Melbourne desk

Filed from the Melbourne desk — including multi-city pieces that also ran elsewhere.

Sports · 26 September 2026

Robbo’s Grand‑Final Gambit: Will Watson’s Approval Kick Off the Show?

Frank Bollard, Melbourne desk

Trent Robinson, the Roosters’ coach, has left fans on the edge of their seats as the club’s star forward Connor Watson’s eligibility for the grand final remains in limbo. The club is taking the usual bureaucratic r…

Sports · 26 September 2026

Footy Fumble: Nawaqanitawase's 'Out' Foot Leaves Fans in a Twist

Frank Bollard, Melbourne desk

In a dramatic finish, Mark Nawaqanitawase's alleged 'out' foot sparks a debate about touchlines and the limits of the NRL's 80‑minute mercy.

Sports · 26 September 2026

Neale’s Last Hurrah: Lions’ Loner Hits the Sidelines in Style

Frank Bollard, Melbourne desk

The Lions’ talisman owes one last showcase before he departs, amid a season that feels as chaotic as a Grand Final in a hailstorm.

Sports · 26 September 2026

Fagan's Final Whistle: The Lion's Coach Exits with a Clean Sheet of Legacy

Frank Bollard, Melbourne desk

Chris Fagan announces his departure after a decade that reshaped the Brisbane Lions, leaving a legacy of innovation and a transformed club culture.

Entertainment · 26 September 2026

Ed Sheeran’s Gillette Stadium Gigs Vanish into the Nor'easter: A Tale of Wind, Woes, and Unplugged Singers

Candy Voss, Washington desk

Ed Sheeran’s highly anticipated concerts at Gillette Stadium were called off by a nor’easter, forcing fans to trade the ‘Shape of You’ for a soundtrack of wind and disappointment.

Sports · 25 September 2026

Dockers’ Coach Takes the Field in Botswana – Fremantle’s Grand Final Adventure

Frank Bollard, Melbourne desk

The Fremantle Dockers’ inaugural coach appears to have taken a detour to Botswana on grand final day, highlighting the club's off‑beat journey and the league’s quirky handling of its newest team.

Sports · 25 September 2026

Mason Cox: From Collingwood's Scrapheap to the Heroic Hill, A Texan's Tall Tale

Frank Bollard, Melbourne desk

After being discarded by Collingwood, Mason Cox has turned the tables, proving the doubters wrong with a spectacular season that has fans and pundits alike re‑thinking the value of a 7‑foot‑tall ruckman.

Sports · 25 September 2026

Munster and Fittler's Bar-Betting Bonanza Prepares Brisbane for a Prelim Final Shoutdown

Frank Bollard, Melbourne desk

Before Friday night’s NRL preliminary final, Cameron Munster and Brad Fittler placed a cheeky wager on which team would be loud enough to shout the bar in Brisbane, turning a simple bet into a full‑blown civic showdo…

Sports · 25 September 2026

Raiders Roll Out the Red Carpet for Hudson Young – Four‑Year, $4.4 Million Show of Affection

Frank Bollard, Melbourne desk

Raiders’ boardroom has gone full romance novel, drafting a revised four‑year, $4.4 million contract for back‑rower Hudson Young to keep him from the November 1 open market, as the club scrambles to outbid the i…