Wests Tigers, a 150/1 outsider in June, beat the North Queensland Cowboys 30-16 today to win Australia’s National Rugby League grand final.
The Tigers scored five tries to the Cowboys’ three before 82,453 fans at Sydney’s Telstra Stadium. They won their first title since being formed as an amalgamation of two founding league members in 2000.
“Words can’t describe the way I’m feeling at the moment,'’ Tigers captain Scott Prince told reporters. “I’m so proud of the boys. They’ve put in the effort for the last 30 weeks.'’
The Tigers began the season ranked 80/1 outsiders by Australian bookmakers, with the Cowboys 16/1. When the competition began in March, the odds of the two meeting in the grand final was 500/1.
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Women's field wide open in Australia
1. Lindsay Davenport
Her goal is to win another Grand Slam event before she retires. (Davenport has three career Grand Slam victories, but none since the 2000 Australian Open). She came so close last year in the finals at Australia and Wimbledon and just wasn't able to close it out. For some reason, it becomes a mental battle for her once she gets to that final stage. Davenport is a smart player and doesn't get enough credit for that. I saw her in December, and she's in extremely good shape. You have to like her chances
Liverpool were not the best team in Europe last season despite winning the Champions League, Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho said on Tuesday.
Mourinho, furthermore, is still disputing the validity of Luis Garcia's controversial winner that sent Liverpool into the final at Chelsea's expense.
"Liverpool weren't the best team in Europe," Mourinho said on the eve of Chelsea's Group G match against Liverpool at Anfield in this season's Champions League.
"We weren't the best team when I won the competition with Porto two seasons ago," he told reporters.
"Last season, the team that played the most beautiful football was Barcelona. They played fantastic football.
"Liverpool
The disappearance of tigers from Sariska and Ranthambore has not only been an ecological disaster, but has also adversely hit the tourism sector.
Besides forts and palaces, the big cats have been the big attraction for tourists to Rajasthan for decades.
But with tigers virtually vanishing from Sariska and 18 reportedly missing from Ranthambore, bookings for wildlife tourism are taking a serious hit.
Domestic tourists
"They have flatly told us that don't even ask us for Wildlife bookings. If you want cultural tours to be promoted, we can work that out for you but wildlife, you forget at the moment.
"Out of 10 travel
Richmond overturned its interstate hoodoo at the Gabba last night with a thrilling four-point win over the Brisbane Lions.
The 12.15 (87) to 12.11 (83) victory was Richmond's fourth in a row, but its first at the Gabba since 2000. In contrast, the Lions have now lost the past four at their once formidable home ground.
But Richmond may pay a price for the courageous win, with defender Joel Bowden nursing a suspected cheekbone fracture after an accidental clash with a player who knows all about head injuries, teammate Chris Hyde. Bowden clashed with the helmeted head of Hyde midway through the
Stuart to lead Australia in 2006
Sydney Roosters and New South Wales coach Ricky Stuart will lead Australia's rugby league team in 2006.
He replaces Wayne Bennett, who resigned following the Kangaroos' 24-0 loss to New Zealand in the Tri-Nations final.
Stuart will step down from his role coaching New South Wales in State of Origin, with North Queensland Cowboys coach Graham Murray taking his place.
"We unanimously supported Ricky getting the job," said Australian Rugby League (ARL) chairman Colin Love.
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