Roosters deny Jennings contact

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In limbo ... the club future of Michael Jennings is still uncertain. Source: Brett Costello / News Limited

New South Wales Origin centre Michael Jennings is tipped to be a Sydney Rooster by the end of the week, though the Roosters claim the ball is in the court of NRL rivals Penrith.

Jennings is believed to be on the way out, a simmering feud with Penrith boss Phil Gould and a $600,000-a-year contract enough of an incentive for the club to release the brilliant back.

But just how much of Jennings' heavily back-ended contract the Panthers are prepared to chew up remains a sticking point, with the Roosters understood to be willing to offer a $2 million four-year deal.

Gould is not keen to pay for Jennings to play for another club, while the player himself has so far refused to take a pay cut.

Roosters chief executive Brian Canavan said it was up to the Panthers to agree to a release before his club could make a move, Canavan denying he had met with Jennings or his management on Monday.

"There's been no contact there today at all," he said. "Nothing's happened.

"The issue from our understanding lies with the player and his management and the Penrith Panthers."

While last month's decision to release BJ Leilua - who has linked up with Newcastle - has freed up some salary cap space, Canavan admitted the Roosters would not be in a position to accommodate Jennings without an increase to the salary cap.

That increase is yet to be signed off on by the NRL, though clubs are working to a figure of $5.8 million for the 2013 season.

While Jennings remains in limbo, the Roosters locked up the future of gun backrower Boyd Cordner through to the end of the 2016 season.

Cordner established himself as an NRL regular in 2012, having played 29 top grade games to date.

"Boyd has been part of our commitment to develop our young players over the past few years," Roosters recruitment manager Peter O'Sullivan said.

"To ensure that we have him here for a number of years is a major coup for our club and a major vote of confidence in where we are heading.

"Boyd is a tough competitor with true leadership potential for the way he conducts himself on the footy field and at training, and we see him as the cornerstone of our pack for the next decade."

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Knights sign Quinn for 2013

Returning ... Anthony Quinn has signed a one year deal with Newcastle. Source: Michael Klein / News Limited

Newcastle have turned to a familiar face in a bid to add some depth to their outside backs, signing former Knight Anthony Quinn for the 2013 NRL season.

Quinn, 29, who played 103 games with the Knights from 2002-2006 before linking with Melbourne, has agreed to a one-year deal with the club.

The former NSW Origin winger has endured a wretched run with injury in recent years, but will give Newcastle coach Wayne Bennett another experienced option out wide.

The Knights have already added ex-Sydney Roosters centre BJ Leilua to their squad, with Quinn set to back-up first-choice wingers Akuila Uate and James McManus.

"He can play on the wing, in the centres and even in the second row, so his versatility will be a great addition to the team," Knights chief executive Matt Gidley said in a statement.

"He is very well liked, has a superb work ethic and he is just the type of player we want to have around the club."

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Stosur again bows out in first round

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Deflated ... Sam Stosur loses her first round match in Sydney. Source: Tracey Nearmy / AAP

Samantha Stosur's miserable run in Australia has continued with a deflating first-round exit from the Sydney International.

Stosur's 6-3 6-7 (7-9) 6-4 defeat at the hands of China's world No.42 Jie Zheng was her fifth consecutive loss in Australia, a demoralising run that stretches back to last summer.

The world No.9 will head to Melbourne for the Australian Open starting next Monday alarmingly underdone after playing just two matches since undergoing minor ankle surgery six weeks ago.

With little history of performing well at a major without a strong build-up, Stosur's Open prospects look grim.

The 2011 US Open champion made a bright enough start against Jie, establishing two break points in the very first game.

But after failing to convert either, Jie broke Stosur in the second and sixth games of the opening sets as Australia's big hope struggled to find her rhythm.

Stosur clawed her way back from 5-1 to 5-3 before netting one of several mistimed backhands to hand the former Australian Open and Wimbledon semi-finalist the opening set.

The sixth seed mounted a revival in the second set, gamely saving a match point in the tiebreaker before blowing a 3-1 advantage in the decider.

Her elimination leaves Stosur with just two wins in seven years in Sydney since falling to fellow Australian Alicia Molik in the 2005 title match.

The latest loss also ended Australian interests in the women's singles after Casey Dellacqua made a swift first-round exit earlier on Monday.

Dellacqua lost 6-4 6-1 to 42-year-old Japanese qualifier Kimiko Date-Krumm, the world No.112 and oldest singles player on the WTA Tour.

Former Sydney champion Li Na, meanwhile, advanced to second round with a tough straight-sets win over American Christina McHale.

