NRL: Newcastle hooker Phoenix Crossland has been banned for four matches after a hip-drop tackle on Nathan Cleary left the Penrith star injured, with Crossland apologising and Cleary urging fans to stop online abuse; the ban rules Crossland out of the NRL grand final and most of New Zealand’s World Cup pool games. All Blacks: Ruben Love is out of the Bledisloe Cup tests with an ankle injury, while Shannon Frizell returns and Quinn Tupaea is named after recovering from a knee problem. Economy & markets: New Zealand’s NZX 50 slid as bond yields and oil prices weighed on rate-sensitive stocks, with Ryman Healthcare hitting a 16-year low amid heavy trading. Public finance: Treasury’s pre-election update points to an earlier return to surplus, but economists warn longer-term fiscal pressures remain. Immigration system: Immigration New Zealand’s ADEPT platform auto-approved visas without human checks, including job checks and visitor visas, prompting a review of the wider Our Future Services IT project. Election 2026 politics: Pay equity is back in focus, with unions pushing for changes to education and care workers’ pay equity settings and warning the NCEA replacement must protect Māori, Pacific and disabled learners. Cost of living: Diesel prices are rising, raising fears of knock-on costs for transport, food and household expenses.