Wests Tigers captain ... Robbie Farah takes Sterlo behind-the-scenes on game day.Source: Brett Costello / News Limited
Wests Tigers skipper Robbie Farah has provided a unique and exclusive insight into what an NRL player goes through on game day.
The star hooker welcomed the cameras from Fox Sports’ Sterlo into his home and the Tigers’ dressing sheds before and during last Saturday night’s 10-point loss to Brisbane at Campbelltown Stadium.
“I try and stay pretty relaxed on game day,” Farah says while putting his shoes on in the living room of his home.
“I try and sleep in as long as I can otherwise if you’re up too early it’s a pretty long day."
With a framed jersey of Steven Gerrard, skipper of his beloved Liverpool, hanging up behind him in his home, Farah browses over the Tigers game plan in the lead-up to the match.
It might be something simple as a single piece of crumpled paper, but Farah explains it's crucial to the Tigers hopes.
"I try to read this at least once a day leading up to a match," Farah said.
"It's got all our plays so it's obviously very important to understand it."
Before leaving his home to travel to the stadium, Farah has a small bowl of chicken pasta, which will last him until the fulltime siren sounds.
Watch the full video from Sterlo at the top of this page to see Robbie Farah's game-day routine.
“We’re about three hours before the game so just having a light snack and that will do me,” he said.
The film crew drive to the ground with him and follow him through his pre-game, halftime and post-match routine which includes time in the ice bath.
You can see the influence the Tigers skipper has in the sheds, offering advice and encouragement to his younger teammates during a tough clash.
What's the most difficult part of game day for the 185-game veteran?
It isn't the nerves or bruising hits ... no.
It's the post-game ice bath.
“The first (ice bath) is always the hardest,” a shivering Farah explains.
“Especially after the game… a couple of minutes in (the bath), back in the hot shower, back in (the bath) probably about three times.”
Red and Black Bloc ... we take you inside the passionate RBB during the A-League grand final.Source:News Limited
Step inside the passionate, pulsating heart of the RBB.
The Western Sydney Wanderers crowd support has been embraced as an adrenalin jolt to sports viewing in Australia, and Fox Sports was along for the ride inside the Red and Black Bloc during last weekend’s grand final loss to Central Coast Mariners.
Check out our vision, including the reaction to the Mariners' two goals. Daniel McBreen slots home the clinching penalty and the RBB barely pauses for breath.
They’re not to everyone’s taste and when they filed out of the Sydney Football Stadium last week - still singing - there were some broken seats left in their wake and observers upset at their behaviour during the national anthem and presentation ceremonies.
As Wanderers member #1743 and part of the active support on grand final day, my perspective differs from those watching on TV or from elsewhere in the stands; and I emerged with issues over how the event was staffed and unsafe procedures that allowed a crowd to nearly become a mob.
Indicative, though, is how quickly this issue has disappeared and how the fan focus has returned to the amazing turnout for the season celebration parade in Parramatta this week and the comments of A-League chief Damien de Bohun in the Daily Telegraph on Friday.
In a story where flares, seats and chanting over the anthem went unmentioned, de Bohun instead focused on how the Wanderers support might give a boost to Australia’s participation in the Asian Champions League.
"I think you'll find that Western Sydney fans will embrace the Wanderers playing in the ACL and I think it will actually be the turning point for Australian clubs in the ACL," de Bohun said.
"I think they've demonstrated in a very short period how much incredible support they've managed to garner in western Sydney."
In the middle of that intense support, the noise, the physicality and the language is not for everyone but if you’re curious, have a look at the video, and if you're keen to join in, learn the words.
Marathon man ... Saad tested the patience of everyone at Westpac Stadium.Source:FOX SPORTS
St Kilda forward Ahmed Saad left many AFL fans scratching their heads after taking the long run-up to ridiculous levels on Thursday night.
The Saints were trying to win over a new legion of fans in Wellington by playing the first ever AFL match overseas, but Saad must not have got the memo after delaying the game for what seemed like an age when taking two set shots at goal late on.
The second attempt, taken early in the fourth quarter, saw the 23-year-old grab a mark 40m from goal before walking back to the centre circle, pausing, and slowly walking towards goal.
