Warrington fullback Brett Hodgson was humbled after currently being awarded the Lance Todd Trophy for his starring function in the Wolves’ Challenge Cup last win more than Leeds at Wembley.

The former Wests Tigers NRL captain recovered from a heavy knock to the head early in the second half to set up two important tries in Warrington’s 35-18 win.

The 34-year-old man of the match capped a fine display by kicking five objectives and crossing for a late attempt to put the seal on the Wolves’ 3rd Challenge Cup win in 4 many years.

“It’s enormous. I have been really fortunate via my profession to play with some great gamers, win an NRL grand last and now this,” Hodgson said.

“It is really humbling to get this kind of an honour. It is going to be a thing I look back on with excellent admiration and I am very excited and honoured to accept it.”

Hodgson was concerned in the game’s main turning point when he was knocked above by a strong challenge from Leeds forward Kylie Leuluai.

Warrington led only 12-10 at the time and Hodgson, who ducked into Leuluai’s shoulder, lost possession and Brett Delaney scooped up to cross for Leeds.

But the Rhinos were to be denied as video referee Phil Bentham, right after ruling Delaney’s tackle legal, spotted a double knock-on.

Hodgson recovered and assisted place over Chris Riley and Ryan Atkins for tries that place the Wolves into a decisive lead.

Warrington went on to set up manage as Tyrone McCarthy and then Hodgson crossed, with veteran Lee Briers adding a drop target.

Hodgson’s fellow Australians Joel Monaghan and Trent Waterhouse had earlier touched down in a initial half played mostly in torrential rain.

Wolves coach Tony Smith was full of praise for Hodgson.

“He was terrific for us. He copped a pounding today. He took some knocks, but he received up. He is a hard bloke,” mentioned the brother of Sydney Roosters coach Brian Smith.

“What he lacks in pace and dimension compared to other fullbacks he helps make up for in smartness … he orchestrated some of individuals tries – they have been planned by him, not the coaches.”

Leeds played their component in a aggressive very first half, scoring by way of Ian Kirke, but struggled as Warrington created momentum in the second period.

Kallum Watkins went over twice late for Leeds but they were mere consolation.

The Super League champions have now lost their past 6 appearances in the Challenge Cup last

Leeds coach Brian McDermott was bemused by Bentham’s interpretation of the Hodgson-Leuluai incident.

“I didn’t see a knock-on from anyone. I just imagined the ball came out of the back of his arm,” he explained.

“That said, Warrington have been the much better group on the day. They played effectively and deserved the win.

“We dust ourselves off, keep tight as a group, find out from it.”

Geelong star forward Tom Hawkins has proved his fitness to encounter St Kilda on Friday night whilst 5 AFL premiership teammates will return from injury to join him.

The Cats have regained 3 of their biggest names Paul Chapman, James Kelly and Joel Corey, along with No.one ruckman Trent West and defender Josh Hunt.

Further tipping the stability Geelong’s way, St Kilda skipper Nick Riewoldt is out with a knee injury, although Jason Blake and Adam Schneider will return.

Hawkins said on Thursday he had passed the exams necessary to demonstrate he has recovered from the concussion he sustained against West Coast final Friday night.

Essendon will be hugely boosted for their finals-shaping clash with Carlton at the MCG on Saturday by the return from injury of star huge man Patrick Ryder, midfield stalwart Brent Stanton and reigning very best and fairest David Zaharakis.

While the Bombers have been belted by injury this season, right after regaining Dustin Fletcher, Stewart Crameri, Michael Hibberd and Angus Monfries last round, they are now near to full power.

The Blues welcomed back skipper Chris Judd from suspension as they battle to maintain their season alive.

Hawthorn have regained key forwards Lance Franklin and Jarryd Roughead to play Gold Coast at the MCG on Sunday, but lost Cyril Rioli (shoulder) and Josh Gibson (ankle).

The Suns have been forced into five adjustments, which includes dropping David Swallow (knee) and Trent McKenzie (club suspension).