The Chinese fourth seed won 7-6 (7-2) 7-5 in a marathon two-hour affair to set up a meeting with Japanese qualifier Ayumi Morita, who ousted Slovakian Daniela Hantuchova 1-6 6-3 6-3.

Stosur's French Open conqueror Sara Errani is also through to the second round after thumping Czech qualifier Karolina Pliskova 6-1 6-3.

The little Italian third seed next faces Russian Maria Kirilenko, a 7-5 6-2 first-round winner over Australian wildcard Olivia Rogowska.

One-time world No.1 Jelena Jankovic removed Austrian Tamira Paszek 6-2 7-6 (7-5) and will play unseeded Italian Roberta Vinci for a quarter-final berth.

Vinci upset Russian Nadia Petrova 7-5 7-5.

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Sixers dent Heat's faint finals hopes

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On target ... Luke Feldman impressed again at the Gabba. Source: Gregg Porteous / News Limited

Sydney Sixers, the world club Twenty20 champions, have resurrected their ailing KFC T20 Big Bash League campaign with a five-wicket win over Brisbane Heat at the Gabba.

T20 - Gabba

7 January 2013 - Day 1, Session 2

Sixers 1st Innings

M. Lumb	61	55	5	1	110.91
S. O'Keefe	1	1	0	0	100
K. Roach	4	0	23	0	5.75

Down and seemingly out in the competition just a week ago, the Sixers are back in the mix for a semi-final spot with one round to go after outplaying the Heat in all three facets on Monday night.

Spinners Steve O'Keefe and Sachithra Senanayake strangled Brisbane on their pace-friendly Gabba wicket, restricting them to 9-127 - their lowest completed innings in two seasons of the BBL.

The Sixers top order then picked apart the home side's new-ball attack to ensure victory in the 19th over with English opener Michael Lumb (61 not out) guiding the way.

New Australia one-day paceman Ben Cutting, strangely held back until the 12th over, gave the Heat some late hope with 2-9 (three overs) but they ultimately paid the price for Kemar Roach dropping Lumb in the outfield.

Last year's BBL champions remain in sixth spot on six points on a congested table but their convincing win gave a massive boost to the net run rate.

		P	W	L	NR	T	Pts	NNR
1	Renegades	7	6	1	0	0	12	0.681
2	Scorchers	7	4	3	0	0	8	0.632
3	Strikers	7	4	3	0	0	8	0.53
4	Stars	7	4	3	0	0	8	0.181
5	Hurricanes	7	4	3	0	0	8	-0.287
6	Heat	7	3	4	0	0	6	0.129
7	Sixers	7	3	4	0	0	6	-0.221
8	Thunder	7	0	7	0	0	0	-1.471

The final round has a number of the top-four contenders playing each other and a third straight Sixers' win - against the pacesetting Melbourne Renegades, who will be without Aaron Finch, at the SCG on Wednesday night - could see them defend their title.

The Heat (six) finished well below a par score of 160 as they suffered from a dawdling start and then a 4-13 mid-innings collapse, which included the wicket of dangerous opener Luke Pomersbach (37 off 34).

All of the Sixers' bowlers performed with distinction but it was Sri Lankan all-rounder Sachithra Senanayake who surprisingly set the tone by frustrating the Heat with deceptive off-spin.

Senanayake conceded just nine runs from his first three overs with the new ball, starting with 11 consecutive dot balls.

O'Keefe also impressed, dismissing James Hopes for a duck in the second over and finishing with the best return of 3-21.

Josh Hazlewood took 3-32 in his long-awaited return from a foot injury.

Brad Haddin praised man-of-the-match Lumb's cool head, closing out the win as a "seasoned pro" when wickets fell around him.

"We made it hard for ourselves," Haddin said.

"We did it hard with the bat but, after where we've been the last few weeks, I'll take the win."

Heat captain Hopes admitted his side paid for their slow-paced batting and would have loved 20 more runs to defend.

"We just got stuck at the start and then we worked ourselves back into it and then got stuck again," he said.

Like the Sixers, the Heat need a last-round win, against the Hurricanes in Hobart, and other results to go their way to make the top four.

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Relive all the key moments with our Match Centre!

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Finch stars again in fiesty derby

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Fiery ... Shane Warne and Marlon Samuels face off. Source: Wayne Ludbey / News Limited

Melbourne Renegades star import Marlon Samuels has become the subject of another KFC T20 Big Bash League throwing controversy, this time involving his bat and Australian spin star Shane Warne.

