Proof Ferguson’s back on the booze

Former Origin star Blake Ferguson leaves Sutherland Court. Picture: John Appleyard Source: John Appleyard / News Limited

EXILED rugby league star Blake Ferguson is back on the grog again, spending Sunday afternoon knocking over schooners instead of opponents.

Just four months after converting to Islam and vowing to give up alcohol, the former Canberra Raiders star is now drinking regularly.

This is the same man who also recently told a magistrate in Sutherland court, when found guilty of indecent assault, that he was no longer drinking.

Ferguson is appealing the verdict in a higher court.

From midday on Sunday afternoon, the State of Origin star was spotted drinking in the beer garden at the Caringbah hotel.

The image shows Blake Ferguson with a friend drinking from a full schooner of beer with another schooner in front in the beer garden. Source: Supplied

Our photo shows him with an unidentified male friend. Witnesses said he was there for several hours.

Only two weeks ago he was also spotted having a late session at a King Cross nightclub.

In fairness Ferguson is not misbehaving and just minding his own business.

He originally converted to Islam because his life was spiralling out of control on alcohol-fuelled benders.

"Alcohol has been my problem for the last five years," he said, "It's brought me down to where I am now. I've had enough. From here on I'm not drinking."

That was in November. He has since been spotted at the Clovelly Hotel, Kings Cross and now Caringbah.

Disgraced Origin star Blake Ferguson leaves Sutherland Court. Source: News Limited

His mate and mentor Anthony Mundine continues to stick by him, despite all the broken promises.

Mundine himself is too busy to keep a 24/7 watch on Ferguson while preparing for his next fight against former world champion Joshua Clottey in Newcastle on April 2.

He stands by the troubled footballer because "he's family."

"Blake's just looking forward to changing his direction in life," Mundine said recently, "No drinking, no drugs, no parties."

At this stage there is no indication if or when the 23-year-old centre will play football again.

Despite interest from a number of clubs, it's highly unlikely the NRL will register a playing contract this year unless he wins an appeal against the indecent assault conviction.

His best hope would be a 2015 comeback.

Ferguson did not return phone calls or text messages on Monday.

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Ange gets no-Good Socceroos news

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SOCCEROOS defender Curtis Good may have played his last club game of the season after he was on Monday ruled out for up to six weeks with hip flexor strain, sustained in last week's friendly.

While coach Ange Postecoglou has declared that regular soccer is a must to be considered for the 2014 World Cup, Good's star turn against Ecuador could secure him a Brazil berth as he faces the prospect of no club soccer between now and June.

Dundee United, where he is on loan until the end of the season, plays its final league game against Celtic on April 5 before facing Rangers or Albion Rovers in the Scottish Cup semi final on April 12/13.

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After that Dundee would only play the Scottish Cup final on May 17 if it wins its semi-final, by which stage the Socceroos will have started their World Cup camp in Gosford.

The Good blow comes in the wake of long-term injuries to Robbie Kruse (knee reconstruction) and Rhys Williams (achilles), who are both clinging onto the slimmest of hopes that they will be fit for June's World Cup.

Good, 20, was impressive in his Socceroos debut before limping off in the 68th minute of the 4-3 defeat to Ecuador in London last week while still leading.

He had scans over the weekend which confirmed a grade 2 iliopsaos (hip flexor) strain and Newcastle United medical staff have ruled him out for 4-6 weeks.

Ecuador's Luis Antonio Valencia, left, dribbles past Australia's Curtis Good. Source: AP

He has returned to parent club Newcastle United for medical treatment.

Postecoglou urged Good to seek a loan move to get regular minutes after he was impressed with his performances for the Olyroos in January's AFC U22 Championships.

Meanwhile Williams is holding out hope of being fit for Brazil although his Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka warned him not to become "obsessed" about making the squad.

Williams is in Perth continuing rehab on the Achilles he damaged in January, but having missed the last World Cup Karanka said the next fortnight is vital for him.

"The most important thing for Rhys is that he concentrates on his rehab and what he needs to do in the next few weeks," Karanka said.

