'Johnson pushing for Starc's spot'

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JAMES Pattinson has given a ringing endorsement to Mitchell Johnson as the rehabilitated paceman looks to make an Ashes comeback.

Pattinson was impressed by Johnson's performance in the recent ODI series in England, which has many judges tipping a recall for him in the Ashes.

"Mitch Johnson bowled fantastically in the one-day series over in England, he swung the ball well and bowled it with pace. 

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"I think he's up there pushing for a place (of) someone like Mitch Starc if he's out for the summer."

Pattinson has had own injury concerns and is using Pilates as his main source of recovery from his second major back problems in as many years.

Given he'll have to play domestic cricket before he's even considered for a Test spot, it's unclear whether Pattinson will be fit in time for the first Ashes Test.

"I'd probably have to play a Shield game before I play that first Test," Pattinson said.

"I'm still not sure whether I'll be right. We've had a couple other bowlers go down, so the last thing we'd want to do is push it too far."

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If Pattinson makes the field he should be at the head of the welcoming committee for England's Stuart Broad.

Broad is expected to be public enemy No.1 Down Under after being the centre of several controversial incidents during the Ashes series in England.

The fast bowler first drew the Aussies' ire when he refused to walk despite getting a thick edge that was taken by captain Michael Clarke at first slip (after rebounding off Brad Haddin's gloves), and didn't endear himself to cricket fans by constantly wasting time by taking off his shoe during key moments throughout the series.

Pattinson, who didn't play the second half of the series, suspects Broad will be in for a bit of an ear-bashing this summer.

"I suppose there's a quiet bit of banter going on when you're out there – it wouldn't be cricket without that," Pattinson told foxsports.com.au.

"I'm sure the public will give him his fair share when he gets over here."

The average Aussie cricketers' definition of 'a quiet bit of banter' should see Broad the object of plenty of on-field sledging.

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Sharks forced to relocate to QLD?

Cronulla Sharks skipper Paul Gallen. Source: Rohan Kelly / News Limited

THE Cronulla Sharks could be forced to relocate 1450km to central or southern Queensland in 2015 in the wake of the club's administrative failures when the ASADA investigation is complete.

The Daily Telegraph has learned NRL powerbrokers have held talks about the possibility of the Sharks being moved to Rockhampton or southern Queensland, with the club's financial position expected to become stretched to the extreme if the NRL hits Cronulla with a million-dollar fine for bringing the game into disrepute over the ongoing supplements crisis. 

Under NRL rules, the game's governing body has the power to rescind any club's licence if they deem it has become financially insolvent or in "extreme circumstances", such as the black eye the Sharks have caused rugby league due to the club's controversial supplements program from 2011. 

With the ASADA report into the clubs practices due to be handed down after the October 6 grand final, Cronulla are still awaiting what punishments the club will face for implementing a systematic regime of banned peptides for an 11-week window under the guidance of sports scientist Stephen Dank. 

The final rulings on the supplements scandal are expected to drag on well into next season, meaning the most likely time-frame on a Sharks relocation would be at the end of 2014. 

NRL CEO Dave Smith denied plans to move any team in the immediate future but conceded "the footprint of the entire competition" would be "reviewed" for the following year. 

"We don't have plans to move any team," Smith said.

"We are working to assist some clubs in building sustainable ways forward and that is a joint exercise that relies on the clubs being financially viable and continuing to meet corporate governance responsibilities. 

"There's no doubt that as we get to the planned review of expansion at the end of 2014 that the whole competition footprint will be looked at but that is still a while away."

With nine NRL clubs in existence in Sydney and only three in Queensland, NRL powerbrokers believe the possible relocation of the Sharks is a commercial reality rugby league can no longer ignore. 

Cronulla fans will understandably be fuming about details of the potential move being leaked, but The Daily Telegraph has confirmed Smith and some of the other NRL commissioners have canvassed the issue. 

Significantly, the new NRL commissioner set to replace Gary Pemberton, Graeme Samuel, was one of the pioneers on the AFL commission who campaigned to reduce the number of AFL clubs in Victoria. 

During Samuel's tenure on the AFL commission, he oversaw the relocation of the Fitzroy Lions to Brisbane and came under heavy fire for putting relocation and merger discussions on the radar for clubs including Footscray, Melbourne and Hawthorn. 

