Walker's Sports

Who is Rugby League’s Best?

2007-04-19T09:15:00.000+10:00

In the lead-up to Friday night’s Test between Australia and New Zealand much has been said about who will take over as the world’s best rugby league player, following the retirement of Andrew Johns. This is an interesting question. The question itself however is flawed.

Andrew Johns has been a great rugby league player, dominated the game for over a decade and will be a worthy immortal. It is however very unfair to suggest he has been the world’s best player for the last two or three seasons. That distinction currently belongs to Darren Lockyer who has dominated at five-eighth and captained every single side he played for, club or representative, to victory last year.

Interestingly the person most likely to challenge Lockyer for world’s best is his Australian halves partner, Jonathon Thurston. The Cowboys, Queensland and Australian playmaker has kicked on from a great season last year and started 2007 in stellar form. He finished last year on a high after his step put Lockyer through a gap to secure Australia Tri-Nations victory. The laid-back 23-year old has dominated the early rounds of NRL competition and has ensured the Cowboys sit in the top-four.

Yet there are other names that spring to mind when thinking of who could dominate rugby league in the coming years. Most notably Greg Inglis, the Melbourne Storm flyer has the ability to play in many different positions and can dominate from them all. Inglis has vision, as well as speed and strength. He stands at over six foot four and is a shade under 100 kilograms and certainly is the complete package. At just 20 years of age it is hard to argue against him stamping his authority on rugby league.

Another player tipped for great things in rugby league is Canberra Raider Todd Carney. Jason Smith who mentored Carney at the Raiders has come out this week singing the youngsters praises and believes the five-eighth has the potential to become one of the NRL’s elite players. Carney led Canberra to success over the Sydney Roosters last weekend and with more experience in the top grade will hope to challenge Lockyer, Thurston and Inglis for league’s best.

So while rugby league is always looking for another player to stand up and challenge for the world’s best mantle, the world’s best rugby league player did not just retire. Instead he will be leading out Australia on Friday night, looking to add another victory in the green and gold.

Australia in Brutal Form

2007-04-19T07:44:00.000+10:00

An overview of the Australian cricket team's performance so far at the World Cup makes for impressive viewing. From the very first ball of cricket's most prestigious event Australia have been a dominant force. Matty Hayden has stamped his authority on almost every match, scoring the fastest century in World Cup history and helping Australia to success.

Together with his opening partner, Adam Gilchrist, the two have now churned out 25 one-day half-century stands, equalling the record held by Australian's David Boon and Geoff Marsh. They have done it in emphatic style, smashing bowling attacks from all over the world to all corners of the cricket ground.

Andrew Symond's timely 63 from 71 balls against Sri Lanka means every single Australian batsman has spent time in the middle and almost all are amongst the runs. Only Michael Hussey will be frustrated with his form, but a promotion up the order to opener ensured a not-out score and some valuable time at the crease against Ireland recently.

Hussey and Shane Watson are the only batsman in the team without a 50 to their names, while the latter has yet to get out in his four innings. Gilchrist is in solid form, with two 50’s so far and Ponting's World Cup campaign has been building beautifully, with a 100 and three 50’s. Clarke has looked in great touch averaging nearly 80 for the tournament and it took a sharp catch to rob him of another high score against Sri Lanka.

Australia's bowlers have combined to form a formidable attack. Evergreen Glenn McGrath continues to impress in his last one-day tournament, rapidly closing in on the record wickets for the World Cup. McGrath currently has 20 scalps and needs just four more to claim the record from Chaminda Vaas.

Nathan Bracken has been a revelation having claimed 14 wickets so far at an average of just 13 and an economy of just over three. Shaun Tait’s rapid pace has snared him 16 wickets at just over 22 per wicket. Although the erratic speedster’s economy is a little worrying at 5.66 an over. Brad Hogg has kept his opponents confused bagging 15 wickets at a shade over 17. Shane Watson remains underdone with less than 25 overs and just the one wicket early in the tournament.

It is hard to see Australia's dominance being challenged in the Carribbean. Shane Watson looks set to overcome his latest injury setback and reclaim his place in the team, providing Australia with added balance. Australia play their final Super Eight match against New Zealand this Friday and will be aiming to extend their World Cup winning streak to 27 matches and enter their semi-final encounter with South Africa on a high.

Losing: A Foreign Feeling

2007-03-01T00:47:00.000+10:00

One man experienced a foreign feeling in England on Friday night. The feeling was losing and the man was Darren Lockyer.

After playing out one of rugby league's most successful individual seasons in 2006, captaining the Brisbane Broncos, Queensland Maroons and Australia to victory Lockyer failed to add the World Club Challenge to his trophy cabinet. Saint Helens ended that dream by recording an 18-14 victory over the Broncos in front of 23,203 lively fans in Bolton.

After the match Lockyer remained upbeat saying, "Obviously we came here to win, but we'll definitely take some positives out of it (the loss) as well. We looked good at times and showed positive signs. It was just our execution that needs to be better. At the end of the day we probably hadn't played enough football and were a little rough around the edges. But I don't want to sit here and make excuses, Saint Helens were the better team."

Looking ahead to the 2007 NRL season Lockyer is confident the Broncos can take their game to another level and improve as a team. "I think we can be a better team this year. We want to continue to improve as a team."

When pressed on his individual aspirations for the year ahead Lockyer provided little but did say, "Individually I want to improve, especially as a captain."Lockyer outlined the secret to the Broncos success. "You've got to start well to ease the pressure. You've also got to have a little luck with injuries. Each week is a challenge in itself. It's simple, work hard during the week to prepare for every game, 30 weeks a year."

Last year the Broncos began their season with a 58-10 loss to the Melbourne Storm in their final trial game. They followed that loss with an embarrassing 36-4 defeat at home to the North Queensland Cowboys. Fast forward a year and the defending premiers can feel optimistic about their title hopes following the narrow loss in England.

The Battle for Rugby League Supremacy

2007-02-22T04:23:00.000+10:00

World Club Challenge: what World Club Challenge? That is the answer the average person in England would provide when asked if they had heard of the contest to decide world rugby league supremacy.

London’s newspapers generally dedicate at least the back six to eight sports pages to football, but of the round ball variety. All the other sports are forced to fight it out for the remaining one or two pages and rugby league finds itself at the wrong end of the pecking order.

Irrespective of England’s disappointing lack of media coverage, there is indeed a match to be played Friday night, at the Reebok Stadium in Bolton. The current NRL premiers, the Brisbane Broncos will battle St Helens, the current Super League champions for the right to be called the worlds best rugby league team.

The Brisbane Broncos have reversed the trend of past touring NRL premiers by arriving early, playing a warm-up match and most importantly showcasing their strongest side. The contest, played during the English season and Australian off-season has often been given little respect by Australian NRL premiers.

