Rugby Exclusive

www.sportingbet.com – In a perfect start to the Jayco Herald Sun Tour, CSC Saxo Bank rider Matt Goss has taken out the Inverloch – Warrigul Stage.

After taking out yesterday’s criterium at Traralgon, Goss now has two wins from two starts after winning the opening stage in a closely contested sprint.

For Rugby CLICK HERE

With just a few hundred metres to go, Savings and Loan’s Joels Pearson and Drapak Porsche’s Mitchell Docker looked to make a move but were well cover by Goss and Barloworld’s Baden Cooke.

The twenty-two year-old Tasmanian now has a good hold on the leader’s jersey but it is certainly very early days yet.

Joel Pearson sits ninth in the overall classification which is a miracle in itself given that the twenty-five year-old was in a coma just over five months ago.

Pearson was riding for French team Cote’s de Amore when he was involved in an horrific car accident which left him in a coma for more than three weeks.

He returned to Melbourne in late may to resume physio and was back on his bike in June.

In his first race back, Pearson finished fourth out of a field of over 200 quality riders from right around the world.

In one of the toughest events on the Australian Cycling calender, Pearson sent out a warning to his competitors that he’s not just back to make up the numbers.

Rated as one of the hottest sprinters in this year’s tour, Pearson featured in the preface (44km Criterium Race in Traralgon) grabbing a top 20 finish – just two seconds off the pace.

In what will be a triumphant homecoming, Joel will ride in the second stage tomorrow, finishing on the main street of his home town Warragul.

The lead up to this year’s Rugby League Grand Final has provided more controversy than any match in the history of the competition.

In a war of words that has seen the two players suspended and a club slapped with the heftiest fine on record, the fuse is lit for an explosive encounter at ANZ Stadium.

PLAY NOW

Both sides will no doubt be even money going into Sunday nights clash although Manly may have a slight edge given that their recent form has been slightly more consistent than the Storm.

The Storm’s shock loss to the Warriors two weeks ago set them up for a tight encounter in Brisbane wish saw Cameron Smith suspended along with Jeremy Smith for a tackle that will go down in history as one of the most controversial tackles of all time.

Manly Coach Des Hasler has attributed Manly’s success to date to their toughness up forward and their consistent defense.

Manly carry the tag of sentimental favourite with old foes such as Parramatta and Western Sydney uniting in their apparent hatred for the team from down south.

It appears that the comments of Craig Bellamy and Brian Walßdron have brought the game into disrepute and united fans and players across Sydney.

Storm players and staff have been labeled irrational and ’bordering on hysterical’ over their reaction to Cameron Smith’s hearing which the labeled “a trial by media’.

Regardless, the Storm have a long list of super stars and game breakers that took them to a premiership last year and three successive minor premierships.

Manly are perhaps the most consistent, team oriented club in the competition and after a dismal performance in last year’s big game they will be looking to turn things around.

Melbourne will suffer from the disruptions to their preparation and manly will be desperate to avoid a repeat of last year.

Manly may just sneak away with a famous victory here and give Steve ‘Beaver’ Menzies a dream send-off.

www.lasserters.com.au – Wallabies test prop Ben Alexander has to be one of, if not the feel good story of the year.

Alexander, who played his schoolboy rugby at Knox Grammar in Sydney’s North, debuted against France back in June.

PLAY NOW

The 120-kilo forward relished the last ten minutes of the game (his first ten minutes for Australia), capitalizing on a tired French forward pack to put up some very solid defense.

Ben has since been a regular on the training track, narrowly missing selection in his next two games only to be recalled as the Wallabies traveled to south Africa in August.

In 2004 Ben was playing Rugby of the UC (University of Canberra) Owls and was selected on a short list for the Brumby Runners squad.

After a fine season he joined the Canberra Vikings in the local Rugby Competition and dominated his first few games.

However, Ben’s footballing career was nearly cut tragically short when he snapped his leg in half playing making a regulation tackle.

He suffered complications during surgery that nearly lead to is death and immerged from hospital having lost over a quarter of his body weight.

Plenty of hard work and determination saw Ben return to the game on a single season contract playing for English club Bedford.

Regaining form and confidence, he returned to Australia to the first ever season of ARC, playing for the Western Sydney Rams along side the likes of Curtley Beale.

Alexander flourished in the ARC, scoring several tries and forcing the ACT Brumbies to stand up and take notice.

He debuted for the Brumbies earlier this year and just 6 minutes into his stint off the bench he crashed over for a try.

Not a minute goes by when he doesn’t feel like pinching himself.

“Just three years ago I couldn’t walk and thought I’d never play footy again. Now I’m pulling on the green and gold and playing alongside my childhood heroes. It’s the best feeling.”

For Lasserters.com.au CLICK HERE