Chooks, Bunnies set to open season

Blockbuster ... the Roosters and Rabbitohs are likely to open the 2013 season. Source: Gregg Porteous / News Limited

The NRL is planning another blockbuster to kick-off the 2013 season on a Thursday night, but Canterbury-Bankstown boss Todd Greenberg looks unlikely to be granted his wish of a season-opening grudge match against a Sydney Roosters side containing Sonny Bill Williams.

Following a meeting of club chief executives on Thursday, the NRL announced it would kick-off the first four rounds of the season with a Thursday night fixture.

The 2013 NRL draw, including the days and times of each match for the first 20 rounds won't be finalised until mid-November, but a Roosters v South Sydney round one Thursday night showdown before a bumper crowd is looming as the ideal way to kick off the new broadcasting deal.

The two matches between the Roosters and Rabbitohs this year were among the most memorable games of the season, with both clashes between the bitter rivals being decided in the final seconds of play.

Matches between the foundation clubs have been a tradition feature of the NRL's opening round for a number of seasons now and it is understood Channel Nine and both the Roosters and the Rabbitohs are keen to continue that on the opening day of the year at Allianz Stadium.

The 2011 season began on a Friday night with another epic contest between the Rabbitohs and the Roosters, while this year started on a Thursday night with a Wayne-Bennett coached Newcastle coming up against his former club St George-Illawarra.

Greenberg had been keen for Canterbury to host an opening round match against a side containing former Bulldog Williams - who is yet to be confirmed as a Roosters signing for 2013.

Williams controversially walked out on the Bulldogs midway through the 2008 season to play rugby union in France.

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But it is increasingly unlikely to happen with the Roosters and Rabbitohs eyeing off the round one opener, in what would be a mouth-watering start to the new season.

The match is sure to be afforded star billing given the Rabbitohs fantastic season this year, and the hype surrounding Williams' probable signing with the Roosters and the acquisition at Bondi Junction of rookie coach Trent Robinson.

It is the Roosters turn to host the round one match.

New Roosters chief operating officer commercial Ted Helliar was reluctant to be drawn on a Thursday night start between the arch enemies until the draw was finalised.

But he did say: "Obviously it is the desire of both clubs to play against each other in round one as has been the case for a number of years.

"And it would be a great opportunity for the members, sponsors, players and staff of both the Roosters and the Rabbitohs to be involved in the first game of the season, no better way to kick off 2013."

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Wallabies must avoid McCaw: Kafe

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Tackle-machine ... All Blacks captain Richie McCaw has been a wreaking ball against the Wallabies. Source: William West / News Limited

All Blacks captain Richie McCaw has always been known as a danger around the breakdown but during The Rugby Championship he has become a tackling machine.

McCaw has attempted 80 tackles during the tournament and made a staggering 78 of them and Fox Sports rugby analyst Rod Kafer has implored the Wallabies to avoid the champion flanker.

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Speaking on Fox Sports' The Rugby Club, Kafer said the Wallabies had targeted McCaw on several occasions in recent Tests and been punished for it.

"The Wallabies have often attacked through a narrow channel - right at Richie McCaw," he said.

"They've got to think about not taking the ball at McCaw because he's not going to miss the tackle, they've got to get it out to the guys a little wider."

Kafer said McCaw dominated the breakdown through his tackling and physicality.

"He's a player who's redefined how you play the game at the breakdown," he said.

"He's so physical, he wins the collision, he knocks you down behind the game line, then he's a chance to steal the ball and we know how good a pilferer of the ball he is."

The Wallabies will attempt to break New Zealand's 17-Test winning streak when the rivals meet at Suncorp Stadium this Saturday.

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Watch the Wallabies take on the All Blacks LIVE from 8pm (EDT) on Saturday on Fox Sports 3HD.

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Earlier in the night, Australia No.8 Wycliff Palu was The Rugby Club's special guest and said it would be a tough challenge against the All Blacks.

"They're a really good side at the moment but we just have to worry about ourselves and get ourselves right," he said.

"Hopefully that will make us play well on the weekend."

"I think stopping their momentum (is key). They like to get over the advantage line, so if we can stop that it will make our job a lot easier.

"It's going to be won and lost up front and this week is no different. All the boys have talked about it and come Saturday we'll see what happens."

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Chalmers looms large in Perth

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Contender ... Greg Chalmers is well placed after the first round of the Perth International. Source: Daniel Wilkins / News Limited

Kiwi Michael Hendry and Spain's Alejandro Canizares took the opening day honours at the Perth International, but Australian Greg Chalmers and England's Paul Casey loom as the danger men at the $2 million event.

Hendry and Canizares shot seven-under 65s to set the early standard, with 20-year-old Argentinean Emiliano Grillo one shot further behind.

Big guns Jason Dufner and Charl Schwartzel failed to live up to their reputations with one-under rounds, but former world No.3 Casey is well placed at five-under after a bogey-free round.

World No.24 Bo Van Pelt finished at two-under.

Chalmers, the defending Australian Open and PGA Championship winner, shot a solid round of four-under 68 to be just three shots off the pace.

In an ominous warning to his rivals, the world No.58 is confident he will improve over the coming days as he acclimatises to the conditions.

"Look, two days ago I was in Dallas, Texas,'' Chalmers said.

"I made a couple soft bogeys just purely out of my brain feeling a little like a mashed potato.

"But I did really well after bogeying the 10th hole and birdied four of the next five and really had some nice momentum going.

"I'm happy to get in at four-under; really pleased. I'm getting better every day.''

Hendry, the world No.574, missed five straight cuts after winning the NZ PGA Pro-Am Championship earlier this year.

