NRL spitting a one off: Greenberg

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Ben Barba ... during the Manly Sea Eagles v Canterbury Bulldogs at Brookvale Oval. Source: Mark Evans / News Limited

Canterbury-Bankstown chief executive Todd Greenberg is confident the ugly scenes at Brookvale Oval, where star fullback Ben Barba was spat on by Manly fans, is simply a one off for the NRL.

And Greenberg, who will join the NRL as second-in-command to CEO Dave Smith in August, said he is comfortable leaving the investigation in the hands of the NRL's integrity unit.

He has yet to speak to the wife of forward Frank Pritchard, Raima, over racist abuse she copped during the game - but said all findings would be funnelled through to the integrity unit.

And Greenberg doesn't have any concerns about the fan reaction when Sonny Bill Williams returns to face Canterbury at ANZ Stadium for the first time since walking out on the club in 2008.

Williams took the Bulldogs to task when the two teams met earlier this year, scoring twice as the Roosters triumphed 38-0 at Allianz Stadium.

A return to his former home ground will be a different prospect but Greenberg believes the disgusting antics which confronted his players on Friday will not be seen again at any ground this year.

"I just think last Friday night people's emotions spilled over at Brookvale," Greenberg said on Wednesday.

"It was very ordinary. I made that clear.

"But I don't think that's a sign of anything coming or going. It was just a one-off.

"We're really looking forward to Friday night."

Greenberg says whatever bad blood there was between Williams and the Bulldogs disappeared long ago, pointing to their post-match handshake as proof perfect that everything was settled.

"As much as everyone would like me to say something controversial about Sonny leading into Friday night, you won't hear it from me," he said.

"Sonny and I shook hands on that night. We've moved on, he's moved on, the Bulldogs have moved on." 

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Tate set for rep retirement

Brent Tate ... is tackled by Michael Jennings during game 1 of State of Origin 2013. Source: Mark Evans / News Limited

Queensland's golden generation is set to lose another member, with Brent Tate revealing he is almost certain to join close friend Justin Hodges in retiring from rep footy after this year.

Coach Mal Meninga yesterday began dismantling the greatest - and oldest - line-up in Origin history by replacing Ashley Harrison, 32, with Josh Papalii, 21, and Dave Shillington, 30 next week, with 24-year-old Daly Cherry-Evans.

Tate, who will win his 20th Maroons start at Suncorp Stadium next Wednesday, inked a new one-year deal with the Cowboys this month but admits representative retirement is just around the corner.

The 31-year-old is now the oldest Queensland player, narrowly edging former Broncos teammates Corey Parker and Hodges, who is almost certain to pull the pin after this year.

"I'm thinking the same way. I'm starting to definitely feel that way," Tate told mX.

"As you get older it gets a bit harder. I'm definitely thinking along the same lines as Hodgo.

"It's in the back of my mind - it's a young man's game now.

"There are a few of us that are getting on a bit. I know my time in this team is coming to an end.

"All good things must come to an end and that's why I savor every moment of being here."

After 15 matches for Queensland, Harrison became the first casualty of Meninga's concerted push to bring down the average age of his squad.

"I know it would have been really tough for Mal but we are an ageing squad," Tate said.

"It's really difficult not to have (Harrison) here because he's been a really big part of everything we've done. But it opens the door for others and it's up to them to do the jersey proud.'' 

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Tahiti v Spain: this could get ugly

Minnows ... Tahiti face the might of Spain in the Confederations Cup. Source: NELSON ALMEIDA / AFP

As unfancied Tahiti came up against Nigeria on Monday at the Confederations Cup, minds were cast back to 2001 and another case of Mission Impossible at the tournament.

It was Socceroo Clayton Zane who provided the story of the Confederations Cup - the underdogs racing away to revel in the joy of an unlikely goal against opponents that appeared to be from a different planet.

That was in 2001 when a strike from Zane gave the unfancied Socceroos a historic win over the reigning World Champions France at the Confederations Cup. On Monday in Brazil the World watched on, hoping for an even more improbable moment. A win looked impossible; a goal was all everyone hoped for.

