Rugby league reporter John Lanzky writes: “Before the move to Heffron Park, Souths were second on the ladder.
“Since then, they’ve struggled. It’s more than simply a case of missing Latrell Mitchell. One player does not make a team. From the very beginning, the Rabbitoh spirit has dwelt in Redfern and Waterloo – rabbits were trapped in Moore Park and surrounds – Redfern Oval is a special place for both players and supporters. It makes me wonder whether the move away from Redfern has contributed to the team losing its mojo.
“In brighter news, congratulations to club legend George Piggins on his induction into the NRL Hall of Fame.”
Aussie swim team sizzles at World Championships
Many of Australia’s swimming and diving stars have shone at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan. Ariane Titmus again lowered the colours of long time American rival Katie Ledecky to win gold in the women’s 400m freestyle, and smashed the world record.
Superstar Emma McKeon anchored the 4 x 100m women’s freestyle relay team to win gold by almost half a lap in world record time. Sam Short claimed gold with a dogged display in the men’s 400m freestyle. “King” Kyle Chalmers anchored the 4 x 100m men’s freestyle relay team in their gold medal win over Italy and the USA.
Cassiel Rousseau became the world champion in the men’s 10m platform diving competition. The 22-year-old from Brisbane, who won gold in the 10m platform at last year’s Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, and competed at the Tokyo Olympics, rose to the occasion in the final in which he was ranked ninth after his first dive.
In other news, swimming icon Michael Phelps’s only remaining world record was broken by Leon Marchand in the 400m individual medley. The Frenchman took 1.34 seconds off Phelps’s 2008 world record – the oldest mark in the books – in a dominant performance, and received his gold medal from the swimming legend.
“That was insane, one of the most painful things I’ve done. It was amazing to do it here and the time is crazy,” Marchand said poolside after his 4:02.50 victory. “The best is yet to come. It’s excellent, I train everyday for that. I’m two seconds faster than my previous record, I beat the world record, it’s amazing … I don’t know what to say, I’m so happy.”
Freeman pays a surprise visit to the Matildas
Sydney 2000 gold medalist Cathy Freeman recently paid the Australian soccer team a surprise visit in camp.
“When they turned the lights on, we turned around, and there she was. It was a huge surprise to us. A lot of girls were very emotional,” Aivi Luik, Australia’s midfielder said about the meeting in Melbourne.
“She is such a down-to-earth girl, she is amazing. I still can’t believe that happened, because half a year ago, I remember over half of the team said that Cathy Freeman was their sporting hero. We just sat around and asked her questions informally, and she spoke back to us, like she was a friend.”
