Concussion new headache for the code

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A MANDATORY suspension rule for any player that suffers concussion should be treated with serious caution, according to Penrith coach Ivan Cleary.

Cleary issued the warning last night despite play in his side's win over Canberra last night being held up for almost 10-minutes after Raiders forward Joel Edwards was knocked-out for a second successive week.

Joel Edwards of the Raiders is attended to by team trainers. Source: Getty Images

Cleary's Panthers unearthed a future star in two-try debutant Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, whose poise in atrocious conditions allowed Penrith to do just enough to hold off an improved Canberra.

However, it was the sight of Edwards being stretchered from the field just six minutes into the match that will ensure today's talkback is dominated by the question: does the NRL need to introduce mandatory time on the sideline for players after suffering concussion.

Lewis Brown and Canberra's Terry Campese push each other. Source: News Corp Australia

"I'm not really qualified to comment on that, but they (Canberra) obviously thought he was ready,'' Cleary said.

"Every case is different. I worry about mandatory anythings, because every time you make the game black and white you get yourself into trouble. It's very easy to be wise after the fact."

Canberra's Joel Edwards is stretched from the field. Source: News Corp Australia

The Raiders had followed the NRL's strict new concussion guidelines to the letter, with Edwards passing a concussion test last week, which was required following a head knock suffered against Souths.

"I spoke to him at halftime and he was actually pretty good,'' Raiders coach Ricky Stuart said.

"He had his memory and everything in regards to the game, but he just couldn't recall the tackle, that's all.

"We'll keep a check on him and do what we need to do as far as the guidelines."

Jamie Soward of the Panthers is tackled. Source: Getty Images

The delay meant both teams struggled to find their cohesion in a match won on the back of Jamie Soward's kicking game. The Panthers jumped out to an 8-0 lead at halftime, through tries to Watene-Zelezniak and fellow winger Josh Mansour.

But it was Watene-Zelezniak's 72nd-minute try, securing a beautiful cross-field kick from halfback Peter Wallace, that secured the Panthers their hard fought victory.

Dallin Watene-Zelezniak of the Panthers breaks free from a tackle by Sami Sauiluma. Source: Getty Images

The 18-year-old was playing schoolboy footy this time last year, but after progressing through the lower grades with irresistible form, Cleary found himself in a bind before gifting this teenager his debut.

"It was a reasonably big decision, you've got to leave someone out,'' Cleary said.

"He's part of our winning 20's team last year, he's played NSW Cup this year and he was playing well."

PENRITH 12 (D Watene-Zelezniak 2 J Mansour tries) bt CANBERRA 6 (P Vaughan try J Croker goal) at Sportingbet Stadium. Referee: Chris James, Adam Devcich. Crowd: 7,667

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Burgess stars as Bunnies bounce back

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BOB McCarthy stood at the end of the tunnel of legends, cheering South Sydney on to the SCG, making a point of shaking every player's hand.

Given everything McCarthy has given to the proud Redfern club, it was a poignant moment.

After three losses, South Sydney needed to beat St George Illawarra on Saturday night to still be regarded as a force to be reckoned with this season.

South Sydney's Sam Burgess tackled by Dragon's Adam Quinlan. Source: News Limited

Cue McCarthy, the local junior who until last night held the record for most first-grade games for the club with 211.

The intent was in captain John Sutton's eyes from the moment the pair exchanged a handshake, with the Rabbitohs five-eighth about to enter the record books.

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The emotion was all Souths needed, with the club grinding out a comprehensive victory on the back of a lopsided penalty count.

The big guns all delivered, with Sam Burgess and Greg Inglis both bagging second-half tries in a strong performance.

South Sydney's John Sutton celebrates Jason Clark's try. Source: News Limited

As if the penalty count hadn't hurt the Dragons enough in the opening 40 minutes, they had to contend with running into a big southerly in the second half.

So when Sam Burgess charged over from close range to make it 18-0 after 55 minutes, the Dragons were looking at a massive assignment.

As dominant as the pack was, this was still the length of the straight away from the outfit who have finished 80 minutes shy of a grand final for two straight years.

South Sydney's Greg Inglis tackled. Source: News Limited

Still, the Rabbits will happily take the two points, taking solace in the fact it is only round five.

Dragons winger Brett Morris went on report for a shoulder charge while Sam Burgess was also lifted into a dangerous position in the second half.

What the game lacked in finesse, it made up for with good, old-fashioned whack.

The Dragons were hammered in the penalty count in the opening half, allowing South Sydney enough possession to grind their way to a 14-0 lead.

The first points came courtesy of a penalty goal to Adam Reynolds, who calmly slotted one over from 32m out.

South Sydney's Greg Inglis attempts to break a tackle. Source: News Limited

The Rabbitohs were then denied a try to centre Joel Reddy before bench forward Luke Burgess powered over from in the 28th minute.

Only one minute earlier, Dragons captain Ben Creagh had a blow-up with referee Gavin Badger over the lopsided penalty count.

Creagh asked the referee: "How many penalties?"

Badger replied: "That's six against you!"

Creagh said: "Unbelievable".

South Sydney's John Sutton celebrates the win with his team mates. Source: News Limited

The Rabbitohs had all the field position, virtually camped on St George Illawarra's tryline for large parts.

For the record, the penalty count was 7-1 to Souths in the opening 40 minutes.

St George Illawarra's one glimmer of attacking hope was the new combination of five-eighth Gareth Widdop and fullback Josh Dugan, who went agonisingly close to combining for their first try.

