Knights destroy toothless Tigers

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Newcastle Knights ... destroy Wests Tigers at Hunter Stadium. Source: Gregg Porteous / News Limited

An impressive Newcastle Knights opened their 2013 NRL season in style as they crushed the Wests Tigers in Monday's NRL encounter at Hunter Stadium.

7 Tries 2
James McManus 10'	Adam Blair 6'
Akuila Uate 21'	Tim Moltzen 80'
Dane Gagai 26'
Dane Gagai 37'
Akuila Uate 46'
Akuila Uate 49'
James McManus 55'
5 Conversions 1
Kurt Gidley 23'	Benji Marshall 7'
Kurt Gidley 28'
Kurt Gidley 39'
Kurt Gidley 48'
Kurt Gidley 57'
2 Penalties 0
Kurt Gidley 33'
Kurt Gidley 68'

A hat-trick of tries from NSW winger Akuila Uate and two apiece from Dane Gagai and James McManus sealed the 42-10 win to make it a first game to forget for new Tigers coach Mick Potter.

The visitors actually started brightly and opened the scoring after five minutes when Adam Blair powered over from close range.

But it proved to be their only high point in an abject display as the Knights ripped them apart in a sizzling 50-minute period that saw them score seven tries.

A minute's silence was impeccably observed by the 21,935 crowd at Ausgrid Stadium for tragic Tiger Mosese Fotuaika, who passed away recently, and it appeared to inspire Potter's side early in the game.

However, the Knights, inspired by Uate and two former Brisbane Broncos in Darius Boyd and Gagai, took control to effectively seal the victory before halftime.

		W	L	D	B	PD	Pts
1	Knights	1	0	0	0	32	2
2	Eels	1	0	0	0	30	2
3	Panthers	1	0	0	0	22	2
4	Storm	1	0	0	0	20	2
5	Rabbitohs	1	0	0	0	18	2
6	Cowboys	1	0	0	0	12	2
7	Sea Eagles	1	0	0	0	8	2
8	Sharks	1	0	0	0	2	2
9	Titans	0	1	0	0	-2	0
10	Broncos	0	1	0	0	-8	0
11	Bulldogs	0	1	0	0	-12	0
12	Roosters	0	1	0	0	-18	0
13	Dragons	0	1	0	0	-20	0
14	Raiders	0	1	0	0	-22	0
15	Warriors	0	1	0	0	-30	0
16	Tigers	0	1	0	0	-32	0

Ex-NSW winger McManus dived over in the 10th minute after hauling in a fine cut-out pass from Boyd and the Queensland star looked to have increased the advantage only to spill the ball as he crossed the line.

But that proved to be a minor aberration when Uate, fresh from signing a new four-year deal, started and finished the move for the second four-pointer.

The Blues star caught the ball on his own 10-metre line, shrugged off three feeble tackles as he raced 50 metres and was then on hand to pick out Gagai's pass to go over in the right corner.

Gagai then scored two quickfire tries with skipper Kurt Gidley kicking four goals to open up a 24-6 lead at the break.

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The second stanza followed a similar pattern with the Knights dominating as the Tigers fell apart, giving up two more Uate tries within nine minutes of the restart.

McManus added his second just before the hour-mark when he outjumped the diminutive Matt Utai and grabbed Jarrod Mullen's kick with Gidley's conversion bringing up the 40-point mark.

Tim Moltzen stretched to score on the siren to give the Tigers a late consolation.

The Knights' promising start was tempered by an wrist injury to Mullen, who went off midway in the second period.

Knights coach Wayne Bennett said he was pleased with his side's performance but said it was important no one got carried away by such a positive start to their campaign.

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"There may be people looking over their shoulders, but I wouldn't say it was a statement," Bennett said.

"The first thing we have to do is not look ahead too far to Manly next week.

"We need to look at ourselves, get over our bumps and bruises and then we'll worry about Manly later in the week."

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Re-live all the action from the Knights' sizzling win over the Tigers at our NRL Match Centre, with key stats.

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The veteran coach also said the injury to Mullen was not serious and that he withdrew his five-eighth as a precaution.

"I wanted to give Tyrone Roberts a bit of time out there that was all, but there is no problems with Jarrod," he said.

The defeat was a miserable start to Potter's reign at the Tigers and when asked if he had any words of encouragement for his opposite number, Bennett merely said ``welcome!''

Potter said his side needed to improve fast before this week's clash with Penrith at Campbelltown.

"It was disappointing, in a lot of areas we could have done a lot better, but the scoreline doesn't read very well," Potter said.

