Bill: Sharks-Cowboys refs must go

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FORMER referee's boss Bill Harrigan has called for the entire team of match officials overseeing Cronulla's controversial elimination final win against North Queensland to be stood down for the rest of the NRL finals series.

The Sharks were awarded a try in eighth minute of Saturday's 20-18 victory at Allianz Stadium on what appeared to be the seventh tackle in the set.

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On-field referees Matt Cecchin and Henry Perenara miscounted the number of tackles and allowed Sharks prop Sam Tagataese to play the ball after a barnstorming run on what should have been a handover on the last.

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Harrigan, who along with Stuart Raper was sacked in 2012 after a controversial season at the helm, said the mistake could have been the result of the two referees switching positions.

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"But even when you're working in the pocket, you still should be doing the tackle count and the video ref keeps a tackle count," he said during Triple M's Finals NRL coverage.

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"If this is a seventh tackle try, the whole three in the team ... you shouldn't see them again for the rest of the finals and that'll be unfortunate."

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The NRL confirmed immediately after the match it was an error, after head of football Todd Greenberg reviewed the incident.

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He said there would be an inquiry into how the mistake was allowed to happen.

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"We do not want to see mistakes like this made in any match, especially a finals game, and we will be meeting with (referees boss) Daniel Anderson and the match officials to examine just how this happened," Greenberg said in a statement.

"What is most concerning is that there are checks and balances across the entire squad to safeguard against the referees making such a mistake. We don't want this happening again.

"We can't take points away or change a result of a match due to such a decision but we do have to be able to reassure players and fans that this won't happen again in any game."

Anderson later said the referees will have to pay the price for their mistake, but stopped short of saying they will be sacked.

"It's not about public vilification right now, but there will be a price to pay. I think we all know that," he told Triple M.

"I can't apologise enough on behalf of the NRL match officials crew."

Anderson said the referees had counted a couple of the tackles on their fingers, before mistakenly calling the fifth tackle number four.

"At that stage we've got enough fail-safe stuff up here with video ref, touch judges - but the fail-safe's failed unfortunately," Anderson said, adding he advised all officials at half-time of the incident.

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Wallabies escape with patchy win

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COURAGEOUS, proudly physical, ugly. The Wallabies were all those things on Saturday night in rain-lashed Perth but most of all they were victors for the first time under new coach Ewen McKenzie and first-time skipper Ben Mowen.

1 Tries 1
Israel Folau 28'	Juan Leguizamon 65'
0 Conversions 1
	Nicolas Sanchez 66'
3 Penalties 2
Christian Lealiifano 12'	Nicolas Sanchez 8'
Christian Lealiifano 17'	Nicolas Sanchez 61'
Christian Lealiifano 40'

The Wallabies were kept pointless in the second half by the surging Argentinians but the grinding 14-13 success was as satisfying and as important as a 20-point win.

A huge Nick Cummins tackle that forced a key turnover, an Adam Ashley-Cooper charge-down, an ankle-high tackle just off the ruck by replacement Saia Faingaa, a full-body check by Sitaleki Timani, Michael Hooper again and again...all reflected the second half intensity of the Wallabies.

It had to be desperate with the wind behind the Pumas for the final 40 minutes and it was. New halfback Nic White had a fine 80-minute game.

His ground-gaining kicks were vital to the resistance plan. One kick out on the full and another charged down were minor tax for the big metres and pressure his boot applied. Will Genia was not used off the bench.

It was confidence of the most tangible kind after a four-loss spiral.

The crowd of 18,214 who braved the appalling conditions in ponchos and windcheaters deserved medals. It was still the smallest turnout to a Wallabies' Test on home soil since the 15,438 crowd in Canberra for the Australia-Fiji Test that opened 2010.

The Wallabies were under huge pressure to open the second half when Argentina's juggernaut scrum turned up the heat with a rash of penalties and four straight scrums.

The Wallabies buckled but rebounded with a strong, twisting response of their own that turned into a breakdown penalty and great relief.

The defensive line speed of the Wallabies was exponentially better than the previous week against South Africa.

Hooker Stephen Moore was spot on with his lineout throws, a key source of possession.

"I said before the Test I'd take a 3-0 win. I'll take a one-point win. I'm stoked," new Wallabies skipper Ben Mowen said.

"We just needed a win.

"The way we hung in and scambled when we were under scrum pressure on our own line in the second half was a very big defining moment."

Swirling wind and constant rain were miserable conditions for a Wallabies team trying to resuscitate their season because it took quicksilver backline plays out of their armoury from the start.

The Wallabies chiselled out a 14-3 lead with the wind by half-time in an arm-wrestle of attritional forward play, kicking for territory and pressuring for mistakes.

The cannon in new halfback Nic White's boot was an asset just 12 seconds into the game when he spanked the ball 60m downfield from the ruck to set up an Aussie lineout. It was from ground gained by his boot that the Wallabies set up the patient and precise pressure for the opening try.

White searched for a runner and centre Christian Lealiifano punched over the advantage line. It just the momentum needed for a quick relay of passes from Quade Cooper and James O'Connor into the bucket hands of Israel Folau.

The giant fullback stepped off his right foot, twisted through three defenders and dotted down for his fourth and possibly most significant try of his short Test career.

Lealiifano kicked three-from-four in the first half.

Mowen knocked on with his first touch as captain but was every bit the demanding general that coach Ewen McKenzie wanted because he directed the metre-gaining rolling mauls and waves of forward runners to keep the acid on the tourists.

Winger Cummins ran with relish although being caught on his own tryline when trying to defuse a tricky little kick was heart-attack time. His most powerful charge was chopped down so emphatically by Argentinian No.8 Juan Manuel Leguizamon that Cummins appeared to clap him.

Sekope Kepu, Faingaa and Scott Sio finished the game in the front-row and were part of the gutsy and starchy fight to keep the Pumas at bay in the final scrums.

Young Pumas flanker Pablo Matera, just 20, was a high workrate rival who returned the Matera name to the stadium for the first time since the days of West Coast Eagles AFL brothers Peter and Phil.

McKenzie was well satisfied with White's first effort as a starter.

"With the conditions that were dealt us on the night, we relied more heavily on him than we thought we would. His game management and kicking were important," McKenzie said.

"It was a difficult decision not to pick Will but now we have another very good Test halfback in the squad."

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Tomahawk's back 'day-to-day'

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GEELONG forward Tom Hawkins has revealed his troublesome back injury remains a "day-to-day proposition", but is confident he will be right to go in Friday night's preliminary final showdown with Hawthorn.

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Hawkins appeared to be struggling in the first half of Friday's elimination final against Port Adelaide with even his former teammate Cam Mooney suggesting he should have been subbed out of the game.

But the 25-year-old responded with a strong second half, kicking two goals and providing a structure that helped the Cats to finish over the top of the Power.

"I felt fantastic; it was as good as I could hope for," Hawkins said after the Cats set up a mouth-watering clash with long-time rivals.

"It was great to be back out there after missing last week.

"As 'Scotty' (coach Chris Scott) said, it has been a day-to-day proposition.

"But I knew that I was feeling really good (this week)."

Hawkins urged fans to remain patient with him, admitting to some frustration that the back injury he has nursed for months has impacted on his mobility and effectiveness.

"As frustrating as it is for the fans, I can tell you that it is twice as frustrating for me," he said.\

"So we will keep doing whatever we can. I can assure everyone that I am doing everything that can be done to be in the best condition that I can."

Asked if he was a certainty to play against the Hawks, Hawkins said: "I would like to think so, I've felt great (this week)."

Hawkins missed last week's qualifying final loss to Fremantle, saying he just felt that he couldn't play his role for the team.

"I was just a bit sore leading in (to the Fremantle match)," he said. "It was really tough, I sat up in the coaches' box, so I was really craving to get back out there again."

Tom Lonergan said Hawkins' teammates had great admiration for how he had been able to play through the pain for much of the season.

"We know he is battling with a back issue," Lonergan said. "If he just gives us a contest up forward and puts pressure on, that's all we expect from him at the moment.

"His back is clearly debilitating for him, so it's a real pat on the back for him to play through the pain."

When Hawkins kicked the first of his two second-half goals, almost all of his teammates rushed to him to celebrate.

"I have had a lot of support and it's great to be back out there," he said. "It's always exciting to kick a goal in a final."

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Sore Swans bully Blues

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LIKE a mirage in one of those old movies set in the Arabian desert, it vanished in the blink of an eye.

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On a balmy night at ANZ Stadium, Carlton's preliminary final dream was crushed by the masters of ruthless reality - Sydney.

