Leichhardt Oval will play host to Thursday’s
Round 8 NRL game between Wests Tigers and
Canberra Raiders. The game kicks off at 7:50 pm with Wests Tigers heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the Wests Tigers vs.
Canberra Raiders
game and give you our free tips and bets.

When: Thursday April 23, 2026 at 7:50 pm

Where: Leichhardt Oval

Bet 💰: Bet On This Match HERE

Wests Tigers vs Canberra Raiders Odds

Wests Tigers vs Canberra Raiders Preview

Wests Tigers return to Leichhardt Oval aiming to rebound after a missed opportunity last week, where poor finishing let them down despite territorial dominance. The Luai–Doueihi combination is still settling, but the Tigers have shown clear improvement in 2026. Canberra arrive undermanned through the middle, which could prove decisive against a Tigers pack building momentum. If Wests can sharpen their execution in good-ball, they look well placed to capitalise at home.

For so long, the trip to Manchester City was weighing on Arsenal’s mind. The fear of the worst-case scenario was torturing their psyche: that their nine-point advantage would be wiped out in a matter of 11 days. That’s exactly what transpired – and suddenly, Arsenal are playing with a semblance of freedom again.

Arsenal came into their clash with Newcastle – one of five potentially title-deciding outings remaining in their Premier League season – knocked off the top of the table after a 200-day stint. Mikel Arteta denied there was any psychological impact to being second, but it didn’t seem that way.

Both on the pitch and in the stands, anxiety at the first whistle had eased, perhaps taking a liking to the growing perception that they are now the underdogs in this title race. The worst had happened – now it was their job to stage a fightback.

By the final whistle, that anxiety had admittedly returned in droves – but crucially, for the first time in over a month, Arsenal had won on English soil. They were back on top and their performance, and response, was worthy of that outcome. “We talked about this being ‘game one’ and how important that was,” Arteta said. “We did the job.”

From the outset, Arsenal played with vigour and intent against a side who themselves are in the throws of a rough period. Eddie Howe may have seen an Arsenal side without a domestic win in four as an opportunity to win back positive sentiment, but their gulf in quality quickly became apparent, regardless of blips.

In the London sunshine without a cloud in the sky, the Gunners were feeling themselves. They showcased creativity and spark that wasn’t apparent in their last home game, an uneasy goalless draw with Sporting that saw them just scrape through to the Champions League last-four. It wasn’t long until they reaped the fruits of their labour, and in slightly unfamiliar means.

A team who have been lamented for their reliance on set pieces that harness “anti-football” this season, such as crowding the goalkeeper and dumping the ball on his head, Arsenal had actually gone over a month without a goal via set play – their last coming against Chelsea on 1 March. Maybe that’s why the hosts went refreshingly creative from the corner, Noni Madueke feeding a low ball into the feet of Kai Havertz, who laid it back for Eberechi Eze to fire a rocket into the top-left corner and break the deadlock on nine minutes.

His first league goal not against Tottenham since October, Eze has been showing signs of becoming a real difference-maker for Arsenal after a difficult start to his career in N17. His stunner against the Magpies followed an excellent performance against Man City, despite defeat. Such an upturn in form made later events all the more cruel, with the Englishman being forced off with an ankle injury soon after half-time.

He followed Havertz, his provider, down the tunnel, who looked dejected as he suffered yet another injury setback in the first half. On a day when Arsenal were joyous at the return of Bukayo Saka, who came off the bench for his first appearance since the Carabao Cup final, Arteta was left with another pounding injury headache. However, the Spaniard is hopeful the damage isn’t too bad. “Muscular niggles, we don’t think it is too much,” he said.

Arsenal made an effort to remain free-flowing in spite of their casualties, though after failing to make good on their good play before the break, the nerves began to creep back in. That was first exhibited by David Raya, who has been susceptible to an error of late, who completely misjudged the flight of Sandro Tonali’s effort from range and had to readjust sharply to keep out what should have been a simple save down the middle.

Up the other end, conviction was slipping slip. Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi both had good shooting opportunities that were snuffed out by Newcastle bodies.