The majority of World Club Challenges have not been given a great deal of respect by Australian traveling teams. Many have rolled into England days before kick-off fielding a bit-and-pieces squad. This year is different. The date for the match was pushed back a month to allow the Broncos’ Test contingent a break to be fully fit following last year’s grueling season and Tri-Nations tournament.

Wayne Bennett, in his twentieth year as Broncos coach, has thrown his full support behind the World Club Challenge and will be hoping for a win on Friday to begin another lengthy season. Captain Darren Lockyer, who experienced some off-field success after proposing to girlfriend Loren Pollock prior to leaving Australia’s shores, will be striving to replicate the form that saw him guide the Broncos, Queensland Maroons and Australia to victory in 2006.

St Helens will enter the match low on confidence, having suffered successive surprise defeats to Harlequins and Wakefield. They also have a worrying list of walking wounded, with gun hooker Keiron Cunningham and captain Paul Sculthorpe struggling to be fit in time.

The Saints should still field at least five current internationals and in a one-off match, playing in front of a cheering home-crowd, in familiar conditions means a sudden return to form is always possible. The Broncos will be confident in the ability and will be keen to inflict some revenge for a heartbreaking 20-18 loss against the Saints in 2001.

In that match the Broncos surrendered an 18-6 lead in the second half and could not overcome the harsh conditions, including a second half snow-storm. Six years on and the battle will resume. If the match reaches extraordinary heights it may steal a page or two from the soccer pages, but perhaps that is wishful thinking.

The Progress of Andy Murray

2007-02-21T03:35:00.000+10:00

Cast your minds back to 2004, a promising British youngster by the name of Andy Murray matched up against the experience of 45-year-old John McEnroe in a London exhibition match. In the contest Murray was overawed and outplayed in a set lasting just 17 minutes. Billed before the match as Britain’s next big hope, Murray wilted under the pressure of playing a tennis great.

An examination of Murray’s game at the time emphasises the astonishing progression he has made in a little over two years. Murray lacked a penetrating first serve and missed out on the free points that go together with a powerful serve. His court movement was too slow and his ground-strokes weren’t crisp or sure. His tennis brain was in the developing stages and he looked every bit the inexperienced junior.

Fast-forward to the early stages of 2007 and the determined 19-year-old has slid comfortably into the shoes of Britain’s best. An evaluation of his tennis game today makes for far better reading. He has a precise and more powerful first serve, crisp and penetrating ground-strokes, great anticipation, vastly improved court-speed and a fearsome return of serve.

This combines well with a rapidly developing tennis brain and the confidence that goes along with defeating numerous top-10 opponents and successfully defending his San Jose title with a come from behind win against towering Croat Ivo Karlovic.

Roger Federer and Andy Roddick belong to a fast-growing list of Murray casualties, it is difficult to believe Murray is still yet to leave his teens. Defending his ranking points last week he consolidated his 13 world ranking and after a lean patch during the corresponding tournaments last year seems set to burst into the top-10 in the coming weeks.

Under the experienced tutelage of American coach Brad Gilbert, Murray has excelled and as exchanges the hard-court shoes in favour for the clay court variety he will need to maintain his form, as he quickly become one of the men to beat on the men’s tour. Murray must now consider himself a genuine chance in every tournament he competes and his opponents can consider him a notable scalp.

Looking further ahead to Wimbledon and the inevitable period where the British tennis public pin their hopes on a local hope, it only remains to be seen whether Murray can maintain a level-head and continue to take each day as it comes.

Along with his growing stature in tennis comes the growing pressure to continue to perform. Hopefully Britain will allow Murray time to improve further, just think where he could be in another couple of years.

Fear Factor: Andrew Symonds

2007-02-06T05:22:00.000+10:00

The Australian One-Day team won’t be as fearsome without its dread-locked star Andrew Symonds. On Sunday the classy all-rounder successfully underwent surgery to repair his torn right bicep he injured against England recently. The injury sustained after Symonds cleared his arms to play a typically powerful stroke through the offside has thrown Australia’s plans for a third successive World Cup into disarray.

The powerful all-rounder, who cemented his name in the Australian team during the last World Cup, will be doing his best to recover in time for the latter stages of the tournament. Arguably the world’s most valuable one-day player the Australian selectors should have no trouble in selecting him with the hope that he will recover in time to have an impact in the last two or three matches.

Ian Chappell believes Symonds’ ability is irreplaceable and his absence will serve to bring Australia back to the chasing pack of World Cup competitors. Chappell outlined the all-rounder’s ability to instil fear into the opposition through his match-turning batting, run-outs, blinding catches and flexible and tidy bowling.

It is hard to doubt Chappell’s thinking, as Symonds has matured into a much more complete player in recent seasons. His fielding is second to none and he has ability to field in the ring with a powerful and precise arm. In the outfield his flat arm puts doubt in the minds of batsmen and simply his presence in the vicinity of the ball turns two’s into singles and singles into dot balls. Then there is the brilliance of his hands which regularly snavel ‘classic’ with envious ease.

His bowling has improved greatly and he offers the variety of handy medium-pacers and off-spinners that he can flight or dart in depending on the situation. Coming in to bat at number five Symonds faces a variety of different situations. Often he strides to the crease with just few overs left to put the icing on the cake and bludgeon the ball over the ropes, to turn a big score into a score that cannot be chased. Other times he is called upon to dig Australia out of a hole, build an innings and set a target, or guide Australia to victory.

In every role Symonds has become a potential match-winner and even if there is only a slim chance he will prove his fitness, the Australian selectors would be foolish not to take the risk and pick him in the 15-man World Cup squad. After all, according to Ian Chappell just hearing his name is enough to create fear in the opposition.

Australia Just Too Good

2006-12-19T19:17:00.000+10:00

Australia put to bed their 2005 Ashes demons cruising to a comfortable Third Test win at the WACA yesterday to regain the prized urn. Shane Warne spun the ball through Monty Panesar to claim his 699 Test victim and give Australia a comprehensive 209-run victory. Kevin Pietersen remained unbeaten on 60 and has been the hardest man for Australia to dismiss, averaging nearly 80 for the series.

Once a well-flighted dipping, spinning ball from Warne got through English captain Andrew Flintoff Australia quickly ran through the tail. England showed glimpses of good form in each Test match and were in a very strong position in Adelaide, but wilted in each Test to succumb to Australia’s relentless pressure.

After waiting well over a decade and working so hard to regain the Ashes it’s ironic that England managed to hold them for the shortest span in the contest’s history. Australia will look to demoralise the English further by winning the last two matches in Melbourne and Sydney.

Australia today named an unchanged team for the Boxing Day Test, providing all-rounder Andrew Symonds with another chance to cement his spot. England has been comprehensively out-play thus far and will be playing for pride when the contest resumes in Melbourne.

Andrew Symonds Back in Test Contention

2006-12-08T15:18:00.000+10:00

DAMIEN Martyn's shock retirement may have paved the way for Queensland's dread-locked cult icon Andy Symonds to sneak back into the Test team.

