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Reece Walsh is SNUBBED from top international award after Broncos superstar’s standout season
Reece Walsh has been snubbed from winning the 2025 International Rugby League Golden Boot award.
The Broncos full-back was pipped to the coveted accolade by Harry Grant.
Brown also beat New Zealand star Dylan Brown to win his maiden golden boot, after Brown had been crowned player-of-the-match in all three of New Zealand’s games during their Pacific Cup triumph.
Brown was widely expected to claim the biggest individual award of his career.
But the Newcastle-bound playmaker, who has put pen to paper on the NRL’s richest contract, was narrowly pipped at the post by Grant, with the Melbourne hooker impressing judges during Australia’s 3-0 Ashes rout of England.
Melbourne teammate Cameron Munster was also overlooked, despite being named man of the series by a seven-person judging panel at the end of the Ashes.
Reece Walsh (pictured) has been snubbed from this year’s International Rugby League Golden Boot award
Instead, Kangaroos star Harry Grant (pictured) secured his maiden Golden Boot title after a brilliant Ashes series with The Kangaroos
It came as Brisbane centre Julia Robinson won the women’s award after being the stand-out player of the Pacific Cup for the Jillaroos.
After scoring seven tries in four games for Australia this year, Robinson was unanimously voted player of the year in the women’s game.
The vote was not so clear-cut in the men’s space.
Brown was the outright star of this year’s Pacific Cup, scoring the match-winner against Samoa before scoring two tries and setting two more up against Tonga.
Then in the tournament’s final, he busted nine tackles and set up three tries in the 36-14 win over Samoa to be named both player of the match and series.
But ultimately the panel of Darren Lockyer, Cameron Smith, Ruben Wiki, James Graham and Petero Civoniceva were won over by Grant’s output in England.
Grant was Australia’s best player in the third Test at Leeds and also impressed while deputising for Isaah Yeo as captain when the Kangaroos secured the Ashes in Liverpool.
Walsh, meanwhile, enjoyed an excellent series for Australia, fresh off the back of guiding the Broncos to snap their 19-year wait for an NRL premiership. He was crowned player-of-the-match during his side’s first Ashes Test victory against England, scoring two tries and gaining 243m during the match.
Grant also beat New Zealand star Dylan Brown (left) to the coveted Golden Boot title
The Melbourne Storm hooker impressed judges during Australia’s 3-0 Ashes rout of England
Kiwi forward Joseph Tapine was also in the running and finished behind Grant and Brown in a close vote for the award.
‘Harry showcased his skill and leadership in the first Ashes Series for 22 years and played a key role in Australia’s win over their great rivals,’ IRL chair Troy Grant said.
‘He constantly had the England defence back-pedalling with his clever dummy-half running, topped the tackle count for the Kangaroos, captained Australia at Liverpool and scored a brilliant try to blow the match open at Leeds.
‘For Harry to perform at that level – and with the same consistency – on the international stage, confirms his standing as one of the game’s best players.’
Meanwhile, Robinson’s success comes after she was narrowly beaten to the Dally M by Broncos teammate Tamika Upton this year.
After leading the race with two rounds to go, Robinson was rested from the penultimate round and finished three points behind Upton.
Robinson then became the Jillaroos’ leading try-scorer of all time in the Pacific Cup by taking her career tally to 22, highlighted by an acrobatic try of the tournament against Samoa.
‘Her try against Samoa elevated women’s rugby league to another level,’ Troy Grant said.
‘Fans around the world marvelled at Julia’s ability to time her run perfectly and fly through the air like a superhero.’
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Reece Walsh is SNUBBED from top international award after Broncos superstar’s standout season
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‘You’re a disgrace – no wonder Ronaldo ignored you and Mourinho said you were below average’: Mohamed Salah’s friend unloads on Jamie Carragher in latest Liverpool fall-out development
A close friend and former team-mate of Mohamed Salah’s has been the latest to speak out in support of the Liverpool star following his bombshell claim that Liverpool have ‘thrown him under the bus’.
The 32-year-old did not hold back when sharing his thoughts in the wake of Liverpool’s 3-3 draw with Leeds – which he did not feature in – and threw down the gauntlet to club legend Jamie Carragher, who has been a frequent critic of Salah’s off-pitch conduct this season.
