Hey Hawks, Cats got your tongue

Hawthorn star Lance Franklin jostles with nemesis Geelong full-back Tom Lonergan. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Wayne Ludbey / HeraldSun

IT IS the Kryptonite to the AFL's superhuman forward line.

Hawthorn, fresh from one of the most complete performances of the season against Essendon on Friday night, boasts a firepower that petrifies its rivals.

Lance Franklin, Jarryd Roughead, Luke Breust, Paul Puopolo, Jack Gunston, Cyril Rioli and Jordan Lewis represent the attacking pack that could propel the Hawks to this year's premiership. But the only problem is a glaring problem. There's one defence they simply can't break.

You guessed it - Geelong.

The side that has owned the Hawks for the past five years is this year making the brown and gold threat look more like Clark Kent than Superman.

To best illustrate the defensive hold the Cats have on Hawthorn, we need to detail just how good the Hawks' attack has been in 2013.

After 19 rounds, they average 7.3 points a game more than their rivals and back this up by ranking fifth in points-against.

They average 9.6 more inside 50s, ranked second. Once inside 50m they goal 30.8 per cent of the time, ranked No.1, while averaging 15.1 marks inside 50m per game, also No.1.

The Hawks haven't generated as many turnovers forward of centre as Geelong and Sydney, but they make up for this by punishing the opposition 40.5 per cent of the time.

Roughead's 54 goals are the equal-most in the AFL, Franklin is No.1 for groundball gets (2.6 per game), Breust has racked up the most score assists (34) and Puopolo is the best forward 50m pressure man in the league.

Then there's Lewis; of the top 50 kickers inside 50m, his result in a mark 28.4 per cent of the time - ranked fifth in the competition.

They are a formidable combination.

But like the caped crusader when confronted by the green stuff, they come spectacularly unstuck against Geelong.

When the ball has been inside Hawthorn's 50m arc this year, Buddy and Roughy and Co. have kicked a goal 32.7 per cent of the time. Against the Cats this plummets to 17.6 per cent.

Marks inside 50m drops from 15.1 to 11 and the points-for average falls dramatically from 123.3 to 79.

Hawthorn hasn't struggled to get the ball inside 50m against the Cats either, advancing it inside its attacking arc an average 62.5 times this year compared with 56.4 against other sides.

They simply can't generate a score. Harry Taylor gets Roughead, Tom Lonergan has subdued Franklin, Corey Enright has a good record on Rioli and Josh Hunt and Andrew Mackie share responsibility for Breust and Puopolo.

There's no Kennett curse in that.

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Race is on for Cowboys top job

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Paul Green ... expresses interest in the Cowboys top job. Source: Colin Whelan / AAP

FORMER Maroons halfback Paul Green has expressed his interest in the Cowboys post after the club on Monday formally parted ways with Neil Henry.

As revealed by News Limited on Monday, North Queensland are seeking a new coach after the besieged Henry was informed by chairman Laurence Lancini he is not required for next year.

Henry informed Cowboys staff of the decision Monday. He will see out the season, with the Cowboys needing to win all six games to make the finals - starting with this Saturday night's home clash against ladder leaders South Sydney.

With the Cowboys position now officially vacant, a number of frontline contenders have emerged, led by Broncos great Kevin Walters, NSW Origin assistant Trent Barrett and former Eels caretaker Brad Arthur.

Green is another firmly in the mix. Currently the Roosters' under-20s mentor, Green is contracted at Bondi until the end of next year, but the club is unlikely to stand in his way if the Cowboys look to launch his career as an NRL head coach.

"I'm not sure on the process, but I'm certainly interested," Green said.

"I've had no formal discussions with the Cowboys, but ... I'm interested in being a head coach in the NRL.

"My wife is from up there, so it would be a good fit. The Cowboys have a good roster. Now the club has made a decision I will see what the next step is."

Green has ties to North Queensland, playing 35 NRL games in 1999-2000 before his shift to the Sydney Roosters.

Cowboys boss Peter Jourdain issued a statement Monday confirming Henry's termination, with the quest for his replacement to begin immediately.

"The board has decided that at this time the club needs to head in a different direction," Jourdain said.

"Neil will continue as head coach for the remainder of this season as everyone in the club focuses on finishing as high as we can on the competition ladder in 2013.

"It is important to highlight that this decision has been reached on a professional and amicable basis.

"Despite media speculation to the contrary, out of respect for Neil we have not sought out anyone to be his replacement beyond this season.

