Qld want to host next Ryobi Cup

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THE Queensland Bulls yesterday brought home the Ryobi Cup trophy ... now they want to bring home the entire competition.

Fresh from savouring back-to-back Ryobi Cup title wins, Queensland Cricket sees no good reason why the sawn-off 50-over tournament should not be held in the Sunshine State next season.

The new format, shortened and squeezed in before the cricket season really starts in earnest, had its detractors, but most players enjoyed it and crowds and television audiences warmed to it.

Cricket Australia wanted it staged entirely in Sydney, as it felt it could get more bang for its buck in the Harbour City with bigger crowds and TV ratings on GEM.

However, Queensland Cricket feels that the Bulls, as champions, should be in the running for hosting rights next year.

And it could be staged at the Gabba, Allan Border Field and some of the premier suburban club grounds in Brisbane.

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"There is no reason why we couldn't stage the whole thing here," victorious Bulls coach Stuart Law told The Courier-Mail.

"We play pre-season matches up here, we don't really have an off season. The weather and the pitches wickets are generally great around September and October.

"One thing I hope is that Cricket Australia don't lose sight of the fact that it is a fantastic competition and there is a World Cup coming up in 2015. I think a lot of emphasis should be placed on it."

The Bulls didn't have much time to celebrate their Ryobi Cup title win before most of the team flew to Adelaide yesterday for a Sheffield Shield game starting tomorrow.

However Law and batsman Chris Lynn, who will play for a WA Chairman's XI in a three-day match against England in Perth later this week, returned to Brisbane with wide grins and carrying the Ryobi Cup trophy.

There were plenty of strange looks and sideways glances when Victorian Cameron White was named the player of the Ryobi Cup tournament ahead of Dave Warner.

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But the Queensland team believes there was another worthy candidate.

Big paceman Ben Cutting took 10 tournament wickets and blasted 195 runs including a matchwinning batting cameo as Queensland chased down 317 in the final against NSW.

"They talk about player of the tournament ... what about Ben Cutting?" Law said.

"He comes in yesterday in an ultra-high pressure environment. He comes up to me and says 'I haven't bowled well. I owe the group something'.

"There's a T20 World Cup coming up early next year, then the (50-over) World Cup. He's done himself no harm in putting his name forward for those tournaments."

As for Law, he allowed himself a few quiet moments to savour an early title win after taking over as Bulls coach from Darren Lehmann only a few months ago.

"With what I came into I was on a hiding to nothing really ... a successful cricket team, a coach who was leaving who was well respected and well loved by the players and the establishment," he said.

"It is nice to come away with a trophy early in your campaign but it is only early days."

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Broncos sign another Barba

Marmin Barba during his time at the Titans. Picture: David Clark Source: DailyTelegraph

FIRST they snared Ben Barba. Now the Broncos have secured Barba's younger brother, cancer survivor Marmin, in a move partly designed to safeguard the well-being of Brisbane's big-name recruit.

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The 22-year-old has inked a two-year deal, continuing an aggressive recruitment drive that has seen the Broncos net Martin Kennedy, Daniel Vidot, Todd Lowrie and the Barba brothers for 2014.

A promising utility back, Marmin was left fighting for his life three years ago when he was diagnosed with lymphoma cancer in his groin at the tender age of 19.

But having won the biggest battle of all, Barba is now a key figure in the NRL resurrection of his older brother after Ben's nightmare 2013 campaign at the Bulldogs.

The Broncos believe Marmin has something to offer in his own right, but are mindful of the support he provides to a sibling looking to rebuild on and off the field in Brisbane.

"Marmin's manager (Chris Orr) suggested him to us and we thought it would be a good idea," Broncos operations chief Andrew Gee said.

"It will definitely be good for Ben from a welfare perspective to have his brother around the club.

"From all reports, Marmin is an outstanding young lad so it will be good to have him around.

"It's always beneficial for any person to have support networks and it will be great for both Ben and Marmin to have each other at the club."

Like his more famous brother, Marmin has the opportunity to consolidate at Red Hill next season.

