Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has important decisions to reveal as he looks to fire-up his struggling side for Saturday's opening Spring Tour Test against Wales in Cardiff. Cheika will announce his team on Thursday evening (AEDT) as he looks to maintain the Wallabies' 10-year unbeaten run against the Welsh - who head into the game on the back of six successive wins. With the 2019 World Cup coming into ever sharper focus, time for experiments and excuses is fast running out and the Wallabies must string good performances together on this tour Despite his brain snap against New Zealand's Codie Taylor that reduced Australia to 14 men in the third Bledisloe in Yokohama last week, the abrasive Tolu Latu could claim the starting hooker role ahead of veteran Tatafu Polota-Nau and youngster Folau Fainga'a. An impressive cameo from Samu Kerevi against the All Blacks in Japan following a long injury lay-off has put him in line to start at outside centre with Israel Folau likely to move back to the wing in place of Sefa Naivalu. Cheika's decision to include veteran outside back Adam Ashley-Cooper in his squad for the European leg of a long and difficult year, also muddies the selection waters. Australia have shipped 82 points in their last two matches against Argentina and New Zealand and Ashley-Cooper, who has never lost to the Welsh in nine encounters, has a game to keep a strong home attack in check. The 34-year-old has trained well this week at the team's base in Newport, just outside Cardiff, and his stout defensive skills should earn him at least a place on the bench. Ashley-Cooper said he's ready to go if called upon by Cheika. "I've only been here a week to really settle in and find my feet and observe," he said. "I want to just contribute in a way where I'm preparing how I would usually prepare for a Test match. "At this stage it's a matter of finding my feet and contributing the best way I can." Hard-running lock Adam Coleman has trained all week after sitting out the 37-20 loss to New Zealand in Japan two weeks ago. The Melbourne Rebels skipper has trained fully all week and will be a welcome presence in the second row against Wales skipper Alun Wyn Jones.

THE Knights have received a massive shot in the arm to start the preseason with star back-rower Lachlan Fitzgibbon recommitting to the club. Fitzgibbon has put pen to paper on a new three year deal that will keep the local junior at the Knights until the end of the 2021. Newcastle coach Nathan Brown lauded the improvement in his star back-rower, especially over the course of last season. “Last year was quite clearly his best year,” Brown said. “Over the course of the three years, I’ve seen him go from where he was to where he is now. “Now he’s starting to get that confidence, now he’s got a new contract and now we want Lachy to keep improving and that’s key for us. The last thing we want is for him to be satisfied where he is at.” Fitzgibbon is a try-scoring machine, who has relished the opportunity to work off Kalyn Ponga and has amassed 17 tries over the past two seasons. Fitzgibbon is comparable to Cowboys star Gavin Cooper as a try-scoring second-rower, and like Cooper with Johnathan Thurston, his combination with Ponga has the potential to be one of the best in the competition in coming seasons. “We all saw the combination that him and Kalyn built together,” Brown said. “His ability to score tries for a back-rower is probably as good as any other back-rower in the competition. “Two years ago, when we got the wooden spoon, he still scored more tries than any other back-rower in the competition bar one. “As good as he was last year, I really think he can go to another level.” Fitzgibbon decided not to test his value on the open market to stay loyal to the club he debuted for back in 2015. After scoring 18 tries in 41 games over his first four seasons with the club, Fitzgibbon couldn’t see himself playing anywhere else at this stage of his career. “He’s a local junior and he wants to be here which is important,” Brown said. “He signed a contract which was fair for both parties and if he really wanted to he could’ve tested the market but he didn’t.

