McIlroy urges stars to play Australian Open

Golf superstar Rory McIlroy is urging other big names from overseas to head Down Under and play the Australian Open.

Andrew Johns and Brad Fittler are among the Herald’s experts to have their say on who will win the 2026 NRL grand final and why.

When Brad Fittler met Kerry Packer in 1995 before joining the Roosters, the media tycoon asked him: “How do you think you win a grand final?”

Larkfield & New Hythe ended their long wait for a league win to stun the leaders on Saturday.

The head coach wants his charges to play the Wallabies way with an Australian “backyard spirit” of brutal competitiveness, a method that is proving successful.

Newcastle have asked me to give a grand final speech, but they don’t need a blubbering old halfback. Not when they have Kalyn Ponga and a bond like no other club.

It’s difficult to stop an opponent when not even he knows what he’s going to do next. For the Roosters halfback, it’s what makes him stand out from the pack.

Superstar winger Mark Nawaqanitawase has dead-batted all questions about the chances of him returning to league after his two-year contract in Japan. Until now.

Gillingham had to settle for a point after a frustrating home draw against lowly Newport County.

Manager Gareth Ainsworth believes Gillingham must learn to deal with teams who come to Priestfield determined to shut them out.

Catch up with all the week’s football fixtures and results here.