Latest news with #StateofOrigin
The Age
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Age
‘Never feel we can't win': Raging Bull warns Lions about Australian spirit
The league background of Andy Farrell - and a chance meeting in Brisbane with 'the Raging Bull' ahead of the first Test - has given the Lions coach a timely warning about the danger waiting for a heavy favourite on the edge of Caxton Street: the Suncorp Stadium ambush. The Wallabies were already underdogs to beat the Lions but injuries to key men have seen them pushed to massive outsiders, with bookies now rating them only a $4 chance to get the win over a star-laden opposition in the opening Test of the series on Saturday. The Wallabies have a total Test cap count of 641, while the Lions have a combined 1172 Test caps experience. Few are tipping Australia to win. It's all familiar territory in Queensland ahead of a State of Origin series, and Farrell said he was reminded of the mentality that the hosts will carry into the game after bumping into former league rival Gorden Tallis in Brisbane's CBD on Thursday. Farrell and Tallis faced off in the 13-man code several times between 1997 and 2000, when the now-Lions rugby coach was captain of the Great Britain Lions rugby league side. Farrell had a 13-year, 44-Test career in league before making a career in rugby union, and ranks a 1994 win with Wigan over the Broncos at Lang Park as one of his career highlights. 'I actually saw him [on] the street. I went, 'Gordie', he said, 'flipping heck'. So we had a good 20 minutes in the street, and it was good to catch up with him,' Farrell said. 'He used to say everyone used to talk about Queensland being underdogs. He said we never, ever saw it that way. And Australia will be exactly the same.' Tallis later told this masthead he'd given Farrell an insight into the Australian mentality when written off - not just Queensland - and said he believed the Wallabies would summon the same spirit at Suncorp.
Sydney Morning Herald
2 days ago
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘Never feel we can't win': Raging Bull warns Lions about Australian spirit
The league background of Andy Farrell - and a chance meeting in Brisbane with 'the Raging Bull' ahead of the first Test - has given the Lions coach a timely warning about the danger waiting for a heavy favourite on the edge of Caxton Street: the Suncorp Stadium ambush. The Wallabies were already underdogs to beat the Lions but injuries to key men have seen them pushed to massive outsiders, with bookies now rating them only a $4 chance to get the win over a star-laden opposition in the opening Test of the series on Saturday. The Wallabies have a total Test cap count of 641, while the Lions have a combined 1172 Test caps experience. Few are tipping Australia to win. It's all familiar territory in Queensland ahead of a State of Origin series, and Farrell said he was reminded of the mentality that the hosts will carry into the game after bumping into former league rival Gorden Tallis in Brisbane's CBD on Thursday. Farrell and Tallis faced off in the 13-man code several times between 1997 and 2000, when the now-Lions rugby coach was captain of the Great Britain Lions rugby league side. Farrell had a 13-year, 44-Test career in league before making a career in rugby union, and ranks a 1994 win with Wigan over the Broncos at Lang Park as one of his career highlights. 'I actually saw him [on] the street. I went, 'Gordie', he said, 'flipping heck'. So we had a good 20 minutes in the street, and it was good to catch up with him,' Farrell said. 'He used to say everyone used to talk about Queensland being underdogs. He said we never, ever saw it that way. And Australia will be exactly the same.' Tallis later told this masthead he'd given Farrell an insight into the Australian mentality when written off - not just Queensland - and said he believed the Wallabies would summon the same spirit at Suncorp.
