RTS urges Roosters to re-sign SKD

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ROGER Tuivasa-Sheck has urged the Roosters sign Shaun Kenny-Dowall long term after he teamed up with the rocks-or-diamonds Kiwi international to stop the Paul Gallen inspired Sharks from pulling off a shock upset.

Kenny Dowall scored a 90m intercept try before Michael Jennings put him in the corner to seal a thrilling 24-18 victory that ended a three match losing streak and kept the Sharks anchored to the bottom of the table.

Paul Gallen's return provided a huge boost for Cronulla. Source: News Corp Australia

Tuivasa-Sheck set-up a contender for try of the year by dancing, darting and dashing past five defenders before putting James Maloney in for a spectacular 24th minute Remondis Stadium touchdown – but the future fullback claimed Kenny-Dowall was the "man-of-the-match'' following a dominate display on the left wing.

Shaun Kenny-Dowell celebrates with Boyd Cordner. Source: News Corp Australia

Kenny-Dowall – off-contract at the end of 2015 – made the most of a switch to the wing with a dominate display that could become a permanent move with Tuivasa-Sheck to play fullback next year and Blake Ferguson expected to join Michael Jennings in the centres.

Tuivasa-Sheck claimed the Roosters had to sign the player they allegedly tried to offload last year on a long term deal following the win that coach Trent Robinson said put his sides premiership defence back on track.

Sosaia Feki can't break away from a crowd of Roosters. Source: Getty Images

"He was brilliant tonight,'' Kenny-Dowall said.

"Big ups to him because he was the deserved man-of-the-match. He was awesome. I want him to stay at this club. He is an awesome player and we need him here. We haven't spoken about the off-field stuff about Ferguson but we are happy with the way SKDs is playing and he has earned a spot.''

Shaun Kenny-Dowall makes a line break — with a little support from Anthony Minichiello. Source: Getty Images

The Sharks looked set to pull off a shock victory when Sosaia Feki scored a stunning 80m try set-up by Michael Gordon to lock the scores at 18-18 with just 12 minutes to go.

The Sharks always looked a chance with the surprise return of Paul Gallen turning the 2014 rabble into the competitive force they were last season with the same roster.

But Kenny Dowall ended the brave fight that gave all Sharks fans hope and Peter Sharp reason for optimism when he scored a flukish try that came from a Mitchell Pearce kick.

Following his giant killing switch to the wing, Kenny Dowall said he would happily play on the flank.

Paul Gallen and the Sharks are left dejected after yet another loss. Source: News Corp Australia

"I enjoyed it because I could just concentrate on my attack,'' Kenny-Dowall said.

"I got to get my hands on the ball so it was good. I can't control what the club does in the future but I can control how I play. I am still here now and that is my focus. I will just play my best and I am happy to play on the wing if it means I am on the field.''

Tuivasa-Sheck said the stunning 24th minute run that gave the Roosters a 12-6 lead was all "instinctive''.

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"It was great to get that freedom and space,'' Tuivasa-Sheck said.

"I hit the space and waited for the defender to react and avoided him. I went head down and charged for the space and waited for them to come at me and I avoided them. I didn't know Jimmy was coming, I just turned and he was there so I popped it to him.''

Following three loses, Robinson said that last night's match was a "must win'' encounter that will help put the Roosters season back on track.

"We had to win that,'' Robinson said.

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"We have had a lot of criticism but it has been warranted. The boys have all put their hand up and shared the blame around and they have approached it the right way. We improved a lot tonight and hopefully that is the start.''

Robinson also said he was encouraged by James Maloney's performance while counterpart Peter Sharp declared having Gallen back would give his side a fighting hope.

Sydney Roosters 24 (S Kenny-Dowall 2 B Cordner J Maloney tries J Maloney 4 goals) bt Cronulla Sharks 18 (S Feki W Graham R Leutele tries M Gordon 3 goals) at Remondis Stadium. Referee: Alan Shortall, Henry Perenara. Crowd: 12,163.

Re-live all the action in our blog below:

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Saints won’t lose focus: Richardson

Lenny Hayes tries to escape the Dyson Heppell tackle. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Wayne Ludbey / News Corp Australia

ST KILDA coach Alan Richardson said his team would not get caught up in finals speculation, despite an impressive 16-point win over Essendon that has the Saints in the top eight.

"We won't change our focus, our focus is to make sure that we get our footy right,'' Richardson said. "And that looks like we're going to be a really good defensive team, a hard team to score against and that we're going to be really trustworthy in the contest.''

REPORT: RIEWOLDT, SAINTS STUN BOMBERS

Richardson said he was not interested in talking about ladder position or how many wins the team had for the season.

"Whatever happens in terms of win-loss then that will be, but it's all about the way we want to play,'' Richardson said.

"Twenty seven news players in three years, we've had to really go back to the drawing board in terms of methodology, attack on the man, attack on the footy, team defence, so we won't change from that focus.''

A crowd of 36,041 watched St Kilda concede five of the opening six goals before hitting back hard and running all over Essendon, which looked flat after its six-day break returning from Perth. The Bombers scored just four goals after quarter-time, two of them in the dying minutes of the match.

St Kilda players belt out the club song after beating Essendon. Source: Getty Images

"I can't really speak for Essendon and where they're at based on their trip,'' Richardson said. "There was certainly a bit of noise made about that during the week, but we'll only focus on what we did, and given how poor we were … here against Adelaide (last weekend after playing the Eagles in Perth), we're just really pleased with the way the guys responded.''

The Saints coach said the most pleasing aspect of the win was ''the way we defended''.

"To keep them to 45 entries and nine goals, when you consider they had five on the scoreboard at half time ...'' he said.

The Saints had a good mix of contributors, with veterans Lenny Hayes, Leigh Montagna and Nick Riewoldt (five goals) leading the way, but youngsters Jack Billings, Luke Dunstan and Jack Newnes adding real spark. Forward Tom Curren excelled in a defensive forward role on Dyson Heppell, restricting him to 17 disposals.

Adam Schneider had some important touches in the Saints win. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: News Corp Australia

St Kilda could regain key defender Sam Fisher, who has been missing through injury since Round 10 last season. The dual best-and-fairest made his return to football via the VFL earlier in the day and was among Sandringham's best players in the 35-point win over North Ballarat.

Both clubs now have a six-day break before Anzac Day engagements, with St Kilda flying to New Zealand on Tuesday for its twilight match against the Brisbane Lions in Wellington.

Rugged midfielder David Armitage remained in hospital on Saturday with an infected knee and is not expected to play against the Lions.

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Folau’s flying start enough for Tahs

Israel Folau celebrates his try after just 30 seconds against the Bulls at Allianz Stadium. Source: Mark Metcalfe / Getty Images

A FLEETING glimpse of royalty was enough to sink the Bulls at Allianz Stadium — and it happened before Prince William had even arrived.

The Duke of Cambridge hadn't taken his seat when the man wearing the undisputed crown as Australia's biggest rugby star, Israel Folau, scored a decisive try in the Waratahs' tight victory.

Just 28 seconds on the clock had passed when Folau swooped in for the season's fastest try and it proved crucial after a gritty 79-minute battle against the South Africans then unfolded.

