NZ squeezed out of V8s

New Zealand has missed out on staging a round of this year’s rescheduled Australia Supercars Championship. The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has forced organisers to keep the event in Australia this year though they are planning a return to New Zealand in 2021, with a focus on reviving the Anzac round in April. The 2020 revised calendar has been updated to finish in December, which means the previously mooted events in January 2021 at The Bend in South Australia, New Zealand and a second event in Bathurst do not feature. There had been initial thoughts of holding the New Zealand round in January under the revises schedule but organisers wanted to keep the championship in the current calendar year. The series is set to resume with the Sydney SuperSprint next weekend.

Brisbane coach Anthony Seibold will look at changes to the team after a lone intercept try was their only source of points in their 27-6 loss to the Newcastle Knights is Gosford on Thursday night. Since the NRL restarted the Broncos have not scored a second-half try. The loss intensifies concerns about the club’s attack led by halves Anthony Milford and Brodie Croft, but Seibold said he has reservations about bringing in halfback Tom Dearden who has not played since last June. ‘‘There’s no doubt we need more from our elite players,’’ Seibold said. ‘‘There was plenty of effort there at different times. I won’t call it dumb, but we’re not playing smart. Maybe I need to look at making some changes.’’ Pictured, Mitchell Pearce scores for Newcastle.