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News.com.au
36 minutes ago
- News.com.au
‘An Indigenous Australian icon': Cathy Freeman and Greg Inglis to reunite for special event this weekend
South Sydney forward Tallis Duncan wasn't born when Cathy Freeman won gold in 2000 in what is arguably the greatest moment in Australian sporting history, which is why he's pinching himself that he gets to meet her this weekend as part of the NRL's Gadhu Gathering at Allianz Stadium. Three matches will be played across three days as the game celebrates Indigenous Round, with the Rabbitohs to take on the Eels on Saturday night. Club legend Greg Inglis will lead the team onto the field, while Freeman will ring the club's legacy bell as they enter Allianz Stadium. The hero of the 2000 Sydney Olympics joined the Rabbitohs in the sheds after their 2014 grand final victory and shared a photo with Inglis at the time that she described as 'the best sporting moment of my life'. 'It's one of those moments that you've got to pinch yourself because you're looking at an Indigenous Australian icon,' Duncan said on Monday, having been born two years after Freeman's golden run. 'I've only seen her on murals and walls and in YouTube videos, so that's something that's pretty special and makes you look at how far I've come on my journey to be able to be run out by 'GI' and to have Cathy ring the bell. It's pretty cool. '(Winning gold) is something you learn about growing up. You see the run and that was amazing, but then you learn a bit about what was behind it and there was a bit more going on than just the run. 'I reckon it was pretty amazing what she did, and she's definitely someone I look forward to seeing on the weekend.' Veteran Jack Wighton will miss the match through suspension and was clearly disappointed to not be involved in the culturally significant event. 'It's a little bit of salt in the wounds,' he said. 'I'm missing out on playing in this jersey and representing in such a great weekend with the three games, and then I hear Cathy and Greggy are leading the boys out. 'I asked if I could at least catch up and say hello. I've got to get a photo at least.' Proud to have 11 Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander players in our full-time squad â�¤ï¸�🖤ðŸ'›ðŸ'šðŸ'™ðŸ¤� — South Sydney Rabbitohs ðŸ�° (@SSFCRABBITOHS) August 4, 2025 Inglis is doing incredible things in the community with his Goanna Academy and the Stick With It campaign, which comes as no surprise to Duncan, who is one of 11 Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander players in the South Sydney squad. 'I idolised him for every week but three when he played Origin for Queensland,' he said. 'He was amazing and was one of those players that you were in awe of when you watched them. 'Even though he played the same game, you felt he was on a different level to what you'd ever seen. He was one of the best players I saw growing up.' Wighton is only in his second year at the club but has embraced being a leader and has been amazed by the work the Souths Cares group does in the community. 'As an Indigenous person, but also as a senior player at this club, (I've embraced being a leader),' he said. 'We've been in a tough patch this year, so it's been a place where it's been tough to be a senior player, but it's also such an honour because you have so many young bright eyes and young superstars who just want to represent and do this club proud. 'To be a leader and see so many kids who want to make a difference (is great).'
News.com.au
44 minutes ago
- News.com.au
‘Winning games by 50 is not going to help us': Storm begins brutal finals preparation with grand final rematch against Panthers
Some teams would appreciate a soft month of footy heading into the finals, but Storm prop Stefano Utoikamanu says his side welcomes their brutal run home that starts with a showdown against the team looking to win a fifth title in a row. The Panthers beat Melbourne in last year's decider and have won nine matches in a row to go from last spot after 12 rounds into the top four on the back of last week's thumping win in Newcastle. Thursday's game is the start of a brutal month for the Storm who then face the Bulldogs (third), Roosters (ninth) and finish with a trip north to take on the Broncos (sixth) as they look to secure a top-two finish. They've already beaten Penrith this year and knocked them off twice in the 2024 regular season, with stiff competition in August set to be the perfect preparation for them in the finals. 'I wasn't here last year, but a lot of the boys here played in the grand final,' Utoikamanu said. 'Penrith didn't really start the year that well, but I think they've won nine straight now so you can see them as the in-form team of the comp, so it's going to be a good game this week. 'For us, the finals aren't far away. Those four teams (that we're playing) are all going to be in the finals probably, so it's definitely a good preparation. I'd rather this (than winning by 50). 'Finals footy is a different game. I haven't even played in the finals before, but speaking to the other boys, it's probably going to be reffed a little differently and I think it's going to be more of a grind. 'Winning games by 50 is not going to help us, so these next few games is good preparation for us.' The Storm will be without injured halfback Jahrome Hughes, but their defence has lifted with him out of the side, with the premiership favourites conceding just 12 points in their past two outings. Utoikamanu has also lifted since he played the final two State of Origin games for NSW, with coach Craig Bellamy praising his impact through the middle in wins over the Eels and Broncos. 'I've felt like I probably had to step up a little bit, especially coming out of Origin and being an Origin player,' the prop said. 'It still feels a bit surreal to me that I played Origin this year, but coming out of that, I feel like I had to prove something a little bit. 'Coming here has probably been the biggest move of my career so far. 'Craig always tells us to play to our strengths, and I feel like I've been doing that every week.'
