Gutsy Magpies notch famous win

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THERE have been plenty of brave ones over the years, but this Collingwood win was right up there.

Down two men in the second half, lacking cohesion in the first half, and without significant contributions from their key forwards, the Pies somehow cobbled together a courageous eight-point win over West Coast at the MCG.

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Last week the Pies fumbled and bumbled their way to a 21-point loss in Adelaide. Their ball use had been atrocious against the Crows, but the jury was out on whether the Crows were that good or the Pies just had a horribly off day.

Travis Cloke and Dane Swan celebrate the winning goal. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: News Corp Australia

In the opening half against West Coast, it seemed that there were legitimate questions about the Pies' ability to cope with the ferocity the Eagles brought to the contest.

West Coast's midfield was on top of its more vaunted opposition, initially at the centre bounces, but also in general play. The exemplar was Matt Priddis, who won his normal mountain of contested possession and chipped in with two goals.

Nathan Brown injured his shoulder in the first term and was subbed from the ground. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: News Corp Australia

Scott Selwood was equally impressive, countering Pies skipper Scott Pendlebury and winning mounds of possessions in his own right.

In the rooms before the match, West Coast coach Adam Simpson had sought to spur on his charges by asking for a show of hands from all of those involved in the Eagles' previous win over Collingwood at the MCG. Reportedly only one hand went up: that of assistant coach Don Pyke, who played in that four-point win in Round 2, 1995.

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The ploy seemed to work early. The first quarter began with both teams producing free-flowing football reminiscent of the mid-'90s: the lead changed five times and ten goals were kicked as the ball pinged from end to end.

The key difference between the teams early in the match was that West Coast's disposal efficiency was at 68 per cent, while the Pies were hitting targets about half of the time.

Jamie Elliott couldn't complete this Mark of the Year nomination. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: News Corp Australia

West Coast was prepared to switch play to stretch Collingwood and counter its attempts to apply pressure through the midfield.

The match remained in the balance through the second and third quarters, and it looked as though the Eagles might run away with it.

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But Collingwood dug deep, and it was the team leaders who had their hands on the shovels.

Pendlebury, who had flashed in and out of the contest in the opening half with touches of class, was enormous in the last quarter, creating scoring opportunities and producing a crucial running goal. He had 11 disposals, while midfield mates Dayne Beams (9) and Dan Swan (8) also lifted.

Elliot Yeo had two teeth knocked out on the halftime siren. Photo by Michael Dodge Source: Getty Images

But the greatest Pies contributor throughout was Jamie Elliott, who only had 17 possessions but set the example by scrapping, chasing, tackling, handballing and doing all of the team aspects of the match throughout. He chipped in with two vitals goals in the final term and came close to taking mark of the year I the opening term.

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Collingwood's backmen were also incredibly brave throughout. The Pies had to patch together a backline after it lost key defenders Nathan Brown (shoulder) and Jack Frost (concussion).

Alan Toovey was superb on Jack Darling, while Tyson Goldsack — having scrapped manfully in the forward line in the first half — was sent to back to counter Josh Kennedy.

Nic Naitanui flies high and falls hard. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: News Corp Australia

Nick Maxwell played the third-man-up to a tee, and Heritier Lumumba dropped back from his wing to constantly help run the ball out of defence.

At the other end of the ground the Pies had headaches. Travis Cloke continued his wretched run of form, managing just two disposals in the first half. Admittedly Collingwood's delivery into the forward 50 was often haphazard, but it did not excuse the fact that he looked woefully out of touch and horribly slow.

Dayne Swan salutes a last quarter goal. Picture: Wayne Ludbey AFLR1014 Source: News Corp Australia

Cloke has spoken about how his first touch impacts on his overall mindset: his first possession came seven minutes into the match, after he gathered a loose ball on his defensive 50, and was a tentative short kick to a nest of three Eagles that led to a West Coast shot on goal.

He had a game to forget --- until the 28th minute mark of the final quarter, when a scrubby Elliott snap hit him on the chest. Cloke's first touch may have been a shocker, but his last sealed the match for Collingwood.

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WARWICK GREEN'S BEST

COLLINGWOOD: Elliott, Pendlebury, Lumumba, Blair, Goldsack, Sidebottom, Macaffer, Toovey.

WEST COAST: Priddis, Selwood, Glass, Yeo, Gaff, Rosa, Naitanui.

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Brave Magpies need fine tuning

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TRAVIS Cloke's dad David was right about one thing this week—- Collingwood's use of the ball and its forward 50m entries still needs some work.

Yes, the Magpies were brave in running down the Eagles, despite losing key defenders Nathan Brown and Jack Frost during the game, but that shouldn't disguise the fact that Nathan Buckley's team still has a bit of work to do.

GUTSY MAGPIES NOTCH FAMOUS WIN

Part of that comes back to Collingwood's big forwards, who couldn't get warm for so much of yesterday's match.

Jamie Elliott couldn't hang onto this big marking attempt. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: News Corp Australia

It was left to a batch of small forwards—- Jarryd Blair kicked three goals and Jamie Elliott scored two in the last term—- and a brave yet patched up back-line to somehow drag the Magpies across the line when the game looked in doubt.

Buckley forecast during the week that Cloke was just about ready to tear a game apart. This wasn't the game, and that will have to at least wait until next week against St Kilda.

But Cloke did managed to secure a solitary—– and important—– goal in yesterday's eight-point victory, the club's sixth of the season.

It's just that it took him the best part of two hours to nail it. That goal came at the 27-minute-mark of the final term, which gave the Magpies the breathing space it needed to hold on.

For much of yesterday, the man who almost won a Coleman Medal last year—- only inaccuracy and Jarryd Roughead beat him in 2013—- struggled to get his hands on the Sherrin, let alone look like scoring a goal.

Scott Pendlebury had 11 final-term possessions. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: News Corp Australia

For 56 minutes—- yes, that's almost a half of footy—- Cloke went without a possession.

His first touch came at the eight-minute-mark of the opening term, almost at half back, and then his second came from a mark taken at the 19-minute-mark of the same term.

Blanketed by Eagles defender Eric Mackenzie, Cloke had to wait until almost the 19-minute-mark of the third term before he again disposed of the ball.

In between that time, 3AW special comments man and former Essendon forward Matthew Lloyd mused: "Travis Cloke is running away from the footy at the moment."

Cloke's teammate Jesse White was one of Collingwood's 13 individual goalkickers yesterday.

Dayne Beams salutes a final-term goal. Picture: Wayne Ludbey AFLR1014 Source: News Corp Australia

That major came after he took in a grab 18 seconds after the first bounce.

White casually slotted it through the goal with such ease that it must have had Eagles coach Adam Simpson thinking the former Swan might be in line to cause him some grief.

He didn't. His next touch wouldn't come until the early minutes of the final term—– 72 minutes to be exact—- the best part of three quarters without an impact.

The Pies battled through most of the match, yet when it mattered their midfielders managed to step up and their defenders did a superb job in the absence of Frost and Reid.

It wasn't always pretty, but it was four points that was so desperately required when it could so easily have gone the other way.

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Magpies count injury toll from big win

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COLLINGWOOD will be without Nathan Brown and potentially Jack Frost for Friday night's clash with St Kilda after both defenders were injured in the Magpies' brave eight-point win over West Coast at the MCG yesterday.

Coach Nathan Buckley conceded Brown could require surgery which would derail his season, while Frost will be monitored this week after not coming back on after half-time due to concussion.

GUTSY MAGPIES NOTCH FAMOUS WIN

Brown was rushed to hospital for assessment during the game after suffering his second shoulder dislocation of the season.

"Any time you dislocate your shoulder, you are potentially looking at that (surgery)," Buckley said last night.

"It's really disappointing for him because he got through three VFL games, a power of training on the track and (he) just wasn't able to stand up — an innocuous contest and it comes out.

"We need to give him time to let it heal and then work out what we are going to do from here."

Nathan Brown injured his right shoulder in this marking contest. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: News Corp Australia

Frost will need to prove his fitness ahead of a six-day turnaround against the Saints after suffering nausea and the effects of a knock to the back of his head.

Buckley praised the rest of the undermanned defence that restricted West Coast's dangerous attack in the second half, labelling Nick Maxwell's performance as outstanding.

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"If 'Maxy' says that's in his top five wins, I would nearly say it is in his top five games for the club," Buckley said. "I thought he was huge.

"Sometimes all you need is guys prepared to have a dip and stay in the game."

Buckley conceded Travis Cloke needed to keep working hard to overcome his form slump after the key forward managed only one goal yesterday.

Round 10: Collingwood v West Coast Travis Cloke in the last quarter with Dane Swan Picture: Wayne Ludbey. Source: News Corp Australia

Admittedly, that goal gave the Magpies the breathing space it needed to hold on.

