EXCLUSIVE Meet the greatest centre in the world, who's desperate to play union for England and the Lions, Andy Farrell raves about and has a One Direction-esque fanbase - there's just one catch
He is a poster boy of Australian rugby league. His face is on flyers for local sports bars, where you are more likely to stumble upon one of his NRL matches than the British & Irish Lions tour. League is king in these parts.
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Daily Mail
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Son of NRL club's biggest legend organises fan march to force club to sack team's CEO - but precisely ZERO people show up
The son of one of the greatest NRL players to ever lace up a boot has tried to oust South Sydney chairman Blake Solly - and failed in spectacular fashion. There has been bad blood between Rod Churchill, the son of Clive Churchill, and South Sydney for years. Previously, Rod Churchill took aim at Souths chairman Nick Pappas and heavily criticised star player Latrell Mitchell in leaked text messages. On that occasion, he called Mitchell a ' cancer ' on the club, which went down like a lead balloon. 'Where was the human headline Mitchell tonight Nicholas?' that text read. 'Missing again, this was his big game apparently? Your club will not win another comp for another 40 years if this imposter remains at Souths. 'He is a complete myth who has the aboriginal cause paramount and south sydney second, if at all. 'I hope you and family are well. Nothing was done and now this cancer that is Mitchell has ruined the club.' That spray led to the NRL intervening, banning him from presenting the Clive Churchill Medal on grand final day to the best player on ground. It appears that has done little to reduce the friction between Churchill and the club, with News Corp revealing that Rod recently tried to organise a rally to have Solly and long-time official Mark Ellison removed from their posts. However, nobody turned up - not even Rod Churchill himself. There was plenty of hope at Redfern before the 2025 season after the club managed to woo supercoach Wayne Bennett back from The Dolphins. Instead, the club has endured a wretched injury toll that has claimed big scalps including skipper Cameron Murray, half Cody Walker and blue-chip recruit Brandon Smith. That has seen the Bunnies crash to second last on the NRL ladder and not looking likely to make the finals again. Rabbitohs boss Blake Solly has hit back at Rod Churchill for his latest comments against him and the club Churchill has laid the blame on Solly and Ellison for their role in recruitment in abusive messages he sent to Solly. 'U are an uneducated dope,' one reads. 'I thank (sic) you realise that Look in the mirror.' He added: 'Find something Else blakev (sic). Other messages included: 'No response from you 3.6! Years you maggott (sic).' 'Not done pope (sic).' 'Thats the last if texts (sic). If suggest you call u me (sic).' Then, at the end of last month, Churchill tried to organise a march last Saturday to have the Rabbitohs boss removed from his role. A social media post called for members to march from the club's headquarters at Heffron Park to Souths Juniors in protest, However not a single soul showed up, except for Souths staff members who were there to monitor proceedings that never happened. Solly responded to Rod Churchill's most recent attacks, saying there was no need for them. 'Our club has always had the utmost respect for the Churchill family and Clive's enormous contribution to the Rabbitohs,' Solly said.
BBC News
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Comber: Children's camp cancelled over involvement of GAA club
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Daily Mail
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Shaquille O'Neal threatens to punch NFL analyst over Angel Reese criticism
NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal has claimed that he will 'punch' former NFL star Robert Griffin III over his recent comments on Angel Reese. Griffin made headlines earlier this month when he waded into debate over Chicago Sky star Reese being selected as a NBA 2K26 cover star. However, in doing so, he also brought attention to one social media user editing the cover to feature a monkey in place of Reese - while also doubling down on a claim that the Sky star 'hates' WNBA rival Caitlin Clark. Reese swiftly fired back at Griffin with a subtle post on X aimed at the NFL-star-turned-analyst. Griffin then doubled down on his claims, once more. Now, NBA legend O'Neal has joined the debate and threatened to 'punch' Griffin he makes further comments on the WNBA star. On the ' Off the Record' podcast, O'Neal said: 'RG3? Tweet another monkey post about my girl Angel Reese and I'm going to punch you in your f***ing face'. Shaq speaks out on Angel Reese drama with RGIII‼️ Full episode out now: #shaq #shaquilleoneal #angelreese #rgiii #wnba — Bailey Jackson (@baileyjsports) July 15, 2025 'I don't usually do stuff like this but just stop it, bro. You've got your job, you've got your podcast... leave my Angel Reese alone. 'I'm the one calling her and telling her not to respond. F***ing stop it. That's the last time. Okay? Thank you'. 'It's not real hate. If you look around at what's going on in this real country, that's hate. This is sports. I'm not supposed to like you! 'It's a shame that [for] all the stuff that you did in your life, you're going to be remembered for a podcast. That should tell you that you're not that f***ing great. 'Leave those girls alone, you already spoke on it. Let it go. Don't pick on that little girl. Because guess what? I'm her protector. Now pick on me. And if you pick on me, I'm going to punch you in your f***ing face'. The confusing saga began when Griffin attempted to defend Reese online after she was criticized for being chosen for the cover of a new video game, NBA 2K26. One racist post from an unidentified X user photoshopped the cover to make Reese, who is African American, appear as a monkey. But in his misguided effort to stick up for Reese, Griffin claimed to know her on-court beef with Clark wasn't just in the minds of media and fans, adding that the Sky star's inner circle had confirmed this to him. The former NFL star refused to let the issue rest, maintaining he was telling the truth Reese wasn't buying it and accused Griffin of 'lying on this app… for clout'. '… Everybody know the first and last name of everybody in my circle,' Reese said, apparently insisting Griffin wasn't communicating with anyone close to her. Ultimately she called Griffin's post 'nastyyy work.' Griffin defended himself online after Reese and Clark's comments Wednesday morning. 'Alright. This has got to stop,' Griffin wrote on X. 'There is no place for racism in this world. Whether you like a player or not. Angel Reese should never be called or depicted as a Monkey,' he wrote in a post to X referencing the vile reaction to Reese's cover. 'I have been quiet on the Angel Reese front because she shared a video that aided in my wife, kids, family and friends receiving death threats, threats of physical harm to my family and friends and threats of sexual violence to my children on social media and beyond. 'That will never be okay with me. I never attacked her or her family when I stated and backed up with clear basketball evidence that Angel Reese hates Caitlin Clark. It's sports. Everybody won't like each other.' Griffin refused to let the issue rest in a later post. 'I spoke up in support of Angel Reese against racism not to start drama,' he later shared. 'But I won't let anyone twist the truth just because it's inconvenient to them. Instead of trying to check me, just tighten up your circle. 'They calling me and saying you hate Caitlin Clark, not the other way around. 'I have zero interest in being the villain in anyone's story. I just want to have fun, tell the truth and celebrate sports. But I won't pretend or lie just to protect feelings.'
