QLD forwards must protect Slater

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MAROONS captain Cameron Smith said it was the responsibility of his forward pack to ensure Billy Slater has protection in the Origin decider and could not be singled out for grubby niggle.

Slater knows the fallout from his clash with Mitchell Pearce in Origin II ensures he's replaced Nate Myles as public enemy No.1 for next Wedneday's State of Origin decider at ANZ Stadium.

But as rugby league's teflon man, he is refusing to let mud thrown by NSW players stick as he puts Queensland's quest for eight straight series above personal feuds.

Smith said his team failed to provide Slater time and space in their Origin I loss, allowing him to be targeted.

"There's no doubt it is our responsibility as a forward pack to protect him," he said.

"They will always target him. He gets targeted in club matches.

"We can't stop that but we can help him by putting in a strong defensive effort in the middle and pressure their kickers.

"I think in Game Two we did a better job of protecting Bill because we didn't do that in Game One and we were disappointed about it.

"He got some clean catches in Origin II."

Not content with claiming Trent Merrin's "cheap shot" on Brent Tate summed up NSW's disrespect for his all-conquering team, Queensland captain Cameron Smith compared it with Danny Williams' infamous 2004 king hit that earned a record 18-week ban.

Merrin received one week for the punch in Game Two, but Smith said it reminded him of ex-Melbourne teammate Williams' sickening NRL career-ending hit on Mark O'Neill nine years ago.

"The last person who threw a punch like that in a game when the bloke wasn't looking got 16 (sic) weeks," said Smith after an unchanged Queensland 17 was named.

"It was Danny Williams and I was involved in that game. 

"Punching a bloke when he is looking at the ground, that's a cheap shot if you have ever seen one. 

"I guess that would be one instance of (NSW) not showing respect for the opposition.

"Slater plans to dodge the attacks that have bubbled beneath the surface since his accidental elbow drew blood from the NSW halfback.

"I'm not going to get brought into any public banter," Slater said.

"I've got a job to do for my state and I'm playing for Queensland, not myself, so it's important that I focus on my own game."

Maroons coach Mal Meninga welcomed the idea that Slater would be targeted by the Blues.

If NSW have Slater in the crosshairs, the door will open for the other stars to tear the game wide open.

Wearing the brunt of Blues' frustrations is nothing new to Queensland.

The Blues have started three fights in the past three encounters, throwing punches after incidents at the play-the-ball to incite violence.

Whether it's the weight of seven years of failure that has shortened their fuses or deliberate ploys to rattle Queensland cages, it has not worked and will not change the Maroons' focusing on winning the battle over the brawl.

"I think they're just words to try to cover what happened," lock Corey Parker said of NSW targeting Slater.

"I don't condone that sort of behaviour in the game (but) there is going to be some heat at times.

"What we saw from Game Two in terms of (Trent) Merrin on (Brent) Tate I don't think that is the right way to handle things." 

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Cooper ready for return: McKenzie

The Wallabies door has re-opened for Quade Cooper with the appointment of Ewen McKenzie. Source: Chris McCormack / News Limited

AUSTRALIA'S new coach Ewen McKenzie is convinced Quade Cooper is ready for Test rugby again and has been given the charter to use him in a creative overhaul of the Wallabies.

The "Dingo cull" yesterday put an Australian drawl to the Wallabies bark for the first time since 2007.

"We have the players. Get the head space and the tactics right and we can put a lot of pressure on the All Blacks, not once but twice (next month) because we want the Bledisloe Cup back," McKenzie said.

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"I don't want to ease into it. There's no better job, no better coaching assignment, than to pit yourself against the All Blacks. To get another crack at the All Blacks is terrific and from that good things can flow."

It all points to Cooper playing flyhalf against the All Blacks on August 17 in Sydney and wayward Wallaby James O'Connor going into the lottery for a wing or bench role.

McKenzie was more diplomatic with his words than the Reds tie he wore to yesterday's Wallabies coaching announcement.

"Quade has matured and is ready to play Test rugby again. I know it will have hurt him watching the Lions series when he would have backed himself to make a difference," McKenzie said.

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"When you miss out, absence focuses the mind. Quade is in a good space, but it's not a matter of one player. I haven't made any calls yet and I don't have a closed mind."

McKenzie has the stamp of approval from the top because Australian Rugby Union boss Bill Pulver said "re-energising" the game was a top priority in the thorough process that selected the new coach.

"Arguably the most important variable of all is that Ewen has the capability of coaching the way the Australian public want to see the game played...smart, creative running rugby," Pulver said.