3.3 (21)	Q1	2.3 (15)
8.6 (54)	Q2	4.8 (32)
13.8 (86)	Q3	4.8 (32)
13.8 (86)	Q4	8.14 (62)

Luke Parker 3	Jarrad Waite 3
Harry Cunningham 2	Eddie Betts 2
Kieren Jack 2	Dennis Armfield 1
Jarrad McVeigh 2	Bryce Gibbs 1
Jude Bolton 1	Mitch Robinson 1
Lewis Jetta 1
Josh P. Kennedy 1
Ryan O'Keefe 1

The Blues were made to look every bit the ninth-placed charity case by a hardened Swans unit that defied injury to bully a side out of its depth.

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Sydney dominated, before easing to a 13.8 (86) to 8.14 (62) win in a war of attrition that saw three players lost to game-ending injuries in a frenzied first half.

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The Swans advance to a preliminary final against Fremantle. Carlton faces some tough questions.

The Blues, riding a wave of feel-good momentum into the west of Sydney, got smacked between the eyes.

Carlton was down by 22 points at half-time, but this time there was no knight in shining navy blue armour; no four-goal hero Nick Duigan called up to dominate mid-sandwich, no Chris Judd on one leg ripping the opposition apart.

Instead, it was just the cold reality of September elimination. The Blues conceded five goals to two in the second quarter before being blown to smithereens in a five-goal to zip third term.

Down by 54 points at three-quarter time, they salvaged some respectability with the only four goals of a last quarter that was purely junk time.

For Sydney, it was a win dripping with irony.

The Swans were sore and tired, they said. Battered by injury for much of the season, too much was supposed to have been left to too few.

John Longmire's men were hit by even more injury pain last night, but it only made the victory more emphatic.

First they lost Kurt Tippett to a knee injury five minutes in. He was joined five minutes later by Tom Mitchell, who had rolled his ankle.

But two men down, they proceeded to run Carlton into the ground.

The Swans amassed a staggering 97 more disposals, had 19 more tackles and five more inside 50s. Also controlling the contested ball, they ran forward with a ferocity that had Carlton labouring.

Sydney players looking for a breather was regularly turned away from the bench due to a lack of rotations, but still Carlton couldn't go with them.

Sydney had a whopping 89 more handball receives, highlighting the willingness to charge into space.  They controlled everything, the Swans. It was a monopoly, AFL-style.

Jarrad McVeigh had helped himself to 25 touches by the main break, a staggering 20 and a goal coming in the second term alone. Duigan was ordered to his side in the second half, but it did nothing to curb a 42-possession best on ground performance.

Dan Hannebery had 22 disposals at half time and cruised to finish with 33. Ryan O'Keefe wound back the clock playing almost exclusively at half-forward and caused endless problems. It was all too easy.

The trio's dominance was compounded by Carlton's own injury woes, with stopper Ed Curnow subbed out in the second term with a knee injury. But the undermanned Swans were running riot well before the injury stick whacked Carlton.

Pinned well back inside their defensive half for much of the night, the Blues' forward structure was non-existent at times. They regularly bombed the ball forward to a sea of red and white and when they inevitably conceded possession they couldn't apply pressure.

Jarrad Waite was super in last week's win over Richmond. Last night, until junk time kicked in in the last quarter he struggled to sniff it opposed to Ted Richards, while Levi Casboult had no influence.

The final margin would have been even greater had it not been for the defensive heroics of Andrew Walker, Lachie Henderson and Kade Simpson, who were their sides only winners.

Bryce Gibbs - opposed to Josh Kennedy - and Marc Murphy - Craig Bird - got hands on the ball, but soon found Sydney weren't going to give the same latitude afforded by Richmond. Judd was also harnessed.

To be frank, it was a final margin that flattered Mick Malthouse's men.

Now comes the less than flattering post mortem.

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Sreesanth cops life ban

Shantakumaran Sreesanth is charged with spot fixing in the IPL. Source: Gemunu Amarasinghe / AAP

UPDATE: TEST fast bowler Shanthakumaran Sreesanth has been banned from cricket for life after being found guilty of spot-fixing during the Indian Premier League, authorities said Friday.

Ankeet Chavan, a teammate of Sreesanth's in the Rajasthan Royals, was also handed a life ban following a probe by the Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) anti-corruption chief Ravi Sawani.

"Sreesanth and Chavan have been banned for life from playing any representative cricket, or in any way being associated with the activities of the BCCI or its affiliates," the board said in a statement.

The BCCI's disciplinary committee, taking action on Sawani's report, also handed a five-year suspension to Amit Singh, who played in the IPL till last year for his involvement in spot-fixing.

Rajasthan Royals' Siddharth Trivedi was suspended for one year after being found guilty of the lesser charge of not informing officials about approaches made by bookmakers.

The case against Harmeet Singh, a 21-year-old spinner, who had also been suspected of hiding a bookmaker's approach, was "closed in the absence of evidence against him", the BCCI statement said.

The BCCI did not announce any action against another Rajasthan Royals player, Ajit Chandila, who was also accused of spot-fixing by the anti-corruption officer.

The BCCI did not release Sawani's report but the Indian Express newspaper said that Sreesanth, Chandila and Chavan were found guilty on multiple accounts, including conceding a "pre-determined number of runs per over in exchange for bribes".

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Wallabies are sport's Labor Party

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IT'S been hard to know who has a worse run over the past few years: the Australian rugby team or the Australian Labor Party. Infighting, scandal, leadership changes, public apathy and a horror 2013 campaign that saw humiliation unfold last Saturday.

And Labor has been pretty bad too.

So with Wallaby fans desperately crying out for solutions, a plan of radical ideas is required to rescue Australian rugby. 

There was only one man for the job, so here is Jaymes Diaz's six-point plan to stop the boatload of losses*.

(*Disclaimer: Jaymes Diaz was unable to be found, so Iain Payten stepped in.)

1. Turn back the Boks (and the Kiwis).

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Defence was once the cornerstone of Wallaby world dominance, and if not that, it was at least a red-brick footing of competitiveness. In recent times, the Wallaby defence has had all the solidity of balsa wood – averaging almost 32 points per Test – so plugging the leaks has to be a major priority.

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The solution for Ewen McKenzie lies in a raid of the northern hemisphere, where two of his old colleagues now ply their craft.

McKenzie needs a specialist defence coach, and he should do all he can to poach Les Kiss back from Ireland. Kiss was McKenzie's defence specialist at NSW from 2004, where the Waratahs averaged less than 16 points a game in the three years they made finals (2005, 08) and a semi-final (2006). 

The Wallabies have a defence coach in Nick Scrivener, but his is a makeshift role. Scrivener was the skills coach under Robbie Deans.

The sticking point is Kiss just signed a new three-year deal with the IRFU, but what's a contract these days? Am I right Ricky?

If Kiss can't be poached, McKenzie should yank Matt Taylor back from Scotland. Taylor was the defence guru who got Queensland down from 28 points a match to less than 18 points. The Reds won the title in 2011, holding the Crusaders to just 13 points in the final.

2. More 457 visas for skilled migration to rugby

Signing backs from rugby league is fine, and there've been a few good-uns. That Israel Folau shows potential with his three touches a game.

But if there is to be recruiting of leaguies in the future, how about looking to target an area in need – the forwards?

Australia need far more hard men willing to mix it up on the aggression front with the Springboks and All Blacks. The Wallabies are suffering from mongrel deficit. 

Every NRL pack is stocked full of mongrels. Blokes who not only love belting ball-runners, but know little else. Blokes who know their role is to bring the muscle and patrol the advantage line, ejecting people with prejudice.

It's an open secret rivals view Australia as soft at the contact, but put Nate Myles and Anthony Watmough in the backrow and enjoy the show. Yes, league forwards may take time to learn the set-pieces and the breakdown nuance, but stuff nuance. Dominant hits trump nuance.

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It might not be that far off, actually. Michael Cheika talked about wanting a Burgess brother in his pack, and he seriously eyed off a Roosters prop.

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3. More factional brawling

Otherwise known as "more biff". The Wallabies can come across as vulnerable to being pushed around even.

There is no better signal to a Springbok pack, for example, that you are not soft than a bit of a blue. Dan Vickerman used to love sparking them, and Nathan Sharpe deliberately started pushing and shoving over precisely nothing in Perth last year.  It was all tactical, and he conned hothead Eben Etzebeth into headbutting him.

Punches are rare because one will get you binned these days, but the value of an old-fashioned handbag session can sometimes be worth the risk to ignite passions, connect a team and tell a rival you won't be bullied.

4. Immediate policy backflip

It'd be great if the Wallabies' run-run-run strategy won games. Right now, it doesn't and the sooner Australia lets go of a supposed "Wallabies style", the sooner it can get back in the business of winning.

The All Blacks and Springboks are privately delighted Australia tries to attack doggedly from their half all game, lining up for defenders like bad-guy fodder in a ninja movie. The Kiwis and Boks hoist endless highballs and long kicks, and back themselves to force turnovers or penalties in the Wallaby half. Then they pounce. 

