Crows wait on Wright move

Adelaide midfielder Matthew Wright is considering a trade. Picture: Luke Hemer Source: Luke Hemer / The Advertiser

CROWS midfielder Matthew Wright holds the key to Adelaide's trade strategy this week that is designed to score Jared Polec from Brisbane and a second-round draft pick from a Melbourne-based rival.

Wright, 23, is the potential deal-maker in the slow-moving Polec saga that has - for the first time - Adelaide and Port Adelaide eagerly competing for the same player in a come-home trade.

Brisbane steadfastly wants a player - rather than a second-round draft pick - in return for Polec as the Lions deal with the damage of having too many young players seek exits.

Port has no player at Alberton prepared to move and will struggle to find a candidate at a rival club.

Adelaide, by contrast, has several players prepared to be part of a trade - but to a Victorian-based club and not Brisbane. The list is Shaun McKernan, Ricky Henderson, 2009 club champion Bernie Vince and perhaps Victorian draftee Jarryd Lyons.

Wright - who played 17 games this season, the least in his three years at Adelaide - faces a career-defining decision this week when Polec wants to nominate either the Crows or Power as his club of choice.

If Wright accepts the chance to sign a long-term deal with the Lions gives him security that is unlikely to unfold at West Lakes, the Polec trade to Adelaide would be virtually secured.

The Crows would then focus on finding the second-round draft pick coach Brenton Sanderson has demanded from his recruiting staff all year. Adelaide has no early call in next month's draft - its first pick is currently at No. 42 - as a result of the Kurt Tippett sanctions.

Finding that second-round draft pick could come by:

VINCE accepting a long-term deal at a Victorian-based club. He is contracted to Adelaide for next season when the 28-year-old midfielder becomes a free agent - and could leave the Crows without compensation.

LYONS also is under contract for next season but is being tempted by a long-term deal from Melbourne, where his father Marty played 27 games from 1975-77. The 21-year-old midfielder was a fourth-round draft pick in 2010.

HENDERSON is on contract for the next two seasons. And despite keen interest in the Victorian, the Crows are increasingly reluctant to trade the 25-year-old utility.

But McKERNAN is drawing little, almost no, interest from Victorian-based clubs. He is destined to have to return to Adelaide where the Crows are willing to persist with the ruckman-forward.

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Victory prepares for Ange exit

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MELBOURNE Victory is preparing for life after Ange Postecoglou with the coach emerging as the favourite to take over the Socceroos post.

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The Herald Sun understands that Victory has been made aware of Football Federation Australia's interest in the 48-year-old and discussions have taken place at Victory about a succession plan.

While Postecoglou has firmed the possibility remains that an outstanding overseas candidate comes into contention with FFA chief executive David Gallop and board member Phil Wolanski being bombarded with some interest overseas candidates.

Gallop and Wolanski are still talking with overseas options as the Socceroos prepare to play Canada in a friendly tomorrow in London.

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Guus Hiddink remains the preferred overseas candidate but his interest in returning to Australia is lukewarm at best while it's understood Central Coast coach Graham Arnold was informally contacted before the France game.

Victory is unlikely to seek compensation for Postecoglou, who has two years of a $500,000-a-year deal left, but want him to continue on in a dual role for the rest of the season before taking sole charge of the Socceroos in May, a month out from the 2014 World Cup.

FFA would prefer Postecoglou's sole focus was the Socceroos but aware of his importance to Victory who are aiming to win the A-League title and advance past the group stage of the Asian Champions League.

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The governing body may be willing to compromise on a transitional dual-role before someone else takes over the Victory role for the tail-end of this season. Assistant Kevin Muscat would be frontrunner to take over.

Victory chief executive Robson said FFA had made no approach for Postecoglou and refused to speculate

"We haven't had an approach. We appreciate that there is a lot of interest surrounding Ange and possible links to the vacant Socceroos coaching position but we haven't had any formal conversations with the FFA about it," Robson said.

"It's the FFA's process and until and unless anything changes we're just going to continue with our plans and remain focused on achieving success next year.

