Ricky's wasted our time: Sterlo

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PARRAMATTA champion Peter Sterling has called on Ricky Stuart to explain why 2013 wasn't a wasted year for the Eels under his watch.

Recognised as one of the most respected and measured voices in the game, Sterling has in the past been loathe to criticise his beloved Eels - but on Friday night the four-time premiership winner put forward his questions on behalf of every Parramatta supporter to the outgoing coach.

"There are two sides to every story and obviously Ricky is coming from his side and once you bring family into it, especially the situation with his daughter, it is very difficult to argue with that," Sterling said on Triple M.

"But he also did post-script that by saying that it was the best decision for his coaching future as well.

"As a Parramatta supporter on the other side Ricky came and there was going to be a rehabilitation job on Parramatta, which is desperately needed and this was the first (year) of a longer term process.

"So for that to finish under his watch after 12 months is extremely disappointing.

"I think they have to start again.

"Someone else has to come in now and they will have their own ideas and their own aims. That is pretty tough.

"In some ways it has been a wasted year unless Ricky can come out and tell us how it hasn't been wasted?

"There had to be a turnover in personnel and that would have happened under anybody and maybe from the outside we are not seeing improvements on the inside.

"I'd like Ricky to come out and say why it hasn't been a wasted 12 months for the club and for the players and for the fans."

Sterling also raised the issue about the supposed breakdown between Stuart and the Parramatta board.

"We keep hearing about this dysfunctional board. Are they? I don't know. I'm wondering what Ricky didn't get that he wanted under the board," Sterling asked.

"I'd like to hear that as well.

"If it is dysfunctional up top, where did that filter down in a detrimental way through to the coaching and the playing staff?"

As for the question about who should take over, Sterling said the Eels could do worse than appoint outgoing Cowboys coach Neil Henry.

"I'm a huge fan of Neil Henry. I think he could do a job there," Sterling said.

"You need a strong personality but you need someone who I think has got his best coaching years in front and I think that is Neil.

"I'm not pushing his barrow but I know his name has been mentioned.

"We need to work on the culture at the club.

"We don't necessarily need what the Parramatta culture was in the past.

"We need a culture that is a winning one.

"There are things that worried me that happened through the course of the year.

"When the players were put on notice and I think 12 were told that they wouldn't be required next year, we had one of our best young players in Jacob Loko not turn up to training and got dropped for disciplinary reasons.

"How could you even contemplate doing something wrong when players around you, their futures are being determined and decided and you come up with something like that.

"Even through to the end of the season now where apparently they were told not to have a Mad Monday, we get a guy gets behind the wheel and drives. That is a reflection of the culture.

"I like Ricky Stuart but to walk away from a contract again isn't a great lesson for the players there as to what culture we need to establish."

And as for get-out clauses in the future, like the one that allowed Stuart to escape, Sterling told Triple M: "No get-out clauses for anybody.

"When you sign a player or you sign a coach they put their signature on the bottom line because they want to be at the club and do that job. And you sign them at the club because you want them there.

"Forget these get-out clauses. If I'm a committee man there is no such thing in my vocabulary. You sign someone for a duration, they stay there and let's hope everybody is happy and the end of that and we'll do it again."

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Sreesanth guilty of spot fixing: report

Shantakumaran Sreesanth is charged with spot fixing in the IPL. Source: Gemunu Amarasinghe / AAP

TEST fast bowler Shanthakumaran Sreesanth and three other players have been found guilty of spot-fixing during the Indian Premier League by an internal probe conducted by the national cricket board, a report said on Friday.

The probe by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)'s anti-corruption chief Ravi Sawani, also found two other players guilty of not reporting approaches made by bookmakers, The Indian Express said.

Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan were found guilty on multiple accounts, including conceding a "pre-determined number of runs per over in exchange for bribes", the paper quoted the leaked report as saying.

The fourth player, Amit Singh, who played in the IPL till last year, was seen as the conduit between the cricketers and bookies, and described by Sawani as "the bad fish that spoils the entire pond".

Siddharth Trivedi and 21-year-old Harmeet Singh were absolved of spot-fixing, but were found guilty of the lesser charge of not informing officials about approaches made by bookmakers, the newspaper said.

Sawani, whose report will be placed before the BCCI's disciplinary committee, has recommended the players be banned for a period ranging from five years to life, the paper said.