T20 - Melbourne Cricket Ground

6 January 2013 - Day 1, Session 2

Renegades 1st Innings

A. Finch	67	47	6	2	142.55
P. Nevill	24	23	1	0	104.35
J. Hastings	3.5	0	31	0	8.09

In a heated clash, the Renegades sealed top spot and a home semi-final by thrashing Warne's Melbourne Stars in front of a record crowd of 46,681 at the MCG on Sunday night.

The previous Australian Twenty20 domestic crowd record was 43,125 for a Victoria-Tasmania game at the MCG in January 2010.

Chasing the Stars' disappointing 9-146, Renegades skipper Aaron Finch (67 not out from 47 balls), the BBL's top-scorer, ensured his side won with seven balls and nine wickets to spare.

But teammate Samuels ended the night with his face bloodied by a Lasith Malinga bouncer after a verbal barrage by the Stars towards the West Indian all-rounder.

Samuels' bowling action was questioned by Brisbane Heat coach Darren Lehmann earlier in the competition and he was also involved in a heated exchange with Adelaide Strikers coach Darren Berry last week, with Lehmann having been sanctioned and Berry facing possible disciplinary action.

There could be more code of conduct charges stemming from Sunday night.

Late in the Stars' innings, batsman David Hussey gestured unhappily towards Samuels after the West Indian seemingly impeded the Victorian when he turned for a run, although Samuels tried to make light of tugging his shirt.

But there was no hint of friendliness when Samuels started batting.

Warne, bowling at the time, marched to Samuels at the end of his over, tugged at his shirt, then swore at him and pointed angrily, seemingly remonstrating over the earlier Hussey incident.

Next over, after Samuels was peppered with short balls by Clint McKay, a Warne throw struck the West Indies star on the body.

Samuels responded by hurling his bat down the pitch, with the umpires having to step in to restore calm.

Asked about the incident by Fox Sports commentators, Warne said: "What are you meant to do when someone throws a bat at you?"

Post-match, Warne denied trying to hit Samuels with the ball and passed off their altercation as a "heat of the moment thing".

"I'm more disappointed with the loss to be fair," Warne said, adding the Stars' batting performance was not up to scratch.

Finch said Samuels was "pretty severely injured" by the Malinga delivery.

He was taken to hospital for scans with bleeding under his eye.

Finch said he had tried to help Samuels keep his cool.

"Marlon was getting pretty fired up and so was Warney ... I don't really know what to think of it. I haven't seen anything like that before," he said.

Two overs later, Samuels' night was over, after he top-edged a Malinga short ball into his helmet and had to leave the field with blood running down his face.

The Stars can still ensure a semi-finals berth by beating Sydney Thunder at the MCG on Tuesday night.

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Relive all the action with our Match Centre, featuring videos of every wicket and boundary!

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Bozza's Save of the Week R14/R15

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Paston ... wins Bozza's Goal of the Week for a save against Brisbane Roar. Source: Liam Driver / News Limited

Wellington goalkeeper Mark Paston has won Mark Bosnich's Save of the Week for a technically perfect dive to his right in the Phoenix's round 14 encounter with Brisbane Roar.

Paston had some incredibly tough competition across round 14 and round 15, with a number of top class saves vying for the gong.

But former Manchester United goalkeeper Bosnich was particularly impressed with Paston's ability to stretch low and to his right to deny a certain goal to Besart Berisha.

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Click on the video at the top of the page to see Paston's outstanding save and for more of Bosnich's critique of two rounds of A-League goalkeeping.

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"Absolutely outstanding save," Bosnich said on Fox Sports program Sunday Shootout.

"It would have been remiss of me not to include this one.

"There were some great saves: Redmayne on Goodwin; Janjetovic in a game against Adelaide; Galekovic on the weekend against Newcastle, but this one just tops the lot. And it just shows the standard of goalkeeping couldn't be higher in the A-League.

"Right in the bottom corner and right in the top corner are the two hardest places to get to and that was an outstanding save."

The save gave Paston his second Goal of the Week gong of the season, leaving him joint top of the season table.

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How does Mark Paston's save stand up against other stops across rounds 14 and 15? Have your say below!

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Video: Warne, Samuels showdown

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Flashpoint ... Warne wasn't happy with Samuels. Source: Wayne Ludbey / News Limited

This is the incident that has the cricket world talking.

The angry mid-pitch confrontation between Shane Warne and Marlon Samuels during the fiesty derby between Melbourne Stars and Melbourne Renegades stole the show on an enthralling night at the MCG.

The incident had its roots in Samuels's actions during the Stars' innings, when he appeared to hold back batsman David Hussey while he was attempting a second run.