After Widdop sent up a banana kick for Dugan, the video referee ruled he had lost the ball attempting to ground it.

Souths then pushed the lead to 14-0 courtesy of a Jason Clark try six minutes from halftime.

It was just the platform they needed to kick on in the second half as they look to launch their season.

The South Sydney Rabbitohs celebrate at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Source: News Limited

SOUTH SYDNEY 26 (S Burgess L Burgess J Clark G Inglis tries A Reynolds 5 goals) bt ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA 6 (J De Belin try G Widdop goal) at Sydney Cricket Ground. Referee: Gavin Badger, Alan Shortall. Crowd: 24,368.

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Voss: I was sacked for Roos

Former Lions AFL coach Michael Voss working hard to keep fit in life after footy. Picture: Adam Head Source: Adam Head / News Corp Australia

SACKED Brisbane coach Michael Voss says the Lions' board turfed him mid-season so they could start their unsuccessful chase for Paul Roos.

Voss has opened up on the circumstances of the sacking, with his Lions 8-11 last year but with several likely late-season wins ahead.

He said the club clearly wanted to go after Sydney premiership coach Roos, who at that stage was already talking with Melbourne.

Voss said he would forever regret the circumstances of the Daniel Bradshaw fiasco, saying the premiership teammate would still not return his calls.

And he said he warned the Lions if they did not invest more in their football department, the exodus of young players which occurred last year was likely.

The triple Brisbane premiership captain tells Mike Sheahan on Monday's Open Mike that the Roos chase sped up and potentially led to his sacking.

"There were some peripheral issues starting to emerge (when we were 8-11), a sense of urgency around the decision that needed to be made at that time,'' he said.

"here was a definite play for the club to go after Roosy and he was well down the track for another football club.

"The club was very keen to have him on board, and to do that I needed to not be in the position. They made that decision, and I only knew bits and pieces of what was going on.

"When I rang my wife that day (I was sacked), it was, "It's happened", as opposed to, "You will never believe what happened".

"There was a sense of inevitability. The circumstances (of why I was sacked) are still so vague to me. But I have felt like whether its success or failure, you have to deal with it and move on."

He admits the club made false moves in the trade period that saw Brendan Fevola arrive, but his biggest regret is the Daniel Bradshaw scenario.

He would eventually leave for Sydney, disgusted with the Lions, with Voss saying that episode made him a more values-based coach.

"it is still gut-wrenching and is still remains with me. I rang him on the Tuesday and there was a lot of noise about Fev and it hadn't come across my table. I rang Daniel and said we haven't spoken about that, and three days later I had to make the call that we are considering it and would like you to entertain the option of going to Carlton.

"I felt like I had let him down. I have lost that friendship. I haven't spoken to Daniel (since). It was about communication — that I had let him know something, and something else happened."

Voss said he wrote an official report to the Lions hierarchy pleading for more resources, with the lack of support in the footy department a key reason why so many kids left.

"We had an opportunity in 2012 to ensure we put the right resources around them and we didn't do it for whatever reason,'' he said.

"In the report I filed to the executive of the club at the time, I highlighted that if we don't get this right retention will be a major issue for the club in the very near future."

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Finals preview in WSW, Roar thriller

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WESTERN Sydney Wanderers missed the opportunity to get a grip on second spot with a frenetic 1-1 draw against Brisbane Roar in Parramatta, but the near-capacity crowd remained in celebratory mood as Shinji Ono was farewelled.

Goals to Liam Miller and Tomi Juric either side of half-time gave each club a share of the spoils, but it means the all-important second place will only be decided in the final round.

Re-live it all in our A-League Match Centre, featuring videos, stats, line-ups and play-by-play updates.

The Western Sydney club paid a wonderfully fitting tribute to their outgoing marquee star Ono, playing in his final home game of the regular season. At the start of the match the Red and Black Bloc held up a banner of Ono and in the 21st minute - Ono's shirt number - lights, fireworks and confetti were let off, while fans wore masks of the Japanese star's face. In fact, the first 21 minutes of the game felt more like a Shinji Ono tribute game than an A-League match with plenty at stake.

On the field, most of the first half belonged to Western Sydney. Nikolai Topor-Stanley should have grabbed the lead as early as the eighth minute, when he rose to meet Ono's corner, only to head the ball just over the bar.

Brendon Santalab squandered two chances in quick succession. The striker stabbed the ball wide after good work from Adam D'Apuzzo down the left in the 24th minute and, barely four minutes later, missed a free header.

Ante Covic pulled off some quality saves to keep the Roar at bay. The Wanderers goalkeeper got his fingertips to Luke Brattan's free-kick and watched as the ball dribbled inches wide of his far post and minutes later saved Liam Miller's attempt.

But, after absorbing the early pressure, Brisbane started to look the more dangerous side as the half progressed and in the 35th minute Miller got his goal.

Ono came tantalizingly close to grabbing one back for the Wanderers on the stroke of half time, when his free-kick was tipped onto the cross bar by Michael Theo.

Tony Popovic stressed during the week how the Roar are deserved winners of the Premier's Plate and the Brisbane side soon began to show the type of form that saw them dominate throughout the season.

Liam Miller opened the scoring for Western Sydney. Source: Getty Images

Popovic responded at the start of the second half by bringing on Juric and it didn't take long for the striker to make his mark. He calmly slotted the ball into the back of the net in the 60th minute, to the deafening roar of the 15,573 fans at Pirtek Stadium.

