Rampant Roar run over Sydney

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Brisbane Roar ... book their place in the A-League play-offs. Source: Dave Hunt / AAP

Whatever nerves Frank Farina felt ahead of his Suncorp Stadium homecoming will be nothing compared to what awaits this weekend after Sydney FC lost 3-1 to Brisbane Roar on Thursday night.

Two-time A-League champions the Roar can launch a title defence after locking up a finals spot with the vital win in their regular-season finale - but it remains to be seen whether Farina's Sky Blues will join them.

Farina would have been riding an emotional rollercoaster ahead of his first game back at Suncorp since he was sacked as Roar coach for drink-driving in 2009.

		P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
1	Western Sydney	26	17	3	6	17	54
2	Central Coast	26	15	6	5	25	51
3	Victory	26	12	5	9	2	41
4	Adelaide	26	12	4	10	1	40
5	Brisbane	27	10	5	12	4	35
6	Sydney	27	9	5	13	-10	32
7	Perth	26	9	4	13	-2	31
8	Newcastle	26	8	7	11	-12	31
9	Heart	26	8	3	15	-8	27
10	Wellington	26	7	6	13	-17	27

However, there is no let up in sight for the Roar's former favourite son as he sweats on Sydney FC's finals fate over the Easter weekend.

The Roar thrilled the 19,010-strong crowd by locking up fifth spot, leaving just one finals berth left.

Sixth-placed Sydney FC (32 points) face a white-knuckle ride as they look to hold out Perth (31) and Newcastle (31), who finish their regular season against No.4 Adelaide United and leaders Western Sydney Wanderers respectively.

The Roar will play the Victory in Melbourne next week on Friday night or Adelaide United at Hindmarsh Stadium on Sunday week in the finals' first round.

It capped a remarkable rise under Mike Mulvey who took over the reins from Rado Vidosic in late December with the Roar all but written off.

"I don't feel relief - it's excitement,'' Mulvey said.

"I am very proud of the guys. We have had our moments since I have come in but tonight is something that they can take great credit for - they deserve it.

"We are focused now. We are ready.''

Farina was fuming after turnovers "gift wrapped" the first two goals but hoped they would live to fight another day in the finals.

"They were horrendous mistakes and we got punished," he said.

"You don't want to rely on other results at this stage but we don't have much choice."

A simple finals formula faced both sides in Brisbane on Thursday night - win and you're in.

But a more complex equation now awaits the Sky Blues if they are to scrape into the finals.

Ideally, Sydney FC would want Perth and Newcastle to lose but can still seal sixth if the Glory lose and the Jets draw.

Winning at Suncorp was always going to be a tough ask for Sydney FC.

They had savoured victory just three times in their past 18 games at the venue and last won way back in 2007.

In contrast, the Roar have won their past eight home games against Sydney FC.

German import Thomas Broich looked dangerous early for the Roar but it was teammate Besart Berisha who drew first blood in the 29th minute.

Proving that he is human after all, Italian legend Alessandro Del Piero's clumsy pass caused a turnover and Broich pounced, providing a perfect pass for Berisha to knock in his 14th season goal and 27th in as many games at the venue.

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Re-live the action with our A-League Match Centre.

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Whatever Farina said at halftime initially seemed to work as they came out with intent but it was the Roar who scored again off another Sydney FC turnover.

The Roar made Sebastian Ryall pay for his gaffe as Steven Lustica combined with Berisha to score in the 51st minute.

Ivan Franjic's wonderful 79th-minute curling strike into the far corner made it 3-0 before Del Piero's 84th-minute penalty shot finally put the visitors on the board.

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'I've got better without Barba'

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Reynolds ... is hoping to push his case for an Origin jersey in 2013. Source: Mark Evans / News Limited

Josh Reynolds is not the kind of guy to wish bad fortune on a teammate but if anyone found a silver lining in the absence of star fullback Ben Barba, it was the Canterbury-Bankstown No.6.

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With State of Origin just around the corner, Reynolds admits to having selection "in the back of my head" and he believes he's taken a step in the right direction while filling the Barba hole as the Bulldogs' go-to man.

"I have enjoyed it and like you said, last week (against the Storm) was a big test for us," Reynolds told Sterlo as a special guest on Thursday night.

"I'll learn from that. I shouldn't have put that kick in at the end - there was only a couple of sets to go.