"His form is not at the level that he would expect and we would expect," he said. "But we had 13 goalkickers to kick 17 goals. That spread is what we are looking for."

The coach admitted his team struggled early in the game, but a growing resilience from the group helped to get them over the line.

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"We'd hope to take a fair bit of belief," he said. "That and the Essendon game, we've been able to salvage from some pretty poor football early in the match.

"This one went a little bit longer than the Essendon game.

"(But) there's a growing belief and solidarity in the group. There's a resilience that's building.

"At the same time you don't want to get in the habit of having to dig yourself out of big holes."

Scott Pendlebury celebrates a final-term goal. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: News Corp Australia

Eagle Mitch Brown tweeted a message of support for his twin Nathan after the game: "Thinking of U bro ... U r one courageous tough bugger."

West Coast's Elliot Yeo lost part of his two front teeth after a collision with Jarrod Witts, which will require some dental work. Yeo wasn't wearing his mouth guard at the time.

Eagles coach Adam Simpson said: "We didn't deserve to win in the end, they stayed in the game just as much as we did.

"We missed an opportunity, I wouldn't say it's the one that got away. I thought the Carlton game maybe was."

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Tex returns to the scene of the crime

Crows co-captain Patrick Dangerfield, right, talks to Taylor Walker during his comeback match against Collingwood at Adelaide Oval. Picture: Morne de Klerk. Source: Morne de Klerk / Getty Images

IT was a moment that made every Crows fan sick to their stomachs.

With just under nine minutes remaining in the first term of Adelaide's clash against Carlton at the MCG in round five last year, Blues defender Andrew Walker kicks a low pass along the boundary line to teammate Brock McLean, showing just enough of the ball to Crows forward Taylor Walker to make him go hard at the spoil.

MORE: MEMORIES OF TEX'S INJURY 'NOT AN ISSUE', SAYS SANDO

Walker is a split second too late and knowing he's missed the ball, looks back over his right shoulder to see if McLean has marked it.

In doing so the Coleman Medal favourite forgets about preparing to land, and as his right boot hits the ground, it catches and shoots him back into the air, hyperextending his knee in the process.

As Walker recalled later: "I was expecting to get body (contact) and I didn't. As funny as it sounds, you can lose awareness of where you're feet are. I hit the ground and catapulted a bit, it was like I was on a trampoline."

The Fox Footy commentary team doesn't immediately notice what's happened, but is quickly alerted by special comments man David King.

Taylor Walker being helped from the ground during the match against Carlton last year at the MCG.

"Walker's hurt," he says.

For the next 48 hours the Crows refuse to confirm what a supporter group - which has seen other fan favourites like Shaun Rehn, Tony Modra and Trent Hentschel suffer the same injury - already knows.

Walker has suffered a dreaded tear of his anterior cruciate ligament and is gone for the year.

"There was excruciating pain at first, but then I got up and thought I'd be fine," Walker said.

"I was assessed by the surgeon and, unfortunately, got the worst news possible."

So begins a 383-day recovery process which includes countless hours of work with club physio Duncan Kellaway, a trip to the US to see a renowned knee specialist and a well-managed return to the top level against Collingwood last Thursday.

Today Walker's journey comes full circle when a quirk in the schedule sees him return to the ground where his injury occurred to play the same opponent.

Hentschel was in a similar situation in round two of the 2009 season - his second game back in the AFL after a horrific knee injury late in the 2006 season.

Hentschel had successfully negotiated his return - coincidentally also a win against Collingwood - before playing on the ground he injured his knee, AAMI Stadium, in the second week back.

Hentschel says his situation was different to Walker's because he had trained numerous times at Adelaide's home ground before playing against St Kilda that season.

Walker is visiting the MCG for the first time, but Hentschel is confident today will be a success.

"The first one for me, to get that under your belt is the most important because it's a pretty draining week," Hentschel said.

"I think Tex will be all the better for that. I don't think he'll have any scars going back to the MCG. The big stage will suit him."

The Crows have the same view, believing any mental demons Walker may have had were vanquished in a season-sparking win against the Magpies last week.

"I haven't really thought about it to be honest. It's not an issue for us," coach Brenton Sanderson said.

"Tex is back bigger and stronger than he was before the injury last year. He's fitter and lighter. I don't think it will be an issue at all for Tex and it's certainly not an issue for us."

Walker will have gained some confidence from his 17 disposal, seven mark effort last week but there's still a few more steps to take before he'll feel like he's truly back.

He was unable to kick a goal last week, robbing the 50,000-strong crowd of what would have been an unforgettable moment, and fumbled more than he would have liked.

But Sanderson believes you'll see a different player today.

"He's looking really sharp. Unfortunately with all the training you do and even playing state league - nothing can replicate AFL speed. We saw a couple of times, he misjudged a couple," Sanderson said.

"(But) that was a high pressure game and for someone who has been out of the game for 12 months I still thought he played a fantastic game for us.

"I think that will help him. Those four quarters last week, adjusting back to AFL tempo, I think we'll see a much improved Tex again this week. He needed to have that game, get that one out the way. He kicked four points - hopefully he'll kick straighter this week."

Taylor Walker runs onto the Adelaide Oval for his comeback match. Picture: Sarah Reed. Source: News Corp Australia

FULL CIRCLE

Taylor Walker's long journey back to the top

April 27, 2013

Walker tears his ACL against Carlton at the MCG

May 6

Walker has surgery to repair his knee at an Adelaide clinic

July 4

Walker shaves off his famous mullet to raise money for charity

August 30

Walker begins light running at the 4 month mark of his recovery

October 9

Walker travels to the US to meet knee rehabilitation specialist Bill Knowles

April 25

Walker celebrates his 24th birthday by playing his first game back in the SANFL. More than 9000 fans watch on at Glenelg on ANZAC Day as Walker kicks three goals.

May 15

After another strong outing in the SANFL, Walker makes his AFL return against Collingwood at Adelaide Oval, tallying 17 disposals in a 21-point win.

May 25

Wakler returns to the MCG to play Carlton in his second game back in the AFL

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Walter death leaves industry in shock

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THE consummate horseman, champion trainer and a true gentleman.

These were the recurring themes from shocked trainers and jockeys trying to come to terms with the ­passing of Guy Walter on Thursday.

Walter, 59, died of a massive heart attack just after trackwork, plunging the Australian racing industry into mourning. His death was all the more difficult to comprehend as Walter was training at the peak of his powers, claiming his 36th Group 1 win with Streama in last week's Doomben Cup.

Walter's training record is extraordinary. He trained nearly 2000 winners, including 132 stakes wins, and prepared a string of outstanding racehorses, most notably champion and 13-time Group 1 winner Tie The Knot, as well as Defier, Spinning Hill, Patezza, Court's In Session, Danni Martine, Republic Lass, Wild Iris, Skyerush, Appearance and Streama.

In 2005 he prepared a famous Doncaster Handicap trifecta when Patezza defeated Court's In Session and Danni Martine.

But even these incredible statistics are not the true measure of the man.

"It is not fair, mate,'' said Clarry Conners, who has trained alongside Walter at Warwick Farm for three decades.

"Guy was a wonderful bloke, he got on with everyone and was a great mate to all of us out here at Warwick Farm.''

Fellow trainer Peter Snowden was shattered after learning of Walter's passing. "I've known him for what seems like a lifetime and he was an absolute gentleman, an ornament to the game,'' Snowden said.

"He loved what he did, he had a very good work ethic and he was a great trainer. This is such a shock, I can't believe it.''

Hall of Fame trainers John ­Hawkes and Gai Waterhouse also spoke in reverential tones.

Trainer Guy Walter with Streama. Source: News Corp Australia

"Guy was a very laid-back sort of bloke, he never got overawed,'' said Hawkes. "As a trainer they don't come any better. This is a tragedy, as simple as that.''

Waterhouse described Walter as a "lovely man, polite and humble''.

"My thoughts go out to his wife Wendy — this is so terribly sad,'' she said.

Rod Craig trained alongside ­Walter for three decades at Warwick Farm and was also having ­difficulty coming to terms with the tragedy.

"Guy is an easy person to talk about because he was one of the best blokes at Warwick Farm and in ­racing,'' Craig said.

"He was just a beautiful man. He is not a person that can be replaced. How come this only happens to good people?

"We are still trying to get over Nathan (Berry) and this is just as big a hit. But we have been blessed to have them both.''

Trainer Gary Portelli spoke to Walter during Warwick Farm trackwork yesterday and said there was no sign of ­anything untoward.

"It is a tremendous shock to everyone,'' Portelli said.

"As a trainer he was one of the best I have ever seen. He was very methodical and a freak at getting ­ordinary horses to win races.

"He was a very passionate racing person and this is a terrible day.''

Blake Shinn, who did the bulk of stable riding for Walter and won the Doomben Cup on Streama last Saturday, described the trainer as "nature's kindest gentleman''.