So if you can't beat them, hurry up and join them. The Wallabies need to mirror those tactics, with a focus on using pressure, not pizazz, to score points and win. 

Benevolent Kiwi guru Graham Henry reckons it's not wise, saying yesterday: ""I don't think you are going to win games by playing chess-board rugby and kicking the balls in the air and chasing it. That's not the way Australians play, and they haven't got the forward pack that can give you that sort of dominance."

Thanks Graham. Attention Wallabies, here's the new gameplan: play chess-board rugby, kick the balls in the air and chase it.

Defend, contest, defend, scrap and defend some more, and when the ball is won in the opposition half, then have a crack.

It might not meet head office's desire to entertain the masses, but seriously ARU, if you think the last three weeks qualifies as entertainment, I have a bridge to sell 

you. It can't get any worse.

5. Pick and stick in key seat

Decide on the best no.10, and keep voting for him. If in doubt, lean towards a candidate who can tackle and wasn't also a project player in the last World Cup cycle.

6. Control the front bench

Or, as it is called in rugby, the front row. It is ludicrous – and quite clearly a factor in Australia's ongoing scrummaging woes – that Wallabies props continue to swap sides more often a nervous independent. Ben Alexander plays mostly loosehead for the Brumbies but then becomes tighthead for the Wallabies. James Slipper is mostly no.3 for the Reds but then no.1 for Australia. Sekope Kepu plays both sides within weeks, and so does Scott Sio.

Here's a quick thought: can someone please just play tighthead all year and get damn good at it? Is that so crazy? Clearly New Zealand and South Africa don't think so. 

Yes, Super Rugby coaches have different ideas from Wallabies selectors but take a look at the next crumbling scrum (any second now) and try arguing with a straight face that it's all working out well. It's not. Top-down control is required.

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Bunnies one win away from big one

Issac Luke scores for the Rabbitohs. Source: Mark Evans / DailyTelegraph

SOUTH Sydney turned Melbourne's championship blueprint on the premiers to move within 80 minutes of their first grand final appearance in 42 years.

3 Tries 2
Dylan Farrell 8'	Billy Slater 54'
Jeff Lima 26'	Will Chambers 72'
Issac Luke 67'
3 Conversions 1
Adam Reynolds 10'	Cameron Smith 55'
Adam Reynolds 27'
Adam Reynolds 69'
1 Penalties 0
Adam Reynolds 22'

The Rabbitohs delivered Michael Maguire his first win in five attempts over his old club with a clinical display of choking defence that kept the Storm at arms' length all evening.

Showing great enthusiasm after their shattering loss to the Roosters on the same turf last week, Souths harassed Melbourne's big three - Cameron Smith, Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk - into a string of uncharacteristic errors.

As a result the Storm could not build any meaningful chances until after halftime, when the trailed 14-0.

Slater brightened a gloomy night when he responded in the 54th minute, but man of the match Issac Luke sealed the breakthrough win for Souths with a determined try 14 minutes later.

The victory gives the Rabbitohs a fortnight to heal their wounds before returning to Olympic Park, while Melbourne have now been pitched into a sudden death semi-final against the winner of Sunday's Bulldogs-Knights eliminator at AAMI Park next Saturday night.

The key to South Sydney's victory was their start, which has faltered in previous encounters against the Storm, most notably last year's qualifying final where they trailed 18-0 after as many minutes.

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But while the level of ball control and attacking cohesion on last night's greasy surface was never going to deliver a torrent of points, Souths looked more assured than their seasoned rivals.

"Obviously they were disappointed about last Friday (against the Roosters)," Maguire said.

"They just wanted to play the way they can. We played against a very good quality team that's used to this arena and we turned up tonight."

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The same couldn't be said for Melbourne, who were draped in error-plagued disguise for much of the game.

Slater's first half was forgettable, with two regrettable moments leading to each of South Sydney's opening two tries.

In the eighth minute, Slater threw a wild pass to Justin O'Neill, who turned over possession on the Melbourne 20 metre line. Souths snapped up the ball and set Dylan Farrell across for opening points.

In the 24th minute the star fullback fumbled himself on the same patch of grass and moments later Jeff Lima steam rolled through his ex-teammates.

Cronk's kicking game wasn't quite on, while straight after halftime Smith didn't even get to his kick when he was caught on the last tackle.

But Melbourne refused to concede, and Slater was only denied a double by a contentious video refereeing call.

In the flashpoint moment of an otherwise staid contest, the fullback touched down from a kick, only to be denied when the men upstairs ruled that Storm centre Will Chambers had impeded Nathan Merritt.

Maguire conceded the call was lucky for his side, but not so for Smith.

"I thought it was a fair contest between Chambers and Merritt," Smith said.

But the skipper was more intent on turning the blow torch onto his players for a lack respect for the ball.

Even with top choice pivot Gareth Widdop making a fairytale comeback from a dislocated hip, the Storm were anything but fluent and now face a difficult task to make history and become the first NRL team to win back-to-back titles.

"We can't hold onto the footy, we invite the opposition down to our end - it should be the other way around, especially at this time of year," Smith said.

"It's really frustrating. We need to make a decision where we go this season. It's really up to use where we go from here.

"We've got to turn it around quick on that performance."

***

THE finals campaign - and long-term health - of Melbourne flier Sisa Waqa was in doctors' hands last night, following an horrendous crash landing.

Play was suspended for over five minutes as medicos fitted a neck brace to the Fijian, whose head drove into the turf at a right angle when he was spectacularly flipped while trying to regather a bomb over South Sydney's try line nine minutes from the siren.

Bouncing off the shoulder of Souths defender Dylan Farrell, Waqa was upended mid-air and fell defenceless toward the ground.

His head struck terra firma with sickening force that jolted his neck sideways and left Farrell with grave fears.

After being taken from the ground in a medicab, Waqa was transported to Westmead Hospital for observation.

Storm coach Craig Bellamy said initial tests had indicated no threatening injury, but there were fears Waqa had injured a disc in his neck.

Although contact is permitted for attacking players in the air, Farrell was placed on report. He joined veteran prop Roy Asotasi, who also has a possible case to answer over a crusher tackle on Jason Ryles in the first half.

"Certainly Dylan meant no ill-will to Sisa's health," Bellamy said.

"He tackled him early before he had the ball. He knocked him off balance before he had the ball - that's why it ended up so ugly.

"That's a situation that's been waiting to happen with that rule, but it's a hard one."

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What is wrong with GI?

Greg Inglis is tackled by Storm's Will Chambers. Source: Mark Evans / DailyTelegraph

IS there something holding Greg Inglis back?

Before the champion fullback suffered his knee injury Souths were building their season around his amazing kick returns.

He was the best player in the game by a country mile and a standout for the Dally M Medal.

On Friday night you had to go searching to make sure he was even on the field before he bobbed up late to send Issac Luke over for the match-clinching try.

In the first half Inglis had six runs for 51 metres.

Billy Slater had 12 runs for 106 metres.

In fairness, some of Inglis' defensive work was exemplary and he shut down several try-scoring opportunities.

But it definitely wasn't the Inglis we remember from earlier this season.

In recent weeks Michael Maguire has made a point of saying it was Inglis' decision to play on each week when many couldn't understand why he didn't have a rest prior to the finals.

At least now Souths have the week off it gives Inglis extra time to get ready for the next stage of this mission.

If the Rabbitohs are going to end their 42-year premiership drought, they need GI at his explosive best.

WHERE ARE THE PEOPLE, DAVE?

Friday night definitely didn't equal E-squared.

Remember Dave Smith's infamous call from early in the season, his grand vision to take the game into the future?

Well, if Friday night was it we have a major problem.

Last Sunday at the MCG 94,000 turned up to watch Carlton and Richmond.

On Friday night they had 21,609 at ANZ Stadium for a semi-final - and if you were at the ground you would be debating that figure.

One fact people in Club Land keep bringing up is that Smith has three times as many staff as David Gallop had at his disposal.

But has he made three times the difference?

There was a wonderful initiative Friday night that allowed any junior rugby league player under 12 to attend the game for free - but how many parents were made aware of this?

For all the criticisms of Gallop at least he always put his head up and got his message across.

Smith is the new Mr Invisible.

Always too busy to tell the fans what is going on.

***

BRING BACK BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT

Surely at the end of the season referees boss Daniel Anderson will admit he stuffed up with the new ref's call rule.

It is robbing the game of common sense.

A few weeks back it was exposed in Manly's controversial loss to Souths when a Steve Matai try was denied.

On Friday night Sisa Waqa got dudded and Storm fans have every right to be blowing up because that try could have turned the match.

You can accept Shayne Hayne's "no try" ruling because referees make mistakes.

But the real issue is how the video ref is then forced to back up a bad call because there is not "sufficient information" to overturn a rotten call.

The video ref got it right. The rule is wrong.