Signed by the Titans last year after his cancer ordeal at Parramatta, Barba spent the 2013 season with Tweed in the Intrust Super Cup as he fought his way back from a knee reconstruction.

But Orr believes Marmin is entering his best years as a footballer and could prove a bargain buy for the Broncos.

"It was about family every step of the way and it's worked out well for both of them. It's a brand new start for Ben but it's also a great new chapter for Marmin," said Orr.

"Marmin will get a lot out of watching how Ben trains. Ben was Marmin's weight a few years ago and Ben is now 92kg, while Marmin is about 78kg, so he has a long way to go.

"Marmin had bravely overcome cancer when the Titans threw him a lifeline. But it was a year of recovery because his knee didn't come right until the last six weeks of the year, so the Broncos should get the best of Marmin."

Last year, Marmin revealed how Ben helped him through his darkest days. Now he is ready to be his Brother's Keeper.

"Ben's pretty much the reason where I am in my career, he's helped me out big time," Marmin said.

"When I first got cancer, I thought that was it for me, my life was over. I had bad things running through my head, but within a few weeks they said I was cleared.

"Benny was a huge help for me. As soon as I heard I had it, I thought 'I won't be able to play sport ever again', but Ben said stay positive."

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Ricky ready for pre-season pain game

Ricky Stuart on his first day at the Raiders. Source: DailyTelegraph

RICKY Stuart is back home - and he means business.

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Stuart's Raiders will return to the training field on Thursday — less than four weeks since the NRL grand final.

Canberra will be the second team back, following the New Zealand Warriors' return to training on Monday.

The remaining 14 clubs will resume training throughout next month. All clubs will give their World Cup stars an extended break.

It seems bizarre to be talking about footy training just 23 days after the Sydney Roosters' grand final triumph.

But the NRL demands results — and every team will be back training over the next four weeks before enjoying a short break over Christmas.

Stuart has moved from ­Sydney to Canberra in preparation for the next challenge in his long coaching and ­playing career.

Former Canberra teammate Laurie Daley wasn't surprised the Raiders will be back training on Thursday.

"Because Canberra missed the finals this year, they have had some time off," said Daley, who played 244 first grade matches and won three premierships with the Raiders.

"Ricky is the new coach at Canberra and will want to get his teeth into the job.

"The players will be excited and I know Ricky will be looking forward to a new challenge.

"Canberra are among the first clubs back — so I reckon the players will return keen and motivated."

Raiders chief executive Don Furner is expecting success from the whole club this season under Stuart.

"Ricky will roll up his sleeves and expect the same work ethic from the entire playing squad and staff," Furner said.

"The club missed the semi-finals, so everyone has had a fairly long break.

"It will be good to get back and have a fresh start."

Premiers the Roosters have struggled to nominate a return date to training because 16 of their players are involved in the World Cup in England.

Their stars will make staggered returns depending on how far their nations progress in the tournament. Roosters coach Trent Robinson is currently enjoying a well-earned holiday.

After a traumatic season, Wests Tigers return to training on November 11.

"It will be intense and hard," Wests Tigers coach Mick ­Potter said.

"The experience some of our younger guys got last year will drive them to improve themselves.

"That is what happens in the pre-season.

"It's exciting for the club. We have lost some good players but also acquired some good players.

"That's rugby league — it changes all the time."

Melbourne will hit the training fields on November 7.

A Storm spokesman said: "Due to the World Cup and a number of other factors, it is impossible to identify an actual return date for Melbourne Storm. Instead, players will be ­rolling into training and be around the club from November 7 on a sliding scale into the New Year."

Brisbane expect recruit Ben Barba to be at the club's first training run on November 6. The Parramatta Eels should also welcome a new recruit when Will Hopoate steps out for his first training session on November 7.

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Dellavedova ecstatic at spot

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FROM junior basketball in Maryborough and Bendigo in Victoria to the NBA.

That has been the incredible journey of Matthew Dellavedova, who has defied the odds to win a prized roster spot with the Cleveland Cavaliers for the upcoming NBA season.