"To be called his stable jockey was an honour. He was like a father to me and I'll miss him dearly," he posted on social media.

Racing NSW chief executive Peter V'landys described Walter as a ­wonderful trainer and human being.

"It's absolutely tragic," Mr ­V'landys said. "He was just a kind, human soul. Guy was a man of the highest ­integrity and professionalism and a wonderful role model for the racing industry."

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Trackwork with Famous Seamus trainer

Noel Mayfield-smith with Group 1 winner 'Famous Seamus', at the Steve O'Dea stables at Eagle Farm, Brisbane. Picture: Anthony Weate Source: Anthony Weate / News Corp Australia

THE sun is only just coming up, there is a crispness in the air and the still early-morning quiet is punctuated by the cacophony of thundering hoofs and heaving lungs.

Trackwork might seem like organised chaos to the casual observer but this is an exact science where quality is measured by the stopwatch and a learned eye.

For most racehorse trainers, this is their favourite time of the day. Just ask Noel Mayfield-Smith.

"Everyone gets a buzz out of being around horses,'' Mayfield-Smith said.

"Mine is getting up early in the morning and being out there when they are working.

"A lot of trainers will tell you there is no money in this game but they are in it for the horses.''

It is early-morning trackwork where the turf stars of tomorrow are first discovered and developed.

It is here where trainers like Mayfield-Smith try to nurture the talent they recognise in their racehorses.

It is here where Mayfield-Smith first noticed that Famous Seamus was a cut above the ordinary.

The trainer said Famous Seamus shared the one necessary attribute found in all topliners — acceleration.

"Quite simply a turn of foot — that's what all the top horses have,'' Mayfield-Smith said.

"A lot of them have a little bit of intelligence, too, but they must have a turn of foot.

"These good horses, when you first test them on the track, they usually do it on their ear, they don't really need anyone to teach them.

"The track rider who rode Famous Seamus in his first (fast) gallop came back in and said this is a Group horse.''

Mayfield-Smith spoke to The Daily Telegraph from Brisbane trackwork earlier this week, just moments after his stable star Famous Seamus produced a typically brilliant gallop in preparation for the Group 1 $650,000 Doomben 10,000 (1350m) tomorrow.

Race jockey Ryan Wiggins rode Famous Seamus in the workout and said the sprinter had improved since his impressive BTC Cup win over Spirit Of Boom and Buffering two weeks ago.

"The horse hasn't gone backwards and if anything he has improved, certainly Ryan feels that is the case,'' Mayfield-Smith continued. "I couldn't want for anything better with this horse going into the race (tomorrow).''

Wiggins scored his first Group 1 win on Famous Seamus last start — a reward for hard work and loyalty.

The association between jockey and trainer began 12 months ago when Wiggins made himself available to ride Famous Seamus in trackwork.

The BTC cup day at Doomben racecourse. Winner race 7, number 6 Famous Seamus, Jockey Ryan Wiggins. Trainer Noel Mayfield-Smith. Pic Jono Searle. Source: News Corp Australia

"Ryan was riding Famous Seamus trackwork for us last year even though he didn't expect anything,'' the trainer said.

"Then when Glen Colless could not ride Famous Seamus in the Stradbroke, I booked Ryan.

"Tim Clark was going to ride the horse this year but we went to Brisbane early and Tim was committed to Sydney.

"Ryan got on him with the understanding it would be only for the one ride (fifth behind Temple Of Boom in the Victory Stakes).

"Tim then got suspended and Ryan rode the horse again in the BTC Cup. We had to make a decision what we were going to do after that race.

"It was a pretty hard decision, we couldn't really win either way. It didn't seem fair to even have a flick of the coin so we pulled it apart and decided to do what was best for the horse.

"Ryan could ride him trackwork and give good feedback so we went that way.''

The Mayfield-Smith name is synonymous with success in Australian racing. Noel's older brothers Brian and Lawrie are both successful trainers with all three renowned for their horsemanship and understanding of the thoroughbred.

When you consider the thousands of young men and women who try to make the grade as racehorse trainers, it's an exceptional feat for three boys from one family out of Cairns in far north Queensland to all make their mark in major racing centres.

Noel, the youngest of the brothers, began his working life in the ANZ Bank, spent three years as a public servant in the transport department in Brisbane, before moving to Sydney where he was the stable foreman for Brian at Rosehill in the late 1980s.

He then took out a trainer's licence in 1991, set up a stable base at Newcastle before eventually moving to Hawkesbury in 1996.

For a trainer who doesn't have the numbers or profile of some of his peers, Mayfield-Smith always seems to have a good horse in his stable.

From outstanding filly Angst, who made a clean sweep of the Princess Series, to the dual Group 1 winners Landsighting and In Top Swing, and now Famous Seamus, Mayfield-Smith has a knack of finding big-race winners.

"We do struggle at Hawkesbury with numbers — whether it is the provincial stigma, I don't know,'' Mayfield-Smith said.

"With some owners, I tell them what I charge and they say it is too dear. Then they go to town and pay an extra $20 (daily) on top of that to a trainer who may never have trained a black-type winner. It's all very strange.

"But we enjoy Hawkesbury, it is a very progressive club.''

Mayfield-Smith's wife Emma is also a licensed trainer — she saddles up Happy One at Bathurst today — and is an integral part of the stable's success.

She has been holding the fort at Hawkesbury while Mayfield-Smith prepares Famous Seamus for the Brisbane winter carnival.

"Emma is a huge asset for the stable because she knows exactly what is going on with our horses,'' Mayfield-Smith said.

Famous Seamus — who is poised to join Apache Cat (2008) and Sea Siren (2012) as the only winners of the BTC Cup-Doomben 10,000 Group 1 double — also ended up in Mayfield-Smith's stables through circumstance.

Long-time stable client Jim Simpson wanted to buy a horse for a Ready to Run Sale before onselling to Hong Kong and purchased Famous Seamus, a half-brother to Dooley Jones, a three-time winner prepared by Mayfield-Smith.

However, Famous Seamus was a handful as a young horse, leaving no option but to have him gelded, and Simpson decided to leave the horse with Mayfield-Smith.

"He has settled down a lot,'' Mayfield-Smith said. "The horse is comfortable in his own surrounds and with people he knows. He's very good like that, he likes routine.

"We knew early on he was going to be a good horse and he won his first three starts.''

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Ken Hinkley: Why can’t we win a flag in 2014?

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THE script is changing at Port Adelaide after a 7-1 start to the season with the Power - including normally conservative coach Ken Hinkley - now openly entertaining the possibility of winning a premiership this season.

While the "P" word still hasn't been mentioned publicly, Hinkley has added his voice to key forward Jay Schulz, who was the first to reveal the playing group are now setting their sights on the ultimate prize.

"I challenge them a little bit on that: 'Why can't it be now? Why can't it be this year for us?'," Hinkley said on Fox Footy's AFL 360 on Wednesday night.

"For the playing group now there's nothing wrong with us talking about 'well, there's an opportunity there for us' and if we're prepared to work really hard who knows where that opportunity is going to go and finish?"

It follows a declaration by Schulz of the playing group's belief it could beat any side in the AFL.

"We're an extremely confident and realistic group at the moment and the way we're playing football we're pretty confident that on our day our best defensive game will stand up to pretty much anyone in the comp," said Schulz, on the same program.

"We're not setting any limits for ourselves.

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"The boys have been walking around the club saying 'why not? why not us? why isn't it our turn this year?'.

"We're confident and we know we've done the hard work and if we keep doing the hard work and we keep rocking up each week to play the same way, the same hard-nosed footy, we'll be a chance to win every game we rock up for."

Chad Wingard also addressed the issue at a press conference yesterday, saying the Power wouldn't look past this Saturday's clash against reigning premier Hawthorn but had the same end of season goal as all the competition's heavyweights.

"That is obviously everyone's goal," Wingard said.

"Everyone wants to win a flag and as soon as possible ...

"We're lucky enough to be in the position we are at the top of the ladder.

"But again we're not going to think about the flag right now, we're going to think about Hawthorn and learn as much as we can this week and try to get on top of them because it's another step towards what we're all striving to get."

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Moyes questioned over alleged assault

Former Manchester United manager David Moyes is being investigated by police over an alleged assault in a bar. Source: Supplied

FORMER Manchester United manager David Moyes is being investigated by police over an allegation he assaulted a man in a bar.

The incident between the 51-year-old Moyes and a 23-year-old man reportedly happened on Thursday in northern England.

When asked about the incident involving Moyes, police said they were "investigating a report of an assault at the Emporium wine bar in Clitheroe, about 45km north of Manchester.

Officers attended the bar at about 10pm yesterday and it was reported that a 23-year-old local man had been assaulted by a 51-year old man." Police said the victim did not require hospital treatment and that "no-one has been arrested at this stage." Moyes was fired by United in April following a disappointing 10-month tenure.

