Konstas pushes for Test recall, Ponga takes Golden Boot, 36ers survive scare

Sam Konstas strengthened his case for an Australian recall with another Sheffield Shield century, Kalyn Ponga claimed international rugby league’s top individual honour, and Adelaide nearly threw away a huge lead in the NBL. The Socceroos also secured a change of venue for their Jordan friendly, while two WBBL matches delivered contrasting batting performances.

Rugby League: Ponga wins Golden Boot as 42 legends are honoured

New Zealand fullback Kalyn Ponga has won the 2026 men’s International Rugby League Golden Boot, edging Australia’s Reece Walsh and other shortlisted players for the award. Ponga’s year included leading Newcastle to the NRL grand final before scoring twice for the Kiwis at the World Cup, despite breaking his arm in the tournament’s opening match. New Zealand teammate Stacey Waaka claimed the women’s award after scoring nine tries in four World Cup appearances, adding to an outstanding season that also included nine tries in 10 NRLW games. Both will now face Australia in their respective World Cup finals this weekend.

The awards were presented alongside the announcement of the inaugural International Rugby League Hall of Legends, which has recognised 42 players from eight nations. Australian inductees include Darren Lockyer, Wally Lewis, Mal Meninga, Cameron Smith, Andrew Johns and Johnathan Thurston, while recently retired Jillaroos captain Ali Brigginshaw was among six women honoured. Petero Civoniceva was also recognised for his international career representing both Australia and Fiji. The inaugural group spans the early history of the international game through to the modern era, with further inductions expected at future World Cups.

Cricket: Konstas makes another statement to selectors

Sam Konstas has continued his impressive domestic summer with an unbeaten 109 for New South Wales against South Australia in the Sheffield Shield. The 21-year-old reached his century from 129 deliveries, helping the Blues recover from being dismissed for 204 in their first innings. South Australia had established a 121-run lead after posting 325, with Jake Weatherald contributing 142, but Konstas and Kurtis Patterson's 117-run partnership turned the match around. NSW finished the second day at 2–191, holding a 70-run lead, with Konstas firmly back in the conversation for a Test recall ahead of the series against New Zealand.

There were also significant performances at the MCG, where Victoria declared at 5–402 against Western Australia. Peter Handscomb remained unbeaten on 169 while Blake Macdonald made 116, combining for a 204-run fourth-wicket partnership. Western Australia reached 3–185 by stumps, with Aaron Hardie unbeaten on 61 after sharing an unbroken stand with Corey Wasley. Meanwhile, Queensland took a commanding position against Tasmania at the Gabba, dismissing the visitors for 133 after making 348. Michael Neser marked his return to competitive cricket with 34 runs and two wickets, while Marnus Labuschagne claimed 3–6 with his leg-spin; Beau Webster top-scored for Tasmania with 54 before the follow-on was enforced and bad light ended play.

Cricket: Sandpapergate dispute becomes increasingly public

The fallout from Usman Khawaja’s autobiography continued to divide former teammates and staff from Australia's 2018 tour of South Africa. Former batting coach Graeme Hick described Khawaja’s assertion that the wider team knew about the ball-tampering plan as “absolutely false”, maintaining that he had no knowledge of discussions about using sandpaper. David Warner responded on social media by questioning Hick’s standing among the players, while again backing Khawaja’s account. The disagreement has added another public dispute to an already fractious debate over who knew what during the scandal.

Australia’s one-day captain Mitch Marsh also declined to give his own account when questioned at a press conference. Marsh said he respected Khawaja’s decision to tell his story but had personally moved on and was not prepared to share his recollections. He insisted he held no ill feeling towards Khawaja, but his refusal to address the substance of the allegations left further questions hanging over the Australian camp. Test captain Pat Cummins had indicated he would speak publicly on Friday after taking time to consider the claims.

WBBL: Heat chase down Stars as Sixers remain unbeaten

Brisbane Heat produced a dominant chase to defeat Melbourne Stars by eight wickets at Junction Oval. The Stars posted 5–165, but Heat captain Georgia Redmayne and Irish batter Orla Prendergast took control of the reply with an unbeaten 105-run partnership. Redmayne finished with 74 not out from 50 balls, while Prendergast made 52 not out from 36 deliveries, guiding Brisbane to 166–2 with plenty of time to spare. The result was the Heat’s third consecutive victory and left the Stars with a fourth straight defeat.