While it was great for comedic material, with the Fox Footy commentators suggesting Saad gets his own marching band to play a tune while he walks towards goal, the AFL did actually look seriously at this issue earlier this year.
During the pre-season, the league's umpiring department said they were working with Saad on speeding up his marathon approach to goal.
Umpires are instructed to give a player a warning 20 seconds after awarding the mark, and then call play-on after 30 seconds.
Saad's epic build-ups didn't do him much good - he kicked a behind both times.
Prodigy ... Adam Scott was always tipped for big things.Source:AAP
For a then 21-year-old Adam Scott, the thought of becoming the first Australian to win the Masters seemed almost inconceivable.
When Scott sat down for a chat with Fox Sports prior to his first Masters appearance 11 years ago, the level-headed youngster knew that learning to conquer the perilous greens of Augusta could take time.
"It would be great to happen, but I don't mind if it's this year or next year or in ten years - I'd just love to win it," Scott said.
Asked what it would mean to become the first Aussie to win the coveted green jacket, Scott replied: "I can't even imagine what it would be like right now and I probably couldn't even for weeks after I won it."
The now 32-year-old Queenslander will have plenty of time to evaluate exactly what it means to him after snapping Australia's Masters hoodoo on Monday.
One of the defining moments in Scott's final round was a seven-metre birdie putt on the 18th to eventually send the tournament to a playoff with 2009 champion Angel Cabrera.
It was a clutch right-to-left breaking putt Scott had seen made many times before, even back then at 21.
"You see it all the time so you can see some breaks. [Mark] O'Meara's putt I can see clearly in my mind when he won (in 1998), even Tiger's putt last year (2001) when he rolled that in, even though he didn't need to but he did.
"I don't know if I'm going to get out there and just remember the break off TV. It's probably a bit different when you've got the green jacket riding on the line."
Watch the full interview with Adam Scott ahead of his Masters debut in 2002.
The best ... Alessandro Del Piero gets the nod from Fox Sports.Source: Gregg Porteous / News Limited
Alex Tobin has hailed Alessandro Del Piero's influence on the A-League after the Sydney FC superstar took out the Fox Sports player of the year award, named in Tobin's honour.
Del Piero, who received his Alex Tobin Medal on Kick Off on Friday night, finished three points ahead of Western Sydney Wanderers’ Youssouf Hersi, and four clear of Victory flyer Marco Rojas.
Tobin, the second-most capped Socceroos player, told foxsports.com.au that Del Piero, who won Sydney FC's player of the year as well this week, has even "gone beyond a lot of expectations" in his debut A-League campaign, despite Sydney FC missing out on the play-offs.
Alessandro Del Piero - 26 points
Youssouf Hersi - 23
Marco Rojas - 22
Michael McGlinchey - 19
Nikolai Topor-Stanley - 19
Richard Garcia - 19
Thomas Broich - 19
Daniel McBreen - 18
Dario Vidosic - 18
Liam Miller - 18
Rhyan Grant - 18
"I’m very happy that he’s made the impact that I guess everybody was hoping for," Tobin said.
"He is a fantastic ambassador for the game, he performed on the park, and from a football in Australia point of view, he brought so much attention to the A-League off the park.
"He’s been the consummate professional and an absolute joy to watch.
"Importantly, he’s come to Australia and made a huge contribution – it’s been a great year in the A-League and he’s been a very large part of that."
Tobin praised the impact of all three marquees – not just for performing on the pitch, but for their humility and generosity off the field.
"They’ve all made a great impact; All of them have been very press-accommodating, sponsorship-accommodating too – their faces and names have been always been talked about.
"They’ve also put in for their team; they acknowledge their teammates, celebrate goals like the others do.
"All the fans of the game see that and that’s why they’ve made such a great contribution.
"I’ve got a 16-year-old son who goes out to each (Sydney) game, wears the Del Piero shirt. He’s obviously a great drawcard but beyond that too, the A-League and football in Australia has benefited from what he’s done."