The career of Shane Watson continues to be plagued by injury and the unlucky all-rounder has already been ruled out of the Perth Test starting next week.

Ready-made replacement Brad Hodge is also out injured and Phil Jaques is recognised only as an opening batsman.

Looking at the options Symonds looks to be a real possibility. Dropped after the South African series earlier this year, he has compiled a solid if not spectacular season for the Queensland Bulls and would dearly love to once again pull on the baggy green.

The bouncy Perth pitch would suit his handy medium-pacers and provide plenty of bite for his off-spinners.

With the bat Symonds is a rare package, able to bludgeon attacks and swing a match in minutes or dig in and grind out valuable innings' when his team is in trouble.

The in-form Michael Clarke could move up to the coveted number four spot and Symonds could slot in as the all-rounder at number six.

One of the world's most complete one-day players Symonds would relish a chance at Test redemption and will be hoping the selectors give him the nod.

A Captivating Year of Tennis

2006-12-06T11:55:00.000+10:00

Marat Safin's deciding rubber victory over Argentina's Jose Acasuso ensured Russia regained the Davis Cup and brought the curtain down on another captivating year of tennis.

It was again Roger Federer's year with the Swiss magician furthering his legendary status by helping himself to three grand-slams, 92 match-wins and over eight million dollars in prizemoney. However, it was year in which a number of other players took their games to new levels and emerged as possible challengers to Federer's dominance.

Spain's Rafael Nadal was again seen flexing his muscular guns as he added five titles to take his career tally to 17. Nadal finished the year with a superior four-two head-to-head record against Federer to easily secure the world-number-two ranking.

The shaven-headed James Blake also wrapped up five titles during a break-through year in which he climbed from outside the top-20 to finish as one of the top-four players in the world. The American claimed many key scalps during the year and his runners-up showing in the season-ending Masters Cup, with victories over Nadal and Nikolay Davydenko ensured he will enter 2007 on a high.

Germany's Tommy Haas this year overcame a career-threatening shoulder injury and the horrifying motorbike crash of his parents to capture three titles. Haas finished the year at world-number-11 and proved his powerful game can stand up to anyone. This was evidenced in his nail-biting five-set loss to Federer at this year's Australian Open.

Davydenko, Ivan Ljubicic and Andy Roddick looked rejuvenated in 2006 and all recorded memorable years finishing inside the top-10. Looking forward to next year it will be interesting to see if Federer can continue his dominance or if others will rise to the occasion and challenge for the grand-slams and world-number-one. There isn't long to wait for the tennis enthusiasts as season-2007 gets under-way in less than month.

The Future of Australian Tennis

2006-12-06T11:51:00.000+10:00

What on earth has happened to the depth of Australian tennis? You don't have to be a tennis expert to realise Australian singles stocks in particular seem to be dwindling.

In fact take out one or two of Australia's consistent performers like Lleyton Hewitt and Alicia Molik and there are less than a handful of both male and female Australian singles players inside the world top-100.

Enter Craig Tiley who joined Tennis Australia as the Director of Player Development in mid-2005 and immediately set about implementing changes and putting in place structures with the primary long-term goal of delivering Australia's next generation of tennis stars.

A new crop of potential tennis singles stars will not emerge overnight and the only way to ensure Australia has future success is to ensure coaches are providing young players with a platform for success. The most important stage in the life of a tennis player is their years of initial development. These are the years coaches should be instilling the technical and tactical fundamentals of tennis.

The most widespread changes to Australian tennis have come at the development coaching level with over 80 aspiring coaches across the country participating in the revamped Tennis Australia coaching course. The development level coaching course aimed primarily at coaching four to 12-year-old tennis players is just one of the structural changes initiated by Tiley.

Tiley has overseen a national overhaul of tennis coaching, with an increased focus on ensuring coaches have a grasp of both the technical and tactical fundamentals of tennis. The development level course was competency-based, replacing the pass or fail method of past coaching courses. Under the competency format there is opportunity for coaches progressing more slowly to gain additional guidance and assistance in a friendly learning environment.

Tennis Australia coaching instructors Travis Atkinson and Geoff Quinlin, along with a number of other experienced coaches have been racking up the frequent-flyer kilometres flying to cites around Australia to present the coaching course to the prospective coaches.

After completing six units, comprising six theoretical assessments, three practical on-court assessments, a written test, 40 hours of on-court coaching and attaining first aid competency, the coaches are just a certificate away from becoming Tennis Australia coaches and the first step in Tiley's plan towards Australian tennis success.

Ashes Redemption

2006-11-22T17:25:00.000+10:00

The day has nearly arrived, tomorrow Australia and England will reignite the Ashes battle. Australia was narrowly defeated in England last time and has had time to lick their wounds and evaluate what went wrong. The Australian Test team quickly overcame their Ashes loss to put together a string of impressive series victories. England has done little post-Ashes to back up their impressive form against Australia.

Essentially, Australia has become a much improved team and England has gone backwards. The Australian team has endured plenty of jibes from retired English cricketers claiming they are too old and past their best. Statistically these comments are completely fallacious and it is evident to even the most ignorant spectator that Australia have improved greatly and many seem to be getting better with age. The addition of Mark Hussey, who debuted at Test level after scoring thousands and thousands of first class runs, is testament of this. Matty Hayden continues to churn out over 1000 Test runs a calendar year and Ricky Ponting has become the world’s best batsmen.

England however, has not risen to the great heights some expected following their Ashes glory. The once potent bowling attack lacks the venom it had and their batsmen aren’t exuding confidence. Last time England were in Australia Michael Vaughan stood up to give them some respectability, looking through the line-up it’s difficult to see who will provide the inspiration this time. In spite of this England holds the Ashes. However, looking at the Australian team and the brilliant form most of their players are displaying it seems hard to fathom anything other than a comprehensive Australian victory.

England will need to rise to a level far beyond what they managed in the last Ashes series, as Australia will be ready and waiting to gain redemption and cement once more their place as the best Test team of all time.

Ridiculous Rotations

2006-11-07T13:26:00.000+10:00

In the aftermath of Saturday night’s shock loss to Great Britain much has been said about Australia’s controversial rotation policy. Australian coach Ricky Stuart compared the resting of some players to give other squad members some game time to taking out insurance. His theory is that if one of the Australian players is injured he will have match-ready replacements to step in and fill the void. Stuart has been adamant from the start of the Tri-Nations tournament that he will not cheapen the Australian jersey. However, by essentially choosing substitute players in positions where the best players have been rested, Stuart has indeed cheapened the jersey.

The argument can be examined from both sides of the coin. Stuart could be commended for looking ahead, planning for possible injury problems and ensuring Australia are ready for the final. Realistically though, Stuart simply cannot be commended for resting fit and ready Australian players from pulling on the Australian jersey. Captain Darren Lockyer has played over 30 rugby league matches this season. Hypothetically, were he asked to be rested he would no doubt be justifiably angry. As the key player in the Australian team, he was never going to be rested or rotated. Looking at his halves partner in Australia’s first and second game, Jonathon Thurston, he has grounds to be understandably annoyed.