"The disciplinary committee may consider my report and impose such sanctions as considered appropriate to send out a strong signal indicating the zero tolerance policy of the BCCI to any corruption in the sport that is so dear to millions of Indians and fans abroad," the paper quoted Sawani as saying in the report.

"Obviously, the anti-corruption education given to the players had no impact on the conduct. Therefore, the players deserve no leniency whatsoever."

A BCCI spokesman declined to comment on the leaked newspaper story, saying Sawani's findings would be discussed by the disciplinary committee and may be placed before the board's annual general meeting on September 29.

The four players found guilty of spot-fixing are among 39 persons who have also been charged separately by Delhi Police in the corruption scandal that rocked this year's IPL.

All four players belong to the Rajasthan Royals franchise, but Sreesanth, 30, is the only one to have played for India. He was part of the teams that won the World Twenty20 in 2007 and the World Cup in 2011.

The players were arrested in May along with scores of bookies as part of a police investigation into the spot-fixing scandal, which had caused outrage among fans in the cricket-mad nation.

BCCI chief Narayanaswami Srinivasan voluntarily stepped aside from the post in June after his son-in-law was arrested, and later released on bail, over alleged links to illegal bookmakers.

Son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan is one of the owners of IPL franchise Chennai Super Kings, a team bought by Srinivasan's India Cements conglomerate when the popular Twenty20 league was launched in 2008.

Gambling is mostly illegal in India, but betting on cricket matches thrives through networks of underground bookies.

Spot-fixing -- in which a specific part of a game, but not the result, is fixed -- is also illegal.

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Damien Oliver makes winning return

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THE neat little bloke in the blue and white silks cut a notorious more than a familiar figure as he waited to be legged up for his first race ride in 10 months.

He shook hands with the owners, accepted a kiss from a well wisher, pulled up his shiny new boots and ignored the questionable humour being thrown over the fence.

"Hey Damien, what have you backed."

Damien Oliver, the dual-Melbourne Cup winner and consummate champion jockey, answered the hecklers and everyone else with a winner at Geelong on Friday in his first ride since he was banned last November after admitting to betting on a horse he was riding against.

In one of the most controversial cases in modern Australian racing, Oliver bet $10,000 on the horse Miss Octopussy in a race at Moonee Valley two years earlier.

Miss Octopussy won, Oliver finished unplaced on his mount, consoled himself that he at least doubled his money and forgot about it - until someone rang the racing integrity commissioner Sal Perna during the last spring carnival and told him about it.

Despite being dumped from rides in the Cox Plate and the Melbourne Cup, Oliver landed three Group One winners last spring, including Happy Trails in the Emirates Stakes on the last day of the Flemington carnival.

Two days later Oliver admitted to the bet and was duly disqualified for eight months and suspended for a further two, a penalty that sparked as much debate as the crime.

Many believed the ban and the timing of Oliver's plea to be contrived, part of an unseemly deal between him and the stewards. A further investigation by the racing commissioner said it wasn't.

Oliver began riding trackwork two months ago and at Geelong resumed race riding in much the same way as he had left it.

His comeback mount Lion Of Belfort started favourite at $1.40 and Oliver hardly moved in the saddle scoring by four lengths.

"I'm just happy to back, obviously," Oliver said.

"I'm coming off a decent break, but I'm ready."

Oliver's chose the Geelong meeting for his comeback rather than make a grand return at Moonee Valley a day later.

"I'm not into show business," he said.

A jockey whose keenness for a dollar is obvious, Oliver might revise that view if he can get himself onto a chance in one of the big spring races.

One such possibility comes up at Moonee Valley where he will be back aboard Happy Trails in the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes, a race the horse won last year before Oliver partnered him to victory in the Emirates Stakes.

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Wallabies are sport's Labor Party

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IT'S been hard to know who has a worse run over the past few years: the Australian rugby team or the Australian Labor Party. Infighting, scandal, leadership changes, public apathy and a horror 2013 campaign that saw humiliation unfold last Saturday.

And Labor has been pretty bad too.

So with Wallaby fans desperately crying out for solutions, a plan of radical ideas is required to rescue Australian rugby. 

There was only one man for the job, so here is Jaymes Diaz's six-point plan to stop the boatload of losses*.

(*Disclaimer: Jaymes Diaz was unable to be found, so Iain Payten stepped in.)

