Tomic to have hip surgery

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BERNARD Tomic will be sidelined for up to three months after scans revealed a mysterious but longstanding hip injury, ruling him out of Australia's Davis Cup tie with France in a fortnight.

Tomic tried to delay surgery until after the January 31-February 2 tie, but was overruled by doctors. He will be operated on in the next week in Melbourne.

Tomic was jeered after retiring hurt one set into his first-round clash with Rafael Nadal last Tuesday, but further scans have confirmed the groin tear was related to his femoralacetabular impingement (FAI).

FAI is a condition affecting the hip joint in young and middle-aged adults, hindering agility and movement.

Dr Martin Clark said Tomic may have been hindered by FAI for up to a decade but expected him to make a full recovery in time for May's French Open.

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"Bernard's injury is complex and resulted from a hip condition called femoralacetabular impingement, which has placed significant limitations on Bernard's agility and speed and places him at constant risk of injury,'' Dr Clark said.

"He requires the surgery in the coming weeks and will likely return to the ATP circuit in three months.

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"Bernard was desperate to delay surgery until after Davis Cup but accepted strong medical advice that it shouldn't be delayed.''

The latest revelation is a blow for the 21-year-old, who had expected to be sidelined for between 1-3 weeks with a groin (adductor longus) tear.

Dr Clark said over a dozen AFL players had undergone the same surgery and returned to a high level of performance.

Presuming the surgery is a success, Dr Clark predicted Tomic would return to the court in career best physical shape.

"He would have had this for some years, at least 10 years. But it's only become very obvious recently and brought to a head with injury,'' he said.

"He wasn't aware that he had the condition (prior to the Australian Open).

"It is remarkable that he has had the success he has had considering this hip condition. The good news is that it can be fixed with surgery with most athletes returning with superior agility and speed.

"It's a condition that a lot of people have.''

Tomic has faced a public backlash since last Tuesday, with many questioning his desire.

He opted to face the press on Wednesday in the wake of the hostile reaction from the home crowd.

"I think I was misunderstood,'' Tomic said.

"The form I was in, I was ready to challenge Rafa and unfortunately this happened.

"I felt like I got booed a little bit on court, which was pretty unfair. I just needed to get my side out, which is obviously the truth and it's important.

"Obviously they (the crowd) thought I was shaking Rafa's hand because he's too good and I'm forfeiting the match because I can't play against him.

"So I needed to say it was my leg.

"I don't think they quite understood that it was my leg. And after, when I started to sort of explain that with my hand signals, they sort of it turned around into an applause.

"But that's the reason why."

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Faulkner cashes in on Gabba heroics

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MOVE over Alessandro Del Piero and Buddy Franklin - James Faulkner has belted his way into the very top echelon of Australian sport's biggest earners.

Faulkner's one-day heroics at the Gabba will be rewarded with annual earnings approaching $3 million, more than A-League or AFL ­superstars earn.

The big hitting all-rounder, who guided Australia to the unlikeliest of wins in Brisbane on Friday night, will leapfrog into the top handful of Cricket Australia contracted players - guaranteeing a $1.5 million payday, three times his current deal.

Given Faulkner's been involved in the past six Tests and his sensational limited overs form, he'll move up alongside David Warner, Brad Haddin and Mitchell Johnson in the ­contract stakes.

Throw in Faulkner's Indian Premier League contract with the Rajasthan Royals, which will leap to $911,000 this year, and various endorsements, and his earnings will leave AFL, ­A-League and NRL stars in the shade.

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Faulkner's manager Gerard Sholly said that Rajasthan had contracted the all-rounder for considerably more than the $456,000 he received last year.

"He was one of the real stars of the IPL last year (he was the second highest wicket-taker) so Rajasthan was pretty keen to get him back again,'' Sholly said.

IPL franchises can this year choose to retain up to five players, keeping them out of the auction pool and the clutches of other franchises, and Rajasthan knew that they had something special with the young Australian all-rounder.

"James is in a good place and let's not forget he is only 23 years old,'' Sholly said.

Faulkner was trending on Twitter after he propelled his side to an amazing ODI win over England at the Gabba on Friday.

His heroics, steering the Aussies from 9-244 to 9-301 and an improbable win, came after he last year belted the fastest ODI century by an Australian player, off 57 balls in India.

In his past eight ODI games for Australia, he has been near on unstoppable, scoring 299 runs at an average of just under 150, including that maiden century.

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And Faulkner has now become a regular part of Australia's Test squad, playing a Test at The Oval in August and being 12th man during all five of Australia's Ashes Test wins this summer.

"He's been a part of our setup for the whole summer and he's obviously an exceptional talent," Australian vice-captain Brad Haddin said yesterday.

"He's a guy's who learns quicker than most.

"He's only young but he takes everything on board. He picks up things and puts them into action."

Captain Michael Clarke endorsed Faulkner as Australia's new Michael Bevan in reference to him becoming the new expert finisher in the limited-overs arena.

Faulkner conceded while his effort sent his confidence sky high, it would mean little in Sunday's third clash with England in Sydney.

"I'm sure next time I go out to bat I'll have a lot of confidence," he said.

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Messi 'back to his best'

Recovery...Barcelona's Lionel Messi during a training session at the Sports Center FC Barcelona Joan Gamper in San Joan Despi, Spain. Picture: AP Source: Manu Fernandez / AP

Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino believes Lionel Messi has fully recovered from a hamstring injury that kept him out for two months and will soon be back to his best.