If anyone was to be rested surely it shouldn’t have been the halfback. This year Thurston combined with Lockyer to bring home the Origin shield and his form in 2006 should have ensured him the place as Australia’s halfback, barring only a notable form slump. Following his late-season knee injury Thurston had spent weeks out of the game without match-play. Common sense suggests he should be getting as many matches before the Tri-Nations final as possible. More matches would allow him to form a better combination with the team and fully regain his match-fitness. In spite of that Stuart gave Ben Hornby a start at halfback. Perhaps if it was Cooper Cronk, who mounted a solid challenge to Thurston as a regular NRL halfback, that was given a start then it could be justified. Instead Hornby, a great utility player but not a regular halfback was selected.

Looking at another of Australia’s selection rotations it gets harder to support Stuart. Justin Hodges, arguably the NRL’s most in-form player was rested for Jamie Lyon. Lyon, hasn’t played in the NRL for years and although he played in England, their club standard can hardly be compared to the NRL. Matt King and Andrew Ryan were two other Australian players that can feel hard done by, surrendering their spot for the Great Britain match.

Looking at the rotation argument after the Great Britain win, it is even harder to justify Stuart’s stance. The rotations served to further undermine Australia’s cohesion in both attack and defence. There were numerous times when the Australian defensive line didn’t operate as one. At one stage Lyon came up in defence leaving a yawning gap which Great Britain exploited with a try. It was only Great Britain’s inability to finish and their lack of vision that ensured they didn’t rack up a sizeable score. The Australian attack was disjointed to say the least and frequent errors cost them any chance of mounting sustained pressure. The poor form of Australia can’t be solely contributed to the positional changes, but changing a winning team certainly didn’t help.

Now Great Britain will be full of confidence, Australia have to go back to the drawing board and have done far more harm to their Tri-Nations chances then good by resting or rotating their players. Stuart has also been lambasted for his amazing decision to re-arrange half the Australian team following the injury to centre Mark Gasnier. Stuart could have simply shifted Shaun Berrigan from hooker to centre and Cameron Smith from the bench to hooker. Instead he changed his halfback, five-eighth, fullback, wing and centre. Surely his contingency plan for an injured player couldn’t have been to rotate half the team. It seems rotation is a word Stuart will want to erase from his memory.

Halfback Lacking in Depth

2006-10-30T12:18:00.000+10:00

Australia has just named Ben Hornby at half-back for Saturday night’s Tri-Nations clash with Great Britain. According to Australian coach Ricky Stuart this doesn’t necessarily spell the end for Jonathon Thurston’s short-lived career as Australia’s playmaker. Hornby is a multi-talented player, capable of adequately playing fullback and in the halves at halfback or five-eighth.

However, at the moment he is just that, a very talented utility player. Looking at Australia’s halfback ranks post-Andrew Johns, it isn’t unreasonable to question the extent of Australia’s depth in the position. There was a time, not so long ago, when there were numerous Australian halfbacks putting forward irresistible claims for selection.

There was Brett Kimmorley, Brent Sherwin, Matt Orford, Scott Prince and Craig Gower, just to name a few, all contesting fervently for halfback. Each of these players could feel legitimately hard done by if they missed out on Australian selection. Such was Australia’s halfback depth most of these players were forced to play out of position or as a utility, as a fit Johns was always first-choice.

Glancing at Australia’s halfback options this year it is apparent that depth is lacking. Other than Johns, who is retired from representative football, the other players have not gone away, they are still playing and some are still playing well. However, they are not dominating as they were in previous seasons.

At present it is at fullback that Australia is suffering an embarrassment of riches. Currently Australia can choose from one of six or seven high-quality fullbacks and then there is injured Anthony Minichiello who was making a name for himself as one of the very good, if not great, fullbacks of the game.

Fullback has evolved into another attacking weapon for most NRL teams. Fullback’s are generally in the mode of a support player or an additional playmaker. Darren Lockyer exemplified both these roles, always seeming to pop up in support of a break, while also sliding into the halves to orchestrate attacking raids as a playmaker. Minichiello is a tremendous support player and ball-runner, while Hornby excels as an additional playmaker at fullback.

Australia certainly can’t complain about having less depth at halfback, as at present there is jockeying for almost all other positions. In spite of this, it will be interesting to see if Australia can reproduce the depth in halfbacks in season 2007. Melbourne Storm halfback Cooper Cronk took his game to a new level this year and there are other young halfbacks capable of rising to new heights and pushing for Australian selection. There is also the possibility for the seasoned campaigners to return to top form and return halfback to a highly contested position.

An Exciting Final Day

2006-10-30T11:03:00.000+10:00

The Queensland Bulls were yesterday set 325 to win by the New South Wales Blues and require 313 runs, with ten wickets in hand for victory in what should be an intriguing final day at the Gabba in Brisbane. Late yesterday afternoon Queensland looked to set to bundle the Blues out for less than 220 but the final three wickets put on 123 in a frustrating final session for the Bulls. Then the Bulls opening pair of Jimmy Maher and Lachlan Stevens were forced to endure a short and sharp fifteen over session from the Blues opening bowlers. Although Maher sustained a nasty short ball to the throat both openers managed to remain not out. The 325 run target has only ever been successfully chased four times at the Gabba. The Bulls face the daunting prospect without the help of Andy Symonds and Shane Watson, who are on international duties and Matty Hayden, who is suffering a finger injury. The Bulls, who are the reigning Pura Cup champions, will still be confident they can pull off the win and gain their first four-day win of the season.

NRL Bad-Boys

2006-10-12T11:27:00.000+10:00

This year the NRL has again failed to shake the footy 'bad-boy' tag. Ask any NRL fan and they will most likely be able to real off three or four different off-field incidents that have tainted rugby league in 2006.

Parramatta Eels youngster Tim Smith had a forgettable year, twice guilty of alcohol-induced errors. The first was back in May when he and team-mate Mark Riddell arrived late to training still feeling the effects of a big night out. Less than a month later Smith was ejected from a pub for fighting with Australian cricketer Michael Clarke.

The Cronulla Sharks' Tevita Latu failed to learn from Smith's errors and was kicked out of the NRL for punching and breaking a girl's nose late in May. Surely the players would have learnt to avoid trouble by now? Apparently not as Brisbane Broncos player Brett Seymour found himself at the centre of a head-butting controversy, following a night out at a Brisbane pub.

Former Australian captain Gorden Tallis was forced to apologise for losing his cool at the same pub just a few days later. The NRL was then hit with a drink-driving charge for the Brisbane Broncos’ Neville Costigan and then North-Queensland Cowboy's Mitchell Sargent cocaine shame. The two players both had their contracts torn up. Costigan’s and Sargent’s disregard for the law was harshly handled by their respective clubs in a bid to remove the constant flow of NRL offenders.

