Opener holds no fears for Stosur

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WHATEVER else has stopped Sam Stosur from producing her best at Melbourne Park, the Queenslander will not lack on the score of research when she faces Klara Zakopalova at the Australian Open.

Stosur not only played - and lost - to the Czech at the Hobart International on Friday, but will be facing Zakopalova for the third time in an Open first-rounder this week.

US Open winner Stosur has won both, triumphing in straight sets in 2007 and '09.

"A bit strange, this will be the third time we've played in the first round of the Aussie Open," Stosur said.

"A little bit weird."

Stosur said the Hobart loss, while disappointing, was irrelevant.

"I don't think it will mean too much," she said. "Won't mean too much for me anyway.

"Obviously yesterday would have been nice if it went my way.

"But it gives me a chance to really think about what happened and try and work on things and go into Monday with a clear mind.

"I certainly won't be thinking about that last match a couple days ago."

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Your NRL club's burning questions

Tony Williams for the Bulldogs. Source: Gregg Porteous / News Limited

WE reveal the burning questions set to impact your team in the 2014 NRL season.

BULLDOGS

Will T-Rex find his Jurrasic spark

ARGUABLY, the most maligned player in the game last year was T-Rex Tony Williams, who struggled to find his feet after switching from Manly.

Even with the Ben Barba drama, many still looked at Williams as the club's biggest disappointment.

Fans expect more from one of the most destructive forces in the game and, if he fires up, they could improve even without Barba.

Key recruit: Reni Maitua has a lot to prove for a variety of reasons.

Key loss: Barba's absence takes away the impact of their sweep plays.

Worst headline: Sam 'Dogzilla' Kasiano becomes first 150kg footballer.

***

BRONCOS

Which Ben Barba will show up?

HE was lord of the tries at the Bulldogs in 2012, but the wheels fell off for Ben Barba, both on and off the field, last season. At his best, he solves the one deficiency at the Broncos - lack of attack. At his worst, he could become a distraction.

You could mount a reasonable case that the best "Queensland'' team in the NRL is the Melbourne Storm, and that must hurt.

Coach Anthony Griffin needs a big year, too.

Key recruit: Barba.

Biggest loss: Scott Prince had a big end to the year.

Worst headline: Barba goes off the rails.

***

Paul Green will be under pressure in his first year. Source: News Limited

COWBOYS

Does anyone have a cattle prod for season kick-off?

SLOW starts have left the Cowboys fighting tooth-and-nail just to make the finals. It cost coach Neil Henry his job last year.

Paul Green takes over a squad with the game's best playmaker in Johnathan Thurston, Test props Matt Scott and James Tamou, and talent across the board.

However, the Cowboys' major problem is dummy-half. Is Cameron King the right man at No. 9?

Key recruit: The coach. Green brings fresh ideas and a sharp footy mind.

Biggest loss: Matt Bowen will go down as one of the Cowboys' greats.

Worst headline: It isn't easy being Green.

***

DRAGONS

Will Price survive the season?

WITH Jamie Soward gone, Dragons fans will be looking for someone else to blame if they get off to a slow start - and coach Steve Price will be the man. They have another headgear, but a different halfback under it, with former Raider Sam Williams more inclined to take on the line.

After a few seasons with Wayne Bennett's hand-me-downs, Price has his own team - Williams, Gareth Widdop, Dylan Farrell and Joel Thompson are good signings.

There is much more strike power this season.

Key recruit: We can't split Williams or Widdop

Biggest loss: Soward was their most influential player in their 2010 premiership year.

Worst headline: Price first coach sacked in 2014.

***

Is Jarryd Hayne's best position now centre? Source: Supplied

EELS

Is that Hayne on centre stage?

Coming off a sensational World Cup, where he rejuvenated himself as a right centre, Jarryd Hayne has suddenly given new coach Brad Arthur - and NSW coach Laurie Daley - some options.

Imagine the prospect of Hayne vs Greg Inglis, head-to-head, in Origin I.