The hosts entered the final quarter-hour with their advantage still only a goal, but they felt that should’ve also included a man after Nick Pope, showing shades of his red card against Liverpool in 2023, wiped out Viktor Gyokeres after venturing way out of his goal to deal with a loose ball, only to miss it completely. With Malick Thiaw covering and Gyokeres still with a third of the pitch to cover, Pope escaped with a yellow. He was fortunate. “In my opinion, it’s a clear red card. I’ve watched it 10 times. If you have ever played football, it is a red card,” Arteta asserted.

Newcastle got away with one in that moment, but it wasn’t long until Arsenal were left counting their blessings. Nick Woltemade dinked one over the Arsenal back line for substitute strike partner Yoane Wissa, only for the Congolese to blaze his volley from 10 yards well over. For a combined £124m, Howe would’ve expected a lot more, both in that moment and the season as a whole.

Such a close call led to Arteta finally bringing Saka into the game on 81 minutes. He nearly made an instant impact but saw his deflected shot fly wide.

But it was then another Magpies chance that came and went, with Dan Burn coming in at the back post but heading only straight at Raya. Arsenal survived in a way they haven’t in recent times.

While the quality of play had grown clumsy and desperate as the clock ran deep into seven minutes of added time, Arteta simply did not care when the whistle was put to the referee’s mouth, his team back at the Premier League pinnacle.

The superstitious among you will say some sort of curse has been broken. With a Champions League semi-final trip to Atletico Madrid to come, there is once again belief that the Gunners have two trophies to win rather than lose.

Sunrisers Hyderabad’s Ishan Kishan (ANI)

Sunrisers Hyderabad wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan played a composed yet aggressive hand in their thrilling five-wicket win over Rajasthan Royals, as he reflected on leadership, batting freedom and chasing a massive target of 229. Speaking after being named Player of the Match for his 31-ball 74, Kishan made it clear that captaincy had not changed his approach. “No, I think as a wicket-keeper also you’ve got to do the same job. So I was just keeping it simple because I felt that it’s a very good wicket to bat on and we just tried to restrict them under 230 and we were able to do that,” he said. On handing back leadership duties to Pat Cummins, Kishan was full of respect for the Australian captain. “It was quite fun leading the side for seven games and Pat coming in, giving us that extra bowling power. So I was really happy when he was coming in the team anyway because he’s such a tremendous captain anyway. So I was just thinking about my batting and wicket-keeping more than leadership,” he added. Reflecting on SRH’s aggressive batting approach against the Rajasthan attack, Kishan said confidence and clarity were key. “You just have to keep on watching the ball and play your shots. You can’t get into a zone where you have fear of failure. You just have to keep it simple and play your game.” He also spoke about the challenge of facing a rising total early in the innings, highlighting the importance of a strong powerplay. “When you’re chasing a total like 228, you need a good powerplay. Having Head and Abhishek as openers makes the job easier even if they bat for four overs. I was just communicating with Abhishek. He knew exactly what was happening with the game and the run rate.” Kishan stitched a vital 132-run partnership with Abhishek Sharma, who smashed 57 off 29 balls, after SRH were set a daunting 229. Heinrich Klaasen (29) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (36) then ensured the chase was completed with nine balls to spare in what became the fourth-highest successful run chase in IPL history. Earlier in the day, Rajasthan Royals had posted a massive 228 for 6, powered by a sensational 103 from 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Despite the onslaught, SRH held their nerve in the chase, with Kishan and Abhishek setting the platform for a commanding win. Kishan also reflected on his mindset at the crease. “Calmness is about skill set. You have to watch the ball and not be predetermined. It was a big ground, so there were gaps. Just bat and enjoy it.” When asked if this was the best phase of his batting career, he was quick to downplay it. “No, I think my best is yet to come.”

Mikel Arteta hit out at Arsenal being on the wrong end of two red card decisions in as many matches with “everything at stake” – after seeing his side return to the top of the Premier League.

Eberechi Eze’s wonderful ninth-minute strike was enough for the Gunners to see out a much-needed 1-0 win over Newcastle at the Emirates Stadium as they moved three points clear of Manchester City, who have a game in hand.

But after the win, Arteta claimed it would be a “different world” if Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope was sent off here, after he scythed down Viktor Gyokeres, and City’s Abdukodir Khusanov had been delivered his marching orders for a last-ditch tackle on Kai Havertz in last weekend’s crunch top-of-the table clash at the Etihad Stadium.

Pope was booked on Saturday, while the challenge from Khusanov did not even register as a foul.