1. Turn back the Boks (and the Kiwis).

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Defence was once the cornerstone of Wallaby world dominance, and if not that, it was at least a red-brick footing of competitiveness. In recent times, the Wallaby defence has had all the solidity of balsa wood – averaging almost 32 points per Test – so plugging the leaks has to be a major priority.

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The solution for Ewen McKenzie lies in a raid of the northern hemisphere, where two of his old colleagues now ply their craft.

McKenzie needs a specialist defence coach, and he should do all he can to poach Les Kiss back from Ireland. Kiss was McKenzie's defence specialist at NSW from 2004, where the Waratahs averaged less than 16 points a game in the three years they made finals (2005, 08) and a semi-final (2006). 

The Wallabies have a defence coach in Nick Scrivener, but his is a makeshift role. Scrivener was the skills coach under Robbie Deans.

The sticking point is Kiss just signed a new three-year deal with the IRFU, but what's a contract these days? Am I right Ricky?

If Kiss can't be poached, McKenzie should yank Matt Taylor back from Scotland. Taylor was the defence guru who got Queensland down from 28 points a match to less than 18 points. The Reds won the title in 2011, holding the Crusaders to just 13 points in the final.

2. More 457 visas for skilled migration to rugby

Signing backs from rugby league is fine, and there've been a few good-uns. That Israel Folau shows potential with his three touches a game.

But if there is to be recruiting of leaguies in the future, how about looking to target an area in need – the forwards?

Australia need far more hard men willing to mix it up on the aggression front with the Springboks and All Blacks. The Wallabies are suffering from mongrel deficit. 

Every NRL pack is stocked full of mongrels. Blokes who not only love belting ball-runners, but know little else. Blokes who know their role is to bring the muscle and patrol the advantage line, ejecting people with prejudice.

It's an open secret rivals view Australia as soft at the contact, but put Nate Myles and Anthony Watmough in the backrow and enjoy the show. Yes, league forwards may take time to learn the set-pieces and the breakdown nuance, but stuff nuance. Dominant hits trump nuance.

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It might not be that far off, actually. Michael Cheika talked about wanting a Burgess brother in his pack, and he seriously eyed off a Roosters prop.

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3. More factional brawling

Otherwise known as "more biff". The Wallabies can come across as vulnerable to being pushed around even.

There is no better signal to a Springbok pack, for example, that you are not soft than a bit of a blue. Dan Vickerman used to love sparking them, and Nathan Sharpe deliberately started pushing and shoving over precisely nothing in Perth last year.  It was all tactical, and he conned hothead Eben Etzebeth into headbutting him.

Punches are rare because one will get you binned these days, but the value of an old-fashioned handbag session can sometimes be worth the risk to ignite passions, connect a team and tell a rival you won't be bullied.

4. Immediate policy backflip

It'd be great if the Wallabies' run-run-run strategy won games. Right now, it doesn't and the sooner Australia lets go of a supposed "Wallabies style", the sooner it can get back in the business of winning.

The All Blacks and Springboks are privately delighted Australia tries to attack doggedly from their half all game, lining up for defenders like bad-guy fodder in a ninja movie. The Kiwis and Boks hoist endless highballs and long kicks, and back themselves to force turnovers or penalties in the Wallaby half. Then they pounce. 

So if you can't beat them, hurry up and join them. The Wallabies need to mirror those tactics, with a focus on using pressure, not pizazz, to score points and win. 

Benevolent Kiwi guru Graham Henry reckons it's not wise, saying yesterday: ""I don't think you are going to win games by playing chess-board rugby and kicking the balls in the air and chasing it. That's not the way Australians play, and they haven't got the forward pack that can give you that sort of dominance."

Thanks Graham. Attention Wallabies, here's the new gameplan: play chess-board rugby, kick the balls in the air and chase it.

Defend, contest, defend, scrap and defend some more, and when the ball is won in the opposition half, then have a crack.

It might not meet head office's desire to entertain the masses, but seriously ARU, if you think the last three weeks qualifies as entertainment, I have a bridge to sell 

you. It can't get any worse.

5. Pick and stick in key seat

Decide on the best no.10, and keep voting for him. If in doubt, lean towards a candidate who can tackle and wasn't also a project player in the last World Cup cycle.