North Melbourne lost Daniel Wells, Leigh Adams and Nathan Grima to injury for Saturday night’s clash with unchanged Collingwood.

But Jack Ziebell and Lindsay Thomas return from suspension, with defender Luke Delaney the other inclusion.

Adelaide have named key forward Kurt Tippett to return from concussion against Brisbane at the Gabba on Saturday evening, pending a medical clearance on Friday.

Defender Matt Maguire returns for the Lions.

Fremantle welcomed back Nathan Fyfe and Luke McPharlin for Saturday’s Patersons Stadium meeting with Richmond.

Ruckman Aaron Sandilands, out given that round 11 with a toe injury, was named as an emergency.

Sydney star forward Sam Reid will make his return from a knee injury against the Western Bulldogs on Sunday.

The Canines regained Ryan Griffen, Shaun Higgins and Easton Wood, even though Adam Cooney has been included on their extended bench.

Melbourne important position pair Jack Watts and James Frawley will return for Saturday’s meeting with Increased Western Sydney in Canberra, but midfielder Brent Moloney was dropped.

The injury-forced loss of forward Jeremy Cameron (hip) was among five Giants changes, with midfielder Toby Greene amid their inclusions.

Port Adelaide have lost Troy Chaplin (knee) and Hamish Hartlett (suspension) for Sunday’s match against West Coast.

The Socceroos’ nearly forgotten man, Tim Cahill, roared back throughout and following Tuesday night’s pulsating 1-1 draw with Japan.

Japan’s long-time arch-nemesis, who buried the Blue Samurai with two ambitions at the 2006 Globe Cup, Cahill produced a mockery of coach Holger Osieck’s decision to overlook him against Oman on the weekend.

The Everton star was arguably Australia’s finest player at Suncorp Stadium as the ten-guy Socceroos virtually snatched a win for the ages in front of 40,189 fans.

Seemingly on the outer with Osieck just before the Planet Cup qualifier, Cahill made the most of his injection from the outset.

Paired with Alex Brosque up front, the fired-up 32-year-old was total of vim and vigour and a continual menace for the Japanese defence.

He looked considerably like the Cahill of old, the 1 who came off the bench in Kaiserslautern 6 many years ago to the day – but just couldn’t convert his chances.

“I loved it tonight, the lads loved it, it was just unfortunate we did not get the outcome,” he explained. “The issue is I generate possibilities and I score ambitions. Tonight I was unfortunate but (I am a) team player.”

It took him just six minutes to make an impact, chesting down a extended ball, turning expertly to the left and firing off a shot which goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima blocked.

Cahill continued to win each and every header which came his way and was equally extraordinary at the other finish of the pitch to thwart the crisp and innovative visitors.

He moved into the midfield when Mark Milligan was controversially sent off in the 56th minute following a dubious second yellow card, and continued to have an influence with tiring legs.

A penalty to Luke Wilkshire, a single of six 2006 Planet Cup players who started, ensured the draw and Cahill was quick to hit out at critics of the “ageing” Australians following the last whistle.

“I’m bored of it, I’ve said it just before, I am bored of listening to that type of stuff,” he roared.

“The factor is we play for our country simply because we love it and we never play right here to get bagged. They ought to help football and cease bagging us.”

Krisnan Inu has commenced his Canterbury career with a bang, inspiring his new club to a 30-twelve win more than Sydney Roosters in Monday’s NRL clash at Allianz Stadium.

The mercurial former Parramatta utility back signed for the Bulldogs final Thursday from the Warriors and made an immediate impression, scoring two tries, setting up a third and kicking 3 goals as the Roosters slumped to a third successive defeat.

Des Hasler’s side sealed the win on the back of some outstanding defence, soaking up extreme stress from the hosts in either half, but taking advantage when in possession to run in five tries.

The Roosters broke the deadlock in the ninth minute when Mitchell Pearce stepped off his right foot to slalom his way beneath the posts for his third try of the season.