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"But we can't rely on Benny to just pull us up all the time. Me and Kris (Keating), we really have to step up."

While Barba's absence may have been the trigger for Reynolds to take on new responsibility, he takes inspiration from Melbourne's ultra-consistent "big three".

The 23-year-old has played some spectacular games over the past 12 months, but stringing them together has not come easy.

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"Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater and Cameron Smith, you never hear of them having a bad game, you know," Reynolds said.

"And for me as a player, I just want to bring that consistency to my game.

"Origin's getting tossed up a bit. It's in the back of my head because it's obviously what you want to do growing up, because who doesn't want to play the pinnacle of our sport.

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"Last year I felt at stages when things were going wrong, I didn't really step up. That's what I want to do, when things are on the line I want the boys to be looking for me."

Matthew Johns, for one, is looking at him, potentially as a key building block in a new-look NSW side under Laurie Daley.

"If you keep going like you are at the moment, I know you're only a young player, but I don't know how they're going to keep you out of the side," Johns said.

"I watched you last week against Melbourne, and when the Melbourne Storm side ran on you stood there at the halfway and you were like 'I'm ready for this'."

But will his newfound responsibility as the player the Bulldogs look to when things get tough continue now that Barba's back?

Reynolds hopes so, but for now he's just glad to see his mate happy and healthy again.

"Things have changed in his life but as a bloke towards the boys and as a person he's still the same guy; he's still the same funny guy to have around training and he's come back really positive, which has given the team a boost," Reynolds said.

"I think he came back and the boys didn't know what to say to him but he's came back and said: 'look, everything's the same boys, let's get on with our footy', and it's really helped us." 

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Richmond survive scare

Party Time ... Dustin martni celebrates a wonder-goal as the Tigers start with a win. Source: JOE CASTRO / AAP

Richmond's dream AFL season start almost became their worst nightmare, as they barely held on to post their first win over Carlton in five years at the MCG on Thursday night.

The Tigers downed the fast-finishing Blues 14.22 (106) to 14.17 (101) in front of 80,971 fans, only surviving thanks to three missed Carlton shots for goal in the dying minutes.

3.3 (21)	Q1	2.9 (21)
4.6 (30)	Q2	9.14 (68)
9.12 (66)	Q3	14.18 (102)
14.17 (101)	Q4	14.22 (106)

Eddie Betts 2	Brett Deledio 3
Jefferey Garlett 2	Tyrone Vickery 3
Bryce Gibbs 2	Jake King 2
Chris Judd 2	Luke McGuane 2
Matthew Kreuzer 2	Reece Conca 1
Marc Murphy 2	Bachar Houli 1
Shaun Hampson 1	Daniel Jackson 1
Chris Yarran 1	Dustin Martin 1

Luke McGuane made himself an unlikely hero, producing a ferocious tackle on Carlton youngster Josh Bootsma to win a free kick and seal the game - fittingly by booting a behind - as the siren sounded.

Richmond had earlier dominated the first half to lead by 38 points at the main break and still led by 36 points at the last change, despite a Carlton third-term surge.

But the Blues refused to give in, kicking the only five goals of the last quarter to close within seven points in time-on, after Jeff Garlett booted his second in succession.

But ruckman Matthew Kreuzer, who had kicked his second earlier in the term, missed a difficult set shot from a tight angle.

And Chris Yarran missed two simpler chances, the first from a close-range shot and the second from about 40m on the run to narrow the gap to four points with about a minute to go.

New captain Trent Cotchin was excellent for the Tigers, as was Shane Tuck and fellow midfielder Brett Deledio, who kicked three goals, while key forward Ty Vickery booted three majors in the first half.

For the Blues, Chris Judd and Bryce Gibbs were stand-outs along with Kreuzer.

Carlton's woes extend beyond the loss with Chris Yarran on report for striking and a concussion that forced Mitch Robinson out of the game.

Click here to view all of the stats and scores in the FOX FOOTY Match Centre.

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Thurston v Sterlo: a champ tells all

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North Queensland ... Cowboys skipper Johnathan Thurston in action. Source: Mark Evans / News Limited

North Queensland skipper Johnathan Thurston has revealed some of the deepest secrets that have made him arguably the best player in the NRL right now.

In a wide-ranging interview with Sterlo host, Peter Sterling, Thurston explained how he looks for dents in opposition defensive lines, what he does to prepare for a game and reveals in which game he's most felt 'in the zone".

