Sport headlines on CODE Sports Thursday, August 4

Christian Welch explains why there’s more than meets the eye when it comes to NRL player loans, Neil Cordy looks back at the great cross-coders (footy and cricket) as the late, great Billy Picken is farewelled, Nat Medhurst reveals the big fib so often told by under-fire athletes about their teammates - and much more.

FROM OVERNIGHT: Ariane Titmus won the 400m freestyle, Sam Short the 1500m, and the women’s 4x100m medley relay team all claimed gold in the pool at Birmingham. READ THE FULL STORY HERE

It wasn’t to be for Rohan Browning in the men’s 100m final on the track - the Aussie placed sixth. READ HERE

NRL: Discussion around NRL player loans has largely skewed to the negative yet as CHRISTIAN WELCH explains, there are major benefits for both clubs, the game and fans.

“You look at the Broncos. They saved a bunch of cash by offloading Pangai Jr and redirected it to players committed to the club by prepaying them in that salary cap year. If you look at their roster now, that cash could be the salary cap difference they needed to go and secure Reece Walsh from the Warriors.”

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

AFL: For most of the 20th century, cricket teams were full of footballers and footy teams full of cricketers. NEIL CORDY recalls and speaks with some champion cross-coders.

“Just a few weeks after Billy played in the 1977 grand final draw against North Melbourne - and the replay the following weekend - he scored 108 for Collingwood Cricket Club. His love of both sports was shared by many in his era.”

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

NRL: The Eels and Panthers are both launching finals charges without their star halfbacks. One side is better off than the other, writes LACHLAN McKIRDY.

“This season has again shown how important Moses is to Parramatta’s attack.”

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

COMMONWEALTH GAMES: NAT MEDHURST‘s reaction to swimming’s ’love triangle’ furore? Who bloody cares. However, it has exposed why athletes so often tell one particular fib about their teammates.

“As athletes, we can be guilty of perpetuating the myth that, just because we are teammates, we are also best mates. The PR machines behind our sports don’t mind pushing this narrative, either. Sponsors and agents, too.

“The truth, of course, is that this is bullshit.”

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

COMMONWEALTH GAMES: The Hockeyroos have endured a difficult few years. Steph Kershaw speaks to LACHLAN MCKIRDY about how they’ve turned the page.

“I think we all individually reflected upon what we could improve as individuals and as a team. It‘s definitely behind us now and we are building something pretty special, which is exciting.”

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

COMMONWEALTH GAMES: Beach sprinting prodigy and ex-professional dancer Bree Masters has hit just one curious hurdle in her remarkable athletics rise, writes TILLY WERNER.

“Up the Australian rankings, from professional dancing into beach sprinting, Cronulla to the Gold Coast. From the sand to the Commonwealth Games - in under three years.”

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

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COMING UP LATER ON CODESPORTS: Champion Data crunches the numbers on the teams vying for eighth spot in the AFL, while teams for round 20 are revealed. In golf’s civil war, LIV Golf players are now suing the US PGA Tour - we’ll have the latest.