City searching for Roar whitewash

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MELBOURNE City is undefeated in seven games at home, winning five.

It has also won both games against Brisbane Roar this year, once each at home and away.

True, City will be without arguably its best player this year, Aaron Mooy, on Saturday night.

But its Brisbane opponents are harder hit by international withdrawals considering regular starters Matt McKay, Luke DeVere, Corey Brown and James Donachie will all be absent from the AAMI Park showdown.

Everything is stacked in City's favour for what winger Mate Dugandzic describes as "a mini-final", particularly given the Roar had to play last night and again on Wednesday — against Western Sydney — while City will have had an eight-day break following its vital win over Sydney FC.

City celebrate their home win over the Roar in round nine. Source: News Corp Australia

But Dugandzic said City has to be thoroughly professional as it chases what could be the most vital of three points in the two-horse race for sixth spot.

"Everything has fallen in our favour, the ball is in our court, so it just depends now on how we approach the game," he said.

"We can't be heading in to the game overconfident because Brisbane still has got a quality side and quite a bit of depth as well as we've seen in the (Asian) Champions League.

"But with potentially Josh (Kennedy) and Harry (Novillo) coming back in, it's going to be a massive game for us and one that we've got to head out with the intention of getting a great result in."

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City defeated Brisbane 3-1 at Suncorp Stadium in Round 5 and then 1-0 at AAMI Park in Round 9.

Dugandzic said the team would take great confidence out of those two results, as well as the 1-0 win at AAMI Park in Round 20 last year.

"We tend to play quite well against them here at AAMI Park, so that's a great thing to have, having beaten them twice already this year," he said.

"It's our little mini-final now. If we can win this, even though they've got their games in hand, it will create a bit of a buffer.

"Home ground advantage is a massive thing. The last few results have come our way and we've been playing some fantastic football at home."

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Six-shooter Smeltz ready to unload

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AFTER a season of playing the unaccustomed role of understudy, Shane Smeltz is itching to be unleashed on his former club and keep Sydney FC's title aspirations alive.

Forced to play second fiddle by the goals of Marc Janko, Smeltz — the A-League's second-highest goalscorer — is certain to start against Wellington next weekend due to Janko's absence on international duty.

Marc Janko screams in frustration after missing another chance against Melbourne City. Source: News Corp Australia

After Friday's defeat at home to Melbourne City, the Sky Blues cannot afford a negative result in Wellington — at the club where Smeltz scored 21 goals in 39 appearances. The 33-year-old admitted his series of cameo appearances off the bench for Sydney after signing in the off-season, coupled with an injury-disrupted pre-season, had made him a frustrated spectator, despite his off-field friendship with Janko.

"I always want to play, I've been wanting to play every week," Smeltz said. "It's never easy for someone like myself, knowing you're only going to get 15 or 20 minutes of game time each week.

"So I'm looking forward to playing again, it'll be something different to start the game and hopefully play the full 90, and play my part.

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"It's a big game too, a six pointer, and if we can go over there and take six points off them that'll be crucial at this stage of the season.

"It's never a good time to lose but maybe it's better we did this week against City — if we go down next weekend to Wellington we're battling against it."

Sydney will be without Terry Antonis as well as Smeltz, and coach Graham Arnold gave his players the weekend off after losing to City as he bids to conserve their energy for the season's climax.

Smeltz dubbed it the most congested title race he had seen, with the top five all holding realistic hopes of landing the Premier's Plate once the regular season is complete.

Of that pack, Sydney face Perth and Adelaide as well as Phoenix twice in their last five games, which Smeltz said at least gave his side the chance to keep their rivals at close hand.

Smeltz playing for the Phoenix back in 2007. Source: Supplied

"I can't remember a back end of the season as tight as this," Smeltz said. "There's been close situations before but this is extra tight, the top six especially.

"That's why we have to look ahead — we've been good on the road this season and though they are tough fixtures we need to back ourselves to win them. Winning those games will keep us in it because of who they're against.

"As Arnie said there's plenty of opportunity for the table to change before the end of the season. City really was one of those games where you have to go away and think about what went wrong but it's pretty disappointing, especially at home after the good run we've had.

"We came with every intention to secure another win, especially with the big incentive of going top of the league, but it wasn't to be."

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Berisha to stand tall for depleted Victory

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A "SORE" Besart Berisha is expected to be fit for Melbourne Victory's AAMI Park clash with Central Coast on Friday night.

It's just as well as coach Kevin Muscat will need every fit player he can get for the Mariners game as international withdrawals again rock his side.