We give you a taste of the interview, with Thurston's take on:

Pre-game prep: Pretty relaxed, calm. I've been around for a while now, so I know how to prepare for a game and get my body right and get my mind right mentally and physically.

Superstitions: Playing for the Cowboys I always have to have my socks the one colour. I've been doing that since I was at the Bulldogs, and I've just followed that through, so that's probably about it.

Targeting opposition defenders: Obviously as a team we do plenty of video on the opposition's defence and we look out for the weaknesses there and we target them.

The Cowboys' gameplan: Most of it's structured, but I've always been a player who likes to play what's in front of me. If I see something that's not to the structure we're playing, I'm certainly going to play that. I always have my eyes forward, I'm always scanning across the line to make sure I know if there's any holes across the defence, you know, if someone's lagging behind or a little bit injured. And I just try to expose them.

The show and go: If there's a big man in front of me, I try to expose them a little bit. Probably the show and go is my strength. It's about standing up the big man in front of me, exposing him a little bit on his inside shoulder or his outside shoulder. If he's not square. If his hips or his shoulders are turned out a little bit, well then I know I've got him.

Exposing the Storm on the edges, setting up two tries in their round two encounter: The first one was a turnover. Bowen passed the ball to me and we had a bit of an overlap. I could see their winger, his shoulders were turned in and he came straight in for our centre. So that made my job easier. I could see Tones (Antonio Winterstein) there on the wing, so I hit him there and put him through and I think Kane (Linnett) scored on that one. And the second one we just had a block shape off me and I could see the centre, Will Chambers, and the winger Matt Duffie, turned in on Mango (Matt Bowen). And I could see Antonio on the wing by himself. So both times I hit him on the chest, which is alright.

Goal kicking: I make sure I'm comfortable. I'll wear a headgear and a shoulder brace and do my routine: I take my steps back and my steps to the side and I focus on a target on the ball. I count my steps in when I'm going in to kick and I just imagine that. I need to aim a fair bit right (of the posts) on both sides. I can take it if I miss to the right of the posts but I can't stand missing to the left because that means I haven't given enough room for my hook.

Being in 'the zone': Probably game three of State of Origin last year. I can remember being camped down, I think they put a good kick in and we were battling to get off our line. I went from the left side over to the right and told Sammy T (Thaiday) to run a block off Cooper (Cronk) and that got Mitchell Pearce in a little bit. I threw a dummy and he fell for that and I ran 40m and handed the ball inside to Brent Tate and I think two or three plays later I ended up scoring beside the sticks.
 

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Sandhu wins Steve Waugh medal

Rising star ... Gurinder Sandhu caps off a remarkable season. Source: Mark Graham / AAP

Gurinder Sandhu has announced himself as a star of the future by taking out the Steve Waugh Medal for NSW cricketer of the year, despite playing just two Sheffield Shield and four one-day matches this season.

At a ceremony in Sydney on Thursday night, Sandhu became the first rookie player to win the award, pipping the favourite former Test wicketkeeper Brad Haddin by three votes.

The Steve Waugh Medal is decided through a 3-2-1 vote by players at the end of each Shield and one-day interstate cup match - tallied together to determine the winner.

The 19-year-old Sandhu took 5-31 in 11 overs on his Shield debut against Victoria and, from his two four-day games, he took 14 wickets at 11.85.

In a bumper breakout year for Sandhu, he also made his debut for the Sydney Thunder, Chairman's XI and Australia A.

Sandhu was also named NSW's Ryobi Cup Player of the year.

In the other award categories, Australian women's World Cup star Alex Blackwell took out the Belinda Clark Medal and Trent Copeland won the Sheffield Shield player of the year.

Luke Feldman was the Sydney Sixers player of the year and Dirk Nannes voted the Sydney Thunder's best.

Cricket NSW acting chief executive Michael Dalton congratulated Sandhu and Blackwell on their Awards.

"Gurinder and Alex have both had fantastic seasons for NSW," said Dalton.

"Gurinder has become the first rookie to win the award and it is amazing to think that he only played two out of 10 Shield matches and half the Ryobi Cup season.

"He is an impressive young man who has been a great addition to our squad and has shown that he has the ability and temperament to perform in all three forms of the game.

"Alex also had a superb season. She is a great role model and sets a tremendous example as captain of the Breakers. To lead the side to victory in all competitions this season and be part of a World Cup-winning side is a very special achievement. She deserves all the praise she gets."