"If he starts thinking about the World Cup in the summer, there is a risk he could suffer a new problem that would wreck everything for him.

"It is better for him to concentrate on the work that he has to do, and then if the World Cup becomes a possibility, that will be great. He needs to focus on the next couple of weeks, and then one or two weeks before the end of the season, we can all look at where his recovery is.

"It is better for us all to be very careful with him. But if his rehab goes well, then he can play the last few games here and possibly play in the World Cup too. That would be very good for everybody."

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League money talks so Fifita’s in Dog house

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ANDREW Fifita will become the richest prop in rugby league's 108-year history after deciding to accept an $850,000-a-season offer from Canterbury, which has exploited Ben Barba's departure to steal the Sharks superstar.

Barba's exit to Brisbane means Canterbury are operating $400,000 below the salary cap for the next two years, enabling them to slot the Kangaroos bookend into a star-studded front row that already includes International pair James Graham and Sam Kasiano.

Cronulla's Andrew Fifita during the Cronulla Sharks and Gold Coast Titans round 1. Pic Brett Costello Source: News Corp Australia

NRL rules enable clubs with current cap space to front load future salaries, which is how the Roosters managed to recruit Sonny Bill Williams, James Maloney and Michael Jennings in a single swoop last year.

An announcement on Fifita's four-year deal is expected this week, along with news that Graham has inked an extension to remain at Belmore.

The Daily Telegraph was yesterday told Kasiano might be considering a shock defection to European rugby, but Bulldogs CEO Raelene Castle denied any knowledge and the Kiwi prop's manager, Mario Tartak, did not return calls.

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Cronulla's Andrew Fifita during the Cronulla Sharks and Gold Coast Titans round 1. Pic Brett Costello Source: News Corp Australia

Castle said Fifita had not put pen to paper as of Monday night, when he was preparing to break the news to Sharks team mates in the wake of their opening round clash against Gold Coast at Remondis Stadium.

"We have a couple of things to announce this week," she said.

When pressed on how the Bulldogs could afford to invest such a large proportion of their cap into the front row, Castle replied: "We have some significant money to spend because we don't have a fullback. The salary cap can be difficult to manage, but there are mechanisms in place to do certain things."

Cronulla Sharks NRL player Andrew Fifita watches from the crowd during the Super Rugby match between the NSW Waratahs and Western Force at Allianz Stadium, Sydney. Pic Brett Costello Source: News Corp Australia

Fifita spent the weekend in torment over leaving the Sharks, who put together an offer just $50,000-a-season shy of what Canterbury tabled.

The Daily Telegraph understands Cronulla were prepared to make Fifita their highest earning player, offering him $750,000-a-year - plus a car - to remain in the Shire.

Fifita spoke with several Sharks team mates before making up his mind to switch clubs late on Sunday.

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He also spoke with the Rabbitohs, Roosters, Sea Eagles and ARU, but, from those suitors, only South Sydney were initially prepared to match the money on offer from Canterbury and Cronulla.

Fifita's defection is a huge blow for the Sharks, who have also lost promising hooker Michael Lichaa to Canterbury.

Bulldogs coach Des Hasler has long viewed the 21-year-old rake as a successor to co-captain Michael Ennis, who is expected to hand-over the hooking reins in 2016.

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Sharks skipper Paul Gallen was desperately hoping that Fifita might display loyalty in return for Cronulla plucking him out of reserve grade at Wests Tigers two years ago.

Now Gallen is more than likely to finish his career in the front row, with Cronulla desperately short on big men in 2015.

Doubts over Bryce Gibbs's ability to continue another year leaves Sam Tagataese as the only recognised prop, meaning Cronulla will most likely have to enter a bidding war for off-contract Melbourne bookend Jesse Bromwich.

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‘Enabled’ Amy dancing her way to the top

An Instagram photo of Amy Purdy. Source: Supplied

AMY Purdy lost both her legs at the age of 19 but in Sochi this week she's snowboarding by day and dancing by night.