Messi is expected to start as Barca travel to Levante in La Liga on Sunday after scoring twice in his first start of 2014 as Barca sealed their place in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals with a 2-0 win away to Getafe in midweek.

The four-time World Player of the Year's second goal in particular was spectacular as he dashed past three Getafe defenders before rounding the goalkeeper and finishing from a narrow angle.

Martino had been cautious not to rush his compatriot's return and he even left him on the bench for last weekend's top of the table clash away to Atletico Madrid.

However, he believes the mini pre-season Messi did while he was out injured should prepare him well for the second half of the season.

"From the point of his unfortunate injury, he has done different work from the rest of the squad. What the rest were doing in July and August, he is doing now," he said.

"A footballer like him, with such talent and who is mentally strong, is ready to show us his best form."

A draw against Atletico in Barca's last league outing left them still tied with Diego Simeone's men on 50 points at exactly the midway point in the season.

And with Real Madrid just three points behind in third place, Martino echoed Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti's comments that the eventual champions may have to surpass a league record total of 100 points to win the title.

Brazilian forward Neymar misses the trip to Levante as he has been ruled out for up to four weeks after he sprained his right ankle against Getafe on Thursday.

Andres Iniesta is also out as he continues to recover from a knee knock and Dani Alves is suspended so Martin Montoya is expected to start at right-back.

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Silver for Aussie speed skater

Lightning fast ... Daniel Greig of Australia competes at the ISU World Sprint Speed Skating Championships 2014. Picture: Atsushi Tomura Source: Atsushi Tomura / Getty Images

AUSTRALIAN long track speed skater, Daniel Greig, has produced a breakthrough result at the ISU World Sprint Championships by taking the silver medal in the 500 metre event at in Japan.

Greig finished 0.36 seconds behind one of his best mates and training partners, Michael Mulder from the Netherlands.

Italian Mirko Giacomo Nenzi was third, a further 0.08 seconds back.

It was the first major race of the year and the last big event before the Sochi Games, where Greig will make his Olympic debut as Australia's only long track skater.

Greig's coach, Desly Hill, was delighted with the performance of her 22-year-old charge, who will compete in both the 500m and 1000m races in Sochi.

"Breakthroughs like these are an accumulation of everyone's hard work and Daniel has worked incredibly hard so we are delighted for him," Hill said.

Greig will also compete in the 1000 metre race on Sunday.

"He is smiling today and ready to try again tomorrow in the 1000 metres," Hill said.

Greig's selection to the 2014 Australian Olympic team was formalised just over a week ago and the Victorian spoke about being young in the sport and relatively unknown.

But the podium finish means Greig will no longer be unknown and will head to Sochi with a world class medal in his pocket.

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ADP reveals near-death accident

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ON a sparklingly bright Sydney morning, Alessandro Del Piero is doing the corporate duties he probably enjoys the most - kicking a football around with a group of kids, some of whom really don't have an idea of the fame of their teammate.

But then he too was one of them once, just dreaming of a life in football. Long ago, long before the journey that took him to Juventus, and a World Cup final, and in the end to play out its closing credits at Sydney FC.

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And it's when he recalls that innocent youth, that he also recalls just how close he came to no life at all, let alone one that would make him one of the greatest footballers of all time.

"I love to watch them, because they play with their heart, they play to enjoy and for fun," he says, keen to make sure the children have enough sunscreen on.

"They play to win too, but it's a pure atmosphere, and sometimes I think back to when I was that age, and I ask my brothers what I was like then. I was very young when I was playing, at three or four, but even before that I liked to be with the ball.

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"In Europe you can start with a team around six years old, but at eight or nine I had a crash with a car, I had to rest for more than six months. So it wasn't until I was nine that I could play properly with a team, San Vendemiano.

"It was the second day of the school term in September, I rode my bike and had a big collision with a car. I went to the hospital and spent 15 days in a head brace. Luckily then everything was good, or . . ."

It's a big "or" because by then he was marked out as one of the young elite, and already had an infatuation with the game that it had to be his life.

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"I have always loved to play the game, every moment of the day, but maybe at seven, maybe a bit before, it was my life - I dreamt about football, thought about it, talked about it, all the time," he said.

"With my teammates, it was clear there were two or three of us better than the others. But it still needed constant work to improve, and that's a good state of mind."

That, you'd think, would be the message he tries to impart to the children with whom he unflaggingly poses for photos and autographs, but there's a simpler philosophy that he's adamant is the way to get every child into playing sport, let alone football.

Alessandro Del Piero of Sydney FC. Source: Getty Images

"With children you have to think of the age - for sure they have to enjoy it, first," he said. "It's not only win, win, win or improve, improve, improve. If they enjoy it first, then you can help them with some smart thinking. Let them play, let them enjoy.

"But in the end if they improve it's good for everyone because they learn something different. You give them the knowledge, to make right decisions and become better.

"Football is a great place to start to give energy to children. They dream about football, and becoming a footballer, and if they have a chat with you or a picture with you, it can inspire them for life. It's exactly what happened with me when I was a child."

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Faulkner delivers masterclass in poise

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THERE are seasoned international players who go a career without showing the poise James Faulkner displayed under pressure on Friday night.

Twenty20 run chases have broadened the boundaries of run chasing.

More than a decade ago Michael Bevan used to tell his team-mates that they always had more time than they thought they had in run chases.

Now they actually believe it because Twenty20 has shown them it's true.

To see Faulkner quietly whittle down a 10-run per over run chase as if he was putting together a jsigaw puzzle was a masterclass in poise under pressure.