Most dismissed the prospect of them even getting into a goal scoring position. The former Chelsea star now turned BBC pundit Pat Nevin said they wouldn't get a corner. His fellow pundit John Hartson predicted they would be hard to break down and would sit deep and defend for their lives.

Both assumptions were proved wrong. They started brightly. They were brave. Then what most predicted would happen did - Tahiti conceded a goal after just five minutes.

They weren't torn apart by the African Champions Nigeria. A clearance hit the referee and bounced to a Nigerian attacker whose shot hit two Tahiti defenders and deflected past the keeper. The haplessness was what was expected from a team ranked 135th in the World by FIFA.

The bright start appeared certain to give way to a thrashing. "Of course we will probably lose, but we don't want to lose by too many goals," Henri Thierry Ariiotima, president of the Tahiti FA, said before the tournament.

When Nigeria made it 3-0 after 26 minutes the second part of Ariiotima's hopes looked in danger.

Perhaps even more worrying than the hour remaining in the match was what lay in wait three days later – Spain. But the tiny nation with just 11,000 registered football players and one solitary professional in their entire squad refused to fall apart.

They continued to try to get forward. They proved Nevin wrong in the first half, when the excellent Steevy Chong Hue outpaced Celtic defender Efe Ambrose and won his side a corner. Chong Hue even had a glorious chance to give Tahiti the goal everyone craved when he got on the end of a cross only to badly misdirect his header.

It seemed like their one moment had passed. But then on 54 minutes it arrived. Defender Jonathan Tehau got on the end of a corner and scored. It mattered little to score line. It was still 3-1 and Nigeria would eventually score three more before the ninety minutes was up but Tahiti had their moment.

Their coach, Eddy Etaeta, had feared they "would not give a very good image of Tahitian football". The goal ensured this would not be the case. In truth it was no more than they deserved. They tried bravely to play their way out from the back, even after it resulted in Nigeria scoring their second goal.

Their full-backs got forward and joined the attack when they had the chance. "Tahiti came out to fight like lions," Nigeria's Nnamdi Oduamadi said after the match.

It was refreshing. Fear was not cursing through their performance, when perhaps it had every right to. In a warm-up game just before the Confederations Cup, they got a glimpse of what they were up against when Chile's under 20s beat them 7-0.

"I really hope this defeat will act as a trigger for us and that we will react to this spanking," Etaeta said after the match. He got the reaction he hoped for.

On Friday morning (EST) the spanking they received from Chile is likely to seem a tame one. The team that comprises an auditor, a climber and a delivery man will face what is arguably the best international side the world has seen – Spain.

"It's unbelievable, completely incredible," Etaeta said of facing the European and World Champions.

The wonder is likely to be accompanied by pain, but on the evidence of their performance against Nigeria fears that the Socceroos' world record 31-0 win against American Samoa is under threat are unlikely to be realised.

Their sole professional Marama Vahirua said a goal in any of their group games would "be a victory in the competition." They have had their victory, if they manage to score against Spain it is likely to be Tahiti's and Oceania's sporting triumph of a lifetime.

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Border's Ashes advice for Pup

Advice ... Allan Border believes criticism can be a great motivator. Source: Adam Head / News Limited

Former Australian cricket captain Allan Border says the national side's underdog status and bad press during their tour of England should be exploited to build team spirit.

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Border said on Tuesday comparisons between the plight of today's team and the disunited team he took to England in 1989 were justified.

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"We suffered the same thing in '89 and it was a great motivational tool for me and the senior guys to cut out these headlines that we were the worst team ever and post them around the dressing room," Border said while in Canberra to promote skin cancer awareness.

"It was a good spur for a team that was an underdog and written off, it was not hard to motivate people under those circumstances."

Border said while Australia had dominated world cricket and was the best team for years, it now lacked standout players.

He said teams could get by if they possessed great players but when they lacked individuals with matchwinning ability they needed team spirit.