American TV series 'Dancing With The Stars' has sent a crew to Sochi so Purdy can practice for her debut on the show in Los Angeles next week.

The 34-year-old from Las Vegas is competing in snowboard cross on Friday as the only double amputee in the field, courageously taking on single amputees and those with both their legs but another physical impairment.

After competition she flies straight to the US for the series premiere which will be shown nationwide.

The snowboarder, motivational speaker, actor and model this week Tweeted a photo of her dance partner Derek Hough:

"Just finished snowboard training for the day and looking forward to meeting this hunk on the dancefloor."

Purdy is one of the most marketable athletes in the US and has inspired thousands of people to overcome their own obstacles.

At the age of 19 she graduated from high school and became a massage therapist when she went home one day with what she thought was the flu.

Within 24 hours she was on life support in hospital and given a two per cent chance of surviving when diagnosed with bacterial meningitis.

In the next two months Purdy lost her spleen, kidneys, hearing in her left ear and both legs below the knee.

"When my parents wheeled me out of the hospital I felt like I had been pieced back together like a patchwork doll," she says in a speech titled 'Living Beyond Limits' which has been viewed more than 625,000 times on YouTube.

"I thought the worst was over until weeks later when I saw my legs for the first time.

"The calves were bulky blocks of metal with pipes bolted together for ankles and the yellow rubber foot with the raised rubber line from the toe to the ankle to look like a vein."

Purdy, who has been snowboarding since she was 15, said her biggest fear at the time was how she would travel the world and ever snowboard again.

After weeks of struggling to get out of bed, she eventually "let go of the old Amy and embraced the new Amy".

She found feet that she could snowboard in, received a new kidney from her father, got back on the snow and in 2005 co-founded an organisation to help young people with disabilities get involved with action sports.

Purdy said she wouldn't change a thing about her journey.

"Because my legs haven't disabled me, if anything they've enabled me.

"They've forced me to rely on my imagination and to believe in the possibilities.

"In our minds we can do anything, we can be anything, it's believing in those dreams and facing those fears head on that allows us to live our lives beyond our limits."

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Eels must cut Sandow, says Sterlo

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PARRAMATTA'S greatest halfback Peter Sterling has urged Eels hierarchy to jettison Chris Sandow, insisting the troubled playmaker needs a fresh start to have any hope of reviving his NRL career.

Sterling's stance came as the prospect of a Queensland homecoming appears doomed, with the Broncos, Titans and Cowboys baulking at a lifeline for the Cherbourg product.

Sandow was hailed as Parramatta's finest halfback hope since Sterling when he signed in 2012, but instead he has become the Eels' high-maintenance $550,000-a-season headache.

Instead of calling the shots in Parramatta's season opener against the Warriors yesterday, the recovering gambling addict turned out for NSW Cup side Wentworthville 24 hours earlier.

Four-time premiership-winner Sterling had hoped Sandow would be the man to break Parramatta's 27-year title drought, but fears the halfback's position at the club is untenable.

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"I think it would be mutually beneficial if Chris Sandow pursued his career elsewhere," said Sterling, a veteran of 227 first-grade games who piloted the Eels to their last grand-final victory in 1986.

"The writing is on the wall really that he is going to struggle to play first grade again at Parramatta.

"It's a shame to see what has transpired, but both parties need a fresh start and maybe that might be the best thing for Chris' career as well.

"It would be good for Parramatta and Chris if they severed ties."

It is understood the Eels are amenable to an immediate release and would help subsidise any move, but it is unclear how many NRL rivals are prepared to roll the dice with Sandow.

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The former Queensland Emerging Origin squad member's name was thrown up to the Broncos, but Brisbane coach Anthony Griffin said on Friday he had no interest in the pint-sized schemer.

The Titans are unlikely to be interested given that they axed him in 2008 for disciplinary reasons, while the Cowboys have three halfback options in Robert Lui, Michael Morgan and Ray Thompson.