James Faulkner launches a big hit for Australia at the Gabba. Picture: Peter Wallis Source: News Limited

He knew he had the grenades to score quickly at the end so there were even times he rejected singles to stay on strike.

He just had to make sure he and his partner Clint McKay did not panic.

Faulkner has been floating around the national team for a while and Friday night's innings introduced him as a fully-fledged star because it confirmed that he has the heart for the big occasion.

He is a natural born competitor who wallows in the heat of battle.

Many other players would have crumbled under the pressure. He fed off it.

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When Faulkner clubbed the winning cover drive for a victory for the ages England's players stood motionless as if a UFO had suddenly landed on the ground.

They could not believe what they had seen.

There's only one thing more dispiriting thing than playing badly and losing a cricket match.

That's playing well and still losing. Slapping a right cross fair on your opponent's chin and having them smile and wink back.

Australia, courtesy of Faulkner's stunning cameo, were the team with the smile and wink.

When you slap down 300 in a 50 over match you expect to win.

But Australia just has England's number at the moment.

Friday night's loss will be yet another stake through the bleeding heart of an England cricket side who may need to be put in padded cells when they go home such has been the torment of this tour.

James Faulkner is cheered off the Gabba by his Australian teammates. Source: Getty Images

It was a night for Australia's bright young talents to shine and the game also showcased the skills of quirky Australian batsman Glenn Maxwell.

Not too many original products spin off the cricket production line these days but Maxwell is one of them.

Australia has never had a batsman with his mindset.

It has fielded many players bold enough to attempt the reverse sweep but his effort to successfully attempt it three times in a row for three boundaries was something he alone would attempt.

No sooner was his dismissed lashing out than fans on Twitter were criticising him for being too outlandish but high-rollers always win and lose big.

His international career will be fun to watch and filled with thrills and spills and local fans may just have to accept that the brilliant will occasionally be accompanied by the banana peel slips ups.

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Berisha sent off in Glory stalemate

Besart Berisha of the Roar is shown the red card by referee Kris Griffiths-Jones. Source: Paul Kane / Getty Images

PERTH Glory was unable to take advantage of a Brisbane Roar outfit forced to play with 10 men for more than an hour as the teams drew 0-0 at nib Stadium on Friday night.

Roar striker Besart Berisha, making his first start since returning from injury, was sensationally sent off after being booked for two aerial challenges on Glory defender Michael Thwaite in the first half.

Perth pressed desperately for a late winner, with Chris Harold's overhead kick in stoppage time almost earning all three points.

Re-live the action - with video highlights, stats, play-by-play updates and polls - at our A-League Match Centre.

But Glory created few clear cut chances for the night, with Brisbane good value for the point as Roar recorded its first draw of the season.

Berisha, whose last-minute theatrical tumble against Glory won Brisbane the 2011/12 Grand Final, was well aware he was the villain when roundly booed by the nib Stadium crowd as the teams were introduced.

The booing for the controversial Roar marksman got even louder just seconds after kick-off when he clattered into Thwaite to earn an early yellow card.

Thomas Broich of the Roar contest for the ball against Jacob Burns and Adrian Zahra of the Glory. Source: Getty Images

Berisha left the ground and crashed into Thwaite with another clumsy challenge in the 31st minute, earning his second yellow card and his marching orders after leading with his boot.

Glory goalkeeper Danny Vukovic was handed a yellow card for his role in an ensuing melee.

Socceroos great Stan Lazaridis believed Vukovic was lucky to not have joined Berisha in having an early shower.

"I've seen players sent off for raising a hand and maybe another ref might not have been so kind,'' Lazaridis said.

Tempers flare at nib Stadium between Daniel Vukovic of the Glory and Luek Brattan of the Roar. Source: Getty Images

Despite being reduced numerically, Brisbane dominated the early stages of the second half and Henrique wasted a wonderful opportunity to give the visitors the advantage when he struck over the top of the crossbar in the 47th minute.

Perth marquee defender William Gallas started in his return from seven weeks out with a calf injury.

Gallas was substituted out of the game at half-time and replaced by Jack Clisby as a pre-planned precaution.

Fellow Glory defender Josh Risdon came on as a second-half substitute, his first appearance since Round 2 after recovering from a knee injury.

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Champ Djokovic in cruise control

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NOVAK Djokovic eased into the Australian Open fourth round with a comfortable victory over Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan on Friday night.

Djokovic, seeking his fourth Australian Open title in a row and fifth overall, won 6-3, 6-3, 7-5 in front of a lively crowd at Rod Laver Arena.

Once Djokovic cruised to a 3-1 lead in the opening set, there was no stopping him.

He grabbed an early break again and and hit 13 winners to Istomin's three to claim the second.

Another break had Djokovic ahead at the start of the third set before Istomin began pressing on his own service game.

STOSUR BEATEN IN THREE SETS

The world No.49 thrilled the crowd with some great retrievals but he was unable to reach break point against his No.2-seeded opponent.

That was until Djokovic, serving for the match at 5-4, committed a double-fault, apparently distracted by someone shouting from the stands.

Istomin converted when Djokovic netted a forehand but the Serbian broke back immediately, prompting a huge roar from the man who would again serve for victory.

This time he made no mistake, claiming the match after a fraction under two hours.

Djokovic will next play Italian No.15 seed Fabio Fognini, who defeated Sam Querrey of the United States 7-5, 6-4, 6-4.

GALLERY: HOTTEST SHOTS FROM DAY 5

Meanwhile, after conceding the first set, Tommy Robredo upset ninth-seeded Frenchman Richard Gasquet.

