Category: Sport

Source: Radio New Zealand

The Western Force have finally got a win on the road in Super Rugby Pacific.

For only the second time in 26 matches on New Zealand soil the Force have recorded a victory, with a 35-19 over Moana Pasifika in Pukekohe on Friday night.

It was the Force’s first win of the season after two road losses in the first two rounds.

The visitors scored first after a period of pressure with Force debutant Darby Lancaster crossing for a try in the sixth minute when a toe-poke from the competition’s leading scorer, Ben Donaldson, sat up for winger.

Moana hooker Millennium Sanerivi levelled the scores after 20 minutes when he peeled off the maul and crashed through a few Force players to get across the try line.

A disallowed try for former All Black George Bridge just after the half hour mark temporarily prevented the Force taking a lead, until second rower Darcy Swain finally drove over from close to the line three minutes later for their second try.

Bridge did get his try just before the break when he dove under the defence to score and take a 21-7 lead at half-time.

Neither team could take hold of the game for most of the second half as both teams made several substitutions to try and get the advantage.

Force forward Carlo Tizzano, who lead the competition in try-scoring last season, found his way across the try line off the back of the maul for his third of this season in the 62nd minute.

The Force’s forwards also set up their fifth try of the night with replacement player Argentine Leonel Oviedo scoring his first Super Rugby try.

Mounting penalties and an inability finish off phases of play cost Moana who were playing in front of their home fans for the first time this season, albeit at their alternative home venue of Navigation Homes Stadium.

Melani Matavao did score a try for the home side with less than 10 minutes left in the game and Allan Craig was the last to score on full time showing what Moana could have done had they been playing at that level the whole game.

There were several Head Injury Assessments in the physical game, including three in the first half which included one for Donaldson who took a knock in the warm up.

Donaldson missed the first few minutes of the game but came on to make an impact and was perfect off the tee throughout the game.

Force have now won back to back games against Moana after prevailing by one point last season.

Follow how all the action unfolded below:

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/27/moana-pasifika-v-western-force-at-navigation-homes-stadium-super-rugby-pacific/

Source: Radio New Zealand

No matter who you support, off-season player movements will have your head spinning, as the 2026 NRL season approaches.

Some crazy pre-season results will have some fans reaching for the panic button, but the real test will come 1 March, when the Aussie rugby league comp takes its three-ring circus to Vegas for the regular season launch.

If you’re still trying to figure out where your team stand, here’s a quick (4500 words, phew) guide to the comings and goings over the summer.

Brisbane Broncos

Defending champions

Coach: Michael Maguire (18-9)

Championships (7): 1992, 93, 97, 98, 2000, 06, 25

2025 season: 18-9 (fourth), beat Melbourne Storm 26-22 in grand final

Pre-season: Lost to Hull Kingston Rovers 30-24 in World Club Challenge

Gains: centre Grant Anderson (Melbourne Storm), halfback Tom Duffy (North Queensland Cowboys), centre Aublix Tawha (Dolphins)

Losses: wing Selwyn Cobbo (Dolphins), lock Kobe Hetherington (Manly Sea Eagles), hooker Tyson Smoothy (Wakefield Trinity), second row Fletcher Baker (Canterbury Bulldogs)

Injuries: Second-row Brendan Piakura (knee, Round 3), prop Corey Jensen (concussion, tbc), hooker/half Billy Walters (knee, tbc), fullback Hayze Perham (knee, tbc)

Key Kiwi: Prop Xavier Willison took a big step up last year to carve a prominent role for himself in the Broncos rotation and earn an international call-up from the Kiwis.

With Payne Haas signalling his imminent departure from the club next year, Willison will need to continue his progression to help fill that void in the future.

Key Player: Fullback Reece Walsh is becoming the face of the NRL, with his outrageous exploits on the field, but must still tidy up his act away from the game.

The former Warriors has shown time and again his ability to turn a contest on its head, including last year’s grand final, and will again be on top of any rival team’s scouting report.

Opening game: Penrith Panthers at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium, 6 March

Outlook: At 5-7 after Round 13, Brisbane were outside the playoff picture and the experiment of transplanting Maguire, who had guided NSW to Origin victory the previous year, into the heart of Queensland seemed to have failed.

Somehow, ‘Madge’ managed to turn the ship around, closing faster than anyone to claim the spoils. With Haas departing and veteran half Adam Reynolds retiring at the end of the season, the window is ajar for one more title run.

Prediction: Brisbane have the talent, but can they continue where they left off? Not quite.

TAB: $5 (favourites)

Canterbury Bulldogs

Coach: Cameron Ciraldo (37-37)

Championships (8): 1938, 42, 80, 84, 85, 88, 95, 2004

2025 season: 16-8 (third), lost to Penrith Panthers 46-26 in semifinals

Pre-season: Lost to North Queensland Cowboys 34-30, beat Newcastle Knights 28-0

Gains: Fullback Kade Dykes (Cronulla Sharks), lock Finau Latu (Wests Tigers), half Sean O’Sullivan (Dolphins), prop Leo Thompson (Newcastle Knights), hooker Gordon Chan Kum Tong (Manly Sea Eagles), prop Fletcher Baker (Brisbane Broncos)

Losses: Hooker Reed Mahoney (North Queensland Cowboys), lock Kurtis Morrin (Gold Coast Titans), half Toby Sexton (Catalans), half/fullback Blake Taafe (Castleford Tigers), wing Blake Wilson (Manly Sea Eagles)

Injuries: Halfback Mitchell Woods (hamstring, Round 4), fullback Kade Dykes (knee, Round 7), prop Leo Thompson (calf, Round 10)

Key Kiwi: The Bulldogs career of Leo Thompson is off to a shaky start, with a calf injury sidelining him for 2-3 months.

He can be expected to beef up the Canterbury pack, as they try to find the missing piece that will put them into title contention.

Key player: The midseason arrival of teen five-eighth Lachlan Galvin was expected to lift the Bulldogs to the next level, but may just have eroded some the team’s culture.

Galvin has had an off-season to embed into the club and mend any burnt bridges among his teammates, so this will be the time we see if he is the answer everyone anticipated.

Opening game: St George Illawarra Dragons at Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, 1 March

Outlook: With supremo Phil ‘Gus’ Gould pulling strings in the background, you can believe the Bulldogs are doing everything possible – and maybe some things not totally above board – to capture the NRL crown.

They certainly have the performers in key positions and Ciraldo has had time to incorporate Galvin into his programme, after a controversial arrival last season. As always, the pressure will be on the Sydney teams.

Prediction: Playoffs, but will miss the final again.

TAB: $13

North Queensland Cowboys

Coach: Todd Payten (62-1-62)

Championships (1): 2015

2025 season: 9-1-14 (12th)

Pre-season: Beat Canterbury Bulldogs 34-30, beat Penrith Panthers 66-24

Gains: Prop Matt Lodge (Manly Sea Eagles), hooker Reed Mahoney (Canterbury Bulldogs), hooker Soni Luke (Penrith Panthers)

Losses: halfback Thomas Duffy (Brisbane Broncos), second-row Emarly Bitungane (London Broncos), hooker Karl Lawton (Hull Kingston Rovers), hooker Reece Robson (Sydney Roosters), Wing Semi Valemei (Castleford)

Injuries: Prop Griffin Neame (shoulder, Round 2), centre Zac Laybutt (suspension, Round 3), second-row Jeremia Nanai (shoulder, Round 6), second-row John Bateman (shoulder, tbc), fullback Tom Chester (knee, tbc)

Key Kiwi: Prop Griffin Neame has re-signed with the Cowboys through the 2029 season, which is a fair indication of how highly they regard him.