Tobin, like so many others, speaks enthusiastically about what we’ve seen so far this A-League season. But via his current role as technical director of Football NSW, he gives a different perspective when asked for his season highlight and where the A-League can improve.
"The brand of football being played in many of the A-League clubs is at a high technical standard, with coaches who are committed to attacking, possession-based football in a substantial way and it’s made a more attractive game," Tobin said.
"Teams play out from back comfortably and it’s not all about the physical aspect, kick or chase, anymore.
"The standard has been great and the coaching methodology has been at a top level."
Coaches are showing strength and fortitude and the Victory, Mariners and Wanderers, for example, are committed to playing a certain way.
Tobin said his highlight was seeing the way Postecoglou, for example, stayed true to himself when things didn’t go to plan early on at Melbourne Victory.
"Nice to see from a coaching point of view that coaches are committed to playing in a certain way and when things didn’t work out, they didn't suddenly go 'we’re going to change'", Tobin added.
It doesn’t only benefit the A-League from a spectators point of view – it is a crucial development for Aussie football.
"It’s a very important process in our evolution.
"There is coaching expertise from Australian coaches now. Not just assumed that if you don’t have that overseas coaching experience you cannot coach at higher level. It’s proven incorrect.
"I spend a lot of my 9-5 job promoting better coaching standards amongst Aussie coaches, so it’s great for those guys to have role models."
While Tobin adds the A-League is "flying on a number of levels", he hopes clubs will continue to grow to one day incorporate youth structures.
"A-League clubs need to have connections with elite programs in younger age groups – that might be the next step," Tobin said.
"At the moment, A-League clubs have under-21 National Youth League sides and an A-League side, that’s all.
"Eventually, do they become something like a traditional European model with younger age groups as well? These are things that will happen in time.
"Many coaches are giving young players a go, which is great. We need that strength from below.
"There’s a lot of individual strength in rosters and we need to continue to supply the next player in the system."
Take your pick ... round 32 dished up several contenders for the EPL goal of the season.Source: Neal Simpson / AFP
Did round 32 of the Barclays Premier League dish up the goal of the season? The award-givers certainly have plenty to choose from.
Matthew Lowton put the exclamation mark on Aston Villa's crucial win over Stoke City with a strike right out of the top drawer.
But he faces stiff compeition in the form of Kevin Mirallas's slalom run and finish against Tottenham and Sergio Aguero's Manchester derby-winning rocket.
Sit back and watch the five best goals from another riveting round of EPL action in the video above.
Newcastle United might have picked up a crucial three points on the weekend, but they're still stuck in a good old-fashioned relegation dogfight.
If the Toon army do survive, they might just look at Saturday's last-gasp win against Fulham as a key moment.
Manager Alan Pardew's celebration of Papiss Cisse's 90th minute winner tells you just how big a win it was from the Geordies.
WatchCisse's cool-as-ice finish and Pardew going bananas in the video below.
Tomas Rosicky's Arsenal career has been punctuated by injury, but the Czech dynamo showed just what he offers to the Gunners during their big win over West Bromwich Albion.
Rosicky was involved in everything good Arsenal produced in the final third, and was rewarded with a brace of goals.
Wenger is a big fan of the midfielder and with Jack Wilshere and Theo Walcott battling injuries, he is shaping up as a crucial part of Arsenal's run-in and pursuit of a prized top-four finish.
Watch Rosicky's masterclass against the Baggies below.
Jay Rodriguez's fine individual performance in Southampton's win over relegation strugglers Reading rewarded him with a place in the EPL Team of the Week, but there might be a bigger reward in store for the Saints forward.
Rodriguez is eyeing a place in the England national team and if he can keep adding to his nine goals this season, Roy Hodgson might just come knocking.
See who else won a place in the EPL Team of the Week below.
Looks like fun ... Costa Rica weren't happy this game went ahead.Source: Jack Dempsey / AAP
England captain Steven Gerrard has refused to condemn the fans who taunted Rio Ferdinand in San Marino following the Manchester United defender's controversial withdrawal from the squad.
The 34-year-old turned down the chance to add to his 81 caps, claiming he was unable to join up with the England squad as it would disrupt his detailed pre-planned training and medical programme.