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Craig firms for Lions job

Neil Craig could take over from Michael Voss. Source: DAVID CROSLING / AAP

NEIL Craig has emerged as a key contender to be the next coach of the Brisbane Lions, with the club understood to now firmly favour a Paul Roos-style succession model.

The Lions' coaching subcommittee — which includes triple premiership coach Leigh Matthews — is yet to make a recommendation.

But the Herald Sun understands the club considers it risky to appoint an untried assistant as Michael Voss' successor.

Craig, who has a year to run on his contract with Melbourne, has been interviewed for the Lions job. Other interviews were held on Wednesday and yesterday.

Former Adelaide coach Craig took the helm at Demons after Mark Neeld's mid-season sacking, but will not stay at the club after the appointment of Roos.

Former Dockers coach Mark Harvey — a senior assistant to Voss — has told the club he does not wish to be considered for the senior job.

But it is not known if the succession idea has been put to him.

Harvey has been linked to the caretaker role at his original club Essendon, with James Hird serving an AFL-imposed suspension for much of next season.

John Worsfold — who ended his tenure at West Coast last week — has declared himself out of the running for the Lions job.

If the Lions opt for a succession model, they will be competing with Melbourne for the services of emerging coaching talent, such as Hawthorn assistant Adam Simpson.

The decision not to offer Voss a new contract and the Lions' approach to Roos has been the catalyst for a bitter boardroom split that looks set to see an extraordinary general meeting.

A ticket led by directors Paul Williams and Mick Power is seeking to have chairman Angus Johnson removed and Matthews join the board.

That push now has the signatures of more than the 5 per cent of eligible voting members required to trigger an EGM.

The request for an EGM is expected to be lodged with the club within days.

The club then has 21 days to announce an EGM.

Williams told the Herald Sun letters had been exchanged with Johnson in recent days.

"Neither party seems real happy with the others' proposal — but there is any number of members screaming for an EGM," Williams said.

"We think Angus needs to step down and he is not prepared to do that for some time."

Williams said the handling of Voss and then the botched approach to Roos had been the catalyst for the board push.

"There was certainly a lot of noise from members and certainly a lot of the key financial supporters at that time but certainly the Vossy decision and then I suppose the approach to Paul Roos … I suppose it brought things to a head," Williams said.

"And then at that stage Leigh (Matthews) was in a position where he wasn't prepared to join the board while Angus was chairman."

AFL boss Andrew Demetriou said this week the AFL Commission would this month consider giving the Lions extra financial assistance because of a short-term cashflow problem.

But Demetriou said the league would not intervene in the coach selection or boardroom affairs.

The Lions, the AFL, the Ipswich City Council and Springfield Land Corporation last month signed a heads of agreement for the development of a multi-million-dollar development of a new training and academy centre.

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Dons sue Blues CEO over 'cheat' jibe

Greg Swann is being sued by Essendon. Source: SIMON MOSSMAN / AAP

ESSENDON had launched legal action and demanded an apology from Carlton CEO Greg Swann after he labelled the Bombers "cheats".

Appearing on radio station SEN during the week, Swann said the Blues deserved to be in the finals because Essendon had "cheated", in reference to the club's supplement's saga.

Legal papers were lodged on Tuesday, the day after Swann's comments, but the Blues have not made any comment.

It is believed the Bombers are demanding an apology from Swann.

The Blues CEO was asked about the Blues' unlikely finals appearance by SEN's Kevin Bartlett.

"Oh look we've been asked that a lot, we felt we deserved it. Because I was asked that yesterday and I mean, Essendon cheated, simple as that," Swann said.

"So they lost their points and lost their picks and the AFL fined them so we were the next cab off the rank, we finished ninth."

The Blues were the major recipients after Essendon was sanctioned, moving from ninth to eighth before beating Richmond in Sunday's elimination final.

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Club return rekindling Fat Cat's 'love'

Robinson hasn't featured for the Wallabies since the Lions series. Source: AAP

SOMETIMES it takes a guy in shirt, tie and underpants, hopping around a carpark, to re-kindle an old flame.

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Where Benn Robinson had grown used to planning, precision and professionalism around training with NSW and Australia, it was the slightly rougher edges of club footy that reminded him why he loved rugby.

The edges that see players fill their own water bottles and do the age-old, half-dressed carpark dance, getting changed into boots after a day at the office.

"Training is sometimes starts a little bit late or whatever because boys are still getting in from work," Robinson says.

"It's great. For me, being back at the Woodies, it has really brought me back to what rugby is all about. They play because they love the game. You can't lose sight of that."

Loving rugby wasn't the easiest thing for Robinson to do four weeks ago.

After starting in all three British and Lions Tests, Robinson was the highest-profile victim of new Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie just weeks later when dumped for The Rugby Championship.

It was a swing of the axe few saw coming, including the 28-year-old, who only recently signed a new three-year deal with the ARU.

Robinson is happy to admit he was "emotional" after swallowing the bitter pill and passing the news on to his partner Trish, and his family.

"As a rugby player you have plenty of ups and downs, and it was a big down for me, no question," Robinson says.

"To find out I wasn't seen as good enough for the Wallabies cut me really, really deep. I love playing for Australia.

"You start to question yourself. You start thinking about "what have I done wrong? What can I do better?"."

Though regarded as one of the better loosehead scrummagers in the world, the old chestnut of Robinson's workrate — or lack of it — was pointed to by McKenzie.

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It's a criticism Robinson is now familiar with. Perceptions of laziness have lingered over his career, and while old-school props like McKenzie once had the blessing of a baggy jersey, the modern skin-tight version is no friend of the mesomorph. Least of all one called "Fat Cat".

It's a superficial, book-cover judgment of Robinson, though, and stats from the Lions series show McKenzie's workrate reasoning holds its ground as poorly as a prop with a six-pack.

In each of the three Tests, Robinson averaged the most runs all Australian props (6 per game), the most run metres (19.3), double the tackles as his Aussie prop peers (8.7 a game) and almost a third more minutes game than them as well.

"I have never seen myself as a pure scrummaging prop. I feel like personally that's not what my game is about," Robinson says.

"I think I showed in the Lions games I am capable of carrying the ball and making breaks. Making my tackles. I feel like I am fairly adaptable. I don't think I am one-dimensional.

"If people just start seeing me that way, they're missing a lot of my game.

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"Some coaches in years gone past have just wanted hard scrummagers, and others have wanted people who could carry, pass and do the lot. I reckon I am fairly adaptable in that sense"

Manly's Jordy Reid will testify to Robinson's loose-play impact. The rookie flanker almost had to exchange details by Robinson after twice being dented by him in a big Shute-Shield semi-final win by Eastwood last weekend.

Robinson's primary asset remains his scrummaging, though, and the Wallabies' struggles against New Zealand and South Africa at set-piece has many calling for his urgent Test recall.

The stocky prop — who was last week voted NSW's forward of the year — doesn't hide from the fact he'd love to get one.

Though still playing under the old scrum laws at club level, Robinson believes his technique a smaller, counter-punching prop would be suited to changes to the Test scrum sequence.

"I have always prided myself on post-engagement work, so I think the changes would be advantageous for me. You need to have a very strong body shape in the scrum," he says.

Robinson has been studying and training the new scrum with Waratahs teammate Paddy Ryan, who ironically will be his opposing prop for Sydney Uni in Saturday's Shute Shield Grand Final.

Uni are so overflowing with rep stars they even have four reserves with Super Rugby contracts. The Woodies have just one: Robinson.

His experience has helped the minor premiers march on to the grand final, but Robinson feels like he's the one who's been lifted by his Eastwood mates in the past month.

"It's the unique thing about playing at Eastwood. It's a very strong environment, a winning environment," Robinson says.

"It's special for me to be involved in, to be honest. I have been a professional rugby player for nine years or something, but to go back to the Woodies and be playing with all these blokes … I am coming to training with a big smile on my face.

"I love working hard at training and running out on Saturday to do battle with my club mates. Love it."

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AFL fears over match-fixing

Andrew Demetriou warns of match-fixing. Source: News Limited

THE AFL has warned the State Government that Asian match-fixing syndicates could infiltrate the league.

And in a bid to protect the game from international crime gangs, the AFL wants new laws introduced so that its integrity officers can gain access to police intelligence.

In a letter to Sports Minister Hugh Delahunty, AFL boss Andrew Demetriou described the threat of international match-fixing as ''dire.''

In the December 21, 2012, letter - obtained by the Herald Sun under Freedom of Information laws - Mr Demetriou said: ''Asian match fixing syndicates operate literally on our doorstep and are a huge and emerging threat.

''We understand that recently Victoria Police and the ACC (Australian Crime Commission) have become aware of serious and imminent threats to the integrity of Australian sport.''

Mr Demetriou also wrote that the AFL's relationship with Victoria Police was a ''two-way street'' and promised to share information.

