Roar players at fault too: Smith

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Taking responsibility ... Matt Smith says the players are to blame. Source: A Armstrong / News Limited

Brisbane captain Matt Smith believes the Roar's players must take some responsibility for the A-League club's current plight.

The defending champions are ninth in the 10-team competition after 11 matches with just three wins so far this season, their poor form resulting in Rado Vidosic being moved out of the head coach's role on Tuesday.

Vidosic has been shuffled into a technical director's role at the club with Mike Mulvey stepping into the coach's chair ahead of Friday night's grand final rematch against Perth at Suncorp Stadium.

Central defender Smith, who debuted for Australia in the successful East Asian Cup qualifying campaign in Hong Kong recently, is hopeful the shake-up will spark the Roar's ailing campaign.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

"It came as a bit of a shock," Smith said of Tuesday's developments.

"The players need to be a bit responsible as well but there's no point looking back, it's all about looking forward.

"Mike's come in and he's been very enthusiastic and motivated. He's certainly driven and that's going to be portrayed within the playing group.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

"Hopefully between ourselves, the coaching staff and the club we can be pushing there come the end of the season."

The clash with the Glory is the second meeting between the sides since the Roar's controversial grand final win and will be Perth's first trip back to Brisbane since Besart Berisha's penalty broke their hearts in April.

The Albanian marksman is unlikely to play according to Mulvey after injuring his shoulder against the Melbourne Victory last weekend but the former Queensland Academy of Sport head coach says the rivalry between the two clubs is secondary to getting results at this time.

"It's just the next game," Mulvey said.

"It's history, a very positive part of the Brisbane Roar's history, but tomorrow night is about us finding our mojo again."

The Glory have had their own struggles this week after being forced to deny rumours their offices had been raided by the Australian Federal Police as part of an investigation involving owner Tony Sage.

The club says their premises were not among those entered by authorities and the investigation has nothing to do with the Glory's affairs.

On the field, the Glory will be keen to make it back-to-back wins for the first time this season after their 3-0 victory over Newcastle last weekend.

They welcome young Japanese star Ryo Nagai back from injury for their trip to Brisbane.
Friday's match begins at 9pm (EDT).

23.34 | 0 komentar | Read More

Cowan signs for County stint

Cowan ... will play County cricket leading in to the Ashes. Source: Greg Wood / AFP

Australian opener Ed Cowan will prepare for the upcoming Ashes series in England with a spell at Nottinghamshire.

The 30-year-old will be available to Nottinghamshire until June 21, with his stay covering seven County Championship games and eight one-day fixtures.

Cowan, who has partnered David Warner at the top of Australia's batting line-up over the last 12 months, will be able to get used to the wicket at Trent Bridge, which hosts the opening Ashes Test beginning on July 10.

"I was very keen to play some division one cricket and I'm pleased to have the opportunity to do that with Nottinghamshire," Cowan said.

"There are a lot of good players at the club and Trent Bridge is a great venue so I'm hoping to make a good contribution on and off the field."

Cowan averages 34 across 11 Tests, with 136 against South Africa last month his best score to date.

23.34 | 0 komentar | Read More

Strikers outgun stumbling Thunder

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Got him ... Kieron Pollard celebrates the wicket of compatriot Chris Gayle. Source: Phil Hillyard / News Limited

Adelaide Strikers have heaped more misery on the struggling Sydney Thunder, powering to a 51-run victory in their KFC T20 Big Bash League match at ANZ Stadium.

T20 - ANZ Stadium

20 December 2012 - Day 1, Session 2

Thunder 1st Innings

A. Zampa	3	7	0	0	42.86
D. Nannes	0	0	0	0	0
K. Richardson	3.4	0	9	3	2.45

In the process, the Strikers became the first team this season to win a match when batting first.

With Michael Klinger top-scoring with 60, the Strikers made an imposing total of 6-177 after being sent in to bat by Thunder skipper Chris Rogers.

And the bottom side were never in the hunt, being bowled out for 126 in the penultimate over.

Former Test speedster Shaun Tait made a welcome return to Strikers line-up for the first time this season, generating good pace in taking 3-22 off three overs.