Tallis has this year defended the NRL’s reputation of off-field problems by saying the problems aren’t restricted to rugby league and are happening in society as well. This defence fails to stand up and is essentially an excuse. NRL players have to accept responsibility for their actions. Rugby league players are role-models and whether they like it or not they are in the spotlight and need to set a good example. It is hard to fathom the potential damage these NRL controversies have had on young children watching and emulating their rugby league heroes.

The NRL has clearly taken a much firmer stance against offenders this year. This stance will hopefully translate to less off-field controversies as the NRL hopes to rid its unwanted 'bad-boy' tag.

A Great Year to be a Queenslander

2006-10-04T15:30:00.000+10:00

It has certainly been a memorable year for Queensland rugby league fans. The loyalty to Queensland and the Broncos of every fan has been severely tested in recent years. The Broncos hadn’t won a premiership for six years and Queensland was facing the prospect of a fourth successive State of Origin defeat at the hands of NSW.

The Broncos had suffered demoralising late-season slumps to fall from genuine premiership contenders to finals first-round losers in recent seasons. This season had been following the same script. Mid-way through the season the Broncos held a spot in the top-four and was looking good to mount a challenge for the premiership. The hard-work was seemingly undone once again as the Broncos got on a roll of the bad variety, losing six matches straight. Again talk of slumps was raised and critics of coach Wayne Bennett reared their head, eager to claim Bennett was out of ideas and on the way out.

The Queensland Origin team had lost the last three series and lost agonisingly by just a single point in Origin One. There were some calls, which are now laughable, that Darren Lockyer should be moved to fullback, dropped to the bench or even dropped from the Queensland team. Fast-forward two Origin games and Lockyer was the player of the series and had led Queensland to series victory. Queensland hit back emphatically in Game Two winning 30-6. In Game Three Queensland overcame numerous contentious refereeing decisions to overhaul a two-try deficit in the last ten minutes.

The Broncos were heading for another meek exit from the premiership race, but this year refused to concede defeat. The Broncos turned their season around in their Round 23, 18-12 loss to the Melbourne Storm. Following the loss to the Storm, the Broncos under the inspirational leadership of Lockyer and coaching genius of Bennett revitalised their season. The Broncos went on to finish the season in a flurry of success and secure a top-four place on the ladder.

The Broncos then endured a solid victory at the hands of the St George Dragons in Week One of the finals. Once again the critics were eager to present the Broncos recent poor form in finals and outline why they would again exit the premiership race with little fight. Bennett however, was unperturbed and the Broncos immediately responded with a 50-6 demolition of the Newcastle Knights.

The following week the Broncos went to half-time down 20-6 against the Canterbury Bulldogs, but recovered to record an emphatic 31-0 second half and win 37-20. In the grand final the Broncos, who lost on both occasions to the Storm earlier in the year, were deserved underdogs. This meant little to the Broncos and little to their loyal fans. The Broncos prevailed 15-8 in a close clash and returned the premiership trophy to Brisbane early this week.

There was plenty of opportunity this year for Queensland rugby league fans to jump ship, support another team or even another sport. This did not happen, evidenced by the Suncorp Stadium crowds which continually drew the largest crowd almost every week this season. The amazing turn-out at the Broncos fan-day showed the level of support, as did the fans waiting at the airport for the Broncos to return with the premiership trophy.

This morning thousands of fans lined the streets for the Broncos ticker tape parade. The fans did not line the streets just to show their support, but also to celebrate with the Broncos. The loyal fans played a part in the Queensland Origin and Brisbane Broncos successes. Bennett has revealed this premiership means more to him than any other and this is because of the many challenges the Broncos managed to overcome.

It certainly has been a memorable year for the Queensland rugby league fan. Queensland has been rewarded for their success with a strong showing in the Australian squad for the tri-nations series. Now Queensland holds both the Origin shield and premiership trophy and with the support of loyal fans will look to replicate their successes in 2007.

An Enticing Grand Final

2006-09-28T15:05:00.000+10:00

This Sunday night the Melbourne Storm will meet the Brisbane Broncos in an enticing grand final clash. The match pits the minor premiers against the third placed Broncos. The week in week out gruelling NRL competition will be forgotten, as the Storm and Broncos ready themselves for the last eighty minutes of the premiership season.

The Storm boasts one the NRL’s most potent backlines, with the likes of Billy Slater, Steve Turner, Matt King, Scott Hill and Greg Inglis. If there is one team that manages to exceed such a talented backline it is the Broncos who guided by Darren Lockyer have Justin Hodges, Karmichael Hunt, Brent Tate and Darius Boyd at their disposal.

This season the Storm and Broncos have met twice and the Victorians emerged the victors on both occasions. However, only a single try was the difference in both matches and the Broncos have improved greatly over the past two months. In Round 18 the Storm displayed superb goal-line defence in grinding out an unattractive 10-4 win at Olympic Park. Just six weeks later the Storm turned a halftime 12-0 deficit into an 18-12 win at Suncorp Stadium. The latter clash was a much more open affair and the match provided a glimpse of both sides attacking potential.

Since their second match this year both sides have only lost once and both have looked genuine premiership contenders. The Storm accounted for the in-form St George Dragons 24-12 last weekend and the Broncos have had two brilliant performances, smashing the Newcastle Knight 50-6 and Canterbury Bulldogs 37-20. Neither team was convincing in the first half but both managed step up and finish comfortable winners.

The grand final presents several key positional clashes, the most obvious being the battle of the five-eighths. Scott Hill and Darren Lockyer will do their best to lead their side to premiership glory. Hill has had a stellar season, but Lockyer has taken his game to another level and in recent weeks has excelled in two man-of-the-match performances. The centre battle between young gun Greg Inglis and the experienced but explosive Brent Tate could have a bearing on the outcome of the grand final. The winner of the other centres battle, which could feature Matt King and Justin Hodges, may prove just as decisive.

Then there is the hooker battle between Dally M player of the season Cameron Smith and Shaun Berrigan who has proved a revelation in recent weeks. However, the team that wins the forward battle will go a long way to securing the premiership. The Storm possesses the likes of Antonio Kaufusi, David Kidwell and Ryan Hoffman. The Broncos possess a formidable line-up, the likes of Shane Webcke, Petero Civoniceva and Brad Thorn. On paper the Broncos forwards look significantly stronger, but the Storm forward-pack successfully propelled their side into the grand final.

There is added motivation for Scott Hill and Shane Webcke, who both play their last NRL match and would dearly love to have a fairytale finish. Scott Hill will play out the rest of his memorable career overseas. Shane Webcke will be remembered as a great of the game and will be retiring after the grand final.

