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21 Aug 2025

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‘You don’t get what you want’: The top NRL talent yet to secure their futures
A Brisbane Bronco has refused to concede his career at Red Hill is over, as he leads a list of men yet to secure their futures beyond 2025.

Will Skeltons Wallabies Future
Michael Hooper on the importance of managing Will Skelton's load whilst ensuring continued Wallabies success

Zerafa produces 'statement' first-round win
Michael Zerafa shows he has plenty of gas left in the tank, stopping Mikey Dahlman inside the first round.

Zerafa explains press conference 'no-show'
Michael Zerafa apologised to promoters No Limit over a miscommunication following his non-attendance at Monday's press conference.

Public urged not to approach man wanted by police
Michael Tautari, 27, has a Warrant to Arrest for breaching release conditions.

Spring Hill Prison lockdown ends after inmates start riot, light fires
A group of 11 prisoners refused to leave the exercise yard and lit fires at Spring Hill Corrections Facility.

Prison riot underway at Waikato's Spring Hill Corrections Facility
Several fires have been lit at Spring Hill Corrections Facility, and prisoners are refusing to leave the exercise yard and damaging property.

‘Developing event’: Inmates light fires, damage property at Spring Hill prison
Emergency services are responding to an incident at Spring Hill Corrections Facility in Waikato, where 10 inmates are refusing to leave an exercise yard.

Fire crews responding to blaze at Waikato's Spring Hill Prison
Fire and Emergency was called to the facility just before 3.20pm this afternoon.

HP’s new Omen gaming PCs are head-turners worthy of your attention
Gaming desktops are great, but they are, essentially, boxes. Maybe that’s why PC sellers are getting so obsessed with filling them full of tiny screens and flashing lights—there are only so many ways to spice them up. But two new members of HP’s Omen series turned my head at a press event. One is adding some genuine cooling innovation, and the other is being a little more low-key in a very cool way. Omen Max 45L: It’s got a little AIO hat The Omen 45L isn’t actually a brand new design, as it’s been available for most of this calendar year. But this was the first time I’d seen what HP is calling the “Omen Cryo Chamber”—a dedicated area above the primary PC component compartment, specifically made for an all-in-one cooler. The one installed in the demo unit (and presumably any pre-built you buy) was 360mm, but any standard cooler with the usual radiator-and-fans combo should work. The pump and heat spreader is connected to the coolant lines through a narrow channel between the compartments. Michael Crider/Foundry This separated AIO space keeps the main chamber cooler and allows better ventilation for the cooler itself. HP claims this maximized air flow can lower full-load temperatures by up to 7.5 degrees Celsius. I asked, and yes, you can replace or upgrade the AIO with any standard model, again, up to 360mm. HP That’s not the only trick in the Omen Max 45L’s playbook, though. Hiding under a shroud at the other end of the case is a new, exclusive 1,200-watt modular power supply. It’s connected to the motherboard via USB-C, allowing for real-time monitoring, custom fan curves, and “built-in cleaning mode.” Occasionally, the fan’s rotor will be reversed, helping to clear out any accumulated dust. I doubt it’ll be enough to completely overcome the need for manual cleaning, but it’s an undeniably cool trick. Michael Crider/Foundry The updated Omen Max 45L maxes out the configurable parts to an AMD Ryzen 9950X3D and a GeForce RTX 5090 graphics card, about as good as it gets for pre-built machines on the consumer level. HP isn’t talking prices at the moment, so just assume “a hell of a lot” if you want those top-tier components. Omen 35L Stealth: Hold the RGB The Omen 35L—a smaller mid-range gaming desktop—also isn’t new. But the “Stealth Edition,” which eschews the usual tempered glass panel and RGB adornments in favor of a flat black look, is a new variant. With only the “Omen” branding on the front, it looks a little more business-like. Not that it’s lacking for power. Even without the 45L’s impressive AIO chamber, the 35L gets access to the same parts, including that interesting 1,200-watt power supply. You get the same options in the flashy standard model or the Stealth Edition. Michael Crider/Foundry HP representatives told me they like how the all-black, no-RGB design doesn’t immediately scream “gamer,” so it’s a good option if you want a machine that looks a little more professional while still having plenty of gaming and media chops. Since I build my PCs to look like tiny refrigerators, I can dig it. The Omen 35L Stealth Edition will start at $1,500 when it gets refreshed in October, the same price as the flashier RGB version. HyperX Cloud Alpha 2 headset: Now with a macro pad! Whereas the Omen brand gets HP’s gaming PCs and laptops, the HyperX brand gets the accessories. I’m already a fan of HyperX headsets for their absolutely incredible battery life, but the Cloud Alpha 2 Wireless really scratches my desktop nerd itch with its base station. Michael Crider/Foundry In lieu of the usual wireless dongle, this premium headset comes with a big, finger-friendly volume knob and six light-up, programmable control buttons. It’s basically giving you a sort of mini-Stream Deck, albeit without the tiny screens. The knob itself is massive, easy to find without looking, and the center button defaults to a mic mute. The headset itself is no slouch either, boasting huge 53mm drivers, a removable boom mic, simultaneous 2.4GHz and Bluetooth wireless options (so you can hear audio from your phone and PC at the same time, for example), and a sturdy metal frame. HP claims 250 hours of battery life (125 in Bluetooth mode), and there’s a 3.5mm cable connection for anything that needs direct wired audio. HP Just be prepared to pay for all that functionality. When it launches later this month, the Cloud Alpha 2 Wireless will cost $300. That’s not unreasonable compared to other flagship headsets, especially with that base station in the box… but that’s still a lot of dosh.