AFL spokesman Patrick Keane said the league had written to every state government asking them to support legislative changes to allow police to share information.

''The AFL has invested in an integrity unit since 2008, and part of the unit's role is to gather intelligence about emerging trends in Australia and overseas, and to assess potential threats to the integrity of our sport,'' he said.

The Herald Sun understands that Premier Denis Napthine wrote to the Federal Government this year to ­support the request for authorised bodies, which could include the AFL's Integrity Unit, to have access to police telephone intercept information.

Mr Demetriou spelled out his request for the new laws in the December letter.

''The legislative change should ensure Victoria Police is permitted to share any intelligence in its possession, such as information from telephone intercepts,'' he wrote.

''This would include information that relates to match fixing, improper betting, doping, other forms of corruption.''

A second letter, written after Essendon reported its supplements scandal, repeated the league's request for new laws.

Mr Demetriou met Mr Delahunty, police Chief Commissioner Ken Lay, former police minister Peter Ryan and Deputy Police Commissioner Graham Ashton on December 18 last year.

Mr Ashton told the Herald Sun last night that police wanted to share information, though not tapes or transcripts of intercepted calls.

''There may, however, be material collected by police that is relevant to a sporting code in allowing them to protect their sport's integrity,'' he said.

''This could include specific information relating to areas of vulnerability in their sport that they are not aware of. Currently, we could not share that.''

The Commonwealth Telecommunications (Interceptions and Access) Act 1979 states that only state or federal police, or those authorised persons directly involved in a case, can access information gained from listening devices.

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Stuart quits Eels for Raiders job

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RICKY Stuart is going home to the Canberra Raiders after agreeing to a three-year contract late Wednesday night.

His decision paves the way for dumped Cowboys coach Neil Henry to take on the toughest job in the NRL - Stuart's old job at the Parramatta Eels.

The appointment in Canberra will be announced Thursday, with Stuart returning to the club from where he became one of the great half-backs of the modern era.

He won three premierships in the lime green jersey (1989,1990 and 1994) and represented his state and country from the nation's capital.

It was with great regret that he informed Parramatta officials Wednesday night he would be leaving just one year into a three-season deal.

His decision is very much based on personal issues and care for his special-needs daughter.

It will be the fourth club he has coached in the NRL, following on from stints at the Roosters, where he won a premiership, Cronulla and Parramatta.

Despite a disastrous year at the Eels, Raiders are convinced he is the right man to lead the underperforming club back to finals football in 2014.

Stuart played 203 games for the Raiders before finishing his playing career at the Canterbury Bulldogs.

It has always been the intention of retiring Canberra Raiders chairman John McIntyre to persuade Stuart to one day return to the club.

Stuart confirmed he would be leaving the Eels late Wednesday night in a phone call to chairman Steve Sharp.

"The period I've been with the Parramatta Eels has been extremely challenging, not only for me, but for many people like Steve Sharp who clearly have the best interests of the club at heart," he said.

"I sincerely hope the stability the club is entitled to will soon return and reward those people who have genuine commitment and passion for the Eels."

He would not comment on whether the off-field boardroom dramas contributed to his decision.

McIntyre announced he would stand down from the chairman's role at the Raiders' best and fairest awards Wednesday night after three decades.

His last job was to oversee the recruitment of Stuart.

McIntyre will be replaced by board member Dr Allan Hawke as chairman.

Dr Hawke paid tribute to McIntyre and his contribution to the Raiders.

"John McIntyre has dedicated his life to the Canberra Raiders and is the longest serving member of the organisation," Dr Hawke said.

"He will always have a home at the Raiders and will continue on as club patron, a role his late father and Raiders founding father Les McIntyre held until he passed away in 2009."

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Meltdown lands Shaw on trade block

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HEATH Shaw's elimination final meltdown is likely to cost him his career at Collingwood with the Pies looking to trade him next month.

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Shaw still wants to stay at the Pies and is contracted until the end of 2015 but is being strongly linked to Sydney.

Crucial ... Heath Shaw gives away a silly free-kick. Source: Getty Images

That sets up a possible reunion with his brother Rhyce after four years together at the Pies, with Heath also having strong relationships with Jarrad McVeigh and Nick Malceski.

Collingwood's players and coaches have grown tired of Shaw's on-field behaviour, which cost the Pies a crucial goal for remonstration with Port Adelaide's Angus Monfries.

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The 27-year-old has always been a provocative and at times disruptive presence in team meetings but it is the on-field issues that are cutting deep.

Players are frustrated at his inability to play to team structures, with Shaw and captain Nick Maxwell often fighting about team tactics during games.

It is understood this week during his end-of-season meeting he made it known he needed to be given licence to play with flair.

His on-field issues have come at a time the Pies are keen to exercise zero tolerance in terms of discipline in all parts of the club.

The Pies would want a first-round pick for Shaw and he would have to agree to a trade, but there will no shortage of suitors come the trade period.

As one of the game's elite rebounding defenders interest in him would intense, including at Paul Roos' Melbourne.

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Shaw's `Rat Pack' teammates Alan Didak and Ben Johnson have already departed, with the Herald Sun reporting this week Dale Thomas is likely to depart.

Thomas' manager Paul Connors said the Blues - and other clubs - would meet with his client next week.

His odds of Thomas remaining at Collingwood narrow by the day, with Andrew Krakouer, Darren Jolly and Jordan Russell among six departures this week.

The Pies want to follow a path that has been forged by Fremantle and Port Adelaide, who have thrived by ensuring players stick to rigid on-field structures.

It comes as Collingwood, so often juggling one of the league's tightest salary caps, are developing a huge war-chest to go after talent.

Jolly and Heath Shaw would be on contracts approaching $400,000 and Ben Johnson and Alan Didak would have been on healthy wages.

It means they could save as $1.2 million in wage bills even before they decide whether to set free agent Thomas loose.

The Pies have not inquired about Shane Mumford despite speculation of a Shaw-Mumford swap.

But in good news for the Pies, Brent Macaffer will soon sign a two-year extension after fighting back from a knee injury and poor form to become the club's best tagger.

Father-son recruit Shaw debuted in 2005 and has an exceptional career at Collingwood, best remembered for his goal-saving smother on Nick Riewoldt in the 2010 premiership replay.

But while he pledged his commitment to the Pies last week, he admitted he couldn't change his behaviour.

"It's pretty clear-cut for me. I'm a Collingwood man and I've got two more years here if the body holds up,'' Shaw said.

"Obviously the conversations I've had with `Bucks' in the (heat of the) moment on the ground is similar to what I said about `Maxy' - it's all for the benefit of the team. Sometimes I get worked up if things aren't going well and I show it because I'm passionate about the club and passionate about winning.

"It's something I've tried to work on controlling for the past 10 years but it hasn't worked at all. So I don't think it's going to be changing any time soon."

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Adelaide Crows 2013 Report Card

Leaders ... Patrick Dangerfield and Rory Sloane were excellent in 2013. Source: Sarah Reed / News Limited

AFTER missing the finals do the Crows get a pass mark for the 2013 season? See our verdict and have your say.

SNAP SHOT.
WINS: 10
LOSSES: 12
DRAW: 0
LADDER POSITION: 11
%: 108.12

WHAT WENT RIGHT.
Not a whole lot. One positive from a failed season is the Crows got plenty of experience into their youngsters. Brad Crouch looks a superstar already while Luke Brown, Josh Jenkins, Sam Kerridge and Mitch Grigg all took positive steps. Rory Sloane stepped up into the elite category while Josh Jenkins and Daniel Talia held down key posts successfully for much of the season. The amazing comeback win over North Melbourne in Round 9 was the high-point. Finishing outside the eight will also give the club an easier draw come 2014.

Talent ... Brad Crouch slotted straight into the Crows team. Source: News Limited

WHAT WENT WRONG.
Does the Kurt Tippett saga still count? The Crows lost their forward line focal point and a clutch of draft picks as a result and it didn't get much better from there. Taylor Walker then went down with a knee injury in Round 5. Just as they looked to be making their run three straight losses from Round 10-12 put them behind the eight ball and six home defeats overall drove the last nail into the club's coffin. Being sweep by arch-rivals Port Adelaide - in heart-breaking circumstance on both occasions - certainly didn't help their cause. A slide in form from Scott Thompson and Sam Jacobs was also a factor.