The Spanish world No.18 won 2-6, 7-5, 6-4, 7-6 (8-6) after three hours and 18 minutes to advance to the fourth round, where he will face eighth seed Stanislas Wawrinka.

The Pole secured his place with a walkover after Canadian Vasek Pospisil was forced out with the back injury he had overcome to knock Australian Matthew Ebden out in the second round.

SEE HOW DAY 5 UNFOLDED IN OUR LIVE COVERAGE BELOW

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Sharapova sloppy but through

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MARIA Sharapova has clawed her way into the Australian Open second round Tuesday with a straight-sets win over Bethanie Mattek-Sands as she seeks her first Grand Slam title since the 2012 French Open.

The glamorous Russian, on the comeback trail from a shoulder injury that forced her off the tour in August, battled past the tough American 6-3, 6-4 but her game was marred by too many errors and a serve that failed to fire.

"After (missing) my last Grand Slam in New York I have been so looking forward to this one and I was really happy to start,'' she said.

"She was a tough opponent and I'm just happy to get through the first one.

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"I have had trouble against her in the past and I knew it would be no different tonight.''

Sharapova was playing aggressive tennis and forcing errors from the American, which cost her dearly with the third seed racing to a 4-0 lead in the first set.

But the colourful Mattek-Sands, sporting purple dyed hair and her trademark knee socks, forced her way back into the game when Sharapova drove a forehand long to give her a glimmer of hope.

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She held serve to go 4-2 and nearly got back to 4-3 with the Russian struggling with her service game, but failed to make the most of her opportunities with Sharapova closing out an error-riddled set in 48 minutes.

Sharapova got the break she was looking for in the third game of the second set, striking a powerful forehand down the line.

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Mattek-Sands fought back but the end was in sight with the Russian breaking again in the ninth game and serving out for a match in which she made 28 unforced errors and converted only half of her eight break points.

Earlier, world No. 2 Victorian Azarenka has begun the defence of her Australian Open crown with a straight-sets win on a blistering Rod Laver Arena.

But the win proved far from routine for the second seed.

Azarenka's opponent Johanna Larsson twice served for the first set only to lose it in a tie-breaker that swung the match the way of her highly-ranked opponent.

Azarenka settled the issue 7-6 (7-2) 6-2, her major regret being the 106 minutes she had to spend on court in temperatures approaching 40 degrees.

"It would have been nice to get it over quicker,'' Azarenka said.

"But it is a win and that's the main thing.''

Azarenka joined 10th seed Caroline Wozniacki in the second round after the Dane spent the minimum of time disposing of Spain's Lourdes Dominguez Lino 6-0 6-2.

Another who wasted as little time as possible in the sweltering heat was Romanian 11th seed Simona Halep, who beat Katarzina Piter of Poland 6-0 6-1 in 54 minutes while Spanish 16th seed Carla Suarez Navarro overcame the heat and America's Vania King 6-3 6-2.

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VB's Achilles cut a freak accident

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ADELAIDE will this week review its fitness equipment and safety practices but the club believes skipper Nathan van Berlo's season threatening achilles tendon injury was the result of a freak accident.

Van Berlo will be out of football until at least August after rupturing his achilles on Monday when he was struck by a weighted training sled which cut through his heel and tendon, at Max Basheer Reserve.

MORE: NO TALK OF CHOOSING AN ACTING CAPTAIN UNTIL LATER

A spokesperson for the club said, with no vision, it was difficult to determine how the incident occurred and the club's football department would conduct an internal review.

The review, to include high performance manager Nick Poulos and coach Brenton Sanderson, will centre around the training sleds, but the club is confident there is no safety issue.

Widely used across the AFL and part of the Crow's program for years, the sleds are loaded with weights and strapped to the athlete.

The athlete then pulls the sled while sprinting as a form of sprint training.

The Crows could not confirm whether van Berlo was struck by a sled he was pulling, or a sled pulled by another player.

Club doctor Andrew Potter said it was initially suspected 182-game veteran van Berlo had suffered a cut to the heel.

Former Crow Phil Davis dragging a sled with weights, similar to the one that injured captain Nathan van Berlo. Source: News Limited

The club took him to hospital as a precaution where scans revealed the injury was far worse.

"We're not entirely sure exactly what happened and the club is still looking into that, but suffice to say it was during a warm up,'' Dr Potter said.

"They were doing some speed work and some strength work.

"One of the things that is used in many sports and widely across the AFL is they use those sleds that they pull, which are weighted.

"For some reason, Nathan was struck on the back of the heel by one of those sleds.

"Now the circumstance of that we're not sure of. We're still looking into that but that's how it happened."

Leading SA athletics coach Steve Butler said he regularly used sleds in training with his athletes and rated the risk of being struck as low. But he said precaution was required.

Butler successfully used sleds when training Olympic medallist Mark Ormorod for the 2004 Games in Athens and currently uses them with Paralympian Gabriel Cole.

"For elite level training they are a necessary part and the benefits outweigh the risk,'' said Butler, also West Adelaide Football Club fitness coach.

"I'm not sure what happened (with van Berlo) but there is a slight risk and you have to be careful.

"If the athlete does not pull up properly from a sprint, for example, the sled could slide into the back of him if (the sled) is not heavily weighted."

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The big boot of Richards is back

Pat Richards, back with the Wests Tigers, pictured at their Concord Oval base. pic mark evans Source: Mark Evans / News Limited

PAT Richards knows exactly where the Steeden needs to be kicked. A sweet spot that, when found, sends balls higher than ANZ Stadium beer prices.

