Latest news with #Ritchie
Courier-Mail
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Courier-Mail
NRL 2025: Kalyn Ponga leaving Knights for rugby union, doesn't want to play for All Blacks, will he sign with Roosters, contract latest news
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News. Knights captain Kalyn Ponga doesn't want to play for the All Blacks, even if he does switch to rugby union, it has been revealed. Reports emerged on Monday that Ponga wanted out of his Knights contract, which runs through until the end of the 2027 season. It was reported a New Zealand rugby union agent was shopping Ponga around to international rugby clubs. FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer > Journalist Dean Ritchie says there are growing concerns at the Knights that Ponga will soon depart the club with France and Japan the most likely destinations. 'Certainly the suggestions out of Newcastle today were that the fears are increasing that Kalyn Ponga won't be there next year,' Ritchie said on NRL 360. 'Some Newcastle officials desperately tried to find this mysterious New Zealand manager today. They found out his identity but they couldn't find him. 'He wouldn't return calls. 'Certainly there's a growing speculation that he will end up in French rugby or Japanese rugby but I am told quite categorically that he will not at all be interested in playing for the All Blacks. Kalyn Ponga won't be playing for the All Blacks anytime soon. (Photo by) 'I think Kalyn Ponga wants a change. I think he wants to head overseas, and I think somewhere in France would suit Kalyn.' Ritchie believed the Knights would only grant Ponga a release on the condition that he was going to rugby union, and not to another NRL club like the Roosters, with whom he has been linked. 'I think they would release him to go to rugby, if that's Kalyn's wish, given the service that he's given to Newcastle and the Newcastle community, but I don't think there would be any release to go to the Roosters,' Ritchie said. When asked whether the Knights were getting value for money for Ponga, journalist Paul Crawley gave an honest response. X Learn More SUBSCRIBER ONLY 'No, they're not,' Crawley said. 'We all know what a great player Kalyn is when he's at his very best, but value for money. 'He hasn't aimed up for what his talent and what his pay grade suggests.' Ritchie agreed with Crawley. 'He's clearly an elite player but $1.4 million, I don't think he's given them consistent value for money,' Ritchie said. 'He has the odd game here or there where he looks like one of the all-time great players but consistently, over a sustained period, they just don't get the value.' Originally published as 'Wouldn't return calls': All Blacks twist in Ponga exit saga amid Roosters rumblings
Daily Express
3 days ago
- General
- Daily Express
Sembulan folks seek ongoing support from Gagasan Rakyat
Published on: Sunday, July 20, 2025 Published on: Sun, Jul 20, 2025 Text Size: Dr Ritchie (right) reaches out to an elderly couple in Kampung Sembulan Tengah KOTA KINABALU: Residents of Kampung Sembulan Tengah have expressed hope for continued assistance from Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan Rakyat), as the party's Tanjung Aru division carried out a food basket distribution programme for 10 underprivileged families in the area on Sunday. Tanjung Aru division committee member Dr Ritchie Jay Cheng said the initiative was carried out following calls from local residents highlighting the urgent needs of several families. Advertisement 'As a committee member of Gagasan Rakyat Tanjung Aru, I felt compelled to come down personally with our volunteer team to deliver the food baskets,' he said. Also present during the distribution was the village chief of Kampung Sembulan Tengah, Jamaiyah Ahmad, who joined in reaching out to each recipient household. During the programme, villagers also appealed to Dr Ritchie for assistance in repairing a damaged section of a bridge that serves as a vital link within the community. 'I welcome a community-based effort to restore the damaged bridge section as soon as possible,' Dr Ritchie responded. He noted that the food aid initiative is part of Gagasan Rakyat Tanjung Aru's ongoing efforts to support residents in need across the constituency. 'We hope this contribution can ease the burden of families here, and most importantly, let them know that Sembulan families are always remembered,' he added. Dr Ritchie also expressed appreciation for the volunteers who ensured the food baskets were delivered smoothly. 'We remain committed to supporting the well-being of residents in both Sembulan and Tanjung Aru through sustained grassroots engagement,' he said. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Daily Express
7 days ago
- General
- Daily Express
Gagasan Rakyat Tanjung Aru mobilises Sembulan emergency bridge repairs
