CRISTIANO Ronaldo is used to being compared to Lionel Messi – but now faces Sunderland youngster Elliot Embleton in a UEFA goal vote. The 33-year-old Juventus forward has been shortlisted by UEFA for their goal of the season – unsurprisingly for his overhead kick against his current club when he …

ALL BLACKS coach Steve Hansen has rejected suggestions from former players that the team’s famous pre-match haka has been devalued by overuse. The world champions perform the traditional Maori challenge before every Test match but former New Zealand prop Kees Meeuws told British author Peter Bills the foot-stomping, chest-thumping ritual …

SUNS midfielder Brayden Fiorini wants a crack at blue chip QClash performer Dayne Beams. Fiorini was handed the assignment of curtailing Tigers’ premiership captain Trent Cotchin on Saturday night and took the honours. However, despite keeping the Brownlow Medallist to just 12 disposals while collecting 29 of his own, it …

THE All Blacks have gone a year without having to worry about David Pocock but they’re on high alert for the return of the Wallabies back-row menace in the Bledisloe Cup. The Brumbies star wasn’t part of the 2017 series as he was on a sabbatical. He returned to the …

BRONCOS v RABBITOHS: Teams have been named for the round 23 clash between Brisbane and South Sydney. BRONCOS v RABBITOHS 7:50pm Thursday at Suncorp Stadium Broncos 1. Darius Boyd 2. Corey Oates 3. James Roberts 4. Jordan Kahu 5. Jamayne Isaako 6. Anthony Milford 7. Kodi Nikorima 15. Joe Ofahengaue9. …

JACK Goodhue has won the contentious outside centre berth in a near full strength All Blacks team to face the Wallabies in Sydney. In one of the few dilemmas for coach Steve Hansen, rising star Goodhue will play his second Test in the Bledisloe Cup opener on Saturday, seeing off …

MANLY coach Trent Barrett has refused to answer questions about his explosive walkout at Brookvale. News broke of the 40-year-old’s surprise resignation on Tuesday following the club’s 18-6 win over the Bulldogs on the weekend. It’s understood Barrett’s frustrations were centred around a lack of resources and support at club …

INJURED Pittsburgh Steelers star Ryan Shazier has received a rousing ovation for fans after simply walking across the field at training camp. The 25-year-old two-time Pro Bowl linebacker was a mainstay of the Steelers line-up until a head-on tackle during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals in December 2017 saw …

ENGLAND rugby star and former Melbourne Rebels import Danny Cipriani has been charged with assaulting police during an incident in the English Channel island of Jersey. The 30-year-old fly half is also charged with resisting arrest, common assault, larceny, and being disorderly on licensed premises, police said. He has been …

THE shadow of Cristiano Ronaldo is still hanging over Real Madrid as the team prepares to face fierce rival Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup final on Thursday morning (AEST). Captain Sergio Ramos, though, has no doubt that the club can deal with the departure of the five-time Ballon …