"To be fair to both Neil and the club, we have decided to make this decision now to allow both of us to explore our options for next year.

"The search for a new head coach will begin this week.

"The Cowboys wish to thank Neil for all of his work and dedication as our head coach, including the huge amount of time he has dedicated to our community programs.''

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Old Dogs show pups new tricks

Bulldog Robert Murphy in action against West Coast. Picture: Getty Source: Michael Dodge / Getty Images

BRENDAN McCartney has stood firm as Western Bulldogs coach despite a lack of obvious success since he took over in 2012.

He has always said it will be a long journey for the yelpers but every now and then we see a genuine glimpse of a rosy future and McCartney takes his place in this week's Team of the Round.

Joining him are some of his pupils in Robert Murphy, Adam Cooney and Luke Dahlhaus in a rare week where the Dogs have four inclusions.

And then there are some new faces in Cameron O'Shea and Marley Williams, two young men who have put together highly impressive seasons.

LIVE CHAT WITH JON ANDERSON FROM 11AM BELOW:

Run and carry ... Marley Williams provided plenty of dash off half-back Source: Getty Images

B: Cameron O'Shea (Port Adelaide): The quiet achiever in the success story team of the season.
Michael Johnson (Fremantle): Where is his name when All Australian selection is mentioned?
Marley Williams (Collingwood): Just another example of how productive the rookie draft can be.

HB: Andrew Mackie (Geelong): Another sublime display of rebound defence.
Lachlan Hansen (North Melbourne): Become a different player since returning to defence.
Robert Murphy (Western Bulldogs): The old bloke has a bit of run left.

Hawk Sam Mitchell on his way to 31 disposals. Picture: George Salpigtidis Source:

C: Kieren Jack (Sydney): Hard midfielders who can kick goals are valuable commodities.
Sam Mitchell (Hawthorn): In terms of in and unders they don't come any better.
Adam Cooney (Western Bulldogs): When his body allows him, a rare talent.

HF: Ryan O'Keefe (Sydney): Arguably in career best form despite his 32 years.
Jeremy Cameron (Greater Western Sydney): The comparisons with Royce Hart are fully justified.
Nathan Fyfe (Fremantle): As it stands is arguably Freo's best player.

Lance Franklin celebrates one of his eight goals. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source:

F: Steven Motlop (Geelong): Is he the most improved player in the AFL?
Buddy Franklin (Hawthorn): A handy time for Bud to start strutting.
Luke Dahlhaus (Western Bulldogs): A busy bee small forward that every team would love.

R: Matthew Kreuzer (Carlton): Big Humphrey is making a few eat their words.
Tom Liberatore (Western Bulldogs): Maybe he is the most improved in the game.
Travis Boak (Port Adelaide): You can see why Geelong sent a posse to Port for him.

Joel Selwood runs away from the pack as Lenny Hayes watches on. Source: News Limited

I: Joel Selwood (Geelong): Has had some very big games so expect to hear his name on Brownlow night.
Dane Swan (Collingwood): The tattooed man lifted when disaster threatened.
Jarryd Roughead (Hawthorn): If Buddy doesn't get you, Roughy must.
Substitute: Billie Smedts (Geelong): As the pressure heats up for spots so do the performances from those on the edge.
Coach: Brendan McCartney (Western Bulldogs): With apologies to Alastair

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Titans haul Cartwright in for talks

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Chooping block ... John Cartwright faces a nervous wait about his future at the Titans. Source: Mark Evans / News Limited

JOHN Cartwright will be summoned to face Titans hierarchy as the club seeks urgent solutions to avert the Gold Coast missing the finals for the third consecutive season.

The Courier-Mail can reveal Titans head coach Cartwright and his assistants will meet with interim CEO Darryl Kelly on Wednesday to discuss a sweeping restructure of the club's football operations for 2014.

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Kelly personally wants Cartwright on deck next season but concedes the foundation coach's fate may ultimately rest with a newly created Titans board, set to be instituted by season's end.

Contracted until the end of 2016, Cartwright's future has become increasingly tenuous.

Some Gold Coast players are losing faith in his methods, expressing frustration at a perceived lack of feedback from Cartwright.

The Titans had been entrenched in the top six but four heavy losses in a row have seen the Coast slump to 11th ahead of Sunday's must-win clash against Wests Tigers at Skilled Park.

Kelly wants answers from Cartwright, who heads up Gold Coast's football committee.

"We are undertaking a review of the football department, and John is a part of that, as are the other people in the football department," said Kelly, who outlaid $3.25 million last year for a 31.8 per cent stake in the Titans.