"But you have to watch hours of Andrew Johns video to learn it," the Wests Tigers favourite grins. "At least, that's how it started for me."

After eight outstanding years in the English Super League - a run which included grand final and Challenge Cup triumphs, one Man of Steel award, even stints with Ireland - Richards is back in Sydney and ready to reclaim that tag for which he is most famed, "Biggest Boot in the NRL''.

Pat Richards of Wigan celebrates after scoring. Source: Getty Images

Yep, in Richards, 31, you have a Wests Tigers winger whose arsenal of drop-outs, drop goals, conversions, even kick-offs are a thing of legend.

And for proof, join the 100,000 league fans who, on YouTube, have watched replays of Richards' famed 45m field goal against St Helens this year. A kick which, from out near the left sideline, rivals that famed 1996 cracker by Western Suburbs Magpie Andrew Willis, which wobbled a whopping 48m to sink North Sydney.

"I was actually at a promotion the other day and all the fans wanted to talk about was that drop goal,'' Richards laughs.

Pat Richards, back with the Wests Tigers, pictured at their Concord Oval base. pic mark evans Source: News Limited

"It's crazy... there has been a lot of talk but that one, it was totally off the cuff. I got thrown the ball on the last and just decided to have a go."

Elsewhere, the Tigers winger has also been known to send drop-outs 70m on the full. And as for his kick-offs? Well, in 2005 NRL officials actually apprehended his kicking tee and, after putting a measuring tape over every inch, deemed it illegal.

"The idea for your kick-offs is to get the ball twisting,'' Richards explains. "When you get it high, moving around in the air, it means the person underneath it has to start moving too. That's exactly what you want."

Pat Richards, back with the Wests Tigers, pictured at their Concord Oval base. pic mark evans Source: News Limited

And as for his hang time?

"I haven't really timed them in terms of seconds or anything,'' the 2005 NRL premiership player continues. "My goal is to get the ball as high as possible. The high kick-offs are something I definitely work hard on."

After initially planning on a two-year stint in the UK, Richards stayed eight.

"So it was time for a new challenge,'' he says. "There are a lot of things I still want to achieve in the NRL and, at 31, I couldn't delay it any longer. There are a lot of good young players here at Wests Tigers. Just making the side is going to be tough."

FIVE GREAT FIELD GOALS

1. Andrew Willis (Western Suburbs)

Magpies playmaker inked his name in league folklore in 1996 when a wobbly drop goal travelled 48m to sink the Bears.

2. Shaun Timmins (NSW)

A great left-footer from 38m in the 83rd minute to clinch the Blues victory in game one of the 2004 Origin series.

3. Nathan Merritt (South Sydney)

Rabbitohs winger earned the 2009 Peter Frilingos Award - for headline moment of the year - after booting a sensational last-ditch field goal against Wests Tigers at the SCG.

4. Cooper Cronk (Queensland)

With the Maroons gone, Cronk kicked an inch-perfect drop goal to win Queensland the 2012 Origin series in game three.

5. Braith Anasta (Roosters, pictured right)

A dramatic Anasta drop goal in the final seconds against the Tigers sends the Roosters into extra time and eventually the 2010 grand final.

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NRL move 'is good for England'

'Advantage' ... England coach Steve McNamara says England will be better off as he becomes a part-time coach for the national team. Source: News Limited

ENGLAND coach Steve McNamara believes his move to Australia will improve the national team's chances of ending their elusive search for major silverware.

The 42-year-old began his new job this week as an assistant coach of NRL champions Sydney Roosters but remains as enthusiastic as ever about his England role, despite going part-time.

McNamara's full-time contract with the Rugby Football League ended with England's heartbreaking exit from the World Cup in November, but he is keen to build on the progress he feels was made in his four years at the helm.

He will begin his preparations for the 2014 Four Nations Series with a get-together on Thursday with his Sydney-based England players, along with Warrington forwards Chris Hill and Ben Westwood, who are in the New South Wales capital on their club's pre-season training camp.

Although there is unlikely to be a mid-season international this year, McNamara plans to return to the UK in the summer to supervise a training camp and, in the meantime, his assistant Paul Deacon will oversee the continued development of the Super League-based elite training squad, starting with a get-together in early March.

"I think it's a huge advantage for the England national team for me to be out here, based in the NRL," McNamara told Press Association Sport.

"Obviously there are a fair few of our players are out here and all our opposition are out here so it's a logical one for me.

McNamara said the England program was strong, as were the people leading it there.

"There are a lot of things in place and I am really confident we can continue driving some of the things that we did over the last three or four years."

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Fittler comeback moves a step closer

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BRAD Fittler's shock return to rugby league moved a step closer to reality yesterday as the Sydney Roosters and the NRL met to discuss his involvement in the Auckland Nines next month.

Fittler has signalled his intention to emerge from a 10-year hiatus to play in the inaugural tournament at Eden Park and the Roosters are quietly confident the game's governing body will help pave the way for the former Kangaroos skipper's return.

Roosters football boss Brian Canavan met with the NRL's chief operating officer Jim Doyle to discuss the issue at Rugby League Central at Moore Park as the NRL returned from its summer break.

"It was a formal discussion with the NRL seeking permission for Brad to return and covering topics such as contracts and insurance as is the convention," Canavan said.

"We are hopeful that by the end of the week we will have done everything required and Brad's comeback can be officially confirmed."