Sterling said the Eels had the ability to move on from Sandow, praising the potential of new scrumbase pairing Luke Kelly and former Broncos utility Corey Norman.

"I like Corey Norman. The fact he has been paired with Luke Kelly is a good sign," he said.

"Luke is a level-headed guy, not a flashy player but he plays with good control.

"He is the kind of No.7 the Eels need to get them to where they need to be and that will allow Corey to play his natural game and play a bit of football. That can be a nice combination and one that suits the team.

"I don't know if Chris Sandow has any other offers, I don't know if it's an urban myth but there is talk around the Broncos could be showing interest.

"Parramatta might have to carry a significant amount of the contract money Sandow is on if he went elsewhere, but that would free up some money to add to the team in other areas."

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NRL round one just a big mirage

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A WISE sports punter once said nothing was ever as good or bad as it looked in round one of the NRL premiership.

The punter reckoned everyone is so pent up for the season to start that everything in Round 1 is overanalysed.

Every victor seems a potential premier. Every loser is in for a miserable winter. The truth lies somewhere in between and is often the opposite of what we think.

I liked this theory so much that after every Round 1 each year, I do what we might call the contrarian's index where we try and see good in the bad and bad in the good in the hope of gettingto get a more measured feel about what lies ahead.

So here's the upside down view of key parts of Round 1.

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SOUTHS

Yes, yes … we all know the story. No premiership since 1971 but this is the year because they are bigger, stronger, fitter, faster and more experienced.

Maybe, but I am actually tipping them to be beaten by Manly next weekend.

Souths may have stampeded the Roosters on Thursday but they can earn nothing of substance until grand final day because anything less than a premiership is beneath a pass mark which is brutal pressure for any side. They will spend the next seven months as taut as if they are wearing a dinner suit with a tight top button.

Former Souths coach John Lang once said that, even in battling times, Souths only had to win a match or two to double the amount of onlookers at training and create a tsunami of interest. With extra interest comes pressure and the pressureheat on the Bunnies is enormous already high.

ROOSTERS

Their 28-8 loss to the Rabbitohs was enough to start a string of discussions about how tough is it to win back-to-back premierships and how the force of gravity gets you in the end.

Don't be fooled.

They'll have their little let-down and just float nicely in the top four and then, come September, watch them ­explode from the shadows.

BRONCOS

They did exceptionally well to throttle the Bulldogs and there were noticeable positives at both ends of the field.

But greater tests await them.

There was an element of mystery about the new-model Broncos and how they would play and their new patterns, particularly those relating to Ben Barba, will be studied closely by rival teams. It is significant that since landing in Brisbane, Barba has bought a house and got a driver's licence – signs he is settling down, but he will be a marked man throughout the this season.

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STORM

The Melbourne Storm have reinvented themselves more times than Madonna and just keep performing.

To come from 20-0 down away from home against Manly was stunning – but the Storm traditionally start the season as if they were shot out of a cannon as they must do with a team structured around three main players.

Their big question is whether their magnificent Holy Trinity of Slater, Smith and Cronk can stay fit and firing until September. We still think the $7 about a Storm premiership may be too short.

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COWBOYS

Had a mixed night against the Raiders but the club's new coaching staff must be asking themselves whether they really want to win a premiership and be photographed in their new checkered club shirts.

They may have been purchased when the club first opened its doors in 1995 and someone has just found them in a bottom drawer.

RAIDERS

Most teams would be heartbroken to give up a 16-0 lead as they did against the Cowboys but something is brewing here.

They are still very much the unfinished product but the night showed the best of the Raiders is great to watch and the best of Anthony Milford gobsmacking. Broncos fans are drooling at the prospect of he and Barba uniting next season for the club will instantly become premiership chances.

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PANTHERS

They were many people's sneaky tip to make the finals and those people are feeling very comfortable with their tip after they flogged Newcastle.

But we need to see more. Penrith in Penrith normally find a pulse. Newcastle had more injuries than a Combat moviehospital ward.

The Panthers may have just had a hot day.

That's the joy of round one. It creates more questions as it answers.