But it was Ferdinand's decision to travel to Doha to appear as a television pundit for Al Jazeera Sport, who were covering the qualifier, that seems to have especially irked the 3,000 England supporters who travelled to San Marino to watch Friday's 8-0 victory.
A constant stream of anti-Ferdinand chants were heard during the match in Serravalle and rather than condemn the chants, Gerrard, rested for the match, acknowledged fans were entitled to their opinions.
the Liverpool midfielder said: "I think the fans have shown their frustration about Rio not being here.
"They're entitled to their opinion. They pay good money to come over here.
"We all wanted Rio here because he's a good player and he certainly would have helped us over these two games.
"But he's made his decision and we need to respect that.''
In Spain, midfielder Santi Cazorla has dismissed suggestions that Spain's era of success could be coming to an end after they only managed a 1-1 draw at home to Finland on Friday in their 2014 World Cup qualifier.
It was the second consecutive home qualifier that the reigning World and European champions have failed to win after France also snatched a draw back in October.
However, Cazorla believes that against packed defences all they lack is a little variety to turn their dominance in possession into chances.
"It doesn't make any sense to now doubt this team just because of a draw,'' he told a press conference on Sunday.
"You cannot speak of the end of an era, the team has hunger and wants to keep winning titles.''
"In the last game we lacked some things, we need to have more variation. We need to ensure that all the possession the team have is transformed into chances.''
Friday's draw also allowed France to open up a two-point lead at the top of Group I.
In Italy, AC Milan striker Mario Balotelli says he owes his increased popularity in Italy to the national team.
Balotelli left Italy under a cloud in 2010 following a turbulent time at Inter Milan.
However, he established himself as a key player in the national side during last summer's European Championship, notably by scoring both goals in the 2-1 semi-final victory over Germany.
"Many people like me, but not everybody,'' Balotelli said on Sunday ahead of Italy's World Cup qualifier against Malta.
"After Euro 2012 I noted that my popularity increased. Thanks to the Italy squad, now fans of other clubs are starting to like me too. I can see from the way they act around me.
"The Nazionale has something special, something more. I can't explain it, it's above all else.''
Balotelli will be looking to add to his tally in Malta on Tuesday.
Italy tops its World Cup qualifying group with 10 points from four games. Bulgaria is second with six.
"I spoke to my father after the Brazil draw and he told me off because I missed so many goals,'' Balotelli said.
"Now a big game awaits us in Malta and we want to do well because that game will mean a lot for our World Cup qualifying.''
Costa Rican football officials have requested a replay of their snow-hit World Cup qualifying defeat to the United States, insisting the game should have been called off.
Amid farcical scenes in Denver on Friday, Costa Rica slumped to a 1-0 defeat to their CONCACAF rivals in a match which saw both sides labour through a blizzard on a pitch blanketed in thick snow.
Friday's defeat left Costa Rica at the bottom of the CONCACAF final round qualifying standings while the the victory elevated the USA to second in the table.
Lionel Messi scored once and set up two goals as Argentina beat Venezuela 3-0 to remain in control of the South American qualifying race for the 2014 World Cup.
The Argentinian skipper was the architect of two Gonzalo Higuain strikes which came either side of an emphatic Messi penalty on the stroke of half-time at the Monumental Stadium.
The Barcelona superstar was Argentina's best player throughout, twice forcing Daniel Hernandez into scrambled saves early on before producing the pass which enabled Higuain to break the deadlock on 29 minutes.
In other games on Friday, Colombia remained on course to end their 16-year World Cup exile after sweeping aside Bolivia 5-0 in Barranquilla.
Goals from Macnelly Torres, Carlos Valdez, Teofilo Gutierrez, Radamel Falcao and Pablo Armero secured an easy win as Colombia leapfrogged Ecuador into second place in the standings.
Elsewhere, Uruguay's hopes of a vital victory against bottom side Paraguay were dashed after they conceded a late equaliser in a bruising game which finished 1-1 in Montevideo.
Liverpool striker Luis Suarez looked to have settled a niggly encounter when he volleyed home a Nicolas Lodeiro cross on 82 minutes.