He has played 20 or more games in three of the last four seasons and will likely bring up his 100th appearance for the club this season.

Key player: Tongan second-rower Jason Taumalolo is nearing the end of a 10-year contract that seemed a good idea at the time, but he has probably struggled to fulfil that commitment in recent times.

Taumalolo was limited to just 10 games through injury last season and was a shadow of his former self. If he can play anywhere near his ability, the Cowboys are a very different proposition.

Opening game: Newcastle Knights at Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, 1 March

Outlook: If they can stay healthy, they are a scary proposition, but injuries have plagued the Cowboys.

They have the ability to make a playoff run and four of their first five games to start the season are against teams that finished below them last year – Newcastle, Wests, Gold Coast and St George Illawarra.

Prediction: Just miss the playoffs.

TAB: $34

Dolphins

Coach: Kristian Woolf (13-11)

Championships: None

2025 season: 12-12 (ninth)

Pre-season: Lost to Gold Coast Titans 24-12, beat NZ Warriors 38-34

Gains: Wing Selwyn Cobbo (Brisbane Broncos), second-row Morgan Knowles (Widnes), prop Francis Molo, hooker Brad Schneider (Penrith Panthers)

Losses: Centre Max Feagai (Gold Coast Titans), prop Peter Hola (Newcastle Knights), prop Josh Kerr (St George Illawarra Dragons), half Sean O’Sullivan (Canterbury Bulldogs), Aublix Tawha (Brisbane Broncos)

Injuries: Centre LJ Nonu (knee, Round 4), hooker/second row Max Plath (knee, Round 4), hooker Jeremy Marshall-King (knee, Round 7), centre Jack Bostock (knee, Round 10)

Key Kiwi: Wing Jamayne Isaako finished 50 points clear of the next highest pointscorer in the competition last season and has scored more points than anyone else over the last three years.

There are plenty of tries in this squad, so he will have an excellent chance to retain his scoring crown in 2026.

Key player: At 22, Wellington-born half and captain Isaiya Katoa is being heralded as the next great playmaker in the game, displaying maturity beyond his years.

He will have plenty of weapons around him and his ability to light the fuse will be key to the Dolphins’ playoff chances.

Opening game: South Sydney Rabbitohs at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium, 8 March

Outlook: At full strength, the Dolphins backline is stacked, but how far the go will probably be determined by the ability of their forwards to win the wrestle.

In broken play, they will be absolutely electric and no team can feel safe against them.

Prediction: They will again be there or thereabouts in the playoff hunt, but are probably one or two big forward signings away from contending.

TAB: $21

St George Illawarra Dragons

Coach: Shane Flanagan (19-29)

Championships (1): 2010

2025 season: 8-16 (15th)

Pre-season: Beat Newcastle Knights 28-18, lost to South Sydney Rabbitohs 28-24

Gains: Halfback Daniel Atkinson (Cronulla Sharks), wing/centre David Fale (Penrith Panthers), prop Josh Kerr (Dolphins),

Losses: Lock Jack de Belin (Parramatta Eels), wing Sione Finau (Canberra Raiders), halfback Lachlan Ilias (Gold Coast Titans), prop David Klemmer (St Helens), prop Francis Molo (Dolphins)

Injuries: Hooker Jacob Liddle (hamstring, Round 2), wing Nathan Lawson (foot, Round 4), second-row Dylan Egan (knee, Round 8), lock Hame Sele (concussion, tbc)

Key Kiwi: Auckland-born wing Christian Tuipulotu has scored 16 tries in 21 appearances for the Dragons, but had a hard time staying on the field last season, when he scored eight in nine games.

In basketball terms, he’s a walking bucket, but needs to string some games together to maximise his impact.

Key player: All fingers pointed at the coach’s son – half Kyle Flanagan – last season as a cause of the Dragons’ struggles, but dad hasn’t really found a replacement for him in the meantime.

All eyes will be back on him again and, if the team begins to flounder, you can bet the Flanagans will feel the heat.

Opening game: Canterbury Bulldogs at Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, 1 March

Outlook: Have lost two of their best forwards in de Belin and Klemmer, and that won’t help them escape the dungeon.

Prediction: Will battle for the wooden spoon.

TAB: $51

Parramatta Eels

Coach: Jason Ryles (10-14)

Championships (4): 1981, 82, 83, 86

2025 season: 10-14 (11th)

Pre-season: Beat Cronulla Sharks 40-6, beat Sydney Roosters 28-22

Gains: Lock Jack de Belin (St George Illawarra Dragons), half Jonah Pezet (Melbourne Storm), centre Brian Kelly (Gold Coast Titans)

Losses: Half Dylan Brown (Newcastle Knights), hooker Brendan Hands (Toulouse), half Dean Hawkins (London Broncos)

Key player: Parramatta seem to go as far as half Mitch Moses can take them, but over the past two years, he’s played less than half their games.

Last season, the Eels went 1-5 to open their account, with Moses sidelined by a foot injury. He later missed more time with a foot injury.

Moses kicked a gamewinning field goal against North Queensland in Round 23 and a hattrick of tries against Newcastle Knights in Round 27. Parramatta went 7-6 with him in the line-up and 3-8 without him.

Opening game: Melbourne Storm at Melbourne’s AAMI Park, 5 March

Outlook: Losing Kiwi half Dylan Brown is a major blow, but Jonah Pezet has good pedigree through the Melbourne Storm system.

They have a torrid draw to star their campaign – both last year’s finalists, Melbourne Storm and Brisbane Broncos, on the road.

Prediction: As long as Moses stays healthy, they will push for a playoff spot, but the moment he goes down…

TAB: $21

Newcastle Knights

Coach: Justin Holbrook

Championships (2): 1997, 2001

2025 season: 6-18 (17th/last)

Pre-season: Lost to St George Illawarra Dragons 28-18, lost to Canterbury Bulldogs 28-0

Gains: Half Dylan Brown (Parramatta Eels), prop Peter Hola (Dolphins), wing Asu Kepaoa (Penrith Panthers), lock Trey Mooney (Canberra Raiders), prop Pasami Saulo (Canberra Raiders), half Sandon Smith (Sydney Roosters)

Losses: Half Jake Arthur (Hull), hooker Jayden Brailey (Canberra Raiders), half Jack Cogger (Penrith Panthers), second-row Adam Elliott (South Sydney Rabbitohs), prop Brock Greacen (Castleford), half Jackson Hastings (St Helens), second-row Jack Hetherington (Melbourne Storm), second-row Kai Pearce-Paul (Wests Tigers), prop Leo Thompson (Canterbury Bulldogs)

Key Kiwi: Five-eighth Dylan Brown spent last season in the Eels doghouse, after announcing his imminent departure for Newcastle.

He showed his worth with his Golden Boot-worthy Kiwis campaign and the Knights will hope he can bring that form, as they try to escape the bottom of the table.

Key player: Fullback Kalyn Ponga pipped Shaun Johnson for Dally M honours in 2023, but has been plagued by injuries since and has a history of concussions.

Not long ago, he was regarded as the NRL’s next big star, but his team need him to stay healthy.

Opening game: North Queensland Cowboys at Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas

Outlook: There’s only one way for the Knights and that’s up.

The addition of Brown and Sandon Smith may give them some much-needed stability in the halves.

Prediction: They won’t finish last again.