The seven-point margin remained the difference between the sides in the 19-12 win — the Waratahs' first victory against the Bulls since 2005; the year Prince William graduated university with a nice girlfriend on his arm called Kate.

"That's the thing with a special player like him. You can plan but he just needs one bit of space and he can create something out of nothing. He is a world-class player," Bulls coach Frans Ludeke said of Folau post-match.

MATCH CENTRE: Full scores, stats and video highlights

Folau's try was a tonic for his frustrations over the "throat-gate" affair last week but kept quiet by the Bulls kicking tactics for the rest of the night, ultimately it was a muscular performance by the Waratahs forwards that got the job done for the home team.

Israel Folau carries a couple of Bulls defenders with him. Source: Getty Images

Led by the irrepressible Michael Hooper and with the cult-hero twins Jacques Potgieter and Will Skelton barnstorming in support, the Tahs pack matched the Bulls' physicality and got them out of trouble in the second half when the visitors clawed back into the game.

Having pushed out to a 13-0 lead after 21 minutes, the home side failed to kick on with a stuttering attack and the Bulls rallied to 13-9 midway through the second period.

But grim defence and Hooper's magic at the breakdown allowed Bernard Foley to kick the Waratahs home to a seven-point win, which keeps their finals hopes alive at the competition halfway point.

"It wasn't a diamond performance but there was plenty of good hard work going on out there, and sometimes that's what you just need," coach Michael Cheika said.

"We had some really good opportunities and we scored one.

"There were another two or three in the first half that we could have converted but in the second half the momentum changed a little bit in the game, and to be honest, sometimes in games like that when you do attack a lot and the momentum goes away from you, sometimes you can fall into a bit of a hole there.

"We did well to stay mentally switched on and stay in the game and just find a way out."

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Folau looks set to become the first player in history to become odds-on as first try scorer after breaking his own season record by seven seconds just after kick off.

Two nice touches from Adam Ashley-Cooper were instrumental; the first winning the ball back from the kick-off and the second a nice fend-and-offload in the ensuing phase.

The quality of Folau's support play — and how much it was missed in the past three weeks — was instantly apparent, but the play moved away from him for the rest of the game and a Tahs' strategy to seek field position didn't help.

Cheika joked later he would have told his team to kick less if knew the future King was watching, but in reality, an Englishman would have loved it and it was the right tactics against a Bulls side intent on doing likewise.

It also showed the attack-minded Waratahs aren't blinded by their run-first, run-often strategy, and have the smarts to find a way to win. A week earlier in Perth they became predictable for the Force defence by running too much ball.

Lock Will Skelton powers ahead for the Waratahs. Source: Getty Images

"Sometimes there we got a bit lost in our strategy but the boys decided to keep pushing down there and in the end they were the right decisions, to push the ball back to them down the middle (with kicks)," Cheika said.

"It wasn't the way we'd normally do it, but we also have to be a bit unpredictable. It sounds a bit silly, but we can't show the same thing all the time."

The Bulls basic game requires unyielding pressure to work but the visitors too often let the Waratahs off the hook with poor discipline and handling errors.

They were pleased to hang in and make the game close but the ruthless Bulls of old would have squeezed the life out of a Waratahs side on a middling night.

"The first 30 they were really on top of us and we did well in defence, and clawed our way back into it," Ludeke said.

"We could have easily squeezed a draw out of it but credit to the Waratahs. They had the opportunities and were accurate in converting the pressure into points.

NSW WARATAHS 19 (Israel Folau try Bernard Foley con 4 pens) bt BULLS 12 (Jacques-Louis Potgieter 3, Handre Pollard pens) at Allianz Stadium. Referee: Rohan Hoffman.

Relive all the action from the Waratahs v Bulls clash with our match blog below

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2014 Cup should’ve been Dylan’s stage

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HAD Dylan Tombides' life continued on its intended path, he would be the young player Socceroos fans would be salivating over heading into the 2014 World Cup.

Instead we are mourning his death just a month after his 20th birthday after a 33-month battle with cancer.

Tombides first came to my attention after scoring a double against Arsenal's reserves age 16.

In March 2011, I interviewed West Ham's senior manager Avram Grant and expected him to be coy on Tombides.

We caught up two weeks after Tombides' 17th birthday and Grant intimated the striker would have already made his Premier League debut had the Hammers not been in a relegation scrap.

"It's difficult with the position we are in but he might play before the end of the season, even when we are fighting relegation,'' Grant said.

"He is a player that I like, I took him to the first team, not even from the reserves but from the academy. We haven't taken him just because he's young, but because we can see he has the talent.''

TRIBUTES FLOW IN FOR DYLAN

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Tombides was six months younger than Harry Kewell when he made his Leeds United debut in March, 1996.

So the next question was obvious. Does he have the potential to emulate Kewell?

"Harry was a good player, and I think Dylan has the potential to do it,'' he said.

"I think he can be good for Australia, I am sure about this. He is a different player to Harry, but he has the potential to be like him.

"It's not computers, you need to have a good eye to analyse his potential, then it's our job and his job to maximize his potential.

"To be in a Premier League squad you need to have quality and he has the quality and the potential to play in the Premier League in the future but he needs to prove it.''

I asked whether he might loan him out in the 2011-12 season for experience.

"We are not discussing it at the moment because he is one of the players that we plan to have in the squad for next season,'' Grant said.

West Ham youth coach Tony Carr signed the raw 14-year-old from WA whose family had just relocated to London after a brief stint in Hong Kong.

Carr has produced Paul Ince, Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard, John Terry, Glen Johnson, Michael Carrick and Joe Cole in his 41 years as head of West Ham's academy so he knows talent when he sees it.

"What impressed me was his calmness in front of goal, he was calm and his finishing was technically always good, he'd make good contact with the ball,'' Carr told me.

"He's a good target player, good in the air, good receiver of the ball in tight positions and a good mover with the ball so he can receive it under pressure and keep possession and has a good eye for goal.

"He's a good striker and a good goalscorer. He's a left footer but his right foot is close to it, he's two footed.

"Yes he's done very well, we like what we see and he's playing and he's scoring goals for the reserves, and that was as a 16 year old against Arsenal.

"So obviously his first season as a full time player he's made some great strides but the important part for a young player is that they keep continuing to improve and don't hit the wall or stop.''

Grant was sacked but Tombides still managed to get on the teamsheet for West Ham's final game of the season in May, before joining the Joeys for the FIFA U17 World Cup in Mexico.

Not only was he the standout player but his positivity was infectious, with roommate Jesse Makarounas recalling the words he'd often repeat to his teenage teammates.

"You can't tell me the sky's the limit when the footprints on the moon. He was often saying that,'' Makarounas said.

It was the end of that tournament when Tombides discovered he had testicular cancer.

He had a passion for golf and often played with father Jim. And long stints in hospital for chemo treatment didn't prevent him making his debut in September 2012 at home to Wigan.

He recovered from a liver operation a year ago which ruled him out of the FIFA U20 World Cup in Turkey last June and set his on West Ham's first-team, while contemplating a loan deal with Andy Carroll, Carlton Cole and Ricardo Vaz Te ahead of him in the queue.

"Physically I'm back up to where I was at the World Cup in 2011, I'm 83 kg (he was 84kg then) and I dropped right down to 68kg at one point," Tombides said in November.