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What we learnt from NRL round one

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1) Ben Barba is baaaack and set for an absolutely bumper season.

2) Champion Souths fullback Greg Inglis is without doubt a future immortal.

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3) David Gallop showed his old boss John Grant how to fill a stadium.

4) Face of the game Anthony Minichiello might have played one year too many.

5) ANZ Stadium is killing club football atmosphere and should be strictly saved for Origin and grand finals.

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6) Nothing has changed with Phillip Ronald Gould who is as irritating and annoying as ever.

7) Adam Reynolds will challenge Mitch Pearce for the Origin No. 7 jersey. Pearce had one run for seven metres.

8) The Dogs still have a big problem with T-Rex's work ethic. He made only 70 metres and missed three tackles.

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9) Boom Broncos winger Lachlan Maranta should play State of Origin this year.

10) NRL boss Dave Smith won't answer his mobile phone (reception can't be all that good in limos or Lucio's)

11) Brookvale Oval had the best atmosphere of all the weekend games. Long live suburban football.

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12) The Broncos can't make the finals with Ben Hunt at halfback and Josh Hoffman at five-eighth.

13) The Roosters desperately missed the strength and fear factor that Luke O'Donnell provided last year.

14) Channel Nine man-of-the-match judges need an appointment at Specsavers. How did Greg Inglis not get the award on Thursday night?

15) Every season opener should be on a Friday night at Allianz Stadium – with a 7.30pm kick-off.

16) The Knights lack direction and can't win footy games without Jarrod Mullen as playmaker.

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17) Storm have unearthed the perfect replacement for Gareth Widdop – boom playmaker Ben Hampton.

18) Panthers winger Josh Mansour is not just a powerhouse. His second try against the Knights was pure class and magnificent skill.

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19) The Sharks have a sensational young hooker in Michael Lichaa who scored three tries in five minutes in NSW Cup. Pity he's likely to go to the Bulldogs.

20) Brett Stewart should be the NSW State of Origin fullback, even if Josh Dugan is fit.

21) The Panthers' five-year plan has become a six-month plan. They could make the top four.

22) Manly is already missing the defence strategies that Brad Arthur put in place last year before he left for Parramatta.

23) Golden point should be golden try. It's still a lottery.

24) Jamie Lyon and Michael Ennis are still the quinella of best whingers in the competition.

25) Cameron Smith still handles pressure better than any other player in the competition, as shown by his calm match-winning field goal.

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26) Ricky Stuart can coach and the Raiders will improve on last season.

27) I didn't think it was possible, but Johnathan Thurston is getting even better. He so deserves to win a premiership.

28) Cowboy Jason Taumalolo has the ability to become one of the NRL's most damaging forwards. He made 207 metres and five tackle busts against the Raiders.

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29) Tipping winners is getting harder every year. I'm sitting on 1 from 7.

30) Stop the presses. Referees survived the weekend without a major blunder, although there is one game to go.

31) Ian Roberts' brain damage revelations showed why the shoulder charge and punching had to be banned.

32) Kade Snowden is the most over paid player in the game. Props on $450,000 should make more than 75 metres.

33) George Burgess on half his salary made 145 metres in one half against the Roosters.

34) Joel Caine has got 10 lengths on Tom Waterhouse as an odds spruiker.

35) The Knights have unearthed a future superstar in 16-year-old Harold Matthews fullback Matt Cooper. He scored SIX tries against the Dragons on Saturday.

36) Tigers rookie Luke Brooks is a wonderful prospect but needs to work on his defence. He missed seven tackles yesterday, a la Benji Marshall.

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37) Parramatta's 21-year-old Fijian flyer Semi Radradra is an extra special talent.

38) So too is second-rower Manu Ma'u who was outstanding last night against the Warriors.

39) Will Hopoate has lost pace in the two years he was out of the game.

40) Mick Potter is under even more pressure at the Wests Tigers.

41) Dragons five-eighth Gareth Widdop is a very early candidate for buy-of-the-year. Yesterday he produced four try-assists and kicked eight from eight.

