HERBIE Farnworth could take the biscuit by helping England avenge World Cup heartbreak – but he would rather claim the Cake.
For while arguably the best centre in the world has lived in Australia seven years, he has not forgotten where he comes from.
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Herbie Farnworth may live in Australia but his taste buds still remind him of homeCredit: SWPIX.COM
Without hesitation, it is Jaffa Cakes over Tim Tams – every time.
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And the finest in his position in the NRL for the last two years revealed how he keeps his supply – by doing the business for club side Dolphins.
Farnworth may resemble a stereotypical Aussie – his moustache was around a long time before thoughts of Movember – but when it comes to his taste buds, there is no competition.
When asked which he preferred, he immediately shot back: “Jaffa Cakes. All day.
“I can’t find them in Australia but some fans at the Dolphins games hold up a sign saying, ‘Herbie, a photo for some Jaffa Cakes.’
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“So I always go over and they give me a box of them. That’s pretty cool, now I’ve got heaps of them!
“Life there is very different to here. In Australia, rugby league is probably their main sport but it’s nice being back here, seeing family and not being asked for pictures.
“It’s pretty cool to be back in the normal world. As I’ve gone on in my career, it’s definitely got a lot more demanding on my social life than I thought it would. You’ve just got to be careful.
“But accent-wise, I’m probably stuck at the minute. I’ve got the English accent but the Aussie slang, so when I’m in England I get teased, when I’m in Australia I get teased.
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“I can’t win either way!”
Farnworth may hail from Blacko in Lancashire and live 10,000 miles away but playing in Wigan today is special.
Uncle Brian Foley was a development coach and scout for them and Herbie played amateur at the town’s famed St Patrick’s club before moving to Brisbane Broncos after impressing in summer trials.
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Farnworth was a star as England looked like they could win the World Cup until Samoa semi-finalCredit: SWPIX.COM
He also used to cheer on the Warriors, notably a certain former Test team-mate, now team manager, Sam Tomkins.
And he revealed a special memento still has pride of place at his parents’ home.
He added: “Sam was a massive inspiration of mine as a kid and I used to wear his boots.
“He signed a pair and luckily I was the same size as him, even though I’d have been about 14 – I’ve still got them!
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“They’re bright yellow and they’re still at my mum and dad’s house. When I played alongside him at the World Cup, I was still a bit like, ‘Woah.’
“Now I know him. He’s a very humble guy and done a lot for the English game. When I was younger, I was just a fan and players almost aren’t real to you.
“But it’s pretty cool to be around him now. I also played for St Pat’s and when I was a kid, I’d go down all the time to watch Wigan play.”
Last time Farnworth – who has been back and forth between Blacko and seen older brother Will’s new bar in nearby Clitheroe – pulled on an England shirt, he tasted agony as Samoa stunned the hosts in golden point extra time of the 2022 World Cup’s semi-final.
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Farnworth believes England are better equipped now than in 2022Credit: SWPIX.COM
This time, though, things are different. He is better and boss Shaun Wane’s talent pool is far better – and they are ready to show it.
The 24-year-old told SunSport: “Memories are still vivid, for sure. It’s the second-hardest loss I’ve ever taken – it was the hardest but now it’s last years’ NRL Grand Final.
“Samoa played very well but we didn’t play how we could. We can’t wait to right that wrong.
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“And I feel a better player, 100 per cent. I’d like to think I’m completely different – I was only 22, coming off a biceps injury and finding my form in the NRL. I’d like to think I’m coming into the prime of my career
“Our talent pool is a lot bigger and boys have done well in the NRL – Morgan Smithies and Kai Pearce-Paul have been standouts.
“And winning 2-0 after beating Tonga 3-0 last year would send a real message ahead of next year’s Ashes. I’m excited about what this team can do.”
Max Holloway was the “BMF” champion. Ilia Topuria knocked him out. So Topuria is the BMF champion now, right?
Apparently it’s not that simple, as Topuria’s incredible knockout of Holloway in the UFC 308 main event only secured Topuria’s featherweight championship. Holloway won the BMF title with a fifth-round KO of Justin Gaethje this past April, but UFC CEO Dana White never stated that Holloway’s title was on the line Saturday. White later told reporters Holloway is still the BMF even after the loss.
None of that stopped Topuria from parading around with two titles after beating Holloway, which “Blessed” was asked about at the evening’s post-fight press conference.
“Could you imagine [lightweight champion] Islam [Makhachev] walking around with two belts after knocking out [featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski]?” Holloway said. “Let that sink in. The belt was in a different weight class for a different reason. I think the fans make it happen, if the UFC really wanted to make it happen they would have put it up, but Dana said what he said, so he’s the boss man.”
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Topuria was also asked why he was waltzing around with the BMF title in addition to his UFC title and he wondered why it wasn’t up for grabs in the first place.
“I never understand why they didn’t put the BMF belt on the line,” Topuria said. “It has to be on the line since the first day, but they don’t want to make it official, I’m going to make it official by myself.”
“It’s going to be a little bit weird for them to promote him as a BMF, but is what it is, no problem,” he added. “I’m going to keep it in my house. … Now, I’m the new baddest motherf*cker world champion.”
Prior to fighting Holloway, Topuria suggested he could challenge for titles in multiple divisions, targeting bouts with welterweight champion Belal Muhammad and lightweight champion Islam Makhachev.