The Bulldogs’ response was swift as they took full advantage of a penalty conceded by Boyd Cordner to discover great field place 3 minutes later, and Inu scored an easy attempt in his 100th profession game.

Sam Kasiano looked to have given the Bulldogs the lead when he charged to the line, but the huge New Zealander was adjudged to have impeded two players and the try out was ruled out by the video referee.

To add insult to injury for the site visitors, the Roosters responded when Anthony Minichiello darted in excess of and Braith Anasta additional the extras.

Even so, the Bulldogs scored two fast tries just ahead of the interval with Inu brilliantly catching and offloading in mid-air for Frank Pritchard to crash over.

And from the following set, Jonathan Wright latched onto Michael Ennis’s hopeful kick forward and touched down.

The Roosters began the second half effectively but the Bulldogs took management by the 56th minute with Inu darting above from dummy-half for his second four-pointer.

David Stagg then touched down for his side’s fourth try just right after the hour-mark, and Wright iced the game with a breakaway run from 90 metres following Anasta’s meant pass for Mitch Aubusson fell into his hands.

Hasler was complete of praise for Inu and mentioned he was delighted to have secured the providers of a player of his calibre mid-season.

“He’s played in two grand finals and tons of Test footy and he is a handy acquisition for us offered the extent of injuries we have had to our inside backs,” he said.

Roosters coach Brian Smith stated his gamers appeared to run out of energy midway by way of the 2nd half, and skipper Anasta exposed his frustrations at one more refereeing controversy, when the site visitors led 14-12.

Anasta stated referee Jason Robinson apologised to him late in the game, admitting he bungled a call that led to Canterbury’s 3rd try out.

Anasta argued that Lafai must have been penalised for a knock-on, in the construct up to the attempt, but was waved away by Robinson.

“He informed me he did not see it,” Anasta said.

“It didn’t cost us the game but it really is so irritating as it keeps taking place to us.

“He then comes to me at 30-twelve and says ‘sorry Braith I got that 1 wrong’.”

“It is also late then.”

Canterbury fullback Ben Barba gave Queensland a timely reminder of his talents as he engineered a 26-6 NRL win for the Bulldogs in excess of Cronulla on Monday night at ANZ Stadium.

The Maroons determined they did not want the dynamic No.1 on their bench for game one this Wednesday night, but State of Origin is a extended series and Barba continued to push his situation with a blistering two-attempt display.

Barba created it 18 tries from his last 16 matches at ANZ Stadium – a record comparable to Manly fullback Brett Stewart’s feats at Brookvale Oval – to consolidate the Bulldogs’ position in the best eight.

Canterbury surged to a 24- halftime lead, and even though the Sharks kept factors tight in the second half, without captain Paul Gallen and star Todd Carney there to inspire them, they surrendered their spot in the leading four to Manly.

Barba was electrical from the back and was on hand to score right after just seven minutes, backing up a 30 metre line-break from hole-working 2nd rower Dene Halatau.

Moments later he played beautifully out the back of a left-side attacking raid to place centre Tim Lafai more than for a 12- lead right after just ten minutes.

And in the final minute prior to halftime, Barba chased via a completely placed Josh Reynolds grubber.

Barba showed his full array of skills on Monday – mixing scintillating ball operating with intelligent defensive plays at the back.

Cronulla noticed the match slip from their grasp midway by way of the initial half, when Jeff Robson butchered a specific try out, just before they fell victim to a controversial video referee decision down the other finish which saw the Bulldogs skip away to 18-.

A 70 metre dash from Colin Finest really should have resulted in a Sharks try out from the ensuing play – but instead of passing to the four-man overlap to his right, Robson went himself and the golden likelihood died.

When video ref Chris Ward ruled centre Jonathan Wright didn’t knock on into the hands of Cronulla winger John Williams ahead of regathering and touching down off a Reynolds bomb, it was usually going to be a extended way back.