"The challenge for Michael Clarke now is, firstly, to get himself fit and then, (to) get the team collectively hunting as a pack ... they could do well," he said.

The Australian team's poor performance continued this week when they missed out on a place in the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy.

Border says the Test team that will contest the Ashes will be subtly different to the one-day team.

The trick for leader of the Australian team is to use the underdog status as a motivational spur.

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Raiders will stand by Ferguson

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Blake Ferguson ... leaves the Crowne Plaza Hotel at Coogee under an assault charge cloud. Source: Robert Barker / News Limited

Canberra chairman John McIntyre says the club will stand by troubled NSW State of Origin winger Blake Ferguson and help with a rehabilitation plan.

Ferguson was dumped from the Blues team as the NRL suspended his registration on Monday night, citing repeated behavioural issues involving the abuse of alcohol.

The 23-year-old returned to Canberra from the NSW team hotel on Tuesday morning just as news was breaking that South Sydney prop George Burgess had been charged by police in Cairns with wilful damage.

Burgess was suspended for two matches by the NRL and slugged with a $10,000 fine after he threw a road sign through a car window in the Cairns suburb of Redlynch.

The incident took place some 15km away from the Souths team hotel, after an argument with resident of a unit complex in the early hours of Monday morning following the Rabbitohs' win over the Gold Coast in the North Queensland town.

Ferguson was charged by police with indecent assault over an alleged incident on Sunday at a bar in Sydney, where he was drinking with former Raiders teammate Josh Dugan.

The 23-year-old was on his final warning at the club after he was stood down for one game and fined $10,000 for skipping a recovery session to go drinking with Dugan, who was sacked over the incident in March.

Raiders chief executive Don Furner said on Tuesday the club backed the action taken by the NRL against Ferguson but a course of action is yet to be determined.

"We recognise this process is going to involve discussions with the NRL and also the need for the club to continue to send a strong message in this area," Furner said.

"We have been in constant consultation with the NRL integrity unit and will continue to work with them to determine the best course of action for Blake, the Raiders and the NRL."

However, long-standing chairman McIntyre then told the Canberra Times the board would definitely stand by and help Ferguson get through his problems.

"I sent my thoughts around to the board via email today and they've responded," he said.

"The key element that's got to come out of it in the end has got to be support for this young bloke."

Ferguson's replacement in the NSW side Nathan Merritt said he was disappointed to see him axed because of behavioural issues and hoped his indigenous all stars teammate would get the right help around him to get his career back on track.

"Hopefully Blake is being surrounded by the right people and they try to keep him calm," Merritt said.

"He needs to get his mind back on the job, get away for a while, freshen up and then see where he goes from there." 

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Origin tempers may flare: Meninga

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Coach Mal Meninga ... gestures during the Queensland State of Origin team training session. Source: DAVE HUNT / AAP

Queensland coach Mal Meninga says the NRL's hardline stance on punching came a game too late but is no guarantee that the days of State of Origin fights are over.

The Maroons have been quick to rule out retribution in next week's Origin II in Brisbane in the fallout over NSW skipper Paul Gallen's game one fisticuffs.

However, the stage is set for round two after Gallen's 2012 NRL finals nemesis - Canberra enforcer Josh Papalii - was injected into a new-look Queensland side to add more grunt for Origin II.

Meninga said he agreed with the NRL's reaction to Gallen's fight with Maroons forward Nate Myles that marred NSW's game one 14-6 win but did not rule out repeat scenes next Wednesday night.

"I don't think you can guarantee that (no fighting) in any game of rugby league or any combative sport - there will always be flare ups and tempers tested,'' he said.

"It's probably a game too late but I can understand the decision.

"But it's an aggressive game and at times tempers do flare.

"We need to be better at controlling our emotions a bit better but Origin is all about emotion - we will see what happens."

Meninga said 21-year-old Papalii's selection was due to outstanding NRL form - not blunting Gallen.

"He's very combative when he plays - you need that mentality," he said.

Papalii - Queensland's 19th man in game one - turned heads with a series of hits on Gallen in last season's NRL first round finals match.

