The Raiders have withdrawn their four-year, $4.4 million contract offer to Hudson Young. The PNG Chiefs have offered him a tax-free deal of $900,000 a season, which is financially better. The Chiefs said they could not fit him under their salary cap at the $1.1 million a season figure set by the NRL. The Raiders had wanted to sign Young long term and felt they had to act before the November 1 deadline, when players with expiring contracts can negotiate with rival clubs.
The AFL has released its 2027 Gather Round fixtures, with Adelaide and South Australia hosting a weekend of football. The Crows are expected to open proceedings on Friday night and Port Adelaide to close on Sunday afternoon. Some supporters had feared the draw would include weak matches, but the writer argues the league has delivered strong contests. Highlights include Adelaide against Brisbane, Collingwood against Sydney, Carlton against Melbourne, and Port Adelaide against the Western Bulldogs, featuring Zak Butters' return. Only two games were judged less appealing.
Brisbane and the Gold Coast are on track for their wettest October in six years. Brisbane has recorded about 170 millimetres this month, roughly double its October average of 87 millimetres. Flash floods hit Caboolture and Morayfield, where more than 400 millimetres fell over the past week. The Sunshine Coast is likely to break its October record, with 369 millimetres already recorded at its airport. The Bureau of Meteorology says Brisbane is not expecting heavy falls, apart from possible showers.
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Experts warn that a large percentage discount during Black Friday sales does not always mean good value. Associate professor Sara Quach Thaichon says the final price and product quality matter more than the percentage off. Choice editorial director Mark Serrels says retailers may be clearing old stock or collecting customer details. He advises shoppers to set a budget, compare prices beforehand and avoid pressure tactics. The consumer protection agency Moneysmart also urges shoppers to check that they are buying from a genuine retailer.
Real estate agent Emil Juresic and partner Giselle Kramer have signed a lease for a four-storey space at Broadbeach, on the Gold Coast, once home to the Change gym. The site sits within the Oracle precinct owned by Makris Group, which says it did not consent to a planning submission for a Change-branded proposal. Stage one of the Level X wellness venue is under construction and is due to open on December 1. A later expansion will add a rooftop pool, medical recovery suite and bathhouse.
A $40 million luxury apartment project at Hope Island Resort on the Gold Coast has sold more than $28 million of residences ahead of completion. GH Properties says 14 of the 21 Sage apartments have sold at an average price above $2 million. The developer's managing director, Ellen Guan, said the boutique, north-facing waterfront units have drawn strong interest from downsizers. Prices start at $1.63 million for large two-bedroom apartments and $1.96 million for three-bedroom apartments. Residents will have access to the resort's golf course, pool and wellness programs.
A court has set aside Gold Coast council approval for a 14-storey apartment tower in Kirra, after neighbours appealed. Judge Nicole Kefford found the design added to the appearance of bulk and was overbearing on neighbouring properties. She also said the 317 bedrooms proposed for the site were far above the density set under the city's planning rules. The developer's original nine-storey approval for the site remains in place.
Former Fraser Coast councillor James Hansen, 57, has been identified as the man found dead in floodwaters at Boompa, police say. He served on the Fraser Coast regional council from 2012 to 2024 and ran for One Nation in 2017. Mayor George Seymour called his death a great loss to the community. Police have begun an investigation and will prepare a report for the coroner. Separately, six campers were rescued from flood waters at Leyburn on the Southern Downs.
A man's body has been found in floodwaters at Boompa on Queensland's Fraser Coast. Police said he was declared dead after being found in Smothering Creek on Boompa Road, and an investigation has begun. Separately, six campers were rescued after becoming stranded by floodwaters at a public campground in Leyburn, in the Southern Downs. Torrential rain across Queensland from Thursday to Monday has left rivers and roads flooded, with more rain and flooding forecast.