"Obviously we are not happy with where we are sitting - it's just above the Cowboys and Broncos, which is not what anyone's aim is.

"We have aspirations to make the eight, and we still think we can. But it is becoming a harder road for us."

Sacking Cartwright would be an expensive exercise.

His deal is worth an estimated $350,000 annually, meaning the Titans must deal with a $1 million payout if they decide to axe Cartwright.

Cartwright has the lowest winning percentage of any NRL coach to complete a full season since the start of 2011 - winning just 24 of his past 66 games for a 36.4 per cent success rate.

But Kelly is keen for Cartwright to coach the Titans in 2014, regardless of whether the club misses the finals for a third straight year.

"The coach is not under review," he said.

"We are looking at ways to improve the performance right through the club, including the under-20s and our junior-development program.

"John Cartwright has my full support. He is an integral part of our club.

"We are meeting to make some decisions about how we can structure the football department next year, and what resources we throw at it to improve the performances."

It is understood Titans players have been frustrated with the lack of feedback they receive from Cartwright.

"There has been some discontent around feedback and a few players were concerned with the lack of attention their individual games were receiving this season," a source close to the team said.

"In some cases, the players were searching for feedback outside Cartwright because they knew their form was falling away, but were unsure why.

"The players I have spoken to respect Carty, but know this team should be top-four."

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Dons take Little breath

New Bombers chairman Paul Little speaks to the media. Picture: Getty Source: Michael Dodge / Getty Images

PAUL Little's first public utterances as Essendon chairman were a game-changer in the war between James Hird and Andrew Demetriou.

When Hird and Little met at the weekend to discuss all things Essendon, Hird is understood to have told Little everything he knew about the first week of February, and the subsequent discussions since, including those held late last week leading up to David Evans' resignation.

There were - and are - secrets between Evans and Hird, and a small group of others at Windy Hill.

It centres around the events leading up to the Bombers "self reporting" to the AFL and the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority on February 5.

Two days later, on February 7, the Australian Crime Commission report into drugs in sport was delivered in Canberra.

Evans, who is at his family farm, was at loggerheads with Hird about the details of a telephone call between Evans and AFL chief executive Demetriou on the night of February 4.

It was the week of madness.

The Bombers yesterday took a deep breath.

Hird, of course, was delighted with the club's response.

He told Little what he knew, what others knew, and what conversations had been held at the club between key people.

Little's response was emphatic.

"James Hird has also got not only my full and complete support but the board's full support, and we look forward to James taking us to a successful finals campaign," Little said.

That came after frank discussions between the new president and the coach at the weekend.

Evans is said to be less stressed since his decision to resign.

He had previously said Demetriou did not pass on information about the club allegedly using banned drugs.

Demetriou has consistently denied passing on any information to Evans.

Two testimonies to ASADA, believed to be from Hird and head of football Danny Corcoran, differ from that of Evans and Demetriou.

It's believed others at Windy Hill will add to the debate in the coming days.

Perhaps it is a breakdown in communication, a case of people having different versions of events, as Demetriou has said.

Perhaps the war is only just beginning.

Hird, meanwhile, says he's going nowhere.

Asked if he would continue coaching the Bombers yesterday, he said: "Definitely."

Evans' standing at the club is strong, although in the robust world of politics, Little is said to be very strong.

"It's a pleasure to be here today to confirm my appointment as chairman. I wish it had been under more favourable circumstances but that's the way things are," Little said. "I'd like to just confirm that David Evans has done a marvellous job for this football club.

"David will continue to help and assist me in my role as chairman and obviously coping with the demands of the current investigation that's under way.

"The ASADA report we understand will be made available to the club within the next week or two and we look forward to the opportunity of being able to use this report to answer a lot of the allegations and concerns that have been voiced in relation to the Essendon Football Club."

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Honda tests spark Stoner rumours

Stoner has been driving in the second tier of the V8 Supercars. Source: Supplied

MOTORCYCLE great Casey Stoner will become the world's fastest test rider when he makes a dramatic return to MotoGP in a series of private sessions with Honda.

The return to bikes has fuelled speculation that Stoner is set to make wildcard race appearances this season.

The two races at the centre of the rumours are the Australian and Japanese Grands Prix in October.

Stoner, 27, will end his nine-month retirement from MotoGP at the Motegi circuit in Japan next week with a two-day test aboard Honda's world championship winning RC213V.