TAB: $51

Penrith Panthers

Coach: Ivan Cleary (131-2-46)

Championships (6): 1991, 2003, 21, 22, 23, 24

2025 season: 13-1-10 (seventh), lost 16-14 to Brisbane Broncos in preliminary finals

Pre-season: Lost to North Queensland Cowboys 66-24, lost to Wests Tigers 26-12

Gains: Second-row Tom Ale (NZ Warriors), half Jack Cogger (Newcastle Knights), lock Kalani Going (NZ Warriors), hooker Freddy Lussick (NZ Warriors)

Losses: Centre/wing David Fale (St George Illawarra Dragons), second-row Mavrik Geyer (Wests Tigers), fullback Daine Laurie (Canberra Raiders), second-row Zac Lipowicz (Catalans), hooker Brad Schneider (Dolphins), hooker Luke Sommerton (Gold Coast Titans), half Trent Toelau (Melbourne Storm), hooker Soni Luke (North Queensland Cowboys)

Key Kiwi: Prop Moses Leota played all but one game last season and took over the mantle of senior front-rower with the departure of fellow Kiwi James Fisher-Harris for the Warriors.

He’s a player that may benefit from the tweaked rules that allow Kiwis to play State of Origin without losing their international eligibility.

Key player: Half Nathan Cleary is simply the best player in the NRL, when he’s on the field.

He became Penrith’s all-time leading scorer last season, but took some heat from his inability to guide New South Wales to Origin glory for the third time – he was missing from the Blues’ 2024 success.

Cleary has nothing to prove at this stage of his career, but his team’s chance of returning to the grand final rest heavily on him.

Opening game: Brisbane Broncos at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium, 6 March

Outlook: The Panthers failed in their quest for a fivepeat last season, stumbling out to a 2-6 start and sitting last on the table after eight rounds, before rallying late to reach the playoffs.

That run probably took the sting out of them, but they have lost none of their core players this year.

Prediction: They will rekindle their dynasty with another visit to the final.

TAB: $6

South Sydney Rabbitohs

Coach: Wayne Bennett (62-39)

Championships (21): 1908, 09, 14, 18, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 31, 32, 50, 51, 53, 54, 55, 67, 68, 70, 71, 2014

2025 season: 9-15 (13th)

Pre-season: Beat St George Illawarra 28-24, beat Manly Sea Eagles 30-6

Gains: Second-row Adam Elliott (Newcastle Knights), prop David Fifita (Gold Coast Titans), hooker Bronson Garlick (Melbourne Storm), half Jonah Glover (St George Illawarra Dragons), centre Moala Graham-Taufa (NZ Warriors), wing Ed Kosi (NZ Warriors)

Losses: Half Lewis Dodd (Catalans), hooker Siliva Havili (London Broncos), prop Davvy Moale (Melbourne Storm), wing Mikaele Ravalawa (Castleford)

Injuries: Halfback Jonah Glover (jaw, Round 7), centre Isaiah Tass (knee, tbc)

Key Kiwi: You have to think this may be the last chance for hooker Brandon Smith to resurrect a career that has gone off the rails in recent seasons.

Injuries and off-field shenanigans have seen ‘Cheese’ exit Melbourne and Sydney Roosters in disgrace, and his tenure at Souths has not begun well, as he faces drug and gambling charges in Queensland.

Key player: Prop David Fifita is another star that shone brightly, but has faded in recent seasons.

Two years ago, he announced he was leaving Gold Coast for Sydney Roosters, then backflipped a week later, but fell out with coach Des Hasler last year and eventually signed with Souths.

Wayne Bennett has a history of calming troubled souls, and he will be tested to the limit by Smith and Fifita.

Opening game: Dolphins at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium, 8 March

Outlook: Bennett has won more than any other coach in NRL history, but he already has his hands full guiding the enigmatic Lattrell Mitchell and had to manage that without the services of captain Campbell Murray, who ruptured his Achilles tendon in pre-season last year and never returned.

Prediction: Bennett, 76, is the master for a reason, but this will test him beyond his limits. Souths fall short of playoffs.

TAB: $21

Canberra Raiders

Coach: Ricky Stuart (157-1-137)

Championships (3): 1989, 90, 94

2025 season: 19-5 (first), lost to Cronulla Sharks 32-12 in semifinals

Pre-season: Beat Melbourne Storm 32-6, lost to Cronulla Sharks 48-6

Gains: Hooker Jayden Brailey (Newcastle Knights), wing Sione Finau (St George Illawarra Dragons), fullback Laurie Daine (Penrith Panthers)

Losses: Fullback Adam Cook (Leigh), half Jamal Fogarty (Manly Sea Eagles), wing/centre Albert Hopoate (Warrington), hooker Danny Levi (Leeds), prop Trey Mooney (Newcastle Knights), centre Manaia Waitere (Melbourne Storm)

Key Kiwi: Prop Joseph Tapine has established himself as one of the best front-rowers in the game and has averaged 24 games a season for the past four years.

Last year, he brought up 200 games for the Raiders and has become Stuart’s righthand man out on the field.

Key player: Half Ethan Strange will take the keys to the ‘Green Machine’ from Jamal Fogarty, after earning best five-eighth at the Dally M Awards last year.

Despite his outstanding season, he was missing through illness, when Canberra bowed out of the playoffs to Cronulla.

Opening game: Manly Sea Eagles at Sydney’s 4 Pines Park, 7 March

Outlook: Ricky Stuart will be absolutely seething at finishing top of the competition table and then missing out on the grand final – that will have eaten him alive all off-season.

They will miss Fogarty, who was the real architect of their success, and it may take some time to find a successor.

Prediction: Playoffs yes, grand final no. They missed a chance last season.

TAB: $15

Sydney Roosters

Coach: Trent Robinson (210-126)

Championships (15): 1911, 12, 13, 213, 35, 36, 37, 40, 45, 74, 75, 2002, 13, 18, 19

2025 season: 13-11 (eighth), lost to Cronulla Sharks 20-10 in elimination finals

Pre-season: Lost to Wests Tigers 42-26, lost to Parramatta Eels 28-22

Gains: Half Daly Cherry-Evans (Manly Sea Eagles), fullback Cody Ramsey (St George Illawarra Dragons), hooker Reece Robson (North Queensland Cowboys), centre/wing Tommy Talau (Manly Sea Eagles)

Losses: Hooker Zach Dockar-Clay (Manly Sea Eagles), half Sandon Smith (Newcastle Knights), prop Xavier Va’a (York), half Chad Townsend (retired)

Injuries: Second-row Victor Radley (suspension, Round 7), hooker Reece Robson (thumb, Round 7)

Key Kiwi: Prop Naufahu Whyte has become a mainstay of the Roosters front row, logging 23 games in both the past two seasons, while also establishing himself in the Kiwis squad.

At 23, his best years are still ahead of him and he has re-signed with Sydney for another three years.

Key player: The Roosters have struggled in the halves recently, but recruiting the NRL’s oldest player – Daly Cherry-Evans – may not be the answer.

He was dropped from the Queensland Origin team last year and seemed to be going through the motions, but sparked up towards the end of his time with Manly, kicking a winning field goal against the Warriors in his 352nd and final appearance for the club.

How much more magic is left?

Opening game: NZ Warriors at Auckland’s Go Media Stadium, 6 March

Outlook: The Roosters will always be contenders, because they have deep pockets, but they are often sabotaged by injury and indiscipline.

Prediction: If Cherry-Evans and captain James Tedesco, 33, have anything left, they reach the second week of playoffs.