"Early, everything was going to plan, but we slowly deteriorated and came up with errors and gave away silly penalties and a lot of possession.

"You can't do that and expect to win games."

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Shattered Watson quits tour

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Stood down ... Shane Watson didn't meet team guidelines. Source: Rick Rycroft / AP

Australia's selection crisis took an extraordinary twist tonight with Shane Watson quitting the tour to be with his pregnant wife in the wake of his sacking for the third Test.

In one of the most dramatic days in Australian cricket history, coach Mickey Arthur dropped a bombshell on the team by dumping Watson, Mitchell Johnson, James Pattinson and Usman Khawaja for breaching team discipline.

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The quartet were stood down from selection for one match for failing to take part in a peer review of the side's dismal performance in the second Test.

But the team was rocked by a second ruction late tonight, with vice-captain Watson deciding to leave India to be with wife Lee, who is heavily pregnant and due to give birth.

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It is unknown if Watson's sacking was the driving force behind the decision but coach Mickey Arthur said yesterday he was left shattered when informed of his demotion by Australian hierarchy.

Shane Watson exits the team hotel. Source: News Limited

The departure of Watson is a savage blow to the Australian team and could have huge ramifications for his future as vice-captain.

In a landmark day for Australian cricket, coach Mickey Arthur revealed the quartet have been stood down for one match for not taking part in a written review following the side's heavy innings defeat in the second Test.

The 16-man touring party was asked to complete a personal review of the team's culture and expectations and the improvements needed to be made for the third Test starting Thursday.

Arthur said Watson, Pattinson, Khawaja and Johnson had failed to submit a personal analysis - prompting team hierarchy to immediately rule the group out for the Test in Mohali.

The coach said the quartet are "gutted". He added it was the toughest day of his coaching career, but a step necessary in his goal to make Australia's the No.1 Test side in world cricket.

While the contingent will be considered for the fourth Test in Delhi, Arthur said the decision was a "line in the sand" for Australian cricket.

The fallout is particularly severe for Watson, who is the Australian vice-captain and has been under pressure after a dismal run of form at Test level in the past 18 months.

Arthur said that after going two down in the series the team was "really hurting."

"We were discussing ways to get back in the series. I asked the players to give me a presentation individually.

"I wanted three points from them - technically, mentally and team - as to  how we were going to get back into the series.

"Unfortunately four players did not comply with that.

"We pride ourselves on attitude - we have given the players a huge amount of latitude to get culture and attitude right. 

"We believe those behaviours were not consistent with what we want to do with this team, how we want to take this team to be the best in the world.

"The teams that are best in the world have best attitudes, have best behaviour patterns and have a good hard ruthless culture."

Pattinson is Australia's leading wicket-taker in the series with eight wickets at 23.62. Watson has scored 77 runs at 19.25.

Former Australian captain Allan Border said he was surprised the players had been axed for the reasons given  and labelled the decision as an "over the top reaction".

"It seems a bit of a strong measure for a coach or captain to take," Border told Fox Sports News.

"I'm surprised that's the penalty for something so mundane. It seems like it was on a schoolboy tour or something. It's an over the top reaction.

"I haven't seen anything quite like this - there have been players stood down for bad behaviour or breaking curfews but something like this where you have basically refused to fill out a performance review, it's the first time I've ever heard of it."

"I'm stunned," said former Test player Mark Waugh. "I just want to know what would have happened if eight of the guys hadn't filled in the form, we wouldn't have a team for the game.

"I've never heard of this sort of thing before at top level in any sport.

"When you are losing there are niggling things there but they're grown men, it's not school boy stuff. It's not under 6s, this is Test cricket… there would have been a better way." 

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Reds shatter Heart's finals hopes

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Teetering ... Melbourne Heart look unlikey to make the finals after losing to Adelaide. Source: George Salpigtidis / News Limited

Adelaide United have all but locked in a home A-League final and left Melbourne Heart's top-six chances creaking with a 2-0 win at AAMI Park on Monday night.

Dario Vidosic's first-half penalty and a second-half goal to winger Iain Ramsay snapped the Reds' indifferent form and Heart's good home run.

The victory lifts Adelaide nine points clear of fifth place with three matches remaining, with the third and fourth-placed sides at the end of the A-League regular season guaranteed home finals.