The All Blacks won't be shaking in their boots at Cooper being redeployed because his roles in two wins are balanced by his poor 2011 World Cup semi-final and numerous flawed moments behind beaten packs.

It is McKenzie who holds the key to unlocking the 38-Test wildcard's best, as he has at the Reds for four seasons, by allowing Cooper a big buy-in on game strategy.

High workrate Reds prop James Slipper is another heading for a role upgrade for the August 17 Test.

Those who had grown stale with axed coach Robbie Deans gambling too little on attack will be buoyed by McKenzie promising a transfusion of innovative, risk-taking intent for the Wallabies squad.

After 51 Tests as a Wallabies prop, time as a Wallabies assistant coach and more than 20 years in Australian rugby at all levels, McKenzie thinks he knows what makes Australian rugby tick.

"The Australian team has done well, from a cultural point of view, when skills are to the fore and we play with intelligence. We've done our best work when those are in play over the last 30 or 40 years," McKenzie said.

McKenzie, 48, knocked back the Wallabies job for the 20-month run to the 2007 World Cup.

"I was offered this job once before and declined because I wasn't ready. All the work I've done in rugby has channelled me to this point and I feel I can make a difference," McKenzie said.

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Aussie win all about attitude: Waugh

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Michael Clarke leads his team from the field during day four of the tour match against Worcestershire. Source:Getty Images

AS Michael Clarke makes his way to the middle of Trent Bridge for the toss with England's Alistair Cook, his stomach will be churning with a mixture of nerves, apprehension and excitement.

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Over the next six months they will confront each other on 10 occasions, with one captain guaranteed to have his reputation and record enhanced, and one left to ponder his defeat and subsequent chorus of doubters. 

Make no mistake, these back-to-back Ashes campaigns provide these two captains an opportunity to leave a legacy and to charter a course back to the top in Test Match cricket.

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However, Clarke's focus needs to stay in the present and that begins by acknowledging and embracing the capacity crowds and recognising there will be plenty of Aussie supporters to ease the tensions and celebrate their positive play. 

Many of the team will have played league cricket, county cricket or been on Australia A tours and should be familiar with the playing conditions and intricacies of the crowd behavior. 

There should be no surprise in that regard for any of the team and Michael Clarke needs to reinforce to all that they must enjoy and relax in the way they play their cricket.  It will be reassuring for the captain to have a coach in Darren Lehmann whose DNA is encoded with an excess of fun games.

Many captains place an undue emphasis on the outcome of the toss and Clarke must convey an attitude of it doesn't matter what we do first so long as we do it with purpose and intent. 

The first session of the first Test will often set the tone for the whole series, so it is essential that his team is switched on from ball one and that they play without fear or hesitation. 

A team will be a reflection of its leader and as such, Clarke needs to be energised without being over the top, focused but also open to improvisation, but above all, controlled and authoritative under pressure.

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Pick your Australia XI for the first Ashes Test.

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Often a team will target the opposing captain or premier batsman in the hope of wounding their spearhead, which often has a domino effect on the whole team. Australia has a golden opportunity to accomplish both by honing in on Alistair Cook, a relative newcomer to captaincy but without doubt one of the best batsman in the world. 

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Back in 1989 we developed a strategy against Graham Gooch where we employed two short mid-wickets to encourage him to play across the line, to hit the ball towards the gap at square leg. 

Consequently Terry Alderman trapped him numerous times LBW and more significantly wore him down mentally to the point he made himself unavailable towards the end of the series, which signaled a significant victory for our planning and execution.

What we also did well back in 1989, and must be emulated by Clarke's men, is to play the 'Aussie way'.

This means backing yourself in all situations, attacking rather than retracting, exuding positive body language, hustle when running between the wickets, exhibiting energy in the field and batting and bowling in partnerships. 

They must display an element of 'mongrel' in the play and not back down when confronted.  They must claim the high ground and put their flag well and truly in the turf. 

Key men at Clarke's disposal here are Pattinson, Siddle, Watson and Haddin, who are all capable of dishing it out but crucially backing up with performance. 

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Clarke will need to have players capable of the X factor in the field, who can turn a game with an individual piece of brilliance and it is here we may have an edge in Warner and Smith, presuming they both play.  

Catching was the defining factor in our '89 Ashes 4-0 victory and again I believe the side that fields the best will win the series. 

Catching in the cordon will be critical to success, especially at first slip where the captain really excels, and along with Haddin and Watson, they may alone hold the key to victory.

