Ferrari unveil new car

New-look nose ... The new Ferrari F14 T Formula One car presented in Maranello, Italy. Picture: Ferrari Source: ? FOTO STUDIO COLOMBO / AP

Former world champions Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen on Saturday helped unveil Ferrari's new F14-T car that the Italian team hopes to power to Formula One glory this year.

Ferrari's 2014 model, unveiled at the Scuderia's Maranello headquarters, reflects the many changes introduced for the new season by the International Automobile Federation (FIA).

The F14-T is powered by a 1.6 litre, turbo V6 power engine and notably features a new-look nose which differs significantly to those seen so far on other 2014 cars.

Alonso, who won two world titles with Renault in 2005 and 2006, replaced Raikkonen at Ferrari in 2010 as the Finn, who had won the title with the Italians in 2007, went on to take a break before returning with Lotus.

In his four years with Ferrari so far, Alonso has had to settle for three runner-up places and one fourth place (2011) amid Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull's grip on the sport.

Raikkonen's return alongside Alonso, however, coupled with the new changes, is expected to herald a new beginning for Ferrari as they seek to loosen Vettel's four-year stranglehold on the title.

"Are we the strongest team? We hope to be," said Raikkonen, who scored a third and then a fifth place with Lotus in his two previous years after returning to the sport in 2012.

"We have the desire to win but only time will tell if we can bring the title back to Ferrari."

For Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo, only one result will do at the end of the season.

"Even though we're the only team in the world who, when we finish second, it's considered a defeat, we're fed up finishing runners-up," said Montezemolo.

Alonso, whose contract with Ferrari expires at the end of this year, told the team's official launch site www.f14t.ferrari.com: "We've had opportunities (to win), especially in 2010 and 2012 so hopefully this year we will deliver."

The Spaniard added he was "curious" to see how the new rules changes in the sport would affect driving performances.

"For sure, the many changes made for this year will mean changes, with regard to driving styles... I'm curious to know what effect this will have on Formula One. I'm sure we'll find out soon."

The 19-race season gets underway with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 16. Ferrari will begin testing at Jerez in Spain on Tuesday.

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Selwood in line for higher honours

Scott Selwood is considered a future leader at West Coast. Picture: Daniel Wilkins Source: Daniel Wilkins / News Limited

TOUGH West Coast midfielder Scott Selwood is a standout future captain, according to two of the Eagles' greatest achievers.

While veteran defender Darren Glass looks certain to be captain for one last season, former guns Dean Kemp and Andrew Embley tip Selwood as a future skipper.

Selwood, 23, is considered a frontline contender to be vice-captain when West Coast announce a new on-field leadership team if Beau Waters is forced to stand down as he battles another setback with shoulder problems.

Selwood has long made it known he wants to eventually captain the Eagles.

"The logical choice is Scottie Selwood," Kemp said. "I think "Scooter" will be the next Eagles' captain after Glassy. I reckon he is just a standout.

"Beau Waters has been vice-captain for the last couple of years, but Scott Selwood is probably the club's next captain.

"So it makes sense to have Scott as vice-captain to Glassy now."

Kemp. who played 243 Eagles games through the 1990s including the 1992 and '94 premierships, has been a part-time mentor to emerging West Coast young midfield stars in recent seasons.

West Coast coach Adam Simpson and his advisors are expected to confirm their 2014 captain and leadership team including a deputy skipper before the end of this month after a careful selection process over the summer.

Glass, 32, is expected to lead West Coast for a seventh straight season.

Waters, 27, could miss out as the 2006 premiership defender and 2012 All-Australian half-back battles career-threatening shoulder problems.

He is waiting on further medical assessment after another major setback with a shoulder injury at training on Thursday.

He may go in for surgery at the end of the week and could be sidelined for as long as four months.

Embley only retired at the end of last season as an all-time-great after 250 Eagles games and also tips
Selwood a future captain but identifies a quiet achieving outsider Eric Mackenzie or power forward Josh Kennedy as other top leadership candidates.

"Firstly, I would endorse and encourage Darren Glass to go on again as captain at the West Coast Eagles," Embley said.

"Scott Selwood is one young guy who is coming through that has enormous leadership qualities and prospects.

"From the moment I remember Scottie walking into our club he had leadership and future captaincy written all over him.

"He comes from a wonderful family with proven leadership from his older brothers, Joel at Geelong and Adam who played with us at West Coast.

"He's a tireless worker, he leads by example and he's popular with all the players.

"He is definitely a wonderful captain in the making."

Embley analyses the quiet strength of character in Mackenzie, 25, with Glass at a similar age.

"Eric Mackenzie is quietly spoken, as was Glassy at the same age," he said. "He has a good footy brain and Eric is sure to become one of the most important players going into the future.

"I rate his leadership very highly and I think he can grow into senior roles. He is a very strong potential leader."

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Boof to Maxwell: Pull your head in

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FRUSTRATED Australian coach Darren Lehmann has ordered Glenn "Big Show" Maxwell to pull his head in but defended Phil Hughes' South Africa tour snub.

