Victory prepares for Ange exit

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MELBOURNE Victory is preparing for life after Ange Postecoglou with the coach emerging as the favourite to take over the Socceroos post.

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The Herald Sun understands that Victory has been made aware of Football Federation Australia's interest in the 48-year-old and discussions have taken place at Victory about a succession plan.

While Postecoglou has firmed the possibility remains that an outstanding overseas candidate comes into contention with FFA chief executive David Gallop and board member Phil Wolanski being bombarded with some interest overseas candidates.

Gallop and Wolanski are still talking with overseas options as the Socceroos prepare to play Canada in a friendly tomorrow in London.

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Guus Hiddink remains the preferred overseas candidate but his interest in returning to Australia is lukewarm at best while it's understood Central Coast coach Graham Arnold was informally contacted before the France game.

Victory is unlikely to seek compensation for Postecoglou, who has two years of a $500,000-a-year deal left, but want him to continue on in a dual role for the rest of the season before taking sole charge of the Socceroos in May, a month out from the 2014 World Cup.

FFA would prefer Postecoglou's sole focus was the Socceroos but aware of his importance to Victory who are aiming to win the A-League title and advance past the group stage of the Asian Champions League.

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The governing body may be willing to compromise on a transitional dual-role before someone else takes over the Victory role for the tail-end of this season. Assistant Kevin Muscat would be frontrunner to take over.

Victory chief executive Robson said FFA had made no approach for Postecoglou and refused to speculate

"We haven't had an approach. We appreciate that there is a lot of interest surrounding Ange and possible links to the vacant Socceroos coaching position but we haven't had any formal conversations with the FFA about it," Robson said.

"It's the FFA's process and until and unless anything changes we're just going to continue with our plans and remain focused on achieving success next year.

"It's not for me to pre-judge or second guess what they may or may not do. But we appreciate that there's a lot of media interest that has surrounded Ange and speculation would suggest that he's in their thinking but it's not something that we can control and certainly not something we're aware of in a formal sense."

FFA is aiming to appoint Holger Osieck's replacement before November when the Socceroos are likely to play two friendlies.

Plans to play Ireland twice in Australia have fallen through and now there's a possibility that the games could be played abroad.  

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Saints deny Watters extension

St Kilda coach Scott Watters has been refused a contract extension. Picture: Jason Sammon Source: Jason Sammon / HeraldSun

ST KILDA coach Scott Watters will coach for his future early next season after the Saints backed out of a proposed contract extension.

The decision not to offer Watters a new contract before Round 1 came after an official review of the club also backed the authority of head of football Chris Pelchen.

The review stated both Watters and Pelchen would remain at the club next year, but the Saints board won't consider a deal into well into next season.

It is a massive blow for Watters, who was eager for the security of a contract extension given more hard times ahead for the Saints next year.

Both Pelchen and departing chief executive Michael Nettlefold had publicly stated Watters would receive an extension over the off-season.

But it is understood the club does not believe it is in a position to extend his deal given the uncertainty at the club.

Now Watters will need early wins as well an increased focus on harmony in the football department if he is to save his career.

Pelchen has already forecast another tough season on-field next year as the club rebuilds its list, meaning Watters will come under searing pressure early in the season.

St Kilda has had to deal with continued controversies in recent weeks, with Pelchen and Watters at odds, the players involved in a dwarf-lighting furore, and the list in a rebuild mode.

Watters was seen to totally take over the club's running in the last six weeks of the year, taking control of training and team selection.

But former Hawthorn list manager Pelchen will be given the power to control the football department and ensure proper delegation across the team of assistant coaches.

Pelchen had indicated Watters was likely to get a contract extension as recently as July.

"Obviously Scott is contracted until the end of 2014 and the club is pleased with the progress in his first 18 months as coach," Pelchen said.

"As you would expect, any discussion about Scott's contract is a matter for the board in due course."

Nettlefold was just as adamant the deal would be forthcoming in recent months.

"He'd be keen to get an extension to his contract, we've got a young group coming through and it's something the board will consider in due course," Nettlefold said.

"It's something that we'll work on over the next couple of months. It really depends on workloads, these things need a fair bit of work."

