Probe scientist worked for Manly

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Probe ... Stephen Dank (right) used to work with NRL premiers Manly. Source: Alan Pryke / News Limited

He's the mystery man who made a name for himself with innovative sports science methods including delving into the genetic build-up of players.

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Stephen Dank would research the DNA of star NRL players to help structure their training programs.

He worked at Manly with Dean "The Weapon" Robinson before the pair reunited at Windy Hill.

But 2012 didn't go to plan and Dank was a quick casualty. The club and Dank parted company late last year. The Weapon has been stood down by the club pending the investigation from the AFL and ASADA.

Most of us had not heard of Dank before the Essendon press conference, and while it is not known if he is linked to the current investigation, let's find out more about him...

WHO IS STEPHEN DANK?

- A physiologist from Sydney who became known in Australia's sporting landscape a decade ago, when working for NRL outfit Manly Sea Eagles

- Dank grabbed headlines in 2004 when, working for NRL club Manly, he pioneered testing players' DNA to increase performance.

- This allowed Manly to tailor speed, power, weight and endurance programs to suit the make-up of their stars.

- In 2008 Dank put it on the record that he did not do media interviews

- Dank was known to work with calves' blood, altitude training machines, while his DNA program made Manly global pioneers

- Dank worked closely with Manly coach Dessie Hassler before joining Essendon

- Dank was sacked from the Bombers at the end of last season amid the fallout from the injury epidemic and Essendon's dramatic demise in the second half of the year

- It is believed Dank has since taken up a role at a different AFL club.

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Voges, Marsh put WA on top

Strong ... Adam Voges helps WA get on top of Queensland. Source: Phil Hillyard / News Limited

Western Australia coach Justin Langer heaped praise on skipper Adam Voges and Shaun Marsh after the internationals dug their side out of a massive hole in the Sheffield Shield clash against Queensland on Tuesday.

The pair compiled a record fourth-wicket partnership for WA at the Gabba after coming together with their side in strife at 3-62 on a green-tinged wicket.

But their 162-run partnership threatened to take the game away from the Bulls, who joined Victoria at the top of the table on Monday when they secured first-innings points.

The Warriors went to stumps at 5-240, a lead of 183 runs, to set up an intriguing day three.

Langer said Voges had blossomed since taking over the WA captaincy from Marcus North, who quit the post in late October.

"I've said for five years he's a terrific leader, an excellent bloke and a good cricketer,'' Langer said.

"He's done a good job so far and that's what you expect from the captain.''

Voges and Marsh continued their purple patch after compiling a 229-run stand during the Warriors' 110-run win over Queensland in the domestic one-day clash at the same venue on Saturday night.

"They were good for the (Perth) Scorchers (in the Big Bash League) and for them to both play for Australia together is a great credit to them,'' Langer said.

"I think they complement each other well, left and right hander, and they've both played together for a long time. They're both craving success for Western Australia.''

Marsh is probably wishing Australian selectors had this week picked their 17-man squad for the four-Test tour of India after his sparkling knocks with the bat recently.

"Every time he gets a few runs people ask whether he's going to play for Australia and about his Test career,'' Langer said.

"If he keeps making good decisions on the field and off the field, he'll make runs because he's a very talented player.

"If he concentrates on that, then I'm sure higher honours will come.''

Medium-pacer Alister McDermott (1-65) trapped Marsh lbw for 84 (10 fours and a six), with the 29-year-old not playing a shot.

Bulls skipper James Hopes (2-25) snared the key wicket of Voges (72), who played on, late in the final session.

The Bulls resumed on Tuesday morning at 5-144 but the bottom-placed Warriors tore through their tail after ending a 50-run partnership between Hopes (43) and Chris Hartley (23), with Nathan Coulter-Nile (3-41) and Michael Hogan (4-43) doing the damage.

The home side were dismissed for 168 and at lunch the Warriors were 3-62 - a lead of just five - before Voges and Marsh bailed them out of trouble.

Hopes had former Test batsman Michael Hussey, who scored just five in the first innings, caught in the covers for eight.

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AFL probes Bombers training

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Training methods ... the Bombers are under investigation. Source: Jay Town / News Limited

The controversial fitness regime that helped ruin Essendon's AFL season last year could now bring the club to its knees.