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
How a small town is turning into an NRL breeding ground
A medium-sized venue is all that's needed to hold Gerringong's entire population, but the tiny town may have produced yet another NRL star. Former Australian and NSW centre Mick Cronin is probably the most famous name to come from the town, about a 90-minute drive from Sydney. It has also produced players such as the Sims brothers, the late Peter Ford, Australian international Rod Wishart and Parramatta five-eighth Ron Quinn. Now Gerringong's Hayden Buchanan may become the next name to make an impact on rugby league. He starred on debut for St George Illawarra, scoring a try and setting up another in Saturday's 22-14 upset win over Cronulla. So just what's happening in the 4100-person town of Gerringong? "I don't know, something weird's going on down there," Buchanan said. "It's people like Scotty Stewart (coach), Johnny Ford (coach) and Mick Cronin. "From a young age, they've instilled a certain level of discipline, toughness and competitive nature, and it just follows through. "When I was 16 and didn't have a licence, (teammate Dylan Egan) drove me to every single academy session. "They've brought Hamish, Dylan, myself, Ashton, the four people this year from the club." Of current NRL players, Manly's Reuben Garrick, St George Illawarra's Hamish Stewart and Dylan Egan, New Zealand Warriors' Jackson Ford, Melbourne's Ashton Ward and Newcastle's Kyle McCarthy also came from the town. Buchanan said he was still relishing the "priceless moment" when he scored his first try. With about 50 of his fans watching from the stands, he strolled over untouched after fullback Clint Gutherson generously handed him the ball. However, the 19-year-old didn't even think he would get a call-up from coach Shane Flanagan, let alone a call the day before the game. "I've been calm, frantic, but it's really good to have it done, and honestly a bit of relief. It's really amazing," Buchanan said. "I never was going to rule anything out ... but I will say this year I didn't think I'd get my debut. "If someone goes down in the captain's run, like yesterday when Michael Molo went down, you always have to mentally prepare as if you're playing." Coach Flanagan was impressed by the teenager's debut. "He defended well and he'll learn from tonight," Flanagan said. "At the back end, I think he was looking at the clock, because the last six or seven minutes he was really gassed." A medium-sized venue is all that's needed to hold Gerringong's entire population, but the tiny town may have produced yet another NRL star. Former Australian and NSW centre Mick Cronin is probably the most famous name to come from the town, about a 90-minute drive from Sydney. It has also produced players such as the Sims brothers, the late Peter Ford, Australian international Rod Wishart and Parramatta five-eighth Ron Quinn. Now Gerringong's Hayden Buchanan may become the next name to make an impact on rugby league. He starred on debut for St George Illawarra, scoring a try and setting up another in Saturday's 22-14 upset win over Cronulla. So just what's happening in the 4100-person town of Gerringong? "I don't know, something weird's going on down there," Buchanan said. "It's people like Scotty Stewart (coach), Johnny Ford (coach) and Mick Cronin. "From a young age, they've instilled a certain level of discipline, toughness and competitive nature, and it just follows through. "When I was 16 and didn't have a licence, (teammate Dylan Egan) drove me to every single academy session. "They've brought Hamish, Dylan, myself, Ashton, the four people this year from the club." Of current NRL players, Manly's Reuben Garrick, St George Illawarra's Hamish Stewart and Dylan Egan, New Zealand Warriors' Jackson Ford, Melbourne's Ashton Ward and Newcastle's Kyle McCarthy also came from the town. Buchanan said he was still relishing the "priceless moment" when he scored his first try. With about 50 of his fans watching from the stands, he strolled over untouched after fullback Clint Gutherson generously handed him the ball. However, the 19-year-old didn't even think he would get a call-up from coach Shane Flanagan, let alone a call the day before the game. "I've been calm, frantic, but it's really good to have it done, and honestly a bit of relief. It's really amazing," Buchanan said. "I never was going to rule anything out ... but I will say this year I didn't think I'd get my debut. "If someone goes down in the captain's run, like yesterday when Michael Molo went down, you always have to mentally prepare as if you're playing." Coach Flanagan was impressed by the teenager's debut. "He defended well and he'll learn from tonight," Flanagan said. "At the back end, I think he was looking at the clock, because the last six or seven minutes he was really gassed." A medium-sized venue is all that's needed to hold Gerringong's entire population, but the tiny town may have produced yet another NRL star. Former Australian and NSW centre Mick Cronin is probably the most famous name to come from the town, about a 90-minute drive from Sydney. It has also produced players such as the Sims brothers, the late Peter Ford, Australian international Rod Wishart and Parramatta five-eighth Ron Quinn. Now Gerringong's Hayden Buchanan may become the next name to make an impact on rugby league. He starred on debut for St George Illawarra, scoring a try and setting up another in Saturday's 22-14 upset win over Cronulla. So just what's happening in the 4100-person town of Gerringong? "I don't know, something weird's going on down there," Buchanan said. "It's people like Scotty Stewart (coach), Johnny Ford (coach) and Mick Cronin. "From a young age, they've instilled a certain level of discipline, toughness and competitive nature, and it just follows through. "When I was 16 and didn't have a licence, (teammate Dylan Egan) drove me to every single academy session. "They've brought Hamish, Dylan, myself, Ashton, the four people this year from the club." Of current NRL players, Manly's Reuben Garrick, St George Illawarra's Hamish Stewart and Dylan Egan, New Zealand Warriors' Jackson Ford, Melbourne's Ashton Ward and Newcastle's Kyle McCarthy also came from the town. Buchanan said he was still relishing the "priceless moment" when he scored his first try. With about 50 of his fans watching from the stands, he strolled over untouched after fullback Clint Gutherson generously handed him the ball. However, the 19-year-old didn't even think he would get a call-up from coach Shane Flanagan, let alone a call the day before the game. "I've been calm, frantic, but it's really good to have it done, and honestly a bit of relief. It's really amazing," Buchanan said. "I never was going to rule anything out ... but I will say this year I didn't think I'd get my debut. "If someone goes down in the captain's run, like yesterday when Michael Molo went down, you always have to mentally prepare as if you're playing." Coach Flanagan was impressed by the teenager's debut. "He defended well and he'll learn from tonight," Flanagan said. "At the back end, I think he was looking at the clock, because the last six or seven minutes he was really gassed."