With Will Hopoate and Corey Norman arriving as potent sidekicks, Hayne will have some attacking thrust around him at long last.

But size up-front and finding a forward enforcer remains a major concern at a club trying to climb off the bottom.

Key recruit: All eyes will be on Will Hopoate in the trials.

Biggest loss: Reni Maitua did his best in trying circumstances.

Worst headline: Whacked by the wooden spoon - again

***

KNIGHTS

Will Wayne Bennett bring back Paul Harragon?

THIS might be a stretch, but you wouldn't put anything past Wayne Bennett.

Every club he has coached has made at least one grand final but the window is closing at the Knights.

He will again be relying on veteran hard heads such as Willie Mason, Jeremy Smith and Beau Scott and will be hoping Kurt Gidley has an injury free year.

Key recruit: It would have been Russell Packer.

Biggest loss: Danny Buderus was an inspiration.

Worst headline: Bennett heads home to Queensland.

***

Jamie Soward is a key recruit for Penrith. Source: News Limited

PANTHERS

Can Ivan Cleary find the secret to Jamal Idris?

JAMAL Idris can be a lion or a pussy cat - which one will arrive at Penrith?

Idris tops off a recruitment drive that landed new halves Jamie Soward and Peter Wallace, a grand final-winning prop in Brent Kite, Elijah Taylor and young guns Tyrone Peachey and Will Smith.

Making the finals must be a minimum requirement, with all talk of five-year plans put back into the filing cabinet.

Key recruit: Soward, if he finds his 2010 form.

Biggest loss: Lachlan Coote. Good fullbacks are like diamonds.

Worst headline: Gus unveils a new 10-year plan.

***

RABBITOHS

Is that, ahem, a bad choke?

SUCCESSIVE failures in grand final qualifiers puts enormous pressure on Souths to make their first grand final since 1971.

As much as they say this squad is all about creating their own history, the premiership drought and expectations on the code's most successful club will be raised again at some stage.

Sam Burgess must stay out of judiciary trouble.

They still look a centre light and recent success has eroded some of their depth. The attack starts and ends with Greg Inglis - and that needs to change.

Key recruit: Joel Reddy, which says it all really.

Biggest loss: Dylan Farrell was a handy option out wide.

Worst headline: Inglis out for season.

***

Canberra were rocked by scandal after scandal last year. Source: Instagram

RAIDERS

Can they have a scandal free season?

YOU have to feel for Raiders fans, with Josh Dugan and Blake Ferguson sacked for off-field issues. Throw in Todd Carney, and it's a fair trifecta.

One of the big 2014 plot lines will be Ricky Stuart going home to Canberra as he looks to revive a coaching career that took a hit at the Eels.

Terry Campese discovering his running game after all the injuries and Anthony Milford settling in after a turbulent off-season, will be important.

Key recruit: Stuart should bring a change of culture.

Biggest loss: Replacing Blake Ferguson will be tough.

Worst headline: Homesick Milford leaves mid-season.

***

ROOSTERS

Will SBW become a distraction?

SONNY Bill Williams is a team within a team and his final year in the NRL will be a major narrative all year.

There's a reason no club has won back-to-back titles in a united competition since the Broncos in 1992-93 - it's bloody hard to do.

Winning a premiership should do wonders for halves Mitchell Pearce and James Maloney at Origin level. They proved they can win big games, now it's time to do it for the Blues.

Key recruit: Long-range forecast - Jackson Hastings will be a star.

Biggest loss: Some of the hard edge goes with Luke O'Donnell's retirement.

Worst headline: Sonny Bill takes up curling.

***

Kieran Foran will attempt to hold together an ageing roster. Source: News Limited

SEA EAGLES

Was 2013 the last hurrah for a golden generation?

MOST had Manly closer to a retirement home than ANZ Stadium on grand final day last year.

Having such a terrific halves pairing in Kieran Foran and Daly Cherry-Evans always gives them a chance to do well. Geoff Toovey will be relying on Anthony Watmough, Steve Matai, Jamie Lyon and Glenn and Brett Stewart to drag their battered bodies through another campaign.

