The Blues began “Operation Nathan” in the minutes after full-time in Origin I as their chief playmaker is again having his credentials questioned after a rare sub-par display in Wednesday’s opener. As Daly Cherry-Evans was dancing around Accor Stadium with his kids after Queensland’s stunning 16-10 upset, Nathan Cleary was entering a period of self-loathing, blaming himself for the loss. […]

Fremantle superstar Nat Fyfe made a triumphant return to senior football as Hawthorn suffered heartbreak for the second week in a row after giving the Dockers an almighty fright on Saturday. The Hawks were magnificent in defeat, their hustle and pressure forcing one of this year’s leading premiership contenders to dig deep into their reserves to get over the line. […]

Key posts 6.48pmNew details on Demons’ fight – and why Melksham wasn’t suspended 6.36pmKey player: Charlie Dixon 1 of 1 Rutten throws down gauntlet to Essendon mids; McKay back for Blues Essendon coach Ben Rutten has issued a stern challenge to his midfield ahead of the club’s big occasion clash with old foes Carlton: if you want to be the […]

A new state-of-the-art stadium in Hobart is essential for Tasmania’s bid for a standalone team in the AFL to be successful, according to AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan. McLachlan made that clear after meeting Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff in Hobart on Thursday, as the vote on a new licence in August draws nearer. AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan.Credit:Chris Hopkins McLachlan said a […]

There are moments even Cameron Munster wonders what he will do next. But only for a second, because in the blink of an eye he can turn a game inside out. He leaves defenders sitting on their heels. Those who lunge forward so often end with their ankles in a twist while their hands clutch at thin air. Such is […]

With each passing day, the whispers south of the Tweed this past week have grown to a quiet roar: the bloke now coaching Queensland is pretty damn good at a caper he’d never tried before. Billy Slater is nothing like the vision a New South Welshman has of a Queenslander. He’s intelligent, articulate, clean cut. But he still lives in […]

Michael Maguire and Kristian Woolf have emerged as the frontrunners to take over at the Warriors after departing coach Nathan Brown conceded his days as an NRL head coach were over. On a dramatic day for the NRL, Maguire and Brown parted company with the Tigers and Warriors respectively. Both were under pressure due to disappointing results, with the decisions […]

The AFL told umpires last week to soften their definition of what constitutes dissent from players, and no longer to penalise players for a single “arms out” gesture. But at the meeting, umpires were also told that this change would not be communicated to players, clubs or fans. Wary of being seen to have softened its stance on dissent, the […]

Sam Burgess hinted a decision on whether he returns to the NRL as a coaching assistant could be imminent after making a surprise visit to NSW training on the eve of their State of Origin defence. Burgess, who is coaching the Russell Crowe-backed Orara Valley Axemen on NSW’s mid-north coast, made a flying visit to Sydney and watched the key […]

Latrell Mitchell will have one chance to prove he is ready for a State of Origin recall, with South Sydney set to rest him for this week’s clash with the Gold Coast Titans. Mitchell touched back down in Australia on Thursday morning after a 16-day trip to the US to help repair the tendon tear in his left hamstring that […]