42) Parramatta don't have as many fans as the Wanderers.

43) Nothing has changed – the Warriors can't travel.

44) Nothing has changed with $500,000-a-year Adam Blair who made only 44 metres for the Wests Tigers.

45) The Roosters not only have the best senior roster in the NRL but also the hottest kids. Their SG Ball side thumped the Cronulla Sharks 60-6.

46) Braith Anasta is a fine media talent and should have retired last season … or even the year before.

47) Wests Tigers against the Dragons should have been shown live on Channel Nine. And it about time David Gyngell showed us the footy in HD.

48) Good luck Triple M … 2GB's Ray Hadley and Andrew Moore are still the two best rugby league radio callers by the length of a football field.

49) Steve Price can actually coach.

50) The Rabbitohs were clearly the best side we saw in the opening round. The TAB agrees because they have now installed Souths as $4.50 premiership favourites.

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Injury report: Stewart out for month

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A GOLDEN point loss after leading 20-0 was bad enough but it is about to get worse for Manly.

Star fullback Brett Stewart could be missing through injury for up to four weeks. The injury will certainly rule him out of Friday night's big match against South Sydney at Gosford.

Stewart did not return after half-time on Saturday night when his Sea Eagles led Melbourne 20-4.

Things went south from that point for Manly.

Storm skipper Cam Smith kicked a golden point field goal to give his side a dramatic 23-22 win at Brookvale.

Stewart was unable to even drive home after the match.

Brett Stewart of the Sea Eagles. Source: Getty Images

Manly coach Geoff Toovey was still assessing Stewart's injury yesterday but it is understood he may not be back for about a month.

"I'm not sure at the moment,'' Toovey said. "We will wait and see what happens after scans.''

Melbourne received five successive penalties in the second half, pinched the momentum and then stole the match.

"Five straight penalties and the momentum swung,'' Toovey said.

"We will asses the game after looking at the video. We made a couple of silly errors.

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"At the end when we had a chance to win but we made some poor decisions and mistakes. They were uncharacteristic mistakes. But we will lick our wounds and get up for Souths. They are on a high at the moment.

"It is a short turnaround for us and it will be another tough game. But we will bounce back.''

Missing Melbourne halfback Cooper Cronk is expected to return for Saturday afternoon's game against Penrith in Melbourne.

Meanwhile Newcastle was left battered after a 30-8 loss to Penrith on Saturday.

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Kurt Gidley (concussion), Tyrone Roberts (concussion) and Darius Boyd (hamstring) are all in doubt for Sunday night's match against Canberra at Hunter Stadium.

Boyd may be out for up to two weeks.

Newcastle is already missing star five-eighth Jarrod Mullen, injured in the Auckland Nines.

"We lost quality players across the park,'' said Newcastle coach Wayne Bennett. "We lost key players in key positions. Darius has done a hamstring, hopefully it's not too bad, it might be a couple of weeks.''

Penrith also copped some bumps and bruises but nothing too serious. "It was a war of attrition,'' said Panthers coach Ivan Cleary.

Newcastle led 8-6 at half-time before Penrith stormed home to record a robust first-up win.

Casualty ward from round one:

Mitch Brown (concussion, round two)

Todd Lowrie (concussion, round two)

Tyrone Roberts (concussion, round two)

Kurt Gidley (concussion, round two)

Darius Boyd (hamstring, round four)

Brett Stewart (hamstring, round five)

Dave Simmons (knee-cap, scans)

Liam Fulton (concussion, round two)

Jack De Belin (leg, scans)

Michael Witt (dislocated shoulder, scans)

Judiciary watch:

Justin Horo (high tackle)

Sonny Bill Williams (shoulder charge)

Anthony Minichiello (dangerous contact - knee)

Andrew McCullough (high tackle)

Martin Kennedy (high tackle)

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Fanning’s got the moves like Jagger

World Champion Mick Fanning stretching before a surf. Source: Supplied

GRACE under pressure helped secure him his third world crown and now Mick Fanning has revealed he is studying the moves of gymnasts and dancers for hints on how to keep his body fluid, flexible and strong enough to continue winning world crowns.