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Ten days before Essendon's first NAB Cup match, they announced a joint investigation by the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) and the league's integrity unit.

The investigation will look into unnamed supplements that the club gave to players.

ASADA's involvement raises the worst-case scenario for the the club and the AFL that Essendon players took substances that are banned under the World Anti-Doping Agency code.

If that has happened, it will be one of the biggest crises in AFL history.

Essendon's stunning revelation on Tuesday came after months of rumours surrounding supplement use by their players.

AFL commentator Gerard Healy has claimed that 12 months ago, the Bombers were inquiring at a Gold Coast sports medicine conference about the banned growth hormone GHRP6.

He added another club might be involved, but at this stage only Essendon are under investigation.

"There had been some officials from Essendon quietly asking about the substance known as GHRP6,'' Healy said on 3AW.

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"From what I've heard over the last 12 months and today, it could not look any worse for the Bombers and, sadly, possibly one other club.''

Essendon's fitness program had already come under intense scrutiny last season when they suffered a shocking run of soft-tissue injuries and plummeted out of the top eight.

Sports scientist Stephen Dank has since left the club.

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Former Essendon player Kyle Reimers has accused the club of pushing the boundaries with supplement use.

There are also explosive claims that last year the players were asked to sign a form that effectively made them responsible for their supplement use.

Reimers, who was delisted at the end of last season, told Channel Nine he had concerns about what the players were being asked to take.

"Speaking to blokes from other clubs, I don't think anyone has ever thought about signing it or doing some of the stuff we were doing,'' Reimers said.

"They gave a brief outline, but never really went into too much detail about it.

"They admitted to us it was right on the edge.''

Essendon will not comment on any specifics - who is involved, the supplements involved or the circumstances of the controversy.

They claimed on Tuesday they only became aware of the issue in the last two days.

"Over the last 48 hours, Essendon have received information about supplements that have been given to our players as part of the fitness program in 2012,'' said club chairman David Evans.

Acting AFL football operations manager Gill McLachlan called the claims serious and concerning.

Evans and coach James Hird are confident that performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) are not involved.

But the grim looks on the faces of Evans, Hird and Bombers chief executive Ian Robson as they fronted the media highlighted the seriousness of the investigation.

"We certainly don't want to be sitting here, talking about this,'' Hird said.

"We want to get this investigation started. We want to get it done. We want to come out with a clean bill of health.

"We want to move on with the footy season.''

Evans described the issue as a minefield, while Hird admitted the potential scandal had blindsided him.

"The supplements our players were given, in my opinion and my knowledge, were all approved and within the regulations we all play the game by,'' Hird said.

"I'm very disappointed - shocked is probably the best word.

"I believe we followed processes, we put in place the right sort of processes.

"My understanding is we worked within the framework given to us by the AFL and WADA.

"I'm shocked to be sitting here.''

Evans and Hird said the club wanted a clean bill of health about the supplements that players had taken

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Gatland: I feel sorry for Deans

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Sympathetic ... Gatland (R) with Lions and Wales assistant coach Rob Howley. Source:AAP

British & Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland has revealed he feels sorry for fellow New Zealander and Wallabies counterpart Robbie Deans.

As both Lions and Wales head coach, Gatland is no stranger to the pressure that comes with the job, but he sympathises with the extreme scrutiny Deans comes under.

"I feel a little bit sorry for him, as a fellow kiwi, for the expectations he's had in Australia," said Gatland.

"Continually Robbie's been under a bit of pressure."

The Lions are coming to Australia to face the Wallabies in June this year and, despite Australia's rough patch in 2012, Gatland worries about the prospect of facing a, albeit rare, full-strength side.

"I think they're going to improve by having some real quality come back into the side," he said.

"You look at players like Will Genia, Quade Cooper, (James) O'Connor and James Horwill."

"So when you put in that x-factor, and if they're all available to them when we play them in June/July, it's going to be a really top quality series."