Reflecting on Pope’s caution, Arteta said: “In my opinion, it’s a clear red card. I’ve watched it 10 times. If you have ever played football, it is a red card.

“It’s the second time in two games because at Manchester City, when Kai goes through, Khusanov fouls him, 1-1, the title is there, it is a red card. So these are the margins, and hopefully that’s going to change.”

Pressed on why referee Sam Barrott did not send Pope off, Arteta replied: “I’m here to give my opinion. I have been in the game for a long time, and you talk to any of the players, because the trajectory of where the ball is, there’s no keeper there.

“And the reality is, that in the last two games, in crucial moments when everything is at stake, we need everything to go our way, and it hasn’t.

“I’m not making excuses. I didn’t talk about it when we lost the game (against City). I’m doing it when we won. It’s a red card today. It’s a red card in Manchester. And the world is different, and that’s it.”

Despite Arteta’s frustrations, he was relieved to see Arsenal return to winning ways following consecutive defeats against Bournemouth and City.

He continued: “We talked about this being ‘game one’ and how important that was. We did the job. I don’t expect that after 22 years of not winning the title, it’s going to be a path of roses and beautiful music around it. It’s going to be like this and we are ready for it.”

Havertz and Eze were unable to continue through injury on Saturday, and Arteta said both will be assessed following “muscular injuries” ahead of Arsenal’s trip to Atletico Madrid for the opening leg of their Champions League semi-final on Wednesday.

For Newcastle, they have now lost five consecutive games, and are 14th in the league.

Manager Eddie Howe said: “I thought it was much better from us as a group. We stood up to Arsenal’s physical challenge, and we were better off the ball, and defended well and were more like ourselves.

“I can’t be too critical of the players, I have been in previous weeks, there were positive signs and I am more satisfied. But it is another defeat and we can’t lose sight of the fact that we are losing too many games.”

This weekend, there will be 257 picks taken in the 2026 NFL draft. Then comes the rookie free-agent signings after that.

The Deseret News is here to provide the latest updates on the action, from how the selections impact Utah ties to what draft developments mean for the league in general.

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Utah ties selected in the 2026 NFL draft

The Pac-12 officially launches in its new era on July 1st, 2026. Commissioner Teresa Gould is doing everything she can to project strength for the new-look league.

On today’s episode of Locked On College Football, I’m joined by ‘Locked On Buckeyes’ host Jay Stephens to react to Ohio State’s Spring Game.

Julian Sayin appears to have a capable backup behind him.

How big a concern is the O-Line?

Alabama has not yet named a starting QB, but has extended Kalen DeBoer.

Is Keelon Russell the most likely guy behind center in 2026 for the Crimson Tide?

03:01 Pac-12 bowl game strategy
07:07 Debating conference championship value
14:48 Discussing Ohio State’s quarterback future
17:17 Recruiting elite defensive players
25:51 College football QB prospects
26:34 Marcus Mariota’s surprise starter moment
31:01 Cedarian Morgan’s promising future

/ @lockedoncollegefootball  

Fifth-ranked Aljamain Sterling will look to snap Youssef Zalal’s eight-match winning streak when they meet in a featherweight bout in the main event of UFC Fight Night: Sterling vs. Zalal on Saturday at Meta Apex in Las Vegas. The six-bout main card is slated to start at approximately 8 p.m. ET on Paramount+. Sterling is coming off a unanimous decision win over Brian Ortega at UFC Fight Night: Walker vs. Zhang on Aug. 23, 2025. Zalal, meanwhile, won by submission over Josh Emmett in his last match at UFC 320 on Oct. 4, 2025.

Zalal is a -135 favorite (risk $135 to win $100) in the UFC Fight Night: Sterling vs. Zalal odds at DraftKings Sportsbook. Sterling comes back at +114. Before locking in any UFC Fight Night picks, make sure you see the MMA predictions and betting advice from SportsLine expert Kyle Marley.

Paramount+ is the only place to stream EVERY UFC numbered event and UFC Fight Night live, at no additional cost. A subscription also gives you access to other sports content, including the UEFA Champions League, college basketball, the NFL and Big Ten on CBS and countless movies and shows. Plans start at just $8.99 per month, so sign up right here.  

Visit our DraftKings promo code review to see their latest offers and get started.