		P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
1	Western Sydney	24	16	2	6	15	50
2	Central Coast	24	13	6	5	22	45
3	Victory	24	12	4	8	3	40
4	Adelaide	24	12	3	9	3	39
5	Sydney	24	9	3	12	-8	30
6	Newcastle	25	8	6	11	-12	30
7	Brisbane	24	8	5	11	1	29
8	Perth	24	8	4	12	-2	28
9	Heart	24	8	3	13	-4	27
10	Wellington	25	6	6	13	-18	24

But Heart now slide to second-bottom after other weekend results went against them, though they are just a win out of the top six in the closely congested battle to make the playoffs.

In front of a crowd of just over 5,000, Heart were left to rue some missed early first-half chances.

Midfielder Nick Kalmar had three good attempts in three minutes and Reds goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic was forced into two outstanding saves.

Adelaide United coach Mike Valkanis was thrilled with his side's whole-hearted victory after several weeks of inconsistency.

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"We've had our ups and downs in form and we spoke about it during the week that we have to flick the switch on, and keep it on," Valkanis said.

"We can't keep thinking that we've got games in front of us and we'll be playing finals.

"It was a good professional performance."

Heart coach John Aloisi admitted the defeat would make it difficult for his side to make the playoffs, and felt they should have made Adelaide pay early when they had the chances.

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Re-live all the action from the Reds' convincing win at our A-League Match Centre, with video highlights and all the stats you need.

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"It's still close. We've still got a chance of making the six. We just have to believe that we can," Aloisi said.

"We've made it hard for ourselves. We should have punished them. Three great chances ... and they weren't causing us problems.

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"Then they got the penalty and we struggled. They were better than us after that."

Heart now need maximum points from Saturday's home match against table-topping Western Sydney Wanderers to re-ignite their top-six challenge.

The Reds face a quick turnaround to host Newcastle Jets on Friday night at Hindmarsh Stadium.
 

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'Are you not entertained NRL fans?'

Set of Six ... Cronulla complete emotional victory over Gold Coast. Source: Brett Costello / News Limited

'Are you not entertained?' Russell Crowe's Rabbitohs thumped their fierce rival; the Hayne Plane soared with his little co-pilot, Chrissy Sandow, steering the craft; and Jonathan Thurston re-signed with the Cowboys on a small five-year wage.

1st tackle

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So, yes - game one, round one. Good to have the grand old girl back, isn't it? You sports bet it is.

On Thursday night, giant thick swadges of humanity filled Allianz near to the brim and were entertained as if Russell Crowe had asked, "Are you not entertained?"

Oh yes, Rusty! Yes! The Rabbitohs looked strong. And big. When they trot out, all four of these great thundering Burgess boys will shake cities.

On the back of punishing, hard-boned hit-ups, Souths' backs had pill on the hop and space to complete, repeat, and torch the Roosters out wide, with winger Nathan Merritt adding a hat-trick to his club record 42,278 tries.

With the big yins rumbling, five-eighth John Sutton found holes, Adam Reynolds found support, and Greg Inglis found the Chooks defence to his liking.

At 105 kegs with pace, footwork and the mother-of-all fends, there's no harder player to bring down than great big GI. Certainly the Chooks struggled. And they were plucked like their sponsor's product.

2nd tackle 

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Had a yarn with the great Joseph Johns the other day, talking shop about rugby league for Rugby League Week, and he reckoned Jonathan Thurston was a player he'd pay to see (y'know, if Joey was ever made to pay to get in).

"The bigger the stage, the better he plays," said Johns. "Everyone knows what he's going to do. And everyone works on it all week at training. But it's one thing knowing and another thing stopping it."

As the Dogs found out on Saturday night when Thurston's simple, lethal dummy carved them like mum's Sunday roast.

Thurston is a master liar in body language and it's little wonder the Cows opened many vaults to keep him.

Behind a pack of monsters rumbling forward and support from Mango Matt and Neckbrace Brent, Thurston can win the Cows the comp.

3rd tackle 

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Next time you're listening to a windbag at work holding court about who's going to win this weekend (or, er, reading one), remember this: they're probably half-right. Knowing which half is the trick to wiping the smile off old smiley, Glenn Munsie.

Again the NRL looks harder to predict than a maiden at Moe.

Sure – it's round one and form lines should sort themselves out. But you could study team lists and trial form, motives and motivation, speak to punters, bookies, players, journos, coaches and sundry officials, and consult the entrails of a thousand Bogong moths, and still come up with, as I did, "Canberra by 12" and "Warriors by 18", tips so wrong as to be nearly illegal.

No wonder old mate Muns looks happy reading odds on the telly. Each time he opens his mouth in floods a river of gold.