BEST & FAIREST.
1. Rory Sloane (71 votes)
2. Richard Douglas (68)
=3. Patrick Dangerfield (60)
       Daniel Talia (60)
5. Andy Otten (51)

Down ... Scott Thompson was down on his usual output in 2013. Source: News Limited

THE LIST.
ELITE: Rory Sloane, Patrick Dangerfield
BIG IMPROVERS: Richard Douglas, Tom Lynch
GOING, GOING: Richard Tambling, Angus Graham
GONE: Graham Johncock
TRADE BAIT: Shaun McKernan

WHAT THEY NEED.
Walker will return from a knee injury, Jenkins will be his sidekick rather than the main man and Lynch and Johnston showed plenty. So the forward line is set. The midfield - led by Dangerfield, Sloane and Crouch - looks set. So defence. Rutten is still reliable but can be taken advantage of while Daniel Talia is the only other key back. The club will be looking to strengthen their back line come and maybe add some more midfield depth draft day.

WHERE ARE THEY ON THE PREMIERSHIP CLOCK?
Hard to say. As we all know, the Crows were a kick away from the 2012 grand final but tumbled down the ladder in 2013. Fans will hope it was an aberration and an easier draw in 2014 plus the return of Taylor Walker should result in an immediate return to finals. Another positive from a failed season is the club now has another crop of young guns that could push them to the next level.

Coach ... Brenton Sanderson found the going much tougher in 2013. Source: News Limited

STATS THAT MATTER.
CLUB LEADERS.
Kicks: Richard Douglas (326)
Handballs: Scott Thompson (250)
Contested possessions: Patrick Dangerfield (274)
Marks: Tom Lynch (125)
Contested marks: Andy Otten (19)
Clearances: S Thompson/ P Dangerfield (111)
Inside-50s: Richard Douglas (117)
Rebound-50s: Brodie Smith (65)
Frees for: Patrick Dangerfield (36)
Frees against: Scott Thompson (44)
Goals: Tom Lynch (33)
Goal assists: Richard Douglas (21)
Time on ground: Daniel Talia (2398mins)
Players used: 36

TEAM STATS.
Disposals: 367.9 (7th)
Contested poss diff: +3.4 (8th)
Tackles: 58.5 (3rd)
Clearance differential: +0.9 (7th)
Inside-50 differential: +3.6 (9th)
Scoring % inside 50: 49.4% (9th)
Av points for: 93.8 (9th)
Av points against: 86.8 (7th)
Av winning margin: 44
Av losing margin: 23

DID YOU KNOW.
Adelaide generated a mark from 26.3 per cent of Scott Thompson's kicks going inside forward 50 - ranked sixth of the top-50 players in the AFL to kick the ball inside 50.

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McKenzie's massive call to dump Genia

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WILL Genia, the world's No.1 halfback, has been dropped on form not for rotational reasons in the biggest selection call of Ewen McKenzie's rocky two-month ride as Wallabies coach.

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While Genia's big workload is probably a contributing factor to a minor dulling of his exceptional standards, McKenzie on Wednesday made the clear point that he was "not at the peak of his game."

McKenzie opted for feisty ACT Brumbies halfback Nic White and the spin-off that No.8 Ben Mowen will captain the Wallabies for the first time against the tricky Argentinians at Patersons Stadium in Perth on Saturday night.

"Everyone knows Will is an outstanding player but so is Nic White," McKenzie said in Perth when announcing two changes to his starting side.

"Nic has got his own brand of rugby. He's impressed me and you always need competition for places to be the elite team you want to be.

"Will is naturally disappointed (at the decision) because it is a long time since he's been in this situation. The reality is we are at the pointy end of Australian rugby.

"It's difficult to have these conversations. I've known Will a long time but he would admit he's probably not been at the peak of his game of late.

"The fact that Will has captained his country shows what high regard we hold him in. I also know how competitive he is and I've got no doubts he will train himself to a standstill to bounce back as a better player.

"We've spoken about what areas we believe he can continue to improve and evolve his game and he was receptive to going back and addressing those things."

The ramifications of Genia's demotion to the bench are massive. Out goes a 47-Test figure of composure when the Wallabies have been struggling for just that trait.

That Genia, as captain,could not execute the game plan against the Springboks in a 26-point loss last weekend must be part of McKenzie's decision although that's a harsh line in the sand when any rugby fan could name six players who had far less impact.

It unites an untried halves pairing in White and Quade Cooper against a Pumas defence known for its hustle and ability to force handling mistakes that turn into tries.

White does snipe sharply and he has a fine kicking game, not just from the ruck base but in kicking for the line from penalties. His long, raking punts can replace some of the rubbish line-kicking that the Wallabies have made do with since Kurtley Beale hacked for touch repeatedly against the British and Irish Lions.

Ben Alexander comes in at tighthead prop for Sekope Kepu for the scum battle that it always is against the Pumas.

On the bench, the clout of 125kg lock Sitaleki Timani is a shrewd addition while outside centre Tevita Kuridrani is also back in the reserves to add thrust later in the Test.

White, 23, has had three brief cameos off the bench to get a taste of Test rugby.

"It was a huge surprise when Ewen tapped me on the shoulder on Monday. It was a pretty nervous bus ride to training but it's a matter of getting on with the job I've been picked for," White enthused.

"The little taste of Test rugby I have had has just shown me that absolutely everything is a contest. You might get away with little things in Super Rugby but not at the next level."

White will literally be stepping into Genia's boots.

"Will has been very open with advice and we've spoken quite a bit. He's even given me two pairs of boots because we are the same shoe size," White smiled.

White's experiences at the Brumbies gives him a good read on Mowen's capabilities as a captain, an honour he takes on for the Wallabies in just his seventh Test.

"Ben is pretty emotional and always sets high standards. If you don't meet them he gets pretty angry," White said.

"He always wants a team to do the shitters (hard graft) early."

McKenzie said there would be tweaks to the game plan not a radical overhaul after the 38-12 crash to South Africa in Brisbane last weekend.

"Australian rugby is renowned for smart, attractive and running rugby and there is a continued determination from the coaching staff and players to play with ambition and flair. We aren't moving away from this philosophy," McKenzie said.

"Within this framework though we've worked hard during the week to provide the team with further clarity on certain areas to ensure we are making smarter decisions in different parts of the field."

WALLABIES TEAM TO PLAY ARGENTINA

1 James Slipper
2 Stephen Moore
3 Ben Alexander
4 Rob Simmons
5 Kane Douglas
6 Scott Fardy
7 Michael Hooper
8 Ben Mowen (c)
9 Nic White
10 Quade Cooper
11 Nick Cummins
12 Christian Leali'ifano
13 Adam Ashley-Cooper (vc),
14 James O'Connor
15 Israel Folau

Replacements: Saia Fainga'a, Scott Sio, Sekope Kepu, Sitaleki Timani, Ben McCalman, Will Genia, Matt Toomua, Tevita Kuridrani

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Knock-on effects to Genia axing

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THE spin-off to benching Will Genia in a selection bombshell on Wednesday will be installing the sixth Wallabies captain in just over two years.

Rather than relying on his one World XV player to dig the Wallabies out of a huge hole, besieged coach Ewen McKenzie is to make the biggest call of his winless reign.

He is turning to high-quality Brumby Nic White for the starting spark at halfback to end the Wallabies losing hell against the feisty Argentinians in Perth on Saturday night.

It means No.8 Ben Mowen will lead his country.

John Eales led the Wallabies for the first time in his 32nd Test. George Gregan was seven years into his Test career when he captained in a Test for the first time.

This will be just the seventh Test for Mowen, wonderful recognition of his leadership of the Brumbies but an enormous task nonetheless.

This domino effect is eye-popping now there is confirmation that Tuesday's speculation is spot on.

Former Wallabies fullback-turned-Fox Sports rugby expert Greg Martin ignited the brushfire on his Triple M breakfast radio show in Brisbane yesterday. 

"Ewen McKenzie has been searching around for things to change," Martin said.

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"They'll be dropping Will Genia to the bench and replacing him with Nic White. Ben Mowen will become the new captain of the Wallabies."

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The first thing to stress is that McKenzie had probably marked this as a Test for Genia to trim some of his massive workload.

Genia is the Wallabies' No.1 ace but also the most overloaded. He has been subbed off for just 27 minutes in the six Tests this season after playing just about every moment of Queensland's final 11 games of Super Rugby.

The load may have started to sandpaper his game. Genia has made just a single run in his last two Tests although he was constantly trying to gell the Wallabies' stuttering attack last weekend in the 38-12 crash to South Africa. 

White is a 16-minute Test novice from his three Test cameos and McKenzie is eager to see what he is made of and also utilise his big, ground-gaining boot.

Quade Cooper was unconvincing at flyhalf in the starting role against the Springboks but the smart call would be to persevere with him.

He did run too laterally against the Boks. 

"Wow. Big calls," former Wallaby Rod Kafer said last night.

"It's not fair to say Will has not been good because it's massively influenced by the pack which is battling in front of him.

"There hasn't quite been the same threat to his game of late. White offers a better kicking game and that will help exiting the Wallabies quarter which has been a real worry."

Benching Genia for a role later in the Test is still a major risk because he is so much the oil of the best passages of Wallaby play with his slick pass, try knack and composure when others are fraying around him.