Courier-Mail
4 days ago
- Sport
- Courier-Mail
Paul Gallen vs Sonny Bill Williams boxing live updates
Welcome to live coverage of the fight between retired footy greats, Paul Gallen and Sonny Bill Williams. After years of trash talk and taunting, Cronulla Sharks legend Gallen and two-code great Williams are finally meeting in a boxing ring at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney. Tszyu vs Fundora 2 & Pacquiao vs Barrios | SUN 20 JULY 10AM AEST | In the biggest fight of the year, Tim Tszyu faces Sebastian Fundora in a blockbuster rematch, plus Manny Pacquiao makes his highly anticipated return to the ring to face Mario Barrios. | Order now with Main Event on Kayo Sports. Despite the fact neither 43-year-old Gallen nor 39-year-old SBW have fought anyone since November 2022, there has still been strong interest in this long-awaited grudge match, particularly among rugby league fans. There appears to be a healthy dislike between the two fighters, who have traded insults and barbs ever since the fight was confirmed back in April. Sonny Bill Williams (left) and Paul Gallen (right) are finally meeting in the ring. (Photo by) They even took over the coverage of Game 3 of the State of Origin series, taking part in a live interview after the game when they did their best to shout each other down and increase interest in the bout. Gallen has the more accomplished record in the ring, while Kiwi Sonny Bill is the younger man and the favourite among the bookies. There are seven fights on the card, including the son of a boxing great, before the heavyweight main event is held over eight, two-minute rounds. We'll have all the big moments, including the undercard, for you right here. Originally published as Paul Gallen vs Sonny Bill Williams boxing live updates: Fans split by grudge match
Sydney Morning Herald
4 days ago
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
For $379, this seat is still available as Wallabies-Lions creeps towards sell-out
Rugby Australia chief executive Phil Waugh has defended the ticket pricing and accessibility for the Lions-Wallabies Test series, after none of the Lions' five tour fixtures sold out and with the 'full house' shingle yet to be hung on Suncorp Stadium for the first Test. After years of anticipation, the countdown is on for the opening game of the three-Test series between the Wallabies and Lions in Brisbane on Saturday, but seats were still available for the game on Wednesday, and for the second Test in Melbourne and the third in Sydney as well. The Lions' five fixtures played in the first 15 days of their tour saw strong crowds, many of which were venue records for rugby, but all venues contained sections of empty seats. Rugby Australia, who set the ticket pricing in a joint venture with the Lions, has drawn criticism for setting prices too high and making the games inaccessible for some fans. Ticket prices for the first Test in Brisbane range from $149 to $649 per seat, with the MCG ($99 to $649) and Accor Stadium ($149-$649) Tests having similar pricing structures. Tour game prices were lower. For context, single tickets for the annual State of Origin series this year cost between $49 and $399, and to get a ticket for the Sydney show of Oasis' reunion tour will set you back between $129 and $849. Given that it is a once-in-12-years event, the demand for Lions tickets has still been strong, and all corporate packages were swiftly sold out, suggesting the market mostly accepted the prices. But fans have also expressed frustration on social media platforms, and late ticket returns from UK tour operators have proven hard to shift. There were less than 1000 tickets left for the 52,500-capacity Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday. Waugh is confident the ground will end up full.
The Age
4 days ago
- Business
- The Age
For $379, this seat is still available as Wallabies-Lions creeps towards sell-out
Rugby Australia chief executive Phil Waugh has defended the ticket pricing and accessibility for the Lions-Wallabies Test series, after none of the Lions' five tour fixtures sold out and with the 'full house' shingle yet to be hung on Suncorp Stadium for the first Test. After years of anticipation, the countdown is on for the opening game of the three-Test series between the Wallabies and Lions in Brisbane on Saturday, but seats were still available for the game on Wednesday, and for the second Test in Melbourne and the third in Sydney as well. The Lions' five fixtures played in the first 15 days of their tour saw strong crowds, many of which were venue records for rugby, but all venues contained sections of empty seats. Rugby Australia, who set the ticket pricing in a joint venture with the Lions, has drawn criticism for setting prices too high and making the games inaccessible for some fans. Ticket prices for the first Test in Brisbane range from $149 to $649 per seat, with the MCG ($99 to $649) and Accor Stadium ($149-$649) Tests having similar pricing structures. Tour game prices were lower. For context, single tickets for the annual State of Origin series this year cost between $49 and $399, and to get a ticket for the Sydney show of Oasis' reunion tour will set you back between $129 and $849. Given that it is a once-in-12-years event, the demand for Lions tickets has still been strong, and all corporate packages were swiftly sold out, suggesting the market mostly accepted the prices. But fans have also expressed frustration on social media platforms, and late ticket returns from UK tour operators have proven hard to shift. There were less than 1000 tickets left for the 52,500-capacity Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday. Waugh is confident the ground will end up full.