St Kilda will employ the services of former AFLPA and Geelong consultant Pippa Grange and her Bluestone Edge team next year.

Like Leading Teams, the company deals with "culture, ethics and leadership", with the understanding that the Saints have significant ground to make up in all those areas.

The decision not to provide Watters security means the former Pies assistant will face scrutiny from the first round of next year.

He will do that despite the club trading off former top ten draft pick Ben McEvoy, with Nick Dal Santo still a strong chance to get to North Melbourne as a free agent.

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Summers: Saints must work together

St Kilda president Peters Summers flanked by Port Adelaide chairman David Koch and Hawthorn supremo Andrew Newbold. Picture: Tim Carrafa Source: Tim Carrafa / HeraldSun

ST KILDA president Peter Summers knows there are issues at his football club.

From Scott Watters' contract talk, to the unease between Watters and football boss Chris Pelchen, to the scuttlebutt about the trading seasoned stars, to membership, to finances, to list management and to dealing with life in 2013 as a bottom-three club as compared to 2010 when they played off in two Grand Finals.

It's why the club's vision statement to be presented this week to the board -- on the back of a fierce club review -- is the foundation for the future and, hopefully, good times ahead.

"There's been this perception we've had a couple of those crises, but from my point we need to get the right blueprint in place," Summers said yesterday.

"What has been portrayed as everything up for grabs, that's not really what it is. This isn't about survival.

"I wanted to make sure the club -- and that's why I was pretty strong on the vision statement -- that everyone from bottom up is aware of what our targets are going forward and how we're going to get there."

He hopes the vision statement will be presented to the board on Thursday and then that meeting would be rolled into a secondary meeting where the statement is discussed in-depth with senior staff, including the coach.

Summers is a new president, but he's also a realist, meticulous, a goalsetter and not one to back away from a tough topic.

He knows there is unease between Watters and Pelchen.

He also knows the two work well together in list management, but that there's issues surrounding the execution of Pelchen's role at the club.

He also knows other staff find the relationship between Watters and Pelchen is unsettling.

How significant is the issue?

Summers: "Significant. And identified. But I honestly think there has been too much made of it. We've had some tension in the place, you don't mind some tension because it's an indication of active successful people, but there just can't be too much.''

How do you fix it?

Summers: "Like most things in life when you have a problem it's called communication."

Watters' contract extension has been talking point, but Summers can't understand why.

"I found the whole thing around Scott's extension the wrong way round, it's been seen as an uncertainty (his future), but it's got nothing to do with it," he said.

"I can't see how you can put a contract extension to somebody, whether it be one year, two years, five years, how would you put that to them until they see where you are taking the list management. How could you put that to them until they see the whole structure you're trying to achieve at the club over that period?

"I can't see how you can do it ... Because you'd be buying into it for your own reasons and not club reasons."

This season, the Saints finished 16th with a 5-17 win-loss record.

Summers said it was "one of those years you had to go through to get a better consensus on where you're heading".

"As a club, we are very anxious and anxious people tend to act in a negative way, anxious people want to hide, get scared, they go to ground, and what I'm trying to do through this vision statement is to empower and encourage people to lift themselves out of that,'' Summers said.

"The worst thing in life is not to have a go."

It's not all doom and gloom, he said. Nine debutants this year was a major plus, for example, and while not wanting to discuss the contents of the vision statement, he was confident in its depth.

"Having done the review, we can be pretty strong in our reviews, we set our targets, debate them and, most importantly, own them,'' he said.

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Fifita misses honeymoon for Cup

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IT'S not the honeymoon Andrew Fifita imagined but at least the ­giant Kangaroos prop could see the funny side of it all.

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Fifita married Nikkita on Sunday, then returned to camp on Monday to crack jokes with Jarryd Hayne before flying out for the World Cup.

"It is exciting but tough," Fifita said from Sydney Airport as the squad waited for their flight to Manchester.

"I just got married and we were meant to go on our honeymoon with the entire family today to Hawaii."

The 24-year-old prop wasn't even considered a rough hope at the start of the year to make the Australian squad — but after a barnstorming season for Cronulla he was named Dally M prop of the year and is now pushing for ­selection for the first Test against ­England on October 26.

"I even offered to stay home with my family," Fifita said.