He will rejoin the Honda team in Japan on August 6-7.

Honda has confirmed that Stoner will ride a prototype of its 2014 model being readied for next season in a clear effort to strengthen its championship campaign.

Stoner retired at the peak of his career last November having won two MotoGP world championships and 38 races.

He switched to the second-tier V8 Supercars series this year but has now agreed a deal that will see him complete four Honda test sessions before the end of the season.

Stoner admitted he had missed the thrill of two wheels but was "still happy" with his decision to stop full-time bike racing.

"But there are times when I miss riding my RC213V so I am really happy that Honda have asked me to do some testing in Motegi this year," Stoner said.

"It will allow me to enjoy what I miss which is riding a MotoGP bike."

A spokesman for the Honda Racing Corporation said that wildcard race appearances were not part of the plan.

"There have been rumours of a wildcard races for Casey but this is out of the question,'' HRC team principal Livio Suppo said.

But Stoner's return to a full-scale test program with Honda, which could be as many as eight days across four appearances, is more than riding just for fun.

Crucially Honda want Stoner's assessment of its RC213V which is locked in a tense struggle with Yamaha for this year's world championship.

Honda rookie Marc Marquez leads the championship after his third win from nine races in the US Grand Prix.

Yamaha contender Jorge Lorenzo, who has ridden for a month with a triple fracture in his left collarbone, is 26 points behind in third place.

"With testing you always want a fast rider but maybe Casey is too much," Suppo said.

"When you have a new bike it is good to have a test rider who can really push the limit before you give the bike to the factory riders.

"If you do something you do it properly which is why HRC have agreed with Casey come and do a series of four test sessions in Japan."

Honda MotoGP boss Shuhei Nakamoto is delighted that Stoner will again work with Honda saying the talented Australian rider "woke up our engineers" during his two years with the company.

Stoner won the 2007 world championship with Ducati and his second title in his first season with Honda in 2011.
 

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Argus put the writing on wall

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Don Argus (R) presents his report into the state of Australian cricket in August 2011. Source:AFP

The man who reviewed the trembling foundations of Australian cricket two years ago spotlighted the batting frailties that have been brutally exposed in the current Ashes series.

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The Argus Report detailed four key batting weaknesses that required urgent attention, but the distressing news for Australia is that all of the problems remain unsolved.

These were a failure to bat for long periods, an inability to handle the moving ball, a poor approach to spin and generally flawed techniques.

The damning report could have been written yesterday in the wake of Australia's 347-run loss to England at Lord's.

The battle to find a long-innings player stretches all the way down to club cricket where the days of Matthew Hayden-style bat-until-sundown marathons on the Brisbane grade scene have been generally consigned to a bygone era.

Even at Sheffield Shield level, the long-stay batsman has become a rarity with no batsman scoring more than three Shield centuries last season.

A decade ago, Michael Bevan scored eight Shield centuries in a summer and Matthew Elliott seven.

Australia's batting in the first two Tests was so poor teenager Ashton Agar is Australia's leading run-scorer.

His 130 runs for the series are 50 fewer than England's Joe Root managed in one innings at Lord's.

The mesmeric swing bowling of Jimmy Anderson has again confounded Australia and a recent tour of spin-friendly India did nothing to ease Australia's anxiety against slow bowling.

Clever off-spinner Graeme Swann, who like Anderson has 13 wickets from two Tests, has cast a spell over an Australian side whose body language betrays signs of tension when they come to the crease.

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Shane Watson is so concerned at his inability to turn starts into major scores he recently phoned former Middlesex all-rounder turned media pundit Simon Hughes at 10pm to ask whether he had any thoughts on the issue.

Watson has now been given out lbw a higher percentage of times than any other long-serving batsman in the history of Test cricket, an extraordinary 24 times from 77 Test innings - 31.16 per cent.

Australia have precious few alternatives for the remainder of the series.

But coach Darren Lehmann has ruled out adding reinforcements to the Australian squad for the remainder of the Ashes.

Ed Cowan is with the squad but he has been neither dynamic or stoic on tour.

David Warner has been sent to Zimbabwe to find form but failed twice in his first tour game and has been desperately out of form.

The English county scene has three Australian-raised players near the top of the averages - sadly one is retired from Shield cricket, one played for the West Indies and the other wants to play for England.

Simon Katich, 37, has amassed 874 first class runs for Lancashire.

Though he said this week he never actually retired from international cricket, Katich called a halt to his first-class career in Australia last year - and that will be enough for Australia not to consider picking him here.