"It's not for me to pre-judge or second guess what they may or may not do. But we appreciate that there's a lot of media interest that has surrounded Ange and speculation would suggest that he's in their thinking but it's not something that we can control and certainly not something we're aware of in a formal sense."

FFA is aiming to appoint Holger Osieck's replacement before November when the Socceroos are likely to play two friendlies.

Plans to play Ireland twice in Australia have fallen through and now there's a possibility that the games could be played abroad.  

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Summers: Saints must work together

St Kilda president Peters Summers flanked by Port Adelaide chairman David Koch and Hawthorn supremo Andrew Newbold. Picture: Tim Carrafa Source: Tim Carrafa / HeraldSun

ST KILDA president Peter Summers knows there are issues at his football club.

From Scott Watters' contract talk, to the unease between Watters and football boss Chris Pelchen, to the scuttlebutt about the trading seasoned stars, to membership, to finances, to list management and to dealing with life in 2013 as a bottom-three club as compared to 2010 when they played off in two Grand Finals.

It's why the club's vision statement to be presented this week to the board -- on the back of a fierce club review -- is the foundation for the future and, hopefully, good times ahead.

"There's been this perception we've had a couple of those crises, but from my point we need to get the right blueprint in place," Summers said yesterday.

"What has been portrayed as everything up for grabs, that's not really what it is. This isn't about survival.

"I wanted to make sure the club -- and that's why I was pretty strong on the vision statement -- that everyone from bottom up is aware of what our targets are going forward and how we're going to get there."

He hopes the vision statement will be presented to the board on Thursday and then that meeting would be rolled into a secondary meeting where the statement is discussed in-depth with senior staff, including the coach.

Summers is a new president, but he's also a realist, meticulous, a goalsetter and not one to back away from a tough topic.

He knows there is unease between Watters and Pelchen.

He also knows the two work well together in list management, but that there's issues surrounding the execution of Pelchen's role at the club.

He also knows other staff find the relationship between Watters and Pelchen is unsettling.

How significant is the issue?

Summers: "Significant. And identified. But I honestly think there has been too much made of it. We've had some tension in the place, you don't mind some tension because it's an indication of active successful people, but there just can't be too much.''

How do you fix it?

Summers: "Like most things in life when you have a problem it's called communication."

Watters' contract extension has been talking point, but Summers can't understand why.

"I found the whole thing around Scott's extension the wrong way round, it's been seen as an uncertainty (his future), but it's got nothing to do with it," he said.

"I can't see how you can put a contract extension to somebody, whether it be one year, two years, five years, how would you put that to them until they see where you are taking the list management. How could you put that to them until they see the whole structure you're trying to achieve at the club over that period?

"I can't see how you can do it ... Because you'd be buying into it for your own reasons and not club reasons."

This season, the Saints finished 16th with a 5-17 win-loss record.

Summers said it was "one of those years you had to go through to get a better consensus on where you're heading".

"As a club, we are very anxious and anxious people tend to act in a negative way, anxious people want to hide, get scared, they go to ground, and what I'm trying to do through this vision statement is to empower and encourage people to lift themselves out of that,'' Summers said.

"The worst thing in life is not to have a go."

It's not all doom and gloom, he said. Nine debutants this year was a major plus, for example, and while not wanting to discuss the contents of the vision statement, he was confident in its depth.

"Having done the review, we can be pretty strong in our reviews, we set our targets, debate them and, most importantly, own them,'' he said.

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Fifita misses honeymoon for Cup

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IT'S not the honeymoon Andrew Fifita imagined but at least the ­giant Kangaroos prop could see the funny side of it all.

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Fifita married Nikkita on Sunday, then returned to camp on Monday to crack jokes with Jarryd Hayne before flying out for the World Cup.

"It is exciting but tough," Fifita said from Sydney Airport as the squad waited for their flight to Manchester.

"I just got married and we were meant to go on our honeymoon with the entire family today to Hawaii."