The Sea Eagles have lost some grunt with Brent Kite and George Rose moving on.

Key recruit: Jayden Hodges, cousin of Justin, is a prospect.

Biggest loss: George Rose, both literally and figuratively.

Worst headline: Toovey spontaneously combusts.

***

SHARKS

Will the elephant ever leave the room?

THE Sharks played last season with a cloud hanging over them - and they start the year with it there again.

Shane Flanagan and his team did a remarkable job holding it all together to make the finals, but without the coach, the weight might be a little too heavy this time.

No one knows just what impact the ASADA findings might have on the playing ranks. But with Paul Gallen as their leader, this is one tough football team.

Key recruit: Blake Ayshford over-promised and under-delivered at the Tigers.

Biggest loss: Tyrone Peachey to the Panthers.

Worst headline: Key players suspended over peptide scandal.

***

Cameron Smith is expected to join the Broncos. Source: News Limited

STORM

Is this the end of the big three?

NO players have more miles in their legs than Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater - and it showed as they went out of the 2013 finals in straight sets.

By carrying their club deep into the finals every year and playing such a dominant hand in Origin, it can't be a surprise that it is taking its toll.

There is also the massive offer from the Broncos for Smith to contend with as well.

Losing Gareth Widdop is a major blow because this was his time to step up.

Key recruit: George Rose - and Melbourne restaurants couldn't be happier.

Biggest loss: Widdop is reaching his playmaking peak.

Worst headline: Smith signs with Broncos.

***

TITANS

Where is the Coal Train?

DOES that old expression, looks like Tarzan plays like Jane, ring a bell?

The great frustration with Dave Taylor is that everyone can see what he should become. At 25, he's not a big kid anymore. He's a hardened forward, who's played for Queensland and Australia.

Titans coach John Cartwright will surely be looking for more destruction and less pretty football from one of the most imposing players in the game.

Running off the example of fellow forwards Greg Bird and Nate Myles should be a start.

Halves Aidan Sezer and Albert Kelly have points in them and the outside backs are explosive.

Key recruit: Brad Tighe might offer more than Jamal Idris at centre.

Biggest loss: Idris, on potential alone.

Worst headline: Taylor dropped.

***

Young gun Luke Brooks. Source: News Limited

TIGERS

Benji who?

IT'S a new era for a team that should have won more than the single premiership during the Benji Marshall era.

Teenager Luke Brooks has already announced himself as a future star, impressing people like Andrew Johns in the process.

What will Michael Potter do with Curtis Sironen? Is it time to bite the bullet and shift him into the back row?

Much of the playmaking will fall to Robbie Farah early on as he leads the youngsters through the minefield of NRL football.

They need early success or the pressure will again be on Potter to keep his job.

Key recruit: Pat Richards returns home.

Biggest loss: Benji Marshall, obviously.

Worst headline: Farah joins the Auckland Blues.

***

WARRIORS

Will Tomkins live up to his billing?

SAM Tomkins comes to the NRL with a bigger reputation than Sam Burgess. He has been a superstar in the UK Super League.

It's easy to see him running brilliant sweep lines, except the Warriors play more off-the-cuff than the structured style of the Bulldogs.

Kevin Locke also outplayed him in that classic World Cup semi-final.

Tomkins will show flashes of genius this season, but his best might come next year when his body gets used to the week-to-week battering of NRL football.

The Warriors' hopes will rest with Shaun Johnson taking advantage of a monster pack. This is a team built for finals football if their heads are in the game.

Key recruit: Tomkins is an international star.

Biggest loss: Elijah Taylor was an unsung hero.

Worst headline: Tomkins is a flop.

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Stosur urged to turn back clock

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ROD Laver has urged Samantha Stosur to remember her highlights reel as she tries to overturn a disappointing record at her home Grand Slam.

Stosur turned her season around late last year with titles in Carlsbad and Osaka ending a drought that stretched back to her 2011 US Open triumph.