The Sharks earned the ire of NRL headquarters two months ago when the club's new board made the decision to reinstate sacked trainer Mark Noakes prior to the ASADA investigation being finalised. 

As a result, interim CEO Bruno Cullen immediately quit his post in protest over the way the club had thumbed their noses at the game's governing body. 

The Daily Telegraph has also been told the NRL is preparing to hit coach Shane Flanagan and his support staff during the period in question with severe sanctions, irrespective of whether they claim they knew nothing about what was going on during Dank's tenure in the Shire. 

Crucial to the high-powered NRL discussions is the management failures at Cronulla, where the Sharks hand-to-mouth existence meant it was forced to operate for three years without a chief executive. 

In the AFL, the Essendon Bombers were hit with a fine of $2 million and stripped the club of its first two draft picks next season.

If the NRL was to issue Cronulla with the equivalent fine of $2 million, it could effectively send the club into financial oblivion.

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England's foreign legion Ashes squad

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YOU'VE got the whole world in your team.

This parody of the modern English cricket side, made popular by The Fanatics during previous Ashes series, seems more appropriate than ever after the unveiling of England's Ashes squad this week.

England's selectors have opted to include Boyd Rankin, who represented his native Ireland at the 2007 and 2011 World Cups, as well as Gary Ballance, the nephew of Dave Houghton and a former Zimbabwean under-19 representative, in their touring squad. They join a foreign legion that includes the South Africa-born trio of Kevin Pietersen, Jonathon Trott and Matt Prior.

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England have made a habit of recruiting foreign players over the last decade including Darren Pattinson, the brother of current Australian fast bowler James Pattinson, for the Headingley Test against South Africa in 2008.

The younger Pattinson has previously stated that the abuse levelled at Darren from inside the England camp for "defecting" has provided ample motivation ahead of his previous duels with the old enemy. He was more diplomatic when assessing the current England squad, however.

"There's a few of them there, isn't there?" Pattinson said. "Obviously they're fantastic players, they've come through the development squad in England so they've done all the work with the English boys."

Family aside, Pattinson has ample experience of the free movement of labour within modern international cricket. Fawad Ahmed, born in Pakistan and Australia's newest limited overs spinner, is Pattinson's teammate with Victoria.

Pattinson's Australian teammate, Steve Smith, was similarly reluctant to criticise England's selection policies.

"They've obviously come through the system and have qualified to play for England now," Smith said. "So you've just got to put up with it.

"I've seen a few of them play. Gary Ballance, one of the new guys, got a hundred against us in the tour match at Northampton, so he obviously can play a fair bit. Boyd Rankin played in the one-day series, so I saw a bit of him. They've obviously got some good young players coming through, and people that we'll probably have to look to target if they get a game."

Matt Wade, meanwhile, supported coach Darren Lehmann's push for Australia to produce an entertaining style of play. Lehmann raised the ire of elements within English cricket this week by describing their approach to the game as "dour", but Wade was supportive of his coach's approach.

"Boof obviously encourages us to express ourselves on the cricket field, and play the way we want to play, (which is to) be exciting and entertaining," Wade said. "That's the brand of cricket he's after and that's what he's going for especially in our team.

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"I'm not sure about his comments about England being dour and boring – they're a good cricket team, that's for sure. They've just beaten us in the Ashes so we're going to have to play some good cricket to win the Ashes here."

Brett Lee, Lehmann's former teammate, described the coach's comments as pre-series gamesmanship.

"When you talk about the Ashes … there's going to be a bit of stick thrown around the media," Lee said. "We all know how it works.

"As long as no one crosses the line, which Darren certainly hasn't … he's just trying to get one up on the Poms, I think."

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Osieck's bemusing Socceroos squad

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IF the selection of David Carney in the Socceroos squad for the France and Canada clashes was one of the more surprising inclusions by Holger Osieck, the exclusion of Millwall's Shane Lowry at his expense has to be the most bemusing omission.

The national team has gone through almost as many left back's since Scott Chipperfield's retirement as the Australian cricket team has done spinners since Shane Warne called it quits.