Over the past three-plus years, $100 bettors who have followed Marley’s picks are up nearly $10,000, and since May 2018, he has returned well over $21,000. The accomplished MMA analyst has provided consistent winners for SportsLine members for the past five years. His accomplishments include hitting five consecutive main-event underdog winners in 2020 following the UFC’s brief pause in action because of the pandemic. He also went 6-5 on his picks at the last UFC card. Anyone who has followed Marley could be way up.

Now, Marley has studied Aljamain Sterling vs. Youssef Zalal from every angle and revealed his top betting picks and best bets. Head to SportsLine to see them.

Sterling vs. Zalal preview 

Sterling, 36, is a former Ultimate Fighting Championship bantamweight champion. He is the first UFC champion to win a title by disqualification. He successfully defended his title three times. He is also a former Cage Fury Fighting bantamweight champ. Sterling has a career mark of 25-5, posting three wins by knockout, eight by submission, 13 by decision and one by disqualification.

Sterling is an accomplished fighter, who has registered one Performance of the Night honor. He also has the most wins in UFC bantamweight history with 14, and is tied with Dominick Cruz for most wins in UFC/WEC bantamweight division history. He was the 2022 Comeback of the Year Award winner by World MMA, and was named to the 2022 MMA All-Star second team. Check out SportsLine to see Marley’s picks and analysis.

Zalal, 29, is a two-time UFC Performance of the Night winner. He is tied with four other fighters for the second-most submissions in UFC featherweight division history. Sherdog named him the 2024 Comeback Fighter of the Year. He was also a 2024 third-team MMA All-Star.

In 24 career matches, Zalal has posted an 18-5-1 mark. He has four wins by knockout, 10 by submission and four by decision with one draw. He also has one professional boxing match in his career, winning by knockout, as well as a 1-0 kickboxing record, winning that match by knockout. You can only see Marley’s picks and analysis at SportsLine. 

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UFC Fight Night predictions

One of of Marley’s UFC Fight Night: Sterling vs. Zalal picks: He is backing Rafa Garcia (-108) to win via split decision against Alexander Hernandez (-155) in a lightweight bout.

“Both guys are solid strikers, but I like Garcia’s volume vs Hernandez’s power,” Marley told SportsLine. “Both are decent wrestlers, but I like Garcia to be the one attempting more takedowns and pushing the pace. He needs to avoid getting knocked out, but I’ll take Garcia to win 29-28.” See who else to back here.

How to make UFC Fight Night picks 

Marley also has strong picks for Sterling vs. Zalal and other bouts on the UFC Fight Night: Sterling vs. Zalal card. He’s also backing a fighter who is “going to have a massive grappling edge,” to emerge with a big victory. He’s sharing who it is only at SportsLine.

Who wins Burns vs. Malott, and how exactly does the fight end? Visit SportsLine now to get detailed picks and analysis from the incomparable expert who is up over $21,000 on his UFC picks since May 19, 2018, and find out.

UFC Fight Night main fight card, odds 

See picks at SportsLine.
(Odds from DraftKings and subject to change)

Aljamain Sterling (+114) vs. Youssef Zalal (-135)
Rafa Garcia (-108) vs. Alexander Hernandez (-112)
Davey Grant (-120) vs. Adrian Luna Martinetti (+100)
Montel Jackson (-205) vs. Raoni Barcelos (+170)
Norma Dumont (-205) vs. Joselyne Edwards (+170)
Marcus Buchecha (-166) vs. Ryan Spann (+140)

Queensland Country Bank Stadium will play host to Friday’s
Round 8 NRL game between North Queensland Cowboys and
Cronulla Sharks. The game kicks off at 6:00 pm with Cronulla Sharks heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the North Queensland Cowboys vs.
Cronulla Sharks
game and give you our free tips and bets.

When: Friday April 24, 2026 at 6:00 pm

Where: Queensland Country Bank Stadium

Bet 💰: Bet On This Match HERE

North Queensland Cowboys vs Cronulla Sharks Odds

North Queensland Cowboys vs Cronulla Sharks Preview

This shapes as one of the tighter contests of the round, with Cronulla’s dynamic spine set to test a Cowboys middle that has struggled under fatigue. Nicho Hynes and Braydon Trindall thrive when given momentum, and the Sharks’ ability to generate quick ruck speed could prove pivotal. North Queensland boast strike power of their own, but consistency remains an issue. Expect Cronulla to challenge late if they control possession.