But Paraguay, who had rarely threatened during a stop-start game scarred by some rugged tackling, plucked an equaliser against the run of play four minutes later when substitute Edgar Benitez slotted home.
The draw saw Uruguay inch into the automatic qualifying spots, leapfrogging Venezuela in fourth, but coach Oscar Tabarez will be left ruing his team's failure to take all three points.
In Africa, Ethiopia snatched a dramatic 1-0 home victory over Botswana on Sunday to keep alive hopes of a first appearance at the World Cup in Brazil next year.
Ethiopia returned to the top of Group A with seven points, two more than overnight leaders South Africa, who overcame Central African Republic 2-0 in Cape Town thanks to goals from Thabo Matlaba and Bernard Parker.
Tanzania scored three second-half goals to thrash four-time World Cup qualifiers Morocco 3-1 in Dar es Salaam and climb to within a point of Group C pacesetters Ivory Coast.
Litsebe Marabe levelled a minute from time to give minnows Lesotho a 1-1 draw with 2012 African champions Zambia in Maseru after Collins Mbesuma opened the scoring entering the closing stages.
The failure to collect maximum points was a bitter blow for Zambia, who stay top of Group D with seven points, but Ghana can close the gap to just one point if they defeat Sudan in Kumasi later on Sunday.
Mozambique and Guinea drew 0-0 in a dour Group G clash in Maputo, leaving leaders Egypt with the possibility of opening a five-point gap should they beat generally poor travellers Zimbabwe in Alexandria on Tuesday.
Mali, third behind Nigeria and Burkina Faso at the recent Cup of Nations in South Africa, fought back to overcome Rwanda 2-1 in Kigali and rise two places to the Group H summit.
Encouraging words ... James Hird pays tribute to his "outstanding" Bombers players.Source: Wayne Ludbey / News Limited
Essendon coach James Hird is confident a traumatic off-season has instilled in his AFL team the resilience they were missing.
Hird has told his players they've climbed into the elite level, which wasn't the case in his previous two years in charge.
And he says it's remarkable they've achieved it while facing an anti-doping investigation, showing tenacity he believes will pay dividends when times get tough this season.
"We've spoken a lot about the resilience of this group and that maybe in the real hard times we haven't had that resilience that we need," Hird said in a speech to his players
"I'm confident that the one element that was missing has been built on and grown.
"That you're ready to take on that challenge and ready to go to the next level and play consistently quarter after quarter after quarter and back up when things don't go your way.
"The mental capacity of you guys to do what you've done over the last six weeks and still come out and perform and train the way you've trained is outstanding."
Hird's speech, given earlier this week, aired on Essendon's show The Hangar on FOX FOOTY on Wednesday night.
So did a speech Bombers chairman David Evans gave to staff.
Evans said the club were confident they would find out whether players were given banned substances and uncover how ``irregular practices'' were allowed to develop at the club.
"Some of our systems, protocols and procedures failed us," Evans said.
"We want to make sure that that never happens again."
He said it was a traumatic time but the Bombers would end up better and stronger for it.
"I think it has galvanised us together and we want to take that into the season," Evans said.
That view was echoed by players.
Midfielder Brent Stanton said there were initial feelings of shock and disbelief when the scandal broke, while captain Jobe Watson admitted players became frightened when the scale of what they were facing hit home.
But they said the crisis had also caused them to stick tightly together as their teammates were the only ones who fully appreciated what each other were experiencing.
Watch the video at the top of the page to get an all-access look at what Hird had to say to his troops.
Footy is back ... Fox Sports previews every club before the 2013 season.Source: Phil Hillyard / News Limited
Footy season is here! Our experts run the rule over every club before Friday's blockbuster round one clash between Adelaide Crows and Essendon.
Fox Sports AFL commentators Sarah Jones, Julian de Stoop and David King preview every team before the 2013 season, while re-living great moments from 2012 and offering punting advice for those who like a flutter.
Our experts put Carlton, Hawthorn, Sydney, Collingwood and Essendon under the microscope in the video above.
