Hooker Jamie George to join Lions after Luke Cowan-Dickie suffers a concussion
Cowan-Dickie was knocked out after attempting a tackle in the first half of the Lions' 48-0 win over an Australia and New Zealand Invitational side in Adelaide on Saturday.
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Kevin Walters vows to act as three players consider walking away from Kangaroos
Kevin Walters says one of his key tasks after being appointed Kangaroos coach will be trying to convince star trio Payne Haas, Tino Fa'asuamaleaui and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow to commit their national allegiances to Australia. Walters was on Wednesday officially named to lead the Kangaroos in the Ashes series in England at the end of the year, but he may be missing three of Australia's best players. It's understood Origin stars Haas, Fa'asuamaleaui and Tabuai-Fidow are all leaning towards representing Samoa in the post-season Pacific Championships, rather than playing for the Kangaroos in the Ashes. The trio's defection would also have major implications for next year's World Cup in Australia and Papua New Guinea. If they make the move, the star-studded trio would become the latest in a growing list of rep stars to honour family and play for the country of their heritage, rather than the nation where they were born. NSW Origin stars Jarome Luai and Stephen Crichton are among the highest-profile stars to pledge their allegiances to Samoa, who would be even stronger with the addition of Haas, Fa'asuamaleaui and Tabuai-Fidow. Walters understands the importance of family to many of the Australian-born players with Pacific Island backgrounds, and would be fully supportive of the trio if they decided to defect from the Kangaroos. But he's definitely keen to speak with the three Origin superstars and try to convince them to play for Australia. RELATED: Madge spills family detail that has Walsh and Broncos primed for finals Panthers fans divided after Ivan Cleary forced to axe grand final hero Teammate responds amid calls for NRL stars to cop ban from Origin Kevin Walters hoping to convince star trio to play for Australia "In time I will, but that's probably not a conversation for today," he said. "I just want to explain to those players that are contemplating, I totally understand their situation, but let's get the Kangaroos opportunity in front of them and see where they're at with that. We move forward from there." Tabuai-Fidow represented Samoa in one World Cup match in 2022 and won the 2024 Pacific Cup with Australia. And Fa'asuamaleaui was a key part of the Kangaroos' 2022 World Cup-winning squad. He did play a Test for Samoa in 2019, but has represented Australia in his past seven Tests. All four of Haas' Test matches have been with Australia. But Walters says regardless of the outcome around the star trio, the Kangaroos will still remain strong. "One thing about the Australian rugby league team is that there's great talent. We know that," he said. "So if some players elect to play for Pasifika nations or whatever nation, we've got plenty of depth here in Australia. Obviously we want the best players available. It's been a terrific State of Origin series with great talent on show from both states, so I'm sure we'll get a very strong 22 to take on the English in October and November." Kevin Walters excited by 'once-in-a-lifetime opportunity' Walters is tasked with succeeding Mal Meninga after the former Kangaroos coach stepped down to take charge of the Perth Bears, who enter the NRL in 2027. The former Maroons and Broncos coach won a World Cup with Australia as a player and said it was a 'dream' to be handed the Kangaroos role, with the 12-month deal putting his aspirations to coach again in the NRL again on hold. "Certainly. At the moment, my focus is the Kangaroos," Walters said. "It's a 12-month contract so it's the opportune time for me to come in and get some hard work done and then prepare these guys for what will be a very tough series. "When that phone call came to ask if I would be interested in coaching the Kangaroos, the hairs on the back of my neck really stood up and bristled. As a kid, you dream about... playing for the Kangaroos, which I was fortunate enough to achieve, and now to be given the opportunity to coach them, it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity." Walters coached Queensland to two State of Origin series wins out of four and was at the helm of Brisbane when they reached the 2023 grand final before being sacked at the end of last year. If he leads the Kangaroos in a successful Ashes tour of England, there is a strong chance Walters would be retained for next year's World Cup.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
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Ricky Ponting's genius laid bare after call on Aussie bolter already proven right
Former Aussie cricket captain Ricky Ponting has once again shown why he is considered one of the great minds in the game having touted Jason Sangha as a potential bolter for the Aussie Test XI for the Ashes. The Aussie XI has undergone some changes across the last 12 months with Nathan McSweeney, Sam Konstas and Marnus Labuschagne all having a crack at opening alongside Usman Khawaja. Cameron Green has also been promoted to No.3 with Steve Smith occupying his second drop position. However, the top order has struggled to find their groove with no-one consistently finding runs against South Africa or the West Indies. Konstas is under pressure to hold his place for the Ashes, while Green has endured a tough start to his career at first drop. While Green managed some runs in the West Indies, the 26-year-old still hasn't convinced some he is the long-term replacement at No.3. Speaking after the West Indies series, Ponting said he believes the selectors will stick with the top four as they are heading into the Ashes. But he also tipped Sangha to push for Ashes selection with his form. 'The start of the Sheffield Shield season will be an interesting one ... I'll throw another name in that I think is a highly talented Australian batsman, that's Jason Sangha,' Ponting told the ICC Review podcast this week. 