The equalizing goal brought about sustained pressure from the home side, with Ono, Topor-Stanley and Kwabena Appiah all chancing their luck. Some excellent interplay between Appiah and Ono should have resulted in the Wanderers second, but this time Juric only managed to fire his shot high and over.

The Wanderers players poured their hearts into the final 20 minutes of the game, but a match-winning goal continued to elude them. And while Popovic won't be able to question his players commitment, it is clear that the Wanderers' campaign has stuttered in recent weeks.

It was a big night for this man. Source: Getty Images

Popovic has rotated his squad for much of the season, but the club has struggled to juggle its commitments between the Asian Champions League and the A-League. In their last 12 domestic matches, their only three victories have all come against the struggling Perth Glory.

While the result wasn't quite the fairytale fans were hoping for, they couldn't have asked for more from Ono, who performed a small bow to them as he left the field two minutes before full-time.

Shinji Ono got quite the reception at Wanderland for his farewell. Source: Getty Images

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Oakleigh Girl’s 84-day Slipper run

Craig Newitt rides Oakleigh Girl during a barrier trial at Warick Farm. Picture: Mark Evans Source: Mark Evans / News Corp Australia

TRAINER Danny Bougoure is making an audacious bid for Golden Slipper glory with Oakleigh Girl at Rosehill Gardens today.

Oakleigh Girl is going into the $3.5 million race without a lead-up run for 84 days — and no two-year-old has ever had such a long break between runs and won the big race.

Sebring holds that record, having won the 2008 Golden Slipper after a seven-week gap between runs.

Bougoure admitted the wet track conditions will make Oakleigh Girl's bid for a historic Slipper win even more difficult.

"If he track is on the worst side of slow to heavy that is when (the lack of) match practice comes in,'' Bougoure said.

The trainer also conceded he is unsure how his filly will handle the wet track as she has never started on a surface worse than a dead 4 in her short race career.

Oakleigh Girl, Ridden by Michael Cahill, wins at Doomben. Picture: Steve Pohlner Source: News Limited

"I've seen her once on a wet track and that was in the Rosehill trial (last month) and she never put a foot wrong but under race conditions things can change.''

But Bougoure retains a quiet air of confidence that he has Oakleigh Girl primed for the Golden Slipper.

Oakleigh Girl has raced only four times for two wins but has not started since her close second to Unencumbered in the Magic Millions back on January 11.

Bougoure, best known as the trainer of former champion sprinter Falvelon, said Oakleigh Girl had given her all in the Magic Millions and his initial thought was to send her for a long spell.

"She had a long preparation and a couple of really hard runs at the tail end of that and after the Magic Millions it looked like she really had enough,'' Bougoure said.

Unencumbered, ridden by late jockey Nathan Berry, edges out Oakleigh Girl (left) in the Magic Millions on the Gold Coast. Picture: Richard Gosling Source: News Limited

"I sent her for a spell and after two weeks she had put on 28kg. Then after another week, she had put another 10kg she was doing so well.

"So we thought let's bring her back in and give her a go towards the Golden Slipper.''

Bougoure has given Oakleigh Girl two barrier trials going into today's big race and feels the filly is fit and ready to run well.

"I think she is almost the forgotten filly,'' Bougoure said.

"She hasn't had a run for a while and people are like that with two-year-olds if you don't seem them race before a big event.

"If there had been a 1000m race or an 1100 race we could squeeze in we would have done that but there were no suitable races.

Trainer Danny Bougoure has an exciting filly in Oakleigh Girl. Picture: Glenn Hampson Source: News Limited

"Her two trials have been good and her work on Tuesday was excellent. Craig (Newitt) was unavailable to ride her trackwork so Nash (Rawiller) helped me out and he was very happy with her gallop.

"I think she's where we need to have her so hopefully we have done the right thing.''

Oakleigh Girl has dazzling gate speed and Bougoure believes the barrier draw which has her starting from gate 10 will be advantageous.

"In the context of the race I think she has drawn ideally,'' the trainer continued.

"All the pace is drawn outside of her and I'm hard pressed to see anything try and lead her.

"We could cross and lead or then perhaps get a nice trail.''

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King-sized Kali ready to hit NRL

Teenage Ipswich Jet rugby player Se'e Kali is 1.9m tall and weighs 150kg. Source: Jack Tran / News Corp Australia

THEY call him King Kali. Anyone who meets this 17-year-old 150kg prodigy will too.

There are three NRL clubs already chasing Se'e Kali, a monster from Ipswich who made his senior debut last weekend despite being in Year 11.

At 1.9m tall, Kali's thighs are the size of most men's torsos and he weighs 25kg more than Gold Coast behemoth Dave Taylor.

Incredibly, Kali is actually on a diet and has lost 8kg since enrolling in Ipswich State High's rugby league excellence program this year.

Spare a thought for the staff at the school's uniform shop who had to knit custom shirts for the gentle giant to wear.

Se'e Kali, 17, is being chased by at least three NRL clubs. Source: News Corp Australia

"My family, we're all big,'' Kali said. "My brothers are all big. Since I started school I have always been the biggest in the class.

"I have a diet plan now I'm here at Ipswich State High, which is a change from New Zealand where I just ate what I wanted.''

That diet unsurprisingly relies on small portion sizes but also demands Kali eat at regular times as he had been skipping breakfast but eating late at night.

