The Canberra Raiders have withdrawn their contract extension offer to forward Hudson Young, who is recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon. The four-year deal was believed to be worth $1.1 million a season, the largest in club history. Young will now become a free agent on Sunday, November 1, and the PNG Chiefs are heavily tipped to sign him from 2028. The club said it had made its decision after talks with board members and senior management. Young has played 155 matches for Canberra since his 2019 NRL debut and remains contracted to the club for 2027.
NRL executive chairman Peter V'landys has defended the integrity of the salary cap as the PNG Chiefs prepare for the November 1 player market. V'landys said the NRL will not allow any club to manipulate the cap and that the Chiefs must pay full market value. The NRL salary cap auditor rejected the Chiefs' original offer to Canberra Raiders forward Hudson Young, which was judged below his assessed market value. V'landys said no case-by-case submission to revise that value had yet been made by Young's management.
Kangaroos coach Kevin Walters says picking between fullbacks James Tedesco and Reece Walsh is a blessing rather than a headache. Tedesco starred in Australia's 36-22 win over Fiji in Brisbane, while Walsh was a standout in the opening win over New Zealand. Walters praised both players and says a decision will be made before the next match. Australia will face either Samoa or Tonga in the World Cup semi-finals in Sydney on Sunday 8 November.
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Video showed Garrett Wilson and Geno Smith in a heated sideline exchange late in the New York Jets' 28-25 loss to the Miami Dolphins. Wilson finished with two catches for 26 yards after being targeted three times. Wilson later said the two were collaborating and were both frustrated with their play, not with each other. Head coach Aaron Glenn said the team must do more to get Wilson the ball and took responsibility for it.
New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo was penalised for unnecessary roughness during a first-quarter carry against the Houston Texans. Referees ruled that he lowered his helmet to make contact with defender M.J. Stewart while gaining eight yards. The decision drew mixed reactions from fans, with some saying it went against the physical style of football they grew up watching. The NFL has used penalties to discourage players from making dangerous contact, with these penalties usually aimed at defenders.
The Indianapolis Colts are open to trading any player before the November 20 NFL trade deadline, including star running back Jonathan Taylor. A combined ESPN and NFL Network report named four teams interested in acquiring him: the Green Bay Packers, Denver Broncos, Seattle Seahawks and Minnesota Vikings. The Broncos have a committee of running backs and could use a clear three-down option. The Vikings have shifted toward running the ball more often, which could suit Taylor. The Seahawks and Packers have other backs available, so a deal is less pressing for them.
The Miami Heat have started the season 0-3 after losing all three games, two of them by double-digit margins. Giannis Antetokounmpo has been among the team's standouts, scoring 71 points across the first two games. Against the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday, he scored 14 points before fouling out. Head coach Erik Spoelstra said the team lacks inspiration. Antetokounmpo said the team needs a jolt. The Heat face the Dallas Mavericks at home on Monday, seeking their first win.
The Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints will play the NFL's first game in France on Sunday, from Stade de France in Paris. The kick-off is at 9:30 a.m. ET, or 3:30 p.m. local time. Dave Pasch will handle play-by-play, with Kurt Warner and Jason Kelce providing analysis. Molly McGrath will report from the sideline. The game will air on NFL Network, and Fubo offers a streaming option with a free trial for new users.
The Kangaroos meet Fiji in Week 2 of the 2026 Rugby League World Cup. The match is at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Sunday, October 25, with a 7:05pm AEST kick-off. Seven Network holds the broadcast rights and will show every match live and free on Channel Seven. Viewers can also stream the games through 7plus Sport. Australia opened its campaign with a two-point win over New Zealand in Sydney.
Bulldogs football boss Phil Gould has confirmed that Matt Burton can approach rival clubs before he officially becomes a free agent. Gould said the early approach would help both parties gauge Burton's true value. He stressed that he loves Burton, wants to keep him, and that neither side has yet discussed money for 2028 onwards. Burton reportedly wanted to play five-eighth rather than centre, and is believed to be of interest to the Chiefs, Bears, Parramatta and Penrith.