So it beggars belief that 24 year old Lowry, who is coming off a 39 game season in the English Championship that saw him feature in an F.A Cup semi-final, has again been overlooked in favour of 29 year old Carney who has played eight club games in the past two seasons. Four of which were in Uzbekistan.

This is not a criticism of Carney's ability. 

Of all the left-backs Australia has used since Chipperfield's departure he has easily been the most capable and after a near, year-long search for a club he has found himself an excellent set-up at the New York Red Bulls in which to relaunch his career. But having played only four times in the MLS since signing, he should be required to prove his form over a longer period of time in order to win a national team recall, especially after such a long absence from regular club football.

This is, though, a criticism of Osieck's continual refusal to grant Lowry his first cap.

After graduating through Aston Villa's academy, the West Australian opted to leave the Midlands club for greater opportunities. Millwall chose to make his loan spell there permanent last season and Lowry flourished in London.

He was unmovable in Millwall's back four, winning over the fans and making the left-back spot his own as well as filling in at the centre of defence when required. And while his attack on the ball fits in perfectly with his club's aggressive culture, his elevation to set-piece taker for both corners and free-kicks proves that his left foot possesses just as much craft as it does tenacity.

The Socceroos would be well served by another option from dead ball situations.

Lowry's start to this season has been slower than the last, and while there's no guarantees that he's the long term solution at left-back, it's perpelexing as to why Osieck hasn't yet made him an option by surveying him in camp.

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The Championship may lack a touch of technical class but there are few leagues in the world that are as gruelling and demanding as the 46 game marathon of English Football's second tier. Socceroo legends Lucas Neill and Tim Cahill could both vouch for its credibility having launched their careers at Millwall too, while Mile Jedinak spent two seasons there before winning promotion to the Premiership with Crystal Palace.

Michael Zullo, Jason Davidson and Aziz Behich have all had their Socceroos chances hindered by the lack of regular club football while Matt McKay has done a serviceable job but as a midfielder he is a potential liability defensively against top class opposition, as Brazil so brutally proved in their 6-0 thrashing of Australia.

Lowry presents the most obvious combination at present of both defensive acumen with regular game time at a quality level in the left-back position, of any Australian player.

In a Fox Sports interview last season, Lowry said he was willing to bide his time but thought his chance might have come in the February friendly against Romania.

Right now, he must be wondering if it ever will.

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Lynn's secret weapon: a titanium box

Chris Lynn's titanium box looks like a sturdy piece of work. Source: Supplied

CHRIS Lynn has become the Brisbane Heat's Man of Steel.

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Well, Man of Titanium to be precise.

The Heat batsman was in excruciating pain for most of last season after being forced to undergo complex testicle surgery when he was struck a sickening blow by a Doug Bollinger delivery.

Lynn, who was at one stage concerned about his long-term prospects of becoming a father, has been taking no chances with his precious "crown jewels" ahead of his return to big-time cricket.

Rather than wearing a traditional plastic cricket box, Lynn has purchased a titanium box off the internet and is wearing it into battle in the Heat's Champions League T20 campaign in India.

It might not create quite the same stir as when Dennis Lillee walked onto the WACA brandishing an aluminium bat in an Ashes Test in 1979, but Lynn is hoping it will save him from watery eyes and more pain in the future.

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Click here to read Ben Dorries' full preview of Brisbane Heat's Champions League T20 campaign.

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It has already survived its first big test when Lynn was recently whacked a blow in the groin while batting in the nets, yet he hardly felt a thing and the titanium box emerged unscathed.

"I have changed my box and I got a titanium one off the net - they are about $30 and it is probably the best $30 I have ever spent," Lynn told The Courier-Mail.

"I recommend everyone should have one ... the titanium is as light as ever and as comfortable as ever.

"I got hit wearing it in the nets recently and the guy was bowling a decent pace and it didn't faze me too much.

"Last season I was totally wrecked, I was in a world of hurt and it was a struggle to get through each day to be honest."

Lynn, 23, is regarded as one of Australia's brightest young batting prospects but has never quite been able to bridge the gap between potential and performance.

But that was hardly his fault last season as his injury kept him from the playing field, and he also didn't have a competitive hit-out in the off-season as he recovered from surgery.