Kali has already made the Met West representative under-18 side and is expected to sign an NRL contract within three months.

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He debuted for Kevin Walters's former club Swifts in the tough Ipswich A Grade competition last week.

Despite competing against men a decade older, he was the best prop on the field.

"I'm pretty a big boy myself so it was all right playing against men," Kali said of his senior debut.

"There is only one NRL team in New Zealand. I need to support my mother and father so Australia was the best step for me.

"Ipswich State High has changed my life and given me an opportunity to make it.''

In news that may already start decreasing the crime rate, Kali is studying to become a police officer in case his NRL dreams are unfulfilled.

Kali shows of his size with Jets teammate Vinny Stephen in Ipswich. Source: News Corp Australia

That is unlikely, however, as he lasted 60 minutes in his A Grade debut.

"He's a freak," Ipswich State High rugby league coach Lee Addison said.

"Physically he's been blessed with size but what you don't see is his work ethic.

"He's like a professional who does not have a professional contract.

"If people take him for what he produces rather than his weight and height he will have a great career.

"You would not look at him and think he's fat. He's an athlete.

"Someone who is unfit cannot play 60 minutes against men and compete.''

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Lee on fire despite off-track drama

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LEE Holdsworth admitted he may not have been in Winton to record the second fastest practice time on Friday had he caught the man that threatened his young family during a midweek home invasion.

Holdsworth said he was still shaken after a man broke into his home and came face to face with his wife as he attempted to steal jewellery from his Gold Coast home at 10.30pm on Wednesday night after giving Mercedes their best practice result on a wet day at Winton.

The Erebus Motorsport V8 driver revealed he chased the intruder with a baseball bat and hinted he may have assaulted the failed thief had he been able to catch him.

"When you have something like that happen it is not something you get over straight away,'' Holdsworth said.

"When something like that happens to your family you don't think of the consequences of going after them. I could have done anything to him if I caught him. I had a baseball bat and I am sure I would have used it.''

Holdsworth was showering when he heard his wife scream. He grabbed a baseball bat and searched the house for the intruder as his one-year-old daughter slept in her room.

"I am trying to put it aside while I am in the car and take time to reflect on it during the day,'' Holdsworth said.

"I didn't have time to put clothes on and I went looking for him because I thought he was still in the house.''

Lee Holdsworth in the Erebus Motorsport V8 Mercedes during practice for the Winton 400 on Friday. Source: Getty Images

Holdsworth's wife and daughter are staying with relatives in Queensland with the V8 star in Victoria to contest the third round of the Supercars championship, which began with practice yesterday at Winton Raceway.

"Everyone is fine,'' Holdsworth said.

"They weren't hurt and we are all OK.''

Holdsworth claimed he could put the terror in his rearview mirror and land second year manufacturer Mercedes their first race win after a blazing final practice session that saw Holden's Fabian Coulthard smashed the newly resurfaced Winton lap record by more than a second.

"I can switch off as soon as I get into the car and go into racing mode,'' Holdsworth said.

"I think it is possible to get the win. We were second quickest for the day and we are not far off the fastest so I can't so no to that. We have certainly found a lot of speed in our cars and a lot more consistency. We have been waiting our turn and this weekend could be our time to get a podium, it could be our time to get the win, or it could just be a top-ten. We will wait and see put I do think it is certainly a possibility.''

Fastest day one driver Coulthard predicted his record time of 1.20.79 would be broken today when the V8s return for qualifying.

"I was on for a quicker lap,'' Coulthard said.

"And I made a mistake. I know there is more time there so I would say that time will be beaten tomorrow. The track is quite strange because it is grippy one moment and then all over the shop the next. It depends how it behaves tomorrow but I would say we will be quicker again.''

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Fix discipline or Tahs are toast

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DISCIPLINE is killing the Waratahs in big games this season, with statistics revealing they are the most penalised team in the Super Rugby competition.

If they are to live up to their ambition of being a top-two club this year, the Waratahs must become more street-smart about their tactics.

Conceding 20 penalties in last weekend's defeat to the Sharks was never going to bode well for the scoreline.

The penalties are either allowing teams to accumulate points or get out of trouble in their own end.

NSW is conceding an average of 14.2 penalties a match, and if they play to the status quo in Cape Town this weekend the Stormers (who average 10.3 conceded penalties a game) will punish them severely.

Missing captain Jean de Villiers and key attacking weapon Gio Aplon, the Stormers want a scrappy, messy affair that will upset the Tahs' attacking rhythm.

Under enormous pressure after having won just one of six games, and this week appointing Gert Smal as director of rugby to support struggling coach Alistair Coetzee, the Stormers will go back to basics and do what works best for them.

They have boasted the best defence in the tournament in the past three years and have been among the top placed sides by squeezing the life out of opposition attacks.

The Stormers have been the best team in Super Rugby at forcing turnovers, and the Tahs are being pinged and punished for their lax work in attacking breakdowns, so this is the most crucial area of their looming contest.

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If NSW can defend the ball with speed and strength, they can put the Stormers' defence on the back foot where they are most vulnerable.

But if the Stormers stifle the Tahs' continuity in attack, they will nullify the potency out wide of Bernard Foley and Kurtley Beale and take control of proceedings.

Instead of trying to eradicate all of their fouls, the Tahs need to be more wily in how and when they test the laws.

It is always a gamble with the complex law interpretations in rugby, but the best teams are not the cleanest, they are simply better at getting away with what other teams don't.

At present, NSW is getting caught out.