TAB: $7

Manly Sea Eagles

Coach: Anthony Seibold (37-2-35)

Championships (8): 1972, 73, 76, 78, 87, 96, 2008, 11

2025 season: 12-12 (10th)

Pre-season: Beat NZ Warriors 33-18, lost to South Sydney Rabbitohs 30-6

Gains: Hooker Zach Dockar-Clay (Sydney Roosters), half Jamal Fogarty (Canberra Raiders), lock Kobe Hetherington (Brisbane Broncos), wing Blake Wilson (Canterbury Bulldogs)

Losses: Half Jake Arthur (Hull), half Daly Cherry-Evans (Sydney Roosters), prop Matt Lodge (North Queensland Cowboys), prop Tof Sipley (Warrington), win/centre Tommy Talau (Sydney Roosters), utility Jazz Tevaga (Wakefield Trinity), prop Josh Aloiai (retired), hooker Gordon Chan Kum Tong (Canterbury Bulldogs), hooker Lachlan Croker (retired), second-row/centre Michael Chee-Kam (retired)

Injuries: Lock Caleb Navale (knee, tbc)

Key Kiwi: New Plymouth-born hooker Zach Dockar-Clay has been brought in to replace Lachlan Croker in the dummy half rotation, after the veteran declared for medical retirement.

He has logged 36 games for Canterbury Bulldogs and Sydney Roosters, with two appearances for the Māori All Stars.

Key player: Fullback Tom Trbojevic takes over the Manly captaincy, but has a poor injury record.

Staying healthy will be his biggest challenge, but if he does, ‘Tommy Turbo’ can carry the Sea Eagles deep.

Opening game: Canberra Raiders at Sydney’s 4 Pines Park, 7 March

Outlook: Time to move on from the Daly Cherry-Evans era and Jamal Fogarty will prove an able replacement…

Prediction: But they’ll fall short of post-season again.

TAB: $34

Cronulla Sharks

Coach: Craig Fitzgibbon (66-39)

Championships (1): 2016

2025 season: 15-9 (fifth), lost to Melbourne Storm 22-14 in preliminary finals

Pre-season: Lost to Parramatta Eels 40-6, beat Canberra Raiders 48-6

Losses: Half Daniel Atkinson (St George Illlawarra)

Injuries: Second-row Cam McInnes (knee, Round 10), centre Mawene Hiroti (knee, tbc), fullback Liam Ison (knee, tbc), wing Ronaldo Mulitalo (knee, tbc)

Key Kiwi: Winger Ronaldo Mulitalo has consistently been among the NRL’s top tryscorers over the past four seasons, touching down 73 times during that span.

He will start the campaign under an injury cloud, after rupturing an anterior cruciate ligament in his knee, while on duty with the Kiwis last year.

Key player: Since winning the 2022 Dally M and Provan-Summons medals, half Nicho Hynes has fallen from Origin grace, where selectors never quite figured out how to use him.

He played every game for the Sharks last season, as they went within a game of the grand final.

Opening game: Gold Coast Titans at Sydney’s Ocean Project Stadium, 7 March

Outlook: The Sharks have kept a pretty stable squad, so a repeat of last year’s performance is not beyond belief.

Prediction: Grand final contenders.

TAB: $19

Melbourne Storm

Coach: Craig Bellamy (413-2-178)

Championships (4): 1999, 2012, 17, 20

2025 season: 17-7 (second), lost to Brisbane Broncos 26-22 in grand final

Pre-season: Lost to Canberra Raiders 32-6, lost to Gold Coast Titans 42-12

Gains: Second-row Jack Hetherington (Newcastle Knights), prop Davvy Moala (South Sydney Rabbitohs), prop Josaiah Pahulu (Gold Coast Titans), half Trent Toelau (Penrith Panthers), centre Manaia Waitere (Canberra Raiders)

Losses: Centre Grant Anderson (Brisbane Broncos), hooker Bronson Garlick (South Sydney Rabbitohs), half Jonah Pezet (Parramatta Eels), prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona (retired), fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen (retired)

Injuries: Wing Xavier Coates (Achilles tendon, Round 10), second-row Eliesa Katoa (concussion, indefinite)

Key Kiwi: After winning the Dally M Medal in 2024, Jahrome Hughes had to battle a dislocated shoulder and broken arm on his way back to the grand final, but could not quite steer the Storm home over the Broncos.

Little wonder the Aussies are trying to sneak him into an Origin team. Hopefully, he will save some of his geniues for the Kiwis’ World Cup campaign.

Key player: With the Storm leaking talent left, right and centre, the halves partnership between Hughes and Cameron Munster must maximise their time together on the field.

After a history of off-field indiscretions, Munster seems to have turned his fortunes around, succeeding Daly Cherry-Evans as Queensland Origin captain.

Opening game: Parramatta Eels at Melbourne’s AAMI Park, 5 March

Outlook: Even through Penrith’s four-year run atop the NRL, Melbourne have somehow maintained their own legacy, despite losing key players every year. This season, they are without key forwards Asofa-Solomona and Katoa, and brilliant fullback Papyenhuyzen.

Prediction: Can’t wait to see how Bellamy gets this lot back to the grand final.

TAB: $7

Gold Coast Titans

Coach: Josh Hannay

Championships: None

2025 season: 6-18 (16th)

Pre-season: Beat Dolphins 24-12, beat Melbourne Storm 42-12

Gains: Centre Max Feagai (St George Illawarra Dragons), half Lachlan Ilias (St George Illawarra Dragons), lock Kurtis Morrin (Canterbury Bulldogs), hooker Luke Sommerton (Penrith Panthers)

Losses: Second-row Jacob Alick (Leigh), prop Reagan Campbell-Gillard (London Broncos), second-row Iszac Fa’asuamaleaui (Catalans), prop David Fifita (South Sydney Rabbitohs), centre Brian Kelly (Parramatta Eels), wing Alofiana Khan-Pereira (NZ Warriors), prop Josiah Pahulu (Melbourne Storm), half Tom Weaver (Castleford)

Injuries: Prop Jaimin Jolliffe (knee, 2027), second-row Brock Gray (knee, tbc)

Key Kiwi: After a breakout 2024 season that saw him called into the Kiwis, pints-sized fullback Keano Kini sat out most of last year with a neck injury that threatened to paralyse him.

He turned out for New Zealand in the Pacific Championship, but his future health will be watched closely. Just where he fits into the Titans line-up alongside AJ Brimson remains to be seen.

Key player: While fellow powerhouse David Fifita finally cut ties with the Titans, captain Timo Fa’asuamaleaui has confirmed his future with the club, re-signing through the 2030 season.

He has proved an inspirational leader for the struggling Titans and his relationship with new coach Josh Hannay will be crucial to turning his club’s fortunes around.

Opening game: Cronulla Sharks at Sydney’s Ocean Protect Stadium, 7 March

Outlook: Fifteen years since their last winning season and five years since their last post-season appearance, two seasons under Des Hasler yielded just 15 wins, so there’s only one way to go.

Prediction: It may take a couple of seasons to turn this mess around.

TAB: $51

NZ Warriors

Coach: Andew Webster (38-1-33)

Championships: none

2025 season: 14-10 (sixth), lost to Penrith Panthers 24-8 in elimination final

Pre-season: Lost to Manly Sea Eagles 33-18, lost to Dolphins 38-34

Gains: Second-row/lock Morgan Gannon (Leeds Rhinos), wing Haizyn Mellars (South Sydney Rabbitohs), wing Alofiana Khan-Pereira (Gold Coast Titans), half Jye Linnane (Newcastle Knights)

Losses: Prop Bunty Afoa (Wests Tigers), hooker Freddy Lussick (Penrith Panthers), second-row Tom Ale (Penrith Panthers), wing Ed Kosi (South Sydney Rabbitohs), centre Moala Graham-Taufa (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Kalani Going (Penrith Panthers)

Injuries: Prop Mitch Barnett (knee, Round 2), halfback Luke Metcalf (knee, Round 7), utility Te Maire Martin (broken leg, Round 10), centre Rocco Berry (shoulder, tbc)

Key Kiwi: Some are calling for understudy Taine Tuaupiki to take over the fullback position, so Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad is already under pressure for his spot.

