "It's almost like saying this is the best of me, you can either take it or leave it, but this is all I've got." Maxwell would hit the winning runs in the final against India, after also getting the key wicket of Rohit Sharma with the ball. "Congratulations to Glenn on what has been one of the most exciting and influential one-day international careers in the format's history," Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg said."Glenn's ballistic batting has lit up the cricket world and been one of the cornerstones of Australia's continued success in the 50 over game, including his heroic role in the 2023 World Cup triumph."
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Brumbies want Lions share of Wallabies selection
While his own position in the Wallabies isn't assured, Brumbies playmaker Noah Lolesio is plumping for his Canberra teammates to dominate Test selection to face the British and Irish Lions. Lolesio is Australia's incumbent flyhalf, wearing the 10 jersey on all four Tests of last year's UK spring tour, but announced through the Super Rugby Pacific season he would departing the Brumbies to play club rugby in Japan. Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt has been coy on his selection thoughts, only saying players who have committed their future off-shore remain "in the mix". Making a successful return from a back injury last round, Lolesio told AAP he hadn't spoken recently to Schmidt, but would be "super stoked" to be named. The Brumbies are preparing to host the Hurricanes on Saturday night in a Super Rugby Pacific qualifying final after finishing third on a congested ladder. The Reds placed fifth and will take on the second-ranked Crusaders while NSW Waratahs (eighth) and Western Force (ninth) missed the finals. Before the Lions toured in 2001 the Brumbies won the then Super 12 competition, and had 13 players selected in the 31-man Wallabies squad, which went on to win the series 2-1. Given the ACT outfit are again Australia's top team, Lolesio would like to see his teammates recognised. "Super Rugby is basically a trial for higher honours and I believe whoever is the best team in their country, whoever finishes on top in the country should have the majority of the players earn higher honours," Lolesio said. "We've got a lot of talent all over Australia and each team has been very competitive compared to previous years ... but I'd love to see heaps of Brumbies boys make it." The Wallabies only play one Test - on July 6 against Fiji - before taking on the might of the northern hemisphere so Lolesio felt using team combinations would be smart. His sentiments were backed Brumbies teammate and incumbent Wallabies fullback Tom Wright. "In a team sport, that cohesion, it's definitely something that would go a long way," Wright told AAP. "I feel like naturally, the team that's able to progress through the year as far as we can, hopefully we're represented well in the gold jersey and that's a great indication of guys how hard they've worked in our Brumbies jersey all year." Ten-Test Tom Hooper is one of the form forwards in the competition, but like Lolesio, is also leaving Canberra, headed to the UK to play for Exeter. While they suffered a late loss against the Crusaders in the final round, Hooper said the Brumbies were unquestionably Australia's "winningest" side and hoped that counted for himself and his teammates. "I think that a winning culture is really important and it's something that we've worked really hard to develop here for a long time," the 24-year-old told AAP. "Whether it's myself or it's another 15 of my teammates, I'd just be so stoked to see some Brumbies boys in the squad because we do understand how to win games and we're a great team down here." While his own position in the Wallabies isn't assured, Brumbies playmaker Noah Lolesio is plumping for his Canberra teammates to dominate Test selection to face the British and Irish Lions. Lolesio is Australia's incumbent flyhalf, wearing the 10 jersey on all four Tests of last year's UK spring tour, but announced through the Super Rugby Pacific season he would departing the Brumbies to play club rugby in Japan. Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt has been coy on his selection thoughts, only saying players who have committed their future off-shore remain "in the mix". Making a successful return from a back injury last round, Lolesio told AAP he hadn't spoken recently to Schmidt, but would be "super stoked" to be named. The Brumbies are preparing to host the Hurricanes on Saturday night in a Super Rugby Pacific qualifying final after finishing third on a congested ladder. The Reds placed fifth and will take on the second-ranked Crusaders while NSW Waratahs (eighth) and Western Force (ninth) missed the finals. Before the Lions toured in 2001 the Brumbies won the then Super 12 competition, and had 13 players selected in the 31-man Wallabies squad, which went on to win the series 2-1. Given the ACT outfit are again Australia's top team, Lolesio would like to see his teammates recognised. "Super Rugby is basically a trial for higher honours and I believe whoever is the best team in their country, whoever finishes on top in the country should have the majority of the players earn higher honours," Lolesio said. "We've got a lot of talent all over Australia and each team has been very competitive compared to previous years ... but I'd love to see heaps of Brumbies boys make it." The Wallabies only play one Test - on July 6 against Fiji - before taking on the might of the northern hemisphere so Lolesio felt using team combinations would be smart. His sentiments were backed Brumbies teammate and incumbent Wallabies fullback Tom Wright. "In a team sport, that cohesion, it's definitely something that would go a long way," Wright told AAP. "I feel like naturally, the team that's able to progress through the year as far as we can, hopefully we're represented well in the gold jersey and that's a great indication of guys how hard they've worked in our Brumbies jersey all year." Ten-Test Tom Hooper is one of the form forwards in the competition, but like Lolesio, is also leaving Canberra, headed to the UK to play for Exeter. While they suffered a late loss against the Crusaders in the final round, Hooper said the Brumbies were unquestionably Australia's "winningest" side and hoped that counted for himself and his teammates. "I think that a winning culture is really important and it's something that we've worked really hard to develop here for a long time," the 24-year-old told AAP. "Whether it's myself or it's another 15 of my teammates, I'd just be so stoked to see some Brumbies boys in the squad because we do understand how to win games and we're a great team down here." While his own position in the Wallabies isn't assured, Brumbies playmaker Noah Lolesio is plumping for his Canberra teammates to dominate Test selection to face the British and Irish Lions. Lolesio is Australia's incumbent flyhalf, wearing the 10 jersey on all four Tests of last year's UK spring tour, but announced through the Super Rugby Pacific season he would departing the Brumbies to play club rugby in Japan. Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt has been coy on his selection thoughts, only saying players who have committed their future off-shore remain "in the mix". Making a successful return from a back injury last round, Lolesio told AAP he hadn't spoken recently to Schmidt, but would be "super stoked" to be named. The Brumbies are preparing to host the Hurricanes on Saturday night in a Super Rugby Pacific qualifying final after finishing third on a congested ladder. The Reds placed fifth and will take on the second-ranked Crusaders while NSW Waratahs (eighth) and Western Force (ninth) missed the finals. Before the Lions toured in 2001 the Brumbies won the then Super 12 competition, and had 13 players selected in the 31-man Wallabies squad, which went on to win the series 2-1. Given the ACT outfit are again Australia's top team, Lolesio would like to see his teammates recognised. "Super Rugby is basically a trial for higher honours and I believe whoever is the best team in their country, whoever finishes on top in the country should have the majority of the players earn higher honours," Lolesio said. "We've got a lot of talent all over Australia and each team has been very competitive compared to previous years ... but I'd love to see heaps of Brumbies boys make it." The Wallabies only play one Test - on July 6 against Fiji - before taking on the might of the northern hemisphere so Lolesio felt using team combinations would be smart. His sentiments were backed Brumbies teammate and incumbent Wallabies fullback Tom Wright. "In a team sport, that cohesion, it's definitely something that would go a long way," Wright told AAP. "I feel like naturally, the team that's able to progress through the year as far as we can, hopefully we're represented well in the gold jersey and that's a great indication of guys how hard they've worked in our Brumbies jersey all year." Ten-Test Tom Hooper is one of the form forwards in the competition, but like Lolesio, is also leaving Canberra, headed to the UK to play for Exeter. While they suffered a late loss against the Crusaders in the final round, Hooper said the Brumbies were unquestionably Australia's "winningest" side and hoped that counted for himself and his teammates. "I think that a winning culture is really important and it's something that we've worked really hard to develop here for a long time," the 24-year-old told AAP. "Whether it's myself or it's another 15 of my teammates, I'd just be so stoked to see some Brumbies boys in the squad because we do understand how to win games and we're a great team down here."