Back in 1989 we began the series by being labelled the worst touring team ever to contest the Ashes, but what these experts hadn't factored in was the unbreakable team bond that we formed as we journeyed up and down the motorways.

Each victory gave us strength and belief but the number one factor for all of us was the enjoyment we got from seeing our mates succeed and the notion that the team always came before the individual. =

If Michael Clarke can help cultivate this attitude then he may well hold that little urn aloft, not once but twice in the coming months.

* Steve Waugh's book, The Meaning Of Luck, will be released next month. Log on to stevewaughbooks.com.au for more information.

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Time for Clarke to take control: AB

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Allan Border believes Michael Clarke's off-field leadership still needs some work. Picture: Brett Costello. Source:News Limited

THERE are three parts to being a cricket captain and Michael Clarke has two of them absolutely nailed.

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The two hardest parts are performing as a batsman and being a shrewd on-field tactician and he gets a double tick for both. 

The third one, being an off-field leader, is the easiest of the three, but the one that remains a work in progress. 

I can't blame him for taking time to get this one right.  I was exactly the same, but the time has come for Michael to take firm control of the side. 

It took me a long time to work out that there is more to captaincy than simply walking out with the team. 

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PICK AUSTRALIA'S BEST ASHES XI HERE

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The turning point for me was the 1989 Ashes Tour, where I made a concerted effort to embrace the full parameters of the job. 

If I had three days off on the 1985 tour, I would leave the team for a brief break but, in 1989, I decided to stay with the team and I'm glad I did.  

I realised there were little spot fires which could be quickly doused if I was permanently around the team. 

Sometimes just being there sent the right message.  

Even doing little things such as carrying the drinks or throwing balls in the nets helps because it is the captain setting an example.  

There have been some observations about Michael not going to Champions Trophy games when he had a back injury, yet turning up to Shane Warne's charity game. 

On the surface this doesn't seem to be a big deal, but with a bit of turmoil going on I don't believe it was a good public relations exercise. 

Michael likes to get away and do his own thing and that's fine.  

When he had his back injury in India, I think he should have stayed with the team for the last Test rather than return home.  

I know Michael will be up for the challenge of being the off-field leader the side needs.  

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It's on for green and gold as Australia fights to bring home the Ashes, LIVE in HD on Fox Sports. Fox Sports will lead its coverage of each Test with extensive pre-game coverage spearheaded by Allan Border and his former teammates Mark Waugh and Damien Fleming, as well as past Aussie Ashes stars Brendon Julian and Greg Blewett.

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• No.2: Botham's Headingley heroics, 1981
• No.3: Edgbaston heartbreak, 2005
• No.4: Waugh's defining moment, 2002/03
• No.5: Thommo's heroic failure, 1982-83
• No.6: Harmison's first-ball shocker, 2006-07
• No.7: Australia's 329-run opening stand, 1989
• No.8: Warne's hat-trick, 1994-95
• No.9: Michael Slater's century, 1993
• No.10: Warne, McGrath, Langer retire, 2006-07
• No.11: Gilchrist's majestic 152, 2001
• No.12: England end 24-year drought, 2010-2011
• No.13: Tugga's twin centuries, 1997
• No.14: Boonie's huge beer haul, 1989
• No.15: KP makes a big statement, 2005
• No.16: Mark Waugh's ton on debut, 1990-91
• No.17: Reid destroys England, 1990-91
• No.18: Siddle's birthday bonanza, 2010-11
• No.19: Gough's hat-trick, 1998-99 
• No.20: Tubby's century under fire, 1997
• No.21: Alderman's crash tackle, 1982-83
• No.22: Pigeon takes flight, 2002-03
• No.23: Nasser's toss woes, 2002-03
• No.24: Punter the match-saver, 2005
• No.25: Panesar's batting heroics, 2009
• No.26: Alderman's English mastery, 1981 & 1989
• No.27: Warne's 700th wicket, 2006-07
• No.28: Peter Who? Come in spinner, 1986-87
• No.29: McGrath's magic milestone, 2005
• No.30: Flintoff's fond farewell, 2009
• No.31: David Gower's joyride, 1990-91
• No.32: Flintoff's maiden Ashes ton, 2005
• No.33: Botham's match-winning hundred, 1986-87
• No.34: Gary Pratt's run out, 2005
• No.35: Hussey's Adelaide heroics, 2006-07

I can appreciate that he spends a good deal of time with the team and probably craves the company of other non-cricketing friends after hours, but there are just times when a captain needs to spend extra time with his men. 

