Sloppy Bunnies survive Shark scare

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Relief ... Dylan Farrell and Issac Luke celebrate one of Souths' two tries. Source: Renee Mckay / AAP

South Sydney proved just why they remain a long way from being the finished product after labouring their way to a 14-12 win over Cronulla at ANZ Stadium.

It looked a case of how many as the Rabbitohs produced a blistering start via the boot of Adam Reynolds, but the foot which hovered above the throat of the Sharks never came down amidst a barrage of dropped balls and poor last-play options.

2 Tries 2
Andrew Everingham 4'	Michael Gordon 18'
Dylan Farrell 14'	Beau Ryan 66'
2 Conversions 2
Adam Reynolds 6'	Michael Gordon 20'
Adam Reynolds 15'	Michael Gordon 68'
1 Penalties 0
Adam Reynolds 40'

The visitors almost paid the ultimate price for their wastefulness when Beau Ryan picked up one such fumble and raced 92 metres to cut the margin to two with 14 minutes to go - a desperate Reynolds chase not enough to prevent a thrilling finish.

		W	L	D	B	PD	Pts
1	Storm	2	0	0	0	42	4
2	Sea Eagles	2	0	0	0	40	4
3	Rabbitohs	2	0	0	0	20	4
4	Titans	1	1	0	0	34	2
5	Eels	1	1	0	0	26	2
6	Panthers	1	1	0	0	12	2
7	Broncos	1	1	0	0	8	2
8	Sharks	1	1	0	0	0	2
9	Knights	1	1	0	0	0	2
10	Bulldogs	1	1	0	0	-8	2
11	Cowboys	1	1	0	0	-10	2
12	Roosters	1	1	0	0	-16	2
13	Tigers	1	1	0	0	-22	2
14	Warriors	0	2	0	0	-32	0
15	Dragons	0	2	0	0	-36	0
16	Raiders	0	2	0	0	-58	0

But the Rabbitohs held on to remain one of just three teams undefeated after the opening two rounds.

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"Frustrating night for us," Rabbitohs coach Michael Maguire said.

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"Credit to Cronulla, they came out and frustrated our boys and probably got us away from our plan that we've been good at the last couple of weeks.

"We're lucky with the two points and we'll get a fair bit out of that game."

Interim Cronulla coach Peter Sharp said his side was gradually dealing better with the fallout from the drugs scandal engulfing the club.

NRL chief executive Dave Smith visited the players in the dressing room after the match to offer his support.

"It was a tough old game and we hung in there so I don't think the character of this club is in question at all," Sharp said.

"They showed some great character out there tonight again under adverse conditions.

"They're getting on with their business and they'll get on with it next week."

Greg Inglis looked in an ominous mood with an early kick return providing the impetus for Souths' opener after five minutes, when Reynolds laid it on a platter for Andrew Everingham with a deft chip kick.

Reynolds showed what else he had in his kit bag, grubbering for Dylan Farrell to double the lead, the calls for him to be handed a NSW Origin jumper sure to grow louder.

Already playing under the pressure of an ASADA investigation hanging over their heads, Cronulla's players had every right to drop their bundle.

But they stuck to the task and came up with a reply via Michael Gordon, who picked up a bouncing ball after Todd Carney had beaten three defenders in a swivelling run near the line.

Reynolds added a penalty goal after the halftime siren, a kick which eventually proved the difference between the two teams.

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Re-live the action and check out the key stats with our NRL Match Centre.

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The Sharks lost Luke Lewis to an ankle injury 12 minutes into the second half, and the Rabbitohs looked like they had kicked away via Nathan Merritt before the hour mark only for the try to be denied because of an obvious Bryson Goodwin obstruction.

Ryan's try added to the Rabbitohs' frustration as did another no-try video referee ruling, this time Reynolds denied as Issac Luke pulled back the marker in the lead-up.

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McGuire still 'sad' about Malthouse

Trouble at Collingwood ... Mick Malthouse and Eddie McGuire. Source: Colleen Petch / News Limited

Collingwood president Eddie McGuire has expressed his sadness over the breakdown of his relationship with former Magpies' coach Mick Malthouse, but maintains he has no regrets about the way he ended the premiership coach's 12-year tenure with the Pies.