An angry Gallen later called one of Papalii's hits a "dog shot".

Papalii - cousin of world-ranked heavyweight boxer Alex Leapai - said he would not be looking for trouble but would not stand and cop punches like Myles in game one.

"I am going to put the team first but I am not going to stand there and get my head punched in," he said.

"If something happens I have to look after myself.

"But if I want to be a boxer I would take up boxing."

The NSW camp feared the new stance on fighting may prompt Queensland to bait them in game two - and Meninga did not exactly play it down.

It's all niggle anyway. It's not what we do but it's an aggressive game," he smiled.

Maroons skipper Cameron Smith said the stance had to be taken but also questioned the timing.

"I think it is a good move but the strange thing is that it starts in game two and not at the start," he said.

"Gal did what he did and stayed on the field and now if something like that happens you are off.

"But I am surprised it (issue) has gone on for so long."

So, too, was the man on the receiving end of Gallen's now infamous combination.

"I can't see why it's been a big talking point," Myles said.

"To be honest I think it's a rule that's been coming for a long time.

"I don't think it was a good look for the code."

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Fair or Unfair: pressure now on Voss

Pressure ... Michael Voss has had five years at the helm of Brisbane Lions. Source: Colleen Petch / News Limited

After the sacking of Melbourne coach Mark Neeld, the AFL pressure has turned to under-fire Brisbane Lions mentor Michael Voss.

Pressure is now on Brisbane Lions coach Michael Voss.

After winning 10 games last year and the NAB Cup earlier this season, the Lions were seen as finals contenders.
However, after 11 games they sit 15th with just three wins.

It prompted this week's AFL 360 ME Bank Fair or Unfair debate; all the pressure is now on Michael Voss.

Co-host Mark Robinson believed Voss was well and truly in the gun and was potentially hurting his reputation as a player.

"The pressure is on this mighty, mighty leader of men ... as a coach, he is average," he said.

"He is coaching like Tim Notting when he was a player like Michael Voss. He was a giant.

"This game is a brutal game, if you don't succeed it spits you out."

The Lions face Geelong this weekend and again in round 23 but Gerard Whateley believes there are eight winnable games in the run home.

Robinson said Voss would need a large majority to those wins to save his job.

"I hope he gets them, he needs to. Otherwise, he won't be coaching next year. It is as simple as that," he said.

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Hughes, Wade join Australia A

Australia's Phillip Hughes ... hits a ball while in bat. Source: Rui Vieira / AAP

Phil Hughes and Matt Wade will join up with Australia A on Tuesday to maximise preparation time for the Ashes.

Following a disappointing pool-round exit from the Champions Trophy, the two Ashes squad members will use the extra time before next week's opening tour match against Somerset, to get some extra time in the middle for the A team, who completed a 93-run first-class win over Ireland in Belfast on Monday.

Hughes and Wade will join the Australia A team for their match against Gloucestershire in Bristol starting on Friday.

Michael Clarke will remain in London, as he continues to take it slowly in his return to training from his latest back injury.

Shane Watson, Mitchell Starc and James Faulkner will also remain in London.

The rest of the ODI squad either fly home or join county teams on Tuesday, including West Australian fast bowler Nathan Coulter-Nile.

AAP incorrectly reported that Coulter-Nile would stay on as a net bowler in the lead up to the first Test, however he is on his way home.

Coulter-Nile and others like Mitchell Johnson would only be considered for a return to the UK if it was felt there were fitness concerns in the group.

Meanwhile, national selector John Inverarity says calling Fawad Ahmed into the Ashes squad will be a judgment call when the time comes.

Inverarity told the BBC that Ahmed's citizenship was likely to be processed in time for the first Test, but stressed nothing was locked in at this stage for the Pakistan-born asylum seeker to join Australia's 16-man squad.

Ahmed broke through for his debut wicket for Australia A on Monday as they wrapped up a big win over Ireland.

The 31-year-old went wicketless in the first innings, but claimed the second last scalp of the match to finish with 1-25 from a six over spell in the second innings.