6. Control the front bench

Or, as it is called in rugby, the front row. It is ludicrous – and quite clearly a factor in Australia's ongoing scrummaging woes – that Wallabies props continue to swap sides more often a nervous independent. Ben Alexander plays mostly loosehead for the Brumbies but then becomes tighthead for the Wallabies. James Slipper is mostly no.3 for the Reds but then no.1 for Australia. Sekope Kepu plays both sides within weeks, and so does Scott Sio.

Here's a quick thought: can someone please just play tighthead all year and get damn good at it? Is that so crazy? Clearly New Zealand and South Africa don't think so. 

Yes, Super Rugby coaches have different ideas from Wallabies selectors but take a look at the next crumbling scrum (any second now) and try arguing with a straight face that it's all working out well. It's not. Top-down control is required.

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Journalists refuse to write 'Redskins'

The Washington helmet emblazoned with the controversial Redskins logo. Source: AP

WITH the NFL season officially underway, distractions off the field have already begun with Washington's controversial nickname - the Redskins - causing a stir.

The team's moniker and logo have long been accused of being racist, for obvious reasons, but no previous attempts have succeeded in getting them changed.

However the issue has resurfaced this week, with respected American football writer Peter King announcing that he will no longer use the word in his stories.

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King writes for Sports Illustrated's spinoff site MMQB – Monday Morning Quarterback – and has decided that he can avoid the issue entirely by simply omitting 'Redskins' from his writing.

"I can do my job without using it, and I will," wrote King in his MMQB column. "My 2,400-word story on Washington offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan and his unique approach to the read-option Thursday proved you can write about the team (insightfully, I hope) and not make a big deal about not using the nickname."

Washington's owner Dan Snyder is famously bullish about keeping the name, insisting that it is now part of the team's history and that it is honorific of the Native American fighting spirit.

Earlier this year Snyder was quoted by USA Today as saying: "We'll never change the name. It's that simple. NEVER – you can use caps."

The standoff is reminiscent of the 'N****r' Brown dispute, with the rugby league legend of the same name being honoured with a stand at Toowoomba Sports Ground, where he played his club football.

After much campaigning against the use of 'N****r' in the stand's name, it was agreed ES Brown's nickname would no longer be used at the ground when the stand was demolished in 2008.

No such resolution is on the horizon in Washington, and despite King's position, and the multiple protests and petitions the team have faced in recent years, opinion polls tend to support owner Snyder – one conducted in 2004 by the University of Pennsylvania found 91% of American Indians found the name acceptable.

But for King it doesn't matter whether only some people are offended, as he feels he can easily appease those who are offended with a small edit.

"Obviously, the team feels it isn't a slur, and there are several prominent Native American leaders who agree," wrote King.

"(But) some people, and some Native American organizations – such as the highly respected American Indian Movement – think the nickname is a slur."

One of King's fellow writers at MMQB, Robert Klemko, championed his colleague's stance and added that the whole website is joining the cause.

"I know that our site, we've talked about it, and we're not going to use Redskins in our writing," Klemko said on CBS Sports Radio.

"We're going to say 'Washington football team', and it's not something we're going to publicize or write about. We're just not going to do it."

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Johnson urges Lewis: Come clean

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BEN Johnson has urged long-time rival Carl Lewis to "come clean" and admit to the use of performance enhancing drugs and clear his conscience.

Lewis tested positive three times to banned stimulants during his decorated athletics career – highlighted by five sprinting and four long jump Olympic gold medals -  but was cleared by the US Olympic Association.

He tested positive at the 1988 US Olympic trials. Two months later he was awarded the gold medal in the 100m at Seoul after the race winner, Johnson, was banned for testing positive to the anabolic steroid stanozolol.

Johnson, now an anti-drugs crusader, is in Australia advocating that the International Olympic Committee better fund the World Anti Doping Authority. And he took aim at his old rival, Lewis, suggesting "he is not a man" unless he confessed to drug use.

"We know several times before the Olympic Games he tested positive," Johnson told foxsports.com.au. 

"And for him preaching the word that he's clean and working with kids, I challenge him to come on this campaign, tell the truth, tell the world that he has used performance enhancing drugs.

"He would be ashamed but he would be a man to come forward and we can work together. If he can't come face to face we know what he is. He is not a man."

Lewis conceded in an interview in 2003 that he tested positive to three banned stimulants but claimed "the climate was different then."

Johnson, a Canadian, said Lewis' nationality was the reason he retained his two gold medals from the Seoul Olympics. 