"I just went for a surf, went to the pub on a Friday afternoon, had a bet on Saturday and put the feet up on a Sunday, just the sort of thing that young fellas do," Lynn said.

With the Heat kicking off their Champions League campaign against Trinidad and Tobago in Ranchi on Sunday night, the big-hitting Lynn knows he will have to have a bumper tournament for the depleted Heat team to be successful.

"If I feel like I can hit it for six then I'll have a go - if I get out, I get out," Lynn said.

"If I can score a few runs in India I can put my name forward. And personally and financially it will be rewarding."

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Pressure firmly on Roosters: Noddy

Mitchell Pearce celebrates. Source: Brett Costello / News Limited

IN his weekly column, Fox Sports expert and Canberra assistant coach Brett Kimmorley offers his thoughts on the semi-finals action in the 2013 NRL Premiership season.

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Sea Eagles v Sharks at Allianz Stadium

The game never reached the level of physicality I thought it would. I expected a brutal arm wrestle but it seemed as if Manly were trying to show everyone they could score points after being held to nil against the Roosters last week. It was like they had to keep the ball alive and try and wear the Sharks out. Manly were extremely tough, very disciplined and super fit, but sometimes they became their own worst enemy. The forward battle ended equal but the halves - Daly Cherry-Evans and Kieran Foran - were the difference. Cherry-Evans came up with a result on every play and every kick. His kicking game was the key and made him the star of the match. Cronulla were very brave, as they have been all year. To finish the season so well after all the dramas they faced this season showed the character of the players and the club. The Sharks were unlucky on a number of occasions. Jorge Taufua may or may not have lost control of the ball when scoring a try but he was still able to ground it and there was an unfortunate incident where Paul Gallen scored, but John Morris interfered with the marker. Michael Gordon has been Cronulla's best signing and a shining light for a club that deserve a massive pat on the back, having finishing better than they did last year.

Sea Eagles v Rabbitohs preview:

I think Manly will place South Sydney under some pressure because the Sea Eagles can handle the Rabbitohs physically and athletically which not many sides have been able to do this year. Manly will have a very aggressive defensive line which may unsettled the Rabbitohs, however by being that aggressive in defence they have vulnerable edges. If the Rabbitohs are able to execute their long shifting plays with Greg Inglis chiming in, they could cause concerns for the Sea Eagles. I expect this match to come down to the last five minutes with whoever comes up with the correct decision to win it. This time last year Adam Reynolds broke down when the Rabbits were leading the Bulldogs. He is the key to the victory more so than Inglis. Reynolds has to put Manly under pressure because if he doesn't Manly will march forward and Cherry-Evans will put them away.

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Storm v Knights at AAMI Park

Saturday was a wonderful coaching display from Wayne Bennett. From the first tackle Newcastle showed they didn't want to get in the arm wrestle with Melbourne. They had lost their last nine in Melbourne and there should have been fear going down there but they refused to let the Storm intimidate them. On tackle one, two and three, they moved the ball around and their outside backs got their sets off to a great start. I thought that was the key to keeping Melbourne from getting into that grinding kind of football that they like. Willie Mason, who has been a revelation, made some big metres while Danny Buderus used his nous out of dummy half. A lot has been said of Jarrod Mullen's maturity under Bennett but Tyrone Roberts was outstanding. 12-4 at halftime, they were able to score again and the Storm looked like they were gone. Newcastle's defensive line speed was rushing the Storm until a brilliant individual effort from Cooper Cronk got them back in the game. They got to within two points through Jesse Bromwich but in the end no-one made a mistake to lose the game. The Knights had belief, jumped out to a good lead and in the end were defensively great. They have been the best defensive side in the competition throughout the last month of football. They may be old in age but not in enthusiasm. 

Roosters v Knights preview:

Newcastle are going to have nothing to prove on Saturday night. The pressure will come from Sydney saying the Roosters should not only win but win comfortably. The Knights will be expected to lose. I am interested to see how the Roosters will handle the occasion. Newcastle were able to slow Melbourne down with a grinding style of football. They have certain players in their side who put pressure on ball playing opposition. I expect Jeremy Smith, Beau Scott and Danny Buderus to place plenty of pressure on Mitchell Pearce and James Maloney. It will be interesting to see which outside backs come up with the best plays. The Roosters rely on their backs for a lot of metres to start the sets and score the points at the end of the set, similar to how Newcastle played against Melbourne. There could be an upset on the cards come Saturday night.