Australia's nine-game hold over England was broken with a 57-run loss in the one-dayer in Perth on Friday night. Maxwell's shot selection and Mitchell Johnson's (0-72) first bad match of the summer were areas of concern.

Lehmann put a rocket up Maxwell, wanting the all-rounder to follow the improved temperament of opener Aaron Finch (108) ahead of the fifth and final ODI in Adelaide today, when skipper Michael Clarke and Shane Watson return.

"It was disappointing to lose 5-50. Maxwell has to finish those games off for us," Lehmann said.

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Maxwell's crude swipe at a Ben Stokes delivery, with Australia needing 95 runs for a 10th straight international win over England, most irked Lehmann.

It followed Maxwell's mid-wicket slog in Brisbane with only James Faulkner's undefeated 69 saving the team.

"He is a batting all-rounder but has to show the responsibility to bat at No.6. We know he has the flair and excitement, and love that about him, but we want him to understand the game better," the coach said.

Johnson will be rested, with Lehmann wanting the pace ace fresh and firing ahead of the three-Test tour of South Africa.

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"He had a disappointing night and he admits that, so you get back to the drawing board and get him right for South Africa," Lehmann said of Johnson, whose form dip coincided with shaving his famous moustache.

"He's very important, got 37 wickets at 14 against England (in the Tests). We have to make sure he is right on the money and on the plane."

Left-hander Hughes controversially missed out on the 15-man squad to visit the Rainbow Nation, with Shaun Marsh and Alex Doolan preferred.

Lehmann said it was important to inform Hughes why he wasn't selected, despite having cracked 549 Sheffield Shield runs at 61, compared with Western Australian Marsh's 248 at 31 and Tasmanian Doolan's 391 at 39.

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"I had a good chat the other night in Sydney with Phil and that is a conversation that will stay between him and me," said Lehmann, adding Shield form "very much" still counted.

"He is making runs and that is all he can do."

However, Lehmann conceded pressure was now "very much" on uncapped Doolan and seven-Test batsman Marsh, 30, to excel in South Africa.

"Shaun gets a chance. He or Alex will bat at No.3 or No.6, so it is a good chance to stake their claims," Lehmann said.

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Open losses drove Li Na to redemption

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LI Na wanted this, really wanted it.

After she was Australian Open runner-up in 2011 and 2013, winning last night's final against Dominika Cibulkova had been a long time in the making, in contrast to her breakthrough grand slam title at Roland Garros three years ago.

"I prepare this one for already two weeks, every round, every day I was think about what I should do," Li said.

"I prepare if I play semis what I should do, if I play final what I should do, because I already have twice in the final up here.

"In the French I was feeling I just go for it. I didn't think about win or lose. But this one, I really wish I can doing well. And also maybe you guys didn't know how hard I was working for the mentally to make this one."

China's Li Na shares a light moment with Slovakia's Dominika Cibulkova. Picture: Saeed Khan. Source: AFP

The 31-year-old was pleased the Melbourne monkey was finally off her back.

"At least, you know, I make it, not like last two times, you know, always feeling one more step," she said.

"This time I really, so proud myself."

Coach Carlos Rodriguez said it would take a while for the victory to sink in.

"I don't realise yet, I think, I"m too much into it, maybe tomorrow," Rodriguez said.

"I really congratulate her."

Li's fellow players were in raptures on Twitter over her 7-6 (7-3), 6-0 win and her acceptance speech in which she thanked her coach for "always believing in me", agent Max Eisenbud for making "me rich", and husband Jiang Shan, "you a nice guy".

Even her opponent agreed she was a popular winner.

"I have to say she's one of the nicest players on tour," Cibulkova said.

"I really like her. I think everybody likes her sense of humor. She's a great player and a great champion."

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Cibulkova revealed she had only spoken to her parents in Slovakia via text over the past fortnight because she didn't call them after winning her first-round match and they were superstitious.

Neither parent could even bring themselves to watch the final on TV.

"My dad, he's too nervous to watch it but he was awake, for sure. My mum, she always watch the match after when they show it again," she said.

Cibulkova said it remained to be seen how her life might be different when she returned home, but she had changed markedly after her first appearance in a major final.

The 24-year-old now believes she can win a grand slam, starting with the French Open in May.

"I feel like my game is there to challenge the biggest names, you know, to beat them, so why not?" she said.

"Now I know I'm 100 per cent sure I can do it. I get so much confidence from this tournament."

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Mata flies in for Man U medical

Midas touch ... Chelsea have accepted an offer worth around 37 million pounds for midfielder Juan Mata to transfer to Manchester United. Picture: Olly Greenwood Source: OLLY GREENWOOD / AFP

SPANISH midfielder Juan Mata flew in to Manchester by helicopter on Saturday to complete his transfer to Manchester United, the Premier League champions announced.

United confirmed on Friday that they have agreed a deal to sign the 25-year-old from Chelsea for a "club-record fee", with media reports claiming he will cost 37 million pounds ($70 million).

The deal is subject to the completion of a medical examination and agreement over personal terms.

Photographs published on United's Twitter account on Saturday showed Mata, wearing a white shirt and grey blazer, greeting United manager David Moyes at the club's Carrington training complex.