It will be a quiet week at Victory with Mark Milligan (Socceroos), Daniel Georgievski (Macedonia) and Jason Geria, Scott Galloway and Connor Pain (Olyroos) all away on international duty.

Victory skipper Mark Milligan is on Socceroos duty. Source: News Corp Australia

Kosta Barbarouses was left out of New Zealand's squad, but at this stage it is touch and go whether the back injury that prevented the winger travelling to South Korea will heal sufficiently to allow him to play for Victory this week.

Berisha came off late in the 2-2 draw with Adelaide on Saturday night, pointing to his upper left leg as he asked to be substituted.

He will be monitored during the week, but Victory officials were yesterday confident he will be fit to play.

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Youngster Dylan Murnane is set to come in for just his fifth start of the season, while one of Leigh Broxham and Rashid Mahazi will likely occupy the right back position against the Mariners, leaving the other to partner Carl Valeri in midfield.

In the event both Barbarouses and Berisha miss, Andrew Nabbout would likely start and youth team replacements would have to be called upon to fill the two remaining spots on the bench alongside Jesse Makarounas, Jordan Brown and goalkeeper Lawrence Thomas.

Macedonia's Daniel Georgievski will face the Socceroos in a friendly. Source: Getty Images

Veteran shot-stopper Nathan Coe said yesterday the players left behind were not panicking about the shortage of troops for the game.

"We've been in this position before, so we know what to expect," Coe said.

"I think it's a testament to Musky and what he's done with the squad that every time we do have people missing the people who come in to play do a great job.

"I don't think we've ever been let down by anyone who's come in. We've had this situation before and we've still played fantastic games.

"So it's not really anything new for us. We'll just go out there and do what we can."

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Titans’ recruitment hit list revealed

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NRL clubs be warned, the Gold Coast Titans are hunting the scalps of your best young players.

The NRL-backed Titans are going on a recruitment spree and The Courier-Mail can reveal the club's Daly Cherry-Evans endorsed hit list.

Coach Neil Henry and recruitment chief Jamie Mathiou are targeting players in their early 20's who are considered future representative stars.

Mathiou is the club's first full time recruitment manager and he has already helped secure arguably the club's greatest signing in Cherry-Evans.

The Gold Coast have at least $2 million to spend in their cap even after their $1m a year splurge on Cherry-Evans.

Their next priorities are Rabbitohs revelation Alex Johnston, St George Illawarra sensation Euan Aitken, young Broncos props Joe Ofahengaue, Francis Molo and George Fai and future Origin centre Dane Gagai.

Euan Aitken produced a stunning debut on Saturday. Source: Getty Images

There will be an overhaul of the Titans roster for 2016 with Cherry-Evans to be joined by at least two more representative-quality players.

The Titans are fighting three other clubs for the signature of Johnston, one of the most exciting talents in the NRL.

The 20-year-old is already among the NRL's best wingers and was selected in Australia's Four Nations squad last year.

Souths are nervous that Johnston's desire to be a permanent fullback will see him leave Redfern as there is no chance of him usurping Greg Inglis.

The Titans have met with Johnston's manager Clinton Schifcofske regarding his client's next contract but an offer is yet to be made.

Any offer will depend on whether they secure the services of Gagai and Aitken as centre is the Titans' major roster hole.

Aitken, 19, was brilliant in his first game for the Dragons in their win over Canberra with coach Paul McGregor rating his 192 metre effort one of the best debuts he's witnessed.

Benji Marshall rates him the best teenager in the NRL.

Joe Ofahengaue has been churning out big stats for Brisbane. Picture: Peter Wallis Source: News Corp Australia

Gagai is seriously considering spurning Wayne Bennett and joining the Titans and has been impressed with their negotiations so far.

While coach Henry would not be drawn on individual talents he revealed the club now had a youth policy and confirmed there would be further roster change.

"We're trying to recruit, with Jamie Mathiou, young players for the future around a nucleus of older guys we've got here that have got the experience," Henry said.

"There's no doubt there is a changeover in players and that will continue like it does at a lot of clubs.

"We've had a little bit of movement this year and there will be a little bit more next year with the nucleus of the players staying.

"That recruitment is an ongoing process and we just get on with our footy in the meantime."

While Cherry-Evans is being asked for advice on potential recruits he is not making offers to his NRL brethren.

The Knights are furious that Cherry-Evans contacted Gagai about coming to the Gold Coast but Henry said the issue had been blown out of proportion.

"I think Dane Gagai was just something Cherry-Evans makes a call about because they know each other," Henry said.

"He is not recruiting on behalf of us. Players talk all the time.