"I said to them, 'I want to do what is best for us'.

"And she said she wanted me to follow that dream of mine.

"I am not with them at the moment but they will be on my mind 24/7 and that is all I do when I play footy, think about my family.

"That is all I want to do."

And he's not on his own there. Billy Slater is no new kid on the block anymore with these big end-of-season trips but he admits saying goodbye to his wife and kids never gets any easier.

"Yeah, it's pretty tough," Slater said.

"And a lot of the boys have got kids.

"Usually we go over for I think a five-week stint but this one is seven and a half weeks before we get home, so it's pretty tough on the little ones and wives that stay back here.

"But that is what we do.

"We just have to get over there and get on with things.

"Obviously with the technology these days you can Skype your families back home, which is great.

"But we are over there to do a job for our nation and whenever we get the chance to play for our country it is pretty special. I just went away for a little bit with the family.

"I would have found it tough if I had to keep playing and then go straight away.

"Homesickness is probably the biggest factor, missing your family.

"We have just been through a winter here and we're going to the winter over there.

"They are the little factors, but we are over there with a good bunch of fellas and we are having a good time.

"We are playing footy and we are doing what we love.

"At the end of the day, it's not that hard."

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Dundeel Baker's greatest test

Murray Baker, track rider Emily Murphy and It's A Dundeel. Source: Jay Town / News Limited

MURRAY Baker faces the training test of his career with It's A Dundeel but learned at Matamata on Saturday that anything is possible.

Baker ran a home-bred horse he described as one of the slowest he had trained. "Useless, it is,'' he said.

Baker's wife told him she was keen to plonk $50 each-way on it and Baker told her she was mad.

"It got up and paid $9, won by a neck,'' he said. "The missus was filthy on me because I talked her out of backing it. I guess is shows anything can happen.''

It's A Dundeel is the best and fastest horse Baker has trained, yet It's A Dundeel presents the great trainer with a task not dissimilar to the one achieved at Matamata.

It's A Dundeel suffered a hoof abscess last week and missed two day's work. More crucially, he missed last Saturday's Caulfield Stakes clash with Atlantic Jewel, the champion mare he'd nosed out in the Underwood Stakes.

The hoof has healed but Baker now finds himself in a race against time to have It's A Dundeel fit to take on an ominously in form Atlantic Jewel in Saturday week's Cox Plate.

One corporate bookmaker last week described the task, of recovering from injury and beating one of the all-time great mares, as near-impossible.

Its a Dundeel finishes 2nd in the Mitchelton Wines Vase Source: News Limited

Baker concedes the task is difficult but refuses to hoist the white flag.

"We've only missed two day's work but missing the race was the real concern,'' Baker said.

"But he's a naturally athletic type of horse and we think he's a chance of making it.''

Baker will arrive from New Zealand tomorrow and will gallop It's A Dundeel between races at Caulfield on Wednesday.

He will give the champion a strong hit-out at Moonee Valley's Breakfast With The Stars gallops on the Tuesday before the Cox Plate.

"Galloping at Caulfield and at the Valley are race simulation type experiences, with the crowds and all that, and I think they will really benefit him,'' he said.

Baker said Atlantic Jewel's romping win in the Caulfield Stakes was a jolting reminder of the task he and It's A Dundeel now faced.

"The mare was absolutely awesome. It's hard to say if she was better on the day than when we beat her but she was awesome just the same,'' he said.

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Gumby impresses Dockers

Essendon forward Scott Gumbleton could be headed to Fremantle. Picture: George Salpigtidis Source: George Salpigtidis / HeraldSun

ESSENDON will insist on Fremantle's second-round pick for Scott Gumbleton, but has all but given up the chase for Saint Leigh Montana.

Speculation was rife at the weekend Essendon was on the verge of securing the 29-year-old Montagna as the Saints embark on an aggressive list rebuild.

But the Bombers are unable to put forward a satisfactory trade deal to the Saints, who have put a premium value on their experienced players.

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Despite rumblings about player discontent at Seaford, Montagna is expected to remain a Saint.

Instead, Essendon is expected to deal key forward Stewart Crameri to Western Bulldogs for pick 22 and marking target Gumbleton to the Dockers, most likely for pick 33.

