SEPTEMBER
2
Tohu Harris, Shaun Johnson fire back at NRL as NZ Warriors sacrifice snubbed in 2023 NRL calendar
Wellington and Napier will host two NZ Warriors home games next year, as the club bids to take the game around the country, but players are still furious at the NRL's lack of interest in hosting more games in New Zealand.
The club concedes they're disappointed only 11 games - plus the NRL All-Stars clash - will be hosted in Aotearoa, after fans were starved of top-level rugby league in the past three years.
"Off it, it's dumb as I don't get it," Johnson responded, when asked how he felt about the situation. "How can everyone come out, say they want to repay the Warriors, then they give us nine home games.
"Just don't say anything. Just sit there and don't put the social media videos up thanking the club for everything they've done, but when push comes to shove, you don't put your hand up to offer anything."
3
Tennis great Serena Williams falls to Australia's Ajla Tomljanovic in third round, retirement expected
A defiant Serena Williams bid an emotional good-bye to the US Open with a third round loss to Ajla Tomljanovic, in what may have been the last singles match of her glittering career.
Defeat has always been hard to swallow for the fiercely competitive Williams and no doubt the 7-5 6-7 (4) 6-1 loss to the 46th-ranked Australian stung her to her core.
But after a joyous run into the third round, there was no shame in a loss to the gritty Tomljanovic, allowing the 23-time Grand Slam winner to exit with dignity intact and head held high.
Highlighted by a second-round win over world No.2 Anett Kontaveit, her three matches were a gift to her fans, the relentless never-surrender attitude that made her tennis' dominant player for more than two decades on display right until the very final point.
4
Pumas star Pablo Matera refuses to shake All Blacks veteran Danes Coles' hand after defeat at Hamilton
Argentina No.8 Pablo Matera was in no mood for sporting formalities, after his side's 53-3 Rugby Championship pasting by the All Blacks at Hamilton.
Walking in line and shaking hands with his NZ opponents in the traditional post-match manner, Matera overlooked All Blacks hooker Dane Coles, shunning the veteran's hand, and offering him nothing but a shove and a look of disdain.
Coles brushed it off and moved on to the next player, while Matera did the same.
In the dying stages of the match, Matera reacted strongly to some words that appeared to come from replacement Coles - a reputed onfield trash talker - as a scuffle broke out between the two teams.
"Didn’t shake Colesy’s hand?" quipped All Blacks coach Ian Foster after the game. "He wouldn’t be the first player.
"Everyone loves Colesy."
5
Dame Valerie Adams mocks NBA star brother Steven Adams in hilarious video for Tongan Language Week
Kiwi sporting siblings Steven and Dame Valerie Adams have gone back to their roots in support of Tongan Language Week.
In a hilarious video posted to Dame Val's Facebook page, NBA star Adams attempts to read a passage in Tongan, introducing himself, akin to a mihi in te reo Māori.
The irreverent Memphis Grizzlies centre stumbles his way through the sentence, much to the amusement of his sister and family in the background, drawing a round of condescending applause after finally completing it on the 32nd take.
The pair have Tongan heritage by way of their respective mothers, who each were in relationships with father Sid Adams.
'Sitiveni' Adams' efforts drew plenty of praise from commenters for putting in the effort, no matter how shaky the result may have been.
8
Veteran broadcaster, former representative rugby player Willie Los'e dies, aged 55
Rugby commentator, and former Tonga, Auckland and North Harbour lock Willie Los'e has died, aged 55.
Los'e died while in South Africa, preparing to cover the upcoming Rugby World Cup Sevens.
Born in Auckland, Los'e represented Tonga at the 1995 Rugby World Cup in South Africa, playing all three of the Ikale Tahi's pool matches, and remained a passionate champion of Pasifika rugby.
Los'e had provincial stints with Auckland and North Harbour, and also played in Japan with Yamaha Jubilo, before retiring from the professional game.
After his retirement, Los'e transitioned successfully from the field to the commentary box and worked behind the mic for Sky TV.
16
Wallabies coach Dave Rennie blasts referee over costly controversial call against All Blacks at Melbourne
Australia coach Dave Rennie has criticised referee Mathieu Raynal for lacking a "feel" for the game situation, after the Frenchman's late intervention cost the Wallabies dearly in their last-gasp defeat to the All Blacks.
Raynal took the ball off Bernard Foley in the last minute for time-wasting, as the Wallabies first-five made to kick a penalty clear out of defence, with the home team holding a three-point lead at Melbourne's Docklands Stadium.
Raynal had stopped the clock, as Foley took his time to kick, but then lost patience and stripped him of the ball, enraging the Wallabies players and triggering boos from the home fans.
With the All Blacks given possession metres out from the goal-line, fullback-turned-midfielder Jordie Barrett scored a try after the siren to win the Rugby Championship test 39-37 and seal the Bledisloe Cup - the annual trans-Tasman trophy - for a 20th year in succession.
22
Wallabies lock Darcy Swain handed six-week suspension after tackle that injured All Blacks' Quinn Tupaea
Wallabies lock Darcy Swain has been handed a six-week suspension, after a tackle that ended All Blacks midfielder Quinn Tupaea's season.
In New Zealand's 39-37 victory at Melbourne's Marvel Stadium, Tupaea was taken from the field, after his planted leg was taken out by Swain in a tackle that was fortunate - for Australia - to only result in a yellow card.
The 25-year-old was cited for the tackle, while Tupaea has been ruled out for the rest of 2022, after suffering a ruptured medial collateral ligament and partial tear to his anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.
At a Sanzaar judicial hearing, Swain was found to have been guilty of contravening law 9.11, "players must not do anything that is reckless or dangerous to others".
25
All Blacks crowned Rugby Championship winners, as South Africa fall short in win over Argentina
South Africa have won the battle, but lost the war, after their 38-21 victory over ill-disciplined Argentina at a soldout King's Park in Durban handed the 2022 Rugby Championship title to New Zealand.
The All Blacks top the standings with 19 points from their six games, one more than South Africa, who could not manage the tryscoring bonus point they needed to go with a 39-point winning margin on the scoreboard to claim the trophy.
Instead, Argentina ran them close at Durban, but were once again let down by their discipline, as they received four yellow cards and conceded two penalty tries. The Boks also scored through No.8 Jasper Wiese, loose-forward Siya Kolisi and replacement fullback Kurt-Lee Arendse.
25
Joseph Parker suffers first career knockout, beaten by Joe Joyce in WBO interim heavyweight title bout
Kiwi Joseph Parker has suffered his third career defeat - and first knockout - beaten by England's Joe Joyce at Manchester's AO Arena.
After struggling for most of the first 10 rounds, Parker's night ended in the 11th, as a left hook from Joyce knocked him to the canvas.
As Parker struggled to regain his feet, referee Steve Gray didn't wait to call the fight in Joyce's favour. At the time of the stoppage, Parker trailed on all three scorecards.
"Joseph Parker, what a fighter, what a great fight," Joyce said. "It was a tough fight.
"Credit to Joseph Parker, because he's improved. What a tough fight.