In a candid interview with Mike Sheahan in the first episode of Open Mike of 2013, McGuire was asked about the contentious deal that was to see Nathan Buckley replace Malthouse as senior coach at the end of the 2011 season.

The arrangement that would have seen Malthouse take on the newly created role of director of coaching ended in acrimony when the 2010 premiership coach severed ties with the club before taking on the job late in 2011 as planned.

"I'm very sad, to be honest. It (the friendship) will come back," McGuire said of his strained relationship with Malthouse.
 
"I think Mick is a person who really generates energy off the 'us against them' and the 'them' is Collingwood now.
 
"Personally, I was a bit disappointed that there was such enmity last year and both sides got emotional at stages because we were so close.
 
"Mick's contribution was profound at the Collingwood Football Club and when the time is right he will be made a life member, definitely a hall of famer, and a legend of the club.
 
"I'll be driving that because his contribution was fantastic. Things will sort themselves out."

The relationship appeared beyond repair last year when the pair exchanged barbs in the media with McGuire declaring Malthouse "wouldn't have a friend at Collingwood" after the former coach publicly questioned Buckley's game plan.

After spending 2012 in various media roles Malthouse went on to replace Brett Ratten in September after the Blues champion was sacked as Carlton coach.

"Mick has a view why this all came about and I know exactly why it came about from my point of view," McGuire said.

"Everything we did was for the good of Mick in that situation.
 
"He wanted to coach … good, and it probably refreshed him. He'll be out there and a great coach this year, but I have absolutely zero worries about what I did with Mick Malthouse.
 
"The only regret I have is it didn't pan out, that Mick didn't stay to be the position I wanted him to be at Collingwood."

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India scrape home in nail-biter

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Pumped ... Virat Kohli top-scored for India on day five. Source: Aijaz Rahi / AAP

Australia conceded the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after India's six-wicket win with 15 balls to spare on Monday in the third Test in Mohali, despite a brave last-day effort from the tourists.

3rd Test - Punjab Cricket Association Stadium

14 March 2013 - Day 5, Session 3

India 2nd Innings

M. Dhoni	18	28	3	0	64.29
R. Jadeja	8	5	2	0	160
M. Starc	10.3	1	51	0	4.86

Set 133 to win, India made 4-136.

Skipper MS Dhoni finished unbeaten on 18 after hitting three consecutive fours at the start of the 34th over to close the match.

Openers Murali Vijay (26) and Cheteshwar Pujara (28) shared a 42-run stand and Virat Kohli's departure for 34 at 3-103 brought hard-hitting Dhoni to the crease.

Dhoni and Sachin Tendulkar added just 13 runs off 33 balls and Tendulkar (21) was run out by David Warner at 4-116 with 4.5 overs left, as the tension ramped up a notch in Mohali.

However Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja (8no) hit a flurry of boundaries in the next two overs to put the match in India's keeping against an Australian side that showed plenty of fight on the final day's play.

Australia captain Michael Clarke admitted his back injury could prevent him from playing in Friday's fourth Test  but failed to clarify if Shane Watson would take over as skipper.

Clarke was keen to focus on the positives when discussing Watson's return.

"It's very positive that Watto is coming back,'' Clarke said, attempting to put an end to the speculation over the past week about Watson's personality clashes with his Australia's captain, coach Mickey Arthur and high-performance chief Pat Howard.

"I know all the boys are looking forward to having him back and no doubt if I am unavailable ... I haven't spoken to the selectors but I would imagine that Watto would be captain,'' said Clarke, who is also a selector himself.

Watson, one of four players suspended for the third Test over the homeworkgate affair, was en route to Delhi on Monday after returning to Sydney for the birth of his first child.

Having been labelled a good team man sometimes by Howard last week, Watson is now facing the prospect of leading the side if Clarke is ruled unfit.

Clarke's dual roles as skipper and leading batsman in the side would leave a gaping hole if he was absent and the 31-year-old is confident he can protect a proud record over his 92-Test career.

"It's pretty sore," Clarke said.

"Fortunately I have got a few days before the next Test and I will spend as much time with Alex (team physio Alex Kountouris) as I can to get it right.

"It is the same problem I have had since I was 17 and I have been trying to manage it throughout my career.

"The next four days will be no different to normal when my back goes on me like this.