PRIDE in the jersey. It sounds pretty easy to inspire but in modern football where money talks and loyalty can be difficult to find... not so much. But that’s exactly the mission Michael Maguire has set for himself in his new post as head coach of the Wests Tigers. Every Test, ODI & T20I live, ad-break free during play and in 4K. Only on Foxtel. SIGN UP TODAY! He believes if he can get his men spilling blood, sweat and tears for their black and gold jerseys and the rich history of the Western Suburbs Magpies and Balmain Tigers, he can unlock the joint-venture’s potential. A big part of that, as he revealed to Macquarie Sport Radio on Monday, is developing local talent. “I’m really looking forward to working with everyone at Wests Tigers,” Maguire said. “I know a number of the players there and have a lot of youth coming through. They’ve also got a great nursery in and around that area which is really important. “One thing I love doing is bringing those younger players through to first-grade and ones from that area that love playing for that jersey. “I’m big on the jersey and it’s something that I want to grow with myself coming in.” He called the Tigers a “sleeping giant” and said he wanted to deliver for the fans, who haven’t enjoyed a finals campaign since 2011. “I think that this has given me the opportunity to jump on what I see as one of the biggest clubs in the game,” he continued. “It’s a bit of a sleeping giant. “Similar to what I’ve been at before [with Wigan and South Sydney], there’s a lot of supporters out there that are waiting for this club to rise and I want to make sure that I do everything possible to make that happen.”

A HOST of players from this year’s women’s Test Match, Origin and NRL Premiership have been named in the All Stars squads that will play in February next year. Reigning Dally M Female Player of the Year, Brittany Breayley (New Zealand) and the 2018 Australian Prime Minister’s XIII captain, Rebecca Young (Indigenous team) are among those selected. NRL Indigenous pathways manager, Dean Widders said both teams were excited to be participating in the match. “It was an incredible atmosphere and thrilling first-time win in Newcastle for the women’s Indigenous team back in 2017 and I know in speaking with the players that I’ve been in contact with, they can’t wait to represent their people in a jersey that means so much to them,” Widders said. “The All Stars matches have always been popular as part of the rugby league calendar and fans won’t be disappointed when the teams take to the field at AAMI Park in February next year.” Tickets are on sale for the All Stars matches, with adult tickets from $20 and family passes from $50. Indigenous Women’s All Stars: Akayla McQuire, Amber Pilley, Rebecca Young, Caitlan Johnston, Chloe Caldwell, Jenni-Sue Hoepper, Kandy Kennedy, Kazzia Lammon, Kyara Nean, Latoniya Norris, Lavina O’Mealey, Lavina Robinson, Layla Fauid, Majayda Darcy, Ngalika Barker, Quincy Dodd, Rebecca Ford, Regan Hart, Rhiannon Revell-Blair, Samartha Leisha, Sarah Field, Shakiah Tungai, Sharon McGrady, Shaylee Bent, Stephanie Mooka, Tahlia Hunter, Taleena Simon, Tallisha Harden, Terri-Ann Caine, Tommaya Kelly-Sines.

COOPER Cronk will be fit to kick off Sydney Roosters’ NRL premiership defence after undergoing successful surgery on his shoulder. Cronk’s herculean effort to play through the grand final with a fractured left scapula will go down in premiership folklore, and he was required to have a plate inserted after the match. Off-contract at the end of 2019, the Roosters confirmed on Tuesday Cronk will have no issue running out against South Sydney in the opening round at the SCG. Former Rabbitoh Angus Crichton will also be available after undergoing surgery on his right shoulder to fix an ongoing issue. Fellow forward Zane Tetevano was also injured in the grand final win over Melbourne, but will recover from his ruptured bicep in time for round one in March. But the news isn’t so good for newcomer Ryan Hall, who is still expected to miss the start of the campaign after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament while playing for Leeds last Super League season.

GEORGE Burgess will miss the first three rounds of the NRL season after being found guilty of eye gouging New Zealand captain Dallin Watene-Zelezniak while playing for England. The South Sydney forward fronted an international disciplinary panel on Tuesday night and was slapped with a four-game suspension and a fine for ‘grade D behaviour contrary to the true spirit of the game’. Burgess pleaded not guilty to the charge but the panel concluded the evidence was too overwhelming. He will miss the final Test against New Zealand as well as the opening three rounds of the NRL season. The 26-year-old has since taken to Twitter to apologise to fans, saying it was not his intention to eye gouge anyone.