The grand final looks set to go right down to the wire, as both previous clashes did this season. There is little that separates the Storm and Broncos on paper, so perhaps it will be a touch of individual brilliance that inspires one side to premiership success. The Storm boasts Greg Inglis who is being regarded by some as the most talented rugby league player of the last decade. The Broncos possess the class and inspiration of Darren Lockyer who takes in the knowledge of already delivering at both Origin and Test level. The Melbourne Storm versus the Brisbane Broncos, it will surely be a memorable clash.

Broncos Training

2006-09-26T14:21:00.000+10:00

The Brisbane Broncos this morning trained enthusiastically at Red Hill in their last session before flying down to Sydney. The team was cheered on by thousands of loyal fans braving the overcast skies and coming out in force, in a show of support for their team. It was the Broncos official fan day but nobody could have anticipated such an amazing response.

The turn-out promoted a change of schedule with the Broncos signing autographs for half an hour before the official start to training. The players split up and were swamped by eager autograph hunters. The Broncos signed until their hands were numb and only the sounding of the siren brought an end to the chaos.

It was then time to get down to the serious business of training for the grand final and the normally relaxed Broncos looked noticeably more focused. The normal banter from Sam Thaiday, Corey Parker and Shaun Berrigan was absent as the team trained.

The Broncos squad split in two and played each other in an intense semi-contact match lasting over twenty minutes. The forwards ran with match-intensity and there were even a few big hits from the overeager. At one stage the crowd cheered when Lockyer put Webcke through a gap. There was clearly an air of anticipation and coach Wayne Bennett yelled firm instructions to his team. Interestingly Karmichael Hunt once again trained at fullback, with Justin Hodges spending the entire session at left centre.

Following the training session some of the players returned to the field to kick bombs to the young kids. Lockyer even tried a few torpedo bombs, which are a challenge for first grade fullbacks to catch, let alone the swarm of youngsters.

The training session revealed the Broncos fans are ready for anther grand-final challenge. It has been six years since the Broncos last tasted premiership success, the longest period in the team’s short history. The Broncos looked sharp at training, but they have lost both matches to the Melbourne Storm this year. It will be an enticing battle and one in which the Broncos fans are eagerly waiting.

The Common Denominator… Darren Lockyer

2006-09-25T16:19:00.000+10:00

This season Darren Lockyer has been the common denominator in the Queensland Maroons and Brisbane Broncos success. Take away his inspirational leadership and sublime skills and the Maroons would have been consigned to a fourth successive State of Origin series defeat and the Broncos forced to pick up the pieces after another fruitless season. Put Lockyer in the mix and the Blues grasp on the Origin trophy was lifted and the Broncos aspirations for a sixth premiership remain well and truly alive.

Starting the 2006 season doubts still lingered over Lockyer’s ability to play five-eighth. In previous seasons he etched himself into the history books as arguably rugby league’s best ever fullback. How was Lockyer ever going to scale such heights at five-eighth?
Many believed his defence was not strong enough for a halves position. In 2006 Lockyer has proved the doubters wrong. This season he has excelled from five-eighth, engineering win after win and was often the best on-field player in a losing team. Lockyer’s attacking brilliance has been as strong as ever and his defence has improved markedly. A stinging hit on NSW forward Willie Mason in the State of Origin was testament to the giant strides he has made in defence. Every week he is targeted by the opposition and yet he invariably manages to rise to the occasion. Lockyer has this season become the complete player.

In Origin Three Queensland were on the end of a series of appalling referee decisions and down by 14 points with only ten minutes left in the Origin series. Enter Lockyer, who led Queensland to an incredible fight-back and miraculous win. Fast forward to week one of the finals and the Broncos were comprehensively outplayed at Suncorp Stadium against the St George Dragons. The critics once again found their voice, producing the Broncos recent poor finals record and late-season slumps as evidence of an inevitable exit from the premiership contest.

The Broncos second finals match against the Newcastle Knights was a knockout affair, pitting the two best rugby league players against each other. Andrew Johns and his Knights were in the game for less than ten minutes before the class of Lockyer instigated a barrage of attacking raids against the hapless opposition. The Broncos racked up a half-century of points in a ruthless display of attacking power. Setting up many of the Broncos eight tries Lockyer was a clear man-of-the-match in the 50-6 demolition.

The Broncos progressed to the semi-finals and a match against the waiting Canterbury Bulldogs in Sydney. The Broncos and Bulldogs had previously met twice in 2006, with the Broncos convincingly successful in both contests. This meant little in the elimination final and the Broncos went to half-time trailing 20-6. Only the most loyal Broncos fan could have predicted a Broncos win, let alone the resulting 31-0 second-half Broncos blitz.

Following half-time a brilliant run from fullback by Justin Hodges and incredible finish by Shaun Berrigan put the Broncos back on track. From that moment Lockyer stamped his authority on the match, orchestrating the largest NRL finals comeback margin of all time. The match finished 37-20 and left the Bulldogs struggling to find an explanation for the loss. Lockyer claimed man-of-the-match for a second week running and will attempt to achieve the hat-trick and attain the Clive Churchill medal in this weekend’s grand final.

This Sunday night the Broncos will battle the Melbourne Storm in the grand final decider. Ironically, the match contested in Sydney will feature two interstate teams for the first time in NRL history, a testament to the growing depth of rugby league in Australia. The Storm has a number of potential game-breakers of their own, but if they fail to shut down the attacking genius of Lockyer, the Broncos will surely attain premiership glory.

Prepare for a Third Broncos Blitz

2006-09-20T12:23:00.000+10:00

Friday night has the makings of a memorable clash with two heavyweights of rugby league battling for a place in the 2006 NRL grand-final. The Broncos play the Bulldogs for the third time this year and will look to make it a hat-trick of victories.

The Broncos and Bulldogs first met back in Round 12, following the one-point NSW State of Origin victory in Game One. The Broncos welcomed back their Queensland Origin players keen to avenge the agonising loss. The result was a clinical 25-6 demolition in favour of the Broncos, taking them to first on the ladder. Captain and play-maker Darren Lockyer was instrumental in guiding the Broncos to an 18-nil halftime lead and put the nail in the Bulldogs coffin with his second-half field goal.

The Broncos and Bulldogs second match-up last month in Round 24 was billed as the beginning of the end of the Broncos. Instead the Broncos recorded an emphatic victory, snapping a five-game losing streak and any talk of another year-end slump. The Broncos took an identical 18-nil half-time lead, but didn’t relent and kept the Bulldogs scoreless in the 30-nil drubbing.

The Broncos two victories this year were built on the back of a dominant forward display. In both bruising affairs the Broncos forwards had too much muscle for their Bulldogs counterparts. This allowed arguably rugby league’s best player, Darren Lockyer to run rampant and orchestrate constant attacking raids, leading to ten Broncos tries and over 50 points in the two matches. In comparison the battered Bulldogs forwards were constantly on the back foot leaving their play-makers will no room and no answers, only crossing the Broncos line once in 160 minutes of football.