4th tackle 

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Whatever form of transport Jarryd Hayne chooses to shape-shift into - Plane? Train? Hybrid Flying Caboose? - it's safe to say this: when Hayne is humming, rugby league is a happy place.

Taking the ball on the balls of his bouncing feet he makes people sit forward in their seat. What's he gonna do?

That is a fun footballer. And if he can sneak up on some of the form that made the end of 2009 so freaky – and if his little mate Chrissy Sandow can bounce about like Zebedee the Spring – the Eels will win more than lose.

Yes, yes, yes – mighty big "Ifs" in a long season. And Eels' supporters have been hurt before. Still, you don't mind winning your first game by 30 points, not no how.

5th tackle 

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Vision of Peter Sharp addressing the Sharks at half-time stuck in the craw like a mangled macaw.

Good fellah, Sharpy, they say. But this is Shane Flanno's team. These are his boys.

When Paul Gallen took over for his captain's address, there was a resignation about him. Even a sadness.

(Could just be me.) But in the post-game presser he looked haggard, drawn, and not because of 80 minutes rough-n-tumble.

As Gallen said: the game was the easiest thing he did all week. The game? The Sharks played rock-hard footy against committed Titans, and the Shire folk leapt about like happy trout. And the team felt the love. But is love enough? Can love find a way? Can the Sharks pull themselves from this abyss on pure goodwill?

These hard-eye emissaries of ASADA and the Crime Commission are not given to sentiment. They talk goodies and baddies and busts. Player X took Substance Y? Book him, Danno. And if you're on the wrong side of their ledger, they'll hunt you like Mounties. So, good luck, Shark People. You're gonna need it.

Last tackle 

After a "summer" of cricket longer than a verbal retelling of the Hundred Years War, how good is it having footy on the telly every night of the week bar two? As good as Brazilian gold bullion, friend. That good. Then the other two nights you can watch people gibbering about it. Good times.

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Ioane pays price for misdeeds

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Banned ... Digby Ioane will sit out the Reds next game. Source: Mark Evans / News Limited

Past misdemeanours have come back to haunt Digby Ioane as the Queensland Reds on Monday sought to improve a flagging team culture by axing the Wallabies winger for one match.

Despite being the Reds' second best player this season, behind flanker Liam Gill, Ioane has been stood down for Saturday night's Super Rugby clash with the Western Force following an incident in a Melbourne hotel on the weekend.

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Victorian police are still investigating an alleged assault following an altercation between Ioane's older brother and another patron in a Prahran hotel on Saturday afternoon.

But the Queensland Rugby Union have been quick to act and send a strong message ahead of any police findings after being unhappy with a continued slip in standards expected at Ballymore.

"We're taking a stand at this point in time that this type of behaviour is not what we're about," said Reds director of coaching Ewen McKenzie.

"This isn't just a message to Digby but to all our players about what we think is acceptable and what isn't.

"It's irrelevant of what's going in terms of the police investigation. It's how we want to be seen in the rugby community and how our young players see our senior players."

The pub incident took place the same day Reds teammate Quade Cooper posted a picture of him, Ioane, James O'Connor and Kurtley Beale as well as Hawthorn star Lance Franklin and other bare-chested men in gangster-style poses in a spa on a Melbourne rooftop.

QRU chief executive Jim Carmichael and McKenzie were both unhappy about how it represented their code.

A role model for other young Polynesians at the Reds, Ioane's been guilty of letting his behaviour lapse before the weekend, and has persisted in playing a mug lair in public.

"There's been bits of things over the years and there's always a cumulative impact," McKenzie admitted when asked whether the 27-year-old had been guilty of other misdeeds. "But it's subtle things and we know how we want to be perceived.

"Our culture is very important to us.

"Sport is about culture as much as anything.

"There's been lots of things over time, and lots of players, and we've got to this point in time that enough's enough.

"We've taken a stand ... and this type of stuff has to stop."

Queensland normally have ample depth in their outside back division to replace the tackle-shedding Ioane against the Force but they're also missing another Wallabies flyer Dom Shipperley, who injured his back in the 23-13 win over the Melbourne Rebels, as well as Rod Davies (hamstring).

Teenager Chris Feauai-Sautia and one-cap Wallaby Luke Morahan, dropped from the 22 to play the Rebels, are now set to start on the wings.

In good news for the Reds, Wallabies halfback Will Genia will make his long-awaited return from a knee reconstruction on Saturday night and captain James Horwill (ankle) is on track to play the following week against the Bulls.