"(He) Tested positive several times but he's been protected," Johnson said. "Because he's American.

"I have a clear conscience. For me that is number one. He has to live with that conscience and that conscience is a lie and he knows that."

Despite their differences, Johnson is adamant Lewis should accept the offer to join him on his campaign. But he remains sceptical that that would ever eventuate.

"I am not afraid of Carl," Johnson said. "He is not going to come forward because he is not a man."

Johnson, 51, believes drugs in sport are much "worse" today than when he was competing.

But will professional sports as an entity ever be clean?

"I can't promise it will ever be clean - I am just trying to do my part," he said. 

"I am trying to change a young generation to not go through what I went through. I came through the fire and moving on with my life doing something positive to society. At no time at all during my career I was a danger to the public at all. Criminals get a few years and I get a lifetime ban because I broke the rules of track and field."

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Forget the smiles, we're hurting: JOC

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JAMES O'Connor has jumped on critics who say the current Wallabies aren't hurting enough after Test losses because TV cameras zero in on them talking to opponents on-field after full-time.

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"Gutted. That's how I feel. You are never ready for a Test loss and it's not something you enjoy at all," O'Connor stressed in Perth on Thursday night.

"After I've played my guts out for 80 minutes I'm still going to show sportsmanship and congratulate an opponent. Cameras don't see how we are hurting in the dressing room or how we'd go out and play again straight away to fix it."

O'Connor was giving a raw picture that five defeats in six Tests this season and conceding 14 tries in three big losses in a row at home is stinging deeply.

The homeless winger could finalise a 2014 deal to return to Western Force as early as next week but has shut out the distraction to devote himself to ending the Wallabies losing pain.

Winning back the Perth rugby faithful who were split over his 2011 exit from the club can come as early as a commanding performance in an overdue Wallabies victory over Argentina at Patersons Stadium on Saturday night.

The two-week break after this Test before the Wallabies play South Africa in Cape Town on September 28 shapes as the window for decision time.

"I don't want to put a time frame on things so people get disappointed. Next week is a timeout and when I can evaluate things," O'Connor said.

"If all goes well we could get it done there. As far as I know it's smooth sailing."

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O'Connor said he would not be speaking to Force coach Michael Foley or chief executive Mark Sinderberry while in Perth this week. A big European rugby offer and even a chat with a Sydney NRL club, likely the Bulldogs, have been the domain of manager David Shand. They are red herrings.

"That's not a priority right now. Winning this Test for the Wallabies is because we have not reached anywhere near our peak as a team," O'Connor said.

O'Connor said the shock axing of halfback and captain Will Genia this week had re-emphasised the strong message coach Ewen McKenzie had delivered to the squad when he first came into the job.

"Right from the start, Ewen said no one's a gimme. You have to perform," O'Connor said.

"Willy is one of the most professional players around. He was running the Argentinian formation we are expecting against us at training so he will always be putting in for the team."

Argentinian coaching consultant Sir Graham Henry, the 2011 World Cup-winning All Blacks coach, said the Wallabies had to be true to the Australian style.

He said it wasn't in the Australian make-up to play a purely forward-orientated game and playing to their attacking strengths would always be the best path.

Recalled prop Ben Alexander said new skipper Ben Mowen had stepped up at training this week.

"His tactical understanding and communication with referees, in terms of understanding the different personalities, is as good as I've played under," Alexander said.

"The big thing is he is getting us to connect in breaks in play so we are all on the same page with one big message, not having little chats amongst a couple of players."

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Dropping Genia: case for and against

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WILL Genia is regarded by many as the world's best halfback but he's been dropped for the Wallabies clash with Argentina in Perth on Saturday night.

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His demotion to the Wallabies bench for Saturday night's clash against Argentina in Perth - with Brumbies No.9 Nic White promoted to the run-on side - has sparked plenty of reaction.

Is it the right call? We look at the case for and against dropping Will Genia.

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Why dropping Will Genia could be the right call

Former Wallabies skipper Andrew Slack (on Fox Sports News):

"In terms of form - and I'm sure Will would be the first to admit it - if his name was Joe Blow everyone would be out saying `we've got to get rid of this halfback' because he just hasn't played to his ability in the last three games.

He was monstered a bit in the opening game against the All Blacks and I reckon there was a bit of offside there.