That doesn’t necessarily mean he can’t make the starting line-up somewhere else, if the midfield or halves turn to quicksand again. His courage under fire is indispensable.

Key player: Luke Metcalf was leading Dally M standings, when he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in Round 17 last year, and he will miss the opening two months this season.

How well the Warriors cover his absence, whether it’s Tanah Boyd or someone else, may determine the course of their 2026 campaign. How quickly he can return to full fitness may well be the spark they need down the regular season stretch.

Opening game: Sydney Roosters at Auckland’s Go Media Stadium, 6 March

Outlook: The Warriors got off to a club record 8-2 start last season, sitting second on the table after 11 rounds, but fell away badly, after losing co-captain Barnett and Metcalf to knee injuries.

As it is with any team, health will be crucial, if they are do venture deeper into the playoffs. Not only do they need luck in avoiding further calamity, but Webster must give some thought to preserving those veterans who are prone to wear and tear, like Fisher-Harris, hooker Wayde Egan and second-rower Kurt Capewell.

While Barnett’s impending exit will be a blow for the Warriors next season, hopefully it won’t become a distraction like others have been in recent times.

Predictions: This is their year – of course!

TAB: $23 (outside playoffs)

Wests Tigers

Coach: Benji Marshall (15-33)

Championships (1): 2005

2025 season: 9-15 (13th)

Pre-season: Beat Sydney Roosters 42-26, beat Penrith Panthers 26-12

Gains: Second-row Mavrik Geyer (Penrith Panthers), halfback Jock Madden (Brisbane Broncos), second-row Kai Pearce-Paul (Newcastle Knights)

Losses: Wing/centre Sol Faataape (Catalans), wing/fullback Josh Staines (Catalans)

Injuries: Lock Kit Laulilii (concussion, Round 2), second-row Kai Pearce-Paul (calf, Round 2). Five-eighth Latu Fainu (shoulder, tbc)

Key Kiwi: Coach Benji Marshall has been under pressure ever since he took over the reins of the Tigers from Tim Sheens, who was also under pressure.

The joint-venture club doesn’t seem like a very supportive environment, but somehow Marshall has survived and slowly turned the ship around. Wests should be every Kiwi’s second-favourite club (after the Warriors).

Key player: Half Jarome Luai was named co-captain (alongside Apisai Koroisau) for his Tigers debut and relished the opportunity to break out of the shadow of Nathan Cleary at Penrith.

Unfortunately, his arrival heralded the departure of teen prospect Lachlan Galvin, so this season will show whether the swap was worthwhile.

Opening game: North Queensland Cowboys, Sydney’s Leichhart Oval, 14 March (Round 2)

Outlook: Pre-season means little in the grander scheme of things, but wins over Sydney Roosters and Penrith Panthers suggest Wests may have turned a corner.

They have a gentle introduction to the new season with a bye, then non-playoff teams North Queensland Cowboys and South Sydney Rabbitohs, before visiting the Warriors, then two more non-playoff teams, Parramatta Eels and Newcastle Knights.

Prediction: Well clear of the wooden spoon, but not quite playoffs yet.

TAB: $41

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/27/nrl-season-preview-how-your-team-stacks-up-for-2026/

Source: Radio New Zealand

Moana Pasifika will play their first home game of the Super Rugby Pacific season as they host the Western Force at Navigation Homes Stadium in Pukekohe on Friday.

After being on the wrong end of a thumping by the Hurricanes in the capital last week, Moana are looking to get their campaign back on track against the winless Force.

Kickoff is at 7.05pm.

Moana Pasifika: 1. Tito Tuipulotu. 2. Millennium Sanerivi. 3. Chris Apoua. 4. Tom Savage. 5. Allan Craig. 6. Miracle Faiilagi captain. 7. Semisi Paea. 8. Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa. 9. Jonathan Taumateine. 10. Patrick Pellegrini. 11. Solomon Alaimalo. 12. Ngani Laumape. 13. Lalomilo Lalomilo. 14. Tevita Ofa. 15. Glen Vaihu.

Impact: 16. Samiuela Moli. 17. Abraham Pole 50th Super Rugby cap. 18. Lolani Faleiva. 19. Ola Tauelangi. 20. Tupou Afungia (debut.) 21. Melani Matavao. 22. Jackson Garden-Bachop. 23. Tevita Latu (debut).

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LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/27/live-moana-pasifika-v-western-force-at-navigation-homes-stadium-super-rugby-pacific/

Source: Radio New Zealand

Follow all the women’s T20 International cricket action as the White Ferns take on Zimbabwe at Seddon Park in Hamilton.

First ball is at 7.15pm.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

A first half hat-trick for Kelli Brown set the Football Ferns on the way to a 8-0 victory in their opening World Cup qualifier against Samoa.

Brown scored 30 seconds into the game in Honiara, she doubled her tally 13 minutes later and added her third in the 37th minute.

The Newcastle Jets player had not scored for New Zealand prior to the game on Friday afternoon.

After taking 12 attempts on goal in the first half the Football Ferns continued the dominance in the second half despite Samoa making several defensive substitutions early in the half.

New Zealand found the back of the net via captain Katie Kitching for a fourth goal in the 65th minute after several other New Zealand attempts were shutdown by the Samoa goalkeeper and some did not have the right finishing touch.

Just after scoring the goal Kitching was substituted for teenager Pia Vlok to make her Football Ferns debut.

Brown was also replaced with just under 20 minutes to play as coach Michael Mayne opted to make mass changes to bring in fresh legs in the Honiara heat.

The game was played in the early afternoon local time and was stopped for regular drinks and cooling breaks as temperatures in the high 30 degrees on the pitch.

Charlotte Lancaster put a good ball across the front of goal before it came off a Samoa player for an own goal and New Zealand’s fifth.

Manaia Elliott scored New Zealand’s sixth, and her first for the national team, a minute later.

She doubled her personal tally with New Zealand’s seventh goal just before the 90 minute mark with a long range strike that the Samoan defence failed to deal with.

Deven Jackson was eventually rewarded with her own goal after setting up her teammates when she scored the final goal of the game in added time.

New Zealand’s other Group A opponents in the Oceania Qualifiers for next year’s Fifa Women’s World Cup in Brazil are the Solomon Islands and America Samoa, with the top two teams from the pool advancing to the semi-finals and final, hosted by New Zealand in April.

The Football Ferns play the Solomon Islands on Monday night.

Ahead of the tournament Mayne said the standard is improving within Oceania.

“We know what’s at the end of this series. I think it’s good that we still feel pressure coming into these games. That’s the way it should be,” Mayne said.

“I know these other three teams are going to be all chasing the same dream. I think in terms of the women’s game in the Pacific… I’ve been around the age group. I’ve been to a number of these tournaments. I can see the gap closing.

“I know every single one of these teams that we play over the next 10 days will be well set up, well organised. That’s exciting for us, and we’re used to tough challenges.

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LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/27/football-ferns-dominate-samoa-in-fifa-world-cup-qualifier/

Source: Radio New Zealand

Dalton Papali’i says becoming the 11th player to bring up 100 games for the Blues is one of the biggest honours of his career.

The Blues skipper will bring up the milestone in tonight’s Super Rugby Pacific match against the table-topping Brumbies in Canberra and admitted it has been on his mind this week.