"There was a bit of publicity around it and it was motivated that way and I don't think there is anything in it."

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WISH LIST

Alex Johnston

Age: 20

Club: Rabbitohs

Position: Wing/fullback

Dane Gagai

Age: 24

Club: Knights

Position: Centre

Euan Aitken

Age: 19

Club: Dragons

Position: Centre

Jo Ofahengaue

Age: 19

Club: Broncos

Position: Prop

Francis Molo

Age: 20

Club: Broncos

Position: Prop

George Fai

Age: 18

Club: Broncos

Position: Prop

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Dugan sin bin sparked Dragon comeback

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ST GEORGE Illawarra players have credited the sin binning of Josh Dugan for helping them rediscover the "character" required to be an NRL force.

Apart from overcoming an 18-point deficit against Canberra on Saturday night, the Dragons also kept the Raiders scoreless for the 10 minutes they were forced to play a man short.

The victory followed a week of negative headlines for the joint-venture club, whose management came under fire from an online Twitter campaign #SaveOurSaints.

Dugan was binned 15 minutes into the second half - with the Dragons still trailing 20-12 - after tapping the ball from Raider Jarrod Croker's grasp as he was racing for a quick restart.

Yet rather than falling in a heap, the Dragons lifted in their fullback's absence to eventually win 22-20.

Asked about the performance on Sunday, English forward Mike Cooper said: "Playing that 10 minute period without 'Duges', it was huge for us.

Joel Thompson celebrates his matchwinning try. Source: Getty Images

"It was the turning point in the game, definitely.

"We were really under the pump at that stage and, having someone go off, normally you would just go into damage control - try and leak as few points as possible.

"But to keep them scoreless ... it was massive. A real show of character."

Apart from giving the Dragons their first win of 2015, Cooper said the way the Dragons played without their NSW Origin star had also reminded the squad what they were capable of.

"I'm not saying we've won a grand final or anything like that,'' the forward continued. "But the feeling in the sheds after that win was definitely special.

"To play like we did in those 10 minutes been a huge shot of confidence for the side.

"We always knew we were capable of a performing like that ... but it took Duges' sin binning to bring it out.

"Everyone knows the history of these two clubs. For the Dragons, just beating Canberra in Canberra has been tough enough, let alone after trailing by 18 points.

"But when 'Duges' went off ... you could just see it in the lads, everyone lifted."

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The gritty win also eases the pressure on coach Paul McGregor.

"We've got faith in 'Mary' and he has faith in us,'' Cooper continued.

"Coaching in the NRL isn't an easy job.

"But the second half of that game, it's the first time we've followed the instructions of the coaching staff. We stuck to the plan and things worked out.

"Obviously there has been a lot of attention on the club for the past couple of weeks. But things can change so quickly.

"You only have to look at North Queensland. Three weeks ago they were certainties for the top eight ... now they're copping it from everywhere.

"We just need to play a little bit smarter."

And as for what punishment Dugan will receive?

"I'm not sure what the penalty is to be honest,'' Cooper laughed. "There will definitely be something though.

"Maybe a fine or something like that.

"We'll come up with something for him."

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Lack of trust killing Cowboys: Coote

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A LACK of on-field trust among Cowboys players has led to the team not believing in their game plan, fullback Lachlan Coote says.

Coote was one of the few Cowboys who could hold his head high following their third straight loss on Friday night.

In his first game for club since signing mid-way through 2013 Coote was a standout at fullback and justified coach Paul Green's shift of Michael Morgan to five-eighth.

He didn't make an error in 80 minutes as the Cowboys dropped the pill 12 times and missed 47 tackles in their 44-22 loss to Brisbane.

Coote said the Cowboys group needed to be "tighter" because at the moment they weren't trusting each other.

He echoed the sentiments of co-captain Johnathan Thurston who described his team's confidence as "shot".

Lachlan Coote says the Cowboys lack confidence. Picture: Zak Simmonds Source: News Corp Australia

"Yeah, I think it is (shot)," Coote said.

"We are trying the best we can. It feels like training is going well.

"We aren't executing in games though.

"We need to be tighter as a group.

"We need to believe that what we are doing as a group will work if we execute it properly.

"It is hard to come back from where we are.

"Hopefully we can change."

Not since 2008 have the Cowboys lost their opening three matches.

That year they only ended up winning five games all season in a disastrous effort.

Immortal Andrew Johns however backed the club to rebound.

"Without a shadow of a doubt they will make the eight," Johns said on The Sunday Footy Show.

"They have too good of a list."