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Championships betting surge

James McDonald wins the Queen Elizabeth Stakes on It's a Dundeel. Source: Simon Bullard / Supplied

RACING NSW must sell the economic benefits of The Championships to the Baird Government — and the inaugural series held at Royal Randwick last month provides a compelling case.

NSW TAB betting turnover, which the state government receives a sizeable chunk, soared during The Championships.

Betting on the feature race, the Queen Elizabeth Stakes was up an extraordinary 303% on 2013 TAB results, the Sydney Cup increased 41%, and The Championships races had a 39% betting surge on last year.

Initial estimates suggest the week-long The Championships injected at least $65 million into the NSW economy. A study of the race series economic impact has not yet been completed but it is likely that figure could soar to $80 million.

``The Championships were an immediate success this year,'' Racing NSW chief executive Peter V'landys said. ``A whole slice of the betting increases and the boost to the economy goes to the state government.

``If The Championships goes under the government loses money.''

After just one year, Sydney's autumn racing carnival is under threat as the NSW Government has so far refused to again provide $10 million to help fund prizemoney for The Championships.

But Racing NSW isn't after a government grant, rather a bigger share of wagering money which the racing industry generates.

The crux of the issue is the disparity between states and their share of wagering revenues. In NSW, the Baird Government takes $3.22 out of every $100 bet on the TAB, compared to just $1.28 in Victoria.

``The inequity for the NSW racing industry is manifestly unfair,'' V'landys said. ``We need to be put on a level playing field with our main competitor, Victoria.

``If the Victorian Government took out the same share of bets as in NSW then they could not conduct the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

``If the rules for NSW are the same as Victoria, then the racing industry would receive another $85 million.''

It is understood urgent meetings between Racing NSW heavyweights with Premier Mike Baird and senior government officials will be held in the next two weeks to thrash out The Championships funding issue.

The Racing NSW mantra is if racing is revitalised, it will stimulate betting turnover and as a result state government revenues will actually increase.

V'landys said successive governments in NSW in recent years have failed to heed the warnings about the changing wagering landscape while other state governments have acted to protect racing industry income by lowering their share from wagering.

``What has happened in the last decade is that many NSW punters are migrating to corporate bookmakers in the Northern Territory,'' he explained.

``In 10 years, the corporates size of the betting market has gone from $1 billion to nearly $8 billion and NSW punters are betting $4 million of that amount.

``The NSW racing industry doesn't get anything on that money being invested with the corporates by NSW punters on interstate races.

``If this migration of the wagering dollar is allowed to continue, then revenues for the NSW Government and the racing industry will go into decline.

``Unless we can reinvigorate NSW racing with concepts like The Championships, then we are going to lose the goose that laid the golden egg.''

V'landys said Racing NSW's argument isn't a case of taking money from more essential services like hospitals, schools and roads.

``All we are asking for is to use punters money to give punters a product,'' he continued.

``The punters `voted' with their money in The Championships — betting on the Queen Elizabeth Stakes was up more than 300 per cent.''

NSW TAB BETTING INCREASES DURING THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

#Queen Elizabeth Stakes increased by 303% .

#Sydney Cup increased by 41%

#The Championships races increased 39% against 2013.

#International turnover on The Championships increased by over 330%.

#Interstate turnover on The Championships increased by 30%.

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Reynolds fighting to keep sky blue six

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IT'S the Josh Reynolds we've come to know and love.

The Canterbury Bulldogs scrapper has chased, bled and battled his entire life just to wear the NSW Blues no. 6 jumper.

So now that he's here, good luck trying to pry the sky-blue jumper from his back.

CHOOSE YOUR GREATEST ORIGIN TEAM

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While others have been quick to assume Reynolds is a short-term fix for NSW, promoted by coach Laurie Daley only on the basis of replacing Roosters five-eighth James Maloney, as halves partner Mitchell Pearce serves his behavioural penance, the Bulldogs livewire has admitted he has no plans of going anywhere.

Asked if he was out to prove he was more than just a one-hit wonder, Reynolds replied: "Definitely.

"Many things have happened over the last couple of years and there's been a few different combinations and for myself and Trent (Hodkinson), it's about playing our own game and hopefully we can do the job.

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NSW duo Josh Reynolds and Trent Hodkinson. Source: News Corp Australia

"I take a lot of confidence out of them putting belief in us and people can have their own sayings, but I know I'm not the silkiest player going around and Trent could probably tell you the same.

"We're just guys that I know he's got my back and he knows I've got his.

"I think that goes a long way, you can be the most talented player in the world, but not trust the guys inside you and I think that's one area where we're never going to let each other down and that definitely the culture that we're trying to build.''

HODKINSON'S A $500 A WEEK MIRACLE

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In just 48-hours of Blues camp there is a noticeable shift in mindset ahead of Wednesday night's Origin opener.

Where once the Blues privately would have feared facing the lethal Maroons artillery, Daley's 2014 squad have gathered yearning for the challenge of ending Queensland's eight-year reign.

Even Reynolds, facing-off in a personal duel that usually only occurs in boyhood dreams, is salivating at the prospect of taking on Maroons pivot Johnathan Thurston.

DALEY ADDS BITE TO NSW SIDE

NSW coach Laurie Daley talks to Josh Reynolds. Source: News Corp Australia

"It's awesome, he's obviously one of the best if not the best player in the world and it really excites me that I get to go up against him on the big stage,'' Reynolds said.

"They're the guys that you chase.

"They're the guys who have set the benchmark for years now and I really can't wait to challenge myself.

"People say, are you nervous? I'm not nervous, I'm just really excited to challenge myself against someone who has done so many things in the game."

KENT: ARE THE CHAMPS OVER THE HILL?

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Reynolds appeared in just one match for the Blues in last year's series, going unused in Origin I before providing a brief cameo in Origin II.

The 25-year-old says the increased responsibility of directing the Blues was a discussion he had already had with the NSW coaching staff.

"Its definitely different in the fact that I know what my role, obviously I'm in the halves and that's what I've got to do,'' Reynolds said.

GALLEN CALLS MAROONS FANS 'TWO-HEADS'

NSW State of Origin half Josh Reynolds. Source: News Corp Australia

"Laurie and a few of the boys have already spoken to me saying me and Trent need to control the team, even though it is a bit of a daunting thing.

"You've got guys like Gal, Lewie, Haynsey that have played so many Origin games already.

"You've got to come in here and sort of try and put your stamp on things and try and run the boys around the park.''

And while his overall experience at the Origin level may still be in its infancy, there's no denying his passion to beat Queensland is ingrained.

PEARCE A NSW ORIGIN SCAPEGOAT: THURSTON

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"I definitely don't like them (Queenslanders), I'm not going to lie,'' Reynolds said.

"I know for a fact they're saying the same thing. I don't hate the players, its just that I'm proud of where I'm from and if there's someone else whose putting it against us, its just like week to week footy, I don't like any other team I play.

"But this another step up because its just such a big stage and I just can't wait because it means so much to me.

"I'll never forget playing that game last year, warming up on the sidelines because obviously they're very close at Suncorp, there were some good calls.

"Lucky I've got thick skin, lets just say that.''

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Freddy to mentor troubled Fergo

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ROOSTERS great Brad Fittler has agreed to personally oversee Blake Ferguson's journey back to NRL stardom, which begins in earnest at 9am on Thursday.

After the NRL on Wednesday cleared the Roosters to employ him as a community and development officer for the rest of the season, Ferguson will front for his new job at Moore Park on Thursday morning.

FERGUSON SECURES EMPLOYMENT WITH THE ROOSTERS

Blake Ferguson after meeting with the Roosters. Source: News Corp Australia

Mentoring indigenous youth and coaching junior footy teams will be Ferguson's two primary tasks in a full-time role designed to bridge the gap between his current exile and playing return at Bondi Junction next season.

Wednesday's development came nearly 12 months after the incident that sent Ferguson's promising career into turmoil: his arrest for indecently assaulting a woman at a Cronulla nightspot on 17 June last year.

Subsequently found guilty of the charges and sacked by his club at the time, Canberra, Ferguson has been deregistered since last September.

Blake Ferguson watches Manly play South Sydney in Gosford from the crowd. Source: News Corp Australia

Ferguson has challenged the court verdict, with his appeal to be heard on 25 June.

Roosters CEO Brian Canavan on Wednesday night revealed discussions with Ferguson had been ongoing for several months, and has accepted the NRL will not register the 24-year-old before the mid-season deadline at the end of June.

The Roosters have now set their sights on Ferguson joining their 2015 playing ranks, where he will either replace retiring skipper Anthony Minichiello at fullback or move into a reshuffled three quarter line that will see Roger Tuivasa-Sheck assume the No. 1 jersey.