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Horwill wants to take on Lions

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Reds ... James Horwill is looking forward to returning from injury. Source: Rohan Kelly / News Limited

Keen to make up for lost time from his career's most frustrating injury, Queensland captain James Horwill wants to play in the Reds' clash with the British and Irish Lions and does not believe a "blanket ban'' should be thrown on Wallabies players for the tour match.

Horwill's first priority is ditching "Team Rehab'' and running out for the Reds in their final pre-season trial against the Chiefs on the Sunshine Coast on Friday.

It will end a frustrating eight-month battle with a hamstring tear suffered against the ACT Brumbies last May.

However, Horwill admitted he also had the visiting Lions in his sights despite the Reds being tipped to rest their Wallabies stars in the June 8 tour match.

Wallabies coach Robbie Deans has indicated he would prefer a long camp build-up to the Lions series, ensuring representative stars would be withdrawn from Australian Super Rugby franchises ahead of the series opener on June 22 at Suncorp Stadium.

But Horwill hoped Wallabies players' availability was assessed on an individual basis ahead of Lions tour clashes.

The Lions play five matches in Australia leading into the Test series, including two with their full-strength side - against the Reds and NSW Waratahs (June 15).

"You would love to play against the Lions but that's something you have to weight up on an individual basis, how they are feeling and how much football they have played,'' Horwill said on Tuesday.

"I don't think you can have a blanket rule, that would make it tough for players.

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"There's obviously guys who may not have played a lot of footy and would love the chance.

"Me, personally I would love the opportunity to play for Queensland against the Lions.

"But that's a bridge you've got to cross when you come to it. There's a lot of rugby before then.''

In the meantime, Horwill is simply relieved to be back in Reds colours as he counts down to their Super Rugby season opener against the Brumbies on February 16 in Canberra.

"Unfortunately I have been through a number of long term injuries and this has definitely been the most frustrating due to the uncertainty about the injury,'' he said.

"It has been a guessing game because initially no one knew how exactly how to handle it.

"You just have to keep pushing through and I am glad to be out on the other end.

"But it feels good. I am ready to go.''

Horwill will be welcomed back into the Reds line-up on Friday night along with fellow new faces Saia Faingaa, Jake Schatz, Dom Shipperly and Chris F'Sautia while lock Rob Simmons is back after serving a five game ban.

The only unexpected omission was Wallaby Radike Samo (knee).

Scans will assess this week whether he is in doubt for the season opener.

Meanwhile, Jono Lance will slot into five-eighth for Quade Cooper who makes his boxing debut in Brisbane on the same night.

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Forrest manager lasts seven games

Gone ... Alex McLeish's reign at Nottingham Forrest lasts just seven games. Source: Joe Giddens / AP

Nottingham Forest have parted company with manager Alex McLeish by mutual agreement.

McLeish only took charge at the City Ground on 27 December following the departure of Sean O'Driscoll but reports emerged last week he was ready to walk out on the club.

The Scot was reportedly unhappy with Forest's transfer dealings ahead of the closure of the January window when they failed to bring in any new players, the deal to bring in Peterborough winger George Boyd falling through at the last minute because of an issue with the player's eyesight.

"I am extremely saddened to be leaving after such a short period but even so it has been a privilege to be manager of such a fantastic football club."

McLeish, 54, remained in charge for Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Birmingham - his fourth loss in seven matches since being appointed - but he has now departed following talks with Kuwaiti chairman Fawaz Al-Hasawi.

Al-Hasawi told the club's official website: "I'm bitterly disappointed - as is Alex - that it has not worked out as we had hoped when he became our manager and I would like to put on record my thanks for his services to the club and wish him every success in the future."

McLeish said: "I am extremely saddened to be leaving after such a short period but even so it has been a privilege to be manager of such a fantastic football club and I want to thank the players, staff and fans for their support and wish Nottingham Forest the best of fortunes ahead.

"Both parties entered into the relationship in good faith, however, there was a difference in the understanding of the development strategy of the football club and it was felt by both parties that we should part company."

Former Forest manager Billy Davies has emerged as an early favourite to replace McLeish, while ex-Southampton boss Nigel Adkins is also prominent in the betting.

Read more: http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11727/8473102/Nottingham-Forest-have-parted-company-with-manager-Alex-McLeish-by-mutual-agreement.

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