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Roar young guns outclass Sydney FC

Brisbane youngster Kwame Yeboah bagged a double against Sydney. Picture: Stuart Quinn. Source: News Limited

BRISBANE Roar have recorded a fourth successive pre-season win over A-League opposition, downing Sydney FC 4-1 at Barlow Park in Cairns.

Young gun Kwame Yeboah scored a brace as the Roar ran rampant against the outclassed Sydneysiders.

The win followed on from trial victories over Melbourne Victory (1-0), Central Coast Mariners (2-1) and Melbourne Heart (3-0).

The Roar complete their pre-season campaign next Sunday against NPL Queensland champions Olympic at Goodwin Park.

Sydney are also in action again next Sunday when they host Perth Glory at Kogarah in their final hitout before the start of the A-League season on October 11.

They will want to start better against the Glory after conceding in the opening minute of the match, with Brisbane grabbing the initiative through Yeboah.

Fellow youngster Corey Brown doubled the Roar's lead less than 10 minutes later.

Brisbane started the second half with similar intent, and lead 4-0 by the 51st minute thanks a Besart Berisha's goal and Yeboah's second.

Sydney's grabbed a consolation goal with 20 minutes remaining through substitute Joel Chianese.

The only scare for Brisbane was a knee injury that forced midfielder Luke Brattan off in the first half.

The crowd of 4707 who had been hoping to see Sydney's Italian legend Alessandro Del Piero in action left the venue disappointed, with the former Juventus star watching the entire 90 minutes from the bench.  

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Robinson cut deep by dumping

Wallaby Benn Robinson at training. Source: Mark Evans / News Limited

RECALLED Wallabies prop Benn Robinson says being dropped from the squad last month was a massive shock that cut him deeply and took a long time to get over.

The cornerstone and linchpin of the Wallabies scrum for several years, 59-Test veteran Robinson was left out of the squad for the first four Rugby Championship games by new coach Ewen McKenzie.

The 29-year-old front rower, who started all three Tests of the British and Irish Lions series under previous coach Robbie Deans, was sent back to club rugby.

With the Wallabies scrum under pressure in their first four Rugby Championship games, Robinson was recalled to the squad for Australia's last two fixtures away to South Africa and Argentina.

"It was a massive shock, a massive disappointment," Robinson said of his axing from the squad.

"It took me a long time to get over it. The day after I had to play for (my club) Eastwood, so to get up for that game was tough.

"It hurt, it cut deep, it cut really deep.

"To be told that you're out of the squad, a squad that I've been involved with for the last nine years, is probably one of the hardest conversations I've ever had."

Robinson also found himself left out of the NSW Waratahs starting lineup for their first Super Rugby match of this season.

"When you are told you are not in the squad, or you've been dropped from the squad, it hurts you deep, it makes you reassess whether you are doing the right things," Robinson said.

"It's always an honour and it's always jubilation when you do get the chance to play for your country or for your state, I never lose sight of that fact."

Robinson,has stayed match fit, playing four games for Eastwood, including the NSW premiership grand final loss to Sydney University.

"Ewen and I had a chat and we spoke about going back and playing club footy and for me going back there, it really showed me how much I loved playing rugby," Robinson said.

He has yet to play a match under the new scrum engagement calls which the Wallabies have had problems adjusting to.

"I haven't played, so it would be really hard to comment on, but there's still a lot of collision, there's still a lot of impact, it still relies on having a very strong frame,and shape," Robinson said.

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JOC stood down by Wallabies

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WALLABIES star James O'Connor has been suspended indefinitely over his bad behaviour.

Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie announced the decision that he has stood down the winger for ''failing to demonstrate and uphold the behavioural and cultural standards expected within the team".

O'Connor will not join his teammates when they assemble in Sydney on Saturday ahead of their two-game tour of South Africa and Argentina.

McKenzie said no time frame was being placed on O'Connor's selection availability.

"We won't be forced into making any decisions around his return until I'm satisfied that he can once again contribute positively to what we are trying to achieve as a group," McKenzie said.