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Holloway was asked if he thought Topuria could get Islam next, but he still sees options at 145 pounds for Topuria.
“I don’t know,” Holloway said. “I saw Dana White talk about it, Dana White said that Ilia got a lot of contenders here, so we see what happens. Certain situations come up for certain fighters because of certain workload that they do, so at the end of the day if he gets it that’s cool, but probably not. He has Volk and Diego [Lopes] ramming down the door right now, so I think they might keep him down there.”
“It’s hard to go against Islam,” Holloway said when asked to evaluate the potential matchup. “His fighting style is a tough one. He likes wrestling, he likes striking now, he’s falling in love with his striking, so it’s hard to win against Islam.”
“Shaq is not the only Bristol Rovers player to receive racial abuse, with an incident under investigation only last week.
“Even more sickening is that some of these messages come from individuals claiming to be Bristol Rovers supporters. Each time, the club has sought to act in the appropriate manner.”
The incident occurred just days after Luton Town striker Elijah Adebayo was the victim of racist abuse sent to him by an Instagram user after the Hatters lost 2-1 to Sunderland in the Championship.
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Bristol Rovers said the “old methods of ‘combating’ racism”, the “carefully-crafted press releases and saturated social media posts” are “not working”.
The club statement added: “Our supporters – our real supporters – are sick and tired of being in any way associated with those ‘fans’ who comfortably send such abhorrent messages.
“To the person who sent Shaq this racist message, and to any person who claims to be a Gashead and engages in similarly deplorable behaviour, we simply say this: You are not a Bristol Rovers fan. You are not welcome at The Memorial Stadium. We do not want your support.”
Opponents Reading also expressed support for Forde and say they “strongly condemn” the abuse sent to him.
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“We will work alongside Saturday’s visitors to ensure the perpetrator is identified and evidence is provided to the relevant authorities,” a Royals statement, external said.
“No individual, whether on or off the pitch, should be subjected to such abuse. We stand by you, Shaq.”
“I’m really proud of the playing group because I think this week has been really difficult in terms of getting professional courtesy,” she told BBC Sport NI.
“I’m glad we’re going back on equal footing in the second leg, I’m really looking forward to playing at Windsor Park where we can exert ourselves on the game.”
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Sources within the squad described it as a ‘logistically challenging’ few days and said the pitches provided for training were inadequate.
BBC Sport was also told lighting was not switched on in time for the start of the team’s training session on Thursday, the evening before the first leg.
ARGENTINIAN journalist Enrique Wolff has LOST his right to vote in the Ballon d’Or after his picks showed “he’d lost all credibility.”
Wolff, 75, was removed after voting for FOUR of his compatriots in the top five of the 2023 Ballon d’Or, which was won by Lionel Messi.
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The voter for Argentina was removed after last year’s Ballon d’Or
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Enrique Wolff was accused of losing ‘all credibility’Credit: wolffquique instagram
France Football will hand the Ballon d’Or to the world’s best player in a glittering awards ceremony in Paris on Monday.
The coveted award is decided by 100 journalists, one from each of Fifa’s 100 top-ranked member nations (top 50 for the women’s award).
Each journalist makes their top 10 pick from the 30-player shortlist and there are different point values for each.
The Ballon d’Or is for the previous season and should go to the best player during that specific period, not the journalists’ favourite.
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But guidance carries only so much weight.
Ballon d’Or commander-in-chief, Garcia told The Times: “I am not a dictator. They vote with their heart.
“Some prefer attackers or midfielders, this team or that team. The important thing is to be credible. Not everyone passes that test either.
“Last year the voter for Argentina was removed after he selected four players from Argentina — Messi, Lautaro Martinez, Julian Alvarez and Emiliano Martinez — in his top five spots.
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Inter Miami and Argentina’s Lionel Messi won a record eighth Ballon d’Or in 2023
Chimaev (14-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) made a frightening statement that he should be next to challenge for the middleweight title held by Du Plessis (22-2 MMA, 8-0 UFC) on Saturday when he destroyed Robert Whittaker by first-round submission in the co-main event matchup at Etihad Arena on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.
After the fight, Chimaev made it clear he wants to challenge for gold in his next fight, whether that means immediately or waiting for a rematch between Du Plessis and Sean Strickland to play out. The UFC has yet to book Du Plessis vs. Strickland 2, though, and UFC CEO Dana White said post-fight that he is going to mull all potential options for what’s next in Tuesday’s matchmaker meeting.
It appears Du Plessis is trying to help make that decision easier, however, because in his first reaction to Chimaev’s win, he said he is eager for the chance to put the first blemish on what is currently a flawless record in MMA competition (via X):
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Feel really sorry for Rob he looked super ready but this is the fight game well done on a good performance Khamzat That being said I can’t wait to take your 0
Feel really sorry for Rob he looked super ready but this is the fight game well done on a good performance Khamzat That being said I can’t wait to take your 0
The confidence on Chimaev’s end going into a potential championship showdown with Du Plessis was evident in the aftermath of UFC 308, and he predicted it would be a rough night for him – and his last moment sitting at the top of the mountain.
“How I did with this guy, Rob, and how he done?” Chimaev said. “Rob took him down, so if Rob took him down, there is salam alaikum (against me).”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 308.
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