The Newsroom recaps the sport stories of the week.
Michael Clarke gives back to his ex-teammates and former coach.
The former test captain used his newly released book Ashes Diary 2015, to criticise former teammates Andrew Symonds and Matthew Hayden. His response came after Hayden and Symonds took a public swipe at Clarke just after he announced his international retirement in August. While Clarke was careful to speak about his teammates during his captaincy, he is now opening up and telling everything. He described Symonds’ and Hayden’s actions as a low act. Symonds took the book’s brunt after Clarke stated: “This is a guy who turned up drunk to play for his country. It’s pretty rich for him to be throwing rocks.”
Clarke also slammed former Australian coach John Buchanan, who told Clarke he made the baggy green culture disappeared from the national team. “I don’t think John knows a thing about the baggy green, having never worn one,” he wrote. “He’s still living off the fact that he coached a team that anyone, even my dog Jerry, could have coached to world domination.”
Thurston tops off a stellar year.
Cowboy’s halfback and captain Jonathan Thurston has made history yet again, winning rugby league’s Golden Boot award for the World Player of the Year for the third time. The 32-year-old skipper led his team to victory in this year’s rugby league grand final against the Brisbane Broncos, and won the Dally M medal for the fourth time in his glittering career. Thurston is just one of the seven Australian players picked in the World Team of 2015, alongside the likes of Cameron Smith, Matt Scott and Josh Jackson. Thurston said he is still trying to grasp last night’s events.
“I’m still trying to come to terms with it,” he said. “It’s obviously been a big year on and off the field, and to finish it off with the Golden Boot is very special.”
Golf makes its way back into the Olympics.
Golf has been out of the Olympics since 1904, however, it is set to make its return in 2016 for the Rio Summer Olympics. Two tournaments will be played on a newly built course, which will host the men’s first and finish with the ladies in early August. There will be 120 athletes, two from each country, who will contest the newly included sport, unfortunately though Australian favourite Adam Scott will not be participating. “I’m not really sure how just having another golf tournament is really going to enhance the game or grow the game any more than any other tournament just because it’s the Olympics,” he said.
Ali Lauitiiti returns to the NRL.
The Kiwi sensation Ali Lauitiiti will return to his former club the New Zealand Warriors on a one-year contract, after departing the club in 2004 to play in the English Super Premier League. He played for the Leeds Rhinos for eight seasons where he led a most successful career, winning five of his six grand finals and winning two World Cup Challenges in 2005 and 2008. Ali has spent a lengthy 17-years in the NRL and scored 100 tries in more than 400 games.
Roman football player has been mistaken for a terrorist.
Radja Nainggolan may re-think his style choices after guests at a hotel he was staying at in Antwerp, allegedly called the police in fear he was a terrorist. The calls were made after guests were alarmed by the football stars choice of hat and tattoos. The midfielder was enjoying some “down time” with his family when the incident occurred, luckily the police were able to realise who he was and clear the speculations in a matter of time. Nainggolan was able to see the funny side of things, stopping for a quick photo with the police. – Ellen Conroy, Sam Pasfield and Jesse Mullens.
Radja Nainggolan mistaken for a terrorist in Belgium! Just shows how on edge these countries are!
— Oisin Guirke (@OisinGuirke) November 19, 2015
Top photo of Michael Clarke after his last test match from Cricket Australia official Facebook page.
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