Torah Bright: cherishing every moment in life
ANDREW WEBSTER Watching a close friend fatally injured in a skiing accident inspired Australia's Torah Bright to live life the way she wants.
Top stories
Beale gives Waratahs fans reason to believe
Georgina Robinson Rugby: The Waratahs' prodigal son returned with a spring in his step on Friday, capping his Sydney homecoming with seven points.
Wanderers strike late to hold Brisbane Roar
DOMINIC BOSSI Football: Wanderers have kept their premiership defence alive - but only just after salvaging a draw against Brisbane Roar on Friday night to stay within seven points of the runaway league leaders.
Third time lucky for Perth Scorchers
Brad Elborough, Perth Cricket: Shaun Marsh has let the selectors know he has regained his fitness with a match-winning innings in the Big Bash League final.
Karrie Webb disqualified from Ladies Masters
7:06pm Golf: Defending champion Karrie Webb has been disqualified from the Australian Ladies Masters after signing an incorrect scorecard.
Eric Grothe jnr marks return with surging try
MICHAEL CARAYANNIS League: A barnstorming try with only his second touch signalled Eric Grothe jnr's return to the top grade.
A tower of strength at the top of the order
JESSE HOGAN Cricket: While the South African captain, Graeme Smith did not endear himself to some in the old guard, Mike Hussey says he subsequently earned the Australians' respect.
Countdown on in earnest for new concept
MICHAEL CHAMMAS 8:15pm League: We look behind the scenes at how the Auckland Nines concept evolved and the tricky logistics of gathering 16 teams across the Tasman for an untested event.
Thorpe's mentor confident he will win battle
ADRIAN PROSZENKO 9:22pm Swimming: Ian Thorpe's confidante, Deidre Anderson, predicts the champion swimmer will conquer his demons and eventually be in a position to help other athletes adjust to post-sport life.
Pass the Sugar: Broncos down and out in Super Bowl
Jacksonville: Quite a lot can happen in eight years
The Fitz Files: Cronulla, wake up, it's all over
Malcolm Knox: Glorious days in race for global goodwill
Michael Lynch: Star young gallopers need to step up
Max Presnell: Waller wary of Pride's joy raining on Boban's parade
Sochi 2014
Russian snowboarder puts number on helmet
NICK MILLER 12:33am Russian snowboarder Alexey Sobolev displayed his mobile number on his helmet, much to the appreciation of many female fans.
Sochi 2014 - Week one highlights
Alex Nicholson Saturday, February 8 Saturday evening's coverage will feature the men's snowboard slopestyle semi-final and final, with 19-year-old Australian Scotty James a potential medal contender.
Coates predicts three medals for Australia
MORE WINTER OLYMPICS NEWS
Cricket
Fresh doubts over Shane Watson for first Test
JESSE HOGAN 5:08pm Australia's restricted preparation for the Test series against South Africa has received another blow with Shane Watson unable to bowl on the first day of an intra-squad practice match.
Mental demons fail to curb Healy's talent
ANDREW WU 3:51pm Alyssa Healy plays a much bigger game than she talks, though there are times when those close to her wish she had more confidence in her prodigious ability.
MORE CRICKET NEWS
League
Cousins shape up for a night to remember
Brett Keeble Second cousins Adrian Davis and Tyrone Roberts will share a special experience on Saturday when they captain their respective teams against each other at Hunter Stadium.
Curtain-raiser gives women's game a boost
BRAD WALTER Dual international Timana Tahu has praised the decision to showcase women's rugby league by staging a match as the curtain-raiser to this year's Anzac Test between Australia and New Zealand in Sydney.
Tolman backs Reynolds to replace X-factor
NRL: Curtis Sironen says mate Luke Brooks can step up
Cameron Smith may snub Broncos to stay with Melbourne Storm
Fantasy NRL: Ultimate League
MORE LEAGUE NEWS
Football
United to lose Vidic at end of season
6:26pm Manchester United captain Nemanja Vidic is to leave the English Premier League champions at the end of the season, the Serbian defender announced Friday.
Sydney FC will counter poise with speed
SEBASTIAN HASSETT 2:04pm While Adelaide United might hold possession better than any other A-League side, Sydney FC defender Sebastian Ryall says the Sky Blues are planning to shock them with speed at Allianz Stadium on Saturday.
