IF quirky community events are your fancy then the upcoming Stroud Brick and Rolling Pin Throwing competition on Saturday July 12 is worth a visit. This popular event returns to the Stroud Showground in Cowper Street, bringing with it a fun-filled day of laughter, rivalry and rural charm and a theme of “Music makes the […]

‘Wasn’t ideal’: Lomax opens up on Origin goalkicking
ZAC Lomax concedes his goal-kicking “wasn’t ideal” in the second State of Origin game but has vowed not to board any emotional rollercoaster triggered by NSW’s tight loss. NSW scored five tries to Queensland’s four in Wednesday night’s game but went down 26-24 as Lomax landed only two of five attempts at goal in wet […]
Tea Gardens face Clarence Town in Winter Solstice clash
Clarence Town’s kicker charges up for a conversion attempt. Ladies’ Tag is all about speed. Lady Hawk Elizabeth Papamau evades taggers running up the wing. TEA GARDENS Lady Hawks hosted Clarence Town on a rare clear winter’s day on Saturday 21 June, with the match ending 4-26. The first try went to Clarence Town’s Jemma […]

‘Won’t beat them for 100 years’: Legend warns Maroons
QUEENSLAND great Chris Close has a stunning warning for the current Maroons squad if there is not a massive change in outlook and performance in Perth. “If we use the way we played in game one as a launching pad for game two we won’t beat them for another 100 years,” Close told AAP. “If […]

Knights coach sorry for criticising frustrated fans
ADAM O’Brien apologised for his post-match attack on Newcastle’s fans, conceding success-starved Knights supporters are within their rights to boo his team. It comes as the Knights prepare to lose second-rower Kai Pearce-Paul to Wests Tigers next season as the Englishman inks a three-year deal. Calling a snap press conference on Friday, coach O’Brien said […]

Worth the wait? Limbo over as Matildas land Montemurro
FOOTBALL Australia has defended its drawn-out search for the next Matildas coach, insisting that the capture of highly-touted Joe Montemurro will be worth the wait. Montemurro has signed a three-year deal to coach Australia’s women’s national team until the conclusion of the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, ending a 10-month wait to find a permanent […]

Origin enforcer playing for flood-ravaged hometown
AFTER the siren sounds on the State of Origin series opener, Mitch Barnett hopes to roll up his sleeves and lend a hand on NSW’s flood-ravaged mid-north coast. Warriors co-captain Barnett has had to watch from afar as flood waters ravaged the Manning Valley area where he was born and raised, and where his parents […]

Why Blues want Newcastle venue to be made permanent
FOR second-rower Yasmin Clydsdale bad weather in the Hunter has more impact than just keeping footy fans away from game three of women’s Origin. The recent deluge on NSW’s mid-north coast has stopped Clydsdale’s husband Adam from being able to cross a creek to get to their cows on their farm in the upper Hunter. […]

Daley reveals moment Origin rookie King won him over
LAURIE Daley has revealed the Max King effort play that convinced him the Canterbury prop was a State of Origin player. The Maitland-educated King was a shock call up for NSW on Sunday night, named as the Blues’ only debutant after Daley’s side suffered a number of last-minute injuries. But the returning Blues coach said […]

Knights re-sign Croker as Thompson exit looms
NEWCASTLE have re-signed Mat Croker to a two-year contract as they continue preparations for life without forward pack leader Leo Thompson. Croker, 25, has played every game of a disappointing Knights NRL campaign so far and will now remain with the club through 2027. The Nabiac product had been among a handful of Knights forwards […]