The 24-year-old prop wasn't even considered a rough hope at the start of the year to make the Australian squad — but after a barnstorming season for Cronulla he was named Dally M prop of the year and is now pushing for ­selection for the first Test against ­England on October 26.

"I even offered to stay home with my family," Fifita said.

"I said to them, 'I want to do what is best for us'.

"And she said she wanted me to follow that dream of mine.

"I am not with them at the moment but they will be on my mind 24/7 and that is all I do when I play footy, think about my family.

"That is all I want to do."

And he's not on his own there. Billy Slater is no new kid on the block anymore with these big end-of-season trips but he admits saying goodbye to his wife and kids never gets any easier.

"Yeah, it's pretty tough," Slater said.

"And a lot of the boys have got kids.

"Usually we go over for I think a five-week stint but this one is seven and a half weeks before we get home, so it's pretty tough on the little ones and wives that stay back here.

"But that is what we do.

"We just have to get over there and get on with things.

"Obviously with the technology these days you can Skype your families back home, which is great.

"But we are over there to do a job for our nation and whenever we get the chance to play for our country it is pretty special. I just went away for a little bit with the family.

"I would have found it tough if I had to keep playing and then go straight away.

"Homesickness is probably the biggest factor, missing your family.

"We have just been through a winter here and we're going to the winter over there.

"They are the little factors, but we are over there with a good bunch of fellas and we are having a good time.

"We are playing footy and we are doing what we love.

"At the end of the day, it's not that hard."

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Saints deny Watters extension

St Kilda coach Scott Watters has been refused a contract extension. Picture: Jason Sammon Source: Jason Sammon / HeraldSun

ST KILDA coach Scott Watters will coach for his future early next season after the Saints backed out of a proposed contract extension.

The decision not to offer Watters a new contract before Round 1 came after an official review of the club also backed the authority of head of football Chris Pelchen.

The review stated both Watters and Pelchen would remain at the club next year, but the Saints board won't consider a deal into well into next season.

It is a massive blow for Watters, who was eager for the security of a contract extension given more hard times ahead for the Saints next year.

Both Pelchen and departing chief executive Michael Nettlefold had publicly stated Watters would receive an extension over the off-season.

But it is understood the club does not believe it is in a position to extend his deal given the uncertainty at the club.

Now Watters will need early wins as well an increased focus on harmony in the football department if he is to save his career.

Pelchen has already forecast another tough season on-field next year as the club rebuilds its list, meaning Watters will come under searing pressure early in the season.

St Kilda has had to deal with continued controversies in recent weeks, with Pelchen and Watters at odds, the players involved in a dwarf-lighting furore, and the list in a rebuild mode.

Watters was seen to totally take over the club's running in the last six weeks of the year, taking control of training and team selection.

But former Hawthorn list manager Pelchen will be given the power to control the football department and ensure proper delegation across the team of assistant coaches.

Pelchen had indicated Watters was likely to get a contract extension as recently as July.

"Obviously Scott is contracted until the end of 2014 and the club is pleased with the progress in his first 18 months as coach," Pelchen said.

"As you would expect, any discussion about Scott's contract is a matter for the board in due course."

Nettlefold was just as adamant the deal would be forthcoming in recent months.

"He'd be keen to get an extension to his contract, we've got a young group coming through and it's something the board will consider in due course," Nettlefold said.

"It's something that we'll work on over the next couple of months. It really depends on workloads, these things need a fair bit of work."

St Kilda will employ the services of former AFLPA and Geelong consultant Pippa Grange and her Bluestone Edge team next year.

Like Leading Teams, the company deals with "culture, ethics and leadership", with the understanding that the Saints have significant ground to make up in all those areas.

The decision not to provide Watters security means the former Pies assistant will face scrutiny from the first round of next year.

He will do that despite the club trading off former top ten draft pick Ben McEvoy, with Nick Dal Santo still a strong chance to get to North Melbourne as a free agent.

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Chooks to reward Robbo with pay day

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AWARE of vultures that circle a Grand Final-winning coach, Sydney Roosters will hold a strategic board meeting this month to kick-start negotiations about re-signing Trent Robinson long-term.