"I knew I'd get through it eventually, but it made me realise how helpless I was. I needed mum, dad, my brother (Taylor), it wasn't pleasant feeling. I could barely keep my eyes, I hardly moved and getting out of bed was a rarity.

"It's been a stop-start, I had to go through my cancer and operations but now it's just the radio frequency ablation (RFA) that put me out for a couple of days.

"But I don't feel like it's holding me back, and I feel I'm ready to play now and I want to look at things as though nothing has changed, I want to push for the first team.

"I not as sharp as I was, but I'm not far off."

Tombides needed a medical clearance from West Ham to play for the Olyroos in Oman in January – his last Australian appearances – it's something he wanted to keep quiet, he just wanted to be regarded like anyone else.

Aware that I had put him up front in a projected Socceroos team for the 2014 World Cup, he too had ambitions of overcoming the odds.

"Wouldn't mind being in the starting XI for the first game,'' he texted.

He followed up by, good naturedly taking exception to some photos we were running of him online.

"They're using pics of me when I looked like Casper the ghost,'' he said.

So Dylan had arranged for four fresh shots of himself to be emailed.

In Oman, he told Olyroos teammate Nick Ansell that he would have another course of chemo when he returned to London and hoped that would be it and teammates said if not for the hair you wouldn't have known he was battling such was his positivity.

Everyone was shocked when it was announced he passed away on Friday morning with his family by his side.

Condolences to Jim, Traceylee and young Taylor.

Dylan, Rest in Peace!

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Season over, focus shifts to ADP future

Sydney FC player Alessandro Del Piero says goodbye ... but for the last time? Source: MAL FAIRCLOUGH / AFP

HEARTBROKEN Sydney FC will now turn its attentions to the future after its season was cruelly ended by a 92nd minute winner by Gui Finkler.

The Sky Blues pushed Melbourne Victory all the way at Etihad Stadium last night and coach Frank Farina said his side "deserved better" after creating enough chances in the second half to have won the game.

But it didn't win - and now Farina and marquee star Alessandro Del Piero will await talks regarding next season.

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Del Piero, 39, is out of contract after two stunning seasons in Sydney.

But he put the ball back in Sydney's court last night by saying in a post-match interview that he wants to play on in 2014-15.

Farina said he had not yet spoken to the Italian about his future, but expected a quick resolution either way.

"We don't know yet," Farina said.

"He's been fantastic for Australian football both on the field and off the field, and for Sydney, as a city and as a club, he's been wonderful. But we've got to respect and see what he wants to do with his career and future.

Sydney FC captain and marquee Alessandro Del Piero hugs the travelling fans. Source: AFP

"The football club will always move forward, irrespective of whether one player stays or goes. Nothing is built around one person or one individual.

"Discussions have to be had. I think it will be relatively quick now in terms of discussions and a decision, but that's up to Alessandro with what he's thinking. I think he's most probably going to need a bit of time after this game to settle his head."

Have we seen Alessandro Del Piero for the last time in the A-League? Source: News Corp Australia

It has long been suggested that Sydney had to finish in the top four for Farina to trigger a clause in his contract that would see him coach on next season.

But Farina last night denied he was now an uncontracted coach.

"It's a decision that's not in my hands," he said.

"I still do have a contract by the way. I do actually (have a contract for next season) but that's to be discussed.

"It's a big club, a big city ... there are big expectations and the last few years have been pretty lean, but I think we've made progress, positive progress, contrary to what some people may think."

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Tombides loses battle with cancer

Young Australian Dylan Tombides has lost his battle with cancer. Source: Arfa Griffiths / Supplied

YOUNG Australian footballer Dylan Tombides has lost his battle with cancer, passing away on Friday morning in England.

Tombides, 20, has battled testicular cancer for three years, after being diagnosed in 2011.

His club, West Ham, will honour him with a minute's applause ahead of its Premier League fixture with Crystal Palace on Saturday and the club's players will wear black armbands.

Tombides joined West Ham as a youth player in 2010, and made his senior debut for the Hammers in 2012 in the League Cup.

He represented Australia at under-17 and under-23 level, as recently as at the AFC under-22 championships earlier this year, and was long touted as a future Socceroo.

West Ham paid tribute to the Tombides in a statement on Friday.

"Dylan's amazing resilience and positivity saw him through months of surgery and chemotherapy, while his outstanding talent saw him make his first-team debut in a League Cup tie with Wigan Athletic at the Boleyn Ground in September 2012."

"Away from the pitch, Dylan did a huge amount of work to raise awareness of male cancer, supporting the One for the Boys campaign at a number of high-profile events alongside the likes of Hollywood star Samuel L. Jackson, snooker star Jimmy White and fellow Australian Peter Andre.

"Dylan was respected by everyone who knew him for his intelligent views on the game and his larger than life character. He was a loving son, amazing brother and well-respected member of the West Ham squad. He will be hugely missed by everyone who had the honour of knowing him."

Leave your tributes to Dylan in the comments section below.

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Broncos rock-solid as Knights crumble

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NEWCASTLE had no answer to the Great Wall of Brisbane on Friday night.

In one of the best defensive efforts of the season, the Broncos tackled the Knights out of the contest before cashing in with a couple of late tries as the score line blew out.

Off the back off the steel in their defence, fullback Ben Barba finally produced the sort of performance Brisbane fans have been craving.

Alex Glenn of the Broncos scores a try. Source: Getty Images

He may have been a rung below his brilliant best but the signs were there.

He broke his try duck for the club, had a hand in two others and saved two Knights tries with some desperate defence in a great all round effort.

But he had plenty of mates.

Backrowers Corey Parker and Matt Gillett were also outstanding while halfback Ben Hunt continues to grow in confidence and hooker Andrew McCullough tackled himself to a stand-still.

Jarrod Mullen of the Knights looks dejected as he leaves the ground. Source: Getty Images

Brisbane coach Anthony Griffin was understandably a contented man after his side's win.

"Last week, I thought we nearly earned a win through our defence and we were a bit unlucky but tonight, we definitely did," he said.

"They had 10 sets more than us in the first half so to come in 10 in front, I think that was probably the ball-game there. It set the whole win up through that defensive effort.''

Griffin praised Barba.

Ben Barba of the Broncos catches the ball. Source: Getty Images

"He scored his try, he saved two or three – he was good. Credit to him. As I've said every week he's his biggest critic and he's got that off his chest now."

Skipper Justin Hodges also singled out his fullback.

"I thought he was fantastic," Hodges said.

The Knights threw plenty at Brisbane but in 80 minutes, came up with just one try.

Broncos players celebrate a try. Source: Getty Images

Remarkably, they were held up over the line on four separate occasions, twice by Barba.

Knights coach Wayne Bennett wasn't unhappy with the way his side played.

"We had opportunity. I mean we got to the tryline four times and got held up so it's not like we didn't get across the line,'' he said.

"A couple of their tries, they had a bit of luck."

Willie Mason of the Knights tackles Ben Hunt of the Broncos. Source: Getty Images

Knights captain Kurt Gidley admitted the final score line had left his side in a bit of shock in the dressing room after the game.

"I didn't think the score line reflected the effort," he said.

"They were just more desperate then us with their defence."