AMID the chaos of the coaching merry-go-round it is worth noting history shows solidarity rather than upheaval breeds success in the NRL. Clubs are dependent on continuity in positions from the top down, including the head coaching position to achieve good on field results. In the NRL era it has largely been teams with the fewest changes in the head coaching position that have had the most sustained periods of success. In the 21 seasons since Super League it is no coincidence that the three clubs with the most finals appearances have rarely changed their coaches. The Storm have reached 18 finals series in that time with a total of three coaches, while the Broncos have used four coaches to make the same number of appearances. The Roosters have used slightly more in making 14 finals appearances and together with the Storm and the Broncos they have three premierships each. It could be argued which comes first, the chicken or the egg? Are coaches given more time in the role because of their success or visa versa? However, it is also worth noting how long it takes coaches to win their first premiership after they are appointed. Wayne Bennett took five seasons to win his first title with the Broncos in 1992 and Craig Bellamy also took five years to win his first title in 2007, before it was stripped due to the salary cap scandal. Trent Robinson is an outlier, having won a premiership in his first season in 2013. However, the Roosters’ coach also retained his job after coming second last in 2016 and two years later he secured his second premiership title. Bulldogs premiership-winning coach, the late Steve Folkes coached Canterbury for 11 seasons and didn’t win the title until his seventh year in charge. Des Hasler was considered one of the best coaches in the game during his first tenure with Manly, but it took him five years to win his first title with the Sea Eagles in 2008. It took Shane Flanagan six years and two stints as coach, either side of the Sharks supplements scandal to win his and Cronulla’s first ever title. Rather than chopping and changing coaches it could be argued the better option would be for clubs to pick and stick and give one coach an extended period of time to turn a club around. Full list of finals appearances in descending order since Super League ended in 1998.

if i can answer it. so it would be I don't know anything about it.

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New Zealand coach Steve Hansen will set aside his friendship with his England counterpart when their teams meet at Twickenham on Saturday, expecting Eddie Jones to have done his homework on the world champions. Hansen said he and the Australian speak or text roughly once a fortnight: "You don't ring up people you don't like, just because they are doing the same job as you," Hansen told a news conference on London on Monday. "The bottom line is, we talk and our wives talk. And that's not surprising. I think he's a good bloke." Former Wallabies mentor Jones was the darling of English rugby after winning 25 of his first 26 tests in charge, but is now under fire after England lost five matches in a row this year. "The only people that don't understand what it's like to be a head coach of an international team are the people who have never been one," Hansen said. "There is a lot of pressure there all the time. Whether you are winning or losing. It's just in a different wrapper. "Eddie, more than anybody, understands that. So he's not too bothered by it." Hansen said Jones's experience means the All Blacks will be tested at Twickenham, even if England are depleted by injuries. "He's got a tremendous work ethic, Eddie; he does a lot of homework, and through that he will have identified some areas he'll want to try to target," added Hansen. "I have got a lot of time for him, a lot of respect for him. He's not everyone's cup of tea, but I think he's a good man."