Sydney Sixers maintained their unbeaten start to the season with an 11-run win over Melbourne Renegades in the second match of the double-header. New Zealand captain Melie Kerr was the decisive figure, scoring 53 from 34 balls before taking 1–29, while Ellyse Perry’s unusual run-out became one of the match’s major talking points after replays showed her bat bouncing above the crease as she dived. The Renegades were bowled out for 129 chasing 141, with Ashleigh Gardner taking 3–13 to close out the victory. The Sixers moved to 5–0, joining Perth as one of the competition’s unbeaten sides.

NBL: Adelaide holds off Melbourne after enormous lead evaporates

The Adelaide 36ers survived a remarkable Melbourne United comeback to claim a 101–93 victory at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre. Adelaide looked to have the contest comfortably under control after opening up a 34-point advantage in the second quarter and taking a 59–35 lead into half-time. United gradually worked their way back into the game, however, cutting the margin to just four points inside the final three minutes. Bryce Cotton responded with consecutive three-pointers to halt the comeback, finishing with 19 points and 10 assists. John Jenkins led the scoring with 21 points, while Zylan Cheatham added 20 points and 12 rebounds.

Perth Wildcats also ended a difficult run, coming from 12 points behind to defeat Tasmania JackJumpers 98–92 at RAC Arena. Brandon Knight made an immediate impact on his return, scoring 23 points and providing five assists, while Dylan Windler added 21 points and 10 rebounds. The Wildcats had lost their previous four games but outscored Tasmania by 11 points in the second half to secure the win. The JackJumpers remain well placed at 8–4, while Perth improved to 6–6.

There was further movement at South East Melbourne, with the Phoenix confirming the immediate departure of American guard Skylar Mays after 11 games. Mays averaged 11.7 points and four assists during his time at the club, which said it would begin searching for a replacement. In the NBA, Australian guard Tyrese Proctor recorded a season-high 15 points as Cleveland defeated defending champions New York 115–107. Josh Giddey had nine points and seven assists in Chicago’s loss to San Antonio, while Matisse Thybulle contributed eight points in the Los Angeles Lakers’ win over Milwaukee.

Football: Socceroos' Jordan friendly moved to Doha

The Socceroos have secured a change of venue for their upcoming friendly against Jordan, with the match moved from Amman to Doha following concerns about the security situation in the region. Players and staff had made clear they were uncomfortable travelling to Jordan, where Australian authorities had advised citizens to reconsider the need for travel. Football Australia negotiated an agreement with the Jordan Football Association that allows the team to remain at its current base in Qatar. Australia will now play both Qatar and Jordan in Doha during the international window, avoiding the need for a separate trip to Amman.

Australian Championship: Wests APIA make history in Adelaide City win

Wests APIA produced a commanding 3–0 victory over Adelaide City at Lambert Park, scoring inside the opening minute and controlling much of the match. Jordan Segreto opened the scoring after just one minute, setting a new record for the fastest goal in Australian Championship history, before doubling the advantage in the 18th minute. Taye Hedley added a third in the 62nd minute as Adelaide struggled to create sustained pressure. The result extended Wests APIA’s unbeaten run and strengthened their position at the top of Group B, while Adelaide remain in danger of missing the next stage.

AFLW: Vescio set for historic Carlton milestone

Carlton forward Darcy Vescio is preparing to become the first player from the club to reach 100 AFLW games when the Blues face Hawthorn in Saturday’s semi-final. An inaugural Carlton player, Vescio has been a prominent figure throughout the competition’s development across 11 seasons. Their influence has extended beyond the field, including involvement in collective bargaining negotiations that helped improve conditions and professionalism for AFLW players. The milestone comes as Carlton attempts to continue its finals campaign against Hawthorn.

Swimming: New Swim GP format launches in Melbourne

Swimming Australia’s new four-team Swim GP competition is set to begin in Melbourne on Friday night, introducing a more team-focused format to the sport. Able-bodied and para swimmers have been divided into four squads, with short-course racing, elimination-style skins events, mystery relays and power plays designed to create a faster and more television-friendly contest. The teams feature several of Australia's leading swimmers, including Kyle Chalmers, Mollie O’Callaghan, Kaylee McKeown and Lani Pallister. The event is another attempt to give domestic swimming a more entertaining competition format between major international championships.