Latest - The Auckland Tuatara have qualified for the men's National Basketball League grand final after a 107-104 overtime win over Taranaki in their semi-final in Auckland.
Rob Loe Photo: PHOTOSPORT
After beating the defending champion Saints in the preliminary final, the Tuatara have now knocked off the top qualifiers.
After trailing for the majority of the game, the Tuatara were able to equalise just before full time thanks to Rob Loe's late heroics; his steal and turnaround three setting up an unlikely overtime, which Auckland controlled for the victory.
Loe led all scores with 29 points, 18 rebounds and 5 steals.
The Tuatara now await the winner of tonight's Nelson Giants vs Otago Nuggets game to determine their Grand Final opponent.
Storm too good for Panthers
The Melbourne Storm have beaten the Panthers 16-0 in Penrith to keep their NRL minor premiership hopes alive.
It was the first time in seven years that the Panthers have been held scoreless.
It was Melbourne's third consecutive win, while the Panthers have now lost two of their last three games.
The Panthers have 38 points, North Queensland (who have a game in hand) have 32 and Melbourne and the Sharks 30.
The Cowboys play the Roosters this weekend.
The Warriors play the Bulldogs tonight.
Bennett on podium in France
New Zealand cyclist George Bennett finished third on the final stage of the Tour de L'Ain in France.
George Bennett Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The UAE Team Emirates rider attacked on the short hilly stage to grab a podium spot.
The 32 year old's chances in the Tour were ruined yesterday with a mechanical problem.
He finished seventh overall on the 3-day tour.
"I really enjoyed this race. I felt good but I'm a bit disappointed with the result. I had some bad luck yesterday when I got something caught in my rear derailleur in the last big climb and I wasn't able to make back the time today but these things can happen, I still enjoyed racing here with a good group of guys who helped me a lot on every stage," said Bennett.
Meanwhile fellow New Zealanders Niamh Fisher-Black is 25th and Georgia Williams 33rd after three of six stages of the Tour of Scandinavia.
Australians in LIV series will be able to play at home
Australian golfers who sign up with the Saudi-backed LIV Series will still be welcome to play in home events, amid reports British Open winner Cameron Smith has already agreed to join the breakaway circuit.
Cameron Smith Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The Australian Open and Australian PGA Championship, two of the biggest tournaments on the PGA Tour of Australasia calendar, are co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour, which moved to block some players from its tournaments in June after they played a LIV event.
Australia, however, hopes its biggest names can return home to give the local tour a boost after two difficult years disrupted by COVID-19.
"The players coming home to play, as long as there is no conflicting event they will be welcome to play," PGA of Australia CEO Gavin Kirkman said.
"The Australian players that come home from wherever they're playing at the moment, if they're members of our organisation they'll be eligible to play and that's been discussed with the other tours."
A number of low-profile Australian golfers have signed with LIV, including world number 82 Matt Jones.
-Reuters
NRL winning coach dies
Former Queensland State of Origin coach and rugby league star Paul Green has died aged 49.
Former Australian rugby league player and coach Paul Green. Died 2022. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The Green family released a statement on Thursday afternoon, saying they were "devastated".
Green is survived by his wife Amanda and children Emerson and Jed. It's been confirmed he took his own life.
Green played more than 100 NRL games, debuting with the Cronulla Sharks in 1994 before moving to the North Queensland Cowboys in 1999.
The quick-thinking and gritty half-back went on to play stints at the Roosters, Eels and Broncos, and represented the Maroons 10 times.
He played for Australia twice during the Super League era, and also led the Sharks to the Super League grand final in 1997, where they lost to the Broncos.
He became North Queensland head coach in 2014 and they won the Premiership a year later.
-ABC
