The Rugby League World Cup kicked off with a bang as favourites Australia and New Zealand played out a thrilling opening match in Sydney but there was also a light-hearted moment amid the intensity of battle between the best two teams in the world.
With the game locked at 16-16 on the 60-minute mark, Kalyn Ponga – who was born in Western Australia and plays for Queensland in the State of Origin but switched allegiance to play for New Zealand ahead of this World Cup – scored a stunning try from 45 metres out, weaving between defenders to put the underdog Kiwis 22-16 in front.

Sunday’s game between the New England Patriots and New York Jets will be a meeting between two second-year head coaches who have enjoyed differing levels of success so far. Whereas Mike Vrabel led the Patriots to the Super Bowl in his first season and appears to have his team firing on all cylinders again in 2026, Aaron Glenn went just 3-14 in Year 1 and is also currently the owner of a losing record.

The New York Jets possess three first-round picks in the 2027 NFL draft. Entering Week 6 of the 2026 season, they are currently positioned to be Nos. 9, 11, and 12 overall. The real-time draft order is obviously changing every week, but the Jets’ three picks are currently all of the top-15 variety.
The Jets will undeniably come away with a quarterback to eventually replace stopgap starter Geno Smith. While much of the focus on this quarterback class began with Arch Manning and Dante Moore, they have disappointed in 2026 thus far.

The Carolina Panthers didn’t have to lift a finger to gain sole possession of the NFC South in Week 5. As they sat back on their bye, an overtime loss from the Atlanta Falcons gave the reigning division champs a half-game lead for first place.
But if they want to stay there, it’s not going to be as easy as that.
According to Gridiron State and Info, the Panthers—based off EPA per play—have the toughest remaining schedule of opposing defenses . . .

The Panthers have the toughest remaining schedule of opposing defenses, based on this season so far.

Dolphins winger Jack Bostock marked his Australia debut with a hat-trick of tries [Getty Images]
Australia (10) 24
Tries:Bostock 3, Trbojevic, Walsh Goals:Walsh 2
New Zealand (10) 22
Tries:McLean, Ponga 2 Goals: Isaako 3 Penalties: Isaako 2
Australia underlined why they are favourites for the 2026 Rugby League World Cup by fighting back from a mauling at the hands of New Zealand’s powerful pack to win a thrilling opening match of the tournament.

SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 28: C.J. Cox #0 of the Purdue Boilermakers arrives at the arena before the Elite Eight round game of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament held at SAP Center on March 28, 2026 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Ben Solomon/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) | NCAA Photos via Getty Images
The podcast is back for our midweek episode and it’s full of predictions. With Purdue basketball just three days away from their first exhibition game of the season Ryan and I predict the starting lineup for this game against Ball State.

GlenOak’s Casey Harbour and Marissa Kromi, Tuslaw’s Cash Iams and East Canton’s Savanna Rayl are the Stark County High School Cross Country Runners of the Week.
The runners of the week are selected by the county’s cross country coaches association. A boy and girl from Division I-II and Division III-IV are selected.
Division I-II
Boys
Casey Harbour
GlenOak, sr.

Harbour was the Golden Eagles’ top finisher at Thomas Worthington’s Les Eisenhart Invitational. The two-time state qualifier ran a personal-best 16:28.20.

Girls
Marissa Kromi
GlenOak, sr.

Real Madrid believe recent events vs Villarreal and Roma were necessary to unite dressing room

As is the case always, there is a lot of noise surrounding Real Madrid. The Merengues continue to wage war against FC Barcelona over the Negreira case while continuing to battle the refereeing system in La Liga.

Performances on the pitch have not met the level of expectations and there is constant scrutiny on the team and the club as a whole.
Not a coincidence

Now, according to Jose Felix Diaz of AS, Real Madrid do not view recent events as isolated incidents.

FILE PHOTO – ITV pundit and Irish former player Roy Keane pictured ahead of the UEFA Nations League group A3 soccer match between England and Spain at Wembley Stadium. (is associated with: «Roy Keane brands Man United ‘circus’ following Martinez’s outburst») Mike Egerton/PA Wire/dpa
Roy Keane has branded Manchester United a “circus” following Lisandro Martinez’s outburst against the club’s hierarchy.