But after taking some time off during winter, Hendry feels his form is slowly returning, especially after last week's seventh-placed finish at the China Masters.

"My form had been a bit rough but I saw a few glimpses last week in China and it's just nice to carry on,'' Hendry said.

"When you're playing bad and you're spending lots of money to get to events and not getting a lot of return on that investment, it does put a lot of pressure on you to play well.

"But you just keep working hard and hoping it turns the corner at some stage, and it has the last couple of weeks.''

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Terry won't fight racism ban

Ban ... Chelsea's John Terry has apologised for his racist comments to Anton Ferdinand. Source: Ian Kington / AFP

Chelsea defender John Terry said on Thursday that he had decided not to appeal against a four-match ban and fine of 270,000 euro ($A344,000) for racially abusing Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand.

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The former England captain was handed a ban by the Football Association (FA) in September despite being cleared of racism charges in a court of law earlier in the year.

Terry said in a statement: "After careful consideration, I have decided not to appeal against the FA judgment."

"I want to take this opportunity to apologise to everyone for the language I used in the game against Queens Park Rangers last October.

"Although I'm disappointed with the FA judgment, I accept that the language I used, regardless of the context, is not acceptable on the football field or indeed in any walk of life.''

He added: "As I stated in the criminal case, with the benefit of hindsight my language was clearly not an appropriate reaction to the situation for someone in my position."

"My response was below the level expected by Chelsea Football Club, and by me, and it will not happen again.''

He added that he would "continue to do my part in assisting the club to remove all types of discriminatory behaviour from football.''

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Hayden blasts Anderson as 'B-grade'

B-grade ... Matt Hayden doesn't hold back in his stinging criticism of James Anderson. Source: Tertius Pickard / AP

Former Australian Test opener Matthew Hayden has launched a broadside against English quick James Anderson, describing the quick as "a B-grade bowler that got his arse-whipped by Australia".

In his recently released autobiography, Anderson described a scene in the Australian dressing room during the 2006/07 Ashes series where he took on an "arrogant" Michael Clarke, striking him with a batsman's pad.

Anderson said he was encouraged to do so by former Australian batsman Damien Martyn.

Hayden, who was in the dressing room at the time, told Triple M's Rush Hour show that there was less to the incident than Anderson made out.

"This has been a big incident hasn't it; in reality James Anderson was a B-Grade bowler that got his arse-whipped by Australia that many time's it's not even funny," Hayden said.

"Frankly I actually don't really care what Jimmy Anderson's got to say, but, he has actually frankly improved his bowling, thank goodness."

Hayden also alluded to his own clash with Martyn later that night. The middle order batsman announced his international retirement two days later.

"... We'd been hammered over in England so I wasn't pulling my punches, nor was anyone else in that particular series - you were either on board with Australia wanting to hand them the absolute whipping that they got, or you weren't," Hayden said.

Hayden, a member of the Order of Australia, also expressed his dismay that Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar had just received an Order of Australia Medal.

"... The reality of it is he's living in India. I can kind of get their point, but for me I think it should be exclusive to Australians," Hayden said.

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Emotional tribute to Simoncelli

Tribute ... A plague was unveiled at turn 11 in Sepang in memory of fallen rider Marco Simoncelli. Source: Toshifumi Kitamura / AFP

The MotoGP community on Thursday remembered Marco Simoncelli and witnessed an emotional plaque installation at Malaysia's Sepang circuit for the Italian rider who died in a crash on the course last year.

Some 500 people including nine-time world MotoGP champ Valentino Rossi and title-hopeful Dani Pedrosa gathered at turn 11 to honour Simoncelli, also known as ``Super Sic'' because of his riding skills.

Pos	Rider	Bike	Points
1.	Jorge Lorenzo	Yamaha	270
2.	Dani Pedrosa	Honda	232
3.	Casey Stoner	Honda	186
4.	Andrea Dovizioso	Yamaha	163
5.	Cal Crutchlow	Yamaha	148
6.	Valentino Rossi	Ducati	120
7.	Alvaro Bautista	Honda	118
8.	Stefan Bradl	Honda	115
9.	Nicky Hayden	Ducati	93
10.	Ben Spies	Yamaha	77

As a tribute to Simoncelli, riders and officials walked on the track to turn 11 where they offered flowers after a plaque was installed under a dark overcast sky.

It was at this corner where the flamboyant Simoncelli lost his life in an accident on the second lap of last year's race held on October 23.

As tears rolled among some officials, Fausto Gresini, team manager of San Carlo Honda Gresini, mounted the white and red memorial plaque.

The MotoGP fraternity touched the plaque as a mark of respect.

Australian Casey Stoner, who won here in 2007 and 2009, said the incident was ``a lot more fresh on everyone's mind being the anniversary'' and was making the racing community nervous.

"I think it is a good day to pay respect to him. Everyone is thinking about it again. Maybe even a little on edge,'' he told reporters.

Simoncelli had taken his best grand prix finish of second just one week before the deadly incident.

The 24-year-old was fighting for fourth when he lost control of his Honda bike on turn 11 and slid across the circuit, into the path of Colin Edwards and Rossi, who appeared to have hit him.

Holding back his tears, Giampiero Sacchi, owner of Ioda racing team, who had known Simoncelli as a young rider, said he was pleased a large crowd turned up to pay their tribute.

"We know it is dangerous but the race must go on,'' he said.

Simoncelli, considered an up-and-coming MotoGP star, had his helmet knocked off in the collision. It was his second year at the premier class.

Sepang is to host the Malaysian Grand Prix on Sunday, in round 16 of the 18-part MotoGP Championship.

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