Sunday News

Warriors propose hosting NRLW

- DAVID LONG

WARRIORS CEO Cameron George wants Auckland to host a Magic Round of the NRLW from next season.

Starved on content due to the NRL and other club’s unwillingn­ess to take extra games to New Zealand next season, despite the sacrifices the Warriors made, George has devised an idea for Auckland to be the host of a magic weekend of women’s rugby league, which would be bookended by NRL games.

‘‘I’ve proposed to the NRL about it. I’m trying to look for every angle to get more rugby league content,’’ George said.

‘‘I’ve proposed the NRL that we have a Magic Round here and to bookend that weekend with NRL games. So we’d be giving the

women a place of their own, to have their own identity. The NRL men’s competitio­n has got the Brisbane market and that’s been successful, but this is a great market too.’’

forcing a fifth set by improving to a US Open-record 8-0 in tiebreaker­s.

Still, Alcaraz showed no signs of fatigue despite playing a third five-setter in a row — and was better when he needed to be, taking four of the last five games.

Now No 3 Alcaraz will face No 7 Casper Ruud (Norway) for the championsh­ip tomorrow with so much on the line.

The winner will become a major champion for the first time and lead the rankings next week.

‘‘Too good from Carlos tonight,’’ Tiafoe said. ‘‘I gave everything I had.’’

During the day’s first semifinal, which featured a 55-shot point to end the first set, fans called out the winner’s last name — ‘‘Ruuuuud!’’ — and it sounded as if they were booing, rather than saluting. Ruud won that lengthy rally and built an early lead and route to beating Russia’s Karen Khachanov 7-6 (5) 6-2 5-7 6-2. ‘‘Towards the end,’’ Ruud, said about the longest point of this US Open, ‘‘the pulse was getting very high and the legs were almost shaking.’’

He came into this year with a record of just 14-13 in Slam matches, then needed to sit out the Australian Open in January after twisting his ankle. Since then? He’s 13-2 at the majors.

 ?? GETTY ?? The Warriors women’s team were foundation NRLW members and females playing league here have increased 290% since 2019.
GETTY The Warriors women’s team were foundation NRLW members and females playing league here have increased 290% since 2019.

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