Wallabies the world beaters
Michael Hooper on the growth of the current Wallabies team.

‘Leave a bit of hope for me’: Bobby Hill to miss again, finals unlikely
The 2023 Norm Smith medallist will miss yet again for Collingwood and is only a slim chance to play a part in the Magpies’ finals series.

Wool in tennis balls from hill country farms will be served up at the US Open
New Zealand wool will be bouncing around the courts of the 2025 US Open when the final Grand Slam of the year takes centre stage in New York.

10 life-changing laptop accessories for college students
So you’ve got your college student hooked up with a laptop and a backpack. They’re all set to take on the world, right? Well, yeah, but they’re going to need a few accessories to really make the best of that dorm space. Hunching over a laptop screen for hours of studying isn’t exactly ideal. Fortunately, we’ve got everything they’ll need to make the most of their setup in a one-stop shop. Kit them out with some or all of these extras, and they’ll be a studying, class-taking, test-passing machine. Or possibly just play a lot of League of Legends. Don’t judge, college is stressful. I’ve ranked this list starting with what I consider the most essential additions to a standard laptop. If you’re on a budget, go for the top items first. USB-C Monitor: Dell S2722DC Dell I think the number one thing you should equip your student with to maximize their productivity with a laptop is a monitor. Not only is it far bigger than their portable screen, the laptop becomes a secondary monitor when connected, giving them a serious boost in real estate and window management. Dell makes super-reliable monitors at great prices, and this model has everything you could want. With a 27-inch display and a boosted 2560×1440 resolution, it’s bigger and sharper than a standard budget screen, and the IPS panel is color-accurate enough for photo or video editing and other media work. And with a USB-C connection, students can connect and charge their laptop with a single cable. Dell 27-inch USB-C monitor$245 on Dell Mouse: Logitech Marathon M720 Logitech Your student is probably used to using a laptop touchpad, but for maximum productivity they really need a separate mouse. And this Logitech model is one of my favorites: big enough to be comfy for extended use, small enough to travel easily, and multiple years of battery life from a single AA. It’s also a fantastic deal at just forty bucks, and compatible with multiple machines at once thanks to a quick-switch button. For a student who’s constantly on the go, it’s the whole package. Logitech travel mouse$45 on Amazon Keyboard: Nuphy Air V2 Michael Crider/Foundry As a keyboard nut, I’m usually prepared to recommend a huge, clacky keyboard for long typing sessions. But there’s a pretty good chance that your student will have to share a living space with someone in a dorm or an apartment…and that being the case, something a bit more unobtrusive is ideal. So I’d say go with a Nuphy Air V2. This low-profile board has plenty of padding for quieter typing, and it’s easy to slip into a bag for longer sessions on the go. Once again multi-device pairing comes in handy, and you can go with the Air 60 for maximum portability or the Air 96 if your student does a lot of data entry. Nuphy Air V2 low-profile mechanical keyboard$150 on Amazon Noise-canceling headphones: Sony WH-CH720N Sony So you’ve picked a keyboard that won’t annoy your student’s roommate. What if said