Laver believes his fellow Queenslander should look to her successes - including her breakthrough run to the 2010 French Open final where she beat the likes of Justine Henin, Serena Williams and Jelena Jankovic - for confidence.

"I watched her there and she played wonderful tennis and she beat all the top players," Laver told The Sunday Mail.

"That proves that she got there once so that means that she's got a good chance to go back and do it again. You have to make your mark at each one of those places.

Stosur's breakthrough run came at the 2010 French Open. Source: AP

"Sometimes she gets beaten first or second round and that's a problem. She's got to be able to get through those early rounds and not have to fight so hard to do that.

"Her game is one where she's either extremely good or she's just adequate.

"She played great matches at the French three years ago, and I think all those experiences help you get through that area where you're not playing your best but you've got to win, and that's something I think she's learning now."

Stosur made yet another slow start to the Australian summer, going winless at the Hopman Cup.

She lifted her level at the Hobart International where, after barely scraping into the quarter-finals, she cruised into the last four with a near flawless display to defeat Serbian world No. 34 Bojana Jovanovski.

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She stumbled again in the semi-finals, however, with a straight-sets capitulation to Klara Zakopalova, Stosur's first-round opponent at the Australian Open.

When action begins at Melbourne Park on Monday, Stosur will have played more matches in the lead-up than she has since 2005, when she reached finals in Sydney and on the Gold Coast, now the Brisbane International.

Not since 2007 has she made it past the second round of a lead-up tournament.

Laver encouraged the 29-year-old - who has only twice reached the fourth round of the Australian Open, most recently four years ago - to make the most of her opportunities.

"She's not the youngest on the tour so she's got to make those marks a winner," Laver said.

"She's a world-class player.

"I certainly do think that she's capable of winning many tournaments and it's just a matter of does she bring her best tennis to that particular tournament."

Meanwhile, Laver backed Lleyton Hewitt to rattle some big cages in Melbourne.

As a crowd favourite, veteran Hewitt is bound to feature on the centre court arena bearing Laver's name following his eye-catching win over Roger Federer to claim the Brisbane International title.

That victory was further proof 32-year-old Hewitt can still mix it with the best, which was also in evidence when he toppled players ranked well above him at Queen's, Wimbledon and the US Open last year.

"He had a great US Open, that's something that proves his game's not over yet," Laver said.

"He's prepared to give all he's got and I think maybe he can do well at the Australian.

"He's found himself understanding that yes, he's over his peak period but when he works at getting ready maybe he's got a good chance to frighten a few players."

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Coote finds feet after bitter exit

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LACHLAN Coote says North Queensland officials made him feel "wanted" for the first time in a long while, after the club he hoped to spend his career with rejected him.

The Cowboys recruit has opened up about the tumultuous end to his Penrith Panthers career, a stint he envisioned would span his footballing life.

The major addition to the Cowboys' roster this season has already bought a house in Townsville, and despite brutal training sessions in the midday sun, has fallen in love with his new club.

An outstanding talent long predicted for State of Origin honours, Coote is far more than just a replacement for Matt Bowen.

Finally injury free, the Panthers' rejection last August looms as the catalyst for his best football.

Coote revealed the key advice that made him realise leaving Penrith would be a positive came from former Panthers teammates who were now starring elsewhere.

Coote was one of several local juniors given early releases from the foot of the mountains in recent seasons, with the cash freed used to sign Jamal Idris this week.

Lachlan Coote at pre-season training with the Cowboys. Source: News Limited

"I spoke to guys like Michael Jennings, Wade Graham and Luke Lewis and they all told me how good their moves had been for them," Coote said.

"They said it would be the best thing for me, to have a fresh start.

"Penrith were my team. I always wanted to be a Panther and I wanted to stay there.

"I'm really happy with the Cowboys and especially how they approached me. It made me feel wanted.

"At first I was a bit nervous about coming up here but it has been awesome so far.

"I'm 100 per cent fit. I have been given an opportunity at fullback and now I have to take it."

Lachlan Coote at pre-season training with the Cowboys. Source: News Limited

Coote, who burst onto the NRL scene as a teenager in 2008, did not see the Panthers' release coming.