Blake Ferguson fights Luke Turner on the undercard of the WBA International super welterweight title bout between Anthony Mundine and Shane Mosley. Source: Getty Images

Ferguson is not the first high profile redemption job the Roosters have undertaken. They had spectacular, but unsustained, success with Todd Carney in 2010.

Canavan said the club had learned from its experience with Carney, which is one of the reasons why Fittler and NRL welfare manager, Dean Widders, have been engaged to mentor Ferguson as of Thursday.

Former Canberra star Blake Ferguson in action. Source: News Limited

"Education and welfare has to be continuous. You can never be complacent," Canavan said.

"Freddy knows Blake from Origin last year, and he was one of the people who was concerned when Blake stepped out of the crease last year.

"We spoke with Freddy and he was really keen to help Blake through this. The best thing about Freddy, apart from his stature in the game, is that he speaks a language that young footballers understand."

Blake Ferguson runs into Sydney Roosters Mitchell Pearce inside Allianz Stadium. Source: News Limited

Ferguson is currently living in Sydney's south, but will soon move to the eastern suburbs with new girlfriend, Bianca.

The relationship has been credited for Ferguson's attitude reversal, which was evident at League Central on Wednesday, when he accepted responsibility for allowing his career to slide.

"I've been impressed with his remorse," Canavan said.

"It's genuine, as is his desire to reach his potential as a rugby league player. He's admitted he will never reach his potential if he doesn't change his ways."

Is Blake Ferguson a good signing for the Roosters?

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Happy Tye back on home turf

Tye Angland wins race 7 on The Alfonso, his first win back in Sydney after four years in Hong Kong. Source: Mark Evans / News Corp Australia

HE HAD no idea where the jockey's room was, but Tye Angland still definitely knew how to find the winning post on his first day back riding in Sydney.

Angland waited until the final event at Randwick to boot home The Alfonso for loyal supporter Chris Waller.

It was the 24-year-old's first ride back in town since he cut short his contract in Hong Kong, and he could not have been happier.

"It was good to get a winner for Chris, he's a person I've worked with before - before he became as big as he is today - and the year I won the apprenticeship he really helped me out,'' said Angland, who spent four years in Honkers, and had not popped up at Randwick in three years.

"It's different. I came here (Randwick) about six months ago during the off-season, I went to trackwork and it took me half an hour to find the tunnel. And today I had to wait and follow another jockey so I could find the jockey's room.

"There are a lot of new faces, and there was a lot more talking here than there is in Hong Kong.''

Angand, widely regarded as one of the most gifted horseman in the racing game - he's a former rodeo champion _ has received overwhelming support already, and hopes to become a regular rider for Team Waller.

Meanwhile, Australian Turf Club track boss Lindsay Murphy said 22mls of rain fell not long after the Randwick course proper was aerated, which explained the surprise 'slow seven' rating posted for the weekend.

Eyebrows were raised when the track was put up as slow, despite unseasonal warm weather through May in Sydney.

"We aerated the track, which is normal when we have a break, but we did cop 22mls of rain last Tuesday. The only other track to receive rain was Canterbury, who had one mil,'' Murphy said.

"I'm hopeful (of a track upgrade), but I'm not confident because it doesn't change greatly on a day-to-day basis.''

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

United divides basketball family

Melbourne United coach Chris Anstey (centre) with current and former players Mark Worthington and Darryl McDonald at the announcement of the club's new name. Source: Nathan Dyer / News Limited

MELBOURNE'S only elite men's basketball team walked into a fan-based firestorm when it dumped its identity yesterday.

By rebranding the Melbourne Tigers as Melbourne United, chairman Larry Kestleman and partner Michael Slepoy tampered with some crucial ingredients of the passion that underpins any successful sports outfit _ tradition, history, image and perhaps most importantly the sense of belonging to something of their own that most fans crave.

You do that at your extreme peril.

So the overwhelmingly hostile response on radio and social media was predictable _ except, perhaps, for one thing. Who knew there were enough committed hoops fans out there to make so much noise?

When Kestleman and Slepoy took over the NBL licence they say they inherited a membership of just 400, the club was potentially on death row and the game in general was in a "shameful" state.

That all rings true enough. Basketball's struggle for relevance since its halcyon days in the eighties has been well documented, and although the Tigers have survived many ups and downs the reality is every other Melbourne club that has graced the national league has crashed and burned.

If the Tigers were to follow, leaving many thousands of kids with no stairway to the stars, that would be a dreadful indictment on the proudest sporting city.

So while the demise of the Tigers brand is regrettable, especially to the iconic Gaze family and the many superb players who have worn the red and gold singlets over several decades, the current owners are entitled to some applause for their determination to find a way to keep the flame burning rather than walking away and leaving no club at all.

Essentially, that means creating a "one big happy family" concept that will appeal to the fans of all the clubs that have gone before, but who cannot bring themselves to commit to the Tigers _ a bit like asking old Fitzroy footy fans to start barracking for Collingwood.

They seem to have already got a few things wrong.

Melbourne United sounds like a soccer team, and the new colours, the traditional Victorian dark blue, will even make them look like Melbourne Victory.

Although they claim to have done their research and been convinced there is plenty of support for the one-in, all-in, Melbourne against the rest concept, that had a distinct whiff of whistling in the dark.

Certainly, it wasn't hard to find Tigers fans disgruntled because they believed this had been sprung on them without warning or consultation.

Kestleman could not dispute that. Of the negative feedback, he said: "It's not unexpected when it's a surprise to people. Until they understand the full vision, we don't expect them to believe us at first glance. We have to earn their support."

He's not wrong there. As always, the fans will vote with their feet.

Much is at stake but if nothing else the game emerged yesterday from its mainstream media hibernation and some emotion and a pulse have been detected. That's a welcome start.

ron.reed@news.com.au

Twitter: @Reedrw

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Two heads? No, but eight Origins in a row

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NINE years after their last State of Origin series win, and NSW still have not mastered the art of showing Queensland respect.

Within minutes of going into camp with the Blues, NSW captain Paul Gallen went straight to the bottom of the barrel again, labelling Queenslanders "two-heads".

Presumably, that is one for punching and the other to rake out our stitches.

Paul Gallen has reaffirmed his status as Queensland's public enemy No.1. Source: News Limited

We wait anxiously for the follow-up jokes about banjoes and red necks in the following days as the Blues captain adds the role of joker to his previous starring parts as a thug, grub and sore loser.

Gallen has played almost every role in the pantomime of rugby league except that he covets most — champion.

GALLEN CALLS MAROONS FANS 'TWO-HEADS'

Gallen has never won an Origin series.

In fact, you can count Gallen's total wins in the Origin arena on one hand — which should at least make that arithmetic easy for him.

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Is it any coincidence that the exact moment Queensland turned the Origin tide, when they won the very first series of this stunning eight-year streak in 2006, was the night Paul Gallen made his debut.

In his 16 Origin game career, the Blues have won just five games. Only four were live matches.

SLATER UNFAZED BY INGLIS FULLBACK CLAIM

Since becoming captain in 2011, Gallen has led his team to just three wins in eight games.

You would think that after getting his pants pulled down 11 times in Origin Gallen would learn a little bit about respect.

Paul Gallen is witness to yet another Maroons victory. Source: News Limited

Gallen's "two-heads" reference may have been a jovial quip at a corporate event, but Mal Meninga and Cameron Smith never deliver derogatory one-liners about Blues fans.

The Maroons possess too much class and intelligence to stoop to the level where the likes of Gallen, or the previous human headline before him Willie Mason, like to drag the game for a cheap laugh.

WALLY AND MAL SLAM ORIGIN TICKET PRICES

The problem with trying to wage mental battles is that you need some ammunition.

Gallen is obviously a man with a short fuse and even shorter memory.

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Like last year when he launched an unprovoked attack on Nate Myles and then whinged about being punished for punching.

Or how he went to a sportsman's luncheon last year and, according to our southern spies, raved about the fact he grew up idolising Gorden Tallis but then called him an expletive to the audience because the Raging Bull dared to criticise him.

Can this NSW team end QLD's dominance?

Gallen is desperately trying to play the role of the villain, to develop a personality beyond a football field so he can join the media gravy train he is clearly angling his career towards in case his football days reach a very abrupt conclusion.

Maybe he simply wants to feed the Maroon frenzy that is waiting for him when he crosses the border, because it's a strategy that has worked so well for him in the past.

Gallen takes a pot-shot at Nate Myles during game one last year. Source: Getty Images

Unless I'm confusing Gallen for someone else — my other head sometimes does get confused — he's never actually won a live Origin game at Suncorp Stadium.

That's six straight defeats Gallen has experienced at The Cauldron wearing the Blues jersey.

This mathematics involves large numbers, so we'll do the honours for him: Gallen's overall scoreboard in live Origin matches at the Cauldron reads Queensland 161, NSW 68.