In a further blow for the Knights, prop Willie Mason, who was held up over the line twice in the game , faces an anxious wait after he was placed on report in the second half for a shoulder charge on Parker.

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The Knights dominated possession early in the game but virtually from the opening whistle, met some almost impenetrable resistance from the visitors.

As so often happens after a team survives an early onslaught, Brisbane were the first to score through backrower Alex Glenn.

Dane Gagai of the Knights is tackled by the Broncos defence . Source: Getty Images

It was 16-0 before the Knights finally got on the board through interchange forward Korbin Sims, who crashed over next to the posts four minutes from halftime.

It was to be the Knights only joy with a try to winger Dale Copley opening the flood gates late.

BRISBANE 32 (B Barba D Copley M Gillett A Glenn B Hannant J Hoffman tries C Parker 3 B Hunt goals) bt NEWCASTLE 6 (K Sims try T Roberts goal) at Hunter Stadium. Referee: Ashley Klein, Adam Gee. Crowd: 22,254.

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Adelaide United wants trophy now

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ADELAIDE United captain Eugene Galekovic's says his players desperately want to win this A-League championship.

The Reds gloveman says the entire squad wants to claim silverware now, not next season.

Galekovic believes he's speaking for the group after coach Josep Gombau has always claimed the Reds would win the title in 2015.

"I think it's easy to say 'we'll try to do our best and try to achieve as much as we can','' Galekovic said.

MORE: REDS GO FROM LIGHTWEIGHTS TO GENUINE CONTENDERS

"But in 10 years (of Reds existence) we haven't won anything at this football club and I want to win a trophy and the group in there (dressing room) is very motivated as well.

"I think the coach is here for another three years and if we can win three or four (titles) in the next years it will be a success.

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"It's definitely very hard, everyone tries to win a championship we're a good chance to win one now and why not.

Adelaide needs to win three consecutive matches to achieve the dream starting with the elimination final clash against Central Coast Mariners in Gosford on Saturday afternoon.

Adelaide last hoisted a trophy in 2006 when the Reds claimed the premier's plate for being the best side in the home-and-away series, a prize deemed to be the most important by most football leagues around the planet.

Former Reds boss John Kosmina held up the silverware with then captain Ross Aloisi before Galekovic claimed two trophies an A-League season later when his former club Melbourne Victory won the premier's plate and the grand final.

But since arriving in Adelaide in 2007 Galekovic hasn't tasted team success.

Adelaide has come close with an AFC Champions League final loss to Gamba Osaka in 2008 and a 2009 grand final loss to Victory.

Now Galekovic is determined to win a trophy despite the rhetoric from his bosses this season.

But Adelaide's away record this season — three wins and three draws from 14 road trips — and its away finals record — seven losses from seven matches — suggests United won't be comfortable before kick off at least psychologically.

Mariners, however, may be feeling some degree of tension before the clash.

Whether the side losing an AFC Champions League group stage clash in cruel circumstances when skipper John Hutchinson turned the ball inside his own net to deliver a stoppage time 1-0 win for FC Seoul on Wednesday has dented morale is one for Adelaide to exploit.

But Reds stopper Nigel Boogaard who penned a one-year extension yesterday says his old club Mariners won't be affected by Wednesday's loss.

MORE: INSIDE JOSEP GOMBAU'S DREAM FACTORY

"If anything I think they'll do the opposite,'' Boogaard said.

"They'll galvanise obviously Hutch (Hutchinson) was distraught after the game you could see that on TV after the own goal.

"But he's a strong character as they have around the club."

But Mariners having another Champions League group stage clash away when it faces Japan's Sanfrecce Hiroshima on Wednesday is a situation Adelaide must use to its advantage.

Scoring an early goal would force Mariners to ditch its counter attacking game and play into the Reds possession based game plan.

But if Adelaide does concede first statistics this season have proven the Reds will struggle to get back into the contest to win the clash.

In the seven matches Adelaide has conceded first the side has only managed to snare a point whereas Mariners have conceded first in 10 matches, won two and drawn two.

A-LEAGUE ELIMINATION FINAL

Central Coast Mariners v Adelaide United at Central Coast Stadium

Referee: Ben Williams

Kick off: Saturday, 4pm

TV: Fox Sports

** If the game is tied after 90 minutes, 30 minutes of extra time will be played.

If it's a draw after 120 minutes a penalty shootout will determine the winner

*** If Adelaide beats Mariners the Reds will face Brisbane Roar at Suncorp Stadium on April 27

LINE UPS
MARINERS

Formation: 5-4-1

GK: Reddy

DEF: Roux Anderson Montgomery Bosnar Rose

MID: Hutchinson

Fitzgerald Kim Sterjovski

FWD: Simon

SUBS: Pasfield, Sim, Cernak, Griffiths, Sterjovski

ADELAIDE

Formation: 4-3-3

GK: Galekovic

DEF: Elsey, Malik, Boogaard, Zullo

MID: Isaias

Carrusca, Watson

FWD: Ferreira, Djite, Cirio

SUBS : Izzo, Neumann, Mabil, McKain, Konstandopoulos

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ARU throat call still raw for Folau

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A visiting Japanese player bore the brunt of Israel Folau's frustrations on Tuesday in training as the Waratahs argued for player opinion to be given more weight on injury matters.

Folau, who was controversially withdrawn from the Waratahs' clash with the Force by the ARU based on risks relating to a fractured throat, is set to be again named by NSW for Saturday's clash with the Bulls.

The Tahs will delay naming their side until medical clearance is given, however, and Folau saw a specialist on Tuesday to assess the ongoing level of risk attached to him playing.

But in a strong and visible statement of intent later in the afternoon, Folau threw himself into a full-contact training NSW session and tackled without apparent concern about copping a blow to the neck.

Several players visiting from Japanese club Suntory took part in the session and one had the misfortune of lining up against Folau, who channelled David Gillespie in a strong, front-on tackle.

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It was, to use the old cliche, Folau doing his talking on the field after he blasted the ARU last week for not communicating with him directly prior to withdrawing the star no. 15 from the Perth clash.

Folau said later he'd be content to take the risk of his airways being compromised but Bill Pulver said on Sunday ARU chief doctor Warren McDonald had overruled the Tahs because "coaches and players are not qualified to make medical decisions, despite their eagerness to return to play following injury."

Waratahs assistant coach Nathan Grey said yesterday that Folau's views should have been taken into account, and that players were used to assessing risk of injury throughout their careers.

"You'd like to think the most important person in the whole thing would be consulted, so you take that information on board," Grey said.

Folau prepares to bump off an opponent during a contact drill at training. Source: News Limited

"Lots of different players have that during their career, to make those decisions based on experts opinions and based on what they're feeling, and whether they're happy to adopt a certain level of risk. That's a real individual thing and I am sure Izzy has probably gone through that process."

Grey conceded players should not have final say but argued they have some say.

"The welfare of the player is always at the forefront of decision making, and players are always informed on what they're risks are. It is not always up to them (but) it is a consultative matter," Grey said. "You just have to take as much information as you can and make the best decision."

The Waratahs will continue to train with alternatives to Folau at the fullback, should he be ruled out again. Interestingly, Grey said Kurtley Beale would be the likely No.15 in Folau's absence — not Jonno Lance, who replaced him against the Force.