Fanning is renowned for his fitness and flexibility, spending quality time stretching before heats and limbering up at events.

It has kept his body strong enough to handle the rigours of World Tour surfing and in the condition required for him to win a fourth world title.

"The body feel really good.,'' said Fanning at the Quiksilver Pro which is expected to resume at Snapper Rocks today after three lay days due to poor conditions.

"The last few years I have been loose pretty free of injuries. I'm loose and moving well which is always a good thing.

"I look to a lot of different sports for inspiration, including dancing and gymnastics. It's just incredible how flexible they are. And strong.''

Fanning is kicking off his campaign for a fourth world crown in the opener of the ASP World Tour, the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast.

Fanning winning through to the third round at Snapper Rocks. Source: News Corp Australia

After losing his opening round, Fanning found form in the sudden-death second heat to book a spot against dangerous American Dane Reynolds in the third round of the annual event.

The 32-year-old local admits there is pressure to perform at his home break at Snapper Rocks.

"Joel (Parkinson) and myself and everyone from here, we put the pressure on ourselves,'' Fanning said. "You always want to do radially well at home. you always want to make people proud."

Fanning is a two-time winner of the Gold Coast event (2005, 2007) with Parkinson winning with his Quiksilver Pro titles in 2002 and 2009.

The last four Quiksilver Pro crowns have been split between American legend Kelly Slater (2011, 2013) and Australian Taj Burrow (2010, 2012).

Both men are still in the competition.

If competition resumes at Snapper Rocks today it is excepted the Roxy Pro crown will be decided.

Five-time world champion Stephanie Gilmore is the only Australian left in the women's World Tour opener and must outwit reigning world titleholder Carissa Moore from the US to make the final.

Gilmore is determined to improve her current world No. 5 ranking at Snapper Rocks.

"I would love to win this one. Really love it," she said.

On Saturday, organisers called a lay-day for the third straight day, further postponing the event.

Organisers made the call early Saturday morning, setting the scene for a possible wrap up to the women's event Sunday.

When the women's event does resume Gilmore will take on American Carissa Moore in a blockbuster semi-final.

South Africa's Bianca Buitendag and American Lakey Peterson are the other semi-finalists.

The men's competition, which has been on hold since Monday, is up to round three with the big trio of Fanning, Parkinson and Kelly Slater all still alive in the competition.

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Griffin to be patient with halves

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BRONCOS coach Anthony Griffin says Josh Hoffman showed promising signs at five-eighth, but admits Brisbane must finetune their ­attack ahead of Friday night's derby clash against the Cowboys.

Griffin's scrumbase gamble paid its first dividend at ANZ Stadium, with new halves pairing Hoffman and Ben Hunt ­piloting Brisbane to an 18-12 defeat of the Bulldogs.

But while the Broncos built their victory on courage, the jury remains out on whether a Hoffman-Hunt scrumbase ­alliance can transform Brisbane into a premiership force.

Hunt started well but he struggled to assert control in the second half and his kicking radar was at times awry.

Ben Hunt and Josh Hoffman (left) celebrate victory against the Bulldogs. Source: Getty Images

Hoffman, meanwhile, showed some nice touches in attack and defended stoutly, but has yet to convince he has the vision to adequately service a fleet-footed backline.

It would be harsh to write off the combination after an 80-minute showing and Griffin is confident Hoffman will be better for his five-eighth debut at Homebush.

"All of us in attack, clearly we have some work to do," Griffin said.

"I thought Josh did a good job. He defended great, he made some in-roads at times and he will build off that. It's round one and our attack was never going to be great.

"We weren't coming off much (after a heavy trial loss in New Zealand), so if you speak to any coach, round one is about getting into the competition and being as strong as you can be.

"I thought we did that and we'll start working on the other stuff. We are happy with the way we hung in there under pressure."

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