Gallen might think Queenslanders have two heads, but he may just be seeing double because of the tears in his eyes.

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Hodkinson’s a $500 a week miracle

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TRENT Hodkinson remembers the days when he would rise at 5am just to beat the morning traffic before slogging out another day of fixing fire sprinklers.

He remembers the feeling too, of those Friday afternoon's only a few years ago when a week's worth of elbow grease resulted in $500 arriving into his bank account.

If NSW are looking for a leader, someone to prepared to overcome eight-years of adversity, the Blues halfback might just be their man.

Trent Hodkinson during the 2014 NSW State of Origin team announcement. Source: News Corp Australia

NEW SOUTH WALES NAME THEIR ORIGIN SQUAD

PICK YOUR GREATEST EVER ORIGIN TEAM

Trent Hodkinson and Josh Reynolds during the NSW State of Origin team announcement. Source: News Corp Australia

Chosen to make his Origin debut by NSW coach Laurie Daley, the Canterbury Bulldogs halfback has revealed how he never gave up after almost quitting the game altogether to instead complete the final year of an apprenticeship he now hopes he will never have to confront.

Hodkinson was on Tuesday named alongside club teammate Josh Reynolds as the Blues new-look halves pairing.

Renowned for his ability to remain calm and collected under pressure, Hodkinson spoke with deserving self-pride when asked at Tuesday's NSW team announcement in Sydney to recall his remarkable rise from obscurity.

PEARCE PAYS THE PRICE FOR BOOZY BLUNDER

PEARCE A NSW ORIGIN SCAPEGOAT: THURSTON

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It was on the back of chronic knee and shoulder injuries which forced the 25-year-old to ply his trade with the Bulldogs NSW Cup side in 2012.

The same year at Canterbury, Reynolds and former half Kris Keating guided the Dogs towards the grand final.

Unable to see any light at the end of the tunnel, Hodkinson recalled how he almost threw in the towel and return to the only other employment option he had — fitting sprinklers.

Bulldogs Trent Hodkinson celebrates victory after he kicked the winning field goal. Source: News Corp Australia

"It was very tough. I questioned whether I would get back to first grade, or whether or not anything more,'' Hodkinson said.

"It was very dark times.

"I've got a sprinkler fitting trade. I've got maybe a year left on that, so I probably would've went back to that.

"When I was playing Jersey Flegg, back then I worked a full day and then going back to Parramatta (to train) of an afternoon.

BLUES TO TURN ORIGIN INTO DOGS OF WAR

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"I was getting up about five o'clock to beat the traffic, I'd get there at six and try and have a half-hour snooze in the car and start 6.30- seven o'clock, have a full day there and finish about three and then get to training at Parramatta.

"I'd finish by seven and then go home.

"But I hung in there, obviously those thoughts (of quitting) did come into mind and here I am today.''

Bulldogs half Trent Hodkinson lines up a shot at goal. Source: News Corp Australia

Robbie Farah, Josh Reynolds, Josh Morris, Michael Jennings and Trent Hodkinson. Source: News Corp Australia

A tattoo of a Phoenix inked across Hodkinson's chest is a constant reminder of where he's come from, how close he came to losing it all and the turning point in his career.

"I got the phoenix on my chest and that represents a new beginning when I was going through all the tough injuries," he said.

"That's the time I got the tattoo on my chest, rising from the ashes. A new start, a new beginning.

"That meaning was all about the injuries, starting from fresh and starting again.''

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Asked what it was that got him to be standing among the likes of Blues veterans Luke Lewis, Paul Gallen and Anthony Watmough, Hodkinson paid tribute to his support network of friends and family.

"I had a lot of help from the staff at the Bulldogs, my parents and my partner [Chantelle] has to put up with my when I'm down in the dumps every day,'' Hodkinson said.

"She'd keep me motivated and positive. Combined with mum and dad and the staff at the Bulldogs, they all kept me positive."

Trent Hodkinson relaxes at North Cronulla Beach. Source: News Limited

Hodkinson will spend the next week in Blues camp attempting to instil the same level of confidence and composure he has displayed this season for the league-leading Dogs.

He admits his ying-yang combination alongside the effervescent Reynolds has proven crucial to his own form this season.

"He's a very energetic player, he's built for State of Origin and that's why we love him,'' Hodkinson said.

"He plays with his heart on his sleeve and you need someone like that on your team.

"I'm sort of the calm one and I guess our combination works well.

"Hopefully we can take our combination and our form from the Bulldogs, to the next level. I'm obviously excited.''

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Sydney’s autumn of discontent

Tommy Berry on his way to winning the Queen of the Turf Stakes during The Championships at Royal Randwick. Source: Simon Bullard / News Corp Australia

TOMMY Berry — the jockey who became the feel-good story of The Championships — genuinely believes the inaugural cashed-up carnival can rival the popularity of Melbourne's spring.

But like so many others in the local racing industry, Berry was stunned yesterday after he learned the Mike Baird government would not deliver $10 million worth of funding for next year's The Championships.

The government stumped up with the grant this autumn, but was only prepared to loan that amount in 2015.

Racing NSW chief executive Peter V'landys snubbed the loan, and reiterated last night: "The whole future of NSW racing depends on these negotiations.''

Should the government not change its mind by June 30, The Championships will be dumped next year.

Berry starred at Royal Randwick when he scored an emotional Group 1 double on Diamond Drille and The Offer, just a week after he buried his twin brother, fellow jockey Nathan.

Now in the middle of a hugely successful second riding stint in Hong Kong, Berry said the revamped Sydney autumn had proven a real talking point in Asia.

Tommy Berry celebrates winning the Queen of the Turf Stakes during The Championships at Royal Randwick. Source: News Corp Australia

"It's a big shame. I thought The Championships was one of the best things they've brought in for a long time,'' Berry said. "It was exciting, and I thought in the next few years if we could keep it going, we could almost match the Melbourne spring.

"We had it for one year, and if that's all we have it for, that's a bit of a tease.''

Jockey Jimmy Cassidy said: "We had a horse from Japan and Ireland winning, it looked like it was destined to get better every year.''

The Championships' outgoing chief executive Ian Mackay said: "We always knew it (the funding) was a one-year commitment, but by the same token, we always believed if we had put he runs on the board, we'd have that commitment the following year, and I think we got the runs on the board.''

However, leading trainers Gai Waterhouse and Mick Price, who won three majors between them during the two Saturdays of The Championships, said while it would be a huge blow if the big stakes weren't up for grabs again, the government had an obligation to the taxpayer, not the punter.

"Of course it's a great shame if the money isn't going to be there, but the government has to make it so the taxpayers don't pay more taxes,'' Waterhouse said.

As a spokesman for the Premier said last night: "It should be remembered that NSW continues to face intense pressure on revenues, particularly following the Federal Budget. Our priorities remain frontline services such as schools, hospitals and transport.''

V'landys said he wanted a "level playing field''. For every $100 wagered with the NSW TAB, the state government collected $3.22, compared to the Victorian government's $1.28.

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Van Gaal named Man United manager

New gig ... Dutch national football team coach Louis van Gaal has been appointed Manchester United manager. Source: Koen van Weel / AFP

NETHERLANDS boss Louis van Gaal will take over as the new manager of Manchester United, with Ryan Giggs as his assistant, the club has announced.

Van Gaal, 62, has signed a three-year contract to succeed David Moyes who was sacked in April after a disastrous run of results.

His contract with the Dutch national side means van Gaal will not be able to join up with United until after the World Cup in Brazil, which would not be until mid-July if the Netherlands reach the latter stages of the tournament.

Van Gaal, a disciplinarian who has won domestic titles and cups with Ajax, Barcelona and Bayern Munich as well as the Champions League, will become the first manager from outside the British Isles to take charge of United.

Staying on ... Manchester United's interim manager Ryan Giggs has been appointed Louis van Gaal's assistant. Source: AP

He quickly emerged as the favourite to take over at Old Trafford after Moyes was dismissed.

Giggs, United's record-appearance holder and a player-coach under Moyes, was placed in caretaker charge of the team after the Scot left Old Trafford.

Moyes was the hand-picked successor of former United manager Alex Ferguson after his compatriot retired as British football's most successful boss at the end of last season.

But the former Everton manager struggled to adjust to life at Old Trafford and was dismissed just months into a six-year contract after United failed to qualify for next season's Champions League.

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Mal sees Maroon over ticket prices

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MAROONS coach Mal Meninga has slammed Queensland Rugby League's State of Origin price hike, demanding officials apologise for their errors.

In a major embarrassment for the code almost 8,000 tickets remain unsold for the landmark 100th State of Origin game next week at Suncorp Stadium.

This is despite a minor reduction in the cost of select tickets last week.

The game should have been sold out in days as it is a truly historic moment for the code.