Published on: Thursday, July 17, 2025 Published on: Thu, Jul 17, 2025 Text Size: A Kampung Sembulan Lama resident gives the thumbs up on a newly restored walkway. KOTA KINABALU: A community-driven 'gotong-royong' programme to repair key wooden bridges in Kampung Sembulan Tengah and Kampung Sembulan Lama was carried out this week by Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah Tanjung Aru, led by committee member Dr. Ritchie Jay Cheng. The repair works, treated as emergency interventions, aimed to restore safety and access for villagers following recent heavy rain which had damaged the bridge structures. Advertisement The team replaced broken wooden floorboards and reinforced the base structures using materials donated by Dr. Ritchie and his team. 'These efforts aren't about the upcoming 17th State Election (PRN17). 'Volunteering and community solidarity are values we've upheld for decades. This is not about praise, but about sincerity in serving where help is needed," he said. He emphasised that the interconnected wooden bridges serve as vital walkways linking many homes in the area, underscoring the urgency of the initiative. 'This gotong-royong shows that Gagasan Rakyat Tanjung Aru remains close to the people. "We are committed to continuing these efforts consistently for the well-being of our community," he added. He said the division pledges to carry on similar community initiatives as part of its long-term commitment to grassroots support. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Guy Ritchie Exits Amazon MGM Studios ‘Road House 2'
We're hearing that Guy Ritchie is no longer directing Amazon MGM Studios' Road House 2, the sequel to the Jake Gyllenhaal 2024 movie that pulled in over 50M viewers on Prime Video and was one of the most-watched pics on the OTT service. That number eventually rose to 80M in the pic's first eight weeks. No reason was given as to why Ritchie un-attached himself. More from Deadline Charles Roven Reflects On Career & Collaborations, Says 'Road House 2' Likely Starting In September – Taormina Hailee Steinfeld To Star Opposite Miles Teller In Olympics Pic 'Winter Games' From Paramount & Star Thrower Cooper Koch Joins Luca Guadagnino's 'Artificial' At Amazon MGM Studios Road House 2 remains an important priority for Amazon MGM Studios, and the plan is to keep this production on track to shoot in the fall. A search for a new director is underway, and sources say casting continues. In Part 2, Gyllenhaal reprises his role as ex-UFC fighter Dalton from a script by Will Beall (Bad Boys: Ride or Die). Road House 2 is produced by Atlas Entertainment's Charles Roven and Alex Gartner, Gyllenhaal's Nine Stories Productions with Josh McLaughlin executive producing. The Doug Liman-directed 2024 movie, which made its world premiere at SXSW, was a reboot of the cult 1989 film starring Patrick Swayze. In that pic, Gyllenhaal's Dalton takes a job as a bouncer at a Florida Keys roadhouse, only to discover that this paradise is not all it seems. Ben Gazzara, Kelly Lynch and Sam Elliott also starred. Guardians of the Galaxy and Dune franchise actor Dave Bautista is circling a role in Road House 2. Sherlock Homes and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels filmmaker Ritchie hit a high point at the global box office in 2019 with his live-action take on Disney animated classic Aladdin, starring Will Smith, which minted $1.05 billion. Best of Deadline Everything We Know About Amazon's 'Verity' Movie So Far 'Street Fighter' Cast: Who's Who In The Live-Action Arcade Film Adaption 2025-26 Awards Season Calendar: Dates For Emmys, Oscars, Grammys & More
Daily Express
13-07-2025
- General
- Daily Express
Gagasan Rakyat Tanjung Aru brings relief to flat residents in weekly food aid
Published on: Sunday, July 13, 2025 Published on: Sun, Jul 13, 2025 Text Size: Dr. Ritchie (center) hands over a food basket to a resident KOTA KINABALU: Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan Rakyat) Tanjung Aru has continued its weekly food basket distribution, focusing this week on families living in the low-cost flats of Tanjung Aru. Gagasan Rakyat Tanjung Aru Committee Member Dr Ritchie Jay Cheng said the initiative aims to ease the burden of residents struggling with daily necessities. 'This programme is not only about basic needs, but also a show of care for the residents. We understand the challenges of urban life, especially for families with young children and the elderly,' he said. He added that the aid will continue with the help of local volunteers. 'We hope this support helps lessen their burden and strengthens the bond between PGRS and the community,' Dr Ritchie said. He also thanked all volunteers, especially youth members, for their role in distributing the aid in an orderly manner. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