Fittler has begun training with the NRL premiers whose full squad returned to the paddock for the first time yesterday since their grand final triumph over Manly in October.

Sonny Bill Williams, whose involvement in the short-form tournament on the weekend of February 15-16 is up in the air, began his pre-season for what could be his final year in the NRL after he committed to New Zealand Rugby Union from 2015.

Each NRL team is required to submit their squad for the Nines by 5pm February 10.

Under tournament regulations each side is required to field one of their top five paid players and 12 of their top 25 players.

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SA youngster's dream Roos debut

Ryan Kitto of Australia during the AFC U-22 Championship match against Kuwait. Source: Francois Nel / Getty Images

COACH Aurelio Vidmar's 1-0 Olyroos win over Kuwait had a distinctive SA flavour when Ryan Kitto jagged the winner on Monday.

The South Australian-born former Reds boss blooded Adelaide- products, Adelaide United's Kitto, reserve keeper John Hall and Melbourne Heart's Stefan Mauk in the starting XI to help get the Olyroos off to a perfect Group C start at the AFC under-22 championship in Oman.

Jake Barker-Daish made up Adelaide United's starting contingent.

Kitto scored his debut Olyroos international goal midway through the second half when he put the ball past Kuwait keeper Sulaiman Abdulghafoorn after a perfect assist from Mauk.

Ryan Ryan Kitto of Australia. Source: Getty Images

Vidmar was pleased with Kitto's performance declaring the West Torrens Birkalla product had a blinder after scoring.

"Ryan Kitto was a different player after the goal,'' Vidmar said.

"There were a lot of good performances all over the park.

"Our defence was very good and the goalkeeper and central midfielders worked very hard."

Vidmar was pleased with the Australian's opening to the clash but declared the side needed some fine tuning.

A 10th minute save from Hall and Oman hitting the woodwork twice ensured the Olyroos kept a clean sheet.

Ryan Kitto (L) of Australia competes for the ball with Ahmad Rashed (R) of Kuwait. Source: Getty Images

"I'm very happy with the win,'' Vidmar said.

"Although we started the game quite strongly in the first 15 minutes, we lost our way for much of the first half.

"In the second half we controlled the game for long periods and dominated possession.

"The players were nervous at the beginning, but once that period was over their confidence grew."

Vidmar is using the tournament as a warm up to next year's Asian Football Confederation's Olympic Games qualifiers which will have the same groups format.

With a 2016 Rio Olympic Games berth at stake Vidmar has stated that he needed to test players in an international environment before the qualifiers after the Olympic team failed to qualify for the 2012 London Games.

Australia now heads the group after the opening round when Japan and Iran drew 3-3.

The Olyroos face Iran tonight at the Royal Oman Police Stadium, Muscat before meeting Japan on Thursday night to complete its group stage commitments.

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Earthquake alert for Slipper

Trainer Peter Snowden has warned punter's over Earthquake's short Golden Slipper odds. Source: Mark Evans / News Limited

PETER Snowden has a big opinion of Earthquake but he has warned punters not to dive into the short quote about the filly for the Golden Slipper.

The TAB will on Tuesday morning release its first Slipper market, with Darley speedster Earthquake listed the $5 favourite for the $3.5 million two-year-old showdown on April 5.

Gai Waterhouse's Fighting Sun will be installed $8 second favourite, and Magic Millions Classic winner Unencumbered is the third elect at $11.

Earthquake won her only start in sizzling time in November, but Snowden said he wanted to see his youngster ­repeat the explosive performance before getting too carried away about her.

The filly will have a jump-out in Melbourne on January 30 before being aimed at the Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m) on February 8, en route to the $1 million Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) a fortnight later.

Gai Waterhouse's Fighting Sun is second favourite for the Golden Slipper. Source: No Source

Earthquake is also the $3.50 TAB favourite ahead of Fighting Sun ($6.50), the Waterhouse colt who won't be seen until next month.

"There was a lot to like about her first win but I've said from day one, one win doesn't make a good horse,'' Snowden said. "You'd like to see her do it again.

"Her win was dynamic, her time was great, and the way she did it was fantastic. But I'd wait until you see her again in Melbourne before (punters) go crazy. Quite often they get trapped quickly on them, but I'm a great believer in seeing them do it again before you lock them in (at short prices).

"She does have class, I'll say that much.''

Only two horses have completed the Blue Diamond-Golden Slipper double in the past 35 years. One of those horses was Snowden's Sepoy, who ruled in 2011.

As for Earthquake winning the double, Snowden said: "It's very hard to do the double, but the reason I aimed this filly at the Blue Diamond is because she's so precocious and she's had the perfect preparation.

"It can be done, you've got five or six weeks between races. On paper the Diamond will only be her second run (this preparation). If her form warrants it, I'll talk to the team and get their thoughts, but she won't be over-taxed by the Blue Diamond.''

Snowden said all of his Slipper hopes had either trialled or raced. He also liked Memorial and Kumaon.

Five-time Slipper winner Waterhouse has Echo Gal and Cyclone to bounce back after the Magic Millions, as well as Fighting Sun and Law, while she also listed the likes of Important - one of two Darley horses at Tulloch Lodge - and unraced Redoute's Choice colt Hampton Court as contenders.

"I'm aware of my Golden Slipper horses in June, they expose themselves early in their preparation,'' Waterhouse said.

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How mum's text brought Jamal to tears

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A TEXT message from his mum on Saturday night left Jamal Idris in tears and reminded him he made the right move to return to Sydney and join the Panthers.

