22-05-2024 Breakfast Bites FIJI & PACIFIC SPORTS NEWS Podcast S09E46 #TeivovoSports #TeivovoDigital

Kia ora, Talofa, Ma’lelei, Bula, Aloha and Welcome to Season 09 Episode 46 of Breakfast Bites, by TEIVOVOdigital.com – a wrap of Pasifika people’s sports news, on a sunny and bright Thursday morning 23 May 2024.
 
Coming to you with tons of hanisi from the 180th meridian, in the middle of the blue continent.
 
In Rugby: The Queensland Rugby Union has signed George Blake, who can play prop or hooker, through to the end of 2026.
 
Blake came off the bench to score a try at hooker for the Reds in their 28-19 loss to the Fijian Drua in Suva last Saturday.

“I’m excited for the future. It’s a good challenge to have to play both prop and hooker and nail your skills,” Blake said.

“I’m still young and learning the tricks of the front-row. It’s good to be doing that off the older boys at the Reds in Super Rugby Pacific this season.

George Blake is 110Kg, 1.84M born in the Cook Islands and made his Queensland Reds debut in 2023 versus the Western Force. So far he has 9 caps for the Reds.

Full disclosure – he is my wife’s nephew so I have little . . er I am delighted to feature this story!
 
In rugby league: After weeks of speculation that a deal had already been verbally agreed, South Sydney has rubber stamped master coach Wayne Bennett returning as Head Coach next year, on a three-year contract worth a reported A$3.6Million, after his contract with the Dolphins expires at the end of this season.
 
In Football: Liverpool confirmed yesterday that Dutchman and Feyenoord Coach Arne Slot will be their new Manager, 24 hours after Jurgen Klopp’s emotional farewell at Anfield.
 
Slot, 45 will take up the position of Manager on 01 June, widely reported in the British media to be a three-year deal, subject to a work permit.

Liverpool reportedly agreed a compensation deal worth £9.4Million.

In SportsBiz: Since the May 14 start of the season, the WNBA has seen:
· A new single-game ticket revenue record as the New York Liberty generated more than US$2Million from their win over the Indiana Fever at Barclays Center 

· An average attendance of 8730 up 32% from the league’s full-season average in 2023 of 6615
· An ESPN viewership record for the WNBA with an average draw of 2.1 million for the Fever–Connecticut Sun game on 15 May
 
In combat sports: "I think that ship has sailed," Dustin Poirier said in response to a question from ESPN regarding a fourth fight with Conor McGregor. "All I want is the UFC Lightweight title."

McGregor returns to action for the first time since breaking his leg against Poirier three years ago against Michael Chandler at UFC303, while Poirier returns to the Octagon in UFC302 on 01 June to challenge Islam Makhachev for the UFC Lightweight title.

In the NBA: “Be a horse,” Los Angeles Lakers star, LeBron James’ advice to Caitlin Clark - “Put your blinders on. Go to work. Show up to work. Punch yo clock in. Prepare yourself. Work on your game. Work on your craft. Kinda keep your mouth shut and just learn from the vets.”
 
Yo Caitlin, be a horse!
And that’s a whip, I mean a wrap!
 
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Mahalo and Ka kite; for TEIVOVOdigital.com, I’m Culden Kamea tanking you all too mass for all your love and support.
 
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