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Brad Fittler however was scathing in response.

"It looked like they had no spirit and no fight," he said of the Cowboys performance against Brisbane.

Coote admitted to feeling isolated and emotional during his year out of the squad as he recovered from injury.

His debut was a good news story in a horrible night for the Cowboys.

"It has been a long time. It has been emotional being out of the team.

"I have been injured way too much.

"It was good to debut but it wasn't memorable.

"It is good to be back. You do feel left out. I just had to get through it.

"All I want to do is play footy."

Green backed Coote as the Cowboys fullback moving forward.

"I thought he had some nice touches. For him it's about getting back, he hasn't played a lot of footy for a long time now," Green said.

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Broncos wary of Warriors ‘touch footy’

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NEW Zealander Alex Glenn says the Broncos must stop the Warriors indulging in "touch footy'' to end the club's Mt Smart Stadium hoodoo on Sunday.

The Broncos have lost their past four games at the Auckland venue, with the Warriors size and flamboyant style proving a handful.

The Warriors have not lost to the Broncos at home since 2009, although they were shaded 28-22 at Suncorp Stadium last year in a vital round 19 match.

"The Warriors have always had a big dominant pack and we have to make sure we are aiming up and don't let them get on the front foot early,'' Glenn said.

"They do have a lot of offloads in their game and that just makes our jobs harder.

"If we lock up the ball, it restricts them from playing that touch footy type of game.

"Auckland is always a big game for me. I know a lot of Warriors boys and I would have over 50 (relatives) — they all turn up to the games in Auckland when I play.''

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The Broncos and Warriors have both rebounded from round one losses to win their next two matches.

The Warriors' first-half blitz of Parramatta on Saturday to take a 28-0 lead mirrored Brisbane's six-try first 40 minutes in their 44-22 hammering of North Queensland.

Off-contract Glenn, 26, has started the season well after a pre-season evaluation from incoming coach Wayne Bennett that his form had plateaued after six years at Red Hill.

Glenn has kept another off-contract Broncos forward, Sam Thaiday, on the bench, with both needing to convince Bennett they should command a 2016 contract.

"I'm focused on doing my job for the Broncos,'' Glenn said.

"I've really enjoyed my time. I'm off contract but I want to play my heart out and do my job for the team. The rest takes care of itself, whether I go or whether I stay, that's in someone else's hands.

"I'm not in a hurry to sort it out. I'll go with the flow and who knows where it will take me.

"I want to make sure I play consistent football for the team and I'm enjoying my football at the moment. I have to keep that going. I have to play to the best of my ability or I'll lose the spot.''

Glenn, who was Brisbane's leading tryscorer in 2012 when playing outside Corey Norman, says he is striking up an understanding with new five-eighth Anthony Milford.

"We started training together in November and as games have gone on we're learning a bit more about how the other guy plays," he said.

Brisbane have an awkward next three weeks, with away games in Auckland and Gold Coast and a home game against Sydney Roosters, who played the benchmark match of the season so far in their narrow round one loss to South Sydney.

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"That (standard of play) is what we have to be and we working week in week out to be up there with those teams, competing for the full 80 minutes,'' Glenn said.

"We took a lot of hard lesson from our round one loss to the Rabbitohs. They are laying the platform. They are relentless and never give up. We have to get on the front foot the way they are.''

Broncos skipper Justin Hodges said halves Milford and Ben Hunt were prominent in the win over the Cowboys.

"We built pressure for the first time this season,'' Hodges said.

"When they run the ball, we are a lot better.''

Bennett said on Friday night that prop Josh McGuire, who did not play most of the second half due to concussion, had been "coherent'' after the game.

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Buzz: NRL run by bunch of amateurs

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IT'S hard to believe the NRL is now running a $350 million business.

Every week something goes wrong that makes the people in charge look like a bunch of amateurs.

The playing surface at Brookvale Oval on Friday night was an embarrassment to the game and a safety ­hazard to the players.

Here we have the biggest television audience of the week in prime time watching the Sea Eagles and the Bulldogs battle it out on a cow paddock.

I spoke to a junior rugby league official in the Shire on Saturday morning who said the Cronulla junior rugby league would not allow kids to play on a surface that poor at this time of the year, let alone professional football players.

The shocking surface at Brookvale Oval. Picture: Mark Evans Source: News Corp Australia

The AFL employs ground staff who inspect the playing surfaces at all stadiums in the week leading up to games. They would never have allowed a situation like Brookvale Oval.

Then we go back to last Monday night at Campbelltown Sports Ground, where Wests Tigers hosted St George Illawarra.

