Pride training kicks off
Rugby League: Northern Pride players have had their first taste of the expectations for 2018 after starting preseason last night at Stan Williams Park.
Players were taken through a short induction with coach Ty Williams before their first field session. High-profile signing Todd Carney will arrive in Cairns next week and is expected to have his first run with his new teammates on November 20.
Under-20 and under-18 squad preseasons start next week.
Socceroos’ tough task
Football: Injured Tim Cahill declared operation Honduras a tougher task than Uruguay in 2005, while refusing to make any Socceroos selection promises.
Cahill will be assessed by Socceroos physio Les Gelis when he arrives in San Pedro Sula this afternoon (about 1pm AEDT), but appears to be in huge doubt for Saturday’s World Cup qualifier.
The Melbourne City attacker’s ankle was still swollen after he strained ligaments on Friday night, with Cahill spending the bulk of his 26-hour journey to Honduras getting treatment from Socceroos masseur Luke Attwell.
Speaking to News Corp Australia moments before boarding, Cahill wouldn’t even confirm he’d be ready for the second leg but vowed to contribute in a repeat of the Uruguay playoffs 12 years ago.
“Harder (than Uruguay). Way harder. The travel, circumstances, location and a different group of boys,’’ Cahill said.
“It’s the biggest two weeks of our lives. If we get to a World Cup, that’s all that matters.
“I signed up to this four-year plan and I’m not missing out on it. There’s too much at stake.”
Tigers locked in
AFL: EVERY 2017 Richmond premiership player will be at the club again next year with the Tigers locking away the final two uncontracted members of their drought-breaking side.
As expected, small forward Jason Castagna has inked a new two-year deal while late-season revelation Jacob Townsend has signed a one-year contract extension for 2018.
Richmond has also secured midfielder Anthony Miles on a new one-year deal despite the 25year-old playing just five AFL games this year, the club keen to retain the depth which also led it to a VFL grand final.
Castagna, 21, played all 25 games for the Tigers this year, kicking 26 goals and averaging almost five score involvements.