The shaggy-haired Tatafu Polota-Nau was also very visible at Waratahs training. Source: News Limited

Wycliff Palu remains a good chance to return from an ankle injury to the Waratahs side but the big No.8 has been given the week off after his father passed away last week.

NSW prop Sekope Kepu, who joined members of the Waratahs' "Team Tonga" in paying traditional respects to Palu's family last night, backed his friend to play.

"He will push through, and I am sure if he gets the opportunity on Saturday night it is another channel to release his emotions," Kepu said.

While not as headline-grabbing as Folau's, Palu's absence in Perth was noticeable, with his powerful work in contact, and offloading, sorely missed.

"There are moments in a game that he can change, with big runs or where he flattens somebody or in terms of mental attitude that weakens the opposition," Kepu said.

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Blindness no barrier for Chamoun

Malek Chamoun trains at his home gym in Summer Hill while his father George looks on. Source: Brett Costello / News Corp Australia

MALEK Chamoun was seven when he was diagnosed with a condition that would eventually blind him.

His father George didn't tell him for several years.

"He wanted to be play footy with his mates and all that," George says. "And for a while, he could and he did."

When retinitis pigmentosa began to severely diminish Malek's sight as he entered his teens, George raised the idea of his boy taking up the sport in which he once represented Australia: weightlifting.

To gauge how rough the road ahead would be, George closed his eyes and lifted.

"I tried it myself and it is definitely difficult. You need a lot of balance, you need to see what you're doing," he said.

"But you know, football was not going to be easy. So I started thinking, what else can he do?

"Let's try weightlifting and see how he goes."

A dozen years on and Malek Chamoun has, by any measure, gone well. Inspirationally well.

The 24-year-old has become the first legally blind athlete to ever be nominated for Australia's Commonwealth Games team, and will compete against able-bodied athletes in Glasgow in the 85kg weightlifting division.

Malek takes a break from lifting and towels himself down while George watches on. Source: News Corp Australia

With his dad and coach George next to him literally every step, as always, Malek qualified by smashing his personal best at the recent trials, where he finished as pound-for-pound the best Australian lifter.

"I am here, I made it and it's a great accomplishment," Malek said.

"There have been a lot of hard years of training. There have been some disappointing times. I didn't make the last Commonwealth Games because I was injured.

"Then the year after I made the world championships in 2011 but this Commonwealth Games, it amazing for me."

Malek was back training in the garage of his dad's home in Summer Hill this week, banging down weights on the 2000 Olympics weightlifting platform that George bought him for $500 at auction. The bond of father and son is clearly a strong one.

"I have been training for many years and I've had my Dad with me, I can't thank him enough," Malek says.

"He has put more effort into me than any other coach would. Pretty much everywhere I go he is there holding me and guiding me, whether it is training venues, or competitions.

"He is my personal coach and my carer. I honestly couldn't do any of this without him."

Now totally blind, Malek relies on George to accompany him on the stage during competitions and though now practised at setting his grip by feeling notches on the bar, his dad will occasionally help him "if a bar is old and worn, or twisted or something."

Malek adjusts the weights on his bar during a practice session. Source: News Corp Australia

The Paralympics were never an option for Malek, who regards himself as the equal of any sighted lifter.

"I don't even think about it (blindness) as any big thing," he explains.

"All I know I am competing in a normal sport, that's it. Obviously there will be a bit of disadvantage, with balance and technique and stuff like that. But I don't think about it. I don't put it in my mind.

"If anything, it actually helps me. It motivates me more, that I am blind and competing against able athletes. There is nothing holding me back, I am just as good as everyone."

Malek won't need to see the green and gold uniform to feel immensely proud, and he hopes his presence in Glasgow will inspire others who need hope in dark times, as he once did.

"Not just kids with no sight, any kid with disability," he says. "And not even just that. Even normal people who have problems. I hope I can show them they can overcome obstacles and break through any barrier."

Australian Weighlifting Federation head coach Michael Keeler said Malek will even inspire his teammates.

"It's a big thing for any person to do it, let alone someone who's had the challenges to face that Malek has faced. It's remarkable," Keelan said.

... Malek then hoists the bar over his head and straightens his back. Source: News Corp Australia

"We are focused on putting all the necessary support structures around Malek and a long as we have these things in place we can expect big things from him I believe."

Given George, a respected coach, was not selected as one of the Australian weightlifting team officials, there have been rumblings of concern in weightlifting circles about the provision of 24/7 care for Malek in Glasgow. Some have called for George to replace one of the nominated coaches but Keeler said the AWF has requested an extra spot be granted for George to attend as a carer.

While it needs to be ticked off by Glasgow organisers, the Australian Commonwealth Games Association expects it will be a formality and George is confident he will be by his boy's side in Scotland as both carer and coach, as he always has been.

Team Chamoun believe another personal best improvement of 10 more kilograms is required for Malek to win a gold medal and given what he's done so far in life, confidence mixes in with the garage's thuds and clanks.

"I am very proud of him, but we don't want vision to ever be an excuse," George says.

"He has put the effort in but there is no excuse there because it is up to the mind how confident and positive you are, not the eyes.

"If he believes in himself, he can do what he wants to do. He has already proved that."

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Proud Muscat hails win for the ages

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MELBOURNE Victory coach Kevin Muscat on Tuesday night hailed the 2-0 win over reigning Asian Champions League winners Guangzhou Evergrande as a momentous night in the club's nine-year history.

But Victory faces a nervous wait with Adrian Leijer injuring his left foot. The defender will have scans on Wednesday he was on crutches after hobbling off after 30 minutes, but officials were confident he hadn't suffered a break.

Mark Milligan and James Troisi's goals at the start and end of the match erased the bad memories of the loss in China and gives Victory a huge confidence boost going into Friday's A-League elimination final, also at Etihad Stadium.

Muscat labelled Group G the toughest in the ACL, but said Troisi's stoppage time sealer, which sparked wild celebrations, will boost the team ahead of the Sydney FC clash.

"It will help,'' Muscat said.

"They (the players) didn't let this club down, that's a very big night in this football club's history.

Melbourne Victory forward James Troisi celebrates his late sealer. Source: AFP

"We go to Jeonbuk (Korea) now for our final home game with our destiny in our own hands, but Friday night is very important for us now.

"I'm already thinking about Friday. I'll have to reflect on this but I said from the start we want to qualify (for the knockout phase).

"Right now I'm so proud of the group, it was an immense performance against a very good team that played well. But they were beaten by a better team.

"Not just winning a game but through some very good football against a very good team, current Asian champions who are expected to win the tournament.''

Melbourne Victory players Mark Milligan and Rashid Mahazi embrace after the final whistle. Source: AFP

Victory, who made six changes from the team that beat Wellington 4-1 last Saturday, will regain Gui Finkler for the Good Friday final and Archie Thompson, who missed after the passing of his brother-in-law.

Nick Ansell should come in for Leijer, so too unused sub Adama Traore while stars Milligan and Troisi should back up despite playing 90 minutes.

Evergrande coach Marcello Lippi lamented his side's host of missed chances but said Milligan's early goal was a crushing blow.

They now host Yokohama F Marinos in their final game and Lippi said if they lose the reigning champions don't deserve to advance past the group.