Payton Pritchard Just Gave Celtics Another Reason to Rethink Their Offensive Plans originally appeared on NESN.
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The Boston Celtics have spent much of the preseason evaluating how their new-look roster will function around Jayson Tatum and Paul George. Wednesday night provided another encouraging answer, although it came from a player who has been in Boston for years.
Payton Pritchard delivered 11 assists without committing a turnover in the Celtics’ 114-93 victory over the Charlotte Hornets at TD Garden.

In the top half of the current Premier League table, six teams average less than 50% possession. One of those teams, Hull City, average only 33%. And while the top three sides have dominated the ball, the standout performance among them was Brighton’s 3-0 win over Arsenal, a pressing masterclass in which Fabian Hurzeler’s team recorded only 40% possession.
This may shake out over time. It’s only been six games. Hull may recede to the lower reaches. Tottenham (19th, 59%) usually clean up and stumble home in 17th, like a functioning alcoholic.

ATLANTA – Mike Tomlin has hopped out of the pressure-cooker existence as an NFL coach and discovered a whole new way of life.
“I didn’t know I was sleeping bad until I started sleeping good,” Tomlin told USA TODAY Sports, reflecting on a coaching grind that burned the midnight oil.
“I slept bad for so long. It was a normal state for me all of my adult life because of the job that I’ve held. I’ve just come to understand recently that I had been sleeping bad for the last 30 years.

In tennis, the scoring system means an upset can take many forms. It can be a surprise thrashing, or a tight win that turns on a point or two. Or, as was the case in Wuhan Wednesday for the U.S.’s Ann Li, it can be a roller coaster.
Her scoreline against four-time Grand Slam champion Aryna Sabalenka barely told the story of an up-and-down encounter — before getting to the fact that there were 10 match points.
All of them for Li.
The American came back from 6-3, 4-2 down in the second set to lead Sabalenka 5-2 in the third, just one game from a remarkable win.

Dembélé’s monstrous Champions League stats since January 2025 🔥
Mr. Champions League.

With a goal and an assist against Manchester City on Wednesday night, Ousmane Dembélé set the record straight and confirmed, once again, that the Champions League has truly become HIS competition!
The proof? The reigning Ballon d’Or winner has posted exceptional Champions League numbers since January 2025 and that famous 2024–2025 league-phase match against Manchester City at the Parc des Princes.

Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin shared his true thoughts with Travis and Jason Kelce on what a players-only meeting means from an NFL standpoint.
Teams in crisis or ones that lack cohesion often come to a point in a season where they have a players-only meeting to ensure that everybody is on the same page. However, these meetings rarely happen if a team is successful.

BOLOGNA FC 1909’S NEW THIRD KIT
Macron and Bologna FC 1909 have unveiled the new third kit for the 2026/27 season. Gold takes centre stage in a design that pays tribute to the Rossoblù’s history and identity, with graphic details celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara. The gold shirt features a blue crew neck and matching sleeve cuffs, both finished with a fine red trim. The same colour combination runs along the sides, creating a clean, distinctive look.

The Cleveland Guardians will play at home on Oct. 15 after splitting the first two games of the American League Championship Series with the Tampa Bay Rays.
After scoring seven runs in a Game 1 victory, the Guardians struggled to score and fell 3-1 in Game 2.
The Rays barely outhit the Guardians 7 to 6, but scored three runs because of a defensive miscue by third baseman Jose Ramirez. In the fourth inning with two outs, Ramirez let a ground ball by Ben Williamson pass through his legs, allowing a run to score and advancing runners on the error.

Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images

Brewers’ Jake Bauers breaks down game-changing at-bat vs. Blake Snell appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Jake Bauers delivered the swing that put the Milwaukee Brewers one win away from the World Series, and he revealed that it came down to sticking with his plan no matter what Blake Snell threw his way.

Credit: Alika Jenner/Justin Setterfield via Getty Images
Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards held the 2026 ‘Believe That’ awards on October 14, with Justin Bieber winning one of the biggest awards of the evening.
Edwards hosted the second edition of the ‘Believe That’ awards after the first event was a huge success on social media. The ceremony is a live stream with Edwards and a few teammates and friends handing out awards for pop-culture-themed categories, which have proper nominee lists.

Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images
Jared McCain’s impressive preseason has given Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault a difficult decision to make with the young guard pushing for more minutes.
McCain scored 20 points and hit six three-pointers in just 19 minutes during Tuesday’s 114-112 overtime win over the Indiana Pacers. His latest performance has only strengthened the case for a bigger role.
That would normally be a straightforward decision for an NBA team.

