Latest news with #SuperLeague
Sydney Morning Herald
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Walters confirmed as Kangaroos coach for Ashes series
Skinner was officially appointed as Jillaroos head coach in February ahead of their historic Las Vegas match – taking over from long-time coach Brad Donald. She will continue to lead the Australian women's team for the Pacific Championships later this year and into the 2026 World Cup. '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.
Times
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Times
Rangers v Panathinaikos: Russell Martin's side finish in control
The temperatures in Athens have risen to such extremes in recent weeks that twice the Greek authorities have closed the Acropolis on public safety grounds. There is still work to do for Rangers in their quest to reach the next stage of Champions League qualification, but the heat will not be on them in the Olympic Stadium to anything like the extent it might have been next Wednesday after Findlay Curtis and Djeidi Gassama stepped up as the two fresh-faced heroes of Russell Martin's first game at the helm. The Ibrox side had been under the cosh for much of the first half during which they barely existed as an attacking force. But seven minutes after the break, Curtis, their 19-year-old forward, produced a glorious strike to put crucial distance between them and last year's Super League runners-up. It was Curtis' first goal for the club and how valuable it was. The exact same descriptions could be applied to Gassama's 78th minute strike, the recent signing from Sheffield Wednesday stepping off the same left wing on which he had replaced Curtis only four minutes previously to spear a terrific finish well out of Bartlomiej Dragowki's reach. Panathinaikos — who by this point were down to ten men — will reflect with frustration on a host of earlier missed opportunities, whereas Martin can bask in the grit and opportunism that gave his tenure instant lift-off. By the finish, Rangers were purring on the pitch and in the stands, Hamza Igamane passing up the chance of a late third as he steered a header just wide. Three of Martin's summer signings — Nasser Djiga, Max Aarons and Joe Rothwell started — but the real intrigue concerned his forward line, where Curtis and the forgotten man Kieran Dowell flanked Danilo, the centre forward who has been so grievously undermined by injury over the last two years. With Igamane and Cyriel Dessers both still getting up to speed amid a swirl of transfer speculation, Martin's attacking options were limited but it was still a considerable show of faith in this unlikely trio. There was early work to do for Rangers at the other end after they failed to clear a Tasos Bakasetas free kick and Jack Butland had to claw away an effort from Filip Duricic. The rebound should have been put away by Facundo Pellistri from point-blank range, but the former Manchester United wideman could only strike the outside of the post. Pellistri tried to set himself for another effort from the edge of the box, but Curtis slid in to deny him, then Nico Raskin tried to be far too cute in getting rid of a Bakasetas corner at the near post, which allowed Erik Palmer-Brown, the Panathinaikos centre back, to offload a low shot that Butland again did well to repel. The visitors were in once more when another slack clearance fell to Bakasetas 18 yards out, only for his rocket of a shot to be blocked by the advancing John Souttar. These were worrying times for Rangers, who could not get out; could barely get a foothold, if truth be told. Panathinaikos were quickly into their shape behind the ball, and Martin's men lacked the guile to play through or around them. Not till the 37th minute did Rangers threaten, Danilo effecting a smart lay-off for Mohamed Diomande to shoot for the bottom corner. Dragowski got down well to turn the ball round for a corner, but was rooted to the spot moments after as Danilo twanged in a ferocious hit that took a crucial nick off a defender and sped past. Better — even if the general lack of cohesion and limp nature of Rangers' final-third efforts remained concerns. They registered six touches in the opposition box in the first 45 minutes, with Panathinaikos racking up some 22. The second period picked up where the first had left off, Butland saving twice from Duricic — one of them another belter. But then came Curtis, striding in off his flank to create the angle for an absolute peach of a curling effort that powered away from Dragowski and into his bottom corner with the aid of a slight deflection. It was the definition of a goal from nothing, which only added to the praise coming Curtis's way for having pulled it out. The teenager was engulfed by ecstatic team-mates as Ibrox roared both its approval and its relief. Curtis was at the heart of the next big moment too, Giorgos Vagiannidis, the Greek right back, picking up a second booking for hauling him down around halfway. Dowell came close to giving Rangers a further cushion when he rose to meet a pinpoint Raskin delivery at the back post but sent his header just the wrong side of the bar. The increasingly influential Raskin — who made the breakout for Curtis' goal — then brought two excellent saves out of Dragowski in the same passage of play, the game now becoming stretched. Gassama's goal — which again started life deep in the home half — gave the tie a whole new complexion and means that Panathinaikos are the ones needing to pull things out of the fire in that Athens crucible. ● Second leg is next Wednesday, and winners of the tie advance to face Viktoria Plzen or Servette Rangers (4-3-3): J Butland 8 — J Tavernier 6, J Souttar 7, N Djiga 6, M Aarons 7 — M Diomande 6, J Rothwell 7 (N Bajrami 85min), N Raskin 8 — K Dowell 5 (H Igamane 74), Danilo 6 (C Dessers 74), F Curtis 8 (D Gassama 74). Booked Raskin, Souttar. Panathinaikos (4-3-3): B Dragowski 7 — G Vagiannidis 4, E Palmer-Brown 6, A Touba 6, G Kyriakopoulos 6 — A Bakasetas 7 (G Kotsiras 62, 6), P Chirivella 6 (M Siopis 84), N Maksimovic 7 — F Pellistri 6 (Tete 84), F Ioannidis 6 (K Swiderski 75), F Duricic 6 (D Mancini 75). Booked Vagiannidis. Sent off Vagiannidis. Scorers: Rangers Curtis (52min), Gassama (78). Referee D Rumsas (Lit) Attendance 49,548.