"Benny Mowen did a very good job as captain of the Brumbies. It would be a huge challenge as captain because the job for him would be to get a far greater performance out of the same forward cattle who were underwhelming against the Boks." 

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V8s sign deal to stay at Homebush

V8s will remain at Homebush for the next three years. Source: Braden Fastier / News Limited

SYDNEY Olympic site at Homebush will be the home to V8 motor racing for the next three years under a multi-million dollar agreement.

The new boss of V8 Supercars, former television executive James Warburton, negotiated the deal with the NSW Government that could include a twilight race finishing at 8.30pm.

Talks are under way with broadcaster Channel 7 about prime coverage which would provide another massive boost to Australia's fastest growing spectator sport.

Under the agreement, the grand final round of the Supercar championship series will be staged at Homebush each December until 2016 with an option for a further two years.

It is believed to be worth around $12 million to V8 racing.

The Sydney 500 will see Ford, Holden, Nissan, Mercedes-Benz and, for the first time, Volvo battle it out for the final race of the series.

The event will attract more than 5000 interstate and international visitors and an estimated $50 million to the state's economy over three years.

"Besides providing a multitude of motorsports fans with a wonderful experience, these two events will also provide many jobs and inject millions of dollars into NSW," said the minister for Tourism and Major Events, George Souris.

"It will also be seen by millions of people throughout Australia and the world thanks to a live broadcast by Channel 7."

Supercar drivers have welcomed the decision to settle on Homebush as the grand final venue.

"It is a very challenging race and one we all look forward to," former champion Rick Kelly said.

"It is the closing race of the season and the ultimate way to finish. Last year's race was the maybe the toughest of my career with the heat and the gruelling nature of the track.

"It was almost 40 degrees and that with the kerbs and the walls produced great racing. It is one of my favourite events and I am so glad it is going to stay.

"I think I can speak on for the rest of the drivers and applaud all involved for getting a new deal done."

Kelly said Sydney was a pivotal market for the sport and added the Olympic Park provided a perfect venue for NSW's second race.

"We need a high profile race in Sydney because it is Australia's biggest market," Kelly said.

Racing legend Dick Johnson, who led Dick Johnson Racing to a championship sealing result at the Sydney 500 in 2010, also stressed the importance of keeping the event.

"It is a key event on the calendar," Johnson said. "We have to have a big event in Sydney and this is the one."

The 2013 Homebush race takes place from December 6 to 8.

"Securing the Sydney 500 V8 Supercars grand finale at Sydney Olympic Park for at least another three years will mean motorsport lovers will be able to experience a truly exciting race in a unique venue which brings the precision of the V8 drivers to a challenging course that really delivers entertainment for the fans," Warburton said.

SYDNEY 500

*The event began in 2009 when former V8 boss Tony Cochrane secured a five year deal with the NSW Government

*The event drew 523,000 people in its first three years and is considered to be one of the sport's marquee races

*Holden legend Mark Skaife designed the demanding 3.5km temporary circuit which see cars race around NAZ Stadium and the Showground

*The Sydney 500 features the only indoor paddock in Australia with fans able to view the cars and the trucks

*Jamie Whincup has won three of his four championships at the Sydney 500

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McDermott to save teen tyros

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AUSTRALIA'S injury impasse and reliance on Ryan Harris's rickety frame demands the return of Craig McDermott to Darren Lehmann's national coaching ensemble.

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McDermott is fast bowling's version of the horse whisperer and the Test great's return in some capacity requires examination - as does Cricket Australia's handling of its young pace cohort.

CA's injury management is again under sharp focus with crack trio Mitchell Starc, James Pattinson and Pat Cummins sidelined with back stress fractures.

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McDermott has told The Advertiser he would "welcome with open arms" a phone call from CA to resume as a bowling mentor this summer and it would be a proactive move. 

Australia, will be in a world of trouble if Ashes spearhead Harris – currently battling a hamstring strain – falls over against England.

Harris – who enjoys McDermott as a confidante – snared 24 wickets at 19.58 in England to be the only Australian to take over 20 wickets. England skipper Alastair Cook had three Graeme Swann (26), Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad (22) in a 3-0 triumph.

Michael Clarke's extensive pace reserves loomed as the key in a compressed, five-match return Ashes series but they are running thin with rising seamer Jackson Bird also plagued by a back injury.

McDermott, a brilliant bowling mentor for 12 months until May last year, would be invaluable in re-educating reinforcements on the art of swing, consistency and staying on the park. Chadd Sayers, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Ben Hilfenhaus or Josh Hazlewood could yet feature if Australia's injury scourge escalates.

McDermott oversaw Ben Hilfenhaus' metamorphosis from a 2010-11 Ashes mauling of seven wickets at 59 to take 27 at 17.22 the following summer against India. Hilfenhaus' late swing returned in a 4-0 whitewash while reborn Peter Siddle took 23 wickets at 18.65. However Hilfenhaus faded again last summer.

Mitchell Johnson now looms as a key given fellow 23-year-old left-armer Starc's demise - the only remaining paceman – Harris apart – capable of rushing England's batsman at 150km/h.

Incumbent bowling coach Ali de Winter is skilled but McDermott's 71-Test expertise would be an invaluable addition at the coalface.

Australia's tender treatment of Starc has not prevented a debilitating back ailment. There is a school of thought it has been counter-productive. Cummins, 20, is now facing his third season in the stands with a back stress fracture, to be joined by Starc just when Australia needed him most.

Starc was infamously rested from a blue-chip Boxing Day Test against Sri Lanka last season in Melbourne and second Test against England at Lord's in July. He has not figured in consecutive Tests since his debut series against New Zealand in 2011.

CA high performance boss Pat Howard, in a bid to explain the fate of his fallen fast men, on Monday said it was preordained that those under 23 would habitually break down. However McDermott recalled 'bowling more not less' was the key to his durability in claiming 80 of his 291 wickets in 24 Tests by the age of 23.

CA must now seriously consider resurrecting McDermott, a casualty of the Mickey Arthur era and trust pacemen to become "bowling fit" rather than jump at shadows created by sports science boffins.

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Watts cops ban for penis bite

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RUGBY league bad boy Anthony Watts has been slapped with an eight-week ban for contrary conduct after he was accused of biting a rival's penis.

The Gold Coast Rugby League judiciary handed down the penalty on Tuesday night after a one-hour hearing.

Watts, a former NRL star who now plays for the Tugun Seahawks local league team, was charged with contrary conduct after allegedly biting a Bilambil Jets opponent on the penis during a match on September 1.

TV footage showed the Jets player apparently reeling in pain.

Watts and Gold Coast rugby league officials emerged from the one-hour hearing on Tuesday night refusing to comment.

An official from Watts' club Tugun Seahawks, who accompanied the league bad boy to the meeting, would say only that the player had received 'a fair hearing'.

Officials said the Queensland Rugby League would be making a statement on Wednesday morning.

But Watts' lawyer, Mark Williams, of Potts Lawyers, confirmed the eight-week suspension.

"Mr Watts has seven days to lodge an appeal and intends on seeking legal advice on this," Mr Williams said.

Watts had denied deliberately biting a Bilambil Jets opponent during a local league match last month.

Mr Williams had earlier told media that while Watts 'absolutely denies that any biting of any nature has taken place ... if there has been any contact made to that particular area of this gentleman's body, our client apologises'.

One league official told The Courier-Mail the alleged victim, who dropped his pants to complain to the referee, suffered a "pretty nasty" wound.

"He'll have to make sure the wound won't get infected. There was some skin removed," he said.

The one-time North Queensland Cowboy and Sydney Rooster was also charged with striking his opponent and was ruled out of last weekend's grand final, win by the Seahawks.

In June, Watts told The Sunday Mail he had abandoned all hopes of resurrecting his NRL career in favour of joining the Finks, which he described as being "like being in a footy team".

His induction to the gang capped a downward spiral including drug and alcohol battles and weapons and assault charges after his elite career slipped away.

Mr Williams said his client played "a full contact professional sport and during play, contact is made to all parts of people's bodies".

"Whether it is real or imagined, contact can occur and that is a very real risk," he said.

An opposition team official, who rejected concerns Finks members intimidated opposition supporters at matches, said Watts was "a quality footballer ... but just a loose cannon".

"It's a shame because he can be a very nice bloke."

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Hawkins OK for now, future a worry

Tom Hawkins is battling a back injury. Source: JOE CASTRO / AAP

GEELONG star Tom Hawkins is considered a real chance to play this Friday night against Port Adelaide but his long-term future remains unclear due to a degenerative disc.

The disc problem is believed to have led to instability in some vertebrae making it harder to manage the pain.

Long-term the degeneration could lead to spinal surgery and in Hawkins' case it would be a bigger operation than experienced by teammate Dawson Simpson and others in Brad Ottens and Garry Lyon.