Sydney FC v Adelaide United: The Lowdown
Suarez no longer a target for Arsenal
MORE FOOTBALL NEWS
Rugby
James O'Connor plans Super Rugby return
GEORGINA ROBINSON 6:37pm James O'Connor will play out the year in Europe before returning to Australia in a bid to resurrect his Test career.
Benji leaves more questions than answers
RUPERT GUINNESS The conversion of headlining Blues recruit Benji Marshall from an NRL star into a rugby union five-eighth was always going to be a long-term project.
Super Rugby backflips on Larkham's waterboy deal
Wellington Sevens 2014: New Zealand, South Africa upset
Ruan and Jean-Pierre Smith: Remorseful Brumbies twins to face off
Rebels will count on All Black Tamati Ellison's experience
Six Nations: England ready for tough slog against Scotland
Ireland play down Lions tensions as Wales clash looms
MORE RUGBY NEWS
Horseracing
Caulfield Cup prizemoney rises to $3 million
Patrick Bartley, John Holloway The Melbourne Racing Club's decision to boost the Caulfield Cup prizemoney to $3 million will make one of Australia's most time-honoured handicaps even more attractive.
Be wary searching for Slipper gold
ANDREW WU Earthquake had raced only once when she opened as Golden Slipper favourite. She was replaced as top pick a fortnight ago by Rubick but she starts the weekend as a co-favourite for the Slipper at Rosehill.
Racing Results for Friday, February 7
MORE HORSERACING NEWS
AFL
Paul Roos shocked by Demons' scars
MICHAEL GLEESON 12:01am Paul Roos was expecting to find some 'scarring' when he arrived at Melbourne. But he was shocked by what he found.
Paul Roos favours a minimum cap for clubs
MICHAEL GLEESON The AFL should cap how little clubs spend on football, not how much, says Paul Roos.
MORE AFL NEWS
More sport
Drivers set Mount Panorama alight
DAVID MCCOWEN Motorsport: Drivers are set to go faster than ever before at Mount Panorama during the Bathurst 12 Hour this weekend.
What's in a name for Tiger Woods' niece?
Ed Jackson Golf: The burden of carrying a famous sporting name has proven cumbersome for plenty of sporting careers.
Cookson warns all sports over drugs denial
SAMANTHA LANE Cycling: Cycling's world president says any sport believing it doesn't have similar problems, is in denial.
Shane Heal won't be distracted by uncertainty
Alex Nicholson Basketball: Sydney coach Shane Heal is adamant the uncertainty surrounding his coaching future will not be a distraction.
Quite a lot can happen in eight years
#ThingsSchapelleMissed: My entire career at Fairfax Media, which by the time you read this will have ended the way it began: with a nervous and poorly written story.
Cronulla, wake up, it's all over
While it has been all very well for the Sharks to stonewall all ASADA as they have done very ''successfully'' over the last year, it will not work in the long run.
Fantasy NRL: Ultimate League
Welcome to Ultimate League, a brand new draft-based fantasy NRL game that puts you in control in the battle for ultimate football supremacy with your mates.
Glorious days in race for global goodwill
Here in Sochi, a glorious winter sun is illuminating Alpine slopes thick with fresh falls of the finest Russian powder.
Wanderers can match it with the best
They won't say it publicly, but the Western Sydney Wanderers were utterly desperate to prove their championship credentials against the league's best team.
Football club buys grandstand on eBay
eBay can be a godsend when you're hunting for cheap guitars, PlayStation games, and now it appears, new grandstands.
Freestyle sleeping a new event at Sochi
Whether it's down by the sea or in the mountains, Sochi looks like an Olympics still under construction.
Star young gallopers need to step up
The Orr Stakes is the first chance to see how the stars of the spring have fared after a spell.
Waller wary of Joe Pride's joy raining on Boban's parade
Boban, out to win six straight, is an example of the delicacy of Saturday's window to the autumn majors at Randwick and Caulfield.
The ASADA investigation
Sports lawyer Darren Kane discusses the ASADA investigation into doping in sport.
Piers Morgan blasted by Matt Prior
Matt Prior has launched a savage attack on Piers Morgan after the talk show host accused the England wicketkeeper of undermining former coach Andy Flower during the Ashes.
ASADA saga raises many tough questions
To accept Cronulla players are guilty of taking performance-enhancing drugs, while Essendon players are innocent, we have to believe in two courses of events.
Ambitious plans begin to take shape
The architects of the National Rugby Championship are cooking up an audacious 10-team proposal for Australian rugby's long-awaited national third tier.