Carragher in turn responded with a fire-and-brimstone eight-minute dissection of Salah’s decision to share his concerns with the media, and suggested that he focus on the importance of being a team player in the Reds’ set-up, rather than a standalone star.
This aspect of the criticism, which included Carragher’s belief that his struggles at Chelsea and failure to win major honours with his Egypt side as examples of that the game is ‘not about the individual’, is one that has agitated a slew of Salah’s fans and those who respect him in the game.
Former Aston Villa star Ahmed Elmohamady, who played alongside Salah for their national team for close to eight years, was particularly incensed, and called Carragher a ‘disgrace’ for suggesting that the star had not done enough for his country.
‘Right Jamie you’re a disgrace,’ Elmohamady began in his social media post on X. ‘Salah completely rewrote his story through hard work, humility, and world-class performances.
Ahmed Elmohamady (pictured in 2018) has spoken out on behalf of his friend and team-mate Mohamed Salah
The Egyptian star was the subject of an incendiary eight-minute critique from Jamie Carragher
‘He didn’t “fail” at Chelsea – he was never given the chance.
‘He went to Italy, rebuilt himself, then came to Liverpool and became: A Premier League legend, Egypt’s greatest ever player, one of the most consistent forwards of his generation.
Salah has carried Egypt for Years, and getting Egypt qualified for World Cup twice after so long, Salah earned everything.’
Taking aim at a number of Carragher’s gaffes as a pundit, Elmohamady added: ‘No wonder you got blanked by C.Ronaldo. No wonder Messi called you out.
‘No wonder Mourinho said you were below average and not even in top 1000 defender In (Premier League).’
Amid growing support for Salah in the wake of Carragher’s speech on Monday evening, the former Reds defender apologised to the player on punditry duty for CBS Sports on Wednesday night.
‘Mo, I apologise I’ve upset you,’ Carragher began.
‘I love you as the Liverpool player, but you just need to behave yourself off the pitch.’
His brief apology note struck a different tone to his position just days earlier, when Carragher himself labelled Salah a ‘disgrace’, and accused the forward of taking the decision to speak to the press to ‘strengthen his own position’ at the club.
The pundit’s rant was in turn prompted by Salah’s decision to speak to the media on Saturday
‘He’s chosen this weekend to do this now and he’s waited for a bad result, they’ve conceded a last minute goal,’ he said.
‘The Liverpool supporters, the manager, the whole club feels like it is in the gutter at the moment, and he’s chosen that time to go for the manager and maybe try and get him sacked.
On Arne Slot, Carragher continued, adding: ‘With the manager right now, Salah should be doing as much as he can now to try and help the club get out of the worst run of results they’ve had since the 1950s, and he hasn’t done that.’
The pundit also responded directly to Salah’s call-out, stating: ‘Have I ever criticised Salah on the pitch? I’ve never criticised him for not working back, when he’s gone games without a goal and I’ve never criticised him when he should have passed to someone.
‘That’s because he’s an absolute legend of the Liverpool and what you get from him, you have to put up with certain bits. I think some of the criticism of Salah this season has been excessive.
‘But I will go after Salah when he tries to throw my club under the bus off the pitch and when he’s just thinking about himself.’
In his incendiary statement in the wake of drawing with Leeds, Salah also implied that he believes ‘someone’ in the Liverpool set-up is agitating for his departure.
‘I could not believe I was sitting on the bench for 90 minutes,’ he said. ‘That’s the third time. It’s the first time in my career I think.
The 32-year-old said in his bombshell statement that he believed he is being ‘thrown under the bus’ by his club
‘(I am) very disappointed, I have done so much for this club over the years, especially last season. It seems like the club has thrown me under the bus. That’s how I feel.
‘Someone wants me to get all the blame. The club promised me a lot in summer. Now I’m on bench so I can say they haven’t kept those promises.
‘I used to have a good relationship (with manager Slot). Now we don’t have any relationship and I don’t know why.
‘It seems like someone does not want me in the club.’
Perhaps in response to his outburst, Salah was left to train alone when the Reds travelled to Milan to face off with Inter in Champions League action on Tuesday evening.
