Sydney desk

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

Business · 4 October 2026

Mascot's Seaplane Saga: Sydney's First International Airport Was Once a Floating Dance Floor

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

Mascot’s new terminal is a nod to Sydney’s aviation past, but market participants keep arguing that the real heritage is still at Rose Bay, where flying boats once ruled the skies.

Sports · 4 October 2026

Packer’s 1995 Riddle: Why You Can’t Buy a Grand Final

Nell Hartley, Melbourne desk

A 1995 meeting between Kerry Packer and Craig Fittler reveals that while media empires can be bought, sporting titles must be earned through strategic timing and team stability, not just capital.

Sports · 4 October 2026

Roosters Aim for Redemption, Wakefield Nab First Title, and AFL Anthem Nearly Missed

Frank Bollard, Melbourne desk

On a day that felt like a footy circus, the Sydney Roosters chased a long‑awaited comeback in the NRLW, Wakefield Trinity captured their first Grand Final trophy, and Mike Brady almost missed performing the AFL anthem.

Business · 4 October 2026

Joey Haenen and Jazz Garcia Return to Adelaide as Full Circle’s Debut Musical Sends ‘Market Participants’ to the Front Row

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

Full Circle’s inaugural production, featuring home‑grown stars Joey Haenen and Jazz Garcia, has turned Adelaide’s theatre scene into a surprisingly lucrative venture for market participants, with ticket sales proje…

Sports · 4 October 2026

Sam Walker’s Instincts Leave Roosters' Defenders in a Dizzy Spin

Frank Bollard, Melbourne desk

Sam Walker’s unpredictable, instinct-driven play turned the Roosters' backline into a circus act, leaving opponents chasing shadows and the coaching staff rewriting the playbook. The chaos resulted in a comfortable vic…

Sports · 4 October 2026

Knights’ Premiership Charge Overshadows 1997, but Pundit Declines to Rally the Troops

Frank Bollard, Melbourne desk

The Newcastle Knights are on a premiership charge that feels larger than the club’s 1997 title-winning campaign. A long-time footy pundit has publicly announced he will not be delivering a grand-final speech, citing th…

Business · 4 October 2026

When Bushfires Roar, Phones Go Dark and the Market Participants Count the Lost Calls

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

During the Black Summer, mobile networks failed in the heat, forcing locals to depend on ham radios and hand‑to‑hand messages. Telecom firms now promise ‘fire‑proof’ batteries, but the real punchline is that th…

Sports · 4 October 2026

Les Kiss's Six-Word Mantra Slams Wallabies Into Backyard Glory

Frank Bollard, Melbourne desk

Coach Les Kiss deploys a terse six-word chant to transform the Wallabies' demeanor, turning a tense match into a chaotic, backyard-style victory that leaves opponents baffled and fans meme-ing the phrase.

Sports · 3 October 2026

Knights Coach Holbrook Hypes 19‑Year‑Old Hagan as Grand Final Star, Forgetting He’s Never Been There

Lina Okoro, World desk

Justin Holbrook declares 19‑year‑old Diesel Hagan a ‘definite’ Grand Final option, even though the player has never played in a Grand Final. The coach’s confidence is as misplaced as a referee’s whistle in a…