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The Daily Telegraph has been told Robinson, who has become an elite coach almost overnight, could now command up to $600,000 a season on the open market.

Sydney Roosters chief operating officer, football, Brian Canavan, wants Robinson for the "long run, not the short run."

And Robinson told The Daily Telegraph on Monday: "I would love to be here as long as possible."

Robinson, a first-year coach who arrived from Catalans, re-wrote history with his side's stunning 26-18 win over Manly in Sunday's Grand Final.

He is under contract for another two years but the Roosters want to discuss a long-term extension.

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There is little doubt that struggling cashed-up clubs will attempt to entice Robinson out of Bondi.

Losing Sonny Bill Williams might be bad enough - the club cannot afford to watch Robinson leave after 2015.

"There's been no discussion at this stage - that's the truth," said Canavan.

"But we want him here for the long run, not the short run.

"He has done exceedingly well and has put a great structure in place.

"Trent and the coaching staff have gelled astounding well."

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Pushed on whether the club wanted Robinson long-term, Canavan said: "Most definitely. He is a quality coach and a quality person."

The last coach to win a premiership in his first year at the Roosters was Ricky Stuart back in 2002.

Roosters management gambled on a rookie coach - and it paid handsome dividends.

"The Roosters is my number one place to coach," Robinson said. "It was my first club out of school and I was an assistant here in 2010 (when the club reached a Grand Final).

"I have also lived in the area my whole adult life. I would love to be here as long as possible."

Asked had he spoken with the club about his future, Robinson said: "Not at all, I haven't spoken to them.

"When I came here I was focused on doing my best and what we did this year was amazing."

Roosters players spoke openly about Robinson's influence this season at Bondi.

"He is up there with the best I have ever been coached by," said Roosters skipper Anthony Minichiello.

Prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves added: "He is big on getting the team together."

Robinson also helped his club win the club championships and NRL minor premiership.

"It is a remarkable achievement," Canavan said.  

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A whole new ball game for A-League

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FOOTBALL is coming home. More than the crowds and the standard of play that have been the eternal talking points, it will be the success of the A-league's first free-to-air television deal with SBS that provides the best measure of progress.

This will be the season when those who claimed the A-League's growth had been handicapped by an exclusive pay television deal with Fox Sports is put to the test. And when, as the result of the dual broadcasting arrangement, the league's exposure is multiplied.

From the days when it was known by the heathens as 'Soccer Bloody Soccer', SBS has a long and rich association with Australian football. Les Murray and the late Johnny Warren were the ''world game's'' godfather's - with the dark suits, but without the violin cases.

However, when SBS won the free-to-air rights last season, there was some concern among FFA insiders that the venerable football network sometimes loved the game to death. The consequence of an approach that was seen to cater heavily for purists, rather than the new audience the A-league is trying to attract.

The perception was – rightly or wrongly – that if you didn't know your libido from your libero, SBS wasn't going to waste its time giving you directions from the bedroom to the pitch.

At the same time, Fox Sports had set the bar high in recent years. Its analysts and commentators provided depth, insight but also – cue Mark Bosnich's manic cackle – a lighter, more inclusive touch.

SBS's response is a coverage that leans heavily on younger, recently retired players. David Zdrilic will host the Friday night coverage with the entertainingly intense Craig Foster. They will be joined by a rotating panel of experts including Jason Culina, Clint Bolton and Ned Zelic.

The game itself is a joint production between Fox Sports and SBS, with David Basheer commentating and Robbie Slater providing analysis. Expect Slater to say ''Well, Simon...ummm, I mean David'' at least 13 times until the new alliance is forged.
 

NEW STYLES FOR CARLE AND HERSI

But, beyond the games themselves, what the FFA wanted – and has gotten – is broader programming across the week. The type of coverage that showcases the players, engages fans and tempts them to buy a ticket.

Fox Sports have made the signing of the A-League season, poaching entertainers Santo Cilauro, Sam Pang and Ed Kavalee whose World Cup program on SBS was a cult classic. They will reform for 'Santo, Sam and Ed's Total Football' on Monday night which, if there previous efforts are anything to go, will be instant classics.