This must have upset not only Hussey but his teammates, because when Samuels came out to bat, all hell broke loose.

He faced one ball before Warne unleashed a tirade of abuse in his direction, which appeared to continue into the next over.

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Watch the video at the top of the page to see the fiery confrontation in full!

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A few minutes later, Warne ran in to field a ball and threw it towards the stumps, hitting Samuels in the body. The West Indies star responded by throwing his bat in Warne's direction.

Eventually the umpires stepped in to calm down the situation, but the damage was done and it remains to be seen if disciplinary action is taken against either party.

Unfortunately for Samuels, his night ended on a sour note after he was struck by a vicious bouncer from Lasith Malinga and was forced to retire hurt.

Early reports suggested Samuels may have suffered a fractured eye socket.

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'Finishing difference for Mariners'

Tough battle ... WSW striker Mark Bridge takes on Zac Anderson. Source: News Limited

The Central Coast Mariners kick four points clear at the top of the A-League table while the perplexing Brisbane Roar crash to another defeat. Mark Bosnich and News Limited review an exciting round 15 of A-League action.

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Western Sydney Wanderers 0 Central Coast Mariners 2

Bozza says: I thought Western Sydney Wanderers deserved a point. It was a fantastic game and really sugar-coated with a marvelous atmosphere. The atmosphere at Parramatta Stadium is getting better and better every week. It really makes a massive difference, especially viewing it on television as well. I thought the Wanderers had the better of the first half but the Mariners, being the team that they are, were deadly. Daniel McBreen's first goal was excellent and it was inevitable they would get more chances on the break once the Wanderers were chasing the game. The controversy for me came at the end when the Wanderers should have had a penalty. Mark Bridge was brought down. Both sets of players and coaches can take a lot of credit. I was always thought this game would be tight. It quite simply came down to McBreen taking his chances and the Wanderers not taking theirs. They can't be too disappointed though.

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Melbourne Heart 3 d Brisbane Roar 2

Bozza says: Heart showed great fighting qualities in this. Brisbane had the better of the first half but it shows that you can be at your most vulnerable when you are in control. Perth showed that against Sydney on Saturday night as well. People lose concentration when the ball's up the other end of the pitch and you feel as though you are in total control. It only takes one lapse and that's what exactly happened to Brisbane, and they'll rue that. I've got no complaints over David Williams's red card either. It's completely out of character but the referee got it right. Roar didn't deserve to get anything out of this. There is still something missing from Brisbane Roar. Rado (Vidosic) couldn't put his finger on it. Mike Mulvey is struggling to put his finger on it as well.

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Perth Glory 2 Sydney FC 2

Bozza says: There has definitely been a difference in Sydney since the arrival of Frank Farina. The fight has returned . It was certainly questionable at the start of the season, and I made my feelings known about that after the Central Coast Mariners game. But they really went at Perth in the second half of this. Perth will be kicking themselves. Goalkeeper Danny Vukovic has been exceptional but made an uncharacteristic mistake here - and it was costly. Sydney should be very happy.

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Melbourne Victory 2 d Wellington Phoenix 0

Bozza says: I know Ange (Postecoglou) has been cautious but if you take a look at their squad , they definitely have the firepower to win this championship. They had a little bit of a hiccup against Western Sydney Wanderers and all it took was to watch the second half against Wellington to see how much off colour they were in Sydney. Gui Finkler is a huge loss and i think long term if they are to go and win the title they need to find a replacement. But when you have people likes Rojas, Flores and Thompson, for any team playing against them it's a real worry.

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Newcastle 0 drew with Adelaide 0

News Limited says: Eugene Galekovic's shot-stopping brilliance saved Adelaide United from dropping all points in a 0-0 draw with out-of-form Newcastle at Hunter Stadium. The Socceroos gloveman made two stunning blocks either side of half-time - one from Ryan Griffiths and the other from Adam Taggart. Galekovic was content with the point after keeping Taggart scoreless with one of the saves of the season. "He (Taggart) was put through lucky enough I got a foot on it and it went out for a corner," Galekovic said.

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Boyce spins Strikers to victory

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Walk of shame ... Adelaide Strikers celebrate the wicket of Aiden Blizzard. Source: Nikki Davis-jones / News Limited

A screamer of a catch from Adelaide Strikers' Kane Richardson helped his side to a convincing 38-run win over Hobart Hurricanes at Blundstone Arena.