The 37-Test flanker recently announced this season will be his ninth and last at the Blues before taking up a contract with French club Castres Olympique.

He said it would be hard to wrench himself away from Auckland and was pleased he’d become a centurion before he goes.

He joins a list topped by All Blacks great Keven Mealamu (164 games), while the most recent inductees were Test veterans Patrick Tuipulotu and Rieko Ioane, who brought up 100 games during the Blues’ title-run in 2024.

“They’re the legends of our game, they’re the ones who have paved the way for us young guys to come through,” Papali’i said.

“When you walk through a corridor at the Blues and you see the legends there that have got 100 games, you never think you’re going to rub shoulders with them and be up there with those boys.

“I don’t have the words to express how special it is. It’s a unique and exclusive group to be part of.”

Papali’i will have his mother and sister watching from the grandstand on Saturday night.

“It’s a pretty special feeling, not just for myself but for my family, especially the ones that have been there for the whole journey. And especially for my partner and little baby as well.

“It’s a pretty proud moment. Playing your debut is pretty special. You don’t think you’ll get to 50 games and once that pops up on you, 100 games still doesn’t feel real.”

Papali’i wants to exit on a high, having suffered a setback to his test career last year when largely ignored by now-departed coach Scott Robertson.

The 28-year-old responded in style by leading the New Zealand XV on their unbeaten three-match tour of Europe under the coaching eye of Jamie Joseph.

Meanwhile, Blues Vern Cotter said Papali’i’s milestone is on the minds of his players.

“I think everyone’s proud to be a part of the team that has Dalton for his 100th game,” Cotter said.

“I know he’s focused on his job but we’re on tour, we’re a tight group and being able to share that with Dalts is amazing.

“It’s that pride in the jersey and we’ll all be behind Dalts and hopefully we can give him what we’d like to have after 80 minutes.”

The Blues are coming off victory over the Force in Perth last week, having opened the season with a narrow loss to the Chiefs at Eden Park.

Prop Joshua Fusitu’a ruled out with injury, with Ofa Tu’ungafasi moving to loosehead prop while Kurt Eklund comes in to start at hooker.

Lock Sam Darry has recovered from a head knock and returns to the starting XV while the backline remains unchanged for the third straight game.

Cotter said the Brumbies have impressed in big wins on the road over the Force and Crusaders.

“The Brumbies were very good in the second half against the Force and then obviously the last minutes against the Crusaders really hurt them,” he said.

“They’ll be full of concidence. Bear in mind, they came over and beat us last year at home so we’d like to sort a few things out with regard to that. So I think the boys will be up for it.”

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Source: Radio New Zealand

New Zealand’s newest national rugby side has had their schedule locked in for 2026.

The New Zealand Under 85kg team will repeat their historic visit to Sri Lanka, which last year saw two statement wins in front of massive crowds in Kandy and Colombo.

The tour will once again feature two fixtures against Sri Lanka’s full national side, with Game One in Colombo on April 25th and Game Two in Kandy on May 3rd.

The two sides will once again compete for the Sir Graham Henry Trophy, with former All Black captain Kieran Read set to make the trip as an NZ Rugby (NZR) Ambassador.

Another former All Black, prop John Afoa, comes in as an assistant coach.

Steve Lancaster, Interim Chief Executive of NZR, said that the 2025 tour had a lasting impact well beyond the field.

“We’re genuinely stoked to be able to confirm this tour and give this team the opportunity to represent New Zealand overseas again. Sri Lanka is a proud rugby nation and last year’s tour drew passionate crowds and strong community engagement. We know the Sri Lankan team will offer another strong challenge on the field and that’s exactly what you expect when you pull on a black jersey.”

The side will have a new coach, with Ben Sinnamon stepping into the role left by Ngatai Walker.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for our players,” he said.

“The Tuskers are a passionate rugby team, and we know the standard will be higher again in 2026. Playing in that environment, including the heat and conditions, places real demands on preparation, discipline and execution. This tour gives our players the chance to test themselves properly, grow as a team and experience what it means to represent New Zealand offshore.”

Tour Campaign Manager Ben Tinnelly said the matches will continue to strengthen connections between New Zealand and Sri Lanka.

“We are working closely with the New Zealand High Commission in Sri Lanka, who were thrilled with the impact of last year’s tour,” Tinnelly said.

“There is already strong interest building across sponsors, fans, schools and rugby administrators, which shows the role rugby can play in connecting communities and supporting the game’s growth in the region.”

New Zealand U85kg squad

Forwards

Callum Nimmo – High School Old Boys Light Bears, Canterbury

Matt Treeby – Poneke Wanderers, Wellington

Tom Rowland – Eden Lizards, Auckland

Frazer Harrison – University Squids, Auckland

Jeandre Du Toit – Pakuranga Panthers, Auckland

Simon Sia – Morrinsville Majestic Pukekos, Waikato

Oliver Dunn-Parrant* – Silverdale Truffle Pigs, North Harbour

Jack Laity – University Slugs, Auckland

Rory Cavanagh – Pakuranga Panthers, Auckland

Billy Sloan* – High School Old Boys Light Bears, Canterbury

Bailey Clark* – Waihora Longhorns, Canterbury

Pasia Asiata – Pōneke Wanderers, Wellington

Josh Purdon – High School Old Boys Light Bears, Canterbury

Josh Gellert – University Slugs, Auckland

Josh Evans* – High School Old Boys Light Bears, Canterbury

Sunia Vosikata* – Karaka Razzlers, Counties Manukau

Backs

Jackson Ephraims – Silverdale Truffle Pigs, North Harbour

Taine Cordell Hull – High School Old Boys Light Bears, Canterbury

Jarred Percival – High School Old Boys Light Bears, Canterbury

Toby Snelgrove* – Silverdale Truffle Pigs, North Harbour

Adam Preston – Pōneke Wanderers, Wellington

Campbell Busby – University Squids, Auckland

Mafea Taiulu Feso* – High School Old Boys Light Bears, Canterbury

Nick Robertson* – Pōneke Wanderers, Wellington

Ben Kelt* – University Squids, Auckland

Ned Milne – High School Old Boys Light Bears, Canterbury

Francis Morrison – Pakuranga Panthers, Auckland

Pieter Swarts – East Coast Bays Badgers, North Harbour

Reserves

Seamus Rowberry* – Pōneke Wanderers, Wellington

Nick Francis* – Silverdale Truffle Pigs, North Harbour

* denotes a new cap

2026 Tour Fixtures

Game One:

New Zealand Under 85kg v Sri Lanka Tuskers

Colombo – 25 April 2026

Game Two:

New Zealand Under 85kg v Sri Lanka Tuskers

Kandy – 3 May 2026

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Coach Michael Mayne says the Football Ferns won’t take their Oceania qualifying campaign in the Solomon Islands lightly, despite their traditional dominance over Pacific rivals.

New Zealand take their first step towards qualifying for next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup when they face Samoa in Honiara (3pm NZT).

Their other Group A opponents are the Solomon Islands and America Samoa, with the top two teams from the pool advancing to the semi-finals and final, hosted by New Zealand in April.

Mayne said the message to his players is that the standard is improving within Oceania.

“We know what’s at the end of this series. I think it’s good that we still feel pressure coming into these games. That’s the way it should be,” Mayne said.

“I know these other three teams are going to be all chasing the same dream. I think in terms of the women’s game in the Pacific… I’ve been around the age group. I’ve been to a number of these tournaments. I can see the gap closing.

“I know every single one of these teams that we play over the next 10 days will be well set up, well organised. That’s exciting for us, and we’re used to tough challenges.

“There’s no point worrying about the final or anything. We’ve got to get through the next week first. That’s a good place to be, I think, mentally for the group.”