"For Melbourne it was good to get the goal after two minutes, this was important,'' Lippi said.

"We were very disappointed we didn't score, and we made too many mistakes.

"The last match we have a chance to continue to the knockout stage, but if we lose at home we can't go through.''

Re-live the win in our blog.

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Re-live golden ACL night for Aussies

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MELBOURNE Victory and Western Sydney are both on the verge of the Asian Champions League round of 16 following famous 2-0 victories on Tuesday night.

Victory completed its triumph over defending champions Guangzhou Evergrande, with skipper Mark Milligan and James Troisi the scorers.

It was a frustrating evening at times for Victory coach Kevin Muscat, who watched his team waste chance after chance, but the epic win ensures the A-League side is very much in the running to advance to the knockout stages of the tournament.

Victory sinks champions for famous win

Proud Muscat hails win for the ages

Wanderers win to go top of ACL group

Western Sydney's successful maiden Asian Champions League campaign got even better, with the Wanderers also closing in on the round of 16 after their own 2-0 win over Ulsan Hyundai in Korea.

Mark Bridge opened the scoring before super sub Brendon Santalab iced the result late on.

The win ensures Tony Popovic's side - who leads Group H - has its destiny in its own hands heading into the final group match.

Re-live all the action from both games in the blog below.

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Returning legend ready to take on Tahs

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IF not for one phone call, Victor Matfield would be coaching the Waratahs this weekend.

Instead, the Springbok and Bulls legend runs out to play them at Allianz Stadium on Saturday in a match pivotal to the finals chances of both franchises.

The irony is not lost upon the 36-year-old lock, who will go down as one of the greatest forwards to have played the game.

"It is funny how things work out," says Matfield, who retired at the end of the 2011 World Cup with ambitions to coach.

He has finally revealed how close he came to a spectacular stint at the Tahs.

"In rugby you can sometimes get caught up in doing the same thing, being in the same environment, so it's good to get out of that if you can," Matfield says.

"It was two years ago, I was ready to move to Sydney.

"They [NSW] spoke to me about coming here and doing the forwards coaching job.

"It was a great opportunity, I thought I would do it."

Victor Matfield (fourth from left) takes part in a sprint drill at a Bulls training session. Source: News Corp Australia

But his beloved Bulls did not want to lose Matfield's immense intellectual property and after calling him with a job offer of their own, the Tahs missed out on South Africa's most capped lock (110 Tests).

"The Bulls also offered me a coaching role, and they will always be my first priority so I took that up," Matfield said.

But after two years as a forwards coach, and with an injury crisis and mass exodus hitting the Pretorian team, Matfield decided to make a sensational return to rugby this year as a player-coach.

"People said to me, 'You're crazy, you will ruin your legacy'," Matfield smiles.

"I thought I would only play two or three games.

"But I am enjoying it, and I want to be part of a winning team."

And it appears Matfield is firmly in the Springboks' plans, revealing that he signed a two-year contract with the Bulls because South African coach Heyneke Meyer asked him to make a playing return, which gives him an opportunity to compete at his fourth World Cup next year.

Matfield snaffles a lineout throw at the top of his jump during training. Source: News Corp Australia

"That is the only reason I came back, to hopefully play more games for my country," Matfield says.

"Heyneke asked me to come back, so hopefully there is another World Cup there for me."

For now though, there are more pressing matters at hand.

Matfield and his Bulls must defeat the Waratahs to get back into the top half of the ladder and end a three-game winless streak.

The tourists received good news on Monday when captain Flip van der Merwe was cleared of a bicep injury.

But the Bulls also fully expect NSW star Israel Folau to return this weekend after he was withdrawn by the ARU from last weekend's loss to Western Force over concerns regarding his injured throat.

"We have looked at how the Force played against them, we have looked at how the Sharks played against them, but we also have looked at how they've played in the games they've done well in," Matfield said.

"They were missing their star man last week, and he will make a huge difference for them this week."

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Graham sticking to Reds Plan A

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THE honeymoon period is over for Reds boss Richard Graham, who must fortify his coaching cred with back-to-back wins in New Zealand.

Graham, 41, would always have expected comparisons with title-winning predecessor Ewen McKenzie even if he was in charge of a winning outfit.

He's certainly prepared for criticism over a losing record now the Reds (3-5) have made their worst start to a Super Rugby season since 2009.

"You're always going to be judged in this position. It comes with the territory," Graham said on Monday.

"People want the Reds to be successful. That's not just the players but Queensland, the organisation and me.

"My expectations are incredibly high just as they have been from day one in this job."

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Graham has the full backing of Queensland Rugby Union chief executive Jim Carmichael.

It was Carmichael who initiated the audacious swoop on Graham as a long-term Reds coaching choice when he was still at the Western Force in 2012.

Beating the Hurricanes in Wellington (April 26) and the Blues in Auckland (May 2) is the tough double to keep the Reds' finals hopes afloat after this weekend's rejuvenating bye.

Not being ruthless finishers in try-scoring positions and inconsistency from half to half are recurring issues that must be addressed.

"We've made 16 more line breaks than the Reds did at this stage last season so better capitalising on the chances we are creating is a big thing," Graham said.

"We've counted six to eight clear try-scoring opportunities that have not been taken and too many unforced turnovers."

Graham stressed no one in the Reds camp was being panicked into a complete overhaul of game style.

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"I think Plan A is not far from working. I don't want to throw it out and bring in Plan B when that would only unsettle the group," Graham said.

Winger Dom Shipperley (hip) and centre Mike Harris (achilles) are expected to be fit for the New Zealand tour but Graham will still study what potential short-term backline signings are out there.

"At this stage we are just exploring but it's important to be ready just in case," Graham said.

Prop Ben Daley, available for the Hurricanes game after beating a knee injury, said the resolve in the squad remained strong.

"Everyone is trying their guts out so no one is pointing the finger or laying blame," Daley said.

"We've had periods of good footy where the confidence is there for all to see and just some periods off the pace where there have been some seeds of doubt.

"Consistency is what we are searching for. I can tell you we all hate losing and we are every chance of making the finals again."

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Siblings to share Supercars stage

Brothers Alex and Will Davison will create V8 Supercars history as co-drivers for Erebus Motorsport. Source: Mark Horsburgh / Supplied

IT has been a family affair since the Davison brothers grew up racing go-karts together but the revhead duo are about to create a special new slice of family racing history.

Brothers Will and Alex Davison will achieve a lifelong dream when they race for the first time as co-drivers for Gold Coast-based Erebus Motorsport ahead of the Pirtek Enduro Cup.

The pairing of the Davison duo marks only the second time in V8 Supercars history that two brothers have joined forces as co-drivers, following on from Todd and Rick Kelly.

They are continuing to follow in the footsteps of their father Richard, who was a Formula 2 championship winner in the early 1980s, and their famous grandfather Lex, who won the Australian Grand Prix four times in the late 1950s.

The brothers in their go-karting days as youngsters. Source: Supplied

"We started out racing karts and did that together as a family, travelled to all the races. We've supported each other all through our careers but have never had the opportunity to share a car together," older brother Alex said.

"The way it worked it, it wasn't planned by either of us, but it was a good option that presented itself from both sides and the fact that we are driving together is a bonus, it will be good fun."