Ahmed will play in Australia A's next match against Gloucestershire later this week and if laws have passed in the Senate to make him eligible by then, a decision will be made on whether he joins the squad.

"We'll consider him for selection. That's all it's at this stage," said Inverarity.

Already there's plenty of hype and interest in Ahmed and Inverarity admits he's concerned about the pressures the Victorian leg-spinner would face if selected for the Ashes.

However he's confident Ahmed has the temperament to succeed.

"He's handled himself well," Inverarity said.

"There's significant signs of great maturity but it's still going to be very difficult."

Australia A won the match by 93 runs despite significant rain delays, with a blistering 113 not out from 63 balls from Nic Maddinson opening the batting in the second innings really moving the game along.

Alex Doolan also made 53no for a superb unbeaten opening stand of 174.

Allrounder Moises Henriques was the star with the ball in the second innings, finishing with figures of 4-22 off 10 as Ireland were all out for 207. 

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Who replaces Snake, Merritt ready?

Down and out ... Brett Stewart is expected to miss Origin I. Source: Robb Cox / AAP

Brett Stewart will miss the State of Origin opener with a back injury - so who will take his place?

Guest host Mark Gottlieb joins Christian Jantzen and Gerard Middleton to examine who is going to fill the void left by Stewart in game one.

The boys examine whether Nathan Merritt is ready to step up for the Blues, and ask, how would Sir Alex Ferguson have fared if he coached in the NRL?

Plus they'll preview all the round nine action in the NRL including the Monday Night Football blockbuster between Manly and the Roosters.

To hear the full discussion, subscribe free to the weekly rugby league podcast – There's Always Next Week – which you'll find on iTunes: http://bit.ly/11QaDoE 

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Deer oh deer, Vijay sues US PGA

Deer antler ... Vijay Singh is suing the US PGA for defamation. Source: Charles Rex Arbogast / AAP

Vijay Singh has filed a lawsuit against the US PGA Tour a week after his doping case was dropped, claiming it damaged his reputation by not doing a thorough job of researching his use of deer antler spray.

"I am proud of my achievement, my work ethic and the way I live my life,'' Singh said in a statement on Wednesday.

"The PGA Tour not only treated me unfairly, but displayed a lack of professionalism that should concern every professional golfer and fan of the game.''

Singh on Wednesday filed the lawsuit in New York, where he has a home and the tour has an office.

The 50-year-old Fijian admitted in a Sports Illustrated article in January that he used deer antler spray, which was said to include an insulin-like growth hormone that was on the tour's list of banned substances. The tour sent a sample from Singh to be tested, and it returned small amounts of the IGF-1 chemical.

The lawsuit said the tour notified Singh on February 19 that he was to be suspended for 90 days. Singh appealed.

Last week, commissioner Tim Finchem said the tour was dropping its case based on new information from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), adding that WADA informed the tour that using deer antler spray was no longer prohibited because it contains such minimal amounts of IGF-1.

The lawsuit said the tour relied on WADA's list of banned substances and methods without doing any of its own research, including whether such substances even provide any performance-enhancing benefits.

"We have not seen the lawsuit, just the statement,'' tour spokesman Ty Votaw said. "We have no comment.''

The lawsuit also said the tour held Singh's earnings in escrow during his appeal. Singh earned $99,980 from five tournaments. The suit seeks unspecified damages.

"He's looking to reclaim his reputation and hold the tour accounting for acting irresponsible,'' said Jeffrey Rosenblum, one of Singh's lawyers. "He's concerned about his reputation. There should never be an asterisk next to Vijay's name.''

Singh has won the Masters and the US PGA Championship among his 34 tour victories. He holds the tour record with 22 wins after turning 40. His best year was in 2004, when he won nine times. Singh has not won since the Deutsche Bank Championship in September 2008, two months after the tour's anti-doping program was launched.

The lawsuit was filed the week of The Players Championship, the tour's flagship event at its headquarters next to the TPC Sawgrass.

Singh is in the field. He has not spoken to reporters all year.

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