Michael Rennie
Michael Rennie is a sports reporter in Queensland. He started with the ABC in 2011 and has worked in Townsville and Brisbane. Michael has covered a wide range of sporting events across the state including the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast. He also tweets from @mf_rennie.
Latest by Michael Rennie
Fresh off his second Brownlow win, Lachie Neale didn’t mince words on home soil
Surrounded by supporters in Springfield, the two-time Brownlow Medal winner thanked fans for their 'passion and energy'.
Koala program plants trees for free on private properties in bid to save population
A new project is aiming to tackle climate change and help save koalas at the same time. Landowners in New South Wales can earn carbon credits from planting koala habitat on their property.
The Tongan legend who came to Brisbane and helped change the face of Australian rugby
At Ballymore on June 30, 1973, Tonga beat Australia 16 points to 11 — a monumental victory that's never been repeated. Fa'aleo Tupi played in that legendary team. He would go on to play a pivotal role in bringing Polynesians to play rugby union in Australia.
Woman dies after car swept from car park into suburban Brisbane creek
A woman dies after her car was swept away by floodwaters while leaving the drive-through at a Hungry Jack's in Brisbane's north during severe storms last night.
Tom Dearden leaves Brisbane Broncos to sign with North Queensland Cowboys
NRL player Tom Dearden, a halfback once anointed as the future of the Brisbane Broncos, announces his departure from the club, joining the North Queensland Cowboys next season.
Man drove over woman's leg at Caboolture property while high on ice, court told
Caboolture Magistrates Court hears a man charged with attempted murder after running over a woman's leg while doing burnouts in the front yard of a property at the weekend had taken ice earlier in the day.
Tyreece used to sleep on the streets — now he has an aspiring career in the army
Tyreece Hiles grew up surrounded by family violence, forcing him into homelessness. Now a Toowoomba social enterprise is inspiring the 18-year-old to turn his life around.
'It's not just big guys': Strongman competitions are attracting more women
Traditionally, strongman competitions have been the domain of bulky men with bulging biceps — but now women are seeing the benefit of lifting impossible weights.
A 'moment of madness' saw Robert Weber lost in bushland for 18 days. He reveals how he survived
Robert Weber says "a moment of madness" searching for a shortcut home led to his 18-day survival mission in the Queensland bush. He says ants were his "worst predator" and he lost 10 kilograms, but believes he would have given up if it wasn't for thoughts of his children.
Record number of Indigenous students set to study medicine at University of Queensland
It is a proud moment for Brisbane Indigenous doctor Noel Hayman, who says having more medical practitioners will lead to better health outcomes for First Nations people.
Lang Park stadium set to cautiously reopen this weekend but for fans, it'll be a whole different ball game
Thousands of fans will be unleashed on Brisbane's Lang Park stadium tonight for the first time in months under strict measures aimed at curbing the threat of spreading coronavirus.
Winning elite gamers have same mental toughness as athletes, study finds
It is hoped the findings from a QUT study will help top level gamers reach their full potential, by incorporating resources into their training regime that are usually only utilised by traditional mainstream sports.
Queensland schools to open for vulnerable children and those of essential workers, others to learn online
Queensland schools to open for term two for vulnerable students and the children of essential workers only, with the majority of students to learn remotely from home.
Man dead and another in hospital after light plane crash on Gold Coast
A man is killed when a light plane clips an overhead cable and crashes at Jacobs Well on the Gold Coast.
NRL island idea remains 'in consideration' as league tries to keep game afloat during coronavirus
Rugby league faces a dangerous financial crunch due to the coronavirus shutdown, but players, clubs and the NRL are working together to ensure the game's future.
More than 20,000 in fitness industry may have lost jobs, as Coronavirus drives trainers to get creative
The closure of gyms and fitness centres across Australia is taking a massive toll on the industry, but trainers are utilising new apps and running classes online to connect with clients in a bid to remain viable during the coronavirus pandemic.
Jessica will swim through shark-infested waters and rips to complete a 100km lap of Moreton Island
Jessica Evans is about to hit the open ocean to swim non-stop around Moreton Island — the equivalent of swimming the English Channel three times.
Being born without eyes won't stop Sean trying to break the record as Australia's youngest cricketer
Teenager Sean Kendrick is on the cusp of being the youngest blind cricketer to represent Australia if he succeeds in getting selected after playing for Queensland at the National Cricket Inclusion Championships.
Australia's women cricketers love T20 and WBBL, but they want to play more Tests
This year's WBBL has again shown the massive interest in T20 cricket, but if you ask the players, they want more women's Test matches in the future.
Next-gen astroturf: Fake sports fields are helping clubs beat the drought — and the water bills
A new $1.5 million sporting field in Brisbane has been laid with fake grass, winning over not only the groundsman as he battles drought-like conditions, but the older, sceptical footballers who are reporting softer falls and less injuries.
There's no one-size-fits-all solution to domestic violence, but Darcia Ondrovcik says CrossFit helped her
Darcia Ondrovcik survived a childhood of horrific family violence. The trauma followed her into adulthood but she's finally found some inner peace through the challenge of CrossFit.
More Queensland schools getting serious about careers in online video gaming
A Queensland Catholic college is the latest high school to get serious about mentoring its students for a future in esports, likening the opportunity to that of a career in more traditional sports like football or cricket.
What it takes to reach the pinnacle of one of the world's most physically and mentally demanding sports
Queenslander Megan Anderson has gone toe-to-toe with the darkness from her own troubled childhood and tough times in the military to find her own sense of freedom as a UFC cage fighter.
'Fight to get myself back in the pool': Shayna Jack vows to clear her name
Suspended Australian swimmer Shayna Jack says she will continue to fight to clear her name, after wrapping a lengthy meeting today with the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority in Brisbane.
Maroons squad announced as Walters names Cherry-Evans his captain
New team, new coaching staff, new strategy — the Queensland Maroons are set to wipe the slate clean in 2019 with a new-look side based in Brisbane's CBD for the first time and expected to be captained by Daly Cherry-Evans.