SBS will have their of footbotainment show, 'Thursday FC' hosted by comedian Matt Okine, Lucy Zelic (yes, Ned Zelic is her brother) and David Zdrilic. They will be using a host of current players as both comic muses, and sources of insight.

Which proves, in Australian sport, the only thing worse than being laughed at is not being laughed at. And also that the FFA was right when it predicted splitting the broadcast rights would create competition and produce broader and enhanced coverage.

What it cannot determine is if the appetite for A-League games, and other programming, is a strong as last year's encouraging season suggested. Do packed crowds at Wanderers and Melbourne Victory games translate into ratings that will encourage growth in future rights deals?

PREMIER STATE ROLLS ON

For all the talk of strong growth, the average audience for games on Fox Sports last season was 81,000 viewers. Strong in pay-per-view terms, but not figures to have the eyes of free-to-air executives popping.

However, the grand final between Central Coast and the Wanderers drew an A-league record 308,000 viewers and 164,000 watched Alessandro Del Piero's first home game for Sydney FC against Newcastle.

That is the league's potential. The televisual banquet has been laid. Now we wait to see if more viewers come to the table.

ON THE BOX
THURSDAY
THURSDAY FC, 8.30pm, SBS 2
SBS's panel show showcases the A-League with special guests, interviews and live music acts, presented by Matt Okine, Lucy Zelic and David Zdrilic.
FRIDAY
KICK OFF 6.30pm Fox Sports
Tara Rushton and Andy Harper's weekly preview of the upcoming round and football news from the Premier League.
A-LEAGUE LIVE, 7pm, SBS2 & Fox Sports
SBS and Fox Sports's live coverage of the Friday night match.
SATURDAY
MATCHDAY SATURDAY: 5pm Fox Sports
Mark Bosnich, Mark Rudan and Adam Peacock bring football fans up to 10 hours of LIVE coverage of the A-League and English Premier League each Saturday.
SUNDAY
SUNDAY SHOOT OUT 7pm Fox Sports
Wrap up the A-League action Mark
Bosnich and Adam Peacock and don't miss the B-League with Sam Mac and Julian Schiller, the best thing to happen to TV sport since Kerry Packer and World Series Cricket.
MONDAY
TOTAL FOOTBALL 7.30pm Fox Sports
A new panel show hosted by Santo Cilauro, alongside Ed Kavalee and Sam Pang.
A-LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS SHOW 8pm Fox Sports, 8.40pm SBS
Recap all the best moments from the weekend.

The A-League kick-off is just days away. Picture: Gregg Porteous

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Price's last ditch bid for Eels job

Parramatta legend Ray Price is keen to coach the Eels. Source: Gregg Porteous / DailyTelegraph

PARRAMATTA'S search for a new coach took an eleventh hour twist on Grand Final day, with Ray Price interviewed for the position that he wants to share with fellow club great Brett Kenny.

A passionate and vocal campaigner, Price fronted a four-man delegation of the Eels board at Parramatta Leagues Club on Sunday.

The premiership-winning warhorse on Monday night said the club needed people in charge who understood Parramatta's culture.

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He wants to take charge with Kenny, who coached the club's NSW Cup feeder side Wentworthville several years ago.

"We need Parramatta people to get Parramatta out of the crap," Price said.

"I sat down with the board for about 90 minutes and they agreed with everything I said.

"It took me a long time to speak to the board, but I kept ringing and ringing and ringing for the opportunity.

"I genuinely believed we had a top eight side this year - we just needed to back our players."

Despite getting the chance to put his case forward, Price is not confident he'll get the job.

Manly assistant Brad Arthur remains the raging hot favourite ahead of Tim Sheens, Steve McNamara and Jason Taylor.

The fact Sheens won't return from Australia's World Cup campaign until December damages his chances, while the current playing squad is backing Arthur - their assistant coach in 2011 and 2012 - to get the job.

The announcement will be made later this week, following a board meeting on Monday night.