Catch the previews of Geelong, West Coast, Fremantle and Adelaide Crows below.
Fans of Richmond, Brisbane Lions, Melbourne Demons, Port Adelaide, North Melbourne, Greater Western Sydney, St Kilda and Gold Coast Suns watch the preview below.
The Belgium international, who moved to Stamford Bridge from Lille in June, was compared with Chelsea legend Gianfranco Zola by the England veteran.
"Eden is 22. He has got the world at his feet and he can handle the pressure because he is that good," said Lampard.
"His ability and speed off the mark and the way he is able to turn on a sixpence is what all great attacking players have and he's got it in abundance.
"Zola did it throughout his career while Eden's at a relatively early part of his career but what he is showing now are glimpses that he can be in that bracket and be one of the top players in the world.
"He is very laid back, a great character and not too much bothers him by the look of it. That's the way he plays and it reflects in his game.
"I hope he carries on doing it because he's an absolute pleasure to play with."
Stunning strikes ... Marcelo Carrusca, Golgol Mebrahtu and Iacopo La Rocca netted fine goals.Source:AAP
This week's A-League Goal of the Week contenders include a fine finish made in Argentina, a two-touch masterclass from the Wanderers and an absolute rocket from the aptly-named Golgol Mebrahtu.
Entrants must be 18 or over and hold a current full Australian driver's licence.
The competition commences on, 27 January 2013 at 8:30pm AEDT and closes on 5 April 2013 at 5:00pm AEDT and is divided into 10 weekly periods.
Each weekly period opens on Sunday at 8:30pm AEDT and closes on the following Friday at 5:00pm AEDT.
One entry per weekly entry period.
This competition is authorised under NSW Permit No. LTPS/13/00440, ACT TP13/00141, Victorian Permit No. 13/117 & SA Licence No. T13/61.
Adelaide import Marcelo Carusca netted a crucial left-footed goal against the Jets on Friday night that ensured the Reds will finish in the top four and host an all-important home final.
The man with the coolest name in the A-League - Golgol Mebrahtu - is known to pull off the spectacular, as the Wanderers found at at a wet AAMI Park on Saturday.
His rocket from outside the box wasn't enough as the Wanderers prevailed 3-1, but it does earn him a nomination for our Goal of the Week.
Rounding out this week's efforts is Iacopo La Rocca and his two touches straight out of the top drawer.
In tricky conditions, the Italian cushioned the ball perfectly before curling it past the outstretched Andrew Redmayne and into the bottom corner, killing of the Heart's hopes.
Fox Sports and Hyundai are giving fans the chance to win by voting in the Goal of the Week competition.
The major prize winner will drive home the all-new Hyundai Veloster SR Turbo. Delivering both street presence and dynamic performance, with 150kW of grunt and 265Nm of torque delivered by a twin-scroll turbocharged engine, you'll be the envy of all of your friends.
The runner-up prize winner will win tickets to a corporate box at the Hyundai A-League grand final including return economy flights, transfers and two nights' accommodation to enjoy with three friends.
There is also a weekly cash prize of $300 up for grabs.
Rusty ... SBW says he has plenty of work to do to get back to his best NRL form.Source: Mark Evans / News Limited
Sonny Bill Williams admits he still has some way to go to get back to his best after his return to the NRL ended with a 28-10 defeat on Thursday.
The former All Black's Sydney Roosters debut was spoiled by an impressive South Sydney side but the 27-year-old, who scored a late try, said he's happy to have the game out of the way.
"Maybe people were expecting me to work some magic," Williams told the Footy Show.
"For me, it's about concentrating on the little things and doing my job well."
"There's a few things that I was bit rusty on, but it's a start."
Williams played the final 50 minutes, coming on after Souths raced into a 16-4 lead through Nathan Merritt's second of his three tries.
Greg Inglis was named man of the match after having a hand in four of his side's five scores.
The Queensland superstar says he's in the best shape of his career and the backed Williams to get better as the season progresses
"Obviously being out for so long it's going to be difficult," Inglis said.
"But it's great having one of the best players in the world back in our game and he'll be good.
"It shows the game is going in the right direction."