Only one rental market in Queensland is classed as healthy, according to the Real Estate Institute of Queensland's September quarter vacancy report. The Bay Islands, near Redland, recorded a vacancy rate of 3.5 per cent. Forty-eight of the 50 regions tracked remain tight, with vacancy rates of 2.5 per cent or below. Thirty-four regions recorded rates of 1 per cent or less. Antonia Mercorella, the institute's chief executive, said the shortage was changing how Queenslanders live, with more multigenerational households forming and more friends sharing homes to split costs.
Port Adelaide's Dougie Cochrane is tipped to go first in a mock AFL National Draft, after Essendon places a bid on the 195cm utility. Father-son and academy selections are expected to feature prominently in the top 10. Ethan Drever is projected second to Essendon, which needs to rebuild its midfield after losing Zach Merrett. Cody Walker is expected to join Carlton as a father-son selection, while Mitch Harris is tipped to Melbourne as the best key defender in the draft.
Richard Wiseman, a Griffith High deputy principal, has been recognised with life membership of the NSW Teachers Federation after 38 years of advocacy. His efforts secured teacher housing, classroom air-conditioning, and a historic pay rise. Wiseman also successfully campaigned for improved incentives to attract teachers to Griffith, addressing chronic vacancies. He remains committed to strengthening public education in regional communities, despite increasing challenges. Wiseman's dedication has benefited both Griffith High and the broader education system.
AFL Gather Round will return to Adelaide from Thursday, April 8 to Sunday, April 11, 2027. Nine games will be played at Adelaide Oval, Norwood Oval and Barossa Park. Tickets and prices have not yet been confirmed. Fans can book flights with Qantas, Virgin Australia and Jetstar, and accommodation through All Accor, the AFL's official accommodation partner. A parade through the Adelaide CBD, with 10 players from each club, is a new attraction.
The Gold Coast Titans will receive $15 million in federal funding towards a new high-performance and community sports centre in Carrara. The centre will bring the club's NRL and NRLW programs and Titans Netball together at one site. It is also intended to support preparations for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Planned facilities include playing fields, shared amenities and inclusive facilities for Para-athletes, plus a First Nations cultural education centre. More than 100 people are expected to be employed during construction, with over 145 ongoing roles supported.
The Block contestants Courtney and Sev are hoping for a big-spending buyer for House 4 on auction day. They said they would love to see a bidder like Adrian Portelli, but noted that such bidders make a realistic outcome less likely. The pair must split any winnings between them, and they said they were shocked by the $3,450,000 reserve price. Sev said the pair hope the day ends well despite rumours of cast feuds. The auction airs Sunday at 7pm on Nine.
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Passengers on the first commercial flights at Western Sydney International Airport have described the experience as seamless. Jetstar flight JQ362 left for the Gold Coast just before 11:30am on Sunday, one of three domestic services to use the runway first. Air New Zealand flight NZ165 from Auckland became the first international arrival, followed by flight NZ166 back to Auckland. Passengers praised the toll-free drive, short walk to the terminal and digital check-in. Airline and airport officials say more destinations will be added over the next year.
Six campers were rescued from floodwater at Leyburn in southern Queensland. A man was found dead in floodwaters at Boompa, and police are investigating the circumstances of his death. The Bureau of Meteorology warns of more thunderstorms across south-east Queensland this afternoon, with some possibly severe. Flooding is easing along the Mary River, though several bridges remain closed. Residents are urged not to drive through floodwater.
An off-the-plan apartment at the upcoming Nalu development in Miami has sold for $14.5 million, a new record for the suburb. The ground-floor unit is part of a $500 million project on the former beachfront site of a retro resort owned by Moose Toys executive chairman Paul Solomon. Solomon bought the site for $23.75 million in 2018 and sold it to Monaco Property Group in 2024 for $70 million. The tower is due for completion in late 2028, and remaining three-bedroom apartments start from $6.95 million.
The first apartment development in the $600m Serenity 4212 community on the northern Gold Coast has topped out. Lakeside at Helensvale is being built by joint venture partners Keylin and Kinstone Group. Developers say 70 per cent of buyers so far are aged over 50. A new collection of top floor residences, with two and three-bedroom homes starting at $1.22m, has been released. Residents are expected to move in by spring 2027.
