Event of the Day: Broncos versus Rabbitohs

Our event of the day is the NRL fixture between the Brisbane Broncos and the South Sydney Rabbitohs at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane. The Rabbitohs dropped to second last week after they lost a tightly fought encounter to their title rivals the Sydney Roosters. They will be eager to get back to winning ways against the Broncos, whose season is slowly deteriorating following consecutive defeats. With their top four hopes now all but mathematically over, Brisbane must find their form if they are to even finish in the top eight. Matters off the field are currently creating headlines for the Broncos regarding the future of coach Wayne Bennett, so they will be desperate to do some talking on the field.

Things won’t get any easier for Brisbane with a daunting fixture against the table-topping Sydney Roosters up next. Having conceded 70 points in their last two matches, they will certainly need to tighten up defensively if they are to get anything from their next two fixtures. Nineteen-year-old Mawene Hiroti looks set to be handed his debut for the Rabbitohs due to absentees in their back line. The teenager from New Zealand has been called up as a result of injuries to first team regulars Greg Inglis, Alex Johnson, Campbell Graham and Robert Jennings. South Sydney are currently level on points with the Roosters at the top of the Telstra Premiership. Victory today will put them back on track to lift the title they last won in 2014. With both sides still having plenty to play for, today’s fixture is crucial.

Honourable mentions around the globe go the Cincinnati Masters last 16 on the WTA and ATP World Tour. Eighth seed Petra Kvitová, fresh from her hard-fought victory over Serena Williams, plays Kristina Mladenovic of France. In the men’s draw, Leonardo Mayer of Argentina stands between second seed Roger Federer and a place in the quarter finals. Elsewhere in the States, the New York Yankees meet the Tampa Bay Rays in a second versus third MLB American League East clash at Yankees Stadium. In Indianapolis, the first day of action at the Indy Women in Tech Championships gets underway on the LPGA Tour, whilst on the PGA Tour, day one of the Wyndham Championship begins. The European Tour stops off in Sweden for the opening day of the Nordea Masters. There is further sporting action in Europe with multiple Europa League third round qualifying fixtures across the continent. Rangers take a 3-1 lead into their second leg away to NK Maribor in Slovenia, whilst there’s everything to play for at Turf Moore, after the first leg between Burnley and Istanbul Başakşehir finished 0-0. Elsewhere in the UK, Sussex travel to Gloucestershire in the Vitality T20 Blast, knowing victory would put them in strong contention for a place in the quarter finals.

Whatever you’re watching, enjoy!

Fixture

Photos by NRL

See what else is happening in the world of sport

Fixture calendar