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Can Williams hold Raiders spot?

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Talent ... Raiders playmaker Sam Williams is likely to start at halfback. Source: Renee McKay / AAP

It's Groundhog Day for Canberra halfback Sam Williams as he faces a third NRL audition in as many years.

With skipper Terry Campese expected to miss the opening month of the season as he nurses his way back from consecutive knee reconstructions, Williams is set to be handed a start for Sunday's opening round trip to Penrith.

It's another chance to impress for a regular spot in the Raiders side, just as the 21-year-old did in 2011 and again in 2012 when he played a combined 33 games while deputising for Campese.

Off-contract at the end of the year, Williams said the first four rounds would be a chance to impress both Raiders officials and rival clubs as he looks to shore-up his NRL future.

"We all know that Campo's going to be back and how good a quality of player he is,'' Williams said.

"It's important for me to play well at the start of the season and then when Campo comes back, it makes it hard for the coaches.

"At the moment I've got that opportunity and other teams may be looking.''

The Raiders are being overly cautious with Campese, with coach David Furner hoping to have him back on deck for the round five meeting with the Sydney Roosters.

After first injuring the knee during the 2010 finals series - which along with a groin injury all-but wiped out his 2011 season, Campese again broke down when his knee gave way in round seven last year.

Meanwhile fullback Josh Dugan remains in doubt to face the Panthers after being hospitalised with a virus.

"Starting to feel normal again after 3 days in hospital...'' Dugan tweeted.

He was back at Raiders headquarters on Monday but did not train, with Raiders officials hoping to have him back running in the coming days.

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Mick, AFL to meet over interchange cap

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Resolution ... Mick Malthouse will meet Kevin Bartlett following their public spat. Source: Wayne Ludbey / News Limited

Having traded public barbs over the AFL's controversial interchange trial, Mick Malthouse and Kevin Bartlett will now thrash out the issue face to face.

Malthouse has accepted an invitation to meet on Wednesday with the league's rules committee, which features Bartlett, and no doubt the league's trial cap on interchange rotations will be the main topic.

The Carlton coach is vehemently opposed to the limit of 80 rotations per team in each game, which was trialled in last weekend's NAB Cup matches.

There will be no rotation cap during the regular season, but there is strong speculation the AFL could bring in a rule for next year.

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Malthouse had accepted the invitation before Saturday night's post-match media conference when he made some pointed comments about the rules committee.

"I sincerely hope that the rules committee are governed by people, who have got an understanding of the modern game, not previous long-ago coaches, or long-ago players, or new players that have no say, or new officials that just make up the numbers," Malthouse said.

"I hope it's not dominated by one or two people who seem to be able to push their way in and around, as a consequence it feels good to be in control, so therefore we'll make it 80 (rotations)."

Bartlett, now an AFL commentator, is an official AFL legend who played 403 games for Richmond and also coached the club.

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He hit back at old Tigers team-mate Malthouse on Monday.

"I really do hope he was talking about me, because that means I would be getting under the skin of the coaches," Bartlett said on SEN.

"Someone has got to be listening, watching and observing what the coaches say or do.

"They babble on at press conferences and after games, (we) have got to make them accountable."

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Malthouse was one of several coaches last weekend who hit out at the trial interchange rule, but Bartlett strongly backed it.

"The big surprise was no player collapsed through exhaustion playing under the 80 interchange rule, or had to be stretchered off because his body had been stressed to the point of no return, and players didn't drop like flies," Bartlett said sarcastically.

"I don't think the game suffered by having on average 100 less interchanges, was it so detrimental to the game that 100 players couldn't sprint to the bench?

"The game didn't suffer or go backwards because rotations were capped.

"Everyone survived and so did the game, and that was no surprise to me."

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Australia stumble in second dig

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Struggles ... Hughes was out to Ravi Ashwin yet again on day three. Source: William West / AAP

Australia's hope of saving the second Test are fading fast after reaching 2-74 in their second innings at stumps on day three.

2nd Test - Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium

2 March 2013 - Day 3, Session 3

Australia 2nd Innings

E. Cowan	26	100	4	0	26
S. Watson	9	27	0	1	33.33
R. Jadeja	3	2	2	0	0.67

Spinner Xavier Doherty claimed three wickets in Hyderabad but says he's not even thinking about whether his haul on Monday will be good enough to keep him in the team for the third Test against India.

And No.3 batsman Phil Hughes, after his fourth consecutive flop of the series, is facing a massive struggle to hold his place for the third Test in Mohali starting March 14.