This could be as simple as going out to dinner with a teammate or taking an interest in what the boys are doing off the field.   

Leadership is a broad package and people have different strengths.   

Some captains are magnificent leaders of men, but struggle as players. Few people get it all.  

The really hard stuff is playing well on the field; the easier part is being the leader. It can be an acquired thing. I found that.   

As Australia works at meshing as a unit off the field, I was heartened to hear new coach Darren Lehmann insisting his players spend time in the dressing room after stumps whether they are having a quiet beer or a Coke.  

I am a bit of a back-to-the-future man when it comes to team bonding.  

Cricket has come a long way with sports science, but I do think it would not hurt the game to occasionally loosen its top button.  

If an Australian player is seen drinking in a bar during a Test, it has been seen as an absolute "no no" and he is likely to be instant Twitter fodder.  

This is a shame because a few quiet beers after a day's play never hurt anyone and, in fact, spawned many a long lasting friendship.  

As I write this, Australia continues to mull over their side and my hope is that when the XI is finalised Ryan Harris makes the cut.  

For the last few months I have felt that Australia may need an X Factor to win this series, someone to provide that slice of Terry Alderman-style magic and Harris looks the man most likely to provide it.

He has a fabulous strike rate and, to me, he is a better current option than Peter Siddle, who has some bursts where he produces excellent returns but then goes quiet. 

Siddle remains a bit up a down for my liking and his form seems to have regressed since Craig McDermott left as the bowling coach.

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Secret meeting key to NSW victory

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Blues coach Laurie Daley talks to players during a New South Wales Blues State of Origin training session. Source: Mark Metcalfe / Getty Images

A SECRET players meeting at League Central two weeks ago could hold the key to NSW reversing seven years of Origin misery.

Josh Dugan, Jarryd Hayne, Michael Jennings, Josh Morris, Brett Morris, James Maloney, Mitchell Pearce, James Tamou, Robbie Farah, Paul Gallen (c), Ryan Hoffman, Luke Lewis, Greg Bird. Interchange: Anthony Watmough, Andrew Fifita, Trent Merrin, Josh Reynolds, James McManus, Boyd Cordner, Aaron Woods.

Consumed by desire to end Queensland's dynasty, Blues coach Laurie Daley called a series of gatherings with his most important stars in the immediate wake of their Origin II defeat in Brisbane.

But the most crucial shapes as a 3 July briefing between Daley, other coaching staff and the team's attacking brains trust: Mitchell Pearce, James Maloney and Robbie Farah.

It took place at League Central in Moore Park two Wednesday nights ago, with Daley taking his halves and hooker through a DVD of the Brisbane horror show.

While Farah was solid in the middle, Maloney and Pearce did not have enough field position to properly execute their kicking game.

Maloney was also down on himself for a crucial missed tackle on Queensland behemoth Sam Thaiday, who terrorised the Blues' left edge defence.

But according to all three players, Daley was remarkably upbeat.

"We just went through a bit of video," Pearce said.

"From the outside it's very narrow-minded about what went wrong in games.

"People say, 'It was this or it was that'. But there's so much other stuff that goes in that only us in the four walls know, whether it's structural things or things we didn't handle set backs in the game.

"That's what we pretty much spoke about. We all had our own opinions and the coaches had theirs.

"We spoke about what we needed to do as halves and the hooker to drive that during the week.

"I've got full confidence that if we stick to what we practice, we've got the team to do it."

Daley confirmed he'd also meet with the senior player group prior to entering camp for Game Three, but did hold any extra meetings after NSW's series opening win in Sydney.

"It was a week after the Origin. It's important to get your halves together before you come back into camp," Pearce added.

"We all had pretty similar ideas of what we needed to do better.

"After the game there's so much isolated stuff that gets mentioned after a loss, but footy is a snowball effect  from your defence to your attack  it all rolls into one."

The rookie Origin mentor strived to remind them of how tiny efforts and momentum swings can have a huge impact on the team's position.

Despite being filthy with some tough calls, Daley adopted a similar mindset moments before the players boarded the team bus and reminded them that they'd earned the right to contest a series decider.

Maloney said the disappointment of his Game Two performance lingered for a few days.

"To fall off any tackle is disappointing, but everything counts double in Origin so I've got to make sure it doesn't happen again in Game Three," he said.

"I was pretty disappointed. Probably the next couple of days I was down and miserable.

