The National Rugby League’s competition committee "is expected to finetune its 40-20 rule
yet again." The competition committee "will meet on Thursday to discuss
the rule, which was tweaked this season" -- teams are allowed a quick
restart after a 40-20 kick rather than pack a scrum -- to determine
whether another change is needed (THE AUSTRALIAN, 8/18). ... Australian Basketball Association side Canberra Gunners coach Shawn McEachin "is in talks with the Wollongong Hawks and Sydney Kings to become a feeder club" for the National Basketball League clubs for next year's South East Australian Basketball League. McEachin: ''Having come from Wollongong, I've got the links with the Hawks and [have] also been speaking with Damian Cotter, the coach of the Sydney Kings, given that we're the only SEABL program close to those two NBL teams. They've obviously got some development players they'd like to see playing some good basketball in the off-season, so there's the potential to get some of those players to have a run with us" (CANBERRA TIMES, 8/17). ... NRL side Manly coach Geoff Toovey "has again called for the NRL to review the structure of its finals series, urging the game’s administrators to provide greater reward to the winner of the minor premiership" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 8/18).
