Elder keen to take first-up Mile honours and other top stories.

• Elder keen to take first-up Mile honours

  Winning the inaugural Ross Gigg Newcastle Mile on Saturday night would be extra special for Maitland's Darren Elder. JUST having a first runner, let alone a genuine hope, in a Newcastle Mile is a thrill for Maitland trainer-driver Darren Elder.Darren Elder and ShannonsablastTo win the inaugural running of the event under the Ross Gigg Newcastle Mile banner on Saturday night would be extra special.Elder’s Shannonsablast is the best of the Hunter-trained hopes in the race, which ret..

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• Man charged with murder of suspected home invader in Newcastle ...

  

  A man accused of the murder of an alleged home invader in the Newcastle suburb of Hamilton on March 26 will have to wait until a court hearing on Tuesday to find out whether he has been granted bail. Benjamin Batterham, 33, is seeking bail after being accused of the murder of Ricky Slater, who the court heard was found stealing a handbag from inside Batterham’s family home about 3.20am. Batterham’s lawyers argued the real question for a trial jury would be to decide whether to convict Batterham..

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• Law loophole for harbour coal protests

  

  REPRIEVE for coal protesters as new laws won't be available to police in Newcastle on Sunday. LAST STAND: Despite tough new protest laws passing NSW parliament, protesters at Sunday's anti-coal demonstration will face the same police powers as protesters in 2014 (pictured). Picture: Max Mason-HubersSUNDAY’S anti-coal flotilla on Newcastle harbour has been widely tipped as a first test of the state’s new protest laws, but the expanded powers aren’t yet law and won’t be available to..

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• Protesters set to block Newcastle Port

  Protesters set to block Newcastle Port AAP on May 6, 2016, 10:53 am Hundreds of people are expected to block Australia's biggest coal port at Newcastle this weekend in a call for the government to move towards renewable energy.It's part of a string of worldwide protests in May under the banner of Break Free, organised by activist group 350.org.At Sunday's event, the Pacific Climate Warriors on traditional canoes will join a flotilla of vessels on the harbour, with performances ..

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• The cap just won't fit

  

  Robert Dillon's Sporting Declaration STORM DAMAGE: Melbourne paid the ultimate price for salary cap rorting, being stripped of two premierships. Picture: Getty ImagesYOU’D have thought by now, 25 years after rugby league’s original salary cap scandal, that those who occupy the corridors of power would have figured it out.The system is fundamentally, fatally flawed.In the dog-eat-dog environment that is the NRL, history suggests that players, coaches and officials will go to any le..

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• Petrie blasts raid on Wudrick

  

  The North Stars are seething after losing star import Geordie Wudrick before the season. Geordie Wudrick on the ice for Newcastle last season.NORTH Stars coach Andrew Petrie has not minced words in describing the CBR Brave and his former star player, Geordie Wudrick, after Canberra “poached” the Canadian three weeks before the Australian Ice Hockey League season.CBR (3-1) visit Newcastle (2-1) on Sunday in the first meeting between the sides since Wudrick’s departure.The big power..

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• Hyundai A-League season reviews: Newcastle Jets

  

  After a promising start, Scott Miller’s revolution of the Jets failed to really take off as they finished the Hyundai A-League season out of the finals. We look back at a rollercoaster campaign in the Hunter and what 2016/17 could have in store. Position: 8th Record: Played 27, Won 8, Drawn 6, Lost 13 Goals: 28 Conceded: 41 Leading Goal Scorer:  Milos Trifunovic (9) Best home crowd: 14,486 – Round 5 against Western Sydney Wanderers. Star performer: Mark Birighitti “Birraz” has always ..

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• Waratahs confident Folau will recover

  

  NSW star shrugs off virus The NSW Waratahs are hopeful star centre Israel Folau will be fit for Saturday's Super Rugby clash with the Cheetahs despite battling a sapping virus  at Allianz Stadium.After being unable to train on Thursday, Folau managed to complete some light duties at Friday's captain's run in Sydney."He's expected to play and he'll be well enough to take his place," Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson said.The Waratahs have regained control of their finals fate with back-t..

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• Brisbane Racing Carnival

  

  Find out about TopBetta’s $250,000 Brisbane Carnival Tournament with a guaranteed $100,000 first prize OUT IN FRONT: Glyn Schofield riding on Ball of Muscle wins the Magic Millions QTC Cup at the Oaks Day, Doomben, Brisbane, 30 May 2015. Photo: Tertius Pickard.THE Brisbane winter carnival is starting to hot up this weekend with the running of the Hollindale Stakes program at the Gold Coast.The Hollindale Stakes is the traditional lead-up for the Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m), which ..

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• Eye on the prize

  

  The Archibald Prize, one of Australia's most prestigious and coveted awards, is held annually at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, and is a highlight in Australia’s visual arts calendar. As part of its regional tour, it is showing at Lake Macquarie City Art Gallery until June. WONDERLAND: Detail of Archibald Prize finalist Jiawei Shen's How to explain art with a white rabbit. Photo: © AGNSW, Mim StirlingONCE again the touring works from last year’s Archibald Prize are hanging in..

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Throwback Thursday: Coal blockade stops the harbour | photos .	scientist discovers healing power of blood protein .
Interest rates cut in deflation fight .	Cruise liner cancels Newcastle stop due to weekend coal protest .