GUERRA SET TO DEBUT FOR INJURED THAIDAY

Queensland Maroons coach Mal Meninga. Source: News Corp Australia

However, rugby league's working class fans have baulked at ridiculous price hikes which have seen some tickets nearly double in cost from last year.

Officials could even have to give tickets away to junior clubs so empty seats don't ruin the spectacle.

Meninga said the QRL, which employs him, must swallow their pride and slash prices.

"Extremely disappointing," Meninga said of the slow sales.

"I guess the league has to make some tough decisions and say they're sorry and admit they're wrong and make it more available to our core supporters.

"Our blue collar workers, our mums and dads who love the game so much and want to come to Origin.

"We learn our lessons and hopefully we're strong enough to put our hands up and say we were wrong and make it a bit more accessible to our audience for game one and for game three as well."

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Last year's lone Origin at Suncorp Stadium attracted just over 51,690 fans.

It was the poorest crowd since the old Lang Park was redeveloped in 2003.

The QRL now has eight days to sell 7,500 seats.

For the first time ever, the governing body is running an advertising campaign to try and convince people to buy tickets for a State of Origin Game One.

Late last week the ARL Commission and the QRL released a limited number of silver category seats for $125, a third off the original price.

Queensland Maroons team. Source: News Corp Australia

Still, take up has been slow.

The QRL simply got their price point for State of Origin demand dramatically wrong.

Their membership special cost an outlandish $695.

The Maroons Membership gave supporters a ticket to the first and third Origin games plus other bonuses such as an $80 membership pack, a maroon wig and a tour of the Fourex Brewery.

Though some seats are as cheap as $80 for adults, prices spiral up to $370 for category one tickets and $250 for a seat in the upper tier of the western stand.

If Queensland head into Game Three with the series wrapped up, ticket prices will have to be halved.

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Blues to turn Origin into a Dog fight

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NEW South Wales will turn to the Dogs of war to end Queensland's eight-year dominance with up to five players from table-topping Canterbury poised to dominate selection when the Origin I side is announced on Tuesday morning.

The Daily Telegraph understands Josh Reynolds, Trent Hodkinson, Josh Morris and Tony Williams are ready to be named for Origin I with Josh Jackson also being discussed as a bench player.

How the two teams will likely line-up. Source: News Corp Australia

Sydney Roosters star James Maloney will be dumped from the side and halfback teammate Mitchell Pearce is also expected to be axed.

Reynolds and Hodkinson are set to become NSW's new halves combination, while Morris will be picked at centre with Jackson and Williams looking at bench spots.

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MAROONS: GUERRA TO DEBUT FOR INJURED THAIDAY

NSW coach Laurie Daley wanted a club combination in his halves and couldn't ignore the claims of Hodkinson and Reynolds, two form players in a rampant Bulldogs side that has won its past seven matches.

Debutant Hodkinson will have the added pressure of the goalkicking duties, a role Maloney had last year. The Bulldogs' No. 7 has kicked 35 goals from 42 attempts this year for a robust 83 per cent strike rate.

Josh Morris will likely join four Canterbury teammates in the NSW side for Origin I. Source: Getty Images

The NSW side will be formally announced at a Sydney hotel at 11.40am on Tuesday.

On Monday night Queensland named just one change to the side that secured a historic eighth successive Origin series win last year, with Roosters backrower Aidan Guerra replacing Sam Thaiday. Superstars Billy Slater, Cam Smith, Matt Scott, Greg Inglis, Cooper Cronk and Johnathan Thurston will all be back to torment the Blues.

WHO'S THE GREATEST? PICK YOUR BEST ORIGIN TEAM NOW

As revealed in The Daily Telegraph last month, Maloney has been in modest form and been fighting to keep his NSW position from the start of this season.

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Conversely, Josh Reynolds has been in stellar form for Des Hasler's side. His aggression and energy will no doubt lift the NSW team.

Even as late as Monday, the NSW camp still hadn't nailed down several positions.

One wing spot was still open with Jorge Taufua, Will Hopoate and Daniel Tupou all in contention, with Tupou a strong favourite to debut at Suncorp Stadium next Wednesday.

'T-Rex' Tony Williams has done enough to join the Bulldogs' Origin contingent. Source: Getty Images

The pack has been knocked around with the suspension of Greg Bird and injuries to Andrew Fifita, Glenn Stewart and Boyd Cordner.

Versatile Skipper Paul Gallen is likely to start in the back row but is expected to spend some time up front.

Manly's Anthony Watmough is expected to be in the 17-man squad, probably off the bench. Another candidate is North Queensland's Tariq Sims.

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Watmough is tough, durable and has State of Origin experience, something Daley will need in the Suncorp Stadium cauldron.

Melbourne's New Zealand Warriors-bound backrower Ryan Hoffman is another certainty.

As expected, Brett Morris will claim one wing position with Josh Morris and Michael Jennings to be named in the centres.

Jarryd Hayne's form for Parramatta has made him impossible to ignore. Source: News Corp Australia

St George Illawarra's Josh Dugan was discussed as a fullback option but Daley has always been a massive fan of Hayne.

And Hayne has been in supreme form during his past two games for Parramatta.

NSW enter camp in Coffs Harbour on Tuesday night before then flying further north to Brisbane on Sunday to prepare for the big game.

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What you missed on TV last night

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AFTER the match review panel's findings earlier in the day, host Gerard Whateley and Mark Robinson gave their analysis on Sydney's Dan Hannebery being cleared.

Both were surprised.

"My gut feel is that he would be suspended only because of the rules," Gerard said.

"This is making forceful contact to an opponent from front on when an opponent has his head over the ball which is a reportable offence, so that's what I deferred to right across the weekend

Robbo believed Hannebery did have an alternative.

STEVIE J'S BROWNLOW HOPES LOOK BLOWN

"I just can't believe that people say 'well what alternative did he have?'

"I don't like them stopping and I know we don't like them doing that but he could have pulled up ... I didn't like it when I saw it."

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STEVE Johnson's head-butting charge on Ryan Crowley was shown and Robbo didn't hold back.

"This is the biggest joke I have seen this year," he said.

"Are you telling me this is worth missing one game of football?

"I enjoyed that contest (between Johnson and Crowley on the night) so much, because they're going each other ... for the MRP to come out and say you're missing a game of football for that, that is not on."

THE under-fire Tigers didn't take long to be brought up and the lads agreed Richmond simply aren't good enough.

WE BELIEVE IN OUR DIRECTION: TIGERS BOSS

Robbo suggested the Tigers needed to strip the game plan right back and "pick a theme" for the week.

"The stunning bit is the fall," he said.

"If you think we're having a big discussion on Richmond this week, if they get beaten by GWS next week, there will be carnage."

Gerard agreed with Robbo but said "you have to know where you are", and the Tigers may have drastically over-estimated their place on the premiership clock.

"I'm partially amazed ... (but) to me it looks real," Gerard said.

"I think this is probably a real reflection of where it is ... they're a poor team.

"They thought they were top-four material, and they're a long way from that."

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THE coaches, Melbourne's Paul Roos and Essendon's Mark Thompson, joined the panel and after a short highlights reel of Gary Ablett's weekend exploits, Gerard asked them about the 30-year-old's standing in the game.

Roos said he believed he was the best player he had seen and he was amazed by the Gold Coast skipper's consistency.

"We talked about him today (with the coaching group), and we talked about 'Is he an eight-goal player? Is he a 10-goal player?' It makes so much difference to the team.

"I'm taking nothing away from the other guys but he's an absolutely extraordinary player."

Thompson said Gazza's ability to continue performing at his level since joining the Suns had surprised him.

"I didn't think he could be playing as well in a poor(er) side," Thompson said.

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ROBBO asked Mark Thompson how the Bombers were tracking, and whether the continuing ASADA investigation was taking its toll on his men and whether he asked them if it was.

"I think we deal with it from a club point of view but I don't deal with it, it's not my job to deal with it," Thompson said.

"I just talk to them about football."

The Bombers coach said he didn't want to talk about the saga and was confident his team, 4-5 after nine rounds, could turn its form around.

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ON THE COUCH — FOX FOOTY

THE Gazza love-in continued on On The Couch, with Mike Sheahan — along with fellow panellists Gerard Healy and Jason Dunstall — marvelling at the Suns skipper.

Mike said he now rated Ablett alongside the player he believes the greatest to have played the game.

"I have him the equal of Wayne Carey," Mike said.

"Of all the great players that I've seen over the journey and Matthews has been one and Carey and Voss of their day, no-one has been clearly superior to the rest of the field like this bloke."

Jason agreed, saying Ablett did it every single week.

Stats show that in his 69 matches in a Suns jumper, Ablett has collected fewer than 20 disposals just twice.

THE THREE discuss the Dan Hannebery bump and Gerard thinks while still a "grey area", the right outcome was reached.