Captain Jeremy Smith surged more than for the Sharks 4 minutes following halftime to give the guests hope, but they didn’t offer you adequate in assault.

Journeyman Luke MacDougall dislocated his elbow in his very first game for the Bulldogs, although prop Sam Kasiano could once once more attract the consideration of the match review committee for an awkward very first half tackle on Sharks 2nd rower Sam Tagataese.

St Kilda coach Scott Watters admits his club’s ruck stocks are in desperate need to have of replenishment right after watching Rhys Stanley succumb to injury in Sunday’s 30-point AFL reduction to West Coast at Patersons Stadium.

Stanley injured his hamstring in the opening phrase of the 18.13 (121) to 13.13 (91) loss, leaving forward Justin Koschitzke and defender Jason Blake to carry the ruck load for the remainder of the match.

The pair toiled manfully against powerful West Coast duo Nic Naitanui and Dean Cox, but the Saints were nonetheless smashed 49-24 in the hit-outs.

St Kilda’s No.1 ruckman Ben McEvoy is presently sidelined by a knee injury, and Watters explained the club needed more depth in the essential position.

“It is a deficiency on our checklist that we need to have to handle certainly from a drafting point of view, but it is what it is,” Watters mentioned.

“You cannot complain about it, but we certainly require to modify it.

“Jason Blake’s 189cm, so it’s a big challenge for him.

“It is not best, but that’s exactly where out checklist is at.”

Stanley will undergo scans on his hamstring, but Watters was hopeful it was only a small twinge.

The Eagles had been utterly dominant in the opening half, and had the game seemingly in the bag after going to the lengthy break with a 49-point lead.

But a frenetic third phrase saw St Kilda cut the deficit to 15 factors, ahead of West Coast steadied in the last to safe their seventh win of the year and reclaim best spot.

West Coast ruckman Dean Cox booted a career-higher five ambitions, although Luke Shuey, Andrew Gaff and Beau Waters (two goals) have been also vital in the win.

St Kilda skipper Nick Riewoldt completed with 4 goals, including 3 in the very first half, but the Saints’ slow start to the match ended up being their downfall.

The Saints entered the game off a six-day break following Monday’s win in excess of Carlton, but Watters refused to use the brief turnaround as an excuse.

And it is just as properly, with St Kilda facing an additional six-day turnaround ahead of Saturday’s clash with Sydney at Etihad Stadium.

“You have to be resilient and you have to push by means of that,” Watters stated.

“On a single hand it was pleasing that the group was able to fight back right after a extremely poor initial half, but I’m not going to sweep the very first half under the carpet either. We want to handle that as a group.”

Eagles midfielder Matt Priddis was a late withdrawal due to concussion, but Worsfold was confident the 27-year-old would be fit for Sunday’s western derby against Fremantle.

“Generally the signs can linger for 3 or four days at the most,” Worsfold said.

“It lingered much more out to six days for Matt this time, but with every day that is going by he’s feeling a heap greater.”

Worsfold equalled Mick Malthouse’s record of 243 video games at the helm of West Coast, and will become the outright holder of the most video games coached at the club when he leads his team into battle against Fremantle.

Fuming North Melbourne coach Brad Scott has labelled his side’s sudden late collapse in their two-point AFL loss to Port Adelaide as a disgrace.

Scott was perplexed how the Kangaroos blew a 32-point lead with 20 minutes to go on Saturday as Port significantly broke a six-game dropping streak.

The Electrical power booted the final five targets of the game to steal a 14.11 (95) to 14.9 (93) win ahead of just 14,508 spectators – their third lowest home crowd.

“It really is the most bewildering game I have been a part of,” Scott said.

“How can you have what seemed to be total management of the game and then just be opened up like that above the last ten minutes?”

The Kangaroos, with Drew Petrie potting 5 targets and a standout show from captain Andrew Swallow, cruised to their 32-point lead nine minutes into the last phrase.