"If we turn it around and get the win, Game Two would be forgotten about."

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Kittel pips Greipel in photo finish

Germany's Marcel Kittel reacts as he crosses the finish line at the end of the 197km Stage 10. Source: JEFF PACHOUD / AFP

MARCEL Kittel has upstaged fellow German Andrei Greipel to claim a crash-marred 10th stage of the Tour de France as Mark Cavendish found himself at the centre of raging controversy after a high-speed collision inside the final 500m.

Kittel (Argos-Shimano) edged Greipel (Lotto-Belisol) with Cavendish (OPQS) third but the British champion's contact with Kittel's team-mate Tom Veelers overshadowed the victory.

There was immediate conjecture Cavendish would be declassified after overhead footage of incident showed the Manxman veering into Veelers from behind.

Disturbingly, Cavendish appeared to lean into Veelers, catching the Dutchman's right arm, causing him to crash.

Tasmanian Matt Goss narrowly missed Veeler's cascading bike as the bunch hit 70km. Miraculously, all riders avoided Veelers

Chris Froome (Sky) retained a 1min,25 lead over Alejandro Valverde (Movistar).

Cadel Evans is 16th overall, 4min,36 behind Froome.

Renowned as a fair rider, Cavendish shook his head in frustration after crossing the line in Saint-Malo after what had been a largely sedate 195km from Saint-Gildas-des-Bois.

But the race exploded inside the last 5km after a five-rider breakway was finally rounded up.

A series of high-speed crashes in the knifing crosswinds inside the final 20km added even more difficulty to a testing finale.

Juan Antonio Flecha (Vacansoleil), Svein Tuft (Orice-GreenEDGE) and Andrew Talansky (Garmin-Sharp) all came down heavily as the pace intensfied.

Orica-GreenEDGE was one of several sprint trains to assemble before chaos ensued inside the last 500m.

Earlier, the first attack came less than 5km into the stage after the peloton emerged from the neutralised section in Saint-Gildas-des-Bois in the Loire-Atlantic region.

Jerome Cousin (Europcar), Juan Jose Oroz (Euskaltel), Luis Mate (Cofidis), Lieuwe Westra (Vacansolile) and Julien Simon (Sojasun) were allowed to jump away on a day always destined to fall to the sprinters.

Given reasonable latitude, the quintet built a maximum lead 5min,5sec after 32km in mild conditions.

Mindful of not giving too much leash to the breakaway, the peloton controlled the time gap as sprint outfits Lotto Belisol, AQrgos Shimano, Omega Pharma-Quick Step and Chris Froome's Sky lieutenants kept watch at the head of the bunch.

The escape group sped through the first hour at average of 42km before slowing appreciably to 36km as the game of cat and mouse continued.

Ploughing into a strengthing headwind, the bunch picked up the tempo approaching the intermediate sprint at Le Hingle.

Spaniard Mate led the breakaway across the line but, with 70km to go to Saint-Malo, the focus was on which of the sprint outfits would be first though La Hingle from the bunch.

Greipel cleverly drafted Sagan's Cannondale train to hold off the Slovakian with Cavendish a close third before the overall contenders started to move closer on smaller, winding roads.

Dutchman Westra claimed the only categorised climb of the day, jumping away on the bottom of the ascent to Cote de Dinan, to pocket maximum King of the Mountain points.

By now, the gap to a massing bunch was dropping steadily but, after a brief rally with 50km to race, all the escapees were not caught until after 192km away

It was merely a foretaste of a manic finale.

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JERSEYS - STAGE 10

YELLOW

A far more relaxing day for Christopher Froome who finished with the bunch to defend his race lead of 1:25 going into the Stage 11 individual time trial.

GREEN

Marcel Kittel won the stage and moved to fourth on the points classification but still trails leader Peter Sagan by 137 points.

POLKADOT

Only one KOM point on offer which was taken by the breakaway meaning Pierre Rolland remains in the polkdadot jersey.

WHITE

Movistar's Tour de France debutant Nairo Quintana remains the best under-25 rider in the Tour and wears the white jersey.

CADEL WATCH

Not a day for the GC contenders and Evans was able to avoid trouble and conserve energy as he looks to improve his 16th place overall in the upcoming time trial.

THE AUSSIES

Matt Goss got lost in the frantic bunch sprint finish and there was no change to GC with Mick Rogers and Cadel Evans remaining in the top 20 overall.

Re-live our live coverage of Stage 10 from Saint-Gildas-Des-Bois to Saint-Malo in the window below.

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