"I think at one stage both players had their eyes on the ball and one decides to use poor technique and one decides to use the correct technique and sadly we're in a position where if somebody elects to use poor technique we may have a savage injury.

"But I don't think Dan Hannebery can be held responsible for that ... The rule is in to stop blokes deliberately bumping blokes in the head," Gerard said.

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ATTENTION soon turned to Richmond and the panel agreed things have gone horribly wrong for the Tigers.

"I don't think anyone can understand what's gone wrong with this footy team," Mike said.

The panel says there was a boldness about the Tigers of 2013, but something has gone wrong and coach Damien Hardwick and the footy world doesn't know what.

"Maybe 2013 gave them a false sense of security about where they were and how good they were," Jason said.

ROBBO: TIME FOR HARDWICK TO GET RUTHLESS

Stats show the Tigers have dropped right off in every area.

Mike wondered if the Tigers were crippled by fear in matches, while Gerard said he believed the coach will stand by his players this week ahead of the clash with GWS.

"I get the feeling he (Hardwick) is giving them one more chance," Gerard said.

Jason thinks that would be the wrong move.

"To give them one more chance against a team languishing at the bottom, to me that doesn't achieve anything," Jason said.

Mike says Melbourne players want to impress coach Paul Roos. Picture: Alex Coppel Source: News Corp Australia

MELBOURNE won praise for its rejuvenation, with Jason saying he's pleased Jack Watts is reaping the rewards of his hard work.

"That last quarter, this is when he stood up (against Richmond) ... he had 10 possessions, kicked a couple of goals," Jason said.

Mike said he believes one man deserves the bulk of the credit for the Dees' upward curve.

"You know why (Melbourne players are improving)? Because of the coach. They want to please Roosy."

Matthew Pavlich had a happy 300th game, but how good were the Dockers? Source: News Corp Australia

THE panel paid tribute to Matthew Pavlich and said Freo's intensity was back.

However Mike was cautious in rating the Dockers' win over Geelong at the weekend.

"As good as Freo were, there are cracks at Geelong," he said.

Gerard, while reminding Mike he had history of going early in writing off the Cats, agreed some big-name Cats struggled at Patersons Stadium on Saturday night.

Gerard said Corey Enright, Jimmy Bartel early in the piece, Harry Taylor and Steve Johnson had all battled against Freo.

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SYDNEY Swans defender Ted Richards was the special guest, and the panel quizzed him on his side's turnaround from early in the season — especially the shock Round 1 loss to GWS.

"There's effort and there's absolute effort," Richards said.

"Unless you produce the absolute effort every week, you can get found out."

Asked his thoughts on teammate Dan Hannebery's clash with Bomber Michael Hurley, Richards said he had mixed thoughts.

"No free kick was paid so I thought it wasn't that bad but when I saw Hurley on the ground I thought maybe it was bad," he said.

"And then we kicked a goal and I saw a couple of replays and thought maybe he might be in a bit of trouble, and certainly the Essendon fans seemed to have a view on it."

SWAN MITCHELL SENDS STATS MEN SILLY

Richards admitted after being dropped in 2010 he contemplated moving to Sweden.

But two years later he was playing on Franklin in a winning grand final side.

Richards admitted he played on pain-killing injections in the 2012 grand final, having jabs in every quarter to get through the game.

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JASON got on his high horse and said AFL umpires were not rewarding the tackler.

A number of clips were showed from weekend matches where players with prior opportunity were not pinged.

BALL! NOPE. IF YOU DON'T MIND UMPIRE

Gerard argued that prior opportunity should also relate to teams and not only individuals.

"Prior opportunity was brought in for the bloke winning the ball, not for the bloke receiving the ball," he said.

Gerard Healy says Nick Riewoldt could have suffered a serious injuryagainst the Suns. Picture: Michael Klein Source: News Corp Australia

THE panel ended the show on a serious note, saying they believed the AFL's match review panel failed in its duty by not citing Gold Coast midfielder Danny Stanley after he slid into the lower leg of St Kilda champ Nick Riewoldt on Sunday.

"That may have ended his (Riewoldt's) career in that collision," Mike said.

"This is not a go at Danny Stanley because he was attacking the footy but there was a rule brought in to eliminate exactly that incident

"Not only was there no free kick, I think the match review panel abdicated its responsibility ... I reckon they should have cited him on a reckless conduct charge."

Gerard agreed, saying Mark Evans needed to write to AFL clubs saying incidents such as the Stanley-Riewoldt clash should not be tolerated.

"It's a free kick yes, but if you're going that recklessly at the ball you can end somebody's career ... stay on your bloody feet."

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FOOTY CLASSIFIED — NINE NETWORK

NOT surprisingly, Richmond was first cab off the rank as the panel tried to address what was wrong at Punt Road.

Matthew Lloyd, Garry Lyon, Craig Hutchison and Caroline Wilson agreed the 16th-placed Tigers were battling.

"They have GWS this week so they're not at rock bottom yet," Lloyd said.

"If they lose that one there'll be big decisions made down at Punt Road."

Wilson questioned the "football direction" of the club, saying Damien Hardwick had lost support — such as key assistant Justin Leppitsch — while football director on the board Tony Free had to be questioned.

Richmond president Peggy O'Neal. Source: News Limited

Hutchison asked if we would hear from Richmond president Peggy O'Neal, while Lloyd went a step further.

"What does Peggy bring to the table as president that makes her a great president, or what can she bring?" he asked.

Wilson highlighted that O'Neal, the first female president in VFL/AFL history, had only been in the job six months.

ESSENDON'S decision to leave Jake Carlisle in the green vest was discussed.

Lyon said he couldn't understand Essendon's decision to leave Carlisle sitting on the bench when Lance Franklin was carving up the Bombers with four first-half goals at Etihad Stadium on Friday night.

CARLISLE SAGA TAKES GREEN TURN

Lloyd said he hopes Michael Hurley — who played on Franklin — can develop into an all-time great of the Bombers and wonders if he needs to shed some weight.

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FREMANTLE'S good recent record over the Cats is discussed, with Steve Johnson's report cited.

Ross Lyon's men have beaten Geelong in four of their past five, with a Cat being reported in each of those matches.

The Dockers' good run home is highlighted. Freo, now 5-4, appear headed for an assault on the top four.

Nathan Jones and Jack Watts are firing for the Dees. Source: Getty Images

TALKING FOOTY — 7MATE

MELBOURNE co-captain and fan favourite Nathan Jones was the special guest.

Watts, who booted three goals in the Demons' 17-point win over Richmond, is finally blossoming as a player but Jones believes his club could have better handled the no.1 draft pick's introduction to AFL football.

"From my opinion I don't think it was managed well at all," he said.

"I think one thing Roosy's addressed this year is there's not going to be a saviour or that the young players aren't going to come in with great expectation — they're going to learn their role and play their role ... they'll be ready to play footy without the expectation and pressure of them having to lift the club to where we all want it to get to and I think Wattsy found himself in that position.

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Marquez powers to fifth-straight win

Marquez set a new lap record on his way to pole position. Source: JEAN-FRANCOIS MONIER / AFP

Marc Marquez of Spain pulled off a stunning comeback at the French Grand Prix on Sunday to earn his fifth win in as many races this season.

Marquez slipped to 10th place in the opening lap despite taking pole position on Saturday. The reigning MotoGP world champion quickly made up ground on the Bugatti track and overtook Valentino Rossi on the 13th lap before pulling away.

Marquez finished 1.486 seconds clear of Rossi. Alvaro Bautista of Spain completed the podium.

"I'm very happy because I didn't expect a race like that," Marquez told Eurosport television. "In the beginning, I made a few mistakes."

His 11th career MotoGP victory helped Marquez extend his lead over compatriot Dani Pedrosa at the top of the standings to 42 points. Pedrosa placed fifth at Le Mans.

In the Moto2 category, Mika Kallio of Finland moved within seven points of overall leader Esteve Rabat of Spain by winning his second straight race.

Simone Corsi took the lead in the third lap as Kallio patiently waited behind the Italian rider before making his move in the 19th. Kallio finished 1.015 seconds clear of Corsi and Rabat took third place.

In Moto 3, Jack Miller won his third race this season to increase his lead over Romano Fenati of Italy to 30 points.

Miller overtook Spaniards Efren Vazquez and Alex Rins in one audacious move to take the lead in the 23rd lap. The Australian rider shut the door in the final lap as Vazquez attempted to pass him on the inside.

"I did to him what he did to me earlier in the race," Miller told Eurosport television.

Rins finished second and Isaac Vinales of Spain completed the podium. Rins had the lead for most of the race but could not pull away from the pack despite a lead of 1.76 seconds at the halfway stage. Fenati, who won the Spanish GP two weeks ago, retired because of electronics issues.

The next race is the Italian Grand Prix on June 1.

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