But Port, inspired by seven majors straight to dead-eye forward Jay Schulz, slammed on the last five goals to pinch victory.

Schulz booted four objectives himself in the last term to leave North wobbling with a 3-5 win-loss record.

The Electrical power did not lead until finally the last scoring shot of the match, when Paul Stewart goaled on the run from 30 metres in the 30th minute of the final phrase.

The siren sounded some 30 seconds later on, leaving Scott gobsmacked.

“I can’t recall a game exactly where you do so a lot of issues well but just a ten-minute lapse in concentration … it really is fully unacceptable and we’ll go away and deal with it,” he stated.

Scott accused his players of “getting as well comfortable” when foremost by five goals.

“And that is a disgrace for us to ever get cozy, simply because we’re not in that place,” he mentioned.

North’s misery was compounded by stalwart Brent Harvey facing scrutiny for landing a short forearm to the head of Port rookie Chad Wingard in the third term.

Harvey’s snap came as North, propelled by Swallow (28 disposals, twelve tackles) and Daniel Wells (26 touches), seemingly took a stranglehold on the game.

But Port’s unheralded late burst delivered a 2nd win of the season and released pressure on beleaguered coach Matthew Primus.

“There has been a great deal of adverse noise out there about us, specifically the final month,” Primus mentioned.

“So it is terrific reward.”

Like North’s Harvey, Power defender Jackson Trengove also attracted match evaluation panel consideration for a final-phrase slide into the head of Kangaroo Kieran Harper.

Collingwood AFL coach Nathan Buckley says the return of Heath Shaw and Ben Reid will add some star electrical power to the Magpies’ lineup for Friday’s clash with the Western Bulldogs.

Tall defender Reid (quad) and working half-back Shaw (hamstring) have each been out for two matches.

Dale Thomas will miss a third game with a hamstring injury but the midfielder is shut to earning a recall, while tiny forward Alan Didak (groin) and fullback Chris Tarrant (calf) are a handful of weeks away, Buckley mentioned.

“It really is often very good to get quality back into the side,” Buckley said on Thursday.

“We’ve had some great form more than the past two video games and we’ve had some players really stand up and play their roles properly.

“When you do get established good quality back in the side, we hope we can take an additional stage once more.”

Runners-up in 2011, the Magpies locate themselves in 10th spot immediately after three wins and two losses in the first 5 rounds under new coach Buckley.

But consecutive victories above Port Adelaide and Essendon and an improving injury checklist have left Buckley in an optimistic mood.

“We do believe we’re developing,” he said.

Collingwood’s football and coaching strategist Rodney Eade, who coached the Bulldogs final year, has been specifically useful this week according to Buckley.

“Obviously coming up against a side he understands rather nicely and the men and women within it, we have tapped into that as much as we could,” Buckley said.

Buckley stated Dayne Beams, Sharrod Wellingham, Steele Sidebottom and Jarryd Blair had lifted in midfield in the absence of Luke Ball following his season-ending knee injury in round three.

“We feel when Dale Thomas comes back that it makes us better and we’ll be looking at developing the midfield depth once again,” Buckley mentioned.

The 13th-placed Bulldogs also have a two-three record and Buckley says their latest type has been really very good.

“Their final two opponents, beating Melbourne and GWS, they looked like they’ve constructed some confidence and belief in the game type that Brendan (McCartney) is trying to get across,” Buckley mentioned.

Western Bulldogs midfielder Ryan Griffen (37 possessions last week) is a feasible run-with option for Martin Clarke.

Clarke put himself in the frame for far more tagging roles after his overall performance on Essendon’s Brent Stanton on Anzac Day.

“Marty has reduce his teeth as a defender. He showed against Stanton that he’s capable of working via the midfield and can cover a lot of ground,” Buckley said.

The presence of Shaw and Reid will add to the pressure on the Bulldogs’ forward line which is the worst-carrying out assault in the league.

Liam Jones and Jordan Roughead have been named in the crucial-forward posts as the Bulldogs aim to rebuild right after the retirement of Barry Hall.