WUHAN, China (AP) — Fifth-seeded Elina Svitolina broke Guo Hanyu’s serve in the opening and final games of the match and beat the Chinese wild-card entry 6-1, 6-4 Thursday to advance to the quarterfinals at the Wuhan Open.
Svitolina lost in the quarterfinals at the China Open last week to eventual champion Zheng Qinwen.
Guo had her first career top-20 win in the first round of the WTA 1,000-level tournament in Wuhan, rallying from 6-1, 4-0 down and saving triple match point in the second-set tiebreaker to upset 12th-seeded Sorana Cirstea 1-6, 7-6 (6), 7-5.

Pakistan captain Sahibzada Farhan created a new record by scoring 238 runs in a three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka, surpassing India’s Abhishek Sharma, who scored 229 runs against Afghanistan earlier this year.
Farhan scored his third consecutive half-century, making 76 off 47 balls in the final match on Tuesday.
Farhan breaks Abhishek Sharma’s record
Farhan now leads the list for the most runs in a bilateral three-match men’s T20I series between two Full Member teams.

🥐 Vinicius punishment, Champions League hangover: Thursday’s 5️⃣ stories
Real Madrid experienced a day of mixed fortunes. They staged an epic Champions League comeback against Roma after trailing 3-1 in the 82nd minute, inspired by late substitutions. However, their joy was overshadowed by a four-match ban handed to Vinicius Júnior, who will miss El Clásico.
Real Madrid’s epic comeback

Real Madrid once again summoned their traditional European magic at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico.

Sky Sports: Manchester United star facing uncertain future after latest outburst
Lisandro Martinez’s Manchester United Future in Doubt After Explosive Outburst as Transfer Questions Grow

Manchester United have another delicate issue to manage, and this one cuts across dressing room harmony, recruitment strategy and the club’s wider direction. Lisandro Martinez, long viewed as an important figure in the back line, has publicly questioned the work being done above him, and in doing so has placed his own future under fresh scrutiny.

Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Avalanche’s Cale Makar reacts to 1st game since becoming a Dad appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Colorado Avalanche are off to a nice start this season but could not pick up a win on Wednesday night. They fell in the shootout to the Dallas Stars away from home. For star defenseman Cale Makar, the game meant a little bit more to him.
Makar missed Colorado’s win over the Stars on Tuesday due his wife going into labor.

John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

Raptors’ Collin Murray-Boyles sees Toronto’s defense turning into ‘nightmare’ appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Toronto Raptors already built their identity on the defensive end last season, and Collin Murray-Boyles believes the addition of Kawhi Leonard could take that to another level.
Toronto was a top-five defensive team in 2025-26 while going 46-36 and earning the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — This is what everyone fears in a preseason game.
Denver wing Julian Strawther went down in the third quarter against the Clippers with a nasty-looking knee injury. Strawther was trying to avoid having Isaiah Jackson steal the ball from him when his foot came out from under him, and his left knee bent in an awkward, ugly way. Strawther stayed on the ground, in obvious pain, and when a teammate handed him a towel he covered his face. He was eventually helped up and went straight back to the locker room.

Oct 14, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego FC midfielder Anders Dreyer (10) celebrates after scoring on a penalty kick during the first half against Houston Dynamo FC at Snapdragon Stadium.
Back-and-forth go-ahead and equalizing scores leave SDFC and the Houston Dynamo all even at 3-3, sharing the Wednesday night point at Snapdragon Stadium.

Points shared in San Diego. pic.twitter.

Fougerolles (44) before scoring for Real Salt Lake.
|
RSL

Real Salt Lake battled hard against the San Jose Earthquakes on Wednesday night at America First Field, ultimately seeing a 1-1 draw against the club.

Tomori returns, Juve eye a Spanish 💎 and Inter keeper: morning news☀️
The Champions League has delivered one of the worst rounds in living memory for Serie A, which had never seen all four Italian teams lose across a two-day matchweek before.
Watch every Serie BKT match live with LaB Channel on OneFootball: subscribe for just €9.99 a month!
In short, the picture is bleaker than ever. Juventus and Milan, both in Europa League action tonight, are tasked with restoring some pride to Italian football.
As usual, here are the morning’s biggest stories.