The Thunder's listless start to their innings was epitomised by Chris Gayle's uncharacteristically slow 8 from 19 balls.

Only a seventh-wicket partnership of 51 between Ryan Carters and Scott Coyte saved the Thunder from more embarrassment after they crashed to 6-64.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Sydney were eventually dismissed for 126 in the 19th over, with Coyte top-scoring with a breezy 33, including two sixes.

Earlier, Adelaide built a highly competitive score based on a strong opening partnership of 81 between Klinger and Tim Ludeman. Klinger top-scored with 60 off 46 balls.

Fellow opener Ludeman struck 46 off 39 balls, while Nathan Reardon smashed 42 off just 20 deliveries.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Despite the run-fest, Thunder paceman Dirk Nannes impressed to take 4-17 off his allotted four overs.

Strikers paceman Tait was delighted with his first outing of the season after a recent spell with Wellington Firebirds in New Zealand.

"Two (wins) and one (loss) makes the next few games a bit easier. It gives us a bit of momentum going into the Sixers game, which is good for us," said Tait.

"It was nice to come out and get a couple of wickets.

"I have been training pretty well.

"The ball has been coming out well, probably the best for a couple of years to be honest.

"I was looking forward to getting a run and it come off tonight and my form is still there from training."

Dirk Nannes, whose left-arm seamers provided one of the few highlights of the night for the Thunder, lamented another defeat.

"The last few games we could say we were OK with the ball but tonight we struggled right across the board," said Nannes.

"It's going to be a long season if we keep playing like that."

---

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

23.34 | 0 komentar | Read More

We let ourselves down: Hodges

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Switching? ... Justin Hodges is keen on a move to fullback. Source: Peter Wallis / News Limited

Justin Hodges was so dirty about the way Brisbane Broncos finished the 2012 season he returned for pre-season two weeks early.

The Broncos were the early pace setters in 2012 and looked well on their way to a crack at another premiership before the wheels fell off during the State of Origin period.

In the end they just scraped in to the top eight and were bundled out of the play-offs in the first week by northern neighbours North Queensland Cowboys.

The slide was so severe, it included a six game losing streak and tugged at the pride of one of the game's top centres.

"Obviously I was a little bit dirty with how we finished," Hodges said on Fox Sports program NRL Summertime.

"We started so well and we finished so poorly. For me, it's still burning because we didn't deserve to go out the way we did."

---

For NRL Summertime's full chat with Justin Hodges, click on the video at the top of the page!

---

Hodges has endured a number of injury plagued seasons and hasn't always been considered the best trainer going around, but even at 30 the Queensland and Kangaroos rep is working on ways to improve his game.

"I came back a little bit early," Hodges said.

"Obviously I want to be in the best shape I can. It's the best shape I've been in with the skin folds and obviously my fitness test.

"I did my fitness test today and it's the first time in a long time I've actually got my goal before we finish our pre-season. Normally it takes me well into the new year but I've beaten that already and obviously it's the best I've felt."

And his determination to lead from the front might see the veteran take on a positional change in 2013.

Hodges started his career at fullback and after watching the exploits of Greg Inglis - his Origin centre partner - for South Sydney last season, the damaging ball runner is ready to make a similar impact from the back.

"Yeah, I spoke about it with the coach," Hodges said.

"It's something I've always enjoyed - I always played fullback since I started playing footy and only really moved into the centres when I went to the Roosters.

"So, for me, I'm hopeful I can get the chance.

"There's a lot more room at the back and when you're in the centres you're limited to one side, whereas playing fullback you can pop up wherever you like."

While Hodges is eying some extra responsibility on the field, he says he's not the kind of player to put too much time into off-field leadership.

"I just concentrate on playing footy first, that's my main priority," Hodges said.

"I know I'm one of the oldest guys, one of the senior players here but for me, I just put my footy first.

"We've got a great bunch of blokes here that look after themselves. And me and Sammy (Thaiday) and a few of the other boys watch over them sort of like a dad.

"But everyone's just doing their job."