"I'm probably a million to one to get the job, even though I've always put my hand up to help them make a difference," Price said.

"I wanted to help with their defence this year, but they were happy with their defence. How can that be?"  

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Thompson, Wells share Syd

Kangaroos midfielder Daniel Wells in full flight against Essendon. Picture: Colleen Petch Source: Colleen Petch / HeraldSun

SCOTT Thompson and Daniel Wells were joint winners of North Melbourne's best and fairest award after a thrilling vote count last night.

All-Australian full-back Thompson and Wells tied on 50 votes, finishing one ahead of ruckman Todd Goldstein.

But leading goalkicker Lindsay Thomas, who missed out on All-Australian small forward selection, did not finish in the top-10 of voting.

Thompson, 27, has twice finished second in the award, but was last night rewarded for his supreme consistency helping curb the league's premier forwards.

The man who was originally overlooked in the draft and forced to start his career in the VFL also took out the best clubman award, as determined by the Roos' coaches.

Wells is now a two-time Syd Barker medallist, helping complete a stellar comeback from a life-threatening blood clot found in his lungs in late 2011.

Despite heavy tagging from the opposition, Wells' sparkling form has repaid the club's faith after selecting the silken midfielder with pick No.2 in the 2002 national draft.

Vice-captain Drew Petrie was fourth on 46 votes, while young midfielders Ben Cunnington and Ryan Bastinac capped off the best year of their careers, finishing fifth and sixth.

Earlier in the night Wells and Michael Firrito were awarded life memberships.

Former rookie defender Aaron Mullett was named best first year player, while Thomas was recognised for his work off the field as the Peter Scanlon Community Award winner.

North Melbourne coach Brad Scott revealed goalsneak Thomas and emerging midfielder Ben Cunnington had re-signed with the club until the end of 2016 and 2017, respectively.

Meanwhile, Sydney assistant coach Leigh Tudor has agreed to join North Melbourne as a senior assistant coach next year, if he is unsuccessful in Essendon's coaching race.

Highly regarded for his stoppage work and team defence, Tudor has told the Roos he will be at Scott's side unless he wins a senior coaching job in the next fortnight. He is a frontrunner to fill James Hird's void.

Scott announced the appointment last night. Tudor had played key coaching roles at Sydney and St Kilda and coached Geelong's VFL team to a premiership.

North Melbourne star Daniel Wells kicked four goals in the Kangaroos hard-fought win over Geelong. Picture: George Salpigtidis Source: HeraldSun

SYD BARKER TOP 10

1. Scott Thompson 50
1. Daniel Wells 50
3. Todd Goldstein 49
4. Drew Petrie 46
5. Ben Cunnington 45*
6. Ryan Bastinac 45*
7. Jack Ziebell 43
8. Lachie Hansen 41*
9. Sam Gibson 41*
10. Aaron Mullett 40
(* countback applicable for all placings other than first)

OTHER AWARDS
Glenn Archer Northerners Award – Jack Ziebell
Blackwoods Supporters Player of the Year Award – Jack Ziebell
Jason McCartney Jumper Award – Jack Ziebell
Best First Year Player – Aaron Mullett
Harold Henderson Best Clubman Award – Scott Thompson
Peter Scanlon Community Award – Lindsay Thomas

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Super Rugby draw: Five of the best

Kurtley Beale is back for the Waratahs in 2014. Picture: Mark Evans

THE draw for the 2014 Super Rugby season is out - so where and when will Benji Marshall, Kurtley Beale, Quade Cooper and co kick-off their campaigns?

The opening round of the competition - which kicks off on February 15 - is an all-South African affair, with the Cheetahs and Lions opening the new campaign with a clash in Bloemfontein, followed by the Sharks hosting the Bulls (the Stormers start with a bye).

The New Zealand and Australian franchises join in the action the following week, from February 21, with each team playing 16 regular season matches (eight home and eight away, plus 2 byes) before the playoffs begin on July 18. The final will be held on Saturday, August 2.

We take a look at five must-watch matches for the 2014 Super Rugby season.

