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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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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