Once again the forward battle will prove decisive, with the Bulldogs pack boosted by the return of Roy Asotasi and Reni Maitua. The Broncos boast a formidable forward pack with the likes of Shane Webcke, Petero Civoniceva and Brad Thorn. The Bulldogs will attempt to combat the Broncos forwards with a strong line-up of Willie Mason, Mark O’Meley and Asotasi.

If the forwards manage to cancel each other out the Broncos have a wealth of attacking potential at their disposal. Lockyer is yet to put a foot wrong all season and his match-winning ability alone make the Broncos a daunting prospect. Broncos coach Wayne Bennett has a variety of attacking options with Justin Hodges, Karmichael Hunt and Darius Boyd all proven utilities. Sean Berrigan has thrived in recent weeks in his role as hooker and his timely dummy-half bursts and unexpected strength continues to catch the opposition by surprise.

The Bulldogs also possess some potential danger-men, including their halves pairing of Daniel Holdsworth and Brent Sherwin. Holdsworth has had a stellar season but will face an uphill battle against Lockyer. Sherwin has this season shown glimpses of ability but has struggled to find consistent form.

Defensively the Broncos have announced themselves as genuine premiership contenders conceding less than 40 points at an average of eight per game in their past five matches. The Broncos attack is also gelling perfectly scoring over 140 points at an average of nearly 30 per game in their past five outings.

The Bulldogs forwards will certainly do their best to outmuscle the Broncos pack but even if that is to happen the Bulldogs are still faced with the task of containing the attacking genius of Lockyer, Hodges and Hunt, just to name a few. Last weekend the Broncos were merciless in their 50-6 dismissal of the Newcastle Knights. Man-of-the-match Lockyer was ruthless in his dominance of Andrew Johns and the Knights. The Broncos attack and defence are both gelling perfectly and only the most die-hard Bulldogs fan could predict anything other than a third Broncos blitz.

Judiciary Gets it Right

2006-09-14T12:27:00.000+10:00

The NRL judiciary this week surprisingly revealed it does serve a purpose. For years high-profile rugby league players have committed the crime and escaped the time. Key players have continually escaped punishment or had their punishments greatly reduced at the NRL judiciary. This week Newcastle Knights hooker Danny Buderus was unsuccessful in his attempt to reduce his suspension following a spear tackle on the weekend. The result ensures Buderus will not play again this season, while he serves the six match suspension that will also see him miss some of the early rounds next season.

Late in last Friday night’s qualifying final, a Buderus tackle on Manly winger Michael Robertson went horribly wrong. The result was potentially career threatening for Robertson. Fortunately the spear tackle resulted only in neck soreness for the Manly player. Imagine now if Robertson wasn’t so lucky and the tackle did end his career. Do you think there would be a debate over whether or not Buderus deserved suspension then?

Buderus is a crucial component in the Knights team and formed a vital part in his team’s premiership aspirations. The importance of particular players has in the past resulted in a variety of weak excuses from the NRL judiciary, who want to see the best players on the paddock. Buderus could have become another one of the fortunate high-profile players who manage to find a loophole in the system, offer a heartfelt apology and escape suspension.

A variety of different defences for Buderus were thrown around prior to the judicial hearing: Buderus’s hand didn’t go between Robertson’s legs, the tackle only went wrong because of Robertson’s speed and angle, there was no malicious intent in the tackle. Buderus has also come out saying his perfect record should have played a part in downgrading the suspension.

These excuses have been more than enough in the past for the NRL judiciary to dismiss the suspension and sweep the controversy under the table. The judiciary must be commended this week for finally taking a firm stance and making a decision purely on the severity of the tackle.

The precedent had been set and spear tackles have no part in the NRL. Buderus’s tackle may not have been intentional and he does have a clean record. This is largely irrelevant, Robertson was illegally and unfairly placed in danger and the offending player regardless of his status must be suitably punished. The six week suspension is a just punishment for the tackling offence.

Hopefully the NRL judiciary have turned the corner and rugby league players will do the time that fits their crime… regardless of their high-profile status.

A Dream Year for Fed-Express

2006-09-11T16:28:00.000+10:00

Roger Federer this morning captured his third successive US Open crown defeating crowd favourite Andy Roddick 6-2, 4-6, 7-5, 6-1. With Tiger Woods sitting alongside Federer's girlfriend in the front-row, Federer etched himself in the history books.

The four-set victory took Federer's grand-slam tally to nine and made him the only male in tennis history to win the Wimbledon and US Open double for three successive years. For more than half the match Roddick was a worthy challenger. He even managed to capture a set, a feat only matched by fellow American James Blake in the tournament. At 5-5 in the third set Federer called upon an extra level only he possesses and streaked away with the match winning eight of the last nine games.

Only five men stand before him on the all time grand-slam list and Federer is just five grand-slams away from becoming the most prolific tennis player in history. The twenty-five year old is all class and charmed the crowd with another post-match speech. He was asked about his victory celebration of falling to the ground, he replied while laughing, "A great moment, once again, I deserved to lie down. It felt great, you know, just lying on the floor alone. It was good. Very comfortable. Thank God I didn't injure myself."

Federer met Woods for the first time just hours before the start of play. The two who share the same sponsor are both on the way to sporting greatness. When Federer was asked about the added pressure of having Woods watching he replied, trying unsuccessfully to keep a straight face, "I'm going to show up at every Grand Slam Tiger plays and get him back, just when he's about to win, 18th green, I'll be standing there."

This year Federer was successful in three of the four grand-slams and managed a finals showing at the French Open. It seems there are few challenges left for the young Swiss, but each year Federer re-enters his name in the history books as he progresses rapidly to tennis's best ever player and perhaps the best sportsman in history.

Cameron Smith for Dally M

2006-09-05T13:42:00.000+10:00

Melbourne Storm's skipper Cameron Smith, one of rugby league's quiet achievers it a clear front-runner for tonight’s Dally M award. The Queensland State of Origin hooker has had his most consistent season since joining the Storm in 2002. Former Australian hookers Steve Walters and Ben Elias have this week revealed they believe Storm rake has done enough this season to earn the prestigious award.
“Cameron has had a great season this year and hopefully there are better things for him to come with the Storm and possibly Australia. With Danny Buderus out injured he may get his chance in the tri-nations. He has definitely been a stand-out performer but he may be disadvantaged because of the Storm's good form. Other Storm players may have hurt his chances, with the Dally M points spread more evenly between team-mates.” Walters said.

Elias claimed there was no alternative and Smith was a definite for the Dally M award, saying:
“Cameron has had a ten out of ten season, simply outstanding. Week in and week out he steps up, touching the ball more than anyone else and is a lay-down for this year's Dally M. He's is little bit more than just a hooker, he kicks goals as well.”