"I didn't sense it at all," Coote said. "I tore my pec (pectoral muscle) in round two last year and I was sceptical about stuff because people were being signed in my position, so I hit (coach) Ivan (Cleary) up and asked him 'Do you see me here in the future' and he basically told me 'yes'.

"Next thing you know the Cowboys are after me and Penrith want to release me.

"It was an overnight thing really.

"They (Penrith) said 'nah you should pretty much take it (the Cowboys deal)'.

"It was disappointing but that's football. I'm not looking back now ... It is all a business.

"That's their job. If they are not happy with you then you can't really question their plans for you.

"I just moved on and I couldn't be happier now."

Lachlan Coote at pre-season training with the Cowboys. Source: News Limited

Coote was so intent on making a name for himself at the Cowboys he withdrew from Scotland's World Cup squad last October.

Despite being based in Townsville for more than two months, Coote has yet to meet superstar playmaker and Cowboys co-captain Johnathan Thurston.

"He was one of the biggest attractions of agreeing to come up here," Coote said.

"I still haven't met him yet but I'm sure when he gets back from his holidays we will strike up a good combination."

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Thaiday still a team leader: Mal

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SAM Thaiday is a proud and passionate footballer, so there is no doubt that today he would still be hurting over his removal as Brisbane Broncos captain on Friday.

But as tough as the news would be for Sam to take in right now, I think club coach Anthony Griffin's decision to stand Sammy down in favour of Corey Parker and Justin Hodges will prove to be the best move for all players, and the club as a whole.

I think the added responsibility will bring the best out of Corey and Justin. Similarly, I think the release in pressure by not having to be the public face of the club will allow Sam time and space to improve his game.

Sam is a terrific leader. This decision will not change that.

You don't need to be the captain of the team to be a great leader. He will remain one of the Broncos' key senior players, and will still be looked to for leadership.

Much has been made about how Sam plays his best football at representative level, where he is free of the captaincy duties. That is true, but only to a certain degree.

Whether he is in the Queensland or Australian teams, Sam is looked to as part of the leadership group.

He is a defender of team standards and values, and is a player younger teammates respect and look to follow.

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So he still carries leadership pressure into representative games as well, it is just at that level there are more senior players there to share the load.

Free of extra commitments that come with being a club captain - like being at the front of its media, marketing and sponsorship campaigns - Sam will have more time to think about his game and enjoy his footy again.

Certainly a return to the backrow and playing on the right edge - where he plays at rep level - instead of out in the middle will boost his form and confidence as well.

The captaincy will not affect Corey. His work rate and his work ethic will remain.

It may yet even help him find another gear, knowing that players will be looking to him for a big effort when the team needs to lift.

The decision to appoint "Hodgo'' I think is really smart. His leadership over the past couple of years - without being a captain - has been exceptional at all levels of the game. I think he was overdue for formal leadership responsibilities.

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I doubt there would be fallout from the decision within the team, even though I am sure everyone would be sharing Sam's disappointment.

Yes, they would be disappointed for their friend.

But as players, the choice of captain will not affect their jobs or the way that they do it.

To a large extent, the emotional ties have gone out of football now that it has become a business for clubs, and a job for players.

Each party is only looking to do what is best for them, and that is fair enough given the high stakes involved.

That is why the players will continue to prepare, train and play as they always have.

That professionalism and lack of emotion is also why Griffin needed to make this decision.

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He's not silly. He knows the pressure is on him this year.

Brisbane will not tolerate another year without success.

It would have given Griffin no joy to sack Sam, but he felt it needed to be done to improve the performance of the team.

The club's season, and a few careers - his own included - are riding on it being the right decision.

Once you take the emotion out of the equation, you cannot blame the coach for making the call.

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Wally feels Sam's King-sized blow

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WALLY Lewis, the first Broncos captain sacked, says Sam Thaiday's leadership was not to blame for the club's worst ever season.

Thaiday was relieved of the Brisbane captaincy on Friday, 24 years after the King was dethroned by Wayne Bennett.

