Cooper Cronk, the Melbourne playmaker, is in line for a Test call-up against New Zealand after Johnathan Thurston, the Australian halfback, was injured in North Queensland's 34-6 loss to the Storm yesterday.
Thurston took a heavy shot from Adam Blair, the second-rower, that rattled his right shoulder, forcing him from the field after 12 minutes and making him a doubt for the match against the Kiwis on Friday.
Cronk was instrumental in the win and it may have been enough to convince Tim Sheens, the Kangaroos coach, with the Test team to be announced this afternoon.
If Thurston is ruled out, Cronk's only obstacle will be Scott Prince, the Gold Coast skipper, who was also impressive in the Titans' 38-14 win over Penrith yesterday after making his return from a broken thumb.
Prince showed no signs of rustiness as he masterminded a win that moved his side into second place behind St George Illawarra.
The scheming halfback scored a try and kicked seven goals for a personal haul of 18 points after having a surgical pin removed from his thumb on Tuesday and having just one training session to prepare for the match.
"I copped a couple of whacks throughout the game," said Prince, who wore a hand guard for protection. "I'm just happy there was no damage done. I'll take a lot of confidence out of that."
St George highlighted the gulf in class between Premiership contenders and the also rans when they shut out a sorry Cronulla team 38-0 yesterday. It looked like a case of damage control from the outset for Sharks as they slumped to their 10th away loss in a row.
The Dragons' potent left side attack toyed with their outclassed opposition, Brett Morris registering his second hat-trick of the season and Matt Cooper finishing with two in the seven-try rout.
Canberra put their second-half jitters behind them and handed the New Zealand Warriors their third consecutive loss yesterday with a 23-16 victory in Auckland.
Canberra took a 16-0 lead into half-time but were having nightmares when the Warriors scored twice in the opening 20 minutes of the second half to cut the deficit to six points.
But a brilliant off-load from Bronson Harrison sent Joel Thompson crashing over in the 62nd minute and a field goal from Marc Herbert ensured a victory for Canberra.
Meanwhile, Israel Folau, one of rugby league's brightest young stars, said yesterday that he might stay with the Brisbane Broncos despite offers from rugby union and Australian Rules football.
Speaking to Australian television network Seven, the 21-year-old Folau said he was weighing up offers from the Broncos, the Melbourne Rebels rugby side and the Australian Football League's Greater Western Sydney franchise.
"To be quite honest I've got a few options up my sleeve and I really haven't made my mind up," he said. "Rugby league's still an option as well as staying with the Broncos, so I haven't given that up."
* With agency
hall of shame
SUNDERLAND 2002-03
No one has ended a Premier League season quite like Sunderland. They lost each of their final 15 games, taking no points after January. They ended up with 19 in total, sacking managers Peter Reid and Howard Wilkinson and losing 3-1 to Charlton when they scored three own goals in eight minutes.
SUNDERLAND 2005-06
Until Derby came along, Sunderland’s total of 15 points was the Premier League’s record low. They made it until May and their final home game before winning at the Stadium of Light while they lost a joint record 29 of their 38 league games.
HUDDERSFIELD 2018-19
Joined Derby as the only team to be relegated in March. No striker scored until January, while only two players got more assists than goalkeeper Jonas Lossl. The mid-season appointment Jan Siewert was to end his time as Huddersfield manager with a 5.3 per cent win rate.
ASTON VILLA 2015-16
Perhaps the most inexplicably bad season, considering they signed Idrissa Gueye and Adama Traore and still only got 17 points. Villa won their first league game, but none of the next 19. They ended an abominable campaign by taking one point from the last 39 available.
FULHAM 2018-19
Terrible in different ways. Fulham’s total of 26 points is not among the lowest ever but they contrived to get relegated after spending over £100 million (Dh457m) in the transfer market. Much of it went on defenders but they only kept two clean sheets in their first 33 games.
LA LIGA: Sporting Gijon, 13 points in 1997-98.
BUNDESLIGA: Tasmania Berlin, 10 points in 1965-66
A new relationship with the old country
Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates
The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates; Considering that the United Arab Emirates has assumed full responsibility as a sovereign and independent State; Determined that the long-standing and traditional relations of close friendship and cooperation between their peoples shall continue; Desiring to give expression to this intention in the form of a Treaty Friendship; Have agreed as follows:
ARTICLE 1 The relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. In recognition of this, the Contracting Parties, conscious of their common interest in the peace and stability of the region, shall: (a) consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; (b) settle all their disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.
ARTICLE 2 The Contracting Parties shall encourage education, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two States in accordance with arrangements to be agreed. Such arrangements shall cover among other things: (a) the promotion of mutual understanding of their respective cultures, civilisations and languages, the promotion of contacts among professional bodies, universities and cultural institutions; (c) the encouragement of technical, scientific and cultural exchanges.
ARTICLE 3 The Contracting Parties shall maintain the close relationship already existing between them in the field of trade and commerce. Representatives of the Contracting Parties shall meet from time to time to consider means by which such relations can be further developed and strengthened, including the possibility of concluding treaties or agreements on matters of mutual concern.
ARTICLE 4 This Treaty shall enter into force on today’s date and shall remain in force for a period of ten years. Unless twelve months before the expiry of the said period of ten years either Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Treaty, this Treaty shall remain in force thereafter until the expiry of twelve months from the date on which notice of such intention is given.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.
DONE in duplicate at Dubai the second day of December 1971AD, corresponding to the fifteenth day of Shawwal 1391H, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authoritative.
Signed
Geoffrey Arthur Sheikh Zayed
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
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Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
If you go...
Fly from Dubai or Abu Dhabi to Chiang Mai in Thailand, via Bangkok, before taking a five-hour bus ride across the Laos border to Huay Xai. The land border crossing at Huay Xai is a well-trodden route, meaning entry is swift, though travellers should be aware of visa requirements for both countries.
Flights from Dubai start at Dh4,000 return with Emirates, while Etihad flights from Abu Dhabi start at Dh2,000. Local buses can be booked in Chiang Mai from around Dh50
Dark Souls: Remastered
Developer: From Software (remaster by QLOC)
Publisher: Namco Bandai
Price: Dh199
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