Mayne said his players acclimatised quickly to the heat of Honiara.

“The first couple of days have been really good. The facilities and everything here are looking great for the way we want to play and I think probably the difference at the moment is I’m really lucky to have a squad that’s based all around the world in different clubs, different environments, playing different levels.

“To be able to sort of draw some of that experience into the team but also have some really exciting players coming into our squad for this one is a real positive, I think, for the team.”

Three uncapped players are in Mayne’s 23-woman squad.

They are teenage Wellington Phoenix forward Pia Vlok, Newcastle Jets midfielder Charlotte Lancaster and Australian-based goalkeeper Maddie Iro.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

In-form Kiwi golfer Daniel Hillier flexed his muscles in his curtailed opening round as rain played a part on the first day of the New Zealand Open in Queenstown.

Unheralded Australian Matias Sanchez was the leader after day one at Millbrook Resort on seven-under, one stroke clear of New Zealand amateur Yuki Miya, who was among nearly half of the 156-strong field still to complete their round.

Among that group who will return early to the course on Friday was New Zealand’s second-best player Hillier, who was five-under with five holes still to play.

He sat level with seasoned Australian Wade Ormsby and American veteran Kevin Na, a five-time winner on the US PGA Tour.

Early rain forced a late start, slowing the fairways and greens.

It didn’t stop Hillier unfurling an impressive 13 holes and continuing his strong form from the World Tour.

The 27-year-old has racked up three top-10 finishes, including a runner-up at Dubai, to win about $1 million and break into the world’s top 100 rankings.

He was also married on Saturday, an event that didn’t affect his game in the fading light of Central Otago.

Fellow-Kiwi and World Tour player Kazuma Kobori is a shot back on four-under, also hoping to be the first New Zealander to win the national open in nine years and just the third in 20 years.

Kobori produced the shot of the day, holing out on the 210m fourth hole of the Remarkables course, his second ace of the Australasia PGA Tour season, following on from the Party Hole at the BMW Australian PGA Championship.

“It was kind of unexpected to get (another) one so soon,” Kobori said.

“You don’t really expect to hole it on that hole, especially with 4-iron in hand in these conditions.”

Sanchez cashed in on the best scoring conditions to shoot 64 on the Remarkables course, holing his last putt just before 8.30pm.

“I was just really happy to get it done, get the round in,” Sanchez said of his bogey-free round.

“This (event) is right up there, so to do it here, it’s really special, but I know it’s a quarter of the way down. It doesn’t really mean a whole lot.”

Ormsby, whose last tournament was as a fill-in player at LIV Adelaide, could rightly claim to have produced the best round of Thursday. His 66 came on the Coronet course which played considerably the more difficult of the two, providing just 10 of the top 29 scores on the end-of-day leaderboard.

A winner of five titles on the Asian Tour, including the Hong Kong Open twice, the South Australian is still searching for a victory on his home tour.

“I’ve never won on the Aussie tour and that’s something that I’ve always wanted to try and do,” Ormsby said.

“It’s nice to put myself towards the pointy end early in the week.”

After leaving LIV Golf, Na has come to Queenstown to start a new chapter of his 24-year professional career and he negotiated yesterday’s round without a bogey.

“I haven’t played competition golf in three months or so, maybe longer, but I feel like there’s a good energy, there’s a positive energy and I’m happy,” he said.

“Mind is fresh and I feel like I have a chance to enjoy golf more.”

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Source: Radio New Zealand

The Tall Blacks are off the mark in their World Cup qualifying pool for next year’s basketball World Cup, overcoming the Philippines 69-66 in a tense affair in Manila.

Sam Mennenga was influential under the basket as New Zealand staved off a charge from the home side and a raucous home crowd over the closing minutes.

It follows twin losses for the 25th-ranked Tall Blacks in their two opening Asian qualifying group games against world No.6 Australia last last year which left them on the back foot in their four-team pool.

The top three teams advance to the next window, with New Zealand favoured to finish ahead of 36th-ranked Philippines and 79th-ranked Guam.

They are away to winless Guam in Mangilao on Sunday, although will field a weakened team, with some Tall Blacks players having committed to link up with their professional clubs immediately after the Philippines game.

Forward Max Darling top scored for New Zealand with 11 points but Warriors centre Mennenga produced the best overall statistics, mixing 10 points with 14 rebounds – including five at the offensive end – four assists, one steal and one block.

Adelaide 36ers guard Keanu Rasmussen was handed a late appearance on international debut.

Coach Judd Flavell was pleased his side emerged victorious in a defence-dominated affair.

“We came here to get the win, and we got the job done,” Flavell said.

“We knew it was gonna be a tough series against Australia in December. Both those games went down to the wire. We got beaten on a last-second bank shot three. There were plenty of positives, so the morale was very good.”

“The group is very connected. We’re not a big country, but that makes us stronger. Because we’re a small country we need to be together and play a connected style of basketball. And that’s the same off the court.”

Flavell said a key to victory was shutting down Philippines’ main scorer Justin Brownlee, who was held to just four points.

“He’s given us the business before and in recent games, so he was a large focal point for us. I thought that went a long way for us defensively tonight.

“It helps that we’ve played each other a lot and it obviously helps them with us too and our system. But we know he takes a lot of attention. He’s a true international scorer, so the intention was that we’ve just got to be within touching distance of him at all times.”

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Giancarlo Italiano’s abrupt departure from the Wellington Phoenix is the latest twist in what has become a season of upheaval for A-League coaches.

Three A-League head coaches have failed to see out the 2025/26 campaign, and fewer than half of the league’s 12 clubs have the same man in charge now that they did a year ago.

Across the football world, coaches are rarely afforded patience when results are not going their way, and the A-League has proved no exception. Since the season kicked off in October, almost every month has brought at least one coaching change.

Italiano abruptly stepped down at the weekend following his side’s heavy derby defeat to Auckland FC. Italiano had been the head coach since 2023 and left without addressing the playing group.

He joined a growing list of coaching changes: Western Sydney Wanderers coach Alen Stajcic was sacked in January, while Perth Glory appointed Adam Griffiths to a permanent role in December after firing David Zdrilic in October.

Central Coast Mariners lost coach Mark Jackson to an overseas opportunity on the eve of the season in October and promoted Warren Moon from caretaker to full-time last month.

Only five clubs have the same coach in charge at this point of this season that had at this stage last year after off-season changes to the Newcastle Jets, Brisbane Roar and Adelaide United.

Wellington were the latest to be swept up in that instability. Italiano’s sudden departure left the Phoenix scrambling for a steady hand, turning once again to a familiar figure inChris Greenacre.

Greenacre has been Phoenix head coach three times before in an interim capacity and knew well the “cut throat industry” that football coaching was.

“In the past it was needs must and I was kind of the quickest fix and this time it was certainly different,” Greenacre said of the call-up from the reserve team to main side this week.

“I’ve never been in a rush to get to wherever the end may be [in coaching] and I’m literally taking it day by day and that’s the truth.

“How this pans out who knows … the club have been really loyal to me and giving me an opportunity to grow and the club have been patient, but I think we’ve also been loyal to each other which is quite fitting.

“I want to be successful here whether I’m the long term answer or not, I don’t want to go anywhere else I want to be successful here and maybe that’s a point of difference.”

Despite having been in discussions with Phoenix’s director of football Shaun Gill for a while before Italiano left, Greenacre was wary that those who ran clubs could change their mind on appointments.

“I understand how football works and the sooner you get carried away with it it’ll bite you on the backside.”