Will has enjoyed an encouraging start since joining Erebus Motorsport this season, with five top-10 finishes from the first nine races of the year, while 34-year-old Alex finished 13th in the V8 Supercars Championship last year.

Will said a bit of brotherly love and understanding would hopefully take the duo to new heights this season.

"I think we bounce off each other, we learning off each other all the time and we know each other better than anyone else," Will said.

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Thirteen-year-old’s Olympic sevens dream

Maddy Ashby remains hopeful she'll get to Rio for the Olympics. Source: Philip Hillyard / News Limited

SHE is the 13-year-old who wants to rewrite the record books and become Australia's youngest rugby player - but won't be allowed because she is too young.

Meet Madison Higgins-Ashby, an athlete so talented that within just three months of playing rugby Sevens her coach and parents have decided to lobby the ARU to allow her to compete for a place in their women's team to play in the 2016 Olympics.

Her coach, Sy Lagaaia, is the same man who discovered Australia's youngest rugby player Tiana Penitani - who at 17 made her debut for the senior women's Sevens team last year. Lagaaia says Higgins-Ashby is as promising at 13 as Penitani was at 16.

But the ARU says that because Higgins-Ashby will only be 15-and-a-half years by the time the Rio Games are held, she will miss the age limit cut-off by six months.

"I believe in myself, and that I'm good enough to be with these girls and go even higher," Higgins-Ashby said.

"My dream is to go to the 2016 Olympics.

"I don't think age should come into it, if you have the talent to do it you should get a chance."

Under IRB and ARU rules, the age limit for a senior team is 18, although they will consider players aged 16 and above if they have parental consent and show they are able to handle the physicality.

"There is a process if you fall within two years of the 18-year limit, but we can't open it up to three, four or five years, simply because of safety regulations," said Anthony Eddy, the ARU's general manager of Sevens.

"She will get an opportunity for youth Olympic teams and youth Commonwealth Games teams, but until she is 16 she won't be playing in a senior rugby side."

Madison's father Clinton Ashby feels as though the rules are outdated, and wonders how much more physically advanced she get in the six months between the Olympics and her 16th birthday.

"I wouldn't put my daughter in a position where I felt she would be in danger or couldn't handle herself," Mr Ashby said.

"She is a tough girl. We're very confident she is good enough to go to the Olympics - without boasting - we're just confident in her ability.

"She is already playing against 19 and 20-year-olds now, the way the rules stand, it's another two-and-a-half years before she's actually supposed to be doing that."

Higgins-Ashby may have only entered her teens in January, but has already been selected for an under-20s invitational tournament in Hawaii, representing the Pacific Barbarians, after showing up rivals six years older.

And the 52kg dynamo is no stranger to giving it to the boys - she has carved up opponents 40kg heavier on the rugby league field, and as a competitive mixed martial artist, has made rival male competitors submit.

"She has no fear, she has been smashed by boys twice her size, she gets up and says 'I'm going to get you' then scores three or four tries,," Mr Ashby said.

Coach Lagaaia added: "There are a lot of similarities between Maddie and Tiana, they both have an unbelievable drive that makes you forget how old they are.

"I am seeing in Maddie now what I saw in Tiana at 16."

In a potentially telling encounter, Higgins-Ashby is listed as a shadow player for the Pacific Barbarians team when they play the senior Australian women's Sevens side in a practice match in two weeks.

Higgins-Ashby, a year eight student at Penrith's McCarthy Catholic College, has no qualms who is put in front of her.

"You just look at them like they're your enemy and beat them," she said.

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Reds need recruit to salvage season

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A WORLDWIDE SOS for an experienced back recruit has become a priority for the Reds in their desperate fight to stay afloat as a finals contender.

Reds coach Richard Graham revealed on Sunday night that the possibility of a short-term signing to bolster the squad's depleted backline stocks had already been discussed.

The Reds went into last Friday night's loss against the ACT Brumbies with just nine fit backs in their squad when Mike Harris (achilles) joined Dom Shipperley (hip), Aidan Toua (pectoral) and Lachie Turner (ankle) on the injured list.

Only winger Shipperley may be fit to return in time against Conrad Smith's Hurricanes on Saturday week in Wellington.

The Reds have never won at Wellington's Westpac Stadium in their five attempts since 2004 and Graham can leave nothing to chance when another loss would be a season-killer.

Dom Shipperley in his last match against the Stormers before injuring his hip. He is set to return. Source: Getty Images

"We'll check the fitness of Mike and 'Ships' but we will definitely spend time this week discussing further the idea of signing a pinch-hitter to help the squad," Graham said.

Asked if he was specifically looking for a winger or fullback with size and grunt, Graham was more general.

"We are just looking for the best available footballer. It's something we'll explore," Graham said.

Such emergency signings have been made before. Former Reds coach Ewen McKenzie hollered for Radike Samo, in semi-retirement and eating too much fast food, in Fiji in 2010.

He helped out the Reds for two games in a lock crisis late that season and won a title the following year.

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When David Pocock was injured last year, the Brumbies recruited master flanker George Smith on a short-term deal from Japanese club Suntory and he almost delivered a championship.

Former Melbourne Rebels winger Cooper Vuna is back in Australia after a Japanese season with Toshiba, so his bullocking style should warrant some consideration.

The Reds (16 points from eight games) are just a win behind the sixth-placed Highlanders (19).

It does reflect the unprecented congestion to the 15-team table that clearly gives the Reds hope but there is also a degree of mirage to tricking the mind that way.

Eight of the teams sitting above the Queenslanders have played only seven games, so the gaps will widen while the Reds have a bye this weekend.

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"We've lost three games by three points, so we are a very small way away from significant wins," Graham said.

"We've put ourselves in a difficult situation (with five losses) and it's up to us to get out of it.

"We'll come back refreshed after the bye for a very important tour to New Zealand and the solution will come from all of us."

Reds hooker Saia Faingaa savoured the rare tight-head pushover try that mangled the Brumbies scrum as the high point of his 100th Super Rugby appearance.

"Are we capable of winning four games in a row? We're going to," Faingaa said.

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Tahs looking for hat-trick of wins

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WIN the next three games, make the finals.

That is the plan identified by the Waratahs after suffering a shock loss to the Western Force last Saturday, with centre Adam Ashley-Cooper saying their season rests on the next three results.

The Tahs host the Bulls, travel to Auckland to play the Bulls, then return to Sydney to play the Hurricanes before their final bye.

With the Force nullifying NSW's potent attack with relentless defence in Perth, they prevailed 28-16 despite having just 32 per cent of possession.

Waratahs flyhalf Bernard Foley drops a kick to epitomise his team's performance against the Force. Source: Getty Images

"We've got to see it as a lesson for us, we've lost three games now, there are another three games before we have our bye and this is a really critical time for our season," Ashley-Cooper said.

"We've got two home games and an away game, home to Bulls, away to Blues, and home to the Canes.

"If we can really get some good results over the next three rounds, that will set us up for somewhere in the finals.

"We see this as a really crucial block in our season."

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The Tahs have slipped to third in the Australian conference behind the Brumbies and Force, and are fifth overall.

Ashley-Cooper said the late forced withdrawal of Israel Folau by the ARU the night before the Force match had not helped, but they need to start winning without their star fullback.