ALL BLACKS coach Steve Hansen has revealed a deep respect for England counterpart Eddie Jones by saying they talk “probably every second week.” New Zealand and England meet at Twickenham on Saturday for the first time in four years. The coaches faced each other in a rugby test once before in 2003, when Jones’ Australia dispatched Hansen’s Wales in Sydney. “Talking to Eddie, I know he and England are very excited about this game, and we are, too,” Hansen said on Monday. “We usually talk either by text or by phone, probably every second week. “It’s always good to have other people who are doing a similar role to yourself to be able to talk to. “First and foremost, you’ve got to have some form of relationship that allows you to get on with each other. “You don’t ring people up you don’t like, just because they are doing the same job as you. “So it probably indicates I like him and he might like me; I don’t know. “The bottom line is we talk, our wives talk, and that’s not surprising. I think he’s a good bloke.” Despite a slump this year after winning the Six Nations in 2016 and 2017, England was still regarded as a global power by Hansen, who also respected the work of Jones. “The only people that don’t understand what it’s like to be a head coach of an international team are the people who’ve never been one,” Hansen said. “There’s a lot of pressure there, all the time, whether you’re winning or losing. It comes just in a different wrapper. “And the expectations when you coach a top side like England are, you’re expected to win, and play well. “Eddie more than anybody understands that. “So he’s not too bothered by it. “The bottom line is he’ll be going about doing his job like he always does. “And looking from afar, I think he’s doing a pretty good job.” Hansen was impressed by how Jones managed to prepare a depleted England side to upset South Africa 12-11 last weekend. “He’s got a tremendous work ethic, Eddie; he does a lot of homework and through that he will have identified some areas he’ll want to try to target,” Hansen said.

STAR Wallabies back-rower David Pocock has been snubbed as one of World Rugby’s five candidates for Player of the Year. The John Eales Medallist, who won at a canter over his teammates as the best Wallaby of 2018, enjoyed an excellent return to the international fold after taking a year out from Australian rugby in 2017. Instead, All Blacks duo Beauden Barrett and Rieko Ioane, Springboks pair Faf de Klerk and Malcolm Marx and Ireland’s Johnny Sexton were nominated. Barrett has taken out the award the past two years. All Blacks greats Richie McCaw and Dan Carter are the only players to have won the award three times, but neither of them achieved a three-peat. World Rugby will announce the winner following the November Tests in Monte Carlo. A star-studded panel selected the contenders. It comprised World Cup winners Richie McCaw, John Smit, George Gregan, Maggie Alphonsi and former England coach Clive Woodward, with Brian O’Driscoll, Fabien Galthié, Agustín Pichot completing the panel. Here is a snapshot of their years. Beauden Barrett — New Zealand New Zealand’s first-five entered the Bledisloe Cup campaign with a question mark hanging over his name, after Richie Mo’unga led the Crusaders to their second straight Super Rugby title. He quickly ended that debate. Barrett scored once in Sydney and then crossed four times a week later in Auckland to ensure the Bledisloe Cup remained across the ditch for a 16th consecutive year. However, his Rugby Championship campaign did peter out and he struggled somewhat in the Tests against the Springboks. Rieko Ioane — New Zealand Ioane remains the premier winger in the world. But after taking out the Breakthrough Player of the Year in 2017, Ioane hasn’t quite been as electric in 2018. He remains a tryscoring machine, having crossed for 11 tries in eight starts, but many of those he’s simply had to finish rather than go hunting for the ball like he did a year ago. Malcolm Marx — South Africa South Africa’s hooker is perhaps the most surprising candidate of the five. He missed the 2-1 series victory against England in June because of injury and had a slow start to the Rugby Championship. But he was influential in the Springboks’ remarkable victory over the All Blacks in Wellington in September. Faf de Klerk — South Africa There is no doubt that de Klerk is world rugby’s most improved international. Up until 2018, de Klerk had been in and out of the Springboks. But after a stellar debut season in the English Premiership for Sale, de Klerk finally brought the same pace, delivery and astuteness to the Test game. He was hugely influential in helping his nation win the home series against England, scoring the Springboks’ opening try in their massive come from behind victory in the first Test.

FORMULA 1 is heading to Vietnam. The sports ownership, Liberty Media, revealed its first new race by announcing a street race in the country’s capital Hanoi. A track will be built on the western edge of the city in time for the 2020 season. Vietnam will be the first new venue that Liberty Media have added to the calendar since taking over the running of the sport from Bernie Ecclestone at the start of last year. F1’s chairman and CEO Chase Carey said it was an exciting opportunity to include a country with such a bright future. “Since we became involved in this sport in 2017, we have talked about developing new destination cities to broaden the appeal of Formula 1 and the Vietnamese Grand Prix is a realisation of that ambition,” he said. “We are thrilled to be here in Hanoi, one of the most exciting cities in the world right now with such a rich history and an incredible future ahead of it. “We are really looking forward to seeing Formula 1 cars speeding around the streets of this fantastic city from 2020.” Mai Tuen Dung, head of the government office in Hanoi, said it was a great addition to Vietnam’s many tourism opportunities. “People in the area have been asked for their opinions on holding the race and they have shown their support, to attract tourists,” he said.