---

Would the Broncos be better off with Hodges at fullback? Have your say below!

23.34 | 0 komentar | Read More

Video: amazing team-catch in BBL

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

What a catch ... Borgas flicks the ball back into the field, where Coyte was waiting. Source: Phil Hillyard / News Limited

Sydney Thunder might have bean comprehensively beaten by Adelaide Strikers at ANZ Stadium on Wednesday night, but the home side did provide the highlight of the night in the field.

Thunder players Cameron Borgas and Scott Coyte combined to take a screamer on the boundary, with Borgas acrobatically controlling a high shot from Nathan Reardon before throwing the ball back into the field for Coyte to catch.

It almost made up for an otherwise sloppy night in the field from the Thunder, with Borgas himself guilty of dropping a sitter while young spinner Adam Zampa had insult added to injury after he dropped a catch on the boundary, with the ball bouncing over the rope for six.

Zampa also had the misfortunate of missing out on a wicket - because he didn't appeal for it.

A quicker ball from the young leg-spinner caught Tim Ludeman on the pad before it hit his bat, and replays showed the ball would have gone on to cannon into off stump.

Zampa and wicketkeeper Ryan Carters didn't notice the connection with the pad - and fair enough too, given how quickly it happened in real time - but eagle-eyed Fox Sports commentator Mark Waugh did, and was quick to point out that they probably would have got the wicket if they'd simply asked the umpire.

Apart from those slip-ups, Zampa was actually fairly impressive with the ball on debut, and eventually got Ludeman's wicket by having him stumped.

23.34 | 0 komentar | Read More

Man Utd draw Real Madrid in UCL

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Blockbuster draw ... Cristiano Ronaldo returns to his old club Manchester United. Source: Andres Kudacki / AP

Real Madrid will face Manchester United in a mouthwatering Champions League last-16 clash, sending Cristiano Ronaldo back to where he made his reputation, and Jose Mourinho to the club many believe he wants to coach one day.

"It is going to be thrilling for everybody,'' Real Madrid director Emilio Butragueno said.

Galatasaray (Tur) vs Schalke (Ger)

Celtic (Sco) vs Juventus (Ita)

Arsenal (Eng) vs Bayern Munich (Ger)

Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukr) vs Borussia Dortmund (Ger)

AC Milan (Ita) vs Barcelona (Esp)

Real Madrid (Esp) vs Manchester United (Eng)

Valencia (Esp) vs Paris Saint-Germain (Fra)

FC Porto (Por) vs Malaga (Esp)

In another blockbuster pairing, Champions League favorite Barcelona were drawn to play seven-time winners AC Milan.

Arsenal will face Bayern Munich, last season's beaten finalist, and big-spending Paris Saint-Germain were paired with Valencia.

Also, it was Celtic v Juventus, Shakhtar Donetsk v Borussia Dortmund, FC Porto v Malaga, and Galatasaray v Schalke.

First-leg matches are to be played from February 12-20.

Return matches are from March 5-13.

The storied history of nine-time European champions Madrid and three-time winner United would be enough to ensure top billing for the tie, with the first leg in Spain on February 13.

The friendly rivalries of Mourinho and Alex Ferguson in the dugout, and star forwards Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney on the pitch add an extra dimension.

''(Mourinho) is a fantastic manager, a fantastic coach and of course this tie is going to be a challenge for all of us,'' Butragueno said, declining to discuss speculation that the Portuguese will leave Madrid after the season, and covets the United job.

It was at Old Trafford where Mourinho truly arrived on the international scene when his Porto team eliminated United in the last 16 in 2004, the first of Ronaldo's six seasons in England before joining Madrid.

United defender Rio Ferdinand wrote on Twitter: "Oh yes, Madrid!! What a great couple a games that'll be!! (at)Cristiano see u soon bro!!''

Milan had the misfortune to draw Barcelona again after being unable to beat the Catalan side in four matches in last season's group stage and quarterfinals.

"They're not pleased, we're not pleased but this is what the destiny is,'' Milan director Umberto Gandini said.

"We have to go over the most difficult team on the planet.''

23.33 | 0 komentar | Read More