ARU signs $275 million TV deal

Max Mason 5:24 PM   The Australian Rugby Union has secured a new broadcast rights deal worth more than $275 million.

Broncos, Titans, Cowboys

Bennett dismisses Roberts talk

Wayne Bennett is shedding no light on the future of former Titans centre James Roberts.

7:41 AM   Coach casts doubt on whether Broncos will sign James Roberts.

McQueen ready to spearhead Titans revival

Settling in: Chris McQueen.

Vince Rugari   Forced out of South Sydney due to salary cap pressure, new Gold Coast signing Chris McQueen is looking on the bright side, resolving to help steer the NRL's problem child through yet another rough patch.

Dragons remain in the hunt for Roberts

GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 30: James Roberts of the Titans is tackled during the round 25 NRL match between the Gold Coast Titans and the St George Illawarra Dragons at Cbus Super Stadium on August 30, 2015 on the Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Matt Roberts/Getty Images)

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Michael Carayannis   St George Illawarra are prepared to open their chequebook again, remaining in the hunt for the prized scalp of James Roberts despite adding Tim Lafai to their roster.

League HQ

Manly confirm Walker signing

New start: Dylan Walker will represent Manly Sea Eagles for the new season.

5:50 AM   Manly have officially confirmed the signing of Dylan Walker from South Sydney with the NSW representative inking a four-year contract with the NRL club.

Ricky Stuart to embrace pressure of justifying Canberra Raiders faith

Looking ahead: The Canberra Raiders have extended coach Ricky Stuart's contract until the end of 2018.

Jon Tuxworth 5:44 PM   Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart has set his sights on ensuring the team's rebuild ends in premiership glory, and will embrace the pressure to deliver after the club's enormous show of faith in extending his contract until the end of the 2018 season. 

Bris Lions, Gold Coast Suns

Close seeks happier landing

Michael Close of the Lions reacts in pain after a knee injury during a round two match against North Melbourne on April 12.

Daniel Cherny 6:03 PM   Back-page news in April, Michael Close now just wants a decent run at an AFL career.

Martin balances life with football

Continuity key: Stefan Martin handballs during a game against the Western Bulldogs.

Andrew Stafford   Stefan Martin was faced with a dilemma, wanting to accommodate the ambitions of his partner while finding a way to finish his career at the club where he had finally found himself as a footballer.

AFL

Gibbs on the pain of 2015

Bryce Gibbs boxes during a circuit training session at Kurrawa Beach during Carlton's training camp.

Matt Murnane 11:49 AM   Bryce Gibbs says the pain of 2015 is driving him as Carlton cross their fingers that their key players can finally put injury behind.

Former Pie and new Saint Freeman does hammy

Hamstrung: St Kilda recruit Nathan Freeman is injured again.

Jake Niall 5:10 PM   The top ten draft pick, who was severely hamstrung in his brief career at Collingwood, suffers another hammy injury.

Queensland Reds

Thorn could play for Reds next year at 41

Raring to go: Brad Thorn says he can play on next year.

Phil Lutton   Cross-code warrior Brad Thorn hasn't ruled out strapping on the boots for the Queensland Reds next season, saying he still has the "urge" to play again.

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Japan ace heads to Reds for Super Rugby campaign

Try time: Reds recruit Ayumu Goromaru dives over to score his team's second try against South Africa on September 19.

Phil Lutton   The Queensland Reds have signed Japan's Rugby World Cup hero Ayumu Goromaru for the 2016 Super Rugby season.

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Rugbyheaven

Brumbies target million-dollar profit after board meeting

brumbies

Chris Dutton 9:04 PM   The ACT Brumbies are confident they can buck declining crowd trends and a tight financial market to turn a $1.68 million loss into more than a $1 million profit in the next 12 months.

Ita Vaea has sights set on Super Rugby title and a Wallabies jersey

Ita Vaea.

Chris Dutton 3:00 PM   ACT Brumbies powerhouse Ita Vaea has dreams of Wallabies gold, but the resurgent back-row enforcer has his eyes set on a much bigger prize before he chases a Test call up.

Brisbane Roar

A-League clubs risk sanctions if owed money isn't paid

Pay dispute: Some members of the Central Coast  Mariners are owed superannuanation payments.

Sebastian Hassett 10:21 PM   Four A-League clubs risk losing competition points, seeing their players made free agents and other potential sanctions if they do not catch up on the outstanding payments to players by December 31.

Let's stick together, Lustica tells Roar

Steven Lustica hopes the Roar don't fall apart at the end of the season.

7:33 AM   Massive squad upheaval at Brisbane looms at the end of the season.

Football

Melbourne Victory suffer shock defeat

Perth Glory's Diego Castro celebrates with teammate Jamal Reiners after scoring what turned out to be the only goal of the match against Melbourne Victory.

11:10 PM   Melbourne Victory's title defence is on shaky ground after slumping to a shock 1-0 loss to struggling Perth Glory.

A-League Live: Perth Glory v Melbourne Victory

Coach Kevin Muscat hopes to have most of his players fit before the next game.

7:55 PM   Follow live scores and statistics as Perth Glory host Melbourne Victory in a rescheduled A-League match from round five.

Cricket

Lyon and Hazlewood set to be big money winners

In the money: Nathan Lyon talks to teammates during the first Test match against the West Indies.

Chris Barrett 11:34 PM   In a few months' time Australia's selectors will play paymasters to the country's leading players. Who gets what is anything but clear.

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Burdett recruited to improve drop-in pitches

'Unbelievable experience': Les Burdett.

Jesse Hogan 6:51 PM   Cricket Australia has recruited Australia's best-known curator, Les Burdett, to improve the pitches at the Big Bash League's non-traditional venues, Spotless Stadium and Etihad Stadium.

Racing

Moody's staff blamed for high readings

Trainer Peter Moody.

Patrick Bartley and Larissa Nicholson 6:34 PM   Staff bungling led to the unlawfully high reading of cobalt in Peter Moody's horse Lidari, senior counsel for the trainer told Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board on Wednesday.

Banned trainers lose horses

Feeling effects of ban: Lee Hope.

Patrick Bartley 6:16 PM   The fallout from the cobalt crisis that has racked Australian racing continued on Wednesday, when disqualified training partnership Lee and Shannon Hope lost six of their stable.

The plays of the week

From stylish moves to record scores, these are the most exciting, silly and crazy plays in the sporting world this week.

Jose's been betrayed by the enemy within

Something dark is at work at the defending EPL champions. You can smell it from the stands. A reluctance, a sullenness, an indolence.

Your guide to the Big Bash League

Everything you need to know about the teams and players ahead of the 2015-16 tournament.

Sealy helping Hong Kong in Cup quest

Hong Kong's two heroic draws against China have been the talk of Asian World Cup qualifying, with South China fullback Jack Sealy among the unlikely heroes.

Ricciardo comes home to show off

Home after a frustrating season, in which he finished eighth in the standings, F1 driver Daniel Ricciardo is determined to make the most of season 2016.