Ezra turns down Interview at media day
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Perth Now
29 minutes ago
- Perth Now
Tigers whacked after Middle Eastern hand gesture
The Wests Tigers have received an official warning and centre Brent Naden is set for a fine after being handed a breach notice by the NRL for using an offensive Middle Eastern hand gesture during and following Sunday's win over the Bulldogs. Naden was one of several Tigers players who used the khawd – the Arab equivalent of the middle finger – during their victory. After the game, Naden used the gesture again in a social media post, which has since been deleted. On Tuesday, NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo confirmed the league was investigating after several complaints from Bulldogs supporters moved the club to ask the league to take a look at the incident. On Wednesday morning, the NRL released a statement confirming that the warning had been handed out to three players, whom they declined to name, relating to their conduct on the field. 'The NRL acknowledges that these actions caused, or had the potential to cause, offence to members of the NRL community,' the statement said. 'Separately, the NRL has issued a breach notice to Wests Tigers player Brent Naden. The notice alleges that Naden's conduct following the Wests Tigers match on 3 August 2025 contravened the NRL Code of Conduct. The player will have five days to respond to the breach notice.' The gesture, which is widely known as a 'khawd' or 'khod' in the Arab community, is given by lowering the middle finger and pointing it in the direction of another person. There have been mixed reactions to its use, with suggestions it has taken on a less insulting tone among the younger generation.
The Australian
29 minutes ago
- The Australian
Tony Gollan reveals his Melbourne and Sydney spring carnival team and target races
Tony Gollan has assembled one of his largest teams to attack the southern spring carnivals, with a formidable five-horse support squad set to join headline traveller Antino. Antino's Cox Plate path is well documented but the champion Queensland trainer will also have sprinters Zarastro and Golden Boom along with Transatlantic and Freedom Rally heading for Melbourne spring missions. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Elite mare Floozie, who won four straight when joining Gollan and then started favourite in the Group 1 Tatt's Tiara, is likely to be deployed in Sydney during the spring. Queensland's star trainer reveals the main goals he has in mind for his touring support squad which will have multiple Group 1 winner and Cox Plate second betting pick Antino as the marquee act. • Vandyke eyes first Victorian spring since Alligator Blood heroics ZARASTRO This is the sprinter who went within a pimple of giving young jockey Angela Jones her first Group 1, being denied by the barest of margins when being run down by a flying Joliestar in the Kingsford Smith Cup during the Queensland winter carnival. 'You might see us head towards the Group 1 Manikato Stakes and then potentially head to Sydney for the Sydney Stakes which is on Everest day,' Gollan said. 'Or we might even look to get him out to 1400m. 'I've got plenty of options with him, but I do want to try him again at Group 1 level at some stage during the spring.' TRANSATLANTIC Gollan has openly said for the last 12 months that Transatlantic has the capability to follow a similar trajectory as two-time Group 1 winning star Antino. Transatlantic didn't finish near them in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap when sneaking into the field but Gollan insists he is a proper horse. 'I'm pretty keen for him to do a pretty similar preparation to Antino in 2023, head towards a Toorak Handicap and then possibly finish in the $2m Five Diamonds in Sydney,' Gollan said. 'This horse has excited me for a while. 'I think a mile is probably his go and possibly further.' Transatlantic may follow a similar path as Antino. Picture: Trackside Photography • Stable switch: Exciting Queensland filly bound for Victoria GOLDEN BOOM The sharp sprinter who has banked more than $1m in prizemoney had one run in Melbourne last spring when finishing runner-up to Mornington Glory in the Listed Carlyon Stakes at The Valley. He was well beaten in the Jimmysstar's Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield in February and hasn't been at the races since, but brained them in a Deagon trial earlier this week. 'He will head to the same race he was in last year, the Carlyon, and then hopefully go to the Group 1 Moir Stakes,' Gollan said. 'Whereas last year I just went to the one race in Melbourne for him, because he was coming off a winter preparation. 'This year we are fresh into a spring carnival preparation. 'After the Moir there are more options for him if he is going well.' Golden Boom (blue and white colours) will target the Moir Stakes. Picture: Trackside Photography • 'She is so humble': Proud mum revels in daughter's premiership feat FREEDOM RALLY Gollan has given this $1m earner three attempts at Group 1 level and he has been unplaced at each. However, he is keen to try something different this spring. 'We want to try to get him out to 2000m this preparation,' Gollan said. 'Whether that be in Melbourne or in Sydney, I don't really have a grand Group 1 goal for him. 'I probably just want to try to get him out in trip, under the top level. 'He will go to Melbourne in the first instance and his first two runs will be there.' Freedom Rally could be tried over 2000m. Picture: Trackside Photography • Bookmaker reveals biggest winners and losers in 2024-25 FLOOZIE The mare was one of the finds of the winter carnival, turning into a winning machine for Gollan after heading north from Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr who trained her in Victoria. She looked the one to beat in the Group 1 Tatt's Tiara, but finished fifth after looking like she had come to the end of her preparation. 'Later in the spring, you will see this mare head down to Sydney,' Gollan said. 'She will have two to three runs before she has a break with next year's winter carnival in mind. 'There are a few good options for her in Sydney, including The Invitation ($2m race for fillies and mares).'
The Australian
29 minutes ago
- The Australian
NRL Market Watch: Josh Kerr to leave Dolphins and rejoin the Dragons
Queensland Origin squad member Josh Kerr is on the verge of returning to St George Illawarra from next season as the club prepares to announce his return on a two-year deal. Kerr is expected to take up an offer until the end of 2027 to return to St George Illawarra after the Dolphins were unable to retain him beyond this season. Interestingly, the Dragons released Kerr midway through the 2023 season with 18 months remaining on his contract to join the Dolphins. That was before Shane Flanagan arrived at the club with Kerr let go just after Anthony Griffin was sacked at the Dragons. Since joining the Dolphins, Kerr has played 43 top grade games including 16 this year. He made his debut for St George Illawarra in 2019 and went on to play 68 top grade games for the club before his departure. His form has been so good for the Dolphins this year he was included in the extended squad by coach Billy Slater for game three of this year's series. However, his celebrations of the Maroons' series win were soured when he was hit with a $10,000 fine following comments he made about referee Ashley Klein the morning after Queensland's victory. Kerr was targeted by Super League clubs and it is understood he weighed up a move to England before opting to remain in the NRL and rejoin St George Illawarra. He will add experience to a forward pack which is filled with rising stars. Kerr joins Cronulla's Daniel Atkinson in joining the Dragons from next year. They have lost Jack de Belin (Eels), Jonah Glover (Rabbitohs) and Sione Finau (Canberra). St George Illawarra also have a two year offer on the table to in-form Tigers player Adam Doueihi. The Dragons were believed to be in the box seat to sign Doueihi after the Tigers only offered a 12-month deal but they have since upped their offer to two seasons following his starring role for the club in their win over the high-flying Bulldogs on Sunday. Kerr is the latest addition to the Dragons squad as they begin to reshape the side to put themselves in contention to return to the finals next season. It is understood the club would consider allowing wingers Mikaele Ravalawa and Tyrell Sloan out of their deals should they find other options while Blake Lawrie is also be free to go. Ravalawa, currently at Souths on loan for this season, and Lawrie have 12 months lefts on their deals while Sloan has another two years. NRL While legend Benny Elias called it 'ugly hatred', the NRL's slap on the wrist for the Tigers players who insulted Bulldogs fans on the weekend is just right, writes Brent Read. NRL West Tigers centre Brent Naden has been hit with a breach notice after the NRL's investigation into his 'khawd' celebration against the Bulldogs, with a trio of other stars officially warned.