The larger-than-life Idris met his Penrith teammates for the first time yesterday, then opened up about why being with his mother, Alana, left him with no option but to quit the Gold Coast two years into a $1.8 million, five-year deal.

Not only is Idris's signing a boost to the new-look Panthers, the dreadlocked giant's popularity is also sure to be used by the NRL in its on-going turf war with the AFL out west.

Idris quipped about the rival code: "AFL? I've read books about that game.''

Jamal Idris does his first media session with Penrith. Source: News Limited

The 23-year-old said he struggled with being isolated on the Gold Coast, so much so he couldn't bare another winter away from his mother. He has since moved into her home at Regents Park.

"Mum has been sick, and it was hard up there by myself,'' Idris said. "I had an awkward moment on Saturday. I'd been to the races earlier, and she sent me a message out of nowhere which said, 'My boy, I'm just listening to (Helen Reddy's 1973 No.1 classic) Delta Dawn, and it reminded me of you'. I used to sing that song to her when she dropped me off at school. I had a couple of tears.

"I tried flying mum up to the Gold Coast, but it was too much for her.''

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Idris said he made good friends on the holiday strip, but was disappointed injury prevented him from reaching the heights that earned him Blues and Kangaroos jumpers at the start of his career.

As for this season, Idris said his goals were simple.

"As long as I'm injury-free, I'll be happy, because that will mean I'm on the field every week,'' Idris said.

"It's funny because the majority of people ask me about (representative footy), but I don't think about that.

"I'm not thinking about the Blues, I'm not thinking about Australia, I'm not thinking about anything other than playing for this club.

"I was even thinking about the Auckland Nines today, but I don't know if I'll be playing.

"At the moment I'm 120kg. I was playing at that weight in 2012 when I was injured. I started last year around 116kg and 117kg, and it usually rolls down to around 113kg. I'm happy here. I smiled today. I've been smiling all day.''

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You have to wonder how much Idris's former club Canterbury could have done with his services in the centres, especially with the pending move of Josh Morris to fullback.

It was left to Panthers general manager Phil Gould to play a crucial role in securing Idris's move.

As Idris said: "Gus is the kind of bloke who talks to you and makes you feel like a school kid again. He has that sort of influence over you.''

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Heat coach gives players a serve

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STUART Law wanted the Gabba to become a fortress. Instead it remains a torture chamber for the battling Brisbane Heat.

Despite the urgings of a record crowd, the Heat fell to their sixth loss from their past eight home matches spanning two summers on Saturday night to leave their hopes of defending the Big Bash title on the brink of extinction.

Modest batting gave the Heat a below par total of 7-144 which the Stars ran down in the last over.

The Heat, with just two wins from six games, finish the fixture rounds with away games against Adelaide on Saturday and the Hurricanes in Hobart five days later.

There is a chance that winning both games would allow them to sneak into the finals but that is far from certain.

"Our hopes of making the semis are pretty slim," Heat coach Law said.

"We are relying on other results and that is a horrible place to be. You never like to rely on other people to get you there.

"I wanted the Gabba to be a fortress but it has not turned out that way. We have played pretty timid cricket and have not executed well enough.

"There has been some mental blockages and we have probably got too funky at times and forgotten about the basics. That can happen when you get under pressure.

"Everyone has to look at themselves in the mirror. We are making the same mistakes over and over. We are going to have to sit down and discuss our options.

"I keep hearing that Ben Cutting should bat higher but if the top six are doing their jobs it would not be up to him.''

Test star Ryan Harris and experienced spin duo Dan Vettori and Nathan Hauritz are likely to be fit from injury for Saturday's match, and the Heat will hope their arrivals are not too late to make a difference.

Harris will have a medical on Wednesday and Cricket Australia will have the final say on whether he is available after battling a knee injury for most of the summer.

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Becker to give Novak edge: Wilander

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IN full flight, unrestrained physically and emotionally, Boris Becker was a formidable presence. Not that Mats Wilander ever thought too much about it during the celebrated pair's 10-match rivalry.

Polar opposites in personality and style, Becker and Wilander were the sport's yin and yang.

Wilander had Becker's respect but it was a vastly different story for the infantrymen unfortunate enough to cross Becker's path during his six-major career.

In shedding light on how Australian Open defending champion Novak Djokovic is likely to benefit most from Becker's appointment as coach, Wilander offered examples of the German's supreme winning attitude.

"Becker can help Djokovic with the mental part," Wilander said.

"I think mentally Djokovic's is not as strong and not as stubborn as (Rafael) Nadal.

"He showed that at Wimbledon against (Andy) Murray, he showed that in the US Open against Nadal and he's shown that against Murray the year before in the US Open final.

"Of course, we're talking about perfection but, for him to be perfect, he has to be mentally better.

"If he plays a bad point, he has to be straight back for the next point - and not just for himself, but in the other player's eyes. That's where Becker was so excellent.

Declaring he has nothing to offer the top players in the quest for perfection, Wilander is intrigued by Becker's move into coaching.

It follows Murray's successful liaison with another former world No.1 and grand slam winner Ivan Lendl and Roger Federer's move to lure Stefan Edberg back onto the circuit.

Wilander says the elite players needs only minor technical and tactical tinkering.

Which is what Becker's collaboration with Djokovic is all the more significant.

"Becker had no limits," Wilander said.

"For him, it wasn't 'I have to play well today and hope to win.' For him it was 'OK, this is who I'm playing, this is the final and this is what I have to do.' And that was that.

