Latest news with #Queensland-raised
Perth Now
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Storm sign Titans young gun until end of 2027
Melbourne's shrewd recruitment strategy has come to the fore again with Gold Coast prop Josiah Pahulu to join the premiership heavyweights on a two-year deal. The 21-year-old was the Titans' 2024 rookie of the year after a breakout season and is regarded as one of the NRL's most promising young forwards. He will join the club this week and his deal includes the rest of this year and through until the end of 2027. Gold Coast did try to extend Pahulu beyond this year but were unable to do so. The young gun has played just three games off the bench in 2025 after several concussions impacted his availability earlier in the season. He featured in 19 games last year but did not get a contract bonus for playing a 20th after he was rested late in the season. AAP understands the Titans did offer to pay the bonus as part of an extension offer but his management sought a release, which was granted. "The club and Pahulu have been in discussions for some time but were unable to reach an agreement," the Titans said in a statement. "In the best interests of both parties, Pahulu has been granted a release effective immediately." Pahulu will add starch to a middle forward rotation that already includes Josh King, Tui Kamikamica, Nelson Asofa-Solomona and Stefano Utoikamanu. Storm general manager of football Frank Ponissi said the Auckland-born and Queensland-raised Pahulu was an exciting addition to the roster. "Josiah is a talented young footballer and an impressive individual," Ponissi said. "He's a dynamic young forward who has already shown impressive potential early in his NRL career. We're confident he'll make a strong impact and be a valuable addition to the talented group of emerging middle forwards in our squad and coming through our pathways program. "We're excited to see what Josiah can achieve in Melbourne and delighted to welcome him to the club."
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Sydney rookie Porter co-leads in just second LPGA event
Australian LPGA tour rookie Cassie Porter has continued her striking start to just her second outing on the world's premier women's circuit, overcoming illness to share the halfway lead at the Blue Bay tournament on China's southern island of Hainan. The 22-year-old Sydney-born, Queensland-raised prospect, who didn't make the cut in her first event at the Founders Cup last month, coped superbly with the windy conditions to shoot a four-under par 68 and join Japan's Nasa Hataoka atop the leaderboard on Friday. After six-time Japanese tour winner Hataoka shot a six-under 66 -- the best round of the day -- she and Porter were both on a seven-under total of 137 after two rounds, just a shot clear of the field. Cassie Porter ties the lead with her fourth birdie of the day 💪 — LPGA (@LPGA) March 7, 2025 Japan's Rio Takeda was their nearest challenger after a 69, while Mexican Gabbie Lopez (70) and American Auston Kim (71) were two back. It was a terrific start for Porter, who had even considered pulling out of the event before Thursday's first round as she was suffering with a flu bug. But she followed up her opening round of 69 with an even better effort, featuring five birdies and a solitary dropped shot. "Yeah, I'm feeling okay. Being a little sick has kind of helped me a little bit, just slowed me down a little," she explained afterwards. "I always say I get pretty quick if I'm stressed or anything, so it's kind of forced me to slow down." Nothing but smiles today for @EpsonTour alum Cassie Porter as she vaulted to her first co-lead on Tour 😁 — LPGA (@LPGA) March 7, 2025 Leading at halfway didn't exactly faze Porter, though. "It's great. I'm just having fun out here, really. It's always the goal to be in contention, so I'm not too surprised," she said. "We work for this, and it's nice to see some hard work paying off. But there's a lot of golf to play..." Porter even outshone her illustrious compatriot, two-time major winner Minjee Lee, who was still well-placed at two under, tied for 15th place, after a 72, while another in-form Australian was Hira Naveed, who was joint-eighth on three under following a 70. Jeeno Thitikul, the LPGA's No.2-ranked player, went round in 73 to sit five off the lead.