roommate isn’t so conscientious? This set of noise-canceling headphones from Sony should take care of that, and its Bluetooth connection will work with their phone for mobile music sessions, too. With an integrated mic that’s better than the usual headphone pack-in, it’ll be great for the occasional remote class. Sony WH-CH720N noise-cancelling headphones$98 on Amazon USB-C dock: Anker 555 Anker Being able to pick up their stuff and head to class with a minimum of fuss is a big deal for a student — I would have killed for a USB-C laptop when I was in college, constantly unplugging a charger, monitor cable, and USB hub. Thankfully you can do it all with one cable now, and this Anker hub can handle it on the cheap. With USB-C power, video-out, Ethernet for a reliable and fast wired internet connection, and multiple card readers, everything your student needs to connect to is just one cable away. It can handle up to 100 watts from a laptop charger without issue. Anker 555 USB-C hub$50 on Amazon Monitor Arm: Monoprice Single Monitor Adjustable Gas Spring Desk Mount Matt Smith/Foundry Odds are pretty good that your student won’t have a massive desk to work with, so space will be at a premium. There’s no better tool to free up space than a monitor arm, raising the screen to a more ergonomic position at the same time. This Monoprice model is a fantastic deal, and it can clamp onto the back of most desks, so there’s no drilling required. The all-metal construction with two swivel points and a gas spring should last well beyond graduation. Monoprice Single Monitor Adjustable Gas Spring Desk Mount$85 on Amazon Laptop stand: Metal Laptop Riser Gogoonike If your student needs even more space for books and other school materials, consider adding on this laptop stand to the setup. With plenty of lift and clearance it’ll make it easy to set up and break down, and that’ll put the laptop screen even with the monitor and make plenty of room for a mouse and keyboard. Metal laptop riser stand$17 on Amazon Monitor lamp: Melifo Monitor Light Bar Melifo Dorm lighting isn’t always great, and we’ve already covered the space crunch. You can address both of those problems with this LED work lamp that sits right on top of your student’s monitor. With adjustable lighting temperature it’ll cut down on eye strain, and you can power it right from one of the monitor’s standard USB-A ports. It even has a handy wireless controller. I use this model on my own desk, and highly recommend it. Melifo Monitor Light Bar$40 on Amazon USB drive: SanDisk 512GB Ultra Dual Drive Luxe USB-C SanDisk Your student will probably be transferring most of their files wirelessly, but sometimes you can’t beat good old sneakernet. This 512GB SanDisk USB drive is massive, able to hold just about anything a student could throw at it (including high-definition video) at a super-fast speed. And with both USB-A and USB-C connections in the same tiny, metal housing, they’ll never be hunting for an adapter cable even for a phone or tablet. SanDisk 512GB Ultra Dual Drive Luxe USB-C$41 on Amazon Desk Mat: Topographic Contour gaming mat Siski For the finishing touch on this student setup, add a nice, big desk mat. It’s a mouse pad that doubles as a food tray, because you know they’ll be snacking at the same time. I’ve bought this exact model for myself and I like it a lot, but you can find literally hundreds of different designs all over Amazon at low prices. Topographic Contour gaming mat $16 on Amazon