Everyone knows Wests ­Tigers have a huge battle for survival on their hands.

They are only in the competition because they borrowed millions from the NRL.

To get supporters and the people of Campbelltown to the football they have to ensure the game-day experience is as close to perfect as possible.

And what happens? They don't employ enough people on the turnstiles and hundreds of fans are locked outside the ground in queues of hundreds of metres for the ­entire first half.

Fans forced to queue in Campbelltown last Monday. Source: DailyTelegraph

I was contacted on Saturday by the father of a family who drove all the way from Wollongong to cheer for the Dragons.

There was seven of them — mum, dad and five kids. They came all that way but could only get in for the ­second half.

Now this is a grassroots, traditional footy family. People who are lifetime rugby league fans.

Yet we had Wests Tigers chair Marina Go almost celebrating by tweeting from the comfort of her corporate suite: "Game has started. Still queues to get into the game — for miles. Love our fans."

What sort of business is ­allowed to be run this poorly?

How many more $600,000-a-year administrators do we need at Moore Park to get it right?

Todd Greenberg was supposed to be the man to fix the game and its problems when he was hired on the big bucks last season.

His workload has been halved this year by the recent appointment of Shane Richardson.

Yet they still can't get it right and wonder why crowds have been poor for the opening three rounds of the competition.

Only two players remain from the Dragons' 2010 premiership side. Source: News Limited

One victory won't silence angry Dragons fans

ONE win will not be enough to take the pressure off St George Illawarra chief executive Peter Doust judging by the social media response to their miracle comeback victory over Canberra Raiders on Saturday night.

The facts are that this underperforming club has run ninth, 14th and 11th in the past three years.

Sponsorship and membership are down. They are only surviving on multi-million-dollar loans from the NRL.

They've changed coaches and players but kept the boardroom unchanged and the chief executive for longer than any other NRL club. This photo of their 2010 grand final-winning side explains a lot.

There are only two survivors — winger Jason Nightingale and off-contract forward Ben Creagh. The rest either walked out, are ready to walk or have retired.

You look at the quality of their off-season shopping under new recruitment boss Peter Mulholland.

Shannon Wakeman (Cutters), Rory O'Brien (Cutters), George Rose (Storm), Rulon Nutira (Gundagai Tigers), Jake Marketo (Redcliffe), Adam Tuimavave-Gerrard (Warriors), Dane Nielsen (Warriors), Heath L'Estrange (Roosters), Beau Henry (Titans), Kris Keating (Hull KR) and Justin Hunt (Eels).

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Hardly a list that would arouse the confidence of supporters, particularly as they have lost their two best juniors, Jackson Hastings and Jack Bird, in the past 12 months, plus superstar winger Brett Morris.

They showed plenty of ticker to come back from 18-nil down against the Raiders but there is still a long way to go.

Sharks could have landed Koroibete

NO wonder Fijian flyer Marika Koroibete had a blinder against the Sharks in Melbourne on Saturday night. He had a point to prove.

When he was released by the Wests Tigers last year, his manager Sam Ayoub went knocking on Cronulla's door. He wanted to stay in Sydney.

The Sharks said no thanks. Instead they signed veteran Mitch Brown from the Bulldogs.

Recruitment in rugby league is a tough gig.

Some clubs are good at it, some aren't. It's one area the Sharks need to improve on.

How they would love to have Chad Townsend back, the local junior they released two years ago. He had a mighty game for the Warriors in the big win over Parramatta on Saturday.

The Sharks have had a terrible start to the season.

They now face a tough month of football against the Titans, Roosters, Knights and Rabbitohs. The pressure is on Shane Flanagan to move Ben Barba from five-eighth and use Jack Bird in the No.6 ­jersey against the Titans.

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Brad Arthur not all he's hyped up to be

NO coach has had more positive media coverage in recent weeks than Parramatta's Brad Arthur. It appears every second player in the NRL wants to play for him.

There is no doubt it was the key factor in Kieran Foran and Anthony Watmough joining Parramatta.

The question is why? It's understandable when players want to play under Wayne Bennett because he's won so many premierships, or Des Hasler and Craig Bellamy.

They all have runs on the board.

Arthur did a tremendous job to lift the Eels into finals contention last year before they bombed out in the last couple of rounds.

They couldn't even beat the Canberra Raiders in the final round.

The Eels have been flogged by the Canterbury Bulldogs and the Warriors in their last two starts.

They've got the South Sydney Rabbitohs next weekend and will probably be one from four.

I haven't seen the evidence as to why so many elite players have such a huge opinion of him.

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