Lewis, Queensland's greatest ever player, was dumped as Broncos skipper in October of 1989 despite being the incumbent Origin and Test captain, replaced by Gene Miles. It remains the biggest shock in the club's history.

Fast-forward nearly a quarter of a century and Thaiday's axing, while nowhere near as seismic as that of Lewis, has again rattled the club.

Lewis feels for Thaiday, knowing as few others would how gutted Big Sam would be.

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And while he has a high opinion of Anthony Griffin as a person and coach, the King of Queensland football admits he was left bemused that the Broncos hope to arrest their form slump by having a different player leading them down the tunnel.

"I don't think Thaiday's leadership last year was the problem for the Broncos," Lewis told The Sunday Mail.

"His individual form wasn't helped by what was going on at the Broncos.

"They were changing things around and I don't think playing in the front row helped him, but that is the coach's decision.

"People start looking for excuses and blame in times like that and it is unfortunate Sam has to deal with that because he had a fairly handy year.

"Whenever he played for Queensland or Australia he was sensational.

"I find it difficult to see a reason why Sam (is no longer the captain), I mean surely he couldn't be blamed.

"However, when you are steering the ship you are often questioned when you don't pull into the right port.

"I'm sure Sam, while he won't like it … this will give him a direct challenge to make him play better."

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Griffin used hard evidence in the form of statistics to show Thaiday that he performed best when he was not captain of the team.

Similarly, Bennett stood before the club's board 24 years ago and used a series of graphs to show how Lewis's form fell away after the representative season.

Lewis broke his arm before the '89 season while playing for Australia, and it affected his form which ultimately led to Bennett's decision.

Thaiday was forced to play in the front row for 14 of his 21 club games last year and it severely affected his form.

Lewis was initially reluctant to revisit one of the most painful periods of his life when contacted by The Sunday Mail about his axing as Broncos captain.

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While he has alluded to the incident previously, he refused to discuss it directly until now.

"I have broken the rule. This is the first time I have spoken about it since that time," Lewis said.

"As soon as you called I knew what you would ask.

"Mate, it wasn't the best time.

"It is certainly not the favourite day of your life.

"I broke my arm that year. So when I had a bad season it was an extremely bad season.

"If this is the coach's decision - as it was Bennett's decision - then Hook (Griffin) will hang his hat on this.

"One way or another, the change in leadership will get marked.

"If there is success, then a lot of people will question whether it could have happened without changing captains.

"It is a massive challenge for Hook. He is one of the game's great gentleman though, and he will hang his hat on this and be prepared to blame himself if it doesn't work."

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Del Potro hammers Tomic in final

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AS if a horror Australian Open draw wasn't enough, now Bernard Tomic has been stripped of his Sydney International crown as well.

Clubbing winner after winner, a merciless Juan Martin del Potro added to Tomic's woes with a 6-3 6-1 shellacking in Saturday night's final at Sydney Olympic Park.

Tomic's heavy defeat ended his nine-match winning streak at the venue and can't have filled the 21-year-old with much confidence ahead of his dreaded first-round Open showdown with world No. 1 Rafael Nadal on Tuesday.

All business, Del Potro didn't give the defending champion a sniff, dropping six points on serve all match.

Bernard Tomic was outclassed by Juan Martin del Potro. Source: Getty Images

He raced through the first set in 26 minutes, breaking Tomic in the seventh and ninth games as the Australian struggled to cope with the world No. 5's ferocious forehand.

Any hopes of a fightback like in his plucky semi-final win over Sergiy Stakhovsky were scuppered when Tomic dropped serve for a third time to fall behind 3-1 in the second set.

The former US Open champion thundered down his fifth and sixth aces the following game to consolidate the break for a 4-1 lead and there was no way back for Tomic.

Completely dispirited, Tomic dropped his next service game to love before Del Potro served out the match after just 53 minutes.

Juan Martin del Potro was merciless in his win against Bernard Tomic. Source: AFP

Del Potro's victory was his 23rd straight as a top seed, the big Argentine adding the Sydney trophy to titles accrued in Basel, Tokyo, Washington and Vienna as the tournament favourite.