Time is running out for NRL clubs to lock down off-contract players for 2028 and beyond, with November 1 just over a week away. Nathan Cleary is ranked the biggest off-contract player, with the PNG Chiefs reportedly preparing a tax-free offer of up to $1.5 million a year. Sam Walker has indicated he wants a deal done before November 1, with the Roosters offering around $1.3 million a season. Hudson Young is wanted by both Canberra and the Chiefs, who have reportedly been working to build their inaugural squad.
Newcastle Knights centre Bradman Best has criticised former recruitment boss Peter O'Sullivan, who has moved to the Broncos. Best said some Knights players were upset with O'Sullivan over contracts, but that he hopes his own deal can now be settled. The off-contract star is set to test the open market on November 1, despite reportedly being offered a deal worth upwards of $4 million to stay. Best said he needs to put his family first in his decision. His international debut against Fiji is on Sunday night in Brisbane.
The New Zealand Warriors have reportedly locked in 2026 Dally M Hooker of the Year Wayde Egan on a 12-month extension. Egan was set to come off contract at the end of 2027, so the deal keeps him at the club for at least the next two NRL seasons and off the player market on November 1. The Warriors have also granted fellow hooker Sam Healey early permission to speak with rival clubs for 2028. Egan, who joined from Penrith in 2020, will enter his ninth season with the club in 2028.
Gold Coast Titans forward Cooper Bai will leave the club at the end of 2027. The club says his management has advised he will not take up his player option to extend his contract. The Titans have allowed Bai to negotiate with other clubs for the 2028 season before the November 1 free agency window. The PNG Chiefs are widely tipped as the front runners for his signature, though the Sydney Roosters and Melbourne Storm are also reportedly interested. The 19-year-old made his first-grade debut in the final round of the 2025 season.
Wests Tigers have signed star back rower Samuela Fainu to a two-year contract extension that keeps him at the club until at least the end of 2029. The 22-year-old has become one of the club's most important forwards, and head coach Benji Marshall saw securing him as critical. The new deal takes him off the market on November 1, out of reach of rivals including the PNG Chiefs. Code Sports reports the contract is worth around $800,000 a season, with ratchet clauses that could lift it past $1 million from 2028.
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The PNG Chiefs have unveiled their official logo and home and away playing strips at an event in Port Moresby. PNG Prime Minister James Marape attended the launch alongside PNG and NRL dignitaries. Club chief executive Lorna McPherson called the day a watershed moment for the club and a proud day for rugby league in Papua New Guinea. She said the logo reflects the nation's past, the club's values and the future it wants to build for all Papua New Guineans. A legal challenge to the club's name in New Zealand is still possible.
LeBron James will wear a special "24 NBA Seasons" patch on his jersey for every game of the 2026-27 season with the 76ers. Sports cards company Topps announced the patch before the 76ers' opening night game against the Knicks. The patches will be removed after each game, and some will be placed into ultra-rare 1-of-1 trading cards. The patch marks James' 24th NBA season, which is a league record for seasons played.
A columnist has released part one of his annual top 100 NBA defenders list, covering players ranked 11 to 100. He says defence is underrated and hard to measure, and that it takes real talent to make the list. The list ranks players by their overall impact on a team's defence. Jayson Tatum and Walker Kessler are among those featured, with the top 10 to follow in a second part.
One of the strongest fields in Geelong Cup history is set to contest Wednesday's feature, with a Melbourne Cup golden ticket adding significance. Geelong Racing Club chief executive Luke Rayner says the quality of acceptances is among the best he can remember. He estimates 10 horses among the acceptances sit between 31st and 56th in the Melbourne Cup order of entry. Gates open at 11am, with a crowd expected and more than 5,000 corporate hospitality tickets already sold. Free shuttle buses will run from the Geelong Bus Interchange and South Geelong Station.
The Los Angeles Rams have started the 2026 NFL season at 2-4, sitting last in the NFC West after losing 18-16 to the Arizona Cardinals. The team was tipped as a Super Bowl favourite. The piece argues that coach Sean McVay shares blame for the slump. Its criticisms include running the ball too rarely, poor clock and game management in close games, weak special teams with frequent kicker changes, and a limited third receiver option behind Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. It also says the team has often looked unprepared.