"The reality is that representing your country is the ultimate honour but also a week-to-week proposition.  To be selected, players must consistently do the right things on and off the field.

"We'll continue to assess James on that basis before any team decisions are made about a return."

The Australian Rugby Union is continuing its investigation into an alleged incident involving O'Connor at Perth International Airport in the early hours of last Sunday.

Once completed, a decision on the next course of action will be taken.

"My views and expectations around team culture and behaviours, along with those of his teammates, are extremely clear and it's important for the Wallabies and rugby in general to be spoken about positively for the right reasons," McKenzie said.

"James and I had a long conversation around those expectations before the tournament commenced.

"As a result, and separate to the outcomes of the current investigation, James will not be joining us in Sydney tomorrow.

"We must put the team first without any distractions hindering them during a really tough two-game tour."

NSW Waratahs winger Peter Betham will replace O'Connor in the Qantas Wallabies 28-man playing squad.

See how Wallaby coach Ewen McKenzie's announcement on James O'Connor unfolded in our Live Blog below.

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Link left with one choice for JOC

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WHEN Ewen McKenzie took over the Wallabies, he told James O'Connor he had a clean slate.

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He'd heard the "innuendo" about O'Connor's behaviour in the past but McKenzie offered a chance to start afresh, and for a few weeks, the winger responded well.

After O'Connor was escorted from Perth airport by police at the weekend while drunk, however, McKenzie went to the ARU offices and pulled his disciplinary file for the first time.

The bulging contents left him with one conclusion. Drastic change was overdue.

"He's got to do something different because the frequency of this is not acceptable," McKenzie said.

"I have had a chance to look at the circumstances of the other day and chance to look at incidents over time, and from that, we are not getting the right type of behaviour from him.

"He's a good footballer and he's demonstrated change already, but he's tripped himself up. There's a track record there of similar type events in similar circumstances so a significant change in behaviour is required."

On top of a chequered past, the Perth airport incident saw McKenzie stand O'Connor down from the Wallabies indefinitely on Friday night, with NSW winger Peter Betham replacing the 23-year-old in the tour party to Africa/Argentina next week.

The official ARU investigation into O'Connor has not been finalised, but based on admissions about his behaviour, the 43-Test wing was suspended for the second time in his Wallabies career for "failing to demonstrate and uphold the behavioural and cultural standards expected within the team".

"He understood when we got to the detail of the behaviour, he said it wasn't acceptable," McKenzie said.

"The way he conducted himself in public. I don't want to go into the tin tacks of it, but we were disputing the fact the way he behaved in front of other people wasn't acceptable.

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"In the end it wasn't a fight of that from perspective, I am concerned about the issues over time. I am here to protect the interests of the Wallabies and the team."

"I think we've been pretty clear about what it means to be a Wallaby, you can look at it the other way, obviously we've got this incident but you look at the other players – what are they doing?

"Well they're not putting us into the newspapers for the wrong reasons."

O'Connor has denied to the ARU he was drunk and McKenzie said there'd been no determination about whether he was intoxicated, despite Air Asia confirming it was the reason they barred him from flying. The ARU investigation has been delayed due to "privacy" reasons with the AFP and the airline.

Witnesses have told the Daily Telegraph a dispute with his partner – and later airline staff – prompted them to deny him access to the Bali flight based on his state.

Ex-Test captain Nathan Sharpe said disappointed Wallabies teammates should be involved in discipline issues with O'Connor but McKenzie said he had made the call alone and would do likewise on any potential return.

Players have long taken issue with the failure of Robbie Deans to haul O'Connor into line, however, and McKenzie appeared to join them.

"I am not here to say everything is bad (with O'Connor), but these periodic events are bringing him down and the team … and you have to eliminate those," he said.

"How it has been done in the past isn't working long enough so we need to go and investigate that. We, and he in particular, need to make an investment in that space and find a different way because we just can't tolerate these periodic events that takes rugby into the newspapers and general public in the wrong way.

"I will be working with him but he has to make some substantial changes to how he goes about things."

McKenzie said he wasn't certain if the suspension would imperil O'Connor's ongoing contract negotiations with the ARU, or Western Force.

A Force spokesman said Friday night their position had not changed, and they would wait for the outcome of the ARU investigation.

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