But I think potentially the confidence has been dented a bit and he's just not the weapon he has been and potentially he does need a rest. He's had a big season, he came back from a knee reconstruction last year, and just the last couple of weeks it's not been the real Will Genia.

The thing that (Ewen) McKenzie has up his sleeve which the Australian coach hasn't in the last year or two is a quality replacement. Nic White is a very good little No.9 and so in that sense you lose a little bit but potentially it's a risk worth taking.''

Why dropping Will Genia could be the wrong call

Daily Telegraph rugby writer Iain Payten:

DROPPING a halfback like Will Genia on form after his forwards got bashed up in Brisbane is a bit like punting your leg-spinner after a top-order batting collapse. And your leggie's name is Shane Warne.

There may be an ounce or two of logic behind Ewen McKenzie's decision to bench Genia and play Nic White against Argentina, but it still doesn't outweigh the kilograms of common sense behind sticking with the Reds no.9.

Yes, Genia has looked a fraction off his best, and has failed to produce the running form this year that best indicates when the Wallabies are humming.

There's a pretty good reason, though. The Wallabies aren't even close to humming, and a halfback playing behind a spluttering engine room is rarely going to look anything other than pedestrian.

They'll never admit it publicly but the fly-boys out in the backline know they only look good when their forwards allow it.

Space in attack flows directly from strong ball carries in the tight, and when back-peddling defences are compressing and/or fracturing.

Sniping halfback runs are never going to catch opposition defenders off guard after the bad guys have dominated the previous collision and are well set again, with teeth snarling.

Dropping Genia would make sense if McKenzie had put a broom through his forwards first, indicating a collective responsibility for the Suncorp debacle that included - but not isolated - the halfback. The message he wants to send Genia is diminished when no-one else cops a bullet for the same crime.

Even still, benching the highest quality player in your side - regardless of wavering form - is always a huge gamble for a coach. Particularly one who is 0-3 in his Test career.

In Test rugby, you need as many world class players in your side as you can muster. Genia is one of a small number in McKenzie's stable, and is arguably the only one who'd be picked in a World XV.

He has repeatedly been the saviour for both the Wallabies and Queensland in recent years, and while his form is quiet, determining a new halfback is a better bet than Genia re-finding dominance in Perth is a big call by McKenzie.

But it's not just form. Surrendering Genia's experience is a big gamble, as well.

Against the Pumas, playing with nerve and discipline are almost more important than bringing the team rolling out a sparkling A-game. The Pumas are a team who want to rattle you away from your gameplan, physically and mentally. Lose the plot and you'll lose the game. The final siren comes around very quickly against Argentina.

The Wallabies almost lost both home and away Tests to the Argies, but Nathan Sharpe's composed leadership helped the Wallabies stick rigidly to the basic gameplan and get home.

Ben Mowen is a good captain - and Nic White a very fine halfback - but you have to wonder whether there's enough old heads in the Wallaby side to spread that calm amid the helter-skelter of a clash against the Pumas. Time will tell.

The upside - and potentially McKenzie's hidden reasoning behind the move given TRC is gone anyway - will be Genia's reaction.

The Queenslander is a fiercely competitive animal, and will be burning about his very public axing. When he trots on to the field in the 55th minute, expect a response. The Pumas pack may suddenly become a secondary concern for Wallaby forwards.

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Martin fined for jailhouse gesture

Gesture ... Dustin Martin cops a suspended fine. Source: Wayne Ludbey / News Limited

RICHMOND midfielder Dustin Martin has been hit with a suspended fine for his jailhouse gesture during the Tigers' semi-final loss on Sunday.

The AFL imposed a $2000 fine but suspended the sanction for two years after the gesture raised the ire of league heavyweights during the clash against Carlton at the MCG.

AFL football operations manager Mark Evans said the Martin was fined to try and stamp out controversial on-field gestures after Michael Hibberd made a similar signal against Gold Coast in Round 12.

Collingwood's Andrew Krakouer sparked as similar outrage after gesturing in a game shortly after his return from a stint in prison.

Evans said it was a warning to players against saluting those behind bars.

"We've imposed a $2000 fine, but suspended it, given we haven't taken action on these in the past," Evans told 3AW.

"If it keeps bobbing up I think the AFL will take action."

It adds to the Tigers' sour end to the season after they were knocked out of the finals by the Blues.