The Golden Boot winner shared pictures of himself on social media in an empty gym in Liverpool’s training compound, and apparently alone in a park as his team-mates returned from Italy.
In the aftermath of the win in Europe however, Slot appeared to hint at the possibility of peace talks between the two parties.
‘You say everyone makes mistakes in life, so the first thing should be: does the player think he’s made a mistake as well?’ Slot asked fellow Dutchman Clarence Seedorf amid questioning at full-time.
‘And then the next question is, should the initiative come from me or him? That’s another question to answer.’
Slot demurred over who he thought should make the first step, remaining opaque, but club captain Virgil van Dijk was more forthright, confirming that he has plans to speak to his friend and team-mate.
‘I have to, I’m going to talk to him,’ Van Dijk said on Tuesday evening. ‘But then you have to ask should the initiative come from me? I’m not the one to speak if someone has to apologise.
‘It’s him airing his feelings for the past couple of days. That’s something the club has to deal with, obviously, me as well.
‘The reality also is that Mo is going to Africa soon. I’ve known him for such a long time, we are good friends and have been through highs and lows.
‘We speak and those types of things will stay indoors as it should be. We have to brace ourselves and be against the outside noise.’
Trabzonspor will be without star striker Paul Onuachu for this weekend’s crucial Turkish Super Lig clash against Besiktas,
The Nigerian international, who returned to the former champions last summer from English Premier League side Southampton, has been one of Trabzonspor’s standout performers this season.
The lanky forward has found the back of the net 11 times across competitions, making him one of the club’s key attacking threats.
Onuachu will miss the high-profile encounter due to suspension after receiving a yellow card in his side’s last league outing.
The booking, picked up while he was deployed in an unfamiliar position, automatically rules him out of the match against Besiktas.
His absence is expected to be a major blow for Trabzonspor as they look to secure a positive result in the highly anticipated fixture.
At least five clubs have now booked their places in the Round of 16 of this season’s UEFA Champions League, following a decisive set of fixtures on Wednesday night.
A statement on UEFA’s official website confirmed that Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City and Atalanta are the latest sides to guarantee progression after the final round of group matches. They now join Arsenal and Bayern Munich, who had already secured safe passage into the next stage.
The Champions League’s new format means the top eight teams overall move straight into the Round of 16.
Clubs finishing between ninth and twenty-fourth will have to navigate the knockout play-offs, with only the winners of those ties entering the main knockout rounds. In total, just twenty-four clubs will survive into the knockout phase.
While City celebrated their qualification, their manager, Pep Guardiola, also took a moment to applaud one of Real Madrid’s brightest performers on the night.
Naija News reports that City claimed a 2-1 win at the Santiago Bernabeu thanks to goals from Nico O’Reilly and Erling Haaland, with Rodrygo pulling one back for the hosts.
Guardiola revealed after the match that he went to the Brazilian forward at full-time to appreciate him.
“I went to Rodrygo and I told him: what a player you are… he’s really unbelievable,” Guardiola said, as quoted by Fabrizio Romano.
Rodrygo’s praise from the City boss comes in a season where the 24-year-old has struggled to hit his usual heights under Xabi Alonso.
Despite a difficult campaign and a goal drought stretching across several matches, he has remained a subject of Premier League interest, although a move failed to materialise in the last window.
© 2025 Naija News, a division of Polance Media Inc. Contact us via [email protected]
Heartland head coach, Emmanuel Amuneke, has attributed his team’s defeat to mistakes.
The Naze Millionaires went down 3-1 to Sunshine Stars in their matchday five clash at the Ondo State Sports Complex in Akure on Wednesday.
Bismak Adebayo, Gabriel Adepoju, and Opeoluwa Olufem scored for Sunshine Stars, while Chukwuma Udoma netted for Heartland.
Amuneke acknowledged the hard work of Sunshine Stars in securing the victory.
“From the beginning, we went ahead, but unfortunately we conceded goals from mistakes that allowed Sunshine Stars to score two second-half goals,” Amuneke was quoted by the news track.
“Of course, you cannot take away the efforts of the Sunshine team. They fought, they wanted it, and in football if you want success, you go for it — and that’s exactly what they did. We have to congratulate them.”