Crusaders v Chiefs, February 21, AMI Stadium

It might be asking a bit much given it's but we like to think these two sides will be able to replicate their performances from the last time they clashed. That occasion turned out to be the best game of 2013, with the Aaron Cruden-inspired Chiefs edging the Crusaders in an epic semi-final at Waikato Stadium. Adding more spice to this match is the potential return of Sonny Bill Williams to the Chiefs line-up. The dual code star is yet to announce where - and what - he'll be playing next year but Waikato remains a firm possibility. There'll be no Dan Carter for the Crusaders, with the All Blacks superstar set to take a sabbatical that will rule him out of most of the 2014.

Highlanders v Blues, February 22, Forsyth Barr Stadium

Will it be Benji Marshall's rugby union debut? The former Wests Tigers NRL star is poised to kick off his career in the 15-man game in Dunedin - providing he does enough in the pre-season to win selection in the Blues line-up for their opening clash of 2014. Selection in the No.10 jersey would likely see him face off with the Highlanders' 11-Test All Blacks flyhalf Colin Slade. Marshall won't be the only new face in the Blues side, with former All Black Jerome Kaino returning to Auckland after a stint in Japan.

NSW Waratahs v Western Force, February 23, Allianz Stadium

The opening round for the Australian Super Rugby franchises could pit great mates Kurtley Beale and James O'Connor up against each other as the Waratahs host the Force on a Sunday afternoon. That's providing O'Connor ends up signing with the Perth-based club, following the Australian Rugby Union's decision to release the bad boy from his 2013 contract, and not offer him a new one for 2014. Regardless, Beale has returned to NSW from Melbourne and will roll out for the side he started his Super Rugby career with alongside new recruits Jacques Potgieter (Bulls), Jono Lance (Reds) and Nick Phipps (Rebels) as coach Michael Cheika looks to build on the platform laid in 2013.

Queensland Reds v Cheetahs, March 7, Suncorp Stadium

Richard Graham kicks off his career as Queensland Reds coach on the road, with clashes away to the Brumbies and Waratahs in the first two rounds. It's not until Queensland's third game that he'll coach his new side on home soil and this looms as a tough test for the former Western Force boss. South Africa's Cheetahs were the surprise packet of 2013, storming into the playoffs and coming within a sideline conversion of pushing eventual runners-up the Brumbies to extra-time in the opening round of the finals. Attacking ace Willie le Roux has become a star for the Springboks and will lock horns with the Reds' new recruit, former Waratahs and Wallabies winger Lachie Turner in a battle of the speedsters.

Brumbies v Chiefs, April 25, Canberra Stadium

The rematch of this year's Super Rugby final, won by the Chiefs as they successfully defended their 2012 crown. Sonny Bill Williams wouldn't be the only newcomer to this rematch, with one-time Wallaby skipper David Pocock set to be back in action for the Canberra outfit in 2014 after missing most of this year with a serious knee injury. The Brumbies will also have a new face calling the shots on the sidelines, after former World Cup-winning coach Jake White walked out on the club to chase a Test gig. Stephen Larkham and Laurie Fisher are vying for the vacant position.

Opponents for Australia's Super Rugby franchises - each team plays home and away derbies within their own conference, plus the following matches:

Brumbies: Hurricanes (A), Stormers (H), Blues (H), Chiefs (H), Crusaders (A), Sharks (H), Cheetahs (A), Bulls (A)
Force: Highlanders (A), Chiefs (H), Bulls (H), Cheetahs (A), Stormers (A), Lions (H), Crusaders (A), Blues (H)
Rebels: Cheetahs (H), Crusaders (H), Highlanders (A), Chiefs (A), Sharks (H), Hurricanes (H), Lions (A), Bulls (A)
Reds: Cheetahs (H), Sharks (A), Lions (A), Stormers (H), Hurricanes (A), Blues (A), Crusaders (H), Highlanders (H)
Waratahs: Sharks (A), Stormers (A), Bulls (H), Blues (A), Hurricanes (H), Lions (H), Chiefs (A), Highlanders (H)

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