Lisandro Martinez’s future at Manchester United in doubt after public outburst directed at club’s hierarchy
Lisandro Martinez’s future at Manchester United has been thrown into doubt after his recent public outburst at the club’s hierarchy.
The Argentine dropped a bombshell interview on Tuesday following United’s 2-0 Champions League defeat against Atletico Madrid.
Martinez called out the club’s technical director, Jason Wilcox, for not supporting manager Michael Carrick in the transfer market.

Jackson Chourio, Jake Bauers, Garrett Mitchell

Derek Jeter, David Ortiz and Alex Rodriguez rea

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts spoke

Quarterback Preston Ferran of Olympus High is tackled by Manu Tia of Bountiful High during their regular season matchup at Olympus High in Holladay, Ut.

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All your FOX favorit

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Gabriel Pirani scored in the 86th minute for San Diego FC in a 3-3 tie with the Houston Dynamo on Wednesday night.
Anders Dreyer and Cédric Bakambu each added a goal for San Diego (8-12-9), which is winless in seven straight.
Guilherme had two goals and an assists for Houston and Mateusz Bogusz added a goal and an assist.
Manu Duah flicked a back-heel shot that bounced off the post and Pirani tapped the putback into a wide-open net.
The Dynamo (13-9-7) is winless in five straight.
Dreyer converted from the penalty spot to open the scoring in the 20th minute.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Denis Bouanga and Son Heung-min both contributed to all three goals for Los Angeles FC in a 3-1 victory over Austin FC on Wednesday night.
Neither team found the net until Bouanga took a pass from Son seven minutes into the second half and scored to give LAFC (12-9-9) the lead.
Brandon Vázquez scored for the second time this season — using an assist from Myrto Uzuni to knot the score in the 66th minute.
Bouanga answered the following minute with his 17th netter off another assist from Son — his league-leading 15th of the season — and LAFC went back in front 2-1.

Denis Bouanga #99 of LAFC celebrates after scoring a goal during an MLS regular season match against Austin FC on October 14, 2026 at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, California.
LOS ANGELES, Calif. — LAFC defeated Austin FC 3-1 during an MLS regular season match on October 14, 2026 at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, California. The Sporting Tribune’s Steven Park was there to capture the following TST Images.

Son Heung-Min #7 of LAFC reacts after a missed goal attempt during an MLS regular season match against Austin FC on October 14, 2026 at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, California.

The Los Angeles Dodgers‘ season, and their quest for a World Series three-peat, is on the ropes. Their backbreaking 6-2 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday night has them now staring down a 3-0 hole in the NLCS. History, for as much of it as the Dodgers have made the prior two seasons, isn’t on their side this time around.
But they do have one guy in that clubhouse who knows what it’s like to buck the trend.
“It’s certainly possible,” manager Dave Roberts told reporters about coming back from 3-0 down. “I’ve lived it.

John Smoltz spoke with the Milwaukee Brewers&#8

#FOXSports #MLB #Baseball
All your FOX favorite

#FOXSports #MLB #Baseball
All your FOX favorit

#FOXSports #MLB #Baseball
All your FOX favorite

#FOXSports #MLB #Baseball
All your FOX favorite

#FOXSports #MLB #Baseball
All your FOX favorit

BOSTON — Center Mitchell Robinson is still getting acquainted with the Boston Celtics. They’re just the second franchise he’s been with over the course of his almost decade-long NBA career. However, this novelty doesn’t mean he’s safe from the wrath of Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla.
The first-year Celtic has enjoyed getting to know his new skipper, and Mazzulla even visited him at his house this summer in Nashville, Tennessee.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — In the aftermath of the New York Jets’ Sunday win over the Cleveland Browns, head coach Aaron Glenn was asked about his rookie pass rusher.
What did Glenn think of the 2026 second overall pick’s performance?
“You guys tell me,” Glenn said, knowing there was little up for debate.
Bailey at rushed from the left and from the right, bull-rushing his way to quarterback Deshaun Watson on some plays and spinning out of attempted blockers on others. 
The result: nine pressures, five quick pressures and a 32.1% pressure rate, per Next Gen Stats.

‘The turning point of the match’: Sanju Samson reflects on India’s 24-run loss against West Indies in 4th T20I at Hyderabad originally appeared on Cricket News.
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KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Sanju Samson called Tilak Varma’s dismissal the turning point in India’s 24-run loss to West Indies.
Samson smashed 56 off 23 balls, but India fell short in the chase.
He backed Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan while praising Shai Hope’s century.

David Samson and Will Middlebrooks join CBS Spo