Nigeria international Igoh Ogbu has expressed confidence that Slavia Prague can still make it to the UEFA Champions League round of 16 despite losing 3-0 to Tottenham Hotspur on matchday 6.
The defeat to Spurs means Slavia Prague remain without a win in their last 17 Champions League games.
The club have now gone 14 matches without a victory in major European competitions, leaving them on the verge of elimination.
Also, they have are now the first team to fail to score in five consecutive Champions League fixtures since AC Milan in October 2023.
Despite the latest defeat, Ogbu insisted Slavia Prague should not be written off, stating that the team has a chance to qualify if they perform positively in the remaining matches.
“In the Champions League, I don’t think we have lost all the games,” Ogbu told flashscore.com.”We had three draws, and we lost two of the games before facing Spurs.
“We have a chance. We have two more games, and anything is possible. We have that maturity to get the needed result going forward because we’re a young team.
“We have young players and we work hard. I think anything is possible in football. I think we can achieve it if we keep working hard and keep doing good.”
Ogbu conceded a late penalty after a challenge on Xavi Simons, which the Dutch midfielder converted.
Reflecting on the match, Ogbu admitted the result was difficult to take but insisted it offered valuable lessons, accepting referee Benoit Bastien’s decision, describing the penalty call as fair and part of football’s realities.
“(The defeat to Spurs) is a tough one. To be honest, it was really a tough game for us and a good experience. I think for me, I’m okay with it.
“I think (the penalty call) is a fair decision. For me, it’s all a learning process. I wasn’t happy to get a penalty for my team.
“I think it’s a work in progress, and it’s part of the game.”
To stand a chance of progressing to the knockout round Slavia Prague must defeat Barcelona in their next Champions League match on January 21.
Meanwhile, Ogbu and his Slavia Prague teammates are close to clinching a ninth Czech First League title, having collected 42 points from 18 matches and remaining unbeaten so far.
When asked how the team is balancing the demands of competing in two tough competitions, he said: “It has not easy always travelling and coming back, no time to rest.
“I think we’re really trying on that. The Champions League is a league of champions where champions from different leagues converge.
“Every team is a champion in the Champions League, in their domestic league. So, when you play in this league, you have to have the highest qualities in order to beat the teams there.
“There are big teams, good quality players and everything. So to compete, you have to be really ready.”
By Joshua Osinowo
A three-day basketball boot camp organised by the Ready Leaders Foundation is currently underway at the Alake Sports Centre inside the Ijeja Stadium, Abeokuta, Ogun State, attracting young female talents from across the region.
The initiative is led by former youth international and Ogun State basketball standout star, Onome Akinbode-James, who returned from the United States where she is a student at Duke University, to host the programme.
Onome, a 2016 silver medal winner at the U-16 Afro-Basket Tournament in Madagascar, said the basketball camp , was an opportunity to empower girls through sport, leadership and personal development.
According to the organisers, turnout for the event has been impressive, with 60 players and 15 coaches participating in the intensive sessions. The girls have been fully kitted for the programme, which focuses not only on basketball techniques but also on life skills and personal growth.
The camp, which started yesterday, continues until Friday and features top female coaches in Nigeria working hands-on with participants.
Organisers noted the programme is designed to introduce “new dimensions of basketball learning” while also giving young athletes exposure and mentorship opportunities.
The Ready Leaders Foundation hopes the camp will inspire future stars and strengthen female participation in the sport across Ogun State and beyond.
Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso has been handed a lifeline by the club’s hierarchy despite Wednesday night’s 2-1 loss to Manchester City in the Champions League.
The defeat at the Santiago Bernabeu came after goals from Nico O’Reilly and Erling Haaland turned the match in City’s favour, cancelling out an early finish from Rodrygo. Speaking after the game, Alonso admitted his side were not mentally sharp enough to withstand City’s pressure.
“It was a very competitive match with different moments. We started strongly with Rodrygo’s goal and a few other chances, but when you are not at your best mentally, in ten minutes they took the lead from very little, with the corner and the penalty,” Alonso said.
He added that the squad continued battling despite a growing list of injury problems. The coach said, “The team kept going right until the end and has not lost face despite all the difficulties we are facing, like injuries.”