'I think (Sangha is) someone whose name will probably come up at some stage as well, but there's just not many games now, not many opportunities to be able to get yourself and get your name up in front of the selectors.' On Wednesday, Sangha vindicated Ponting's call almost immediately, knocking on the door of selection once again with a double-century against Sri Lanka A. Sangha scored 202 not out off 379 balls as Australia A reached 4-558 before the game was declared a draw at tea on day four. He also scored two half-centuries against Sri Lanka A in Darwin across the opening two matches to continue his exhilarating form. Earlier this year, Sangha scored 126 not out to lead South Australia to a close four-wicket victory over Queensland in the Sheffield Shield final. This contributed to an average of 78.2 across six Shield games last season. And with Ponting watching the 25-year-old closely, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Sangha propelled into the Aussie Text XI if an opportunity arises. But Sangha's mid-career resurgence isn't the only talking point from the side. Teenager Oliver Peake scored 92 off 178 balls against Sri Lanka A, which will see the selectors keeping an eye on the 18-year-old talent. And opener Jake Weatherald blasted 183 to put more pressure on Konstas at the top of the order. Konstas, 200 up for Jason Sangha!And some real class shown by Sri Lanka A, congratulating him after he reached the double #AusAvSLA - — (@cricketcomau) July 23, 2025 Jake Weatherald & Jason Sangha are both very likely to be in the Ashes squad, if not playing XI itself in top 4, although these A team runs seem to be on a flat wicket. Both had really good Shield seasons too. Good time to peak as a top-order batter in Aus domestic cricket. — Rohit Sankar (@imRohit_SN) July 23, 2025 Jason Sangha's first class numbers since his Shield return last December: 906 runs @ 90.6, 4 centuries. Top scored in 8 of those 14 innings which is just nuts — Ethan (@ethanmeldrum_) July 23, 2025 Ricky Ponting backs Sam Konstas for Ashes The Aussie batters endured a brutal time in the West Indies with no player across either team scoring more than 75 runs in an innings in the three match series. Although Konstas particularly struggled. The 19-year-old only scored 50 runs across his six innings having averaged 8.33 in the series. And now it appears there is more pressure on Konstas than ever heading into the Ashes with McSweeney and Weatherald back in the runs. Although Ponting feels the selectors will standby the current side. 'The (batters) that they're talking about the last couple of weeks in particular, have been (Sam) Konstas and (Usman) Khawaja, and then there was some talk about Cameron Green, if he was a long term No.3 three or not,' Ponting said about the make-up of the side. RELATED: Pat Cummins makes call on Sam Konstas after struggles continue Marnus Labuschagne spotted in strange moment amid Aussie win '(Green's) second innings in the West Indies (in the last Test) might have just put some of that to bed. As tough as those conditions were to bat for as long as he did in trying conditions he might have silenced a few of those critics. 'I think with where they're at, I think the Ashes line-up is going to be like it is right now. I think that's what they're going to be starting with, and you keep your fingers crossed and hope that those guys can get the job done at the start.' Aussie coach Andrew McDonald suggested Konstas does need to score some runs in the Sheffield Shield to prove he is ready for the Ashes. 'I think it leaves him where everyone else is in terms of Shield cricket at the start of the season, we're not going to shy away from the fact that will be big for certain individuals to go about their work, put some scores on the board, and, and then for us to look at what we need against England," McDonald said.
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3 hours ago
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Rival AFL player breaks ranks with eye-opening statement about Steven May
Carlton star Patrick Cripps has declared he "doesn't understand" what the AFL wants Steven May to do differently when two players are contesting the ball. The AFL Tribunal handed May a three-game ban on Wednesday night for his brutal collision with Blues player Francis Evans. The Melbourne Demons star was found guilty of rough conduct for his bump that concussed Evans and left the Carlton forward with a broken nose and a chipped tooth. May's lawyers used a biomechanics expert to calculate he had only 0.56 seconds from the ball's final bounce until the moment of the collision. Biomechanist Daniel Cottam from the Australian Institute of Sport said the premiership defender would have needed at least 0.2 to 0.25 seconds to react properly to avoid the collision. "The time available to him to perceive and react to a complex scenario is not sufficient for him to adapt and avoid contact," Cottam said in his findings submitted as evidence for the tribunal hearing. May said he was shocked when Evans got the ball first because he was certain it would be him. But AFL Tribunal chairman Jeff Gleeson decided May did have ample time to realise there was a big chance he wouldn't arrive first. "The most he could have hoped was that he would arrive at about the same time as Evans," Gleeson said. "It was far more likely that he would reach the ball after Evans. As he gathered the ball, Evans had time to position his body just slightly so as to turn slightly away from May. "This gives some indication that May had sufficient time to make some attempt to move his body in a way that minimised or avoided the impact limits. May made no attempt to change his path, his body position or his velocity at any time leading up to or in the contest." Patrick Cripps and AFL world divided on Steven May ban Before the hearing, Evans' Carlton teammate Cripps broke ranks and questioned how May could have approached things differently. "I felt like both of them were trying to contest the ball," Cripps said on the 'On the Inside' podcast. "You never want to see a player get injured but I don't understand what we want players to do. If that's a grand final and (May) hesitates and Franky gets the ball, what do you do?" RELATED: New blow for Collingwood as important player sidelined for weeks Nick Daicos offers explanation amid Kane Cornes' Brownlow theory Discussing the verdict on Fox Footy afterwards, Former Hawthorn player Ben Dixon labelled it a "rubbish" decision. "Eight inches that ball bounces the other way, Steven May gets that ball,' he said. But David King replied: 'You're arguing that's eight inches. The AFL is arguing the decision to be absolutely going flat-chat with a collision inevitable, you have to make sure you miss the head. When you know contact (is inevitable) … you have a duty of care. 'What happens from here, you make your own decisions … the AFL are clearly saying the game has changed and you now have to assess your role and the duty of care to the opposition from there forward. I fundamentally agree with that. If you're out of control when arriving - having made that decision - you're in trouble, which I think is a good thing for the game, personally.' But Dixon countered: 'So what they're saying now is we've got a contact sport into a caution sport. You've got to approach that with caution … that's the fabric of our game.'