It was the South American's 18th title of his career and completes a perfect Open preparation for the only player outside Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Andy Murray to have won a grand slam in the past nine years.

Del Potro, who beat each of the so-called Big Four in 2013, launches his Australian Open campaign against a qualifier on Tuesday.

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Mild upstages wild on Lyon's day

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MITCHELL Johnson is the man who can do everything - and for sheer gladatorial excitement, his duel with Kevin Pietersen late Saturday had the MCG rocking, as only one of the world's greatest sports stadiums can.

But the evil-eyed enforcer was upstaged by the unfashionable, mild-mannered Nathan Lyon - and guess what, another huge crowd probably enjoyed that even more.

If they weren't already doing that, they changed their mind when the smiling off-spinner had England's most controversial cricketer caught in the deep late in the last session, Lyon's 100th Test wicket.

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The crowd of 63,864, which included his family, gave him a rousing ovation when he performed the now ritual gesture of holding up the ball to mark the five-for - and what was probably the decisive wicket of the match.

For any number of reasons, it was a magical moment in what has developed into one of the most interesting - riveting, in fact - Boxing Day Tests in recent memory, the best since England won by 12 runs three tours ago.

And it hasn't been decided yet.

It will be Sunday, with Australia needing 201 with all 10 wickets intact to make it 4-0.

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Given they only managed 204 in the first innings, and the way the match has twisted and turned over the first three days, that's not a doddle, and England wicketkeeper, Johnny Bairstow, insisted on Saturday night that they were confident of turning it around.

But the tourists might be whistling in the dark.

Their' morale won't be helped by the certain knowledge that they surrendered the high ground not once, not twice but three times on Saturday.

They allowed Brad Haddin and Lyon to add 40 for the last wicket - crucial runs in such a low-scoring contest - and then lost 3-1 and 5-6 in embarrassing collapses themselves, bowled out for 179 in just 61 overs.

They squandered a potentially dominating position when they led by 116 with all wickets intact and for their long suffering fans it was beyond disappointing - again.

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Lyon was a big part of both implosions and history is going to record that he has played a bigger part in this summer-long triumph than anyone - himself included, perhaps - would have expected, given he has been dropped from the team twice this year.

He has now taken 16 wickets, more than anyone except the all-conquering Johnson's 31, and it's not just the number but the names - Bell for a first ball duck, Stokes and Pietersen among them on Saturday.

He has become a great story and will remain one whatever happens in the rest of his career, which began in spectacular fashion with a haul of 5-34 on debut against Sri Lanka just over two years ago.

Now, in his 29th match, he has become only the sixth Australian off-spinner to take 100 wickets behind Hugh Trumble's 141 - well over a century ago - Ashley Mallett's 132, Bruce Yardley's 126, former captain Ian Johnson's 109 and, also well over a century ago, George Giffen's 103.

Three years ago he was helping prepare Test wickets in Adelaide, not bowling on them, so it has been a remarkable journey.

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"It seemed a long way away when I started but no-one can take it away from me now," he said.

"It's amazing."

Johnson captivated the crowd, as he had done in the first innings and everywhere else he has been this summer, when he launched the fightback by disposing of England captain Alistair Cook just as he was threatening to take control and put the match out of reach.

Then he threw down the stumps to run out Joe Root and held a good catch to dismiss Bell in quick succession, before challenging Pietersen to a ferocious battle after the tea-break, each man knowing the result of the match might largely hinge on who came out on top.

Johnson was infuriated when Pietersen pulled away during his run-up, saying a child on the boundary was distracting him, and threw the ball towards the slips instead of bowling it.

The pair exchanged plenty of angry words with unpire Kumar Dharmasena forced to order them to cool it.

It might have been ugly but the crowd was loving it.

The running total for the three days is now 233,302, while Channel 9 said 2.6 million watched Friday's play.