The loss fuelled fresh speculation around Alonso’s future, particularly after reports suggested the club could sack him if Madrid fell again to Pep Guardiola’s side. The tension around the Bernabeu was already heavy after fans booed the players off during last weekend’s shock 2-0 home defeat to Celta Vigo.
However, Spanish outlet Marca reports that Real Madrid have decided to give Alonso more time to steady the team. They have won only two of their last eight matches across all competitions and have slipped in both the LaLiga and Champions League tables.
Despite their faltering form, Madrid remain inside the automatic qualification places for the Champions League, sitting seventh, with the top eight securing spots for next season.
Several senior players were said to have voiced their support for Alonso in the dressing room after the loss to City, urging the club to stick with the manager as they continue searching for consistency.
Real Madrid travel to Alaves on Sunday in the Spanish La Liga as they look to halt their slide.
© 2025 Naija News, a division of Polance Media Inc. Contact us via [email protected]
Joe Aribo could be set for a sensational return to Scottish Premiership giants, Rangers, DAILY POST reports.
Aribo left the Light Blues for Southampton in July 2022.
The Nigeria international has struggled for regular playing time at Southampton this season, managing just 114 minutes of action.
The 29-year-old has reportedly been told he can seek a move elsewhere by the Saints.
Turkish Super Lig clubs, Göztepe and Trabzonspor are said to be interested in the player.
A return to Rangers in January is also said to be on the card for Aribo, according to reports in Scotland.
The midfielder remain a popular figure at the Ibrox following an impressive three-year spell.
Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen has been named Sportsman of the Year in Turkey, Completesports.com reports.
Osimhen went home with the individual accolade at the 2025 GQ Türkiye Men of the Year Awards.
The Nigeria international was instrumental to Galatasaray’s domestic success last season.
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The 26-year-old registered 37 goals and seven assists across all competitions for Okan Buruk’s men.
Osimhen has scored 11 times in 14 outings across all competitions for the Yellow and Reds in the current campaign.
The striker expressed gratitude to the organisers, the club, and the supporters after receiving the award.
“I want to say a big thank you to GQ. Can’t forget my Galatasaray family. This means so much to me and my family. I appreciate everyone who has supported me up to this hour,” he said. “I will continue to do my best for my family, for Galatasaray, for the fans all over the world,” he stated.
By Adeboye Amosu
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Michigan coach Sherrone Moore’s night from hell ends in jail over alleged assault after married father-of-three fired from $30m job
Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore was spending the night behind bars after a tumultuous day that began with the implosion of his career over an affair with a staffer.
Moore, 39, a married father-of-three, was sacked for the ‘inappropriate relationship’ on Wednesday and just hours later detained over an assault at an apartment complex in Ann Arbor.
The coach was in custody at Washtenaw County Jail early Thursday after the alleged assault on the 3000 block of Ann Arbor Saline Road.
Pittsfield Police responded to the apartment at 4.10pm Wednesday, just moments before it was publicly announced that Moore was fired from his $6million per-year coaching job.
The University of Michigan had uncovered evidence of ‘an inappropriate relationship with a staffer’ and swiftly released him from the lucrative coaching gig.
The identity of the staffer has not been revealed publicly. Moore has been married since 2015 to his wife, Kelli, the mother of their three children.
Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel stunned the college football world with his shock announcement about Moore on Wednesday.
‘This conduct constitutes a clear violation of University policy, and U-M maintains zero tolerance for such behavior,’ Manuel said.
Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore, pictured with wife Kelli, was taken into police custody hours after he was fired from his job as police investigated an alleged assault
Moore has been married to his wife, Kelli, since 2015. They share three daughters together. Moore was fired earlier in the day over an alleged ‘inappropriate relationship’
Moore was arrested after the alleged assault on the 3000 block of Ann Arbor Saline Road
An anonymous source told The Athletic that the school received a tip regarding the relationship, which led to the investigation.
That inquiry did not initially produce evidence of a relationship, but ‘additional evidence came to light in the last 24 hours that led to Moore’s dismissal.’
Moore, who went 16-8 as the head coach of the now-No. 18 Wolverines, was set to coach the team in the Citrus Bowl against the No. 13 ranked Texas Longhorns on New Years Eve.