Australia would have loved to get their hands on Sydney-born Sam Robson, 24, who is second behind Joe Root on the English first-class run scorers list with 907 at 60.46 this season for Middlesex.

He has declared his allegance to England. The quirky entrant on the county averages is former Queensland batsman Brendan Nash (907 runs at 60.46 for Kent) who played 21 Tests for the West Indies.

Some pundits, like West Indian great Michael Holding, predict several grim years ahead for the batting line-up.

Shane Warne has spotlighted a general lack of composure.

"The Australian batsmen are playing adrenalin cricket and are in a hurry to impose themselves on England," Warne wrote in the London Telegraph.

"Patience is the key. They have to trust their defence and bat for long periods without going into their shell."

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Ex-partners in badminton brawl

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Badminton is back in the news for all the wrong reasons. Source:AAP

The Badminton World Federation has launched an investigation after a fight broke out between two former partners at the Canada Open doubles final on Sunday.

During a change of ends, Bodin Issara lunged at Thailand compatriot Maneepong Jongjit, chasing him onto a neighbouring court before punching him several times.

Issara was dragged away and held down by coaches and tournament staff, while his partner, Thai Pakkawat Vilailak, escorted a now shirtless Jongjit off court.

Issara, who needed two stitches, claims Jongjit hit him with a badminton racquet. The pair had already received a warning from the referee following a verbal exchange.

Jongit and his partner Nipitphon Puangpuapech, also of Thailand, were awarded the victory after Issara was shown a black card.

"The events surrounding the conclusion of this match will be thoroughly investigated by the BWF," the federation said in a statement on Monday.

"The world-governing body has procedures in place to deal with such situations and this matter will be referred to the disciplinary committee."

Jongjit and Issara were among the top-ranked badminton pairings and reached the quarterfinals at the 2012 Olympics.

They split in January, when Issara retired to take care of his ailing mother, but was soon competing again with another partner.

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Reds need to rework style

Richard Graham will undertake a Reds review with Ewen McKenzie. Picture: Bradley Kanaris Source: Bradley Kanaris / CourierMail

FALLING from their top dog status as Australia's leading provincial side is the wake-up call that the Reds need a tweak of playing style to evolve in 2014.

Reaching the Super Rugby finals for a third straight year is a worthy achievement but the decay in results against other Australian sides this season tells a fuller story.

The Reds stormed through seven of their eight local derbys last season yet won just four, drew two and lost two this season as the ACT Brumbies took the mantle as leading Aussie side.

That the Brumbies bullied the tryless Reds in the physical battle for their 24-6 win in the opening round proved somewhat prophetic.

It was the same shortcoming in the collision zone that scuttled the Reds in Saturday's play-off crash to the Crusaders when the Reds vaunted attack was kept tryless again.

A Reds review, involving 2014 coach Richard Graham and the departing Ewen McKenzie, will produce a blueprint of improvements needed.

The need to fast track some bigger backs for attacking options outside Will Genia and Quade Cooper is essential.

Powerful 105kg centre Samu Kerevi, 19, has been signed to the Reds' extended squad for 2014 for just that project.

He has been a seven-try star for his club GPS with his raw, exciting Fijian running game.

A 10-win season for 2013 produced highs but also areas to improve on.

HIGHLIGHT

The 31-23 upset of the champion Chiefs in Hamilton in Round 9 was everything the Reds strived for and reached too rarely in 2013. Genia and Cooper ran the show, the high workrate backrow fleeced turnovers, skipper James Horwill was all power from his opening run and it was worth a four-try bonus point.

LOW POINT

The lame, tryless 19-12 tumble to the lowly Western Force at Suncorp Stadium in Round 5 was a stinker.

BEST PLAYERS

1 Liam Gill, 2 Will Genia, 3 James Slipper.

ON THE RISE

Nick Frisby, Chris Feauai-Sautia, Albert Anae, Liam Gill, Jake Schatz, James Slipper.

FAR MORE EXPECTED IN 2014

Ben Daley, Mike Harris, Dom Shipperley, Ben Tapuai, Jono Owen.

QUADE-O-METER

A 7-out-of-10 season for Cooper who was down on linebreak assists (8) and try assists (6) but showed vastly improved defence by not figuring in Super Rugby's top 20 for missed tackles.

RICHES-TO-RAGS

After a fine opening month, centre Ben Tapuai's mid-season fadeout cost him his Wallabies spot.