Auckland FC’s Steve Corica has been a head coach in the A-League since 2018. He arrived in Auckland for the club’s first season in 2024/25 after being fired by Sydney FC just weeks into the season prior due a run of losses.

“I don’t like any coach getting the sack, it’s always hard,” Corica said.

Corica did not think Italiano would be the last A-League coach out before next season.

He said a change of coach always had an impact on a club.

“Sometimes for the good and sometimes not so.

“It’s like players, coaches are the same, [club owners] are looking at strengthening their squad so decisions need to be made and I’m sure there’s going to be some turnaround probably next year as well.”

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Young NZ Warriors forward Jacob Laban recalls the day grizzled veteran Mitch Barnett drew a line in the sand for the Auckland club still chasing its first NRL crown.

“I felt like Barney, from the start, when he first came over, he set the expectation,” Laban told RNZ. “I still remember him, I think it was 2023, walking off the field and saying how he was disappointed in how everybody’s fitness was.”

Barnett had already logged 128 first-grade games for Canberra Raiders and Newcastle Knights, when he arrived at Mt Smart, so he had a fair idea of the standards required from the Aussie league competition.

“Everyone was making bad ‘Broncos’ times, stuff like that,” Laban continued. “He said he wanted the club to be in a better place before he leaves.

“Fast forward to now and everyone’s fit so far, and he’s put massive effort into that.”

In fact, coach Andrew Webster has singled out his players’ off-season fitness regime for special praise, as they prepare for the coming 2026 season.

“Over the Christmas break, they made a pact to each other that they would go away and enjoy the break, but come back fit and hit their targets,” Webster said. “This is the first time I’ve seen every single player do so and I’m really impressed with that.”

This week, the club announced Barnett, 31, would cut short his stay, leaving at the end of the season for personal reasons – his child’s medical needs – with a year still on his contract.

“I had to put my family first and they [the club] know the detail of the situation,” Barnett said. “They have been very supportive of it, but it hasn’t made the decision any easier.”

The clock on his time at the Warriors is now ticking loudly and those around him are taking stock of how their co-captain has impacted their lives.

When Barnett first signed in 2022, he was serving a six-game suspension for raising an elbow on an opponent in a tackle and may not have seemed an ideal addition to an ill-disciplined team already lurching through its worst-ever campaign.

In his first season, he helped them to within a game of the NRL grand final – the furthest he had progressed in his career – and while subsequent bids have fallen short, on a personal note, the front-rower has earned representative honours with New South Wales and Australia during his tenure on this side of the ditch.

Regardless of how his final season here pans out, Barnett – along with fellow veterans James Fisher-Harris and Kurt Capewell – will have already left his mark through the incredibly talented forwards the Warriors now have on their roster.

Capewell’s future with the Warriors is also uncertain, with his current contract ending this season.

Over the past couple of years, they have helped develop players like Laban, Leka Halasima, Demitric Vaimauga, Tanner Stowers-Smith and Eddie Ieremia-Toeava, who have shown their abilities in first grade and earned long-term contracts with the club.

“He’s been huge,” front-rower Tanner Stowers-Smith, 21, told RNZ of Barnett. “He’s one of the players I model my game on, just being tough as and doing all the dirty stuff that some people don’t want to do all the time – he’s always someone you can rely on.

“He’s personally helped me a lot with learnings and not just me, but the other young boys in the team. He’s so knowledgeable and he shares all he knows – all the tricks around the game and ways you can get through stuff.

“He’s got a lot of tricks in his book – he’s a real master of the dark arts.”

When Barnett’s 2025 season ended prematurely with ruptured knee ligaments, Stowers-Smith was one to seize the opportunity that presented itself, debuting against the Dolphins in May, logging 13 appearances and signing a contract extension through 2028.

In two pre-season trials, he has shown his readiness to step up to the next level, leading his team in running metres and tackles against Manly Sea Eagles.

While some may seek a like-for-like replacement for Barnett on the open market, ultimately, his successor may already wear a Warriors jersey.

“It’s pretty crazy to think where I was 12 months ago,” Stowers-Smith said. “I never thought about how far I could go in a year’s time, but the team’s done a lot of work and the boys have helped me along, so I’m definitely feeling a lot more confident.

“I base my game around effort areas and working hard, but I want to bring a bit more attacking flair, which comes down to my confidence and backing my ability with the ball.

“Maybe getting my hands on the ball a bit more, which I’ve been doing in the pre-season, has helped me a lot.”

Stowers-Smith hacked 10 seconds off his 1.2km Bronco time over the summer, which also helped.

Like Barnett, Laban’s 2025 season also ended early, when he was the victim of a hipdrop tackle from Dolphins veteran Felise Kaufusi that fractured his leg.

He narrowly lost a race against time to return for the reserves’ NSW Cup championship run, but has also reported back for duty in good nick, taking 15 seconds off his Bronco and scoring a try for the Māori against Indigenous in their pre-season All Stars clash.

“I felt like I was finding my groove into first grade, getting a bit more experience behind me, but unfortunately it was cut short,” Laban, 21, said.

“I didn’t go into much of a dark place, but I felt like I missed out on a lot in terms of the boys rocking up to games and me seeing them out there.

“It just sucked – I felt left out, but my mental health was pretty good and I just pushed through it.”

Seeing his mentor going through a similar process with his knee no doubt helped that mindset.

Barnett now faces a final examination – four days of testing in Sydney – before confirming his comeback to play in the early rounds.

The Warriors open their schedule with home games against Sydney Roosters and Canberra Raiders, and Barnett’s next outing will mark his 50th for the club.

Perhaps when disappointed fans see him run out onto Go Media Stadium with his family for that milestone, they will better understand why he’s leaving.

His teammates are already determined to send him out a winner.

“If that doesn’t give you any more motivation to win a premiership, I don’t know what will,” Laban insisted.

“He’s done so much for the club, and he’s helped myself and definitely other players, we sort of owe it to him.”

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/26/nz-warriors-proteges-hope-to-send-mitch-barnett-out-a-winner-in-final-nrl-season-with-club/

Source: Radio New Zealand

The greatest of all time is hanging up her black jersey, again.

Portia Woodman-Wickliffe, who came out of retirement for last year’s Rugby World Cup, has announced she is bowing out of the international stage.

She leaves an incomparable legacy behind.

Woodman-Wickliffe was a Rugby World Cup winner in 2017 and 2022, a Sevens World Cup champion in 2013 and 2018, an Olympic gold and silver medallist and Commonwealth Games gold and bronze medallist.

Whether in sevens or 15’s, Woodman-Wickliffe has lit up fields around the globe with her raw pace, power, and inexplicable eye for the try-line.

She walks away as the highest try scorer for the Black Ferns in both codes.

The Black Ferns confirmed the news on social media.

“I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to represent my country, my iwi, my hapū and my whānau one last time on the World Cup stage, a moment I will cherish forever. As I step into this next chapter of my life, I feel both excited and a little nervous, but I’m ready.”

Woodman-Wickliffe was named World Rugby’s Sevens Player of the Year in 2015, Women’s Player of the Year (XVs) in 2017 and in 2020 was named as the top women’s sevens player of the past decade.

The Woodman family name carries with it a bit of weight on the rugby field.

Not only did Portia grow up with an All Black father Kawhena, her uncle Fred Woodman played in two tests in the infamous 1981 series against the Springboks.

Arguably, Woodman-Wickliffe’s high-water mark in the 15-a-side code was during the 2017 Women’s Rugby World Cup, in which she scored a tournament-record 13 tries.

Eight of them came in one match against Hong Kong.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/26/portia-woodman-wickliffe-retires-from-international-rugby-again/