"It's about plenty of treatment, listening to the experts and doing everything I can to get it right for the next Test match.

"Touch wood I haven't missed a Test match due to injury so far in my career and I wouldn't like this to be my first one."

Earlier, Clarke's men resumed on 3-75 in their second innings and were bowled out for 23.

Phil Hughes regained form with a fighting knock of 69, in which he was very unlucky to be given out lbw. Clarke was clearly troubled by a back injury and was out for 18 batting at No.6.

Shikhar Dhawan received the man-of-the-match award in Mohali for his brilliant knock of 187 on Test debut.

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Relive all the action from the dramatic final day with our Match Centre.

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'Heads are going to go at Bombers'

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The Bombers ... trying to focus on their opening-round clash. Source: Tim Carrafa / News Limited

Veteran AFL journalist Mike Sheahan has warned that the drugs scandal that has rocked the code - and wider sporting community in Australia - will see heads roll at Essendon.

	3:15 PM Melbourne Cricket Ground
All times are listed in EDT

The Bombers are under three investigations for supplements that players took in the 2012 AFL season.

The ASADA investigation will take months, while the AFL is also looking into what happened at Essendon and the club itself has commissioned an independent review into what chairman David Evans has called "irregular practices".

Sheahan, speaking on the return of FOX FOOTY's On The Couch on Monday night, said the opening of the AFL season this weekend provided a break, but not the end of the issue for the game.

"We've got a diversion, it's definitely not behind us," Sheahan said.

"This has dented the AFL reputation more than (anything) I can remember.

"There's no doubt there's been a serious breakdown in governance at the Essendon Football Club," Sheahan added.

"I think some heads are going to go (at Essendon).

"The reputation of the game and specifically the footy club has been badly hurt in this.

"And it shouldn't happen. Whatever the substances this is shocking in the literal sense of the word.

"When you pick up the paper and you read that a group of young blokes have been taken off site to have injections administered to the abdomen with a supplement we're not sure about, I am staggered that nobody in the football department, the medical department, the coaches, parents or players blew the whistle on that.

"I am staggered it went on as long as it did."

Brownlow medallist Gerard Healy said the situation at Essendon would likely lead to a change in practices across the competition.

"To me the issue is 40 injections into the gut is a no-go zone," Healy said.

"If anything comes out of this I think we're going to understand that if you have an injection in football it's potentially to allow you to play at your best, not to improve your best.

"Because that is what this supplement program is all about. It's making you a better player than you otherwise were.

"If you have to become a battery hen to become a top-line AFL footballer then we've lost our way.

"The information will go from one club to the next club to the next club so there's no net gain. Everyone will be doing 40 injections and all we're doing is diminishing our brand."

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Sharks want Flanagan back: Sharp

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Shane Flanagan ... remains a popular figure at the Cronulla club. Source: Tracey Nearmy / AAP

Interim Cronulla coach Peter Sharp admits he has no idea if Shane Flanagan will be reinstated as head coach on Tuesday, but says everyone involved with the side wants him back in the driver's seat.

A board meeting scheduled for Tuesday is set to decide Flanagan's future with the club, after he was stood down pending a further investigation into his role in the 2011 drugs scandal currently engulfing the club.

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Four other football staff members were sacked as a result of the initial probe, while Flanagan was given a stay of execution, but Sharp was adamant this would remain Flanagan's team.

"I've got no idea," Sharp said when asked if Flanagan would be reinstated on Tuesday.

"He's the coach of this football club and everybody in the football club wants him back, myself included.

"Let's hope we get some closure on that as well."

Of the players, Sharp said it was hard to forget the drama surrounding as many as 14 squad members who are believed to be in the sights of ASADA.

It is believed ASADA's interviews with players will be held next week after originally being scheduled for this week.

"There's certainly a cloud hanging over the place to some degree," Sharp said.

"It would be nice to get some closure on it all, one way or the other."

Meanwhile former Olympic basketballer Damian Keogh has emerged as a possible chairman candidate at the club.

Keogh is believed to be on a ticket involving a group of Sutherland Shire businessmen.

Nominations for the April 16 AGM closed on Monday.

Former Cronulla chairman Damian Irvine stood down last week following controversial comments made in relation to the drugs scandal, but it is believed he will seek re-election to the board.

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