T20 - Blundstone Arena

5 January 2013 - Day 1, Session 2

Hurricanes 1st Innings

X. Doherty	15	11	2	0	136.36
B. Laughlin	8	12	1	0	66.67
S. Tait	4	0	23	1	5.75

Set 163 to win, the Hurricanes fell apart once key men Ricky Ponting (26 from 25) and Tim Paine (33 from 31) departed, finishing at 8-124 on Saturday night.

Richardson brought back memories of Glenn McGrath at Adelaide Oval when he dived in the outfield to dismiss last season's leading runscorer Travis Birt (1 from 6).

The lanky paceman looked to have misjudged the chance as he moved towards deep extra cover but threw out his right hand only for the ball to stick.

He raised his arms to the crowd on the Bellerive hill as his teammates celebrated with the Hurricanes reduced to 4-63.

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Click on the video above to watch Kane Richardson's sensational catch!

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		P	W	L	NR	T	Pts	NNR
1	Renegades	6	5	1	0	0	10	0.708
2	Scorchers	7	4	3	0	0	8	0.632
3	Strikers	7	4	3	0	0	8	0.53
4	Stars	6	4	2	0	0	8	0.317
5	Hurricanes	7	4	3	0	0	8	-0.287
6	Heat	6	3	3	0	0	6	0.243
7	Sixers	6	2	4	0	0	4	-0.331
8	Thunder	7	0	7	0	0	0	-1.471

Richardson's stunning effort gave young legspinner Cameron Boyce (3-17) his third wicket after he'd already removed big guns Ponting and Paine.

When Richardson (2-26) then bowled Owais Shah (9 from 9), the home side were in all sorts of trouble at 5-85.

The win keeps the Strikers in the hunt for the finals, while Hobart blew a chance to go second on the ladder and all but wrap up a semi-final.

The Hurricanes were 1-10 when Aiden Blizzard was out for a third ball duck to Shaun Tait (1-23) - who clocked a tournament high 154.4km/h - and 2-56 when Ponting was caught at point.

It was game on when in-form Paine was caught in deep at 3-63, then came Richardson's moment and the momentum was all with the visitors.

Earlier, Strikers opener Michael Klinger had anchored his side's 4-162 with an unbeaten 71 from 61 balls with eight fours.

Klinger put on a partnership of 59 with Callum Ferguson (32 from 23) and 70 with Nathan Reardon (29 from 23).

Reminded of McGrath's catch, Richardson was happy to stake his claim.

"I think he got two hands on that so I might have him covered there," he said.

"I think I made it look a bit better than it was.

"It got caught in the wind a bit, I just stuck one hand out and it fell in.

"I probably carried on a bit too much after it."

Hurricanes captain George Bailey said his side's equation for the finals remained the same.

"It was win one of your last two and I guest that hasn't changed, and if we don't we probably don't deserve to make the finals," he said.

Relive the game with our Match Centre, featuring video of every wicket and boundary.

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Classy Serena takes Brisbane title

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Champion ... Serena Williams celebrates her Brisbane International title. Source: Darren England / AP

Frightened by the fish, Serena Williams admitted she was too afraid to swim in the ocean during her recent training camp in Mauritius.

But it will be Williams who'll be scaring the daylights out of the women's field at the Australian Open after ruthlessly showcasing her power and precision at the Brisbane International.

The American superstar warmed up perfectly for a possible sixth major at Melbourne Park with a 50-minute demolition of Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova on Saturday night.

Her 6-2 6-1 final triumph meant she didn't lose a set at the year-opening tournament and conceded just 17 games in total on Pat Rafter Arena.

Pavlyuchenkova admitted she was clueless.

Williams now has a 35-1 record since her shock first-round loss at the French Open, which shook her into career-best form.

Under new coach Patrick Mouratoglou, the 15-time grand slam champion is reaching towards the heights of her career-best 2002-03 period when she claimed the "Serena Slam", capped by the first of her five Australian Open titles.

Mouratoglou claims she's only getting better at 31 and, on her recent form - triumphing at Wimbledon, the Olympics, US Open and the year-ending WTA Championships - it's hard to disagree.

The world No.3 can become the rightful No.1 with victory in Melbourne in three weeks time and she feels she's done everything right to prepare.

Her Mauritius camp had her arrive in Brisbane in peak fitness despite recent surgery on both big toes.

But swimming was not on the menu.

"I ended up being really afraid of everything," she said in Brisbane.

"I was afraid of the ocean. Everyone swam with the dolphins; I thought they would bite me, so I refused.

"I ended up barely being able to snorkel because I was afraid of the fish."

Now it's Williams who's the big shark in Melbourne and the fear will on the other side of the net.

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