Sports
Rugby League World Cup 2026: What represents success for England & Home Nations?
Four years ago, England’s men suffered a gut-wrenching 27-26 golden-point World Cup semi-final defeat by Samoa at Emirates Stadium.
Series wins over Tonga in 2023 and Samoa a year later banished some of those memories – but last autumn brought a 3-0 home series loss to Australia.
The manner of that defeat led to Shaun Wane’s departure and a new head coach in McDermott, who is seeking to lead England to only their second final since 1995.
However, prior to his squad’s arrival Down Under last week, the Gold Coast Titans assistant had not even had the benefit of a training session with his players.
There was no mid-season international this year to help England prepare for a World Cup programme that begins on Saturday against a powerful Tonga side packed with NRL talent.
England then take on France and Papua New Guinea in Pool B-C – a combined six-team group from which the top two will reach the semi-finals.
Yet despite limited preparation opportunities, England will have hope of reaching a fourth final if they find their rhythm.
McDermott’s 23-man squad boasts arguably the best centre in the world in Dolphins star Herbie Farnworth, while lock Victor Radley has just helped Sydney Roosters win the Grand Final in Australia.
They are two of 10 NRL-based players selected by the former Leeds boss, who has taken advantage of utilising heritage players to call up versatile Roosters back Hugo Savala and Brisbane Broncos front-rower Ben Talty.
Huddersfield-born Canterbury Bulldogs prop Max King, who has previously appeared for New South Wales in State of Origin, will also make his bow, and with Harry Smith among seven Wigan players in contention, there will be no shortage of big-game experience in England’s ranks.
While England showed plenty of passion and physicality against Australia in 2025, McDermott has emphasised that more guile is required in attack.
“We have got to do things differently,” McDermott said.
“Being passionate to play for England is huge. You have to be aggressive to play our game, you have to be a warrior, a gladiator – but you have to have some smart attack as well.
“You have to play with a point of difference and attack into certain areas. I don’t believe too many England teams have done that over the years.”
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Sports
Trial hears woman recall fan falling on her at Ipswich Town v Maidstone
Ryan told the court the game had been “the biggest match in the club’s history” and he had been celebrating the “special” goal.
“Everyone’s jumping about and you just go where you go,” he said of that goal celebration.
“I don’t know if I bumped somebody or my foot slipped or what; I just ended up going down the stairs.
“I couldn’t stop myself, my leg hit that wall… I just started tilting over.
“As I put my arm out I just started rolling over. There’s nothing to hold on to.”
The court heard Ryan missed work through his own injuries to his arm and leg.
The prosecution said two other men went on to the roof at the same time as Ryan, but were stopped from going further.
The prosecutor questioned why Ryan had moved toward the roof during the celebration and argued he had done so purposefully.
Ryan responded with: “No. It wasn’t like that.
“All I know is that I ended up going down the steps and I couldn’t stop myself.
“The momentum took me into a roll.”
Ryan had originally been standing trial on two counts of assault by beating, but one has been dropped.
The trial continues.
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Sports
The Bounce: Knicks and Magic have a spending problem
Zach Harper catches you up on the latest NBA news in our newsletter.
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Sports
Joe Cordina was ‘retaliating’ when he punched man to ground – court
Former boxing world champion Joe Cordina was “retaliating” during a fight where he punched a man at a petrol station, a court has heard.
Cordina is standing trial charged with assault by beating relating to an incident on 27 February involving Jamie O’Brien, who previously admitted a charge of assault by beating. A second assault by beating charge against Cordina was dropped on Tuesday.
Cardiff Magistrates’ Court heard the altercation came to light days later, after a video was published on Wales Online, filmed by a witness at a Texaco garage in the Pentwyn area of Cardiff.
O’Brien’s sister told police her brother “hated” Cordina, the court was told, and she feared he had “sought out” Cordina.
CCTV footage of the incident “which took place over several minutes” was played to the court, showing Cordina filling up his car and walking over to O’Brien who stood on the pavement nearby.
Prosecutor Alex Orndal said O’Brien “pushed Mr Cordina with his shoulder” and Cordina then “punched him with sufficient force to push him to the ground”, where he then pushed him “repeatedly”.
“Mr Cordina has initiated the confrontation,” Orndal said, adding “Cordina was not protecting himself but retaliating”.
There was then “aggression” from O’Brien, the court heard, as Cordina raised a golf club and O’Brien lunged at him, before a number of blows were exchanged.
O’Brien was eventually restrained and “posed no further threat”, the court heard, but Cordina then threw a further punch at him.
In a police interview, Cordina denied the alleged offence, saying that “having been shoved” he “felt threatened” and then punched him later “out of instinct” due to O’Brien’s actions.
Cordina’s defence barrister, Tom Crowther, told the court O’Brien had been identified by family members from the video circulating online, who had raised concerns about his behaviour.
Tom Crowther KC, defending, asked investigating officer PC Samuel Penman to watch the video that had circulated online.
He said it was plain to see that they were “watching and waiting” for Cordina, suggesting it was a set up.
Penman said it was not obvious but he did agree that the person filming “seemingly started recording prior to any physical altercation going on”.
The court heard that, when O’Brien was arrested, he “argued with officers” and “challenged” them.
Penman admitted it was a “mistake” not to question O’Brien’s sister about her concerns that her brother held a “vendetta” against Cordina.
The trial continues.
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