But Port Adelaide, which has pick No.30, and Adelaide have also expressed strong interest in Gumbleton and could yet pip the Dockers.

The picks would give the Bombers a strong position in the second round of the draft after being stripped of their first two selections as part of the supplement scandal penalty.

Former Cat Paul Chapman is also set to rejoin former coach Mark Thompson at Windy Hill, although negotiations are ongoing.

Carlton has given up hope of landing Chapman, 31.

Gumbleton, a former No.2 draft pick whose career has been dogged by serious back and hamstring problems, is understood to have easily passed his medical test at Fremantle last week.

He has played only 35 games in seven years at Essendon, but is adamant his injury issues are in the past after completing last season fully fit.

Gumbleton, 25, is from Western Australia and wants to find a new home after slipping down the pecking order of key forwards under James Hird.

An athletic and hard-running key forward, Gumbleton would bolster a Dockers forward line already featuring Matthew Pavlich, Chris Mayne and Hayden Ballantyne.

Adelaide does not have a selection before No.42 to use for Gumbleton, but the Crows are trying to gain a top-30 pick by dealing Bernie Vince to Melbourne.

Essendon will look to promote Joe Daniher to a regular full-forward position next year after het cut his teeth in the VFL for the bulk of his first season.

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$20m fear drove Osieck sacking

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FEARS over a vital $20m of income for Australian football were a major factor behind the sacking of Holger Osieck, with football chiefs growing increasingly alarmed at the damage to the game's bottom line from the dual drubbings from Brazil and France.

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As the Australian team decamped in shock from Paris to London for the friendly with Canada on Wednesday morning, CVs from around the world have started arriving at Football Federation Australia.

The extent of former France boss Gerard Houllier's influence has also become clear in finding Osieck's replacement, with Houllier believed to have provided a list of names yesterday of potential candidates.

Though Osieck's sacking will cost FFA some $900,000, to satisfy a contract described as "watertight" thanks to World Cup qualification, CEO David Gallop believes it will be a necessary outlay in the wake of the 6-0 massacre handed out by France early on Saturday. 

Gallop's executives feared a double financial whammy if the poor results had continued - acutely aware of the need for Australia to do well on home shores at the 2015 Asian Cup to make it a success, FFA has so far also made no significant headway in seeking a new sponsor for the Socceroos. 

Some $14m worth of tickets have to be sold for the Asian Cup to make a profit, with more than half that anticipated from Socceroos games.

Increasingly FFA feared that Osieck would depart after the World Cup leaving behind a broken and dispirited squad that would make no impact at the Asian Cup, and leave millions of dollars worth of unsold tickets.

Any profits for the tournament will be shared between FFA and the state governments that have underwritten it, but it is also seen as an unprecedented opportunity to advance the game's popularity and standing.

FFA has also been seeking a new naming-rights sponsor for their flagship team since the long-standing deal with Qantas expired in July but the poor recent results threatened to devalue the deal Gallop is seeking of up to $5m.

Now the hunt is on for a coach who can make the team as competitive as possible at the World Cup and then the Asian Cup.

Having been pursued at length by Frank Lowy to succeed Hiddink in 2006, Houllier has remained close to FFA director Phil Wolanski since then.

Wolanski, the Socceroos head of delegation at all matches and regarded as Lowy's closest confidant outside his direct family, was given a list of names on Saturday by Houllier which is understood to include Frenchman Alain Perrin.

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Having succeeded Houllier at French club Lyon, Perrin was a serious candidate to coach France in 2008, but has since been working in the Middle East.

Former Chelsea boss Roberto Di Matteo has also made his interest known, but is not thought to be a favoured candidate.

Gallop is believed to strongly favour a local candidate, with Ange Postecoglou firming as the favourite ahead of Graham Arnold.

In the immediate term the Australian squad – described by Gallop as "raw" after Osieck's sacking, will be coached by assistant Aurelio Vidmar against Canada but suffered fresh depletion of its numbers yesterday.

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Luke Wilkshire and Tommy Oar were released to return to their clubs for treatment. Wilkshire managed 70 minutes of the loss to France despite a persistent knee injury but will now fly back to Russia for treatment at his club Dinamo Moscow.