Associate head coach Biff Poggi has been elevated to interim head coach in the wake of the firing.
Moore was hired under former head coach Jim Harbaugh – the current head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers – as the tight ends coach in 2018. He worked his way up to becoming the offensive coordinator by 2021.
In 2023, while Harbaugh was suspended in the midst of recruiting violations as well as a sign-stealing scandal, Moore served as interim head coach and led the Wolverines to victory in all four contests.
After Harbaugh left at the conclusion of Michigan’s 2023 national championship-winning season, Moore was elevated to being the full-time head coach.
The Wolverines went 8-5 under Moore in his first season – beating fierce rivals Ohio State and winning the ReliaQuest Bowl.
This year, while they couldn’t beat Ohio State, Michigan improved to a 9-3 record.
Moore was officially hired as Michigan’s head football coach in 2024 on a lucrative contract
Moore took over from Jim Harbaugh after he left for the Los Angeles Chargers job. Moore served as interim coach for Harbaugh amid a pair of scandals in the 2023 season.
Earlier in the season, Moore was suspended for two games after he was found to have deleted text messages sent to Connor Stallions – the former Michigan analyst at the center of the sign-stealing scandal.
Moore signed a deal in 2024 that would pay him roughly $6million per year through the 2029 season.
His buyout was listed at $13.89million, according to USA Today’s college football salary database.
It was the second-lowest buyout among all listed Big Ten coaches – with the exception of USC and Northwestern, which are private schools and do not publicly disclose contract details.
However, due to Michigan’s move to fire Moore for cause, it’s possible they’d be off the hook for some – or all – of that buyout figure.
The news stunned the college football world, with fans reacting in shock.
Dave Portnoy, a Michigan alum and the founder of Barstool Sports, posted, ‘On a serious note there have been a lot of schools over the years who have looked the other way with scandals. I’d just like to say I’m proud that Michigan refused to do the same.’
Earlier this season, Moore was suspended two games for his role in a sign-stealing scandal
Prior to Michigan, Moore played on the offensive line at the University of Oklahoma.
He then got his coaching start as a graduate assistant at Louisville, where he would eventually become the tight ends coach.
From there, he moved to Central Michigan for the same job. In 2017, he had the titles of associate head coach and recruiting coordinator added to his role.
The timing of this firing couldn’t be any worse for the Wolverines – not because of the bowl game, but because of the few available coaches they could hire to replace Moore.
2025 saw a much busier-than-normal coaching carousel – with top schools hiring and firing coaches left and right.
This season, LSU, Ole Miss, Florida, Penn State, UCLA, Virginia Tech, Michigan State and many more Division-I schools went out and hired themselves new coaches.
Now, Michigan is caught in a situation where the pool of suitable candidates who can match the ambition of this storied job is aggressively diluted.
Barring the Wolverines going out and poaching a coach who signed an extension this season, or convincing an NFL coach to move to Ann Arbor, it’s more likely than not that Michigan is led in 2026 by someone who is not of the caliber they need.
Two possible coaches who could move to Michigan are Alabama’s Kalen DeBoer (L) and Washington’s Jedd Fisch (R)
The firing may lead to some Michigan players, like quarterback Bryce Underwood, transferring
Possible candidates include under-pressure Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer and Washington head coach Jedd Fisch among others.
It may also have a massive effect on the construction of their roster. In addition to the transfer portal opening on January 2, the NCAA allows recruits a 30-day transfer period in the wake of a coach’s firing.
Among the names to watch to enter the portal include star quarterback Bryce Underwood, who Moore flipped from LSU in 2024 before the freshman had a standout season.
Moore is the sixth football staffer hired under Harbaugh who have had run-ins with police.
Former offensive coordinator Matt Weiss was charged with hacking and was accused by federal prosecutors of stealing thousands of private, intimate images of student-athletes. Weiss has pled not guilty to all 24 charges he’s facing.
Director of football operations Jim Minick and assistant coaches Denard Robinson and Greg Scruggs were arrested for alleged DUI.
Michigan’s former director of performance science, Fergus Connolly, was also arrested for DUI – but was also charged with multiple felony counts of assaulting/resisting/obstructing a police officer. After being transported to a hospital, Connolly allegedly attempted to bite someone.