The Bulldogs will be with out forward Jarrad Grant (hip) and ruck/forward Ayce Cordy (back), but goalsneak Daniel Giansiracusa returns along with defender Ryan Hargrave.

Strike The Stars has not won a race so far this campaign but trainer Anthony Cummings is self-confident the gelding has the right pedigree and grounding to win Saturday’s $ 1.5 million Australian Derby.

Strike The Stars, winner of the Gloaming Stakes final year, is a seemingly forgotten horse in the 2400m Group One feature for a few-year-olds at Randwick but his trainer has definitely not lost any faith.

The son of Savabeel completed 2nd to star filly Mosheen in the Group One Australian Guineas (1600m) in Melbourne second-up this campaign ahead of his seventh in the Randwick Guineas and fifth in the Rosehill Guineas (2000m).

Cummings said circumstances had prevented Strike The Stars from being in the finish in his most modern outings.

“All his runs have been very good and his trackwork continues to be superb,” Cummings explained.

“He goes to the mile-and-a-fifty percent and all he wants is a bit of luck and he’ll make his presence felt.

“Things have not fallen into position for him. He’s discovered himself in tons of awkward spots and asked to do difficult factors.

“He is obtained capacity but like all of them he demands some sort of decent break in the race anywhere.”

Strike The Stars started to make his mark very last spring with a 3rd at bodyweight-for-age against more mature horses in the Chelmsford Stakes ahead of successful the Gloaming Stakes (1800m) in opposition to his very own age.

He began favorite in the Team 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) but could only deal with to complete fifth.

Blake Shinn was due to trip the gelding in Saturday’s Derby but a suspension to Shinn prompted Cummings to safe the companies of Craig Williams who has won a amount of large races around the world in the past twelve months.

Cummings explained the Derby experienced been his main target all preparation with Strike The Stars.

“We have turned up in this race as our grand ultimate. It’s been our principal purpose all the way by way of and we’ve got the pedigree and the preparation to get there,” Cummings explained.

“I truly never want to swap my horse, I’m genuinely happy with him and he’ll be strong at the finish of the 2400 metres.

“This will be his peak operate this preparing.”

Rosehill Guineas winner Laser Hawk is favourite at $ three.forty with TAB Sportsbet forward of NZ Derby winner Silent Achiever at $ three.sixty and Ocean Park at $ 5.

Strike The Stars is at $ 17.

A half-sister to Black Caviar has stolen the demonstrate at the second session of the Australian Easter Yearling Sale in Sydney, promoting for $ two.six million.

The daughter of Redoute’s Selection was knocked down to BC3 Thoroughbreds and will be educated in Melbourne by Danny O’Brien.

Bidding on the filly was spirited, opening at $ one million and jumping to $ one.5 million prior to rising in $ a hundred,000 increments.

Bill Vlahos, chief govt of BC3, admitted to a handful of nerves throughout the auction but said the price tag was what he expected.

“At two-and-a-50 percent million I obtained a little bit wobbly,” Vlahos stated.

“We pretty significantly trapped to our price. We believe she’s value specifically what we compensated for her. Far too considerably more and it may not be us proudly owning her.”

O’Brien was delighted to secure her, describing the possibility to be concerned with this sort of a family as distinctive.

“It is very unusual a horse like this is provided for public sale,” O’Brien said.

“Fillies like this would usually be retained by breeders, any person fortunate sufficient to breed a filly like this would be very loath to offer it.

“It was actually a the moment in a era likelihood to acquire a filly like this. Not only obviously the pedigree but she was an exceptional individual herself.”

The $ two.six million yearling is out of Helsinge who has presently produced champion Black Caviar and fascinating colt All Also Tough, who will chase a Group 1 win in the Sires’ Create Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.

The price smashed the best seller on day 1, a Fastnet Rock colt marketed to bloodstock agent James Bester on behalf of Coolmore Stud for $ 1 million.