The NRL season launch was held in Las Vegas on March 3.
The Roosters defeated the Broncos 20-10. Despite succumbing to the Sea Eagles 36-24, the Rabbitohs showed plenty of promise.
Rugby league reporter John Lanzky writes: “My top eight predictions for this year – 1. Rabbitohs; 2. Broncos; 3. Panthers; 4. Tigers; 5. Sea Eagles; 6. Roosters; 7. Cowboys; 8. Knights. My tip for the Wooden Spoon – Dragons. My colleague Kelvin Coe’s predictions – 1. Panthers; 2. Roosters; 3. Broncos; 4. Knights; 5. Bulldogs; 6. Storm; 7. Warriors; 8. Tigers. Wooden Spoon – Dragons (sorry Dragons fans).”
Matildas march towards Paris Olympics
It took just 34 seconds for the Matildas to send a warning to their Paris 2024 competition, with an own goal off Uzbekistan setting the green and gold alight at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne.
By the 21st minute, the home side had a monster 5-0 lead over Uzbekistan, as Olympic Games qualification looked all but a certainty.
By the 37th minute, Australia had a mammoth 7-0 lead, and it was 8-0 by the time the whistle went for half-time. It was a total demolition job by the Matildas, who ended up taking a 10-0 victory to officially qualify for the Olympic Games, now just five months away.
2021 Melbourne Cup winner passes away
Champion race mare Verry Elleegant has tragically died while giving birth to her foal. Her foal unfortunately also died. The 2021 Melbourne Cup winner won $15 million in prizemoney during a stellar career, which saw her win many of Australia’s top races. Along with the Melbourne Cup, Verry Elleegant won the Caulfield Cup and the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.The Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes, run in March, which she won twice, has been renamed the Verry Elleegant Stakes in her honour.
Trainer Chris Waller and regular jockey James McDonald paid tribute to her stamina and will to win. “At her peak Verry Elleegant was the world’s best distance horse, the best Australia had seen since the champ Makybe Diva. She gave 110 per cent on the racetrack every time she raced. This is a tragic moment in Australia’s horse racing industry.”