Interestingly Elias also said Smith is now the best hooker in the game. Smith is one of several key players in the running for the Dally M, which rewards consistency as much as brilliance and includes players like Andrew Johns and Darren Lockyer on the honour roll.

Other players expected to poll well at next Tuesday night's official count at the Sydney Town Hall include Sea Eagles captain Ben Kennedy, halfback Matt Orford and Broncos utility back Justin Hodges.

As Elias alluded to Smith, who is just 23, offers the Melbourne Storm far more than a traditional hooker provides. He has exceptional passing control and vision from dummy-half and possesses the ability to quickly weigh up potential options and more often than not makes the right decision.

He picks his moment to run at offside marker's and often makes quick darts from dummy-half that provide the Storm with momentum to mount attacking raids. Kicking from dummy-half is just another service Smith provides and his low trajectory ensures the ball is rarely caught on the full, giving his side plenty of time to pin the opposition deep in their half. Smith, last season's Storm player of the year winner, offers all this attacking potential while providing tireless defence, consistently racking up over thirty tackles a match.

His former team-mate Orford, who quit Melbourne to join Manly this year, has also had an inspiring season. He has had many match-winning performances this year and his direction on the park has been a key reason the Sea Eagles have jumped to third on the premiership table.

Another player who has had a tremendous season also comes from the Sea Eagles side. Ben Kennedy has led by example this year and along with his halfback has ensured the Sea Eagles a place in the finals. Kennedy continually tops the metres gained and his work-rate is second to none. He will be irreplaceable at Manly next year and is a possibility for this year's Dally M.

Hodges is another player who really stands out as a genuine Dally M contender. He has dominated for the Broncos from centre and more recently at fullback. His ability to invariably evade the first tackler is almost unrivalled in the NRL. At fullback Hodge's has revelled in the extra time and space provided from fullback. Unfortunately for him he plays for the same club as Lockyer, who is sure to have polled plenty of the Dally M points.

While Smith, Orford, Kennedy and Hodges have had stellar seasons and should fight out the major award it has been a year of surprises and the Dally M could spring another surprise tonight.

The 'Richard Pryor of Blogging'

2006-09-02T18:48:00.000+10:00

This year the internet blogging phenomenon has taken the tennis world by storm. The term blogging is derived from web-log, which are basically diary accounts of a tennis professional's day during a tennis tournament.

This year the ATP and WTA, the men's and women's tennis tours have promoted blogging on their respective websites. Each tournament a different male and female tennis professional is selected as the blogger. These player's have provided the tennis public with a valuable and often intriguing look into the ins and outs of different tennis player's lives throughout a typical tennis tournament.

The concept has proved an overwhelming success with tennis fans, who are eager to log-on and find out about what their favourite tennis player gets up to during a tournament. The tennis professionals have also really embraced the idea and have used their blog's to express their personality and show a side of themselves that was previously hidden to the public.

Queensland doubles world number one Sam Stosur was a blogger for the WTA recently. During her week she revealed one of her pet-hates to be,
“When people get in a lift before the people in it can get out.”
The laid-back 22-year-old claimed she would love to have been a professional surfer if she wasn't a tennis player. She also revealed her love of television shows The Family Guy and Seinfeld.

Rafael Nadal's French Open blog, the tournament he successfully defended this year gained plenty of attention from tennis fans. Much of the concept's success must however, be attributed to powerful base-liner Dmitry Tursunov. The charismatic young Russian is a potential top-ten player, but currently owes much of his fame to his week-long blog from Estoril in Portugal.

The self-proclaimed ‘Richard Pryor of blogging’ used his entries to show the humorous side of tennis, as he revealed insights on Marat Safin's ability to attract women, his own flirting exploits and his pre-match routine of staring into the mirror and emphatically stating, ‘You looking at me!?’ The photo of Tursunov impersonating the 'Blue Steel' look made famous by movie character Derek Zoolander ensured he is now a recognisable face. The world number 25 revealed he is now regularly acknowledged in public.

His Estoril blog was such a resounding success gaining 268,336 internet hits during the week that the ATP has this week, due to public demand hired him as the ATP's 'Resident Blogger.' This means Tursunov will write a monthly blog and continue to provide the hilarious insights he became renowned for during his week in Estoril.

This year the ATP and WTA have had blogs written by a variety of stars including Nadal, James Blake and Australian Open surprise-packet Marcos Baghdatis, as well as many others. Over the coming months it will be interesting to continue to witness the lighter side of tennis through the eyes of different tennis professionals.

This week the US Open blog will be a tribute to Andre Agassi, who at 36 plays his last Grand Slam after a memorable 60-title career spanning nearly two decades. The player blogs can be accessed at www.atptennis.com and www.sonyericssonwtatour.com.

Tennis's Sleeping Giants

2006-09-02T18:45:00.000+10:00

THIS year's US Open could be the year for one of tennis's sleeping giants to rise to the occasion and challenge Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal for grand-slam glory.

American James Blake, one of tennis's genuine nice guys has had a break-through year in 2006. This year he has captured three titles and won 40 matches on his way to a place in the top-ten. In the past Blake has provided plenty of excitement at his home grand-slam, playing two memorable and controversial five-set matches against Australia's Lleyton Hewitt.

This year Blake has managed to gain greater control and eradicate some of the inconsistencies that once plagued his game. Blake grew up just minutes down the road from the Flushing Meadows tennis complex and playing in front of his friends and family he could be inspired to success at the US Open. This year he plays his first round against Argentine Juan Monaco in what will be their first meeting.

Another player who has the potential to cause some upsets in the US Open is German Tommy Haas. Haas, the winner of three titles this year is well-known to the Australian public for his consistent performances at the Australian Open. He is renowned for his fiery on-court temper and tendency to mutter under his breath and erupt at any moment.

Haas certainly has an explosive game, with an explosive temperament to match. Following more than a year's absence from the game because of a back injury and motorbike accident involving his parents, Haas will look to continue a strong year to date and challenge for his first grand-slam title.

The world number 16 has been hindered in the past by inconsistency and a terrible temper, not unlike Russian Marat Safin. Like Safin, Haas has the ability to upset anyone when his game is in order, including Federer. Haas begins his campaign against American Alex Kuznetsov, with Safin and David Nalbandian looming large as potential opponents further into the tournament.

A third player who has yet to fulfil his potential is world number 77 Feliciano Lopez. The left-handed Spaniard is a gifted shot-maker and has an array of shots only bettered by Federer. Unlike Federer he has yet to reach any great heights in the sport. Lopez seems to glide around the court and possesses an all-court game, which is rare for a Spanish player.

It took Federer a few years to take his game to the next level and it was a quarter-final defeat of tennis great Pete Sampras at Wimbledon that sparked his incredible rise to tennis dominance. Lopez is still searching for that break-through performance and if his first round straight-set dismissal of world number 3 Ivan Ljubicic is anything to go the 2006 US Open could be the beginning of Feliciano Lopez.