Warning ... Michael Hibberd gestures against Gold Coast. Source: News Limited

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McKenzie's massive call to dump Genia

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WILL Genia, the world's No.1 halfback, has been dropped on form not for rotational reasons in the biggest selection call of Ewen McKenzie's rocky two-month ride as Wallabies coach.

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While Genia's big workload is probably a contributing factor to a minor dulling of his exceptional standards, McKenzie on Wednesday made the clear point that he was "not at the peak of his game."

McKenzie opted for feisty ACT Brumbies halfback Nic White and the spin-off that No.8 Ben Mowen will captain the Wallabies for the first time against the tricky Argentinians at Patersons Stadium in Perth on Saturday night.

"Everyone knows Will is an outstanding player but so is Nic White," McKenzie said in Perth when announcing two changes to his starting side.

"Nic has got his own brand of rugby. He's impressed me and you always need competition for places to be the elite team you want to be.

"Will is naturally disappointed (at the decision) because it is a long time since he's been in this situation. The reality is we are at the pointy end of Australian rugby.

"It's difficult to have these conversations. I've known Will a long time but he would admit he's probably not been at the peak of his game of late.

"The fact that Will has captained his country shows what high regard we hold him in. I also know how competitive he is and I've got no doubts he will train himself to a standstill to bounce back as a better player.

"We've spoken about what areas we believe he can continue to improve and evolve his game and he was receptive to going back and addressing those things."

The ramifications of Genia's demotion to the bench are massive. Out goes a 47-Test figure of composure when the Wallabies have been struggling for just that trait.

That Genia, as captain,could not execute the game plan against the Springboks in a 26-point loss last weekend must be part of McKenzie's decision although that's a harsh line in the sand when any rugby fan could name six players who had far less impact.

It unites an untried halves pairing in White and Quade Cooper against a Pumas defence known for its hustle and ability to force handling mistakes that turn into tries.

White does snipe sharply and he has a fine kicking game, not just from the ruck base but in kicking for the line from penalties. His long, raking punts can replace some of the rubbish line-kicking that the Wallabies have made do with since Kurtley Beale hacked for touch repeatedly against the British and Irish Lions.

Ben Alexander comes in at tighthead prop for Sekope Kepu for the scum battle that it always is against the Pumas.

On the bench, the clout of 125kg lock Sitaleki Timani is a shrewd addition while outside centre Tevita Kuridrani is also back in the reserves to add thrust later in the Test.

White, 23, has had three brief cameos off the bench to get a taste of Test rugby.

"It was a huge surprise when Ewen tapped me on the shoulder on Monday. It was a pretty nervous bus ride to training but it's a matter of getting on with the job I've been picked for," White enthused.

"The little taste of Test rugby I have had has just shown me that absolutely everything is a contest. You might get away with little things in Super Rugby but not at the next level."

White will literally be stepping into Genia's boots.

"Will has been very open with advice and we've spoken quite a bit. He's even given me two pairs of boots because we are the same shoe size," White smiled.

White's experiences at the Brumbies gives him a good read on Mowen's capabilities as a captain, an honour he takes on for the Wallabies in just his seventh Test.

"Ben is pretty emotional and always sets high standards. If you don't meet them he gets pretty angry," White said.

"He always wants a team to do the shitters (hard graft) early."

McKenzie said there would be tweaks to the game plan not a radical overhaul after the 38-12 crash to South Africa in Brisbane last weekend.

"Australian rugby is renowned for smart, attractive and running rugby and there is a continued determination from the coaching staff and players to play with ambition and flair. We aren't moving away from this philosophy," McKenzie said.

"Within this framework though we've worked hard during the week to provide the team with further clarity on certain areas to ensure we are making smarter decisions in different parts of the field."

WALLABIES TEAM TO PLAY ARGENTINA

1 James Slipper
2 Stephen Moore
3 Ben Alexander
4 Rob Simmons
5 Kane Douglas
6 Scott Fardy
7 Michael Hooper
8 Ben Mowen (c)
9 Nic White
10 Quade Cooper
11 Nick Cummins
12 Christian Leali'ifano
13 Adam Ashley-Cooper (vc),
14 James O'Connor
15 Israel Folau

Replacements: Saia Fainga'a, Scott Sio, Sekope Kepu, Sitaleki Timani, Ben McCalman, Will Genia, Matt Toomua, Tevita Kuridrani

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