LOST IN REHAB

Injury-plagued back Aidan Toua played just two hours of rugby for the Reds. Five games in three seasons is diabolical output from a talented player.

THE CREATIVE

The 11-man rolling maul, with backs joining in, that shocked the Chiefs with a Schatz try.

BEST MILESTONE MAN QUOTE

Prop Greg Holmes (106 games) on his tattoos: "Zero ... they are no good on chubby, white blokes."

BEST TRY

The 95m classic against the Sharks in Round 13 that featured a bullocking Feauai-Sautia and a masterful Will Genia, who stabbed a grubber into Rod Davies' arms.

SOLO SPECIAL

Winger Luke Morahan's brilliant kick-and-regather try to stun the British and Irish Lions.

LIONS FEVER

A 50,136-fan blockbuster on Reds-Lions night at Suncorp Stadium.

LEADING TRYSCORERS

Davies (5), Schatz (4).

DEPARTURE GATE

Digby Ioane (Stade Francais, France), Radike Samo (Kintetsu Liners, Japan), Morahan (Western Force), Jono Lance (NSW Waratahs).

PROBLEM SPOTS

Centre, fullback, backrow.

CAN IT BE FIXED?

Big expectation falls on the squad's youngest back, Feauai-Sautia, to terrorise from outside centre in 2014. The Reds desperately need to find more thrust from big ballrunners with Ioane leaving.

The same goes for the backrow. Ed Quirk scored a smashing 35m try through four NSW defenders in round 2 and that running venom rarely surfaced again. It's getting the balance right for Quirk because only four players in Super Rugby made more than his 214 tackles, according to Rugbystats.com.au.

More thrust from fullback is needed but any No. 15 has to be a tackler too in the frontline when Cooper is in the backfield.

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Smith carries $1.5m price tag

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Cameron Smith ... will attract a $1.5 million a season price tag. Source: Mark Evans / News Limited

THE Broncos will need to offer $1.5 million a year to lure home the game's greatest hooker, Cameron Smith.

With the NRL salary cap increasing to $6.55 million for the 2015 season, an $800,000 increase on this year, and likely cap exemptions for marquee talent, Smith could become the country's highest paid footballer.

Several player managers told The Courier-Mail on Monday that Smith would earn as much as $1.5 million a season in his next deal due to his match-winning talent and marketability.

That figure would be 22 per cent of the NRL's 2015 salary cap, leaving the club that signs Smith $5 million dollars to spend on the remaining 24 players in their squad.

Melbourne Storm officials recently began informal talks with Smith about his next contract, expiring at the end of 2014.

Melbourne have proven that a team made of play-making stars propped up by journeyman and rookies wins premierships, as opposed to an even spread of the salary cap.

Kerrod Walters, recently named as hooker in the Broncos' greatest grand final team, rated Smith as a "must buy" for his former club.

Walters said if the Broncos could not secure Smith's signature they should plonk current No.9 Andrew McCullough in front of re-runs of Storm and Maroons matches so he can study how Smith plays.

Walters backed the comments of former Broncos skipper Darren Lockyer, who said the club must make Smith their priority.

"Andrew is a good player, but if Cameron Smith is on the market you do all you can to get him," Walters, who won two premierships with the Broncos, said.

"It would be silly not to go after him.

"In the modern game he's the best there is. My brother (Steve) was very good but in the modern game Smith is something else.

"Andrew is going OK this year, but Smith is the guy he needs to study. It is difficult for Andrew because his team is not going well but I would be getting him to study a lot of Smith's games to take his performance to that next level."

Fellow Storm stars Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk are contracted until the end of 2015 and 2016 respectively.

Coach Craig Bellamy just signed a new five-year deal.

NRL chief operating officer Jim Doyle recently revealed the governing body was considering introducing cap changes to keep superstars of interest to rivals codes in the NRL.

The game's administration are reviewing the A-League's marquee player system.

Adopting that system would help the Broncos secure Smith, as they are one of very few profitable NRL clubs and have cash outside the NRL's annual grant to offer.

The best paid NRL players in Robbie Farah, Johnathan Thurston and Greg Inglis currently earn near $1 million a year.

Smith said before Origin I that his next contract could be his last.

"I'm 30 this year so if I sign a lengthy deal, it's more than likely going to be my last one ... so it won't just come down to someone throwing an offer and me accepting it," Smith told The Courier-Mail.

"When I first started playing, I always said I wanted to be a one-club man but as we've all seen with 'JT' (Thurston) and his last negotiation, it is a pretty important contract for me."

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