SCROLL DOWN FOR THE GEELONG ANALYSIS

According to a source on Monday surgery has not been planned but if required would involve fusion to stabilise vertebrae which could involve a recovery period of six months.

Geelong and Hawkins had been managing the issue with reasonable success until the end of June and in recent weeks his training workloads have dropped off along with his match conditioning and touch.

His replacement against Fremantle in Josh Walker is a 20-year-old with excellent endurance and a genuine appetite for the contest but he was unable to maximise his opportunities.

Hawkins however is among a host of issues facing the Cats this week as they try to avoid throwing away a brilliant season.

TOM HAWKINS?

If Hawkins plays he won't be venturing too far from goals meaning James Podsiadly will continue to cover plenty of ground. If he doesn't play then Harry Taylor is the most likely forward alternative.

That would mean Tom Lonergan would go to Jay Schulz and 192cm Jared Roivers would have to play as a tall defender, a role he has played many times before but not Geelong's ideal role for him.

A wildcard would be the selection of Shane Kirsten, the club's 34 pick in the 2011 draft and a 191cm forward who has booted plenty of VFL goals in the past six weeks.

Joel Patfull clears the ball in front of Tom Hawkins in Round 23. Source: Getty Images

RUCK DEPARTMENT

What was on paper an abundance of riches has become a problem given injury to Dawson Simpson (206cm) and Hamish McIntosh (203cm) and average form from Trent West.

They have had to pinch-hit with first-year player Mark Blicavs (20 games) and forward/ruckman Nathan Vardy (19 games) and while both were brave against Fremantle the reality is they were monstered by Aaron Sandilands and Zac Clarke.

Admittedly the Dockers can expose a ruck deficiency more than any other side but Port Adelaide's Matthew Lobbe was a telling factor against Collingwood.

The Cats may well go back to West who was serviceable against a fine craftsman in Brisbane's Matthew Leuenberger in Round 23. That would leave Blicavs as the rucking back-up and someone who could run with Justin Westhoff who seems to cover more ground than any other 199cm player in the AFL.

Geelong v St Kilda at Skilled Stadium, Geelong's Dawson Simpson injured in the second quarter. Picture: Salpigtidis George Source:

COREY ENRIGHT

Typically a medial strain means at least two-three weeks off so Enright is highly unlikely. So how do you replace a dual best and fairest (both in Premiership seasons) and four-time All-Australian?

You can't completely but Geelong does have options in Taylor Hunt, who can play back or as a run-with as well as Josh Hunt, Jordan Murdoch, Jackson Thurlow or George Horlin-Smith.

Because the Geelong VFL team finished on top all of the list are in full training and all of those players have performed creditably at senior level before.

Another alternative is to push Travis Varcoe back to a half back role with the ever-improving Cameron Gurthrie to get the major assignment on Chad Wingard.

Taylor Hunt, if selected, is more likely to be used in a run-with role against Travis Boak.

Power skipper Travis Boak high fives fans after Port won its elimination final against Collingwood. He says the team is hungry for more success. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images Source: Getty Images

SUBSTITUTE

Expect Paul Chapman to start this week. He was clean with his possession when he got on the ground against Fremantle and is the type of spark Geelong needs.

Billie Smedts, who has been largely disappointing in his second full season, is an extremely versatile player who could provide something coming off the sub's bench.

Dejected ... Paul Chapman thanks the fans despite losing his 250th game. Source: Getty Images

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Roos gets busy at Dees

Paul Roos is already making moves at Melbourne. Source: JULIAN SMITH / HeraldSun

PAUL Roos got down to business as Melbourne coach yesterday and the effect of his appointment was evident, with the club selling more than 400 memberships on the day of its campaign launch.

Roos doesn't officially begin his contract period until November but had a series of meetings at the club.

In further good news for the Demons, it is understood former No. 1 draft pick Jack Watts is now considered almost certain to sign a new deal with the club.

Watts was involved when Roos met with senior Melbourne players last week and was present as Roos was announced as coach at a packed press conference on Friday.

The 2005 Sydney premiership coach spent more time with the players after that media call and the overwhelming response was positive.

Roos stopped short of criticising the handling of Watts at Melbourne on Friday, but said he wanted Watts to have defined role in the side.

"My commitment to Jack is to make him the best possible player he can be — and that goes for every single one of the boys," Roos said.

"I'll sit down with Jack — I hope he does stay — and then we'll talk about a role and give him a role, give him a role he thinks he can do and give him a role that benefits the footy club."

Unrestricted free agent Colin Sylvia has also spoken to Roos but is on holidays overseas with no decision in his future expected until he returns.

Roos was expected to immediately begin a serious examination of Melbourne's list before next month's trade and free agency periods.

Roos has floated the prospect of trading Melbourne's first pick — No. 2 — in the draft.

With MCC-joint members and some rollover memberships from this season, the club now has a tally of more than 12,500 members for next year.

Also on the coach's agenda is to find a senior assistant coach to succeed him after two or three seasons.

Melbourne are sounding out Hawthorn assistant Adam Simpson and West Coast's Scott Burns about becoming the Demons' coach-in-waiting under Roos.

But Roos says Neil Craig's time at the Dees is almost certainly over, with the caretaker coach now set to move on.

Roos says he has not personally spoken to Simpson or Burns about becoming his understudy, but he believes the club has.

"I think they have spoken to Adam Simpson, and I believe they have spoken to Scotty Burns,'' Roos told Fox Footy's On The Couch.

"I'll certainly give them a call and suss them out ... but I suspect my first conversation will be be (Demons football manager) Josh Mahoney to see where those two sit.''

West Coast assistant Burns could come into consideration to take over at the Eagles following John Worsfold's resignation.

Already Geelong premiership captain Cameron Ling has ruled himself out of any assistant's role at Melbourne, saying he was happy with his burgeoning media career.

Roos said he understood Craig, who coached the Demons after they sacked Mark Neeld mid-season, would be leaving the club.

Craig has been linked with the head coach's vacancy at Brisbane.

Roos also reiterated he wanted out-of-contract stars Colin Sylvia and Jack Watts to stay at the Demons, and pleaded the club's case with both soon after his appointment on a two-year deal last week.

"I didn't ask either of them for an answer - I just said 'I really want you to be part of this football club','' Roos said.

"I think they're important parts of the football club, and I hope they'll stay.''

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Thomas likely to leave Pies

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COLLINGWOOD is increasingly likely to part ways with Dale Thomas as the midfielder considers massive offers from rivals including Carlton.

The Pies want to keep Thomas but it has been made clear they will have to match a Carlton offer which could top $3.5 million for five years.

Collingwood believes it would be irresponsible to devote so much money to one player, and cost them young stars in coming seasons.

Discussions are considered unofficially on hold with Thomas on holidays considering his future.

Change is afoot at Collingwood, with Blues fitness boss Justin Cordy a leading candidate to replace Blues-bound David Buttifant, whose departure was announced on Monday.

The Pies are backing coach Nathan Buckley to lead the charge, with Pies boss Gary Pert signalling to the Herald Sun a contract extension beyond next year was likely.

"Like all clubs we have been maintaining focus on the campaign for this year, and it will be appropriate now for the board and myself to get together and chat about the coaching position,'' Pert said.

"Rest assured he has got 100 per cent support from all the key decision makers.''

Buckley, out of contract at the end of next year, will be given full rein to weed out disruptive elements after raising questions of culture in the wake of Saturday's shock loss to Port Adelaide.

Players and coaches are livid with Heath Shaw over on-field meltdowns, Alan Didak could be nudged into retirement Andrew Krakouer's career is also in jeopardy.

Krakouer's professionalism has been questioned given he has missed training in recent weeks, while Jolly was told he would be moved on on Monday.

The playing future of captain Nick Maxwell is not in doubt given he has recently signed a one-year deal and has strong support within Collingwood.

Carlton leads the charge for Thomas, All-Australian two years ago, but Hawthorn could enter the picture if Lance Franklin was to leave.

The Pies have pick No. 10 in the draft given their eighth placing, which means a free agency compensation pick for Thomas would potentially be as high as No. 11.

The Blues are aware North Melbourne could offer free agent Eddie Betts as much as $550,000 a season, around $100,000 more than his current deal.

That would clear enough salary cap space for the Blues to reunite Thomas - no fan of the Pies' Leading Teams philosophy - with former coach and close friend Mick Malthouse.

Cordy could make a straight swap with Buttifant, after developing a strong relationship with Collingwood's new head of football Rodney Eade at the Western Bulldogs.

He is one of a number of candidates being considered from the AFL and rival sports both domestically and internationally.

The club's fitness and strength and conditioning programs could be totally overhauled.

Buttifant was happy to stay at Collingwood to help the changeover to Buckley two years ago but despite having a contract option for next year, he was always going to join close friend Malthouse.

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