The Star
9 hours ago
- Sport
- The Star
Turtles defender Landis vows to fire up fans with solid show
PETALING JAYA: Terengganu's new Brazilian import Diego Landis (pic) is not just here to defend but he is here to inspire. The 28-year-old, who arrived in Malaysia just days ago, has settled down ahead of the Super League starting on Aug 8 after passing his medical and fitness tests in Kuala Lumpur. Though a defender by trade, Landis aims to bring excitement to the stands. 'I've met my teammates and coaches, and now I just want to get started,' said Landis, who stands tall at 1.93m. 'I know I'm here to defend but I want to give performances that truly energise the supporters. 'Terengganu are one of the biggest clubs in Malaysia, and I've heard how passionate the fans can be. I'm excited to play in front of them.' Under the guidance of coach Badrul Afzan Razali, Landis is expected to fortify a Terengganu defence that has undergone a major reshuffle following the departure of several key players, including Dutch centreback Matthew Steenvorden. Landis arrives with solid credentials, having played in Thailand's top-flight league with Nakhon Ratchasima. There, he earned praise for his calm composure, disciplined play, aerial dominance, and swift transitions in defence. His signing could not come at a better time for the Turtles, who are looking to bounce back after a shaky defensive showing last season. With his presence, Terengganu will be hoping to bring much-needed stability to their backline. The team finished fifth in the Super League, and qualified for the semi-finals of the FA Cup and Malaysia Cup last season. As the new season looms, all eyes will be on Landis to see if he can anchor the defence and become a key figure in Terengganu's quest for silverware.
BBC News
17 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Head coach Tomkins extends Catalans deal until 2027
Catalans Dragons have extended the contract of Joel Tomkins as their head coach until the end of the 2027 former Wigan Warriors and Hull KR forward, 38, ended his playing career with Les Dracs in 2021 having made 25 appearances for the club over two was appointed in July to replace Steve McNamara until the end of the season, and the team have won once in eight games under him."It's an honour to be offered the job at a club with passion, pride, and incredible potential," he told the club website, external. "Over the next two seasons, my focus is simple: build a team that competes with every team in Super League, earns respect, and makes our supporters proud every time they step onto the field."I understand that there is a lot of hard work ahead, but the opportunity to coach this team is one I'm excited about."Catalans CEO Bernard Guasch said: "Joel knows this sport inside out. Just like when he was a player, he never hides and always takes responsibility."We want to change our management approach, start a younger cycle, and I know Joel fits perfectly into that vision. I have full confidence in him to build a team that can aim for the top as early as next season."The Dragons are ninth in the Super League table, nine points off the play-off places.
New Straits Times
a day ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
JDT edge Al-Riyadh as Figueiredo finds the net
KUALA LUMPUR: Super League giants Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) wrapped up their pre-season tour in Spain on a positive note after securing a 1-0 victory over Saudi club Al-Riyadh SC today (July 22). National team heritage player Joao Figueiredo netted the only goal of the match in the 10th minute, marking his first goal for the Southern Tigers since joining the team. The narrow win provides a sweet end for Xisco Munoz's squad after a challenging series of pre-season matches in Spain throughout July. JDT had earlier suffered two consecutive defeats, losing 1-0 to Qatari club Al-Rayyan SC and Valencia Mestalla, results that initially sparked concern among supporters. Earlier, the 11-time Super League champions had beaten Real Murcia Imperial 4-0 and edged Costa City 1-0. JDT also recorded two draws against Cardiff City (2-2) and Levante UD (0-0). The match against Al-Riyadh was JDT's final pre-season fixture before they return home to face their first match of the new season. The Southern Tigers will kick off their 2025-2026 season campaign with a Charity Shield clash against Selangor at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium on Aug 8.