Referees will pay extra attention to them, and the Stormers will no doubt use the statistics to pressure NSW at the breakdown and frequently mention their habits in conversation with match officials at Newlands.

There are still plenty of games to come but this is a vital game for NSW's season; they begin the round in fifth but could drop out of the top half of the table if they're defeated.

They're missing Israel Folau, who has scored more tries and run more metres than any other player in 2014, and must prove they can win without him.

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McLean cops seven match ban for throw

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MELBOURNE Storm forward Jordan McLean has been controversially suspended for seven matches after being found guilty of a 'dangerous throw' on seriously injured Newcastle Knights player Alex McKinnon.

Rising star McLean left the two-and-a-half hour hearing at League Central shattered at the verdict. Melbourne may yet appeal the decision.

The three-man NRL judiciary panel consisting of ex-players Bob Lindner, Mal Cochrane and Chris McKenna did not accept evidence from McLean's counsel, Nick Ghabar, that McKinnon played a signifcant role by ducking his head in the tackle.

"He (McKinnon) unfortunately and unwittingly plays a substantial part in the tackle. I don't know why he did it," Ghabar said.

McKinnon is in a serious condition at the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne with a fracture to his C4 and C5 vertebrae.

It is unknown whether McKinnon, who was removed from an induced coma on Sunday, will walk again.

ALL HEARING DETAILS IN BLOG BELOW

Jordan McLean fronts Wednesday night's judiciary hearing. Source: News Limited

The panel took just 10 minutes to retun their guilty verdict but considerably longer to decide McLean's fate after hearing futher submissions in regards to what penalty McLean should receive.

NRL judiciciary counsel Peter Kite had asked for a penalty of seven to 11 weeks while Ghabar had sought a penalty of one to three weeks.

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Lowndes: qualifying all important

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THERE is always a slightly surreal feeling when the V8 Supercars circus heads to the tiny Victorian town of Winton.

Winton was once a major truck stop on the Hume Highway about two and a half hours north of Melbourne.

It has long been bypassed by the Hume Freeway, the truck stop is now derelict, the only motel in town is a private home these days, and all that's there now is a small primary school.

That and one of the busiest race tracks in the country.

Winton operates year round, with racing and road car testing, tyre testing, private practice, drive days and high performance driving schools. There is always something going on there.

The track is now 3km long thanks to an extension a decade ago. The original section of the track is twisty and difficult to pass on. Dick Johnson famously described it years ago as doing a "marathon around your clothes line".

Qualifying is critical to a good result at Winton.

If you can start upfront you can usually stay there and that is the secret to getting the big points haul which is so important across the whole season.

Winton is the test track for the Victorian V8 Supercar teams, so Ford Performance Racing are always strong there and so too are the Nissan factory team.

Winton's other unknown is the weather. It can be blazing hot, freezing cold or raining, often, as the local joke goes, on the same day.

■ TASMANIA'S round ended well but at midafternoon on Saturday I would not have bet on it.

I had just had an on-track run-in with my Red Bull teammate Jamie Whincup in the first race and found out I had been put to the back of the starting grid for the second race because of a technical infringement.

To win Sunday's third race was a real bonus because I was beginning to think Symmons Plains was my hoodoo track.

On Sunday we knew the start would be critical so we concentrated on that, got it right, and then from there I was able to control the race and run it as we needed to.

It all came together well and we extended our lead in the points.

Everyone wants to know about my run-in with Jamie in the first race. I guess all I can say is that the stewards looked at it and decided it was a racing incident, and I'm good with that.

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Leapai receives smashing advice

Alex Leapai has been told to not leave the outcome of his fight with Wladimir Klitschko to the judges. Source: Chris Hyde / Getty Images

AS Alex Leapai steels his mind and primes his explosive physical power to score one of the great wins in Australian sporting history this month the words of two men will be ringing in his ears.

Joe Bugner and Kali Meehan both fought for the world heavyweight title, both came up short and both have been regretting it ever since. On Wednesday, they both told Leapai not to make the same mistakes they did.

Bugner, who went 15 rounds in a title fight with Muhammad Ali in Kuala Lumpur in 1975, told Leapai at the Gold Coast PCYC on Wednesday: "You have to go out and absolutely smash Klitschko. Don't leave anything in the ring and don't hold back. You can't afford to let it go the distance because you might never get another chance.''

And Meehan, who went within a whisker of beating shock-punching American Lamon Brewster for the WBO heavyweight title in Las Vegas in 2004 and has been sparring Leapai all week, said: "Alex has the power to win this fight but he has to be aggressive from the start and shake Klitschko up. Every time Klitschko tries to hold, Alex has to dig deep and hurt him to the body.''

Leapai will leave for Germany on April 19 and spend a week in Germany preparing before the fight.

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Mundine’s silent tribute to Clottey

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ANTHONY Mundine is feeling mentally and physically ready for his fight with New York-based Joshua Clottey and, despite being unusually quiet about his opponent in the lead up to next Wednesday's bout, don't think he's changed too much.

Mundine takes on Clottey, the former world champion who holds a record of 37-4 with 22 KOs and has lost only to other world champs but has only had two fights in the last four years.

"I can't belittle this man. I can't get in his face, he's a man of honour, he's a man of integrity and his accomplishments and credibility speaks for itself, so I don't have to say anything," Mundine said.

"He's going to do his best, I'm going to do my best and then the best man will win."