Welcome to community

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Welcome to community

Welcome to community

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Welcome to community

Welcome to community

IT is not often teams benefit from a late forced change. But on Sunday evening, that’s exactly what happened to Melbourne Victory. The reigning A-League champions had originally planned to play Jai Ingham as part of a front three alongside James Troisi and Kosta Barbarouses. But when Ingham pulled up with a quad issue in the warm-up, Victory had to improvise. Kevin Muscat pulled Leigh Broxham on from the bench to play in midfield, with captain Carl Valeri in a holding role. It meant Keisuke Honda and James Troisi were deployed as dual No.10s., with Barbarouses up front. And from the opening moments, the move paid off, with the pair seizing control of the game and piling the pressure on the Mariners defence. The strategy bore fruit in the 30th minute, with Honda exploiting an Antony Golec error to score a sizzling opening goal. Then, Terry Antonis’ delightfully weighted ball allowed Troisi to double Victory’s lead in the 35th minute. Two minutes into injury time, Corey Brown rifled home his side’s third goal to make it 3-0. It was a genuinely dominant performance, with former Victory and Roar goalkeeper Michael Theo praising Troisi’s influence. “With two number 10s, he had that free role there and he’s set up Kosta on a number of occasions,” Theo told Fox Sports. “Just his vision, he just brings players into the game.” Mario Shabow snatched a reply in the 62nd minute, before Ola Toivonen — on debut — created the opportunity for Josh Hope to score his first A-League goal in the 94th minute. While Victory were less dynamic in the second half, their blitzing opening stanza was a warning to the rest of the league. Melbourne Victory have delivered a stunning statement of A-League intent, thrashing Central Coast 4-1 at AAMI Park. The champions were ruthless from the kickoff on Sunday night, with Keisuke Honda, James Troisi and Corey Brown scoring in a vintage first-half display. Mario Shabow’s first professional goal gave the Mariners something on an otherwise sorry night, before Josh Hope rounded out the scoring. Mike Mulvey’s team were reduced to an amateur outfit in front of 16,508 fans, who also cheered Ola Toivonen’s debut from the bench. The Swedish marquee emerged with the game already won, but played in Hope in second-half stoppage time to leave a late mark. Kevin Muscat’s side played like the Harlem Globetrotters, streaming forward with style only to miss a hatful of chances. Honda’s opener came as a result of Victory’s relentless press. The Japanese star was on hand to hassle Antony Golec out of possession, running away to score on the half-hour mark. Five minutes later, Troisi scored with a dinked finish after being played in by Terry Antonis. Even Leigh Broxham had chances to score in Victory’s rampant opening half which ended when Brown volleyed home a loose ball in the box. Jacob Melling and Golec had woeful nights, compounded by a late clash between the pair that appeared to injure the centre-back. Even Central Coast’s consolation appeared fortunate, with Shabow guiding home the ball from close range with his first touch. Georg Niedermeier might have joined Brown in scoring his first Victory goal, only for the German to volley Honda’s flicked free kick onto the post. Instead, it was Victory’s young Tasmanian midfielder who grabbed his first A-League strike from Toivonen’s centre just before fulltime. Victory’s second-straight win lifts them to fourth on the table, while Central Coast stay bottom, looking every inch the wooden spooners in waiting.

