https://sport-news-australia.com/Independent Australian sport news and guides.en-au Fri, 23 Oct 2026 10:04:20 +0000 https://sport-news-australia.com/nrl/state-of-origin-explained/https://sport-news-australia.com/nrl/state-of-origin-explained/ Fri, 23 Oct 2026 08:00:00 +1100Rugby league's biggest rivalry picks players by where they started, not where they play. How Origin began in 1980 and how it works now. https://sport-news-australia.com/cricket/sheffield-shield-explained/https://sport-news-australia.com/cricket/sheffield-shield-explained/ Fri, 23 Oct 2026 08:00:00 +1100Six states, four-day matches and a five-day final: how Australia's first-class cricket competition has worked since 1892-93. https://sport-news-australia.com/nrl/rugby-league-world-cup-2026-guide/https://sport-news-australia.com/nrl/rugby-league-world-cup-2026-guide/ Fri, 23 Oct 2026 08:00:00 +1100The World Cup is under way in Australia, New Zealand and PNG, with the Kangaroos and Jillaroos both unbeaten and the finals at Suncorp Stadium on 15 November. https://sport-news-australia.com/nrl/nrl-finals-series-explained/https://sport-news-australia.com/nrl/nrl-finals-series-explained/ Fri, 23 Oct 2026 08:00:00 +1100Eight teams, four weeks, two out each week until the Grand Final. How the NRL finals bracket works and what each ladder spot is worth. https://sport-news-australia.com/more/nick-kyrgios-suspension/https://sport-news-australia.com/more/nick-kyrgios-suspension/ Fri, 23 Oct 2026 08:00:00 +1100Kyrgios served a one-month anti-doping suspension that ended on 3 September. He is free to play, but has not committed to any event this summer. https://sport-news-australia.com/guides/mcg-guide/https://sport-news-australia.com/guides/mcg-guide/ Fri, 23 Oct 2026 08:00:00 +1100Opened in 1853, the MCG hosts the AFL Grand Final and the Boxing Day Test. Its history, stands, record crowds and the stations that serve it. https://sport-news-australia.com/more/constellation-cup-2026/https://sport-news-australia.com/more/constellation-cup-2026/ Fri, 23 Oct 2026 08:00:00 +1100The Silver Ferns won 56-50 and 62-50 in New Zealand. The Diamonds must win in Sydney on Sunday and Melbourne on Wednesday to draw the series. https://sport-news-australia.com/cricket/big-bash-league-explained/https://sport-news-australia.com/cricket/big-bash-league-explained/ Fri, 23 Oct 2026 08:00:00 +1100Eight city teams, 20 overs a side and a summer-holiday window: a newcomer's guide to how Australia's T20 league is run. https://sport-news-australia.com/guides/australian-sports-calendar/https://sport-news-australia.com/guides/australian-sports-calendar/ Fri, 23 Oct 2026 08:00:00 +1100Football in winter, cricket in summer and plenty in between: when each major Australian competition and event is usually played. https://sport-news-australia.com/cricket/australian-cricket-summer-2026-27-schedule/https://sport-news-australia.com/cricket/australian-cricket-summer-2026-27-schedule/ Fri, 23 Oct 2026 08:00:00 +1100England's white-ball tour, four Tests against New Zealand and a pink-ball 150th anniversary Test at the MCG: the whole 2026-27 home summer, date by date. https://sport-news-australia.com/football/australian-championship-football-explained/https://sport-news-australia.com/football/australian-championship-football-explained/ Fri, 23 Oct 2026 08:00:00 +1100Football's national second tier kicked off on 15 October with 16 clubs, nine of them former NSL sides. Here is how it works and how to watch. https://sport-news-australia.com/cricket/australia-south-africa-test-series-2026/https://sport-news-australia.com/cricket/australia-south-africa-test-series-2026/ Fri, 23 Oct 2026 08:00:00 +1100A big win in Durban, an innings loss in Gqeberha and a sore neck for Steve Smith: the series goes to a Newlands decider from 27 October. https://sport-news-australia.com/afl/aflw-2026-finals-race/https://sport-news-australia.com/afl/aflw-2026-finals-race/ Fri, 23 Oct 2026 08:00:00 +1100North Melbourne leads Geelong on percentage, four clubs fight for eighth, and the grand final is on a Friday night. As of 23 October. https://sport-news-australia.com/afl/afl-finals-system-explained/https://sport-news-australia.com/afl/afl-finals-system-explained/ Fri, 23 Oct 2026 08:00:00 +1100The AFL ran a final eight for 26 seasons, then added a wildcard round in 2026. Here is how every week of September works. https://sport-news-australia.com/afl/afl-draft-2026-dates-and-how-it-works/https://sport-news-australia.com/afl/afl-draft-2026-dates-and-how-it-works/ Fri, 23 Oct 2026 08:00:00 +1100Round one is on 19 November at Marvel Stadium. Here is how the order works, what changed for bids, and who moved in the trade period. https://sport-news-australia.com/football/a-league-men-explained/https://sport-news-australia.com/football/a-league-men-explained/ Fri, 23 Oct 2026 08:00:00 +1100Twelve clubs, a finals series, two trophies a year and no relegation: what a newcomer needs to know about Australia's top men's soccer league.