The Australians need another 192 more runs to make the home side bat again in Hyderabad.

Ed Cowan is 26 not out with Shane Watson on nine.

Hughes was out for a duck on Monday - his second scoreless knock in four innings in the series - and he has just 25 runs at an average of 6.25.

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Relive all the action from day three and follow day four LIVE with our Match Centre.

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The South Australia batsman has been out to spin on all four occasions, three times to offspinner Ravi Ashwin.
Hughes and David Warner (26) were both bowled by Ashwin after attempting sweep shots.

India had resumed on 1-311 and were bowled out for 503 at tea for a first-innings lead of 266.

Debutant offspinner Glenn Maxwell claimed 4-127 and left-arm spinner Doherty removed three tailenders in his 3-131 off 46.1 overs.

"We came in today knowing we were up against it and we needed to put in a better day than yesterday," Doherty said.

"Today we took nine for 190 or something like that (9-192), which was a pleasing effort.

"But the damage was done yesterday so there's still a lot of work for us to do to get ourselves back into the game."

Doherty didn't take a wicket until his 43rd over and admitted his late flurry of three scalps was a confidence-booster after returning for his third Test and first since 2010.

Australia dropped offspinner Nathan Lyon for the Hyderabad match.

"Not even thinking about the third Test," Doherty said.

"It was pleasing in some ways to find a little bit of form during the spell.

"But the selection and that stuff, we've got a couple of days to worry about here before that.

"But Nathan is obviously a quality bowler and he's shown that over the last 18 months.

"I've got no doubt that he'll play again."

The 370-run partnership between Murali Vijay (167) and Cheteshwar Pujara (204) is the highest by an Indian pair for the second wicket in Test cricket.

No.5 Virat Kohli made 34 and skipper MS Dhoni clubbed 44 off 43 balls but India's innings fell away with the last six wickets tumbling for 43 runs.

Dhoni's India side lead the four-match series one-nil.

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Watch day four of the second Test between India and Australia LIVE, EXCLUSIVE and in HIGH DEFINITION from 2.50pm (EDT) on Fox Sports 1.

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Bombers boss promises: we'll be okay

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Message to fans ... Evans and Hird pledge to keep the Bombers afloat. Source: David Caird / News Limited

Chairman David Evans has promised Essendon fans that the AFL club will come through their doping crisis as a stronger organisation.

Evans and coach James Hird made emotional speeches on Monday night at the Bombers' season launch, thanking the players and fans for their support.

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The club is under a joint Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority and AFL investigation for supplements that the players used last season.

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Evans has also announced an independent review of the club as a result of the crisis.

The anti-doping investigation is likely to take months, meaning it will hang over the Bombers for much of the season.

"I understand the way you look at me tonight, looking for reassurance our beautiful place will be okay," Evans said.

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"I promise you that it will be.

"The hurt of the past few weeks is still raw, but it is this room that gives me strength - given how you all have stood behind the club in its hour of need.

"We will get through this and we will be a better, stronger organisation."

Evans also apologised for the circumstances that led to the crisis.

"Mistakes have been made and I sincerely apologise that they have occurred," he said.

"We will get to the bottom of what happened, we will make sure those mistakes never happen again.

"While we know some things, there is so much we don't know, and we're continuing to piece together a long and complicated jigsaw puzzle.

"I commit to you that we are making progress."

Hird said it had been humbling to coach the team in the past few weeks, adding the players had stayed focussed and disciplined.

"My family and this football club means everything to me and I will do everything that is in my power to get the club through this difficult time," he said.

"That means being the best coach I can be to this wonderful team of young men who wear our colours so proudly."

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Video: Big Merv's 'miracle' catch

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Old magic ... Merv Hughes after taking a catch in the crowd off a Dave Warner six. Source:FOX SPORTS

Merv Hughes retired from Test cricket long ago but you can't keep a good big man down.

When Australia's opening batsman David Warner hit a six at Hyderabad in the second Test against India on Monday, the last person he expected to catch the ball was Big Merv.

The former Test quick and ex-national selector was sitting in the stands at long-on with a tour group when Warner drove straight towards the most famous moustache in Australian sport.

Big Merv snapped it up like it was a chocolate cake at afternoon tea during his playing days and his former Test captain Allan Border could barely contain his excitement.

"That is the miracle of Hyderabad,'' TV commentator Border said. "If he was wearing a white shirt he would be a sight screen."

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Click on the video above to see Merv Hughes roll back the years and take a catch in the second Test!

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