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Las Vegas Motor Speedway

Yes, may not been into Rugby League when it’s always Rugby Union – sure we will see some top Rugby in the US when the All Blacks will take on Ireland this November at Soldier Field in Chicago. 

However, the NRL did a great job selling their fastest game on earth to the US especially Las Vegas at Allegiant Stadium for another year on what has been a brilliant weekend on show through the course of today and some of night locally.

It began with the arvo Super League US-first Wigan Warriors v the Sam Burgess-led Warrington Wolves as head coach and Wigan was simply too good 48-24, the same goes to the Canberra Raiders over NZ Warriors 30-8 (a free-to-air FOX US first btw) as well as the Jillaroos v England 90-4 in the women’s International match, and the 4-peat Penrith Panthers just staved off the threatening Cronulla Sharks that wraps up a festival of Rugby League in the US of America by 28-22.

There’s still a lot to play for having lost Jerome Luai recently to the Wests Tigers, who has club legend Brett Hodgson back onboard to help out Benji Marshall.

Didn’t know he was wearing a Wallabies hat when he stopped by at Netball Central the other day to see out a training session for the GWS Giants Super Netball team to share some of his intel with the other Giants head coaches across the men’s and women’s AFL (Aussie Rules) teams. 

That’s because he was previously part of the Wallabies coaching staff as defensive coach two years ago under the management of Eddie Jones. We do understand his logic between RL & RU when it comes to Joseph Suaalii – he’s in Union now at senior level with the Wallabies and Tahs. However, Eddie’s second spell didn’t go so well sadly that only lasted just less than a year including the team’s first-ever early World Cup exit.

While the NRL will go back home to continue the opening round starting Thursday night, also didn’t know Nine’s NRL team stopped by at Las Vegas Motor Speedway the other day but on the infield road course rather than the oval where they’ve raced some fast cars for their pre-recorded post-game segments. 

Thought there was a NASCAR race weekend happening at the same time as the Footy like it was last year but they are racing in between left and right turns at COTA in Austin, Texas instead. But they will back though for the first of two annual races in the middle of this month at the same time as the opening F1 race weekend at Albert Park in Melbourne.

One of the presenters there has just been named to read the sports news for Nine’s flagship breakfast show called Today effective immediately in none other than Danika Mason. We wish her the best of luck and she will still play a major role throughout the year too for the WWOS across the NRL & Australian Open Tennis – she could also be part of next year’s Winter Olympics now that Alex Cullen had to part ways unexpectedly a few weeks ago.

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Today’s NASCAR Cup race that began the first of the three semi-finals ended up with a huge twist on the road to Championship 4 Finale at Phoenix for next month & gotta say congrats to Joey Logano on becoming the first eligible Playoffs driver to book in that season-finale spot for the No.22 Penske Ford team following his unreal late move on Daniel Suarez to take home the race win with 6 laps left from Las Vegas. 

So gutted for Suarez there after leading the race for so long under green until a late yellow came out after Ty Gibbs spun out that late and he just couldn’t stop Logano& later Christopher Bell in his tracks before the race was over. But again not a bad result though to finish third for Trackhouse’s No.99 team (Chevy) just one week after being eliminated from the Round of 12 Playoffs as let’s hope we can see more of him in a bid to compete in the semi-finals for the first time late next year.

Meanwhile, Seven days ago Joey Logano thought he was out of the Playoffs running after the Charlotte Roval race but then a shock DQ from Alex Bowman in the No.48 Hendrick Chevy gave him a lifeline to keep his Championship hopes alive over Bowman’s ride height/underweight car failure. Now he’s in for a shot towards a possible 3rd Drivers’ Championship crown since his last triumph back in 2022, having first won it when Homestead-Miami had its last moments as a season-finale venue back in 2018.

Who knows? He could even make Roger Penske & the Blue Oval (Ford) something more legendary with yet another Cup crown for a three peat in season 2024 where Ryan Blaney (No.12 team) became a first time champion nearly a year ago.

1 down, 2 more races to go with Homestead in Miami around the cotner as there’s 3 more Championship 4 slots still left to fill – so all hope is not lost just yet.

You just couldn’t believe it can you? when there’s several drivers going out of control with spins and hits along the way including Tyler Reddick in the No.45 Toyota Camry for 23XI Racing while there’s another lot out there who managed to bounce back with redemption. It’s a shame that Tyler’s race unfortunately ended early when he tried to go around Chase Elliott on the outside line but then he was collected towards the front stretch that went airborne. He is now sitting below the Playoff cut-off line (6th) having always been inside the Top 4 prior to today thanks to this regular-season championship win from early last month.

Semi-Finals Playoff watch 

What else? Christopher Bell always a consistent front runner following his 2nd placed finish for the No.20 Toyota for Gibbs, he would love nothing more than a win though as he wants to treat every other race now as a Championship 4 finale. So does William Byron who is also on the same front running boat as Bell over in the No.24 Hendrick car for Chevy when he finished 4th but again, a win though would help him go to that next level which would hopefully be a season-ending win & also the championship title.

Even though Denny Hamlin finished not  bad in 8th in the other Gibbs Toyota for the No.11 team, he still needs a Top 3 finish upfront or even a win would do it if he wants to finally win his first championship title as a driver this year. 

He’s only 27 points behind the Playoffs bubble in 5th spot, so all eyes on Denny now if he can get that job done by usurping Bell as the best Gibbs driver – right now he’s sitting as 2nd best.

All other shoutouts

And finally here’s some more shoutouts where a few other drivers had a really good day off the back through their survival of the fittest by steering clear of yellows. It’s been a while from John Hunter Nemechek in the No.42 Toyota for Legacy Motor Club since New Hampshire back in July (8th) with a 9th-placed finish – still a long way to go before LMC can finally fulfil their full potential based on the recent personnel changes they’ve made by co-owner and 7 x Cup champion Jimmie Johnson.

Plus, there’s a few other Fords marking in between the Top 10-15 finishing spots on top of Logano’s unreal day for Team Penske. Chris Buescher finished 10th for the No.17 RFK Racing team, Corey LaJoie posting yet another Top 15 result once again in 14th just one month after that swap deal with Justin Haley (who moved the other direction to his former long-time No.7 Spire home) & he does not disappoint so far in the No.51 for Rick Ware Racing, and Harrison Burton steered the iconic No.21 Mustang home through the every end in 15th for Wood Brothers Racing.

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