"He just believed he could raise his level all the time. He believed he could win the French (Open) from the baseline which, as it turns out, was the wrong way to go about it.

"But that's him being stubborn and I think Djokovic could sometimes use a little more stubbornness and Becker is perfect for that."

Becker's on-court persona was so strident many opponents were beaten before they walked on court - and the Kaiser of the Court did everything to ensure his aura never waned in battle.

Wilander says fellow Swede Edberg can improve Federer - technically.

"Edberg can help Federer with his volley skills and how you move at the net and, on the few times he comes to the net, how to be a little more confident," he said.

"The net's really the only place Federer can go to have a chance against the best in the world because from the baseline only, it's not going to be possible.

"When he comes to the net, he's got to be better at it."

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Trouble awaits Stosur's Open run

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SAMANTHA Stosur embarks on tennis's version of Mission Impossible today when the big local hope launches her Australian Open campaign at Melbourne Park.

As if opening up against an opponent who whipped her three days earlier isn't unnerving enough, the tennis gods have thrust Stosur into a landmine section of the draw headed by world No.1 Serena Williams.

Already psychologically battered from years of flops at her home grand slam, Stosur will now likely need to beat the winners of all three major lead-up events just to make the quarter-finals.

That's if she can first get past Klara Zakopalova today.

The veteran Czech upended the Australian No.1 in straight sets in the Hobart International semi-finals last week.

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Stosur hopes her home crowd can play a positive part in starting her Australian Open. "I know sometimes that can really lift you and maybe help you get through some of those tough moments during a match,'' said Stosur, who is desperate to improve on her previous best Australian Open result - reaching the fourth round in 2006 and 2010.

If Stosur survives today, she is then projected to meet Sydney International champion Tsvetana Pironkova in the second round, Auckland Classic winner Ana Ivanovic in the third round and Williams, who reigned at the Brisbane International, in the last 16 - should they all progress.

The 17th seed could not possibly have been handed a more devilish draw.

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Little wonder Stosur isn't looking beyond Zakopalova and "trying to rectify any problems" she had in Friday's 6-3 6-2 loss to the world No.37.

It will be the third time they have met in the first round of the Australian Open, with Stosur winning both encounters, in 2007 and 2009.

"I probably would like to return a little bit better," Stosur said. "Cut down those errors, obviously, but still play the way I want to play. I know how I want to play and be aggressive and try to hit winners."

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Stosur isn't the only Australian with a treacherous draw.

Teenage wildcard Ashleigh Barty has the biggest ask of the lot, up against top seed Williams at Rod Laver Arena tonight.

"Look, playing Serena is always a tough prospect," Stosur said. "I think Ash has to go out there, soak it all up, really enjoy the moment. Obviously she's not expected to win.

"But go out there and have as much fun as you can."

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Berisha going nowhere in January

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BESART Berisha has quashed any thought of a January departure from Brisbane, saying his sole objective was regaining the A-League championship in what could be his final season in Roar colours.

With his Brisbane contract expiring at the end of the ­current campaign, the A-League's best striker said he was set to make a decision on his future next month for his and the Roar's sake.

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The 28-year-old Albanian international has already ­attracted interest from cashed-up A-League clubs, including Sydney and Newcastle, while he is also considering a return to Europe for family reasons.

However, Berisha declared he would not be leaving Australia during the current transfer window, having some unfinished business to take care of in Brisbane.

"Clubs have called but I'm definitely staying here until the end of the season,'' said Berisha, who scored in his comeback from a hip injury in first-placed Brisbane's 2-1 loss to Adelaide United at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday.

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"All I'm focused on is ­winning the title. I can see us winning it and I don't want to be distracted by anything else.

"I'll probably decide what I'm going to do by the end of February, which is only fair to the club."

Roar fans have got a taste this season of life without ­Berisha, who has missed six of Brisbane's 14 games through injury.

For the first time in 64 A-League appearances, the ­former Hamburg marksman was named among the Roar substitutes on Saturday in his return from his latest two-match ­absence.

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It was a brave call from ­Brisbane coach Mike Mulvey, but Berisha backed the decision, saying he was not fully fit and that it would have been difficult to change an attack that had performed so well in scoring eight goals in the ­previous two games.

"This is part of football and you need to be professional about these things. It's normal to start on the bench in this situation," he said.

"If I'm (fully) fit, I believe I play from the start and everyone at the club respects that.

"The way I was used on ­Saturday was perfect. A striker doesn't need to play 90 minutes. You can score a goal in five minutes on the field."

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Berisha played for 35 minutes against Adelaide and inspired a 10-man Roar, who earlier had Diogo Ferreira sent off, with both his goal and his enthusiasm.

Mulvey said his leading marksman had made a "strong case" for a return to the starting side this Friday when the Roar visit Perth to meet the Glory.

It could be a decision made easier by the potential unavailability of marquee man Thomas Broich, who was left battered and bruised by the brutal Reds.

Shane Stefanutto (L) of the Roar screams out to the referee for a penalty. Source: Getty Images

Socceroos fullback Ivan Franjic, a late withdrawal on Saturday because of a stomach strain, is also facing at least another week on the sidelines, where he will be joined by the suspended Ferreira.

Franjic's weekend absence led to an unexpected start for Shane Stefanutto, who had missed the previous 10 matches with a hamstring injury.

Mulvey defended his decision to start Stefanutto ahead of Jack Hingert despite the veteran's early error leading to Adelaide's first goal from Jeronimo.

"Shane had done all the work. He was ready to play," Mulvey said.

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