Speaking to the Herald Sun from the US, the star point guard said he was thrilled to get the nod following months of uncertainty and roster cuts.

"It's really exciting but there is a lot of hard work ahead," he said.

"The dream as a kid was always to play in the Olympics and the NBA.

"When you're a little kid you've always got big dreams but you don't really know if it is realistic or not.

"You just keep getting closer and closer as you get older and you just have to keep working hard.

"The amount of work you have to put in kind of increases each level you go up, and I'm glad it is paying off."

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The Maryborough product has put pen to paper on a two-year partially-guaranteed $US1.3 million ($A1.35 million) contract.

Dellavedova won his spot after impressing Cavaliers coach Mike Brown with his toughness and fierce determination.

"He's a non-athlete, but he gets everything out of his body you could hope or ask for. That's all you want," Brown said.

Dellavedova said the competition for a spot was cut-throat.

"There was pressure there every training session and every game," he said.

"But I think that is a good thing.

"It is definitely good to know where you will be playing.

"I could never look too far ahead - I was just focusing on the next thing I had to do."

The 23-year-old made the NBA the hard way.

The Boomer was a standout US college team St Mary's, but failed to get drafted after working out with numerous NBA teams.

He then played for Cleveland's Summer League team alongside Melbourne Tigers star Chris Goulding.

It was a long road but Dellavedova never gave up as he knew he could match it with the best.

"I think the time when I really thought I could play in the NBA was when I played for the Boomers in 2011," he said.

"We played a couple of games in Spain in a pre-Olympics warm up tournament against France, Siberia and a few others.

"I thought I held my own against a lot of NBA players and that's when I felt I could play at that level."

Dellavedova is one of just four Aussies in the NBA next season, which includes Golden State Warriors' Andrew Bogut and San Antonio Spurs' duo Patrick Mills and Aron Baynes.

He is the Cavaliers' third string point guard, which means he will be warming the bench more often than not.

"It just means you just have to be ready every night," he said.

"Because you might get your number called or you might not.

"So in the mean time I am just taking it as a great opportunity to learn off Kyrie Irving and Jarrett Jack in front of me."

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Bailey to be given dispensation

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GEORGE Bailey's chance of making his Test debut in Brisbane next month will not be ruined if he has a bad first class match after returning from India.

The one-day players will miss the opening round of Sheffield Shield matches, beginning Wednesday.

They will have just the second round of Shield games or the Australia A game in Hobart, all beginning next week, before the first Test squad is announced on November 12.

However the one-day players currently in India will be given some dispensation because the conditions will be so different.

The Australia A team, which will be named today should not be an automatic guide to who is in line for Test selection.

Bailey is a popular favourite to line up in Brisbane on November 21 to receive his baggy green cap but in reality the field, like the Melbourne Cup next Tuesday, is too close to call.

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Shaun Marsh also has strong support and has recovered well from his latest hamstring strain with a strong Ryobi Cup.

In all seven batsmen currently not in the Test team have been discussed as possible Australia or Australia A candidates who have a realistic chance of promotion this summer.

Along with Bailey and Marsh they are Usman Khawaja, Phil Hughes, Alex Doolan, Michael Klinger and Aaron Finch despite his poor first class record.

Significantly Ed Cowan is not among them despite being part of the Ashes tour, where he played the first Test but failed in both innings.

Hughes and Khawaja were also Ashes tourists but the fact they were dropped for the last Test at The Oval highlights that the selectors have lost patience with them, for now at least.

Hughes, Khawaja and Marsh are all left-handers, which could count against them because of Graeme Swann's high class off-spin turning across them.

However Swann is not considered the same threat on Australian pitches that he was on the dry and doctored wickets in England mid-year.

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While the Ryobi Cup may have been a white ball tournament in October the selectors have been delighted by the number of centuries, with David Warner making three in eight days.

His Test place was never under serious threat, although he would not want to have another poor series after averaging 24 on the tour of India and 23 in England this year.

Marsh also made a hundred after three good scores and Khawaja followed four half-centuries with a hundred in the final against NSW last Sunday to set Queensland up for a second successive Ryobi Cup triumph.

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