"Juan Mata has arrived at the Aon Training Complex to begin his medical," the club said on Twitter.

The deal is set to eclipse the 30.75 million pound ($59 million) that United paid Tottenham Hotspur in 2008 to sign Bulgarian striker Dimitar Berbatov.

Mata joined Chelsea from Valencia in 2011 and was voted the club's player of the year in his first two seasons, but he has fallen out of favour since Jose Mourinho returned to Stamford Bridge as manager last year.

Pending the completion of the transfer, Mata is expected to go straight into the squad for United's home game against Cardiff City in the league on Tuesday.

His signing reflects Moyes's eagerness to arrest a startling decline in United's fortunes since the Scot succeeded Alex Ferguson as manager at the end of last season.

Meanwhile, reports in the British media on Saturday claimed that United have opened talks with striker Wayne Rooney over a new contract.

The 28-year-old England striker has 18 months remaining on his current deal and was the subject of two unsuccessful bids from Chelsea during the close season.

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Mourinho rules out more buys

'Hopefully we are done' ... Chelsea's manager Jose Mourinho believes the team is done signing new players this transfer window. Source: GLYN KIRK / AFP

CHELSEA manager Jose Mourinho has no plans to make any further signings before the transfer window closes.

Mr Mourinho has already swooped for Nemanja Matic and Bertrand Traore, while Egypt winger Mohamed Salah will complete his switch from Swiss club Basel once he passes a medical and agrees personal terms.

Traore, 18, has already been loaned to Vitesse Arnhem, but Salah and Matic, who returned to Stamford Bridge in a STG21 million ($40 million) move after a spell with Benfica, will both be expected to contribute immediately.

Chelsea's original plan this month was to solely go for Matic, but the sales of Juan Mata to Manchester United and Kevin De Bruyne to Bundesliga side Wolfsburg persuaded Mourinho to splash out on STG10 million-rated Salah.

And with the window set to shut on January 31, Mourinho believes that will be the end of Chelsea's transfer dealings.

"Hopefully we are done," Mr Mourinho said. "We are not bringing in a striker in this window."

It is a transitional period for Chelsea in Mourinho's first season back in charge in west London, yet they are still challenging at the top of the Premier League and face Galatasaray in the Champions League last 16.

Mr Mourinho, whose focus this weekend is on Sunday's FA Cup fourth round tie with Stoke, said: "We would only have done Nemanja this window if we hadn't lost a player (Mata), but we are trying to keep the level and improve the squad to change the style of play.

"And we're still trying to get results and still trying to win matches.

"We need that mixture of young players growing up and experienced players giving stability to the team.

"We are doing that. You can see what we're trying to do. Nemanja (Matic) is 26, Salah 21, so we are trying to build a team for the future.

"We're doing fine. We're calm. In relation to the domestic competitions, Man City is Man City, an unbelievable level.

"Arsenal have had eight years building this team, and this team is perfect. They're also a strong contender."

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Garcia wins in Qatar after playoff

Dramatic win ... Sergio Garcia of Spain hits his tee-shot on the 17th hole during the third round of the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters at Doha Golf Club. Source: Andrew Redington / Getty Images

SERGIO Garcia became the second Spaniard after Alvaro Quiros to win the Qatar Masters when he edged Finland's Mikko Ilonen in a thrilling playoff at the Doha Golf Club.

With the light fading fast on Saturday, Garcia clinched the title with a birdie after both players had failed to break the deadlock in their first two attempts on the par five 18th hole.

However when they started all over again for the third time, Ilonen found the bunker and misread his putt from 12 feet, while Garcia two-putted for birdie to win his 11th title on the European Tour.

His last two titles in Europe came in 2011 when he won the Andalucia Masters and the Castello Masters.

With Saturday's win Garcia also made amends for dramatically losing out on the title last year in Qatar when Chris Wood's brilliant eagle on the 18th gave the Englishman his first and so far only European Tour victory.

Wood's feat left Garcia tied for second with South African George Coetzee.

"Yeah, it was nice. I think last year, we had a lot of close calls, starting here.

"So very excited to be able to get my hands on this beautiful trophy, beautiful and heavy trophy," said Garcia who is back in the world top 10 after his victory.

"It's a good start to the year. Great to kind of set up my year a little bit, win again on The European Tour. Get more Ryder Cup points. So I couldn't ask for a better week."

Garcia added that it all boils down to good putting.

"As long as you're putting to win, even if you miss, you know that you're still there. What I was a bit more worried about was when Mikko had that eagle chance on the second playoff hole and then he had the chance to win. But it was a tough putt."

Ilonen was left ruing his missed chances in what was his first playoff.

"I was actually expecting that one of us is going to make an eagle. But you know, I hit two poor bunker shots out of that front right trap, one in the regulation and one now in the third playoff hole. I'm not going to blame anything else for my poor shot."

In a dramatic final round several players were in contention for the tile, but Garcia, who was three shots off the pace when play began, shot a bogey-free 65 for an aggregate of 16 under par 272 to put the chasing pack under pressure.

However, only Ilonen was up to the task as he sank a birdie from 20 feet on the 18th hole despite finding the bunker to sensationally tie with the Spanish ace.

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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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