Latest - Veteran Warriors forward Adam Blair will play his 331st and last NRL game tomorrow after confirming his decision to end his 15-season first grade playing career.
Adam Blair Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The 34-year-old had an option in his contract for a fourth season with the Warriors but he has decided the time is right to retire.
"Adam has made an amazing contribution not just to the Vodafone Warriors but to rugby league across the board," said Warriors chief executive Cameron George.
"He has had a huge influence on our players, especially the younger ones, with the way he has gone about looking after himself. He sets extremely high standards off the field and in the way he prepares himself for every training session and every game."
Blair will remain with the Warriors "in a special role tailored to his strengths".
Blair joined the Warriors from the Brisbane Broncos (74 games) in 2018 after earlier stints with the West Tigers (71 games) and the Melbourne Storm (121 games).
The ex-Kiwi captain has the record for most NRL appearances by a New Zealander.
Italian rider wins first individual time trial
Pre-race favourite Filippo Ganna won his maiden individual time trial world title on home soil as the Italian crushed his rivals over 32 kilometres at the world road cycling championships.
Patrick Bevin Photo: ROB JONES/CANADIAN CYCLIST
The 24-year-old, a four-times individual pursuit world champion on the track, clocked 35 minutes 54.10 seconds to beat Belgian Wout van Aert by 26.72 seconds.
Swiss Stefan Kung took third place, 29.80 seconds off the pace, as Australian Rohan Dennis, who had won the two previous titles, ended up fifth.
New Zealand cyclist Patrick Bevin finished 12th and fellow New Zealander Finn Fisher-Black was 50th.
Kiwis struggle in Irish Open
England's Aaron Rai has a one shot lead following an even par second round on a testing day at the Irish Open.
Ryan Fox Photo: PHOTOSPORT
There was a 90 minute delay to day two before play even began due to early morning frost.
To add to the delayed start, swirling winds and intermittent rain made low scoring difficult as only 12 players reached the clubhouse having shot red numbers.
Rai could not improve his overall score as he mixed four bogeys with four birdies, but it was enough for him to take the solo lead by one shot from Robert Rock, Swede Joakim Lagergren and Burmester.
New Zealand golfers Ryan Fox and Michael Campbell are a long way off the pace.
Fox shot a 3 over par second round to be tied for 104th at 11 over par and Campbell shot a 2 over par round be tied for 84th at 7 over par.
Kearney gets job with Storm
Sacked Warriors coach Stephen Kearney will join the Melbourne Storm next season as an assistant coach.
Kearney has signed a 12-month deal with the Storm.
In doing so, he will return to where it all began for him as a coach, having previously been Bellamy's assistant between 2006 and 2010.
Kearney also played 139 games for the Storm between 1999 and 2004, forming part of their inaugural premiership-winning side
Bottas sets pace in Russian Grand Prix
Valtteri Bottas set the practice pace for a Russian Grand Prix that could see Mercedes team mate Lewis Hamilton equal Michael Schumacher's all-time record of 91 Formula One wins.
Valtteri Bottas Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Bottas was quickest in both sessions, with Hamilton ending the day second overall -- 0.267 slower -- after tyre problems in the morning left him 19th.
It was the sixth race weekend in a row that Bottas, who has so far won only the opening race in Austria in July, had topped the first session timesheets and Mercedes again looked the team to beat.
Australian Daniel Ricciardo signalled the emerging threat from Renault by posting the second fastest time in the morning and third in the afternoon when McLaren's Carlos Sainz and Lando Norris were fourth and fifth.
Sainz had hit the barriers in an interrupted first session, damaging his car's rear wing.
The Russian Grand Prix will be the first race of a Covid-hit season with a significant number of fans present and organisers, who had aimed for a 30,000-strong crowd, said all tickets were sold out.
- Reuters
