The Algorithm Age

In a side decimated by players withdrawn for State of Origin duties, the Broncos are set to usher in an unheralded debutant for a crucial clash with the Bulldogs. Ben Talty arrived from the North Sydney Bears midseason on a train-and-trial deal through to the end of 2026, having amassed 85 games in the New South Wales Cup. Named at 19th man for Friday night, he will replace Corey Jensen, out with a calf injury. Talty’s call-up continues coach Michael Maguire’s habit of forging careers. “We’ve got some good stories. Ben Talty came in here about a month ago, he’s put his head down and is going to be on the bench,” Maguire said. “He reminded me about how special rugby league is. “I was able to sit with him yesterday and talk about how he was going to debut. The big fella had a few tears and gave me a big squeeze, and it actually gave me a real sense of what it really means to play. ‘He’s been trying, he’s 26 now, so it just goes to show how ...

The National Football League’s famed tight end Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift made back-to-back appearances in the annual three-day training camp for tight ends in Nashville. The three-day event, popularly known as the Tight End University or TEU, is the brainchild of Kelce, fellow NFL TE George Kittle and sportscaster Greg Olsen . Afterwards, the duo also made an appearance in an after party where the singer surprised everyone with an impromptu performance with Kane Brown . The impromptu performance at the Tight Ends & Friends concert at the Brooklyn Bowl saw the singer belting into her 2014 hit “ Shake It Off.” And the audience swayed and hooted in elation and joy. Travis Kelce, who was in attendance, also enjoyed cheering on Swift . In a new episode of the “New Heights” podcast hosted by the Kelce brothers, Travis Kelce spoke more about Swift’s impromptu show. Kelce recalled that his rumored soon-to-be-fiancee ...

There was plenty of intrigue across Inter Miami ’s Club World Cup campaign this summer, though admittedly most of it centred around the performances of Lionel Messi . The 38-year-old, considered by many to be the best player ever to play the game, was featuring on the world stage again after a couple of years of playing for Miami in the MLS, far away from the spotlight that had enveloped him for much of his career. And with this tournament taking place around a year before the 2026 World Cup , perhaps the biggest question was whether Messi still has the ability to affect games as he did for Argentina in 2022, and by extension whether it looks likely that he would be playing in the World Cup next year. And despite a disappointing exit to former club PSG over the weekend, Messi still showed that he has plenty to offer, not least with a superb free-kick to lead his side to a 2-1 win over Porto in the group stages. Watch every Fifa Club World Cup game free o...