Oar meanwhile, having been ruled out of the France game with a back injury, was also declared unfit to face Canada and immediately returned to his club, FC Utrecht.

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The Barometer: AFL trades edition

St Kilda is making it hard for Nick Dal Santo to leave. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Wayne Ludbey / HeraldSun

WITH the AFL Grand Final out of the way, the time has come for player managers and recruiters to broker deals for 2014 and beyond.

Key dates:

Friday 18 October at 5pm: Free agency trade period closes.
Monday 21 October: AFL restricted free agency matching offer three-day period ends.
Friday 25 October at 2pm: AFL Trade period closes.

Department of Trades

ADELAIDE

THE Crows are locked in a battle with arch-rivals Port Adelaide to secure homesick Brisbane midfielder Jared Polec. Club champion Bernie Vince is also on the market with the at-times inconsistent midfielder keen to test the market - Melbourne into him. Shaun McKernan will continue in his quest to return to Victoria with St Kilda among his suitors.

BRISBANE

BILLY Longer's bid to land at Hawthorn hit a snag last week when the premiers signed Ben McEvoy from St Kilda. Unlike a couple of his Lions teammates, Longer is open to staying at the club should a deal not get done. Jared Polec prospects hang in the balance with both South Australian clubs keen to secure his services. Sam Docherty is poised to sign a deal to join Carlton while, Elliot Yeo's move to West Coast should also get done now Eagles coach Adam Simpson has settled in his new role. Patrick Karnezis is yet to find a new home. Meanwhile, Lions champion Simon Black is yet to announce whether he plans to play on in 2014.

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CARLTON

DALE Thomas ended months of speculation last week when he signed to Carlton as a free agent. Thomas will be looking to reignite his career stalled by nagging ankle problems. The Blues remain in the hunt for James Podsiadly and Scott Gumbleton, although Fremantle is in the box seat to sign the Bomber. Jeremy Laidler has attracted some interest, while veteran defender Heath Scotland is yet to decide on whether he wants to play on in 2014. The Blues have withdrawn from the race for Paul Chapman, but are poised to sign disgruntled Lion Sam Docherty.

17/05/2013 SPORT: Collingwood training at Olympic Park, Heath Shaw doing laps before training Source: News Limited

COLLINGWOOD

THE Magpies are waiting on Heath Shaw to decide which club he would like to be traded to - Geelong and GWS Giants the likely destinations. Once that's sorted, the Magpies can move on Giants midfielder Taylor Adams (Geelong also interested), Sydney utility Jesse White and Adelaide swingman Ricky Henderson. Delisted Magpie Darren Jolly has attracted interest from St Kilda.

Follow Gilbert Gardiner on Twitter: @gilbertgardiner

ESSENDON

STEWART Crameri has had his move to the Western Bulldogs blocked - for the time being - with the Bombers turning their nose up on a swap for pick no.22 in the national draft. Scott Gumbleton will more than likely head to Fremantle. David Myers - a 'required' player according to Essendon's footy department - has been linked to St Kilda and Melbourne, while the Bombers are best-placed to ink Paul Chapman.

FREMANTLE

THE Dockers recruitment plan is a simple one, find a key forward. Scott Gumbleton is club's first choice to help Matthew Pavlich and Chris Mayne in 2014. Out-of-favour midfielder Viv Michie is set on a return to Victoria while Fremantle is also in the race with West Coast to sign Hawk Xavier Ellis.

Joel Corey in action for the Cats. Picture: Michael Klein Source: HeraldSun

GEELONG

JOEL Corey retired last week, the third premiership Cat to part ways with the club recently following the delisting of Paul Chapman and James Podsiadly. Three clubs including Essendon are into Chapman while Travis Varcoe remains on the trade table. Trent West is also considering his options.

GOLD COAST

IT'S fairly quiet up north with the Suns keeping their powder dry during the trade period. Top draft pick David Swallow was linked to Melbourne briefly as part of deal involving pick two. The Suns' list is ticking over nicely and with three picks inside the top 23 the future is bright on the coast.

GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY

HEATH Shaw is due back from holidays late in the week when is expected the rebounding defender will nominate his club of choice. GWS is well-placed to sign him on a lucrative deal. Get the feeling Shaw's move will trigger Giant Taylor Adams' move to Geelong or Collingwood. As yet no trade has been achieved with bitter rivals Sydney to finalise Shane Mumford's move. Josh Bruce to St Kilda is as good as done.

Hawthorn recruit Ben McEvoy has his hands full countering West Coast ruckman Nic Naitanui. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: HeraldSun

HAWTHORN

THEY'VE done it again. Last year it was Brian Lake who signed with Hawthorn before going on to win a premiership and Norm Smith medal. This time around it was Ben McEvoy who crossed from St Kilda to Hawthorn following Hawk Max Bailey's retirement. Shane Savage parted ways with Hawthorn as part of the McEvoy deal. Brisbane ruckman Billy Longer remains hopeful of landing at Hawthorn, although given the club's wealth of talls a trade is unlikely.

MELBOURNE

PICK No.2 was on the table and it attracted little interest from rival clubs and players alike. Melbourne confirmed it had sought out Brisbane star Tom Rockliff - who was simply not interested. Adelaide midfielder Rory Sloane was also considered before the Demons lowered the bar somewhat sounding out Crows Bernie Vince and Jarryd Lyons. Bulldogs veteran Daniel Cross has also been linked to the Demons.

St Kilda midfielder Nick Dal Santo is still looking for a new home. Source: News Limited

NORTH MELBOURNE

NORTH is locked in a battle with St Kilda for star midfielder Nick Dal Santo. The Kangaroos would prefer Dal Santo signs as a free agent, whereas the Saints are after picks. The Kangaroos' first available pick is 26 after setting aside pick no.8 for exciting father-son prospect Luke McDonald. North Melbourne defender Luke Delaney will almost certainly call St Kilda/Seaford home next season. Kangaroos Liam Anthony - keen on a move west - and Jordan Gysberts are looking for greater opportunities elsewhere.

PORT ADELAIDE

ALBERTON has gone Jared Polec mad in recent weeks with the Power wrangling to secure the disgruntled Lion - the problem being no one wants out or a trade to Brisbane. Making matters worse, the Power have all but resigned themselves to missing out on a key forward with James Podsiadly (Carlton/Western Bulldogs/Fremantle) and Scott Gumbleton (Fremantle) fielding rival offers.

RICHMOND

GET the feeling Richmond has its cue in the trades rack after a hectic start saw Matt White (off to Port Adelaide) and Shaun Hampson's arrival from Carlton. The Tigers don't have any salary cap room to make a big play following a series of re-signings including Dustin Martin, Reece Conca and Jack Riewoldt. Richmond is not interested in Paul Chapman.

ST KILDA

THE Saints caught us all by surprise off-loading No.1 ruckman and future captain Ben McEvoy for Hawk Shane Savage and an exchange of picks. The Saints revealed last week their plan was to secure three draft picks inside the top 20 - a bold move aimed at fast-tracking the club's rebuild. Sam Fisher could be traded to Greater Western Sydney while Leigh Montagna's name keeps bobbing up as trade bait - would be very surprised if he was to go. St Kilda blocked Zac Clarke's move to Port Adelaide after losing McEvoy and remain locked in a tussle with North Melbourne over Nick Dal Santo. The Saints have also been linked with delisted Magpie Darren Jolly to replace McEvoy.

Lance Franklin in his new colours. Picture: Phil Hillyard Source: DailyTelegraph

SYDNEY

BUDDY is signed, sealed and now delivered. Life is good, he's got a pad at Bondi and has shacked up with former Miss Universe Australia Jesinta Campbell. Not a lot of movement elsewhere with a trade for ruckman Shane Mumford expected to get done this week.

WEST COAST

IT'S been fairly quiet out west as new coach Adam Simpson settles in the hot seat. Simpson hired former Kangaroos teammate Brady Rawlings as an assistant last week too. Out-of-favour Lions backman Elliot Yeo's transfer could be finalised this week. Meanwhile, the Eagles were quick to stamp out suggestions Luke Shuey was considering a move back to Victoria.