The late Amy Hudson and Norm O'Neill, as well as former Test spinner Greg Matthews were inducted into the Cricket NSW Hall of Fame.

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Tiger fans breathe easy

Tigers Flying ... Jake King reacts quickest to kick a goal ahead of Aaron Joseph. Source: JOE CASTRO / AAP

They're not called long-suffering Tigers fans for nothing.

For five years they've been waiting to get one over their bitter enemy Carlton.

3.3 (21)	Q1	2.9 (21)
4.6 (30)	Q2	9.14 (68)
9.12 (66)	Q3	14.18 (102)
14.17 (101)	Q4	14.22 (106)

Eddie Betts 2	Brett Deledio 3
Jefferey Garlett 2	Tyrone Vickery 3
Bryce Gibbs 2	Jake King 2
Chris Judd 2	Luke McGuane 2
Matthew Kreuzer 2	Reece Conca 1
Marc Murphy 2	Bachar Houli 1
Shaun Hampson 1	Daniel Jackson 1
Chris Yarran 1	Dustin Martin 1

For 12 months they've watched as their team has found any number of ways to lose close matches.

For 12 years they've fronted up in round one full of hope and optimism only to watch it gradually evaporate at various stages before September.

All of those ghosts from seasons past looked to have been banished midway through the third quarter when the Tigers were dominating, full of energy and run as Brett Deledio kicked consecutive goals to stretch the lead to a seemingly insurmountable 42 points.

Particularly when their coach Damien Hardwick had spoken in the pre-season  about how their primary focus over summer was the defensive structure and the defensive aspects of the players all over the ground.

Yet the Tiger nerves started jangling when Chris Judd produced a two-minute purple patch late in the third quarter, managing three shots - two of them goals - to reduce the margin to 21 points.

Those same nerves were soothed, though, when new skipper Trent Cotchin stamped his authority on the match.

Cotchin, who had never experienced victory in his previous seven matches against the Blues, looked determined to break his duck. In one particularly brilliant passage of play, he gathered a floating ball, produced a Robert Harvey-like body swerve to wrong foot an approaching Blues defender, and drilled a precise pass to Luke McGuane for a goal.

By the final change the margin had been restored to 36 points and all looked well in the yellow-and-black camp.

But the Tiger nerves were fraying again when Carlton kicked the first three goals of the final quarter to reduce the difference to 19 points. They were numb as they watched their boys simply stop running, tighten up and make poor decisions, leaving the door ajar for the unthinkable.

Tigers fans were contemplating a whole new brand of suffering when Jeff Garlett slotted home two goals to get the Blues to within seven points 23 minutes into the final term.

They couldn't watch when Matthew Kreuzer pulled in a mark moments later, when Chris Yarran first snapped and then streamed into an open goal. But thankfully for them all of these shots missed. With a minute to play and just four points the difference, it was anyone's game.

Surely a moment of class or luck or umpiring would decide this match now.

As it turned out, it may actually have been that long-suffering yoke that made the difference. 

Only five of Richmond's starting 22 had ever played in a Tigers win over Carlton: Chris Newman, Brett Deledio, Shane Tuck, Jake King and Daniel Jackson. In fact, going into the match, the Tigers team had played a combined 131 matches for Richmond against Carlton, for a grand total of 13 wins.

One of the 17 was Luke McGuane, who had trudged from the field on the previous six occasions to the tune of "We are the Navy Blues''.

With about 35 seconds remaining, and the ball in the hands of Carlton defender Josh Bootsma, a desperate McGuane launched himself into a fierce tackle that earned him a free-kick and bought enough time to ensure victory.

His point sealed the five-point win.

In truth it had been set up over the first three terms. 

Cotchin was superb, with 16 of his 33 possessions contested. He also influenced the play numerous times when he didn't have the ball, most notably in the second quarter when he chased down and tackled Andrew Carazzo to set up a Tyrone Vickery goal.

Brett Deledio was the architect early, with clean hands and crisp skills when the ball was hot in the first half.

Ivan Maric produced a typically bullocking display in the ruck, while Alex Rance and Steve Morris stuck at their roles of quelling Carlton's main goal threats.

Judd and Bryce Gibbs tried hard throughout, and Michael Jamison kept Jack Riewoldt out of the match.

In the end, though, the difference was that more Richmond players seemed to want it more.

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