ANTONIO CONTE has been ruled out of the manager’s role at Real Madrid - and says he’s not planning to start ANY new job until next June. His decision will come as a blow to the Italian’s last club Chelsea, who sacked him before the start of this season - and now face paying him for the outstanding year on his contract. That’s a whopping A$20 million - and the Blues may face an even bigger bill, as Conte is intending to take the London club to court and sue for additional damages of $15.5m, according to reports. Chelsea are said to be refusing to pay his outstanding salary because some of his behaviour at the club - they also claim that he has failed to turn up to two meetings to discuss a deal. The 49-year-old remains out of work, having been heavily linked with the Real Madrid hot seat after Julen Lopetegui’s disastrous start to the season and subsequent sacking. Santiago Solari has taken over as interim manager at the Bernabeu, though, and looks likely to be offered the role on a permanent basis - yet Conte claims he was not interested in the job anyway. He told Sky Sports: “Real Madrid? As I see it, it is better to wait until the end of the season than to take a train running now”. He added: “I want to wait for June and start again with a new project. In three months I could change my mind and deny everything, but I’ve always thought of it this way.” One potential future destination for Conte is his old club Juventus, where he won three consecutive Serie A titles between 2012 and 2014 - though he claims not to be interested in a return to Turin. He said: “Of course, I am Italian and I like to live and train in Italy, obviously... [Juventus] continues to grow and is doing a great job at the business level, with huge purchases and a great deal for Allegri.”

Daniel Sturridge has denied gambling on football after he was charged by the FA for breaching betting rules. The Liverpool striker has been found guilty of misconduct for placing bets in January 2018 - after the winter transfer window had opened. According to reports, Sturridge has been stung for betting on transfers of players and managers and is believed to have used a third party. The 29-year-old could now face a fine and lengthy ban depending on the severity of the incident. He has until 6pm on Tuesday, November 20 to respond to the charge. A statement revealed by a Liverpool spokesperson claims Sturridge has categorically denied the charges. It read: “Daniel has given his full and unequivocal co-operation throughout this process and has assured the club he will continue to do so. “Daniel has also stated categorically that he has never gambled on football. “As with any issue of this nature, we will allow the process to be concluded in its entirety before making any further comment.” It came at a time when the crocked forward had just joined recently-relegated West Brom on loan until the remainder of the season. Sturridge managed just six appearances for the Baggies after suffering a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a hamstring injury. This season the striker has been an important figure in Jurgen Klopp’s Champions League squad having featured in all four matches and racked up 133 minutes of Premier League football. But he could now face a lengthy spell out of football - just like Joey Barton did when he admitted an FA charge in relation to betting. The former Man City midfielder and now-Fleetwood boss received an 18-month suspension in April 2017 after claiming he had placed 1,260 bets over the past 10 years.

In the 130-year history of the English top flight, we’ve never seen something like this! While Jose Mourinho snatched a record of his own despite a derby loss. Its Premier League Extra Time! PL HISTORY MADE This ridiculous Premier League season has reached all-time heights. After Liverpool, Chelsea and City all maintained their unbeaten starts on a massive day of action – English top-flight history was made. It’s the first time in the 130-year history of the top tier that three teams have remained undefeated after 12 rounds. Time will tell how much longer our unwavering top dogs can maintain the pace and thus set the new record! JOSE’S PL BENCHMARK He may have gone down in the latest edition of the Manchester derby, but Jose Mourinho still set a new Premier League benchmark. The United boss was in the dugout for the 300th time in the competition and he became the most successful manager ever at that milestone. His 189 wins from his first 300 matches sees him come in ahead of Sir Alex Ferguson (183) and Arsene Wenger (180). Congratulations Jose! XHAKA’S AWFUL DUMMY Arsenal went behind early against Wolves, and the finger was largely pointed at Granit Xhaka. The midfielder appeared to attempt a dummy in the centre of the park, rather than picking up the ball himself and distributing. And in doing so, he allowed the ball to trickle to an opponent who kickstarted an attack that saw Wolves net the opener! What on earth was he thinking? You’ve got some explaining to do Granit…