WESTERN BULLDOGS

THE Bulldogs want Stewart Crameri. And Stewart Crameri wants to go to the Bulldogs. But Essendon refuses to let the forward go without getting something good in return. The Bulldogs best offer (pick 22) for Crameri was rejected at Windy Hill. Regardless, Crameri will find his way to the Whitten Oval, even if it means entering the pre-season draft. Jarrad Grant was thrown up as possible trade bait last week with Brisbane most interested, meanwhile Dylan Addison remains on the market.

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Why Tate is NRL's toughest player

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WAYNE Bennett remembers traveling with Brent Tate to see a specialist about a serious neck injury in 2005 thinking worst case scenario.

Tate had been suffering from ongoing problems during the previous two years at the Broncos and at that early stage of his career the gut feeling was he would struggle to make it back.

"Absolutely," Bennett recalled.

"If we couldn't find a way to right it then it was career finished.

"He was suffering from whiplash.

"I remember going with him to a specialist because there was a decision to be made and he wanted me to be there with him.

"So we went to the specialist together and the decision was made after that meeting that he would try the neck brace and it worked, thank God."

Fast forward eight years and Tate is still going strong.

Neck injuries, knee injuries, a busted jaw, a broken shoulder, Tate has experienced enough problems over his time to end 10 careers, yet every time he picks himself up and comes back better than ever.

To the point where he must surely be regarded now as the NRL's most inspirational player for all the adversity he has overcome to be standing where he is today — on the doorstep of a World Cup dream come true.

The Kangaroos fly out to England on Monday and Tate doesn't hide the fact that Justin Hodges' vacant right centre position is what he will be chasing on tour.

"I want to be there absolutely," the 31-year-old said.

"I don't just want to go over there and play a couple of games.

"I want to be a part of the team.

"I will be doing everything I can to get in there.

"You know, I honestly can't believe I'm here.

"I was just sitting down before and thinking to myself, shit.

"I just love being here."

And blokes like Bennett can't help but marvel at his tenacity and courage.

"That's the thing," Bennett explained. "You have the injuries but some guys never reach that kind of level again.

"But he gets better every time, he is never going backwards.

"I only spoke to him recently after the Cowboys played Cronulla (when North Queensland were controversially knocked out of the finals).

"I asked him if they picked him for the tour would he go?

"And he said he would.

"I said I thought it was a wonderful idea.

"I can still see the Australian game (in 2010) when he did the cruciate. I can still see those scenes in the change rooms (when Tate broke down in tears in full view of the TV cameras).

"That was heartbreaking stuff.

"Then you have to go through all that rehab.

"That's the difficult part.

"It's not that the rehab is hard, it's the loneliness of it all.

"The amount you have to do by yourself.

"You are not in a group, you are always by yourself.

"And he has done it every time.

"He's talked about retirement more than once but he keeps coming back and he keeps playing wonderfully.

"He has fought back through it all and played brave.

"You can certainly say that about him.

"He is a brave player."

One of the bravest our game has ever seen.

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Smith role in Sonny deal revealed

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THE retention of Sonny Bill Williams has marked the start of a new attitude toward the salary cap, according to NRL boss Dave Smith.

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Smith spent months working alongside the Roosters to ensure Williams stayed in rugby league and had a final meeting with club chairman Nick Politis on Thursday.

The spirit of co-operation was a far cry from relations between the Roosters and League Central almost a year ago, when the previous NRL regime conducted an investigation into how the 2013 Williams deal was structured and negotiated.

Unsatisfied with the club's response, the NRL announced the Roosters would be fined because it had failed to comply with requests for documentation.

It's believed salary cap auditor Ian Schubert was concerned that Williams' manager, Khoder Nasser, is not NRL-accredited.

Schubert also wanted answers on whether earnings from a pre-season boxing bout amounted to an inducement to join the club.

But this time around there was, as Politis likes to put it, "a lot more love in the valley".

"It's particularly timely with the salary cap review on foot, because as a game we need to have systems that are flexible enough to attract and keep the best players without compromising the rules," Smith said.

"I want the best athletes to chose our game and I do recognise they have choices.

"This is huge that Sonny has chosen to stay with rugby league. It's a fantastic show of confidence in our code."

After winning Sunday night's grand final, Williams revealed that Smith had texted him in the weeks leading up to the game.

"I spoke to Sonny a number of times this year and I also left him a voicemail (on Friday morning)," Smith said.

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