"In terms of the debacle that's going on, that is not affecting us at all," Ashley-Cooper said.

"Izzy is frustrated and [coach Michael] Cheika is frustrated, but we're just getting on with our roles.

"He trained with us all week, it was a little bit of a let-down, more than anything we were let down for him because he was frustrated and really keen to play.

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"He proved his fitness on Tuesday, then to be ruled out over the phone on Friday was obviously pretty disappointing for him.

"Israel's going to make a difference to any team, it could have been a different night if Izzy was out there but in saying that, we've got to learn to play without Izzy and other key players when injuries occur."

NSW put six tries past the Force in their first game, but last weekend's encounter was a completely different battle, highlighted by the Force's comfort in playing without the ball and attacking in defence.

It's premature celebration by the Waratahs as a try to winger Cam Crawford is ultimately disallowed. Source: Getty Images

"I have been involved in games like that, it just goes to show that defensive teams like the Force are able to grind out wins," Ashley-Cooper said.

"We certainly let ourselves down with errors, we really didn't stick to the discipline in our attack shape so we'll come away with a few different lessons."

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Sandow is a hungry bush tucker man

Chris Sandow's mother's name of Rhonda is tattooed on his right forearm and he loves her cooking. Source: News Limited

IT doesn't matter who you are — there is nothing better than Mum's home cooking.

But when Parramatta halfback Chris Sandow rocks back home for a feed, you can forget about a leg of lamb and some steamed veg.

Sandow stopped in to visit his mum Rhonda after the Eels played in Brisbane a couple of weeks ago. If Parramatta's club nutritionist is reading this, you may want to look away now.

"Chris stayed at my place after the Broncos game and he loves his bush tucker," Rhonda said.

"I cooked him jewfish and damper rolls, and Chris grew up on stuff like echidna and wallaby.

"Some people like KFC, but Chris craves for jewfish and wallaby."

Harder to get in a drive-thru on the way home, though.

So, the obvious next question: How do you cook echidna?

"Well, you take the quills and because they eat ants, we take the ant sack out of them," Rhonda said. "You gut the echidna completely, then boil it for half an hour and then it goes in the oven to roast.

"It (echidna) tastes in between chicken and steak. That's the secret for Chris, good old fashioned bush tucker.

"We make good food out of wallaby too. We skin them and we either fry it like a normal steak, or I make a casserole or wallaby stew.

"It might be a bit fatty so lucky Chris isn't living me with every day."

Gorden Tallis took a swing at Anthony Griffin, who has responded by refusing to chat to him. Source: News Limited

RAGING BULL CHARGES

NICE and bitter little feud simmering between Broncos coach Anthony Griffin and one of the club's greatest players, former skipper Gorden Tallis.

After Friday night's loss to the Titans, Griffin refused to do an interview with Triple M's NRL broadcast team because Tallis is part of the station's commentary panel. Didn't impress big Gordie that much.

"The Brisbane Broncos coach doesn't want to talk to his fans," Tallis said.

"He didn't come on, so he sends on some other bloke, I don't know who he is."

Asked who on the panel had offended Griffin, Tallis — as he is known to do — hit it hard and straight down the middle.

"I did. I told him that he shouldn't have the job," Gordie said. "You've got to have tough skin mate. You're a coach.

"Wayne Bennett, when he first started, they ran a poll on Channel 10 to get him sacked.

"If you expect a 20-year-old to go out and run into Greg Bird and expect him to be tough, you've got to have a thick skin as well."

CARTY SOLDIERS ON

THE Titans are winning plenty of fans for playing tough at the moment, and they're following the lead of their coach.

John Cartwright was doing dips in the gym last week when he tripped getting off the machine, injuring his right ankle.

Carty had the ankle heavily strapped to get through training, then took himself off for an MRI scan after the session.

TREE-CLIMBING TITANS

A COUPLE of weeks ago this column revealed how big Dave Taylor came in for some ribbing at Titantown because it was revealed he carried a muscle in his calf that was a very rare throwback to our primate predecessors on the evolutionary ladder.

A couple of blokes at Robina have stopped laughing so much. It turns out prop Luke Bailey and football manager Scott Clark carry the same tree-climbing muscle.

Might explain why the Coast have been so good at climbing the NRL ladder this year.

Jockey Melody O'Brien out of silks and all glammed up. Source: Supplied

MELODY'S SILKY-SMOOTH TRANSITION

TOOWOOMBA jockey Melody O'Brien had three starts for one win at Saturday's Esk race meeting in the picturesque Brisbane Valley.

Melody slipped into her glamorous guise after being unplaced in the opening race. After a quick change in the jockeys room, Melody blitzed a big field of fillies to take the Fashions on the Field contest.

She then slipped back into silks to ride a neddy named My Idea in the last race.

It was Melody's second Fashions in the Field victory for the year after taking the prize at Kilcoy on Australia Day.

Pretty good form for the winter Racing Carnival

LEAGUE'S HOT GOSSIP

BEST goss going around NRL circles at the moment is the assistant coach of one club who is involved in a steamy affair with the ex-wife of a TV broadcaster.

We're not telling you names. We gave up getting sued for Lent.

COME OFF THE GRASS

EVER heard of a footballer who is allergic to grass? If the Brisbane Roar get their way, you soon will.

If, as has been suggested, the Roar sign German striker Mike Hanke as the replacement for the departing Besart Berisha, you won't see him take too many dives into the Suncorp Stadium turf looking for a penalty.

According to Hanke's Wikipedia profile, the 30-year-old "gets blisters and sore skin from contact with grass".

STORM PLAY HARDBALL

CODY Walker's proposed move to Souths has collapsed.

The Rabbitohs made a two-year offer for the rising Queensland star, but the Storm played hardball (surprise, surprise). They won't let him go unless Souths agreed to pay compensation, which they won't.

Walker was hoping to reunite with his wife and child, who are living in Redfern, but he'll remain in Melbourne unless coach Craig Bellamy has a change of heart.

George Rose has also asked for a release at least twice but Storm said no.

Maria Tutaia after New Zealand won the final match between NZ and Australia last November. Source: Supplied

KEEP YOUR PAWS OFF OUR GIRL GEITZ

THIS is the woman that wants to punch our angelic Firebirds captain Laura Geitz in the face.

Silver Ferns star Maria Tutaia was asked whether she would be interested in a charity boxing match, stepping into the ring against our Geitzy.

Tutaia was apparently pretty keen to get in and start swinging. We don't doubt it. Look at the way she has turned this celebratory moment into one of pure intimidation with a loaded fist.

Still, Geitzy took the high road, explaining that boxing wasn't really her thing.

She then signed off with a verbal jab, saying she would have found it tough to "fight someone so pretty".

There's your warning, Maria. Don't want to wake up with a face that is sorer? Better not pick a fight with our Laura.

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Live: Liverpool v Manchester City

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IT'S a classic Premier League six-pointer: Liverpool against Manchester City at Anfield.

It will be a momentous night at Anfield, with so much on the line between two title heavyweights on the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster.

Tune into Fox Sports 2 HD from 10pm EST for the pre-game show, with kick-off at 10.37pm.

You can stay in touch with the action online here as well, and have your say too!

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