If you haven't beern part of it, either on the spot or on the counch, don't miss it on Saturday - it might yet be a thriller.

ron.reed@news.com.au

Twitter: @Reedrw

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Thanks Brad, we owe you a beer

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THANKS, Brad - we owe you a beer or six.

That's what the Australian top order should be saying after wicketkeeper Haddin spared their blushes for the fourth time in as many Ashes Tests on Saturday.

The New South Wales gloveman, thought by many at this time last year to have played his final Test match, continued his extraordinary summer on Saturday with another rearguard action to ease his mates' burden.

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Only time will tell how valuable his 65 - 22 of which came in a potentially pivotal last-wicket stand of 40 with Nathan Lyon - will be at the MCG.

But suffice it to say, it's not his first rescue mission.

Batting at No.7, Haddin has come to the crease in the first innings with his side in various levels of crisis - three times with fewer than 150 runs on the board.

Each time he has made at least a half-century and only once has he not batted for at least two and a half hours - and that was during Saturday's knock when he fell only seven minutes shy of the mark.

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He has moved to a comfortable second on the list of run-scorers for the series with his 390 runs - behind only David Warner's 466 - comprising one ton and four half-centuries at an average of 65 and strike rate of a hair under 70.

But in a game when stats are often overused, there are a couple that shouldn't go overlooked - especially given they were produced when games were in the balance.

Of the 842 first-innings runs Australia has scored after Haddin arrived at the crease, his 332 account for a staggering 39.4 per cent.

And, as England's tail has folded more repeatedly than an accordion at a zydeco music festival, Haddin has now batted for 10 minutes short of 14 hours, mostly with the bowlers.

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Injuries the downside of stability

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THIS is the downside of stability. Ryan Harris has bowled himself to a standstill and Shane Watson is moving like a bullock dray.

Naming the same side in four successive Tests for the first time in almost a decade has given Australia an unexpected look of certainty and confidence levels have gone through the roof with each emphatic victory.

But the last Test in Sydney is a bridge too far.

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Five Tests in six weeks is an enormous ask, particularly for the bowlers, and this side cannot remain intact.

The plan has always been to rest Ryan Harris in Sydney next week following just a three-day turnaround from Melbourne and Saturday produced ample evidence why.

The limp from his dodgy knee has become more pronounced with each passing day and his pace has dropped off a little.

If Harris was to try and play at the SCG next week he would need the postman's motorbike.

On the opening day England managed just two scoring shots off Harris in his eight overs to lunch, and one of them was an edge.

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On Saturday the first three deliveries in England's second innings were all picked off for runs.

Carrying an obvious groin problem, Watson's few overs on Saturday were delivered at Shane Warne flipper pace and the all-rounder was a liability in the field.

There is simply no way Watson can play in Sydney either if he's going to move like that.

How many changes the selectors make and who fills those spots will be intriguing, with the heavy duty tour of South Africa little more than a month away.

If a common sense approach is taken at the selection table now the Ashes have been well and truly won, Harris and Watson should be put on ice until then, lest they do any more damage to their battered bodies.

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The first inclusion should be this summer's permanent 12th man, bowling all-rounder James Faulkner.

Whether he comes in as a straight swap for Harris or the selectors push Brad Haddin to six and include Faulkner as the all-rounder at seven will be a matter of some debate.

In his only Test, at The Oval last August, Faulkner played as the all-rounder with four specialist bowlers during a typically feisty debut.

That would mean dropping George Bailey, who is the least performed of Australia's batsmen this summer and needs something special in Australia's second innings to be sure of holding his place.

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Given stability has been such a key to Australia's success this summer the selectors will be keen to keep changes to a minimum but it is also a chance to look at players ahead of South Africa.

With Watson likely to be missing Australia will need a new number three and the obvious candidate is Alex Doolan, although his form tapered off after a strong start for Tasmania this season.

And he hasn't played red ball cricket for three weeks because of the Sheffield Shield hiatus that makes room for the Big Bash.

Doug Bollinger and Nathan Coulter-Nile have been on standby for the past two Tests, with Coulter-Nile inching towards a Test debut.

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