Mundine has admitted previously that leading into this fight he has been "afraid", but reaffirmed on Wednesday that those feelings are just part of getting prepared.

"It's more a fear of failing and doubting yourself, but in all the big fights you go through these phases because you need it so you can perform at your optimum.

"But if you had a good preparation in training and a solid preparation physically and mentally then you become stronger as the fight draws nearer."

Mundine shows his stuff at the Tony Mundine Gym in Redfern in preparation for the fight. Source: News Corp Australia

Mundine takes confidence from recently being elevated to No. 2 in WBA rankings.

"Most of my career, they have been fighting longer than me, all fighters," he said.

"I don't really take that too much. I know feel I'm the best athlete out there and I can adapt and I've learnt so quickly on the job that, where I'm at now I'm better than most guys who have been fighting since they were six, seven or ten."

At 39, Mundine believes that he is in the peak of his boxing career, and had someone said 14 years ago he would be where he is today he wouldn't have believed it.

"That's another lie by Australian system and media that you're shot at a certain age.

"That it's set, but if you're still performing and you're still doing your thing then it shouldn't be an issue.

"It's just the belief and desire and ambition of the person and I feel I have that right now and I have a plan for the next couple of years and then we'll see what happens.

"But right now I don't see anything lacking from me as far as speed. I don't slur, I don't get hit, I'm a very defensive fighter and as a matter of fact I feel I'm getting better."

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Clarke ‘heartbroken’ over McKinnon fate

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I'M NOT writing this column as an Australian cricketer. I'm writing it as a lover of all sports and a rugby league fan who has been cut to the core by the injury to Alex McKinnon.

Like millions of others, I'm heartbroken today. The incident that has left Alex in hospital has touched lives across sports, across the country.

I'm hurting for his partner, his family and all the people close to him. Their lives have changed dramatically.

A plane flies over Hunter Stadium with a tribute to Alex McKinnon during the Knights-Sharks game. Source: Getty Images

I sincerely hope people don't blame Jordan McLean for what has happened. There was no malice in that tackle. It was a horrible, horrible accident. He would be feeling as bad as anybody.

This goes beyond a rugby league issue. As someone who played league as a kid and has watched countless games over the years, I've never seen anything like this. Freak accidents can happen in any sport, in any walk of life. It's just very, very sad.

NRL SHATTERED BY McKINNON DIAGNOSIS

McLEAN JUST GETTING BY AFTER TACKLE

SPORTS MEDICS CALL FOR BAN ON LIFT TACKLES

I love my league and was watching the Monday night game between the Storm and the Knights like thousands of others.

Alex's fall certainly looked nasty, but I don't think anyone expected things to turn out how they have.

What has come out since then has broken my heart. After I heard reports of his condition the other night, I lay awake in bed until 1.30am thinking about Alex and the things he must be going through. It still makes me feel sick in the guts.

Knights players form a huddle as a tribute to Alex McKinnon before the Sharks match. Source: Getty Images

It's hard to fathom how life can change so quickly, so dramatically and over such a freakish event.

As athletes, we can be a bit guilty of living in a bubble. You can think that things can't impact upon you like it can others. But something like this proves just how wrong that is.

It's sent shock waves through league, sport and society.

My thoughts and prayers are with Alex and his family.

Sport needs to help him and others who have suffered injuries like this.

McKinnon scores a try for the Knights in a NRL match against the Canterbury Bulldogs. Source: News Limited

I can't begin to imagine how something like this changes a life. And not just one life but the hundreds of people who are close to Alex.

I have thought to myself: 'If something like this happened on a cricket field, would I go out to bat the next day?' Honestly, yes I would. This is what I'm trained to do. And I'm sure it's the same for league players. The game will go on. But it must do so without ever forgetting Alex. He needs support. Not just today, but throughout his treatment.

From everything I've read, Alex is a fighter. That should give everyone hope — from the doctors to his family to the public that have come to love him. I wish him the very best in his recovery.

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Live: Wanderers v Kawasaki Frontale

Inamoto Junichi of Frontale takes on Shinji Ono of the Wanderers. Source: Mark Metcalfe / Getty Images

FOLLOW our live Asian Champions League blog as Shinji Ono and Western Sydney Wanderers travel to Japan to face Kawasaki Frontale.

The Wanderers sit second in Group H, three points clear of the J.League side and, while a win would be excellent, would probably take a draw back to Australia.

Follow all the action in our live blog below - with the action to get started at 9pm (EDT).

And don't forget to get tickets to the Fox Football live podcast on April 17th.

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Sixers storm into NBL grand final

Coach Joey Wright has taken the Adelaide 36ers into their first grand final series in 12 years. Picture: Morne de Klerk. Source: Morne de Klerk / Getty Images

ADELAIDE has stormed into its first NBL grand final series in 12 years with an emphatic Game Three 102-63 rout of Melbourne at a raucous and relentlessly loud Adelaide Arena.

From tip-off, the 4024 sounded more like 10,000, creating the most hostile environment seen at the venue since the nonstop 1993 avalanche heaped on another Melbourne Tiger, Mark Bradtke.

But this time all the ire, hostility and venom was aimed at Tigers star scorer Chris Goulding, identified by the crowd as the villain in Game Two's incident which cost Gary Ervin a one-game suspension and $7500 fine.

Completely rattled and unable to cope with the constant jeering, Goulding, Melbourne's 37-point hero of Game Two, was kept to six points on 1-of-5 shooting and three turnovers until coach Chris Anstey mercifully subbed him out with 7:36 left.

By then, Adelaide was ahead 85-48 and into its first grand final since winning the championship in 2002.

Sixers captain Adam Gibson led superbly against Melbourne Tigers. Picture: Morne de Klerk.

The 36ers will play Game One against the Perth Wildcats at The Jungle on Monday before the best-of-three championship returns to Adelaide Arena for Friday-week's Game Two.

"That crowd was unbelievable," said Sixers coach Joey Wright, who became the second coach in league history to drag a club from last into a grand final.

The 36ers simply were magnificent, captain Adam Gibson leading with outstanding defensive hustle and pressure on Goulding and pairing nine points with eight rebounds.

Daniel Johnson led all scorers with 23 points, Jason Cadee with 19 and a 13-point third period which tore the heart from the already beaten Tigers.

Coach Joey Wright talks to his players during the commanding performance against Melbourne. Picture: Morne de Klerk.

BJ Anthony relished his 14 minutes with seven boards and eight points as the 36ers found winners everywhere and were given a standing ovation to close each quarter.

Adelaide broke away late in the first quarter on a Rhys Carter three, then never relented as Melbourne's big men sank deeper into foul trouble, trailing 27-49 by halftime.

"You get conditioned to drown out the crowd but I could hear them tonight," Wright said, the fans unquestionably dismantling Goulding and with him, Melbourne.

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Mariners beat Beijing to top ACL group

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UNLIKELY hero Marcel Seip has handed the Central Coast a 1-0 win over Beijing Guoan, putting them well within reach of the Asian Champions League knockout phase.

Seip's first goal for the club ensured victory but man of the match Liam Reddy kept the Mariners in the game, his second-half penalty save swinging the balance of the clash at Central Coast Stadium.

The Mariners now go a point above Beijing and are well-placed in what is a tight group, with their next match also at home against FC Seoul before travelling to play their last group match against Sanfrecce Hiroshima.

Marcel Siep and Bernie Ibini of the Mariners celebrate the Dutchman's goal. Source: Getty Images

With the Mariners having to juggle the demands of fighting for a top-two spot in the A-League while trying to qualify for the knockout stages of the ACL, coach Phil Moss made six changes from the side that beat Western Sydney on Saturday.

The move paid off with the hosts having the better of the match against a difficult Chinese Super League side.

Beijing came under fire early after conceding a free-kick just centimetres outside the box, scrambling to block Kim Seung-Yong's strike with John Hutchinson leaping on the rebound to also test their defence.

Beijing Guoan player Joffre Guerron is brought down in the penalty box by Brent Griffiths. Source: AFP

Then Beijing defender Hejing Zhao almost gifted the Mariners the opening goal in the 23rd minute, hitting the post trying to clear a Josh Rose cross into the box.

Bernie Ibini continued the Mariners' assault, getting on the end of a cheeky backheel from Mitchell Duke to put keeper Zhi Yang to work with a powerful shot.

Beijing started to find their rhythm late in the half with Ecuadorian Joffre Guerron creating the visitors' first real chance and Shao Jiayi drawing a brilliant save from Reddy with a strike just before the break.

General view of Central Coast Stadium before the ACL clash. Source: Getty Images

The Mariners came out on the attack in the second half and looked the stronger side.

But the game was almost turned on its head when Brent Griffiths conceded a penalty for bringing down Guerron in the box.

Xizhe Zhang stepped up to the mark but Reddy came to the Mariners' rescue again with a sensational save to keep the game deadlocked.

With momentum well and truly with the Mariners the hosts struck in the 73rd minute with Dutch defender Seip netting in style with an impressive volley.

Don't forget to get tickets to the Fox Football live podcast on April 17th.

Re-live the action in our blog below.

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Fight for Milford hots up

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THE Broncos have called for the NRL to scrap the controversial round 13 registration deadline amid fears Canberra are "harassing" Anthony Milford in their $2.7 million retention fight.

Milford has signed with Brisbane for next season but the NRL's delay in rubber-stamping the deal until round 13 is giving Canberra time for a last-ditch counter strike.

Asked if the round 13 rule should be removed and playing contracts registered when a player signs, Broncos operations chief Andrew Gee said: "Yes, that's the logical thing."

Now the contract saga is turning ugly.

It is understood that Milford is feeling pressured to stay as key Raiders identities get in his ear in the hope the 19-year-old will backflip on his Broncos deal.

The Maroons Origin hopeful again underlined his importance to Raiders coach Ricky Stuart when he terrorised Souths in Canberra's 30-18 boilover on Sunday.

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Milford signed a two-year deal with Brisbane last November but under NRL guidelines the contract cannot be formalised by the governing body until June 6.

That gives Canberra another 67 days to convince Milford to snub the Broncos by accepting their three-year counter offer that is worth at least $900,000 annually.

In the ultimate irony, Canberra will host the Broncos in round 13 — three days after Milford's future is determined.

"Canberra have every right to fight for Anthony but it's not a great rule when a bloke can sign a contract and back out of it," Gee said.

"We went through this round 13 issue last year with Corey Norman.

"He signed with Parramatta and we could have tried to talk him out of it, but we respected his decision."

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Bowditch emerges from his dark past

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STEVEN Bowditch's biggest win is not $1.2 million or a dream trip to Augusta but meeting the American sweetheart who rescued him from his "dark times."

The soaring triumph of Monday's breakthrough victory at the Texas Open is the hope it gives every sufferer of depression. The demons can be controlled.

The Sunshine Coast golfer made a DVD, detailing his battle, for beyondblue to help the organisation's national fight against depression.

He could never take the step to watch it himself but grateful messages have reached him from people who did to save their own lives.

Steven Bowditch is overcome as his Texas Open victory sinks in after his long battle with depression. Source: AFP

The "dark times" that Bowditch calls his past, not his future, were so confusing and constricting in 2006 that he tried to drown himself in a pool in Dallas.

He was found face down in the pool and rushed to hospital.

The bushy-browed Queenslander has always had the prodigious game to conquer hurdles on course, yet his turmoil was inside.

Sleep-deprivation, binge drinking, crashes in self-esteem … Bowditch dealt with them all in a fraught first taste of the golfing big time in the US in 2006, when he withdrew from three events and was disqualified four times.

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Staring at those demons was tougher than any of the tricky lies he confronted on Monday when he dealt with rocks, cactus, rough and nerve-fraying putts. He closed with a four-over 76 but got the job done on a windy day.

It was in Dallas that he met former cheerleader Amanda Yarussi, a producer for a Fox Sports regional network in Texas.

She was putting out the garbage. He was fiddling around in his garage.

"Amanda is the love of my life," Bowditch, 30, said from San Antonio after his dramatic one-stroke win.

Bowditch acknowledges the crowd after holing his putt on the final hole in San Antonio. Source: AFP

"She is my wife and I love her dearly. I wouldn't be sitting here talking to you without her.

"She's great. She's my biggest supporter and she's always there through the ups and downs."

Bowditch admitted frankly that it is an ongoing process to stay ahead of depression, which once brought him to unexplained tears of dread over golf.

"I don't think I'll ever overcome it. You just deal with it on a day-to-day basis and learn, learn about yourself and move forward," Bowditch said.

Father Barry, a former cement renderer at Peregian Beach, proudly saluted his son having a fighting attitude made of the same stuff.

Bowditch almost sheepishly waves to the crowd after receiving a generous round of applause. Source: AFP

"I'd be very proud regardless, win or come second. I know the nerves he beat in that last round," Mr Bowditch said.

That he is now headed to the Masters next month to play in the field beside Australia's defending champion Adam Scott is headspinning. The unknown ranked No.339 in the world before Monday's feat is now going to be driving through the gates at Augusta.

"I don't even know how to get there," he joked.

"The only time I played it has been on PlayStation.

"So I think I know a few of the breaks."

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Stosur: top Germans to play Fed Cup

Sam Stosur anticipates Germany selecting Angelique Kerber and Sabine Lisicki for the Fed Cup semi. Source: Jayne Russell / Supplied

GERMANY'S two top-20 players, Angelique Kerber and Sabine Lisicki, will play in Fed Cup in Brisbane over the Easter weekend, Sam Stosur believes.

By doing so, Kerber and Lisicki would jeopardise their results at the Stuttgart tournament, Germany's second biggest, starting the day after the April 19-20 tie at Pat Rafter Arena against Australia.

"They were asking a lot of questions at Indian Wells (three weeks ago), very intrigued to know what we were planning," Stosur said.

"From that, I'd have to think they would play, but when it comes to the crunch maybe they will change their minds.

"We have a good chance against Germany in the semi. Playing at home can be an advantage. It can also put a bit more pressure on you, but we have won the last two times we have played in Australia."

The Australian and German sides must be named by April 9 under competition rules.

Kerber, the world No. 7, was one of three Germans to play at the Brisbane International in January on the hardcourt to be used for the Fed Cup tie.

Kerber was a quarter-finalist, Wimbledon runner-up Lisicki gave up a second-round walkover due to injury and the third-ranked German Andrea Petkovic, ranked 37th, made a second-round, as did Australian No2 Casey Dellacqua.

"Casey's played well in Brisbane and while I haven't had great results at the Brisbane International I really like the awesome atmosphere of playing there," Stosur said.

Stosur is seeded seventh in her first clay tournament of the year this week in Charleston, North Carolina.

The Queenslander has a first round bye and will play either China's Zheng Saisai or Kazakhstan's Yaroslava Shvedova in the second round.

Stosur lost in the second round at both the Indian Wells tournament last month (to eventual winner Flavia Pennetta) and Miami (to 104th ranked American Coco Vendewghe), but insists she is working well with new coach Miles Maclagan.

"It's hard to show you're improving with the three recent losses I've had being what they have been but I played well," she said.

"I want to prove it on a match court and I feel I am still learning lots of things, tactically or technically."

Dellacqua is not playing Charleston, but Jarmila Gajdosova won through qualifying there and is scheduled to play Ukrainian Elina Svitolina this morning in the first round.

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Snakes alive! NRL’s field invader

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THERE was something more lethal than a Johnathan Thurston show-and-go at the football on Monday with a brown snake appearing at Cbus Super Stadium.

On a warm Gold Coast night, fans shot to their feet early in the first half of the Titans and Cowboys clash after a snake appeared on the field.

Three feet long, the snake slithered across the turf of the south-eastern corner of the ground before heading into the crowd.

While security did their best to corner the snake, it shot underneath the grandstand and into a water pipe.

TITANS BEAT COWBOYS

Almost as soon as the uninvited reptile had made his appearance a Twitter account with the handle CbusSnake was already up and running, posting updates such as ``just hanging